As the child of African immigrants and being born and raised in Canada, I am rather bored of this place. That is why I don't find it surprising that many Canadians stated that we don't think very highly of ourselves. Yes, this place is pretty awesome -- if you're an outsider. I understand why my parents and the parents of my friend's immigrated here when they did -- there is more freedom here, the laws are slack but not so slack that murderers can run around wild here (or can they?), the economy is quite strong (not too long ago, the Canadian dollar was worth more than the American dollar) and it is quite multicultural here.
But there are many countries that fit that description, which in my opinion, is why I always wonder, why come here? Since the days of Princess Diana, I have had this fascination with everything and anything British. Since then, I have always wanted to go to England because it's so similar to Canada but I have always loved the way everything is so "old" or antique there. I have always been something of a history buff and I feel Canada is too young/boring for me to stay here forever.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Airport Taser Death
Even though as a university student on campus I am frequently isolated from the rest of the world, causing me to miss out on important events that are reported in the news, one of the biggest stories in this half of the year or possibly the whole year was the death-by-taser of a Polish man named Robert Dziekanski. It is quite possible that deaths by this sort of means is common in many parts of the world but what made this story so devestating is that the man was calm (after throwing chairs and equpment around, however) and despite this, the police at the airport still used their tasers on him.
What I find very shocking is the fact that the video was even released. Of course there will be skeptics who believe that the whole deal is fake or planned, but the majority of people I have talked to believe what happened and didnt even think of it being planned. By communicating this video of Mr. Dziekanski's death, we are not only violating his family's privacy, but really, who needs to see this?
What I find very shocking is the fact that the video was even released. Of course there will be skeptics who believe that the whole deal is fake or planned, but the majority of people I have talked to believe what happened and didnt even think of it being planned. By communicating this video of Mr. Dziekanski's death, we are not only violating his family's privacy, but really, who needs to see this?
The Tabs: No Men Allowed
By isolating myself in either Hedden Hall, my residence or one of the many classroom and library locations on campus at McMaster University, I find myself constantly not being in the-know about the latest celebrity gossip. Though I was never big on celebrity gossip (you wouldnt find me looking through Star magazine and such trying to find out the latest gossip), the trend that Jamie Weinman, the author of this article, pointed out is somethng that I have been noticing over the years.
I believe that the gossip world is like this for many reasons, but in my opinion, the number one is because, despite how modernized and more "understanding" we all are of people's cultures, other races and even the opposite sex, when theres a chance to put down a woman, society, whether they are men or women, take this oppurtunity and laugh. Magazines don't judge the latest hairstyles or clothing styles of Brad Pitt, George Clooney or Leo DiCaprio, but they will do the same for Salma Hayek, Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton. Why? Because society in the past, and most likely still in the present, still sees women as lower then men.
An editor at Star, a very popular gossip magazine, stated the reason why they don't "pick on" male stars is because there isnt "a big male star who's going to have crossover appeal to both sexes." Since when do men read tabloids, honestly? My own boyfriend has no idea what is going on with anyone. He didn't even know who Jude Law was, which is sad, considering my boyfriend himself is from England. Ha.
In conclusion, I think tabloids are communicating a bad message to people, even if they don't realise it. It really isnt that hard to find dirt on actors, singers or anyone relatively famous.
I believe that the gossip world is like this for many reasons, but in my opinion, the number one is because, despite how modernized and more "understanding" we all are of people's cultures, other races and even the opposite sex, when theres a chance to put down a woman, society, whether they are men or women, take this oppurtunity and laugh. Magazines don't judge the latest hairstyles or clothing styles of Brad Pitt, George Clooney or Leo DiCaprio, but they will do the same for Salma Hayek, Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton. Why? Because society in the past, and most likely still in the present, still sees women as lower then men.
An editor at Star, a very popular gossip magazine, stated the reason why they don't "pick on" male stars is because there isnt "a big male star who's going to have crossover appeal to both sexes." Since when do men read tabloids, honestly? My own boyfriend has no idea what is going on with anyone. He didn't even know who Jude Law was, which is sad, considering my boyfriend himself is from England. Ha.
In conclusion, I think tabloids are communicating a bad message to people, even if they don't realise it. It really isnt that hard to find dirt on actors, singers or anyone relatively famous.
In Defence of Herouxville
The article "In Defence of Herouxville" speaks about Herouxville, Quebec, a small town that is startign to have a large impact on the Canadian landscape, especially in terms of immigration laws and how exactly the government "handles" immigrants. The residents of this town believe in "monoculturalism", the idea that everyone is part of the same culture, despite their background.
I have done projects in the past on Quebec and their constant battle to seperate from the rest of Canada, so really, for a town in Quebec to be doing this, I am not surprised. But at the same time, how can Herouxville promote monoculturalism when there are vibrant cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec's own, Montreal, having several cultures in them and still doing extreamely well economically, socially and politically.
In conclusion, the article finished with a very insightful question: "How do you intellectually defend a doctrine that preaches "tolerance" toward imported cultures that, themselves, are fundamentally intolerant toward women, gays, heretics and infidels?". In a sense when we let these cultures integerate into our own Canadaian culture, we are practically kissing their feet, telling them to come, telling them that we (or at least the majority of us) will not be racist or have a prejudice against them, but at the same time, why are we accepting them when their cultures could promote such activities like Honour Killing and Female Infaniticides?
I have done projects in the past on Quebec and their constant battle to seperate from the rest of Canada, so really, for a town in Quebec to be doing this, I am not surprised. But at the same time, how can Herouxville promote monoculturalism when there are vibrant cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec's own, Montreal, having several cultures in them and still doing extreamely well economically, socially and politically.
In conclusion, the article finished with a very insightful question: "How do you intellectually defend a doctrine that preaches "tolerance" toward imported cultures that, themselves, are fundamentally intolerant toward women, gays, heretics and infidels?". In a sense when we let these cultures integerate into our own Canadaian culture, we are practically kissing their feet, telling them to come, telling them that we (or at least the majority of us) will not be racist or have a prejudice against them, but at the same time, why are we accepting them when their cultures could promote such activities like Honour Killing and Female Infaniticides?
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