Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
O' CANADA
Let me start off by saying that I am a proud Canadian, I love being from Canada and I love Canada. I don't always agree with the direction our nation takes, or some of the viewpoints of our diverse population but all in all I love being Canadian.
I read in an article on CBC.com that a New Brunswick elementary school has decided that its students should no longer have to sing O'Canada each morning before commencing with class instead only having them belt it out at monthly assemblies. The schools Principal made the decision based upon some complaints from parents who felt that it wasn't appropriate to make their children sing the anthem (probably because of its God reference, or its non gender biased language). People are up in arms over this, calling the Principal unpatriotic and saying things along the lines of "this is canada, if you don't want to sing the anthem of this nation then go live somewhere else:
Can we say overreacting much?
I haven't sung the anthem in class since grade 1 and I extremely patriotic.
Not to mention isn't singing it everyday a little bit of an overkill? Cheapening the patriotism of it all? Shouldn't we save it for moments of somewhat importance?
And, my real issue with this whole debacle are peoples' reactions to its cancelation.
clearedfordeparture wrote:"Our forefathers layed down their lives for that flag. It is time for us proud canadians to raise a lot of hell over this unpatriotic BS...Maybe the kids whose parents don't want the anthem played should have to pull their kids out of school."
BrendaLynn wrote "After reading a few of the comments posted that agree with this principal's decision to stop the singing of the national anthem in his school, I have only disgust and disrespect for the principal and writers of those comments. Why is it, that only in Canada, are we bullied into accommodating and fulfilling the frequently absurd requests of our `new citizens'?? It's no wonder these `new citizens' don't emigrate to the United States or Australia or many other countries that actually have the backbone to stand up for their culture and traditions. Sadly, we, as Canadians, have become the laughing stock of the world. We gladly welcome and support new immigrants to our beautiful country but unfortunately, allow many of these new immigrants to slowly and painfully coerce us into removing what makes us proud to be Canadians."
I mean honestly people, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Give me a freakin' break! Because obviously if our children don't belt out an oftune rendtion of O'Canada everymorning to a scratchy recording crackling out from bargain bin intercom systems then our nation is truly going to fall a part *insert sarcasm here*
I mean isn't it more important to get to the rood of this problem - why parents wouldn't want their children to sing O'Canada in the first place. Or why students feel that the only way for them to show patriotism is to stand at attention and salute? Can't we teach our youth that blind loyalty to a flag is not a good thing? That questioning our nation and ourselves is our patriotic duty not mumbling out a few lyrics now and again.
We should address why our nations anthem doesn't represent Canadian's anymore because if we have to force our kids to sing the anthem then are they truly patriotic? Can patriotism be forced?
No.
It needs to be inspired.
Now I'm reading comments that because the principal is activly involved in the peace movement he wants to remove the anthem from school. Why, because its so war like ???? Give me a break people. This is a non-issue.
Some educational issues to get up in arms over :
Really want to be patriotic - VOTE in the next election, wear a flag on your backpack and please GROW UP!
Links to the articles:
N.B. School silence O Canada
Schools Should Have To Play O Canada
This work by Ophelia3 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.
I read in an article on CBC.com that a New Brunswick elementary school has decided that its students should no longer have to sing O'Canada each morning before commencing with class instead only having them belt it out at monthly assemblies. The schools Principal made the decision based upon some complaints from parents who felt that it wasn't appropriate to make their children sing the anthem (probably because of its God reference, or its non gender biased language). People are up in arms over this, calling the Principal unpatriotic and saying things along the lines of "this is canada, if you don't want to sing the anthem of this nation then go live somewhere else:
Can we say overreacting much?
I haven't sung the anthem in class since grade 1 and I extremely patriotic.
Not to mention isn't singing it everyday a little bit of an overkill? Cheapening the patriotism of it all? Shouldn't we save it for moments of somewhat importance?
And, my real issue with this whole debacle are peoples' reactions to its cancelation.
clearedfordeparture wrote:"Our forefathers layed down their lives for that flag. It is time for us proud canadians to raise a lot of hell over this unpatriotic BS...Maybe the kids whose parents don't want the anthem played should have to pull their kids out of school."
BrendaLynn wrote "After reading a few of the comments posted that agree with this principal's decision to stop the singing of the national anthem in his school, I have only disgust and disrespect for the principal and writers of those comments. Why is it, that only in Canada, are we bullied into accommodating and fulfilling the frequently absurd requests of our `new citizens'?? It's no wonder these `new citizens' don't emigrate to the United States or Australia or many other countries that actually have the backbone to stand up for their culture and traditions. Sadly, we, as Canadians, have become the laughing stock of the world. We gladly welcome and support new immigrants to our beautiful country but unfortunately, allow many of these new immigrants to slowly and painfully coerce us into removing what makes us proud to be Canadians."
I mean honestly people, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Give me a freakin' break! Because obviously if our children don't belt out an oftune rendtion of O'Canada everymorning to a scratchy recording crackling out from bargain bin intercom systems then our nation is truly going to fall a part *insert sarcasm here*
I mean isn't it more important to get to the rood of this problem - why parents wouldn't want their children to sing O'Canada in the first place. Or why students feel that the only way for them to show patriotism is to stand at attention and salute? Can't we teach our youth that blind loyalty to a flag is not a good thing? That questioning our nation and ourselves is our patriotic duty not mumbling out a few lyrics now and again.
We should address why our nations anthem doesn't represent Canadian's anymore because if we have to force our kids to sing the anthem then are they truly patriotic? Can patriotism be forced?
No.
It needs to be inspired.
Now I'm reading comments that because the principal is activly involved in the peace movement he wants to remove the anthem from school. Why, because its so war like ???? Give me a break people. This is a non-issue.
Some educational issues to get up in arms over :
- Overcrowding
- Lack of funding
- Quality of adminstration and teachers
- The fact that our education system is still based upon a set u designed during the industrial revolution to prepare children for life working in a factory
- The fact that education text books still reference material writtien in the warly 1900
Really want to be patriotic - VOTE in the next election, wear a flag on your backpack and please GROW UP!
Links to the articles:
N.B. School silence O Canada
Schools Should Have To Play O Canada
This work by Ophelia3 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
Where there is much desire to learn, there, of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion is but knowledge in the making...To be still searching what we know not, by what we know; still closing truth up to truth as we find it. It is this that makes up the best harmony, not the force and outward union of cold, and neutral and inwardly divided minds.
- John Milton, [i]Areopagitica[/i] 1664
- John Milton, [i]Areopagitica[/i] 1664
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
History
Everyday is history tomorrow.
Profound eh? I know sometimes I outdo myself.
But how often do we think that every action we take becomes part of history? We don't because rarely does an event so historic come around that we actually think that something that we are apart of could have profound historic impact for the future humans that inhabit this planet. When I go to work I am not thinking that the first latte I steam or the next cup of House Blend I pour is going to effect something great. But with the election this past week I have really taken stock the historic events that have come about around me as I've grown as a human being. Some are only historic for me and others are historic for the whole world. Or at least I hope they will be.
What has changed so much in the past few days? Obama. That is what has changed. Obamania to be exact. He has done something so rare that I can't help but be caught up in it. He has brought hope to a world where I see very little of it. People, especially our sisters and brothers down in the states, have hopet that change is possible, the the Puritian resignation to ones fate isnt neccessarily neccesary. We can dare to hope.
Obama has done something very profound and he hasn't even been sworn in as president yet. He has managed to create an atmosphere of 'we' rather then I. His speeches are not about what he can do for you or what you can do for him but rather what we can do for us. And while is focal point will be on the American nation I think we can all take a lesson from him and stop focusing on the I.
I hear so many people complain, whine even, about why they don't participate in the political process and everyone one of their complaints involve the 'I'. Is Obama going to make us think in the us mentality...no, because noone can make anyone think outside themselves. But what i think he will do, what i hope he will accomplish, is to create the beginings of an environment that allow people to grow into the 'us'.
I don't expect him wave a magic want and fix the ills that are permeating the American society, but for the first time EVER I am finding myself jealous of them. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe its all lies and snake-oil. But I am an optimist - I have to be. I cannot live in a world where their is no growth. Stagnancy is almost as horrible as retrograding and I cannot exist in a world that doesn't have at least i tiny speck of Hope. And I am finding myself hoping, that the first black president of a nation which has global influence can affect a positive movement into the future.
Hope against the odds that the tide is turning and we can leap forward to a future for an 'us' and not an 'I'
Profound eh? I know sometimes I outdo myself.
But how often do we think that every action we take becomes part of history? We don't because rarely does an event so historic come around that we actually think that something that we are apart of could have profound historic impact for the future humans that inhabit this planet. When I go to work I am not thinking that the first latte I steam or the next cup of House Blend I pour is going to effect something great. But with the election this past week I have really taken stock the historic events that have come about around me as I've grown as a human being. Some are only historic for me and others are historic for the whole world. Or at least I hope they will be.
What has changed so much in the past few days? Obama. That is what has changed. Obamania to be exact. He has done something so rare that I can't help but be caught up in it. He has brought hope to a world where I see very little of it. People, especially our sisters and brothers down in the states, have hopet that change is possible, the the Puritian resignation to ones fate isnt neccessarily neccesary. We can dare to hope.
Obama has done something very profound and he hasn't even been sworn in as president yet. He has managed to create an atmosphere of 'we' rather then I. His speeches are not about what he can do for you or what you can do for him but rather what we can do for us. And while is focal point will be on the American nation I think we can all take a lesson from him and stop focusing on the I.
I hear so many people complain, whine even, about why they don't participate in the political process and everyone one of their complaints involve the 'I'. Is Obama going to make us think in the us mentality...no, because noone can make anyone think outside themselves. But what i think he will do, what i hope he will accomplish, is to create the beginings of an environment that allow people to grow into the 'us'.
I don't expect him wave a magic want and fix the ills that are permeating the American society, but for the first time EVER I am finding myself jealous of them. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe its all lies and snake-oil. But I am an optimist - I have to be. I cannot live in a world where their is no growth. Stagnancy is almost as horrible as retrograding and I cannot exist in a world that doesn't have at least i tiny speck of Hope. And I am finding myself hoping, that the first black president of a nation which has global influence can affect a positive movement into the future.
Hope against the odds that the tide is turning and we can leap forward to a future for an 'us' and not an 'I'
Friday, November 7, 2008
Customer #1
No this is not about the number one customer. In an effort to more consistantly blog I am going to try for the next two weeks to write about one customer from my day at work, they may not be the worst or the best of the hoards of people I serve coffee but they will be the most memorable.
So Customer #1 = 200° soy lady
This customer comes in on a fairly regular basis and orders a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate. All is well and good except that hot chocolate is made with Soy (my milk substitute nemesis) and that steaming ' is too a temperature of 200° F which roughly translates into 93.3°C; just 7 or so degrees below the boiling point which definitely scalds the soy. How do I know this - I can smell it. Anyways the other thing that makes this lady so memorable is the fact that I never steam her Soy to 200°F. WCB
So Customer #1 = 200° soy lady
This customer comes in on a fairly regular basis and orders a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate. All is well and good except that hot chocolate is made with Soy (my milk substitute nemesis) and that steaming ' is too a temperature of 200° F which roughly translates into 93.3°C; just 7 or so degrees below the boiling point which definitely scalds the soy. How do I know this - I can smell it. Anyways the other thing that makes this lady so memorable is the fact that I never steam her Soy to 200°F. WCB
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