The Bush administration seems to hold fast to the belief that the harsh tactics used in detaining and torturing Al Qaeda members are justified. This reasoning is supported by the dreadful belief that the methods practiced in these detention facilities have principally led to the capture and annihilation of Osama bin Laden (America’s most hated terrorist leader). This naïve idea tends to be the root of the justification of many of the world’s most heinous ethical crimes.
Take for example the treatment of German citizens during the Second World War. Would it have been ethically justifiable if the Allied forces had used brutal means to torture and interrogate German citizens supposing that they had ties to the Nazis?
Though the US has gained one success—killing bin Laden—from the unethical practices in Guantanamo Bay and other detention facilities, how far beyond ethical boundaries will they be willing to go to get the information they require?
Many doctors have even begun irritable concerning the inhuman methods used by the United States in order to gain information from their captives. In a letter to The Lancet, doctors from 16 countries, including Britain and America, say the failure of the US regulatory authorities to act is “damaging the reputation of US military medicine”.
The doctors wrote: “No healthcare worker in the War on Terror has been charged or convicted of any significant offence despite numerous instances documented including fraudulent record-keeping on detainees who have died as a result of failed interrogations ... The attitude of the US military establishment appears to be one of ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’.”
The US is a rules-based system — it has a Bill of Rights and a strong Supreme Court. However, the events that have transpired in its detention facilities (especially Guantanamo bay) present serious questions. How can such a system be so damaged? How can legality be so destroyed? How can due process be so appallingly ignored?
One lesson to be learned is that even the best constitution and strongest institutions in the world are of no protection if those in power, and their influential allies, are determined to proceed with a meticulous course of action.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Is one's character defined by context?
Early on in my childhood I had wondered what makes a person ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Can a God-fearing Christian, who is “good” in every way, become “evil” if he/she commits an act of sin? As I grew older I began to realize that mortality is much more complex than simply ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ and that like experiences can have a great impact on one’s notion of this matter.
My name is Kris Mercer. I am a slightly privileged boy of 17 who studies hard in hopes of becoming the son my parents are so determined to see. I work part-time at a local grocery store-Freshco. I got up from bed one morning to the sounds of birds cheerfully chirping at their highest pitches, and the wind blowing very serenely in the small town of Hanverst.
This town, like any other, has its share of drunks, thieves, rich people, poor people and those in the middle. I would describe my family as being in the latter position, though my grandfather from my mother’s side of the family is said to have been a very wealthy man who even had servants at his command. He wasted all his money however, on the pleasures of life, leaving his children with no inheritances.
As I was saying, I got up from bed on this particular morning to a bright, beautiful day, unaware of what would be disclosed to me before dusk. I got ready, ate breakfast, which my mother had so lovingly prepared for once, and headed out to school.
I got to the Illyrian Academy, a high school for privileged children whose parents want only the only the best education for the so-called “leaders of tomorrow.” My parents, though not having a great deal of money, worked overtime so that they could send me to this school in hopes that I could acquire a good start for my future career as a hopeful surgeon. I still marvel at how my parents were able to afford to pay my monthly tuition. Thinking back, they gave me numerous opportunities to learn, despite not always being financially stable. They also taught me most of what I know to be valuable life lessons. Those were some of the richest moments of my life. The most defining moment of my life, however, took place on this ordinary day, which initially didn’t seem to have any significance whatsoever.
As I walked into the schoolyard, I could hear the engines of my peers’ cars—luxuries which were so easily afforded by their parents. And while walking towards my locker I could smell the faint odour of pricey hairspray and sweet perfume gloomily hanging in the air: another sign that wealthy children walk these halls. To the left of my locker was the locker of a rich boy named Matt Crock. He didn’t talk much and was often secluded from the rest of the horde. To the right of my locker was that of the beautiful and absolutely striking Keira Soren, who I’d lustily admired since middle school. We were once quite close you know; but upon reaching high school, I began focusing more on my lessons and made schoolwork my priority whereas cheerleading was hers. In the case of any other girl, I wouldn’t be so understanding, as cheerleading doesn’t exactly qualify one for a rewarding career, but Keira did it so gracefully that even the harshest critics would find it difficult to criticize her. Her sheer passion and chasteness in whatever she did had a strange pull on me.
This morning however, Keira seemed to have abandoned her normally blissful and optimistic attitude and took on a rather daunting one. Little did I know that she had broken up with the captain of the rugby team, Troy, whom she had been dating for over a year. Troy is a tall but surprisingly muscular individual who did not do so well academically and probably figured sports was his way to establish a place for himself in the history of “our generation.” I had always hated Troy, perhaps out of sheer jealousy for his handsome figure, and his expensive cars which he seemed to damage almost every weekend; but most importantly, his possession of Keira- that doesn’t make me a bad person does it? I’ve always been a good guy. Every friend of my parents’ used to tell me things like: “you’re such a nice boy Kris, not like the ones we see these days.” I guess being told this constantly made me believe that I truly possessed a righteous character and would not succumb to evildoings. I still wondered whether there was a straight line between ‘righteous’ and ‘wicked’ , or between ‘good’ and ‘bad’. These questions continued to plague my thoughts as I began to question my character about every lie, mistake, or negative thought that I could perpetrate. I constantly asked myself if there truly is a separation between ‘good’ and ‘bad’; would I be a ‘bad’ person for making mistakes. After lengthy consideration I became more open to asking others their opinion of this seemingly mind-boggling question. When I asked the priest of my church he provided nothing more than a bunch of riddles which I never did understood- but would soon learn the hard way.
He said: “think about this way my son, if a man robbed a bank, would you consider him a bad person?”
I readily replied: “yes!”
Then he nodded and said very well, then added: “what if that same man committed this robbery because his family would have starved otherwise. Would you still consider him a bad person?”
I soon answered, “No, because he only did it so that he could feed his family.” He then exited in a mysterious manner as all priests do.
But where was I? As Keira walked towards her locker, I couldn’t stand watching her so cheerless. Ignoring the newfound barrier due to our social strata I said: “Are you feeling well Keira?” Surprised, she replied, “why do you care, you haven’t talked to me in years,” with an icy edge.
That hurt. Feeling shame I said: “Well it’s a little hard to talk to you when you’re constantly guarded by jocks from the rugby team.”
Having lost her edge she responded softly: “That’s not gonna be a problem anymore.”
Anxious and a little relived I inquired, “what do you mean?”
“I mean I broke up with Troy last night.”
“Really, sorry to hear that,” trying to mask my true feelings I silently jumped for joy deep inside.
“You don’t seem that sorry for me.”
“I really am,” I said defensively, “truthfully, I really don’t think he’s the right guy for you.”
“Who is”. She said. “I’m starting to feel like I’ll never meet the right guy.”
“You might not know it yet, but he might be under your nose and you haven’t realized it”, I cunningly replied. I felt a little ghastly telling her this after she had just broken up with Troy but it was something that I needed to say. After all, time was short; we only had a month before we headed our separate ways post-graduation.
Holding her hand gently I said, “If you ever need to talk to anyone about anything, even cheerleading, I’ll be here to listen.” As she was about to reply, a sharp pain interrupted my thoughts. I felt the inside of my cheek scrape against my teeth, drawing blood. I stumbled backwards, tripping over my own feet. The sheer shock of the blow knocked me backwards. Having never been struck before, I experienced a very uneasy feeling of vulnerability.
In a fit of anger, he screamed: “get your fucking hands off her!” I scrambled to right myself while Keira tried to explain to him that they were no longer dating, and that he should stop harassing her. Incensed, Troy pushed her into one of the lockers with such brute force that some students later admitted that they had heard the echo from the opposite hall. Hearing her scream, everything became clear to me. I had to do something, whatever it was, to stop Troy. Burning with anger and a cold resentment, I pulled out my work knife, a blade so clean that one could see their own reflection, and stabbed Troy in the chest. In pain, he forcefully clutched the knife to stop the bleeding and soon fell unconscious.
The long-awaited answer which I had been curiously searching for had been answered. No matter how righteous one may seem or try to believe they are, they can still commit acts which make them no less ‘evil’ than a criminal. Being a naïve boy of 17, I discovered these truths by experience. After three years in a juvenile correction center, and further probation, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that one’s character can be molded by their subconscious to fit a specific context. Being so innocent all my life, I never thought that I’d be the one to stab and kill another human being.
I will return to writing this letter at a later time as Keira is supposed to visit soon. Thinking about it now, the terrifying incidents which occurred at the Illyrian Academy on this ordinary day drew me and Keira closer together as she realized that I would go to any length to protect her. Our relationship grows stronger everyday and I can’t wait to get out of probation so we can finally have an intimate relationship.
My name is Kris Mercer. I am a slightly privileged boy of 17 who studies hard in hopes of becoming the son my parents are so determined to see. I work part-time at a local grocery store-Freshco. I got up from bed one morning to the sounds of birds cheerfully chirping at their highest pitches, and the wind blowing very serenely in the small town of Hanverst.
This town, like any other, has its share of drunks, thieves, rich people, poor people and those in the middle. I would describe my family as being in the latter position, though my grandfather from my mother’s side of the family is said to have been a very wealthy man who even had servants at his command. He wasted all his money however, on the pleasures of life, leaving his children with no inheritances.
As I was saying, I got up from bed on this particular morning to a bright, beautiful day, unaware of what would be disclosed to me before dusk. I got ready, ate breakfast, which my mother had so lovingly prepared for once, and headed out to school.
I got to the Illyrian Academy, a high school for privileged children whose parents want only the only the best education for the so-called “leaders of tomorrow.” My parents, though not having a great deal of money, worked overtime so that they could send me to this school in hopes that I could acquire a good start for my future career as a hopeful surgeon. I still marvel at how my parents were able to afford to pay my monthly tuition. Thinking back, they gave me numerous opportunities to learn, despite not always being financially stable. They also taught me most of what I know to be valuable life lessons. Those were some of the richest moments of my life. The most defining moment of my life, however, took place on this ordinary day, which initially didn’t seem to have any significance whatsoever.
As I walked into the schoolyard, I could hear the engines of my peers’ cars—luxuries which were so easily afforded by their parents. And while walking towards my locker I could smell the faint odour of pricey hairspray and sweet perfume gloomily hanging in the air: another sign that wealthy children walk these halls. To the left of my locker was the locker of a rich boy named Matt Crock. He didn’t talk much and was often secluded from the rest of the horde. To the right of my locker was that of the beautiful and absolutely striking Keira Soren, who I’d lustily admired since middle school. We were once quite close you know; but upon reaching high school, I began focusing more on my lessons and made schoolwork my priority whereas cheerleading was hers. In the case of any other girl, I wouldn’t be so understanding, as cheerleading doesn’t exactly qualify one for a rewarding career, but Keira did it so gracefully that even the harshest critics would find it difficult to criticize her. Her sheer passion and chasteness in whatever she did had a strange pull on me.
This morning however, Keira seemed to have abandoned her normally blissful and optimistic attitude and took on a rather daunting one. Little did I know that she had broken up with the captain of the rugby team, Troy, whom she had been dating for over a year. Troy is a tall but surprisingly muscular individual who did not do so well academically and probably figured sports was his way to establish a place for himself in the history of “our generation.” I had always hated Troy, perhaps out of sheer jealousy for his handsome figure, and his expensive cars which he seemed to damage almost every weekend; but most importantly, his possession of Keira- that doesn’t make me a bad person does it? I’ve always been a good guy. Every friend of my parents’ used to tell me things like: “you’re such a nice boy Kris, not like the ones we see these days.” I guess being told this constantly made me believe that I truly possessed a righteous character and would not succumb to evildoings. I still wondered whether there was a straight line between ‘righteous’ and ‘wicked’ , or between ‘good’ and ‘bad’. These questions continued to plague my thoughts as I began to question my character about every lie, mistake, or negative thought that I could perpetrate. I constantly asked myself if there truly is a separation between ‘good’ and ‘bad’; would I be a ‘bad’ person for making mistakes. After lengthy consideration I became more open to asking others their opinion of this seemingly mind-boggling question. When I asked the priest of my church he provided nothing more than a bunch of riddles which I never did understood- but would soon learn the hard way.
He said: “think about this way my son, if a man robbed a bank, would you consider him a bad person?”
I readily replied: “yes!”
Then he nodded and said very well, then added: “what if that same man committed this robbery because his family would have starved otherwise. Would you still consider him a bad person?”
I soon answered, “No, because he only did it so that he could feed his family.” He then exited in a mysterious manner as all priests do.
But where was I? As Keira walked towards her locker, I couldn’t stand watching her so cheerless. Ignoring the newfound barrier due to our social strata I said: “Are you feeling well Keira?” Surprised, she replied, “why do you care, you haven’t talked to me in years,” with an icy edge.
That hurt. Feeling shame I said: “Well it’s a little hard to talk to you when you’re constantly guarded by jocks from the rugby team.”
Having lost her edge she responded softly: “That’s not gonna be a problem anymore.”
Anxious and a little relived I inquired, “what do you mean?”
“I mean I broke up with Troy last night.”
“Really, sorry to hear that,” trying to mask my true feelings I silently jumped for joy deep inside.
“You don’t seem that sorry for me.”
“I really am,” I said defensively, “truthfully, I really don’t think he’s the right guy for you.”
“Who is”. She said. “I’m starting to feel like I’ll never meet the right guy.”
“You might not know it yet, but he might be under your nose and you haven’t realized it”, I cunningly replied. I felt a little ghastly telling her this after she had just broken up with Troy but it was something that I needed to say. After all, time was short; we only had a month before we headed our separate ways post-graduation.
Holding her hand gently I said, “If you ever need to talk to anyone about anything, even cheerleading, I’ll be here to listen.” As she was about to reply, a sharp pain interrupted my thoughts. I felt the inside of my cheek scrape against my teeth, drawing blood. I stumbled backwards, tripping over my own feet. The sheer shock of the blow knocked me backwards. Having never been struck before, I experienced a very uneasy feeling of vulnerability.
In a fit of anger, he screamed: “get your fucking hands off her!” I scrambled to right myself while Keira tried to explain to him that they were no longer dating, and that he should stop harassing her. Incensed, Troy pushed her into one of the lockers with such brute force that some students later admitted that they had heard the echo from the opposite hall. Hearing her scream, everything became clear to me. I had to do something, whatever it was, to stop Troy. Burning with anger and a cold resentment, I pulled out my work knife, a blade so clean that one could see their own reflection, and stabbed Troy in the chest. In pain, he forcefully clutched the knife to stop the bleeding and soon fell unconscious.
The long-awaited answer which I had been curiously searching for had been answered. No matter how righteous one may seem or try to believe they are, they can still commit acts which make them no less ‘evil’ than a criminal. Being a naïve boy of 17, I discovered these truths by experience. After three years in a juvenile correction center, and further probation, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that one’s character can be molded by their subconscious to fit a specific context. Being so innocent all my life, I never thought that I’d be the one to stab and kill another human being.
I will return to writing this letter at a later time as Keira is supposed to visit soon. Thinking about it now, the terrifying incidents which occurred at the Illyrian Academy on this ordinary day drew me and Keira closer together as she realized that I would go to any length to protect her. Our relationship grows stronger everyday and I can’t wait to get out of probation so we can finally have an intimate relationship.
Children's Words
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
Their screams piercing the night.
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
It’s hard to envisage he lived right uptown,
And no one ever knew.
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
No one would have expected these things from such a clown.
Their town was lively and peaceful too.
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
With eyes swimming of innocence their children walked with crowns.
Their ABCs and 123s were their main concerns.
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
Upon seeing bruises on their children’s bodies, parents began talking in the town.
The children all had a unanimous story: “it was James the janitor.”
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
At sunset they made their journey, their children wearing tea gowns.
Sleeping soundly on his pillow, James had no idea.
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
Their screams piercing the night.
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
It’s hard to envisage he lived right uptown,
And no one ever knew.
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
No one would have expected these things from such a clown.
Their town was lively and peaceful too.
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
With eyes swimming of innocence their children walked with crowns.
Their ABCs and 123s were their main concerns.
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
Upon seeing bruises on their children’s bodies, parents began talking in the town.
The children all had a unanimous story: “it was James the janitor.”
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
At sunset they made their journey, their children wearing tea gowns.
Sleeping soundly on his pillow, James had no idea.
With sticks and stones they hunted him down.
“Kill him, kill him”, they shouted with a frown.
'My Fortress of Solitude'
The door of this teenage fortress is of particle board, with a wood veneer finish. On the other side of it lie both my squash and Badminton rackets hanging on a custom-made racket holder.
The walls, painted light blue (one of the only parent-sanctioned colors available), bestows a calming effect to the overall atmosphere in the cramped room and matches well with the white pitted tile floor. Lately, one can barely see the fading paint on the wall as it has been covered with wallpapers and posters of different sizes and content—some dealing with religion, others about music, and a few of countries I wish to visit.
My dresser, which stands across from the foot of my bed, and is also made of particle board, compliments the door. The dresser itself is brown with six drawers, sets of three side by side. A square-shaped mirror stands at the top of the dresser. The face of this old antique mirror projects the entirety of the room.
My study desk, positioned transversely from my dresser, has a hutch in which I display a collection of 2010 Olympic coins. The hutch is enclosed by thick see-through glass protecting it from collapsing as it is often covered with numerous academic textbooks.
Looking from my door inward, you can see my queen-sized bed, its sheets, blankets and pillows positioned perfectly every morning by my mother. The comforter on my bed is orange, white, and dark blue, and it’s made by Lauren Ralph Polo. Two pillows rest at opposite ends covered by cases made of turquoise cloth, the essence of untroubled sleep. This colour forms a pleasant matching contrast with the darker blues that plainly compromise the colouring of the bedspread.
Blue curtains cover the wide fixture of my window from the brightness of the outside, and my neighbours’ wife.
Across from the head of my bed protrudes a mini-fridge which contains all of my unhealthy food cravings; namely, Doritos chips, Red Bull, double cheeseburgers, etc.
All my shoes lie in perfect alignment on the floor across from my bed. The newest-Cole Haan, Sandro Moscoloni, Merrell, Joseph Seibel- are to the right while the used and old ones are to the left.
Slightly on top of my headboard lies one of my favourite quotes, engraved on a plaque: What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful-Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama. Beside this quote stretches a map with blue pins detailing all the cities and countries that I’ve visited and an accumulating number of red pins, indicating places I wish to visit.
At the foot of my bed stands a desk which holds my 30 inch LCD TV along with a Blueray DVD player adjacent from it. Oddly, a number of video cassettes sit next to the DVD player; however, they don’t come with video cassette players anymore.
The smell of cheap potpourri air freshener is like oxygen in my room.
On my dresser stands what I deem to be my most important athletic and academic trophies and awards (mostly for best athlete and Subject awards), which are chrome plated, while the rest are in the basement.
A miniature book shelf also stands below the foot of my bed. It’s divided into two sections: the left side contains academic textbooks and the right side contains the books which my mom constantly suggests I should read but have never gotten to.
It’s a shame that soon I will be leaving this room which has nurtured me during my toughest years. It has truly been my fortress. It does not judge me; it’s impartial; it’s the safest place I know; imagination, sanity, love, hope, and personality is contained in this room; it is a refuge from all my enemies; and it is my strong suit. My room is the one place I can be free.
The walls, painted light blue (one of the only parent-sanctioned colors available), bestows a calming effect to the overall atmosphere in the cramped room and matches well with the white pitted tile floor. Lately, one can barely see the fading paint on the wall as it has been covered with wallpapers and posters of different sizes and content—some dealing with religion, others about music, and a few of countries I wish to visit.
My dresser, which stands across from the foot of my bed, and is also made of particle board, compliments the door. The dresser itself is brown with six drawers, sets of three side by side. A square-shaped mirror stands at the top of the dresser. The face of this old antique mirror projects the entirety of the room.
My study desk, positioned transversely from my dresser, has a hutch in which I display a collection of 2010 Olympic coins. The hutch is enclosed by thick see-through glass protecting it from collapsing as it is often covered with numerous academic textbooks.
Looking from my door inward, you can see my queen-sized bed, its sheets, blankets and pillows positioned perfectly every morning by my mother. The comforter on my bed is orange, white, and dark blue, and it’s made by Lauren Ralph Polo. Two pillows rest at opposite ends covered by cases made of turquoise cloth, the essence of untroubled sleep. This colour forms a pleasant matching contrast with the darker blues that plainly compromise the colouring of the bedspread.
Blue curtains cover the wide fixture of my window from the brightness of the outside, and my neighbours’ wife.
Across from the head of my bed protrudes a mini-fridge which contains all of my unhealthy food cravings; namely, Doritos chips, Red Bull, double cheeseburgers, etc.
All my shoes lie in perfect alignment on the floor across from my bed. The newest-Cole Haan, Sandro Moscoloni, Merrell, Joseph Seibel- are to the right while the used and old ones are to the left.
Slightly on top of my headboard lies one of my favourite quotes, engraved on a plaque: What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful-Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama. Beside this quote stretches a map with blue pins detailing all the cities and countries that I’ve visited and an accumulating number of red pins, indicating places I wish to visit.
At the foot of my bed stands a desk which holds my 30 inch LCD TV along with a Blueray DVD player adjacent from it. Oddly, a number of video cassettes sit next to the DVD player; however, they don’t come with video cassette players anymore.
The smell of cheap potpourri air freshener is like oxygen in my room.
On my dresser stands what I deem to be my most important athletic and academic trophies and awards (mostly for best athlete and Subject awards), which are chrome plated, while the rest are in the basement.
A miniature book shelf also stands below the foot of my bed. It’s divided into two sections: the left side contains academic textbooks and the right side contains the books which my mom constantly suggests I should read but have never gotten to.
It’s a shame that soon I will be leaving this room which has nurtured me during my toughest years. It has truly been my fortress. It does not judge me; it’s impartial; it’s the safest place I know; imagination, sanity, love, hope, and personality is contained in this room; it is a refuge from all my enemies; and it is my strong suit. My room is the one place I can be free.
Tragedy
A vigorous young damsel named Miley,
Her future so playful and smiley;
Her father got shot,
Her mother got caught
But she’s still so very lively
Her future so playful and smiley;
Her father got shot,
Her mother got caught
But she’s still so very lively
Mankind
Butterball,
Fatso,
Fatty,
Roly-poly,
Stout,
Pudgy,
Rotund,
Portly,
Fleshy,
Plump,
Chubby;
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scrag,
Skin and bones,
Lean,
Thin,
Slender,
Societal Reject.
Fatso,
Fatty,
Roly-poly,
Stout,
Pudgy,
Rotund,
Portly,
Fleshy,
Plump,
Chubby;
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scrag,
Skin and bones,
Lean,
Thin,
Slender,
Societal Reject.
'My soul of Music'
Thy beautiful sound,
The melody of my mind,
Compels love for you.
Thou art true beauty,
The music of my person,
In all solitude.
Shine your gracious light,
Thy poison which makes me hope,
Which I keep always.
This is my calling,
The love which I hold dearest,
This is my music!
The melody of my mind,
Compels love for you.
Thou art true beauty,
The music of my person,
In all solitude.
Shine your gracious light,
Thy poison which makes me hope,
Which I keep always.
This is my calling,
The love which I hold dearest,
This is my music!
Is France’s cure for the ‘Roma problem’ justified?
France is most notably acknowledged all around the world for being “the country of human rights” as the creator of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. France has always been deliberated as a model and often has something to say when a country violates someone else’s fundamental rights.
However, the French government’s sense of equality and human rights has drastically changed under the rule of Nicolas Sarkozy. In early August of this year, 51 camps set up by Roma of eastern European origin (Bulgaria and Romania) were dismantled and the French government has further proclaimed the deportation of over 700 Roma people from the country.
The UN Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently pointed out France’s lack of political willingness to face up to a fresh upsurge of racist behaviour. The government’s reaction has been to state that “it is easy to teach a lesson but France does not have to receive any advice from other countries”…. Is this in bad faith?
These deportations have created a maelstrom of debate in France, and have now exploded into an issue of European concern. Last week Justice Commissioner Viviane Redding declared that the European Commission will now have ‘no choice’ but to bring about infringement proceedings against France for discrimination against Roma on the basis of their ethnic origin.
One of the arguments being used by the French government as a means of justifying the recent deportations of Romanies from France is the sanitary conditions in which the Roma community lives. The French government pointed out that it was inhuman not to act when these people were living in squatter communities, young women were being reportedly pushed into prostitution, children were forced to steal and babies were trained for begging.
But there is no reason to believe that any of these problems would be improved in their countries of origin. It is necessary to remind the French government of the situation faced by the Roma people in Eastern Europe where they have historically been victims of discrimination, subject to poor living conditions and prone to racist attacks from governmental forces.
Deportation is not the solution.
As European citizens, Roma people from Bulgaria and Romania who are removed are entitled to re-enter French territory, and they will probably try to do so immediately after their deportation from the country. In consequence, they will now have no other choice than to re-enter the country illegally—further exacerbating the ‘Roma problem’, and leaving the country with more than just a few squatters but with an overwhelming number of Roma people illegally settling in French communities.
Another way in which France could solve this problem is by helping the Roma people who are being deported out of the country to integrate into Romanian society. Though doing so will take time, it’s the best option they have. According to the Epoch Times, France has already begun acting on this plan. French officials urged Romania to design an emergency plan to integrate the Roma people being expelled from France. “France will call for commitments on police and judiciary cooperation, the fight against human trafficking, and the integration of Roma in Romania, as part of a national emergency plan spanning 2010-2013,” Lellouche told the media.
According to Lellouche, Roma are not integrated in Romania. But he promised that France would assist Romania to implement the emergency plan, including helping mobilize funds for social inclusion programs.
Immigration Minister Besson expressed France’s openness to help solve the Roma issue through joint efforts at the European level.
References:
http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/migration-pulse/2010/deportation-roma-people-france-or-how-displace-problem-instead-solving-it
However, the French government’s sense of equality and human rights has drastically changed under the rule of Nicolas Sarkozy. In early August of this year, 51 camps set up by Roma of eastern European origin (Bulgaria and Romania) were dismantled and the French government has further proclaimed the deportation of over 700 Roma people from the country.
The UN Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently pointed out France’s lack of political willingness to face up to a fresh upsurge of racist behaviour. The government’s reaction has been to state that “it is easy to teach a lesson but France does not have to receive any advice from other countries”…. Is this in bad faith?
These deportations have created a maelstrom of debate in France, and have now exploded into an issue of European concern. Last week Justice Commissioner Viviane Redding declared that the European Commission will now have ‘no choice’ but to bring about infringement proceedings against France for discrimination against Roma on the basis of their ethnic origin.
One of the arguments being used by the French government as a means of justifying the recent deportations of Romanies from France is the sanitary conditions in which the Roma community lives. The French government pointed out that it was inhuman not to act when these people were living in squatter communities, young women were being reportedly pushed into prostitution, children were forced to steal and babies were trained for begging.
But there is no reason to believe that any of these problems would be improved in their countries of origin. It is necessary to remind the French government of the situation faced by the Roma people in Eastern Europe where they have historically been victims of discrimination, subject to poor living conditions and prone to racist attacks from governmental forces.
Deportation is not the solution.
As European citizens, Roma people from Bulgaria and Romania who are removed are entitled to re-enter French territory, and they will probably try to do so immediately after their deportation from the country. In consequence, they will now have no other choice than to re-enter the country illegally—further exacerbating the ‘Roma problem’, and leaving the country with more than just a few squatters but with an overwhelming number of Roma people illegally settling in French communities.
Another way in which France could solve this problem is by helping the Roma people who are being deported out of the country to integrate into Romanian society. Though doing so will take time, it’s the best option they have. According to the Epoch Times, France has already begun acting on this plan. French officials urged Romania to design an emergency plan to integrate the Roma people being expelled from France. “France will call for commitments on police and judiciary cooperation, the fight against human trafficking, and the integration of Roma in Romania, as part of a national emergency plan spanning 2010-2013,” Lellouche told the media.
According to Lellouche, Roma are not integrated in Romania. But he promised that France would assist Romania to implement the emergency plan, including helping mobilize funds for social inclusion programs.
Immigration Minister Besson expressed France’s openness to help solve the Roma issue through joint efforts at the European level.
References:
http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/migration-pulse/2010/deportation-roma-people-france-or-how-displace-problem-instead-solving-it
Maintaining a Healthy Marital Relationship in a World of Divorce
Healthy marital relationships are rare and can be considerably hard to maintain, particularly due to the influx of inner and outer forces that test the bond: jealousy, pride, failure and success, control, financial hitches, just to name a few. Forming relationships is very easy in this overactive social community. When attained, however, maintaining and mending such relationships when difficulties arise seem to be the thorniest. How, then, can success be achieved in maintaining a relationship, in this case, a marital relationship with one’s spouse? With all relationships—whether they be familial, social or marital—the same principles apply in maintaining them; namely, cooperation, flexibility of attitude, and above all else, communication. With these facets at play, mending a relationship can only be as easy as mending a broken bone –it takes time and patience. In a world full of divorce, an attempt at maintaining the sacred bond of union that is marriage is an utmost display of love, and the level of dedication of one’s partner.
In terms of marital relationships, our attitude in the early stages of marriage has an integral role to play in the outcome of it, whether for the better or worse. World renowned philosopher and psychologist William James had this to say regarding this correlation: “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome” (qtd. in BrainyQuote). Cooperation is seen by many as an act of submission to another’s will. The “man of the house” is culturally seen as the head of the family; therefore, his cooperation with his partner may be considered as a form of cowardice. As a result, many males, in order to fulfill the role society has placed upon them, have taken marriage as a dominion over which they can exert their rule. Cooperation is not an option. Things need to be done their way, or no way at all. On the other hand, owing to the modern uprising of extremist feminist groups with beliefs that women are better than their counterparts, certain women have become puffed up with pride, unwilling to accept the suggestions of their husbands, and viewing their role in the marriage arrangement as a demeaning one. These women often seek their own interests in a marriage and are prone to leave their husbands, feeling as though husbands are a burden. Clearly, both partners have a lot of work to do in protecting their marriage from cultural and societal influxes of negative, but pervasive, behaviours that have become the social norm of our time. In order to do so, cooperation is key. When both mates show a willingness to cooperate in a marriage, they are preserving it from the worldly attitudes advertised in our society. Another crucial aspect to maintaining one’s marriage, which goes hand-in-hand with cooperation, is the regulation of one’s attitude.
When single, one thinks selfishly. When married, however, the selfish attitude associated with singleness must change. Marriage is about union, togetherness, unification, blending, and so forth. It requires a unifying attitude rather than a selfish one. A marriage is a union of two people with differing traits, personalities, and attitudes. Often, these attitudes stem from deeply ingrained traditions, and changing them in order to please one’s mate is often where the problem lies. A realistic example of this occurs when a smoking man and a non-smoking woman are joined in marriage. Due to his wife’s abhorrence of this habit, the man will eventually have to give it up, or at least not smoke around his wife if he is to please her. Much more often, however, the smoker will hold on to his ways, refusing to change them as it has now become an ingrained habit, thereby causing marital dispute. If a marriage is to function smoothly, an attitude adjustment—such as quitting smoking when marrying a non-smoker—is essential to maintaining it. With all this in mind, the cultivation of all the aforementioned attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of a marriage cannot exist without communication. This element, which must be present in every marriage, is one which, if cultivated, leads to the cultivation of all others contributing factors in the preservation of a marriage.
In terms of marriage, communication implies a wholesome interchange of thoughts and ideas between the married couple. Though many couples would describe communication as being important to a happy marriage, cultivating it is a great challenge. One of the hindrances to wholesome communication within a marriage is a fear of how one’s companion will react to certain information or ambition. To illustrate: A mate finds out of a certain impending disability which will alter the way in which their partner will view them. A fear of rejection might cause them not wanting to communicate this information with their partner. A second hindrance to avid communication in a marriage is distrust. This sentiment could emerge if one’s mate is known for gossiping their intimate thoughts to others or belittling their communicated feelings, thereby making it hard to communicate with such a partner, knowing that their reaction will only worsen the situation. The third, and perhaps deadliest, hindrance to wholesome communication in a marital setting is the silent treatment. One dictionary describes this act as an instance of maintaining silence or aloofness toward another person, especially as a means of indicating disapproval or rejection. Often, speaking out one’s innermost feelings about something in a frank manner tends to do more in maintaining the relationship than remaining silent. Knowing these obstacles of communication, then, helps us to know how to promote wholesome communication within a marriage; namely, by maintaining confidence, trust, and a mutual understanding. With these three aspects in mind, marital communication, and by extension marriage itself, can be preserved.
With divorces so prevalent in today’s marriages, is maintaining a marriage till death do us part really realistic? The answer could be yes, but only if these three principles are at play in a marriage: having a willingness to cooperate, regulating and adjusting one’s attitude, and most importantly, wholesome communication. Though societal norms would have us believe that cooperation is a sign of cowardice, in a marriage, it is a display of love. Regulating one’s attitude may require time, as some attitudes have become ingrained in one’s day-to-day life. A willingness and flexibility to change these attitudes in order to please one’s mate is a great demonstration of a desire to maintain the marriage. Finally, there are many hindrances to marital communication—fear of a mate’s reaction, distrust, and the silent treatment, just to name a few—which can be detrimental to a marriage if allowed. Promoting confidence, trust, and a mutual understanding in a marriage can help married couples overcome these hindrances. The 21st century has perhaps the most recorded number of worldwide divorces in history, most because of impulsive choices of partners. A question worth considering, then, is how can one choose a suitable marriage mate. Equally pressing is the question: does choosing such a mate guarantee a joyful marriage?
References
"William James." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2011. October 3, 2011.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamjam157168.html
In terms of marital relationships, our attitude in the early stages of marriage has an integral role to play in the outcome of it, whether for the better or worse. World renowned philosopher and psychologist William James had this to say regarding this correlation: “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome” (qtd. in BrainyQuote). Cooperation is seen by many as an act of submission to another’s will. The “man of the house” is culturally seen as the head of the family; therefore, his cooperation with his partner may be considered as a form of cowardice. As a result, many males, in order to fulfill the role society has placed upon them, have taken marriage as a dominion over which they can exert their rule. Cooperation is not an option. Things need to be done their way, or no way at all. On the other hand, owing to the modern uprising of extremist feminist groups with beliefs that women are better than their counterparts, certain women have become puffed up with pride, unwilling to accept the suggestions of their husbands, and viewing their role in the marriage arrangement as a demeaning one. These women often seek their own interests in a marriage and are prone to leave their husbands, feeling as though husbands are a burden. Clearly, both partners have a lot of work to do in protecting their marriage from cultural and societal influxes of negative, but pervasive, behaviours that have become the social norm of our time. In order to do so, cooperation is key. When both mates show a willingness to cooperate in a marriage, they are preserving it from the worldly attitudes advertised in our society. Another crucial aspect to maintaining one’s marriage, which goes hand-in-hand with cooperation, is the regulation of one’s attitude.
When single, one thinks selfishly. When married, however, the selfish attitude associated with singleness must change. Marriage is about union, togetherness, unification, blending, and so forth. It requires a unifying attitude rather than a selfish one. A marriage is a union of two people with differing traits, personalities, and attitudes. Often, these attitudes stem from deeply ingrained traditions, and changing them in order to please one’s mate is often where the problem lies. A realistic example of this occurs when a smoking man and a non-smoking woman are joined in marriage. Due to his wife’s abhorrence of this habit, the man will eventually have to give it up, or at least not smoke around his wife if he is to please her. Much more often, however, the smoker will hold on to his ways, refusing to change them as it has now become an ingrained habit, thereby causing marital dispute. If a marriage is to function smoothly, an attitude adjustment—such as quitting smoking when marrying a non-smoker—is essential to maintaining it. With all this in mind, the cultivation of all the aforementioned attitudes which contribute to the maintenance of a marriage cannot exist without communication. This element, which must be present in every marriage, is one which, if cultivated, leads to the cultivation of all others contributing factors in the preservation of a marriage.
In terms of marriage, communication implies a wholesome interchange of thoughts and ideas between the married couple. Though many couples would describe communication as being important to a happy marriage, cultivating it is a great challenge. One of the hindrances to wholesome communication within a marriage is a fear of how one’s companion will react to certain information or ambition. To illustrate: A mate finds out of a certain impending disability which will alter the way in which their partner will view them. A fear of rejection might cause them not wanting to communicate this information with their partner. A second hindrance to avid communication in a marriage is distrust. This sentiment could emerge if one’s mate is known for gossiping their intimate thoughts to others or belittling their communicated feelings, thereby making it hard to communicate with such a partner, knowing that their reaction will only worsen the situation. The third, and perhaps deadliest, hindrance to wholesome communication in a marital setting is the silent treatment. One dictionary describes this act as an instance of maintaining silence or aloofness toward another person, especially as a means of indicating disapproval or rejection. Often, speaking out one’s innermost feelings about something in a frank manner tends to do more in maintaining the relationship than remaining silent. Knowing these obstacles of communication, then, helps us to know how to promote wholesome communication within a marriage; namely, by maintaining confidence, trust, and a mutual understanding. With these three aspects in mind, marital communication, and by extension marriage itself, can be preserved.
With divorces so prevalent in today’s marriages, is maintaining a marriage till death do us part really realistic? The answer could be yes, but only if these three principles are at play in a marriage: having a willingness to cooperate, regulating and adjusting one’s attitude, and most importantly, wholesome communication. Though societal norms would have us believe that cooperation is a sign of cowardice, in a marriage, it is a display of love. Regulating one’s attitude may require time, as some attitudes have become ingrained in one’s day-to-day life. A willingness and flexibility to change these attitudes in order to please one’s mate is a great demonstration of a desire to maintain the marriage. Finally, there are many hindrances to marital communication—fear of a mate’s reaction, distrust, and the silent treatment, just to name a few—which can be detrimental to a marriage if allowed. Promoting confidence, trust, and a mutual understanding in a marriage can help married couples overcome these hindrances. The 21st century has perhaps the most recorded number of worldwide divorces in history, most because of impulsive choices of partners. A question worth considering, then, is how can one choose a suitable marriage mate. Equally pressing is the question: does choosing such a mate guarantee a joyful marriage?
References
"William James." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2011. October 3, 2011.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamjam157168.html
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Is France’s cure for the ‘Roma problem’ justified?
France is acknowledged all around the world for being “the country of human rights” as the creator of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. France has always been deliberated as a model and often has something to say when a country violates someone else’s fundamental rights.
However, the French government’s sense of equality and human rights has drastically changed under the rule of Nicolas Sarkozy. In early August of this year, 51 camps set up by Roma of eastern European origin (Bulgaria and Romania) were dismantled and the French government has further proclaimed the deportation of over 700 Roma people from the country.
The UN Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently pointed out France’s lack of political willingness to face up to a fresh upsurge of racist behaviour. The government’s reaction has been to state that “it is easy to teach a lesson but France does not have to receive any advice from other countries”…. Is this in bad faith?
These deportations have created a maelstrom of debate in France, and have now exploded into an issue of European concern. Last week Justice Commissioner Viviane Redding declared that the European Commission will now have ‘no choice’ but to bring about infringement proceedings against France for discrimination against Roma on the basis of their ethnic origin.
One of the arguments being used by the French government as a means of justifying the recent deportations of Romanies from France is the sanitary conditions in which the Roma community lives. The French government pointed out that it was inhuman not to act when these people were living in squatter communities, young women were being reportedly pushed into prostitution, children were forced to steal and babies were trained for begging.
But there is no reason to believe that any of these problems would be improved in their countries of origin. It is necessary to remind the French government of the situation faced by the Roma people in Eastern Europe where they have historically been victims of discrimination, subject to poor living conditions and prone to racist attacks from governmental forces.
Deportation is not the solution!
As European citizens, Roma people from Bulgaria and Romania who are removed are entitled to re-enter French territory, and they will probably try to do so immediately after their deportation from the country. In consequence, they will now have no other choice than to re-enter the country illegally—further exacerbating the ‘Roma problem’, and leaving the country with more than just a few squatters but with an overwhelming number of Roma people illegally settling in French communities.
Another way in which France could solve this problem is by helping the Roma people who are being deported out of the country to integrate into Romanian society. According to the Epoch Times, France has already begun acting on this plan. French officials urged Romania to design an emergency plan to integrate the Roma people being expelled from France."France will call for commitments on police and judiciary cooperation, the fight against human trafficking, and the integration of Roma in Romania, as part of a national emergency plan spanning 2010-2013," Lellouche told the media.
According to Lellouche, Roma are not integrated in Romania. But he promised that France would assist Romania to implement the emergency plan, including helping mobilize funds for social inclusion programs.
Immigration Minister Besson expressed France's openness to help solve the Roma issue through joint efforts at the European level.
References:
http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/migration-pulse/2010/deportation-roma-people-france-or-how-%09displace-problem-instead-solving-it
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/42377/
However, the French government’s sense of equality and human rights has drastically changed under the rule of Nicolas Sarkozy. In early August of this year, 51 camps set up by Roma of eastern European origin (Bulgaria and Romania) were dismantled and the French government has further proclaimed the deportation of over 700 Roma people from the country.
The UN Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently pointed out France’s lack of political willingness to face up to a fresh upsurge of racist behaviour. The government’s reaction has been to state that “it is easy to teach a lesson but France does not have to receive any advice from other countries”…. Is this in bad faith?
These deportations have created a maelstrom of debate in France, and have now exploded into an issue of European concern. Last week Justice Commissioner Viviane Redding declared that the European Commission will now have ‘no choice’ but to bring about infringement proceedings against France for discrimination against Roma on the basis of their ethnic origin.
One of the arguments being used by the French government as a means of justifying the recent deportations of Romanies from France is the sanitary conditions in which the Roma community lives. The French government pointed out that it was inhuman not to act when these people were living in squatter communities, young women were being reportedly pushed into prostitution, children were forced to steal and babies were trained for begging.
But there is no reason to believe that any of these problems would be improved in their countries of origin. It is necessary to remind the French government of the situation faced by the Roma people in Eastern Europe where they have historically been victims of discrimination, subject to poor living conditions and prone to racist attacks from governmental forces.
Deportation is not the solution!
As European citizens, Roma people from Bulgaria and Romania who are removed are entitled to re-enter French territory, and they will probably try to do so immediately after their deportation from the country. In consequence, they will now have no other choice than to re-enter the country illegally—further exacerbating the ‘Roma problem’, and leaving the country with more than just a few squatters but with an overwhelming number of Roma people illegally settling in French communities.
Another way in which France could solve this problem is by helping the Roma people who are being deported out of the country to integrate into Romanian society. According to the Epoch Times, France has already begun acting on this plan. French officials urged Romania to design an emergency plan to integrate the Roma people being expelled from France."France will call for commitments on police and judiciary cooperation, the fight against human trafficking, and the integration of Roma in Romania, as part of a national emergency plan spanning 2010-2013," Lellouche told the media.
According to Lellouche, Roma are not integrated in Romania. But he promised that France would assist Romania to implement the emergency plan, including helping mobilize funds for social inclusion programs.
Immigration Minister Besson expressed France's openness to help solve the Roma issue through joint efforts at the European level.
References:
http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/migration-pulse/2010/deportation-roma-people-france-or-how-%09displace-problem-instead-solving-it
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/42377/
Monday, April 11, 2011
Emulating Classic Short Stories- Girl by Jamaica Kincaid
Girl by Jamaica Kincaid
Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline to dry; don't walk barehead in the hot sun; cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil; soak your little cloths right after you take them off; when buying cotton to make yourself a nice blouse, be sure that it doesn't have gum on it, because that way it won't hold up well after a wash; soak salt fish overnight before you cook it; is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?; always eat your food in such a way that it won't turn someone else's stomach; on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming; don't sing benna in Sunday school; you mustn't speak to wharf–rat boys, not even to give directions; don't eat fruits on the street—flies will follow you; but I don't sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school; this is how to sew on a button; this is how to make a button–hole for the button you have just sewed on; this is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming; this is how you iron your father's khaki shirt so that it doesn't have a crease; this is how you iron your father's khaki pants so that they don't have a crease; this is how you grow okra—far from the house, because okra tree harbors red ants; when you are growing dasheen, make sure it gets plenty of water or else it makes your throat itch when you are eating it; this is how you sweep a corner; this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard; this is how you smile to someone you don't like too much; this is how you smile to someone you don't like at all; this is how you smile to someone you like completely; this is how you set a table for tea; this is how you set a table for dinner; this is how you set a table for dinner with an important guest; this is how you set a table for lunch; this is how you set a table for breakfast; this is how to behave in the presence of men who don't know you very well, and this way they won't recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming; be sure to wash every day, even if it is with your own spit; don't squat down to play marbles—you are not a boy, you know; don't pick people's flowers—you might catch something; don't throw stones at blackbirds, because it might not be a blackbird at all; this is how to make a bread pudding; this is how to make doukona; this is how to make pepper pot; this is how to make a good medicine for a cold; this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child; this is how to catch a fish; this is how to throw back a fish you don't like, and that way something bad won't fall on you; this is how to bully a man; this is how a man bullies you; this is how to love a man; and if this doesn't work there are other ways, and if they don't work don't feel too bad about giving up; this is how to spit up in the air if you feel like it, and this is how to move quick so that it doesn't fall on you; this is how to make ends meet; always squeeze bread to make sure it's fresh; but what if the baker won't let me feel the bread?; you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won't let near the bread?
Boy by Keto Sackie
Brush your teeth every morning so as not to drive away your friends; bathe every morning so as not to carry a strong odour because no girl likes a stinky man; do not play with girls because they are very manipulative; always thank your mother for the food; this is how you change the oil; this is how you change the oil properly so the car does not give out; this is how you set the microwave; this is how you change a car tire; this is how you pitch a tent; this is how you fire a gun; this is how to fire a gun accurately to kill that noisy Mockingbird; this is how you iron your dress pants; this is how to behave in front of men; this is how to behave in front of women; this is how to get a girl; this is how to dump a girl; this is how to fake remembering your girlfriend’s birthday; this is how to actually remember you girlfriend’s birthday; but I don’t have a girlfriend; this is how to dump a girl without hurting her feelings; this is how to survive a shopping trip with your girlfriend; this is how to fix a leaking pipe; this is how to tie a tie; this is how to tie a bowtie; this is how to listen to your girlfriend while watching the football game; this is how to look at hot women without being caught by your girlfriend; this is how to dress well when you need to and slob it up when you don’t; this is how to win at least one hand of poker against your friends; this is how to thrash a few geeks on Call of Duty 4 on Xbox Live; this is how to beat (at least) one of your friends at arm wrestling; this is how to throw a mean left/right hook; this is how to take a mean left/right hook; this is how to survive a bear attack; this is how to hold your own in a boxing ring; this is how to save a child from being hit by a speeding car; this is how to never forget valentine’s day; this is how to shave like a man; this is how to chop logs with an axe for firewood; this is how to fasten your zipper when no one’s looking; this is how to bet (and win) on a horse/dog race; this is how to crush beer cans with your bare hands; this is how to be “The Man”; this is how to act like you’re not a gay little bitch; this is how to be a “manly man”; but what if I don’t want to be a “manly man”?; you mean to tell me that after all I’ve taught you you’re still going to be a sissy little bitch?
Wash the white clothes on Monday and put them on the stone heap; wash the color clothes on Tuesday and put them on the clothesline to dry; don't walk barehead in the hot sun; cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil; soak your little cloths right after you take them off; when buying cotton to make yourself a nice blouse, be sure that it doesn't have gum on it, because that way it won't hold up well after a wash; soak salt fish overnight before you cook it; is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?; always eat your food in such a way that it won't turn someone else's stomach; on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming; don't sing benna in Sunday school; you mustn't speak to wharf–rat boys, not even to give directions; don't eat fruits on the street—flies will follow you; but I don't sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school; this is how to sew on a button; this is how to make a button–hole for the button you have just sewed on; this is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down and so to prevent yourself from looking like the slut I know you are so bent on becoming; this is how you iron your father's khaki shirt so that it doesn't have a crease; this is how you iron your father's khaki pants so that they don't have a crease; this is how you grow okra—far from the house, because okra tree harbors red ants; when you are growing dasheen, make sure it gets plenty of water or else it makes your throat itch when you are eating it; this is how you sweep a corner; this is how you sweep a whole house; this is how you sweep a yard; this is how you smile to someone you don't like too much; this is how you smile to someone you don't like at all; this is how you smile to someone you like completely; this is how you set a table for tea; this is how you set a table for dinner; this is how you set a table for dinner with an important guest; this is how you set a table for lunch; this is how you set a table for breakfast; this is how to behave in the presence of men who don't know you very well, and this way they won't recognize immediately the slut I have warned you against becoming; be sure to wash every day, even if it is with your own spit; don't squat down to play marbles—you are not a boy, you know; don't pick people's flowers—you might catch something; don't throw stones at blackbirds, because it might not be a blackbird at all; this is how to make a bread pudding; this is how to make doukona; this is how to make pepper pot; this is how to make a good medicine for a cold; this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child; this is how to catch a fish; this is how to throw back a fish you don't like, and that way something bad won't fall on you; this is how to bully a man; this is how a man bullies you; this is how to love a man; and if this doesn't work there are other ways, and if they don't work don't feel too bad about giving up; this is how to spit up in the air if you feel like it, and this is how to move quick so that it doesn't fall on you; this is how to make ends meet; always squeeze bread to make sure it's fresh; but what if the baker won't let me feel the bread?; you mean to say that after all you are really going to be the kind of woman who the baker won't let near the bread?
Boy by Keto Sackie
Brush your teeth every morning so as not to drive away your friends; bathe every morning so as not to carry a strong odour because no girl likes a stinky man; do not play with girls because they are very manipulative; always thank your mother for the food; this is how you change the oil; this is how you change the oil properly so the car does not give out; this is how you set the microwave; this is how you change a car tire; this is how you pitch a tent; this is how you fire a gun; this is how to fire a gun accurately to kill that noisy Mockingbird; this is how you iron your dress pants; this is how to behave in front of men; this is how to behave in front of women; this is how to get a girl; this is how to dump a girl; this is how to fake remembering your girlfriend’s birthday; this is how to actually remember you girlfriend’s birthday; but I don’t have a girlfriend; this is how to dump a girl without hurting her feelings; this is how to survive a shopping trip with your girlfriend; this is how to fix a leaking pipe; this is how to tie a tie; this is how to tie a bowtie; this is how to listen to your girlfriend while watching the football game; this is how to look at hot women without being caught by your girlfriend; this is how to dress well when you need to and slob it up when you don’t; this is how to win at least one hand of poker against your friends; this is how to thrash a few geeks on Call of Duty 4 on Xbox Live; this is how to beat (at least) one of your friends at arm wrestling; this is how to throw a mean left/right hook; this is how to take a mean left/right hook; this is how to survive a bear attack; this is how to hold your own in a boxing ring; this is how to save a child from being hit by a speeding car; this is how to never forget valentine’s day; this is how to shave like a man; this is how to chop logs with an axe for firewood; this is how to fasten your zipper when no one’s looking; this is how to bet (and win) on a horse/dog race; this is how to crush beer cans with your bare hands; this is how to be “The Man”; this is how to act like you’re not a gay little bitch; this is how to be a “manly man”; but what if I don’t want to be a “manly man”?; you mean to tell me that after all I’ve taught you you’re still going to be a sissy little bitch?
Josh Sixpack- A Tragic High School Narrative
There stands Josh Sixpack. He requested his parents change his last name to Sixpack probably because he had a sixpack since he was two years old. He stands seven feet tall over the rest of the world looking upon his schoolmates as simply peasants living in his royal Sixpack Kingdom. Josh is no doubt the desire of all the female students attending Westdale (or so he thinks) and is the master of all things athletic, joining over five teams. Josh walks in a pompous manner probably due to his accomplishments as the captain of the football team, leading them to OFSAA thrice. Miraculously, his oversized muscles seem to glisten in the sunlight. Josh is the King of his habitat and the Alpha male to all other male competitors. If we were in the animal kingdom, Josh would probably get all the female species of that Kingdom. His groupies seem to follow him without question and listen to every command uttered from his lips. These groupies, as compared to the animal kingdom, are like the inferior males who have joined the Alpha male knowing they will never surpass him. The female groupie are like female animals of a species who are attracted to the Alpha male because his presence with them increases their status in the kingdom and assures their acceptance by everyone in the kingdom.
In the jungle which is High School, Mr. Sixpack rules with an iron fist, recruiting new groupies to join his Sixpack clan and utterly humiliating anyone opposing his Sixpack rule. In the cafeteria, Sixpack’s table is positioned in a “special’ corner where only Sixpack groupies are allowed to sit. I wonder what would happen if anyone other than a Sixpack groupie dared to sit at that table. It sends shivers down my spine. While sitting from afar and watching King Sixpack in his natural habitat, I realize something rather astonishing. I wondered what would happen to Sixpack if his groupies left his side and how he would ever graduate from High School with so many ‘extra-curricular activities’ (temporary distractions) present in his life. At that moment I began to understand the pathetic life of Josh Sixpack.
I could even plan out his entire future from where I was sitting. In my mind, it goes something like this: he will probably fail to graduate High School because of his Extra-curricular activities with his groupie girlfriends who would soon chase the next heir to the Sixpack throne. He would then decide to play sports, probably in the NHL because he’s so pompous that he does not realize that professional football is at a whole new level than Canadian High School football. He would probably not even make it to his first game and would get injured severely during tryouts at training camp due to his rookie mistakes and would end up breaking his legs. This would put him helplessly in a wheelchair, thereby losing his football career. Soon after, he would seep to alcoholism as he cannot accept his overall failure in life. He would soon become envious of the other members of his Sixpack kingdom who are now paramedics, teachers, police officers, etc. He would then realize that they were busy looking after themselves and securing their future while he thought they were simply his goons. He would likely not be able to accept his newfound position in the scheme of things and would consider ending his life to cease this nightmare which should never befall someone of his social status. A poor girl who he tortured in High School due to her refusal to join his ranks would probably come to his rescue in pity of what he’s become. Anon, having no other option, he would marry the girl whom he tortured for so many years and would have little Sixpack children living on the corner of Barton Street East and James Street North.
Funny how the life of the once prosperous Sixpack, captain of the football team, leader of a pack, would result in the most tragic story one’s ever heard. Now, when Sixpack passes me in the hall with the most pretentiously arrogant smile on his face, I think of just how easily he could lose that self-important smile and it reassures me that things do change after High School. There’s a whole new world that doesn’t care whether you are a Sixpack or a Sixpack groupie or an outsider. A world that treats everyone equally no matter their High School status. I don’t think Josh Sixpack will be able to survive in such a world.
In the jungle which is High School, Mr. Sixpack rules with an iron fist, recruiting new groupies to join his Sixpack clan and utterly humiliating anyone opposing his Sixpack rule. In the cafeteria, Sixpack’s table is positioned in a “special’ corner where only Sixpack groupies are allowed to sit. I wonder what would happen if anyone other than a Sixpack groupie dared to sit at that table. It sends shivers down my spine. While sitting from afar and watching King Sixpack in his natural habitat, I realize something rather astonishing. I wondered what would happen to Sixpack if his groupies left his side and how he would ever graduate from High School with so many ‘extra-curricular activities’ (temporary distractions) present in his life. At that moment I began to understand the pathetic life of Josh Sixpack.
I could even plan out his entire future from where I was sitting. In my mind, it goes something like this: he will probably fail to graduate High School because of his Extra-curricular activities with his groupie girlfriends who would soon chase the next heir to the Sixpack throne. He would then decide to play sports, probably in the NHL because he’s so pompous that he does not realize that professional football is at a whole new level than Canadian High School football. He would probably not even make it to his first game and would get injured severely during tryouts at training camp due to his rookie mistakes and would end up breaking his legs. This would put him helplessly in a wheelchair, thereby losing his football career. Soon after, he would seep to alcoholism as he cannot accept his overall failure in life. He would soon become envious of the other members of his Sixpack kingdom who are now paramedics, teachers, police officers, etc. He would then realize that they were busy looking after themselves and securing their future while he thought they were simply his goons. He would likely not be able to accept his newfound position in the scheme of things and would consider ending his life to cease this nightmare which should never befall someone of his social status. A poor girl who he tortured in High School due to her refusal to join his ranks would probably come to his rescue in pity of what he’s become. Anon, having no other option, he would marry the girl whom he tortured for so many years and would have little Sixpack children living on the corner of Barton Street East and James Street North.
Funny how the life of the once prosperous Sixpack, captain of the football team, leader of a pack, would result in the most tragic story one’s ever heard. Now, when Sixpack passes me in the hall with the most pretentiously arrogant smile on his face, I think of just how easily he could lose that self-important smile and it reassures me that things do change after High School. There’s a whole new world that doesn’t care whether you are a Sixpack or a Sixpack groupie or an outsider. A world that treats everyone equally no matter their High School status. I don’t think Josh Sixpack will be able to survive in such a world.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Condom Ad. Campaign
So my Writer's Craft teacher (she who shall not be named) gave us a little writing prompt to do today involving making ads for different products hoping to lure viewers of a specific age group into buying the product. Here are a few me and Trent - also known as- the most hilarious guy I've ever met came up with for advertising condoms for people between the ages of 18-35.
Carpe diem Condoms:
- Safe is the new sexy- moments of pleasure not 9 months of torture
- Safe is the new sexy- make one-night stands stay that way
- Safe is the new sexy- live your life before you make another one
- Safe is the new sexy- accessorize your naked glory
- Safe is the new sexy- every gun has a holster
- Safe is the new sexy- do it right for you and her
- Children in the dark make mistakes, but mistakes in the dark make children
- Children in the dark make mistakes, but mistakes in the dark make children
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Half-Human/Half-Dogs?
Looks real doesn't it?
"The Young Family" by Patricia Piccinini
"The Young Family" by Patricia Piccinini
"The Young Family" by Patricia Piccinini
"The Young Family" by Patricia Piccinini
Is anyone as creaped out by these images as I am? It's actually not what you might be thinking. “The Young Family” is part of a series devoted to genetic engineering, tradition and our potential metamorphoses as result of rapid scientific and social change.These creatures were designed by Patricia Piccinini and created by teams of sculptors, painters and upholsterers. Beyond the mind-boggling technical aspects of her mixed media installations, Piccinini focuses on questioning science, humanity’s fading sense of acceptable reality and the discrepancies between physical and emotional beauty.
The sculpture puts on public display all the physical attributes denied in the days of plastic surgery, airbrushes and full-body waxes – fat, wrinkles, moles hairs and bumps. Their owner has her hands and feet curled up on themselves and lies in a semi-fetal position of defense and vulnerability, suggesting a kind of withdrawal from this display. At the same time, her humane demeanor and maternal generosity make these fleshly imperfections [for that is how we are socialized to see them] seem less important than acceptance and inclusiveness. Piccinni calls her “beautiful”, saying “she is not threatening, but a face you could love, and a face inloved with her family.
References:
http://www.patriciapiccinini.net/wearefamily/index.php?sec=yf&pg=01&sub=
http://coilhouse.net/2008/11/
Monday, March 28, 2011
CHOCOLATE SLAVERY IN THE IVORY COAST
Enslavement of children In the Ivory Coast
The truth behind chocolate is not-so-sweet. The Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer, providing 43% of the world's cocoa. And yet, in 2001 the U.S. State Department reported child slavery on many cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast. A 2002 report from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture about cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast and other African countries estimated there were 284,000 children working on cocoa farms in hazardous conditions. U.S. chocolate manufacturers have claimed they are not responsible for the conditions on cocoa plantations since they don't own them.
Chocolate comes from cocoa, and the cocoa supply is controlled by a small number of companies worldwide that are allowed to function with limited accountability. Hershey's and M&M/Mars alone control two-thirds of the $13 billion U.S. chocolate candy market. The result? An industry marred with child slavery, unsafe working conditions and a cycle of poverty with no end in sight for cocoa farmers. Chocolate companies are not held accountable for sourcing practices, and despite their knowledge about the travesties that occur on cocoa farms, they lack the will to change. due to the latter sobering fact, more children are being abducted as slaves in the production of Chocolate for the Western world. Ivory Coast, being the biggest cocoa producer in the world, also has one of the highest rates of child labour in the world (as shown in the above YouTube video).
References:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49bRA_0Z6o4&feature=player_embedded#at=13
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Turmoil in Japan- Earthquake,Tsunami, Nuclear Crisis
March – 11 – 2011 was a scary day especially for the Japanese Nation when an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan with massive aftershocks. This was the fifth highest magnitude earthquake in history. The earthquake has not caused much destruction but the destruction was done by the resulting tsunami flood caused by the earthquake. This flood has cost Japan Billions of Dollars and has taken the lives of many of its inhabitants. More than that, the situation gets worse as the massive earthquake and following tsunami crippled a nuclear power station, raising the risk of uncontrolled radiation. Radioactivity levels are soaring in seawater near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant, Japan's nuclear safety agency said on Saturday, two weeks after the nuclear power plant was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami. The nuclear crisis has added to the misery and uncertainty facing Japan in the wake of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami.
Below are photos showing the devastating results of Japan's earthquakes and tsunami.
Below are photos showing the devastating results of Japan's earthquakes and tsunami.
"It's astonishing how powerful nature's vagaries are compared to even the most advanced of mankind's civilizations."
References:
Friday, March 4, 2011
Lady Gaga- Fashionista or Fraud?
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Lady Gaga- "The Fame Monster" Lina Morgana |
Lady Gaga stands to be the iconic symbol of a freakshow this generation has ever seen and is admired as such. With catchy song titles such as "The anthem of little monsters", "Runaway", and "Money Honey", Lady Gaga has invaded the minds of all teens in the world. Whether you are a fan of hers or not, you are continuously bombarded by the lyrics of her songs which somehow seems to never leave one's mind. The most influential aspect of Lady Gaga's character, however, is not her catchy lyrics, it is her apparent sense of fashion which intrigues the minds of her "little monsters". Basically, Gaga excuses her horrible fashion sense with art. She says she doesn't want to be just another pop singer like Brittney Spears who seduces her male audience with sexy outfits and hormone-raging poses; her fashion sense is meant to make guys think: "I don’t know if this is sexy or just weird." This generation of teens is partly to blame for Gaga's fame as anyone with a strange new form of art is now considered to be an icon of this generation and is greatly admired by the teens as they now have someone with whom they can relate. Gaga has preyed on the naivety of today's teens by giving them a new and daring form of art by means of her fashion and plans to exploit them to the best of her ability as these teens are also the ones buying her albums, landing her to the top of the charts in the music industry. Lady Gaga has not only exploited the naivety of the teen mind, she has also exploited the talent of many musicians like Madonna, David Bowie and Grace Jones (having visible traces of their music and persona in her albums);The most recent of her exploits is Lina Morgana, a late indie singer. The mother of this singer has released a very telling video to YouTube, comparing photographs of her late daughter, with rip-offs her old friend, Lady Gaga went on to release. The video shows Lady Gaga and her producer, Rob Fusari, who was Morgana's writing partner, to be complete frauds. Morgana killed herself a few years ago, by jumping off the roof of a New York hotel. A year later, Lady Gaga, released her debut and ripped-off the deceased singer's image and persona. It's very sad and pathetic, what some do to be famous.
With her exploits of today's teens as well as that of other musicians, Lady Gaga has proven to be one of the greatest frauds the music industry has ever seen; and with the support of this generation's teens, she continues to profit off her stolen music as well as her ridiculously creepy sense of fashion. No matter how the rest of the world sees her, I see her as nothing more than a fraud.
References:
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