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EESTI ELU reedel, 22. novembril 2019 — Friday, November 22, 2019
Nr. 47
EMW 2019: A truly new groove
English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca PDF-/Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Bullying at the White House and in the schoolyard A University of Missouri and University of Virginia joint study has found a measurable increase in school districts reporting teasing and bullying since the U.S. President was re-elected in 2016. Certainly these results are not conclusive and need valid replication. But the survey methodology has not been dis credited. Specifically the research was conducted in response to media reports that increases in bully ing were noticed by schools after the 2016 elections. Ap proximately 155,000 seventhand eighth grade students com pleted the survey in 2013, 2015 and 2017, thus before and after the 2016 presidential elections. Survey results were mapped onto election results for each school division’s locality. In localities that favoured the president, there were higher adjusted rates of students reporting “that they had ex perienced some form of bully ing in the past year (18% higher) and students were teased or put down because of their race or ethnicity (9%)”. Prior to the elections there were no mean ingful differences between 2013 and 2015. The research shows modest support for educators that are concerned about increased teas ing and bullying since 2016. Additional research needs to be done to validate the seemingly recognizable trend. One can legitimately argue that the study does not establish a causative relationship between the U.S. President’s election and an increase in bullying in areas that are known to have his supporters in the majority. On the other hand it can equally be argued that his predilection for attacking his critics, perceived adversaries and even foreign leaders with derogatory nick names emboldens potential bullies. The U.S. Public is familiar with the nasty labels the U.S. President has obnoxiously pasted on those who have lost his favour, who have been candid in their observations, even those who are currently giving testi mony in front of Congressional committees. He has called Re publican politicians who dis
agree with his style or policies as “scum”. When asked about the U.S. President’s targeted insults, many of his perceived enemies have taken the abuse in stride. His political acolytes insist that his intimidation and harassment of opponents are just the pecu liarities of a government leader who is “different” from is pre decessors. This is more than just an embarrassing understate ment. His political sycophants are simply cowered into dimin ishing the deliberately painful outbursts of a boorish tyrant. When asked whether his insulting references about nonsupporters are intimidating, the U.S, President states dismissively that he’s only exercising his freedom of speech. To him mutual respect is a Washington bygone relic. “Let’s drain the swamp of decency and toler ance.” Bullying is more than just threatening physical superiority. Psychiatrists indicate it to be “the repeated exposure of one person to physical and/or rela tional aggression where the victim is hurt with teasing, name calling, mockery, threats, harassment, taunting, social exclusion or rumours”. The Cyberbullying Research Centre states that “inherent in any conception of bullying is the demonstration of...power by the offender over the target”. Psychiatrists and psycholo gists have offered various obser vations about the U.S. President and bullying in general. It’s suggested that the motiva tion of bullies to gain power, dominance and prestige over others is a sign of narcissism. This in turn denotes a sense of entitlement of privileged status over others, the belief that one is unique and more important than others, and has an exces sive need for approval and ad miration to feed the grandiose self. We’re all familiar with “I’m a genius”, “I know ISIS better than anyone”. “I’m rich, very rich”, etc. In addition to his need for putting down others on a daily basis, doesn’t constant self-praise suggest a massive sense of personal inadequacy, of low self-esteem? Is there a remedy? It’s said
Musicians and organizers of Estonian Music Week with Jaymz Bee, in colourful jacket, host of second concert at Artscape Sandbox. Photo: Peeter Põldre
Kati Kiilaspea Estonian Music Week (EMW) returned with a pop and a bang for it’s second year, running from November 14-17. This year, EMW partnered with Latitude 59, an Estonian start-up and tech event showcasing a digital society, to bring you Latitude 44 which was a tech conference featuring leading entrepreneurs and business moguls from both Estonia and Canada. Latitude 44 achieved great success in it’s first year and took place on November 14th and 15th, a worthy lead in to the festival itself. EMW brought together stellar performers from across the pond and right here at home to create a festival that was absolutely worth ex periencing in it’s entirety. Bringing in the festival was Ensemble U: earlier on Thurs day, presenting a specially created work called “RABA,” written by Scott Miller. U managed to create a completely new musical and soundscape experience by providing virtual reality goggles to each audience member, allowing for a per sonalized journey through the piece of music. The VR video and environment were created by Rein Zobel. These short performances were a tie in between music and technology, a transition from the tech conference to the music festival,
that to dislodge odious and de spicable leadership from the top of a political pecking order, it’s necessary the detoxify the forces that put the tyrant in place. That’s a monumental task. The next presidential election will provide a intensely contested ballot choice. What’s bewildering and yet obvious is the stalwart admira tion that decent and intelligent supporters continue to provide a vile leader. It may be true that admirers of bullies might per sonally identity, perhaps only subliminally, with the same traits. Quoting the U.S. Presi dent’s tweets, “Sad”. LAAS LEIVAT
and did a stellar job at merging two worlds into one for a complete and well-rounded experience. Later on that evening, tech conference participants and pre senters, as well as EMW parti cipants and people interested by the festival had the chance to get together at the esteemed and exclusive restaurant Archeo in the heart of the Distillery District for the festival’s open ing gala which also served as the transition point from Latitude 44 to EMW. With snow on the ground and the Toronto Christmas Market opening just an hour before the gala was to start, attendees were already in a great mood walking into the venue. The gala event was sold out and was a good opportunity to mix and mingle with busi nesspeople and musicians from Estonia and Canada, and to re kindle old friendships and make new ones. Piret Noorhani, festi val director, had warm welcom ing words for everyone present. Young Estonian-Canadian bassist August Riik and his companion Andrew Marzotto on guitar provided a beautiful and sultry backdrop to the festivities while also managing to catch the ears of everyone in the room with their very ap parent talent and complexity. These two are musicians that (Continued on page 16)
August Riik & Andrew Marzotto.
Kaili Kinnon. Photo: Peeter Põldre
Mari Sild.
Photo: Peeter Põldre
Photo: Peeter Põldre
