Canada At War

Although we have a election and our officials cannot be actively involved in the war in Libya Canadians still need to have a adult conversation on this.

This needs to be brought up during the election campaign and Canada must come up with a exit strategy. We cannot be left to spearhead this war when we are still trying to deal with Afghanistan.

Robert Munsch's "Love you Forever"

I'm sure many of us have had some of those all time favorite childhood books that we loved as a child as well as now, no matter how old we get. Some of us may have loved books specifically by that one author who always had that charm in his or her books. I had quite a few books on my list as a child..you name it, from "Sleeping Beauty" to "Hansel and Gretel" and "Jack and the Beanstalk". However, one author whom I loved so much as a child and can never forget would definitely be Robert Munsch. There's a never-ending-list of his books that I read as a child and mind you there wasn't one that I would allow my mother to give away or pass on to my relatives even when I grew up. One of the most memorable books that always really touches me deeply is "Love you Forever" by Robert Munsch. Even a few days ago I took it out and started reading it aloud. I know that there's so much repetition in it but despite the repetition I feel so touched every time Munsch repeats the lines "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be." The story is basically about a mother who rocked her baby boy back and forth in bed at night time when he's be asleep and she did that even when he grew up and by the ending she gets so old and sick and that's when the son rocks his mother back and forth and repeats those lines and when he has a daughter he repeats the lines in her ear just like his mother did to him when he was a baby.

Now one might think well it's just a normal old children's book so what? To me it just doesn't really end there because if you think about it there's a much stronger message in it which is the message of true love and bonding between parents and children. I would like to reconsider everything that's happening in our Canadian society these days how juveniles are causing trouble and parents getting frustrated at them and kicking them out of the house (I know because I've seen this happen in a family in my old neighborhood). OR parents getting so frustrated at a point where they just use the "silent treatment" but the truth is these things don't help the situation in fact in most cases it makes the scenario worse. I feel that it's love that helps mend distances together between parents and children. You don't believe me? Well go for yourself and pick this book up and see how Munsch describes the son in "Love you Forever" as a rebellious teen and yet still the mother treats him with love and I feel that by doing so she shows the son that she really cares about him and wouldn't ever want him to be harmed and that is why we see the mature depiction of the son when he comes to his mom's house and rocks her back and forth because he knows she's done this the whole time while he was growing up. The lesson here is that the love of parents will touch their children's hearts and they will return....and distances will disappear between parents and their children.

I Know I'm not Alone

I know...I know it's that time of the year again..end of March and well almost beginning of APRIL...and I know I'm not alone. University life around this time is really a killer. I just had an exam today, tomorrow I have a group presentation and the day after that I have my final essay due for a class. Sometimes I feel that I need a break from all of this. Here in Canada we don't even have many snow days like America because there, the students would have snow days like every other day and here in Canada we literally go to school or university even through snow blizzards. Well technically we only had one snow day last month in February but not like I could have caught on much of my school work. It's a little frustrating when I realize that even during reading week I tried to do as much as I could yet it still wasn't much of a "productive" week so to speak. If we had random snow days I feel that I could have used them wisely because I would keep in mind that technically it's a school day but because of the snow blizzard out there I still have to study just as if I were to be at school. I feel that I've fell behind on some of my assignments and it panics me just thinking about it...but I know I'm not alone because many of my fellow classmates and other students at York are going through the same hectic school work load. The professors and T.A's have high expectations for us to get in our assignments on time..to do well on the exams...to contribute for class participation..on and on and on. But..I know I'm not alone. When this time of the year comes about, I feel so overwhelmed by school work and exams coming up that I don't know where to get started...I waste time thinking....I waste time listening to music...I procrastinate overall...and I know I'm not alone.

When I've completed my assignments and handed them in...when I studied for my exams and wrote it the next day..I wait and I wait because now only one thing matters and that's my grades. All kinds of questions like "Oh my God, I hope I did an exceptional job on my final essay.." OR "I hope I got a good mark on my exam!" At this point, all that matters is HOW well I did for each of my classes and yet I still stand because I know I'm not alone. Everybody or at least the majority of my fellow colleagues are in the same boat which gives me hope and encouragement knowing that others are facing the same adversities in their academic life just like me...it calms me down because...I know I'm not alone.

Green Canada

Can this be the year the Green Party through Elizabeth May finally get a seat in Parliament? If nothing changes in Parliament it would be interesting to see the Green Party even with one seat to influence Parliament. The Green Party of Canada has maintained support around 8-10% of the popular vote. Many Canadians, not just environmentalists but citizens dissatisfied with all the mainstream Canadian parties have voted Green.

Could this be the year the Green Party get's their foot in the door? It certainly would be interesting.

Immigrants Attacking One Another

I recently read an article called "Bitches On All Sides" that at first glance appeared to me as a man going through a mid life crisis. The protagonist is losing his hair, always angry, and in a negative place overall. As the setting is centered on a small town, it was easy to connect to the loneliness felt by Ramjohn. Dealing with a massive flood of immigrants from the West Indies to smaller towns, there is a lessened chance of illegal immigrants being caught as well as being disadvanatged in other forms; such as employment. Several issues stood out to me. There appears to be more of an oppurtunity back home despite Canada's ideal of being a place for an immigrant to flourish. Certain migrants such as Ramjohn are excluded as their education isn't recognized by Canadian standards. The government sees race and culture before intellect. A huge contradiction happens seeing as how they are liberal with their want and acceptance of multiculturalism. There is an immediate profiling before an individual is given a chance. This only makes sense to the height of Ramjohn's anger. He is seen as a second class citizen by his peers. Furthermore, every group that does not fit the hegemonic model is ignored and discriminated against. There is a perpetuation of hate. Once this happens, it's not far off that immigrants will start to judge one another in matters of who is worth the oppurtunity. This article highlighted the steps towards "various types of brown" being critiqued. Ramjohn is angered that the women all around him are employed. He feels emasculated that he cannot find work while others can. This plays out in a weird dream sequence where is penis breaks off. Being a prime sign of "what makes a man a man", his maleness is dissapearing. All in all, it was an oddly interesting read. However, the fact that his problems are solved by uniting with a woman of equal nature doesnt exactly challenge the political/social rules that constrict him. Would have been nice to see some form of rebellion.

Religion and its Impact on Individuals

I often contemplate over this whole idea of identity just because it's interesting to consider how different people prioritize certain things in their lives. Now, first of all, to me personally, identity doesn't just end within the boundaries of our name, sex, age, height, hair color, and social insurance number so on and so forth. If you look at identity from a broader perspective then it becomes essential for us to look beyond especially in our Canadian culture where multiculturalism comes into the picture. So if we were to look at the broader picture we would notice how things like our education, cultural background, family, and religion come into play something I will be talking about today.
So religion to me is something that plays an active role in molding part of our lives since it's something we would generally practice IF we follow one. For me as an individual, small things like praying, doing good things in general to other human beings, donating money for new infrastructure in my community are things I do which automatically make me practice my religion since my religion requires me to do certain things if I want to be a good Muslim and a good human being. Religion in my opinion establishes one's moral character because from what I know, I think any religion whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, and Buddhism (and many other religions that I might have forgotten to mention) generally revolve around primary ground rules that teach the followers of that religion to be good human beings and be kind to others. There are however many other teachings to different religions but of course I'm not going to be talking about them. Anyway the main point here is that no matter what religion it is, I feel that goodness is always there and it's expected to be performed by believers of many faiths. So that performance of goodness on one's part enhances their moral character which in turn leaves a person with a good identity.

Can these Canadian Drivers even Drive?

Sometimes I wonder who even passed these drivers when really their driving skills are terrible! I mean it really makes me stop and wait for a few minutes and think about some people who seriously need to go back and start off right from G1 so that they can learn the proper rules to drive. So that they actually know what each sign means...what they're expected to do on a green light, a red light so on and so forth. I would have many examples to give if I ever got started on this topic. For example, today I was on the bus to York and right at Highway 7 and Interchange Way as the bus was crossing the green light, a car was slowly taking a right turn when clearly the driver could see that the bus had the first right to cross the green light and then the car could have taken a right turn when there weren't any other vehicles following the bus. But no...some drivers are always in a hurry as if they're in a race. Because of a small mistake there could have been a serious accident today, thank the Lord the bus driver honked so loudly at the car and gave a frustrated "what-on-Earth-are-you-doing?" look. Another time one of my co-workers told me how she was at Vaughan Mills and she was taking a left turn on one of the major intersections and mind you those big intersections are very jammed especially during rush hour so you have to drive very carefully. Anyway so she explained how she was taking a left turn and a guy was coming at full speed from the opposite direction she literally thought she would crash into his car because it seemed as if he couldn't even stop his car just because he was driving way too fast. Thankfully she had crossed just in time to let him pass by and crash into whatever he wanted...because quite frankly drivers like that deserve it. these kind of drivers think they rule the roads and they can go over the speed limit but they never consider that this might take another person's life away. However, I can only hope for people to become better drivers so there could be less accidents and less people getting injured and dying.

Canadians are Lazy and Ignorant

It's official Canadians are headed to the polls in May and now I have to ask myself a few questions. First, how many Canadians even care that were having election? That the government was defeated? What a motion of non-confidence is and how it relates to the government being in contempt of Parliament which was the first time in the British Parliamentary system. I could consider questions like the difference between a corruption scandal and say abusing our democratic system. What does it mean to lie to Parliament? Does it matter if the Speaker of the House rules against the government or what about all those high level public servants that are protesting? What do Canadians really care about?

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says Canadians care about their pocket books (the economy) and the musings of Parliament mean nothing. I think this is a horrendous comment to say considering that he means that Canadian citizens do not care about our democratic institutions. Yet, I actually believe him. The government has constantly stayed ahead in the opinion polls despite numerous scandals and abuses of power. Shutting down Parliament, a minister lying on a oath, changing Canadian government to "Harper government", claiming that Statistics Canada supported removing the short-form census when only after the CEO of Stat's Canada had to resign and say the government was lying and removing various public officials who did not support government policy and the list goes on and I am not even including the recent electoral funding scandals.

But Canadians are ignorant...

We must be if we cannot see what is right in front of our eyes. Do we need the government to literally kick the Governor General out of the highest chair just so we can understand? Granted when the Liberals were corrupt they paid for it but we can let the Conservatives have a pass? Is it really because the government has handled the economy so successfully in this uncertain time. Now we can argue into the week on which government is responsible for "fixing the economy." But Canadians seem really cocky that our banks did not collapse which is contributed to the government and not say the Bank Act (1874) which set up strict standards for our banking system.

Canadians are also lazy...

We make fun of Americans for starting a movement like the Tea Party but you know what at least when they are not satisfied they do something beyond turning a blind eye and sitting on the couch. Canadians have done this in the past with the rise of the CCF during the Great Depression, the Reform Party and the Bloc Quebecois. Now we just complain about everything and do not do anything about it.

At least vote if your going to moan and if you do not think any party matches your beliefs then start your own party. Last time we checked a little more then 40% of the population did the same thing. That's a lot of potential supporters.

How I can be positive about my fellow citizen when they do not even understand the basic system we live under? Health care is important but so are issues of gender, class, race, sexual orientation and place of origin.

Some people will claim I am harsh yet they do not want to face the truth. We do live under peace, order and good government but that mean's we should be a check on that. We have a responsibility to keep government in line. This means every citizen not just the chattering classes.

I want someone to prove me wrong.

Yet come this May electoral support may even dip below 50%. After all, it must be more important to get that third Tim Horton's coffee then to think about one's country.

Thinking about one's country.

It sound's so strange and radical but it might just make us a better country. Besides you can only roll your eyes so many times in one day.

What's happening to the Weather???

Strangely enough when I woke up this morning I saw that snow had covered the outside of my bedroom window. I thought to myself hey it's March alright and just last week the weather had started to cool down and snow had completely vanished then where did this snow come from overnight???? It was the weirdest thing because once the snow goes away it feels as if it's not really suppose to come back because mind you isn't it SPRING already??? Why of course the snow is going to seem out of place right? Not that I'm trying to say that snow sucks, in fact I love snow and it you know it sort of cheers me up! The only downside of this strange weather which goes from cool to cold and back to cool again is that it makes people really sick. But I won't even blame the weather because I notice that people start wearing t-shirts the second they feel the spring breeze hit. I feel that people need to be more careful with the changing weather because one thing confirmed about Toronto is the weird weather trend going on lately which I really don't seem to understand because one day it feels so beautiful and breezy and the next day I feel the strong wind pushing the snow so hard in your face as if needles are poking their way through your skin. Regardless, we can all cross our fingers and hope for the weather forecast to say that once and for all the weather is going to remain stable right through summer, because I don't know about others but I'm definitely sick of this changing weather day after day!

The Filipino Experience in Canada

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-philippines-now-canadas-top-source-of-immigrants/article1948315/
A interesting article highlighting the growing population of one of Canada's least publicized minorities outside the The Live-In Caregiver Program which most Canadians do not understand.

I think the author seems to forget how woman are treated in that program or income gap between "white" Canadians and visible minorities. A few success stories does not make up for the education gap the authors talks about near the end of the piece.

St.Patrick's Day

St.Patrick’s day is meant to be the celebration of its named saint who was the patron and national apostle of Ireland. Apparently, he is credited for bringing Christianity to the country. While adults and university students celebrate by chugging as much green beer as possible, it is meant to be a day for thinking about loved ones and uniting with family. People within the streets of Canada have spread the cheer which falls upon the 17th of March. Most places tend to close on this day while pubs and restaurants strategically stay open to have as many individuals come in and generate some serious income. Even the on campus pubs were packed tight. The holiday really does bring people together. Even on a school campus, you are interacting with people from different walks of life for the same reason. It’s a great opportunity to be Irish for the day and have some fun. It had become a tradition entrenched in Canadian culture. Why, the proof is in the numerous Irish pubs that seem to be emerging everywhere each year. Even Toronto has a central Irish presence in the heart of Cabbage town. The name is even derived from the Irish immigrants who moved to the neighborhood during the late 1840’s. Apparently but not surprisingly at the time, the flow of individuals were so poor that they had to grow cabbage in front of their yards. Though individuals at the time were suffering gentrification from professionals and the upper class already settled, the area today has developed into an even mix of class and pride.

My Tribute To Canada..Via Poetry

They Call Us The Frigid North....

Skating, snowboarding, we dominate winter sports,
An excess of snow, we never fall short,

Our healthcare united,
an eye for an eye,
Citizens need no worry,
A short wait time is what we abide by,

Can't forget football, A treasure to my heart,
Forget the Toronto Argo's, it has been the Saskatchewan RoughRiders
right from the start,
Fumbles, turnovers, getting into the game,
Americans will contend our leagues
are no where near the same.

Forget the drama in politics with Stephen Harper and his suck ups,
Our education needs help, tuitions are a muck up,
Full time summer work should be against the law,
Sunshine, flowers, real nature is this raw,

Of course can't forget what makes us a nation,
Multiculturalism, food, and Celine Dion domination,

There is just so much that we can say celebrate singing hand in hand,
But in short, O Canada, our home and native land!

Exotica

I just recently watched the Canadian film Exotica directed by Atom Egoyan (one our most talented directors) and it was a realistic perspective on the life of a stripper. Now before you try to wipe that look of shame off your face let me explain the film. For the average film viewer a movie about a prostitute might seem inappropriate; Hollywood just banking on flesh and curves. That may be true for movies like Pamela Anderson's Barb Wire. However, Egoyan provides a gritty, contemporary view on the occupation of stripping. The movie will surprise you. The director slowly reveals twist and turns until the end of the film where your left thinking what does this all mean? You might have second thoughts on the occupation of stripping and the people who go there.

I think Canadian films have that magical quality. They surprise you. If the average Hollywood budget for a film these days is 100 million then Canadian films generally clock in at 1 million. The difference is almost unbelievable. Yet Canadian directors work with what they have. You can see that every dollar put into the film is necessary and stretched. They tackle subjects that are close to home. Special effects and larger then life stars cannot save these films. No. Canadian films are totally dependent on the quality of the direction, acting, writing and other elements that many people fail to acknowledge when watching film these days like editing, lighting, costumes, the score (the music in the film) and production design.

Now not every Canadian film is golden, our system produces bombs just any other. However, pick up a Canadian film and try to find a American counterpart. You might just be shocked at the quality of film-making north of the border.

The Kingdom of Canada

I just learned recently that when the Fathers of Confederation were writing the constitution, Canada's original name was suppose to be "Kingdom of Canada." But we changed the name because it may offend Americans.

It is a little piece of history but it speaks to the tension between Canada and the United States.

We can see this with Canada-US border issues, Vietnam, having missile defense systems in our country, Arbtic sovereignty, and the history of free trade which honestly goes back to before Confederation.

Can anyone else think of a incident of Canada-US tension that is not well publicized?

Helping Hands

So two days ago, there I was in front of the class doing my presentation on the Holocaust. Sometimes we think that we know a lot, when really we know very little. Something similar happened to me while I was in the process of putting my presentation together. I always had this pride in Canada for being such a diverse and multicultural nation where people of different backgrounds are accepted and given a warm welcome. I'm not saying that this is totally false but at the same time it's not fully true. What's my point? Well, I basically discovered that Canada's immigration system was not so kind and welcoming for the Jewish people trying to settle down in Canada after the Holocaust. If not for the sake of allowing too many Jewish people to migrate to Canada, at least Canada could have been sympathetic enough to lend a hand to those in need as a humanitarian gesture. In simple words, Canada could have let go of its "only-allowing-5000 immigrants" policy. If you really think about it, allowing 5000 Jewish people in Canada is really nothing when you compare it to the deaths that took place...just over 5 million people died during the massacre. I feel that Canada did not do justice to the Jews at the time of the Holocaust. To me as an individual, this is a form of discrimination that Canada held during the time. I feel that Canada was simply being selfish by not allowing others of different ethnicity to enter the country just because the Jewish did not fully categorize as "white," "blonde hair" and "blue eyes." Even though I'm not a Jewish I feel terrible for whatever happened during the Holocaust, and I believe that when we come across tragedies as such, we need to get over this whole notion of the "other" just because they aren't of the same ethnicity. So in terms of this whole immigration issue that took place during the mid-1940s, I feel that Canada was nonetheless discriminative towards the Jews. They were in need of help and had to settle down in a better land where they felt safe but Canada didn't offer much of a helping hand. And so we're basically left with the thought...where was Canada when our fellow Jews were in great atrocity?

Going For Your License

One of the more appealing aspects to growing older is the joy of going through certain rights of passage…should we take advantage of them. In Ontario, the wonderful age of 16 is the monumental time to be allowed to go for ones license. However, in my case, I waited a good five more years before even thinking or doing such a thing. Driving used to scare me. Being in control of a monstrous sized vehicle among people who disobey the law was a big “DO NOT ENTER, DANGER DANGER”. Even so, it finally hit me at 20 that I could have a good sense of freedom with a license. So, as a result, I bought a copy of the driver’s handbook and took as many online practice tests as humanely possible. The best part about being unmotivated at one point is when your parents sweeten the deal. Psychological manipulation but it worked. I was allowed to take control of our car should I need it. Anyways, when I finally went to the DMV, the atmosphere didn’t do much to settle my nerves. The set up was like a customer walking into a deli. Take a number and wait to be served. In an instant there was a flash of light; people ahead were taking their license photos. I took mine praying I didn’t look like a crazy person or drugged. We aren’t allowed to view them. So after all this, it was finally time to write the test. Someone’s phone went off twice! It’s bad enough you can hear yourself breathe, but to be surprised like that, it doesn’t help. Despite the drama, I passed! 96% on rules and 100% on signs, that’s right, g1 and eventually soon to be a fully licensed individual. My right of passage has begun and now I’m to deal with lessons and in car experience.

Pride in Canada

How many politicians can you recall that are homosexual, transsexual or bisexual outside of George Smitherman's Toronto Center riding? How many hockey players have come out of the equipment stuffed closet? Do any Canadian actors come to mind or famous personalities? What about other institutions like unions, churches, community groups or civic

Canada celebrates being a tolerant nation yet can we claim that when people of different sexual orientations are hidden from society?

Does having the Pride Parade in Toronto make us progressive when people around the country perhaps most visibly in Alberta want to remove homosexual rights?

We need to ask these questions or else people of different sexual orientations or gender identities will be continued to be discriminated against.

It's not a question of what if but what now.

This is Our Fight: Public Service Workers in Canada

Some people think that events across the world or even right across our border does not effect us. Canada is not immune nor can we ignore the questions that other citizens are asking. Take for example what is happening in Wisconsin. Now if you have not been paying attention to this issue then your going to be in for a shock. The new Republican governor in order to balance the state budget wants the public service workers to take a hit. They workers already agreed to the usual goody bag list of cuts like wages, pension, health insurance coverage but that is not good enough for the governor. He wants to legislate that the hard working public service workers lose the right to collectively bargain. The only right they can bargain for is wages and even that is restricted. No more drives for pensions, child care benefits, vacation pay, statutory holidays; the works. Thousands of flocked to the state to protest this and the Democrats have flew out of the state so the governor would not have the quorum to pass the bill. Granted in times of economic hardship cuts need to be made. Public service workers are more immune then say workers in manufacturing to a recession. Does that mean I agree that my mothers pay as a nurse is frozen for three years even though she has not get a pay increase in ten years? Nope but I understand what the Premier is trying to do. However, the governor in Wisconsin has gone too far. Workers fought hard for the right to collectively bargain and that should not be taken away. If this bill passes other states may adapt these kind of tactics and Canadian Premiers may follow suit. Public service workers which include firefighters, nurses, teachers, secretaries, civil servants, researchers, garbage collectors in some cities and police officers are just naming a few occupations. So, please make sure that if this kind of ideology comes to Canada let's drive it out. Public service workers take crap from citizens everyday. Sometimes they deserve it others time they are completely innocent. That does not mean they should be stripped naked and left to rot.

Canada's Health Care System

We as humans tend to take many things for granted especially when we're provided with numerous benefits. In Canada, many of us don't realize the simple and easy access we have to education which is free up until high school that is to say public schools. Some people who choose to be lazy and try to accumulate welfare money are people who have no idea how lucky they are to be in a country like Canada where there is easy access to many things and Canada's Health Care system is definitely one of them. We as Canadians have the opportunity to have free check-ups by our family doctors we don't need to pay. Whereas, other countries lack free health care systems and people need to pay so much just to be checked by the doctor. Now of course one would need to have a health card issued by the Provincial Ministry of Health in order to receive the proper care for one's health.
However, there are abundant benefits that are provided in our Canadian Health Care system. To start off, we have our seniors who are provided with their medications that are generally covered by public funds or even through employment-based private insurance. I've usually heard from friends about how horrible old age homes are and how the seniors there are not treated so well. "The environment there is rather equivalent to one suffocating himself or herself...I'd rather die than be handed down over to the care of old age homes where they make your life so miserable!..." said a friend of mine when discussing this issue since she had volunteered at an old age home. I can definitely, at least from my standpoint, see the lack of good care Canada provides for its seniors. On second thought, the conditions may be even worse for our seniors if it weren't for our free health care system which at least provides them with medicines to cure their illnesses and live a longer quality of life.
Moreover, the quality of care is taken care of through federal standards and for that we needn't worry much. Take patients who need to seek family physicians for example. First of all, patients have the opportunity to choose their family physician and can also ask for referrals if they need to see a specialist or are counseled to see a specialist. Furthermore, yearly check-ups are actually encouraged by doctors because early detection can extend ones life expectancy and quality of life. Both these case scenarios also share a common advantage which is that referrals and yearly check-ups can cut down overall costs.
So overall, provided with the general picture of Canada's Health Care system, I feel that I'm way better off living in a country like Canada where we don't need to pay for our health. I hear about cases in which people literally die because they can't afford to get a surgery done that can save their life from death. But due to the extremely expensive health care system they live in, they can't be taken well care of in regards to their health just because the doctors in such third world countries demand a high price for them to be cured.

Anti-Semitism On School Campus's

It is unfortunante that there continues to be an ever growing presence of hate generated on school grounds of the university. York has had several instances within the past couple months of profanity being written on the walls of what is supposed to be an accepting multicultural enviornment. Individuals who enjoy generating such hate need to get a life and get with the times. Sorry, but not everyone fits your hegemonic ideal. It's call racial diversity and one should be proud to embrace it.

ROC Not Taking Kindly to Quebec Television

A very interesting article talking about French and English Canadian television. It's easy to see why French programs are so successful in Quebec considering American television is not in the same language. English language programs have to cater to people across the whole country compared to one group of people in Canada. It's a shame that French programs do poorly in other parts of Canada because we should be supporting these Canadian productions. A Quebec nationalist could claim that Quebec television does poorly in the rest of Canada because we have different "cultural values." I will admit that Quebec, which does not represent all French language speakers does have some distinct cultural values; although there are many distinct cultural groups with different values in Canada.

Then again shows like Republic of Doyle which are based in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is quite distinctive culturally, is doing well in North America.

 Maybe were not as different as we think.

No Oscar for Villeneuve

Incendies lost for Best Foreign Language Film but at least we got nominated...

Should the CRTC Regulate Internet Content with Canadian Standards?

I came across this in my studies recently and it is a interesting argument. The CRTC regulates Canadian radio and TV to maintain a certain amount of Canadian content. This promotes and protects Canadian artistic work which would be swallowed up by the American market without it. Now with the internet that truly is a global force perhaps it is time to force international sites to maintain a amount of Canadian content. For example if Netflix or Hula create a Canadian site as many users hope the CRTC could create standards that 40% of their advertising has to come from Canadian sources. I personally think this is a great idea as it would not only promote Canadian companies and artists but also prove to Canadian citizens then even going online is not a escape from being Canadian. We should protect our national identity and regulate the internet to further promote Canadian activities.

Is there a Canadian in the audience?

The Oscars are coming up this week and I am sure many people will be watching them. There is some Canadian representation with Barney's Version getting nominated for Best Makeup (although I am sure many critics feel it should have been given a best picture nod) and Denis Villeneuve's Incendies as best Foreign Language Film. However, how many Canadians will watch the Genie's just a week later where we honour Canadian films? Perhaps not as many. It's a shame because the Genie's highlight the talent we have in Canada with Barney's Version leading with 13 nominations. Even "genre pics" like Splice actually get nominated at the Genie's unlike the Oscars that largely snub genre movies. I suggest everyone just tune in for the Genie's and experience a awards night that we can actually relate to. It's not everyday where most if not all the winners are fellow Canucks.

This is Not a Charity, It's a Business

So, ladies and gentlemen, here is topic that is relevant to today in my eyes. Being apart of a family business, one sees things. No, we are not talking crazy drama, but enough to question the extent of crap one is willing to take from the world around them. For instance, at work today, yes I have the unfortunate pleasure of working for my parents, a frequent ( a massive nuisance) came in. This individual, brought food for us to cook!! Can you believe that! She actually brought stuff that she wanted as a meal for preparation. I was so ready to blow up in her face. I mean really, who does something like that. On top of it all, she consistently asks for money to borrow. I am not a cheap person when I see the individual working or at least trying to. This is a grown adult, dependant on others and unwilling to get of her keester. Hence my title, THIS IS NOT A CHARITY, IT'S A BUSINESS. We work to pay our bills, send ourselves to be educated, and overall survive. Get with the program. It's a shame that we are taken advantaged of. Especially when its based off of the efforts of those close to you. However, not everyone is this way. It's conforting to know that their are people who respect the hardwork put forth by a small independant business. To those who know what im talking about, speak up! We didn't get anywhere in life by relying on other people. One has to make an independant effort if they want any change in their circumstance. Well that's all for now, hopefully one is spared a similar instance for a short while.

What counts as Canadian heritage?

Our tax dollars are used to build community centers, dance halls, supporting various museums and art galleries. However, who get's to define what pieces of architecture deserve funding or more importantly is there meaning to be found beyond the standard definition of heritage? Take the recent controversy about the possible federal funding for the arena in Quebec City. Looking past this as a political move on the part of Stephen Harper is looking to pick up seats in Quebec for his majority many citizens have been wondering if funding a place like a arena is worth it? Now an arena provides us with a different type of culture and side of Canadian life. Sport as some authors call it is important to the Canadian lifestyle no matter what culture your from. Health experts encourage parents to enter their kids in leagues to foster their teamwork skills and of course get them off that couch. We can see this no better then the Vancouver Olympics. Though I do not remember where I was when Sydney Crosby scored the "Golden Goal" I remember watching that last few minutes. According to the CBC almost 1/3 of Canadians watched that moment which was a broadcasting record. No matter how you slice it sport is a important part of Canadian life. I think it is worthy of federal funding and contributes to the Canadian cultural theme enormously even if we look down upon it compared to say a art gallery.

Now recently there was talk around the Toronto Stock Exchange merging with the London Stock Exchange. Nationalists saw this as giving up Canadian sovereignty and having less control over our own economic fortunes. I doubt this will happen. Even if Harper approves the deal, which he will not, both Ontario and Quebec (since the Toronto Stock Exchange merged with the Montreal Stock Exchange) would use their veto's. A stock exchange is not exactly the first thing that comes into someones mind when they think about Canadian culture. However, it in a notable Canadian institution controlled by Canadians. I would prevent this deal strictly on the grounds of Canadian sovereignty and that we were not getting a fair share of the economic pie. Beyond this we can see that even a "private building" deserves just as much attention as that public library or arena.

Canadian heritage is a tricky subject especially when funding is involved. Canadian culture has been called dynamic. So, let's keep up that standard and fund or support something non-standard. Is that not the Canadian way?

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood's novel discusses some serious issues of a dystopian society centered on misogyny. Not trying to sound like a feminist, but this futuristic horror is quite literally a women hating society. There is an ultimate form of patriarchy where the male is favoured. The government system is ruled by men and only they are in control of the most powerful positions. Unfortunantely, women act as the scapegoat for human vices and are punished as a result. Not only are they referred to as "two legged wombs", but they are "enchained to their biological destinies". This sense of "Biological Essentialism" defined women's nature as weak and susceptible to folly. While men are sided with the positive binary aspects such as mind/spirit, women are sided with body/matter allowing the control of their bodies for state purpose within the novel.This satirical work targets women instead of using them as agents of exposing some flaw in society. The feminizing of the target further humiliates them. I really enjoyed this novel despite women being pitted against one another to reproduce in order to better their circumstance in life. The social rankings of handmaid, nurse, all come about according to their function. There is more to this novel than I am mentioning. It serves more as a warning to societies who seem to be on this pathway to an extreme. On the flip side, despite men being in control, their are patriarchal social values that restrict them. All the classes of men have their sexualities regulated, the top ranking or "Commander's" are lonley despite their freedom, it is only to regenerate the population, so there is no genuine interaction. Furthermore, both sexes are infantilized. Even as adults, no one is taken seriously. The characters/citizens within the Republic of Gilead are surpressed that at any minute a reader would imagine them to explode. Anyway, this was just a little interpretation of my reading of the novel. I definitley promote it to anyone who likes to challenge their familiarity with satire and feminism and have the two combined in one spot.

Welcome to The Loon,

Here at The Loon we value open dialogue, civil communication and an interactive experience to ensure that your perspectives are highlighted. We are dedicated to having discussions on all aspects of Canadian culture beyond the classroom or morning paper. The silent citizen is the defeated citizen. From the simple act of participating in a church rally or a mass protest, we are all capable of challenging and changing the world around us.

It can start with simply posting your thoughts or critiquing the written word of someone else.

Let this be your beginning but certainly not the end. Debate is the heart of society. Make something out of it. 

Respectively,

The Editors of The Loon