VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 2
Advice Index
Advice p2 Advice Letters to the Editor
Local p3 What's new: Spring Edition Highschool teachers' strike Sex education: Sexually aware or sexually victimized? OFSAA: Education through school sport Success at the Sears Drama Festival
Global
p6 When plagiarism gets you expelled and rape gets you a slap on the wrist Namaste, Dalai Lama Anti Terrorism Act 2015 Crimea: A year after annexation Misguided: Youth and global issues Injustice against Black citizens of America
Opinion p10 Xenophobia poisons Harper's heart Islamophobia: The media's manipulation A fearful future Texting B4 sleep? What do you see? Ignorance The racial war against Aboriginal women
Entertainment
p14
American Sniper One step forward: two scenes back
Science p15 A measly concern The dangers of technology
Comics p16 Teacher Supervisor
Credits
Mr. Gordon Ms. Axon
Editors in Chief
Inori Khan Nathan Duong
Copy Editors
Zarfishan Qureshi Stephanie Brook Srobona Podder Jovana Pajovic Haoda Yan Rena Gao Sukarmina Singh Shankar Milena Cioana Madu Ravichandran Sundus Zuberi Jamey Irwin Christina Reuben Molly Lu
Layout
Kevin Ing Daniel Ku Suriya Ratnam Amanda Yang Linwan Song
Photographers
Meruba Sivaselvachandran Miranda Kwok Linwan Song Annie Zou Farah Khan Vivian Li Yasmine Yehia Alice Chen
Cover Design
Amanda Yang
Advice
C ’m having some trouble adjusting to the
"I
fact that in less than a year, I will be in university and away from all of the friends that I have made in the past four years at Glenforest. I don’t really know how to feel happy about leaving this place that I love, and all the support that I’ve gained from the staff. I’m also really worried about the vast campus size and the large number of people at my university. Is there anything that can help me come to terms with graduating and moving to a post-secondary institution?" -Stressed Senior
ongratulations on your acceptance! Don't worry too much about your insecurities right now, soon you'll laugh at them. Being worried initially is normal. I would suggest taking a campus tour to familiarize yourself with your learning space before school actually starts. Also try attending Frosh week, where you'll make lots of new friends during the fall. If you're still unsure, search up some Facebook groups for the students accepted into your program. They'll give you an idea of the people you'll see. Remember, everyone else is just as nervous as you are. You don't have to worry about leaving your old friends, you will make more! Good luck and have fun. — Jack
I
t’s hard to end a chapter of your life, I know. But in order to finish the book you have to keep going! Your friends, your true friends, will never really be left behind. With all the technology we have available for casual communication. they’ll be with you every step of the way. You should also consider setting up meeting with them every so often to maintain physical contact and strengthen your friendship. I understand that after four years this school would become your second home, yet I promise you that you’ll soon feel the same way about your campus. It’s difficult to say goodbye to the school and its staff, but this is vital for your growth as a person. My advice for you is to write down all of your favourite things about Glenforest - its staff, and its students as you remember them - and review the list on your final days here. It will help you slowly come to terms with your departure as you write, and allow you to remember the highlights of your time here and look back on your high school years as the brilliant experience it was. As for your concerns about your university, you need not fear. I’m certain within the first few months of school you’ll adapt to your new campus and student size, as you’ve done with the places you’ve gone before, and wonder why you were ever nervous about it in the first place. — Jill
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irst off, realize that this is a societally imposed pressure. TV and movies depict many unrealistic expectations which society continuously strives to impose yet cannot because we are individuals. I believe that you should not worry about dating right now because quite honestly, high school is pretty important. Couples who are dating one week, will be broken up next month. It's tough to see friends experiencing puppy love, but remember that they are also emotionally draining themselves. There's nothing wrong with not dating in high school. Don't rush something that you're not ready for. Enjoy the other part of high school: friends! There's enough excitement in a friend circle. If anything, try and involve yourself in a group activity that diverts your attention from the couples and channels your energy towards something productive. All the best! — Jack
Y
ou are not alone. In fact, there are far more students in Glenforest not in relationship than those who are. And many of them are facing this same dilemma. You have to remember that dating someone is a large commitment, so I don’t recommend dating with the sole purpose of gaining experience. If you don’t necessarily want to date or don’t have someone with whom you would like to be in a relationship with, it’s best to wait before you make a commitment. As for your university concerns, considering that most students in university came from high schools just like Glenforest, they’ll have as much experience as your peers do now. The people you meet in university are not as different as you might expect them to be. You need not fear their judgment, for there will be countless students with just as much, or even less romantic expertise as yourself. Just remember never to push yourself into something you’re not interested in or ready for!
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ately I've been noticing more and more couples forming at Glenforest, and I'm starting to feel insecure about my personal lack of dating experience. I've never been in a relationship or even kissed anyone before. It's partially my fault because I've had crushes, I just haven't acted upon them. It's not that I want to be in a relationship, I'm just concerned that when I look back on high school in the future, I'll regret not dating because it's considered to be an essential high school experience. I also fear that I will be judged in uni for my love life, or lack thereof. How can I overcome this?"
-Bad Romance
— Jill
Letters to the editors
Got an opinion about Glenforest? Your community? The world? We want to hear about it! E-mail your message to talon.times@gmail.com and you could be featured in the next edition of Talon Times under the "Letters to the Editors" column. We look forward to hearing from you, Gryphons!
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 3
Local
What's new: Spring Edition by: Christina Reuben
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ILM FESTIVALS
Hot Docs Dates: April 23rd – May 3rd 2015 Location: Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Price: $6.20 - $19.45 This event is dedicated to documentaries and will feature 210 films including Mavis! (documenting the life and career of gospel singer Mavis Staples) and Tig (follows comedian Tig Notaro as she balances her stand up career after recently being diagnosed with cancer).
of TIFF Bell Lightbox in the hopes of reminding the audience that many cats are homeless in shelters all across the city and need a loving family. HEALTH EVENTS
Mississauga Full Marathon Date: May 3rd, 2015 (Start Time: 7:30 am) Location: East side of Square One Mall at City Centre Drive and Robert Speck Parkway to Lakefront Promenade Park Price: Registration Fees Vary ($120+) The Mississauga Marathon is an annual marathon race established in 2004. BoastTIFF Kids Film Festival ing over 12,000 participants, it’s Dates: April 7th – April 19th a run that encompasses much 2015 of Mississauga’s beauty. The Location: TIFF Bell Light- course covers sections of forbox estry, friendly neighbourhoods, Price: $9 - $13 and scenic waterfront. The TIFF Kids Film Festival is a great opportunity for children and youth to learn MISCELLANEOUS about various cultures and perspectives through cinema. KPop Convention Filmmakers and special guests Date: May 2nd, 2015 (11am – will be discussing themes, sto- 11pm) ry-telling techniques, and oth- Location: Metro Toronto Coner film-related concepts. vention Center and John Bassett Theatre. Just for Cats: Internet Cat Vid- Price: Ticket Prices Vary eo Festival ($42+) Date: April 17, 2015 The conference will feaLocation: TIFF Bell Light- ture panels, discussions, fun box activities, merchandise vendors Price: $22 - $100 and fan club booths, special Calling all cat lovers; this guests, and dance workshops. is the event for you! Popular There will be two concert porcat-themed clips and films will tions at the event - the Canadibe up for all to admire. Before an Dream Stage Concert earlier the screening, the Toronto Hu- in the day and the headlining mane Society will host a cat Korean Dream Concert at night adopt-a-thon in the atrium with nearly 200 amazing per-
formers including famous Korean boy band NU’EST. National Job Fair and Training Expo Date: April 28 and 29, 2015 Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Price: $3.95/person The National Job Fair and Training Expo is among the many employment events held in Toronto that offer a great opportunity to consider different career options. The event features: workshops, seminars, and potential employers, while also working at improving job-hunting skills, exploring career services, learning about entrepreneurship and employment and receiving career training.
Anime North Date: May 22nd – May 24th 2015 Location: Toronto Congress Centre and International Plaza Hotel Price: Registration Fees Vary ($35+ and children between 6-13 are half-price) Anime North is an annual anime convention that celebrates anime, manga, music, games, and all other forms of Japanese media culture. Its major attractions include a masquerade, a dealer’s room, an artist’s alley, presentations, gaming (video and RPG), panel discussions, video presentations, contests, and dances. The convention is the 4th largest anime convention in North America as of 2014 and the largest anime convention in the Greater Toronto Area.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 4
Local
High school teachers’ strike T
by: Madu Ravichandran
ensions have sprung up for high school students as the possibility of high school teachers striking hits the news. This news of a tentative strike by high school teachers in seven districts, including Peel, has left the school boards, parents, and students in shock and anticipation. “Our members employed by school boards have gone six months without a contract, and despite giving notice to bargain
on June 3 of last year, we are still awaiting meaningful negotiations. But all we have seen are outright attacks on the learning conditions of students across this province.” said Paul Elliott, the President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) during the union’s annual meeting. The proposal laid before the union involved “removal of class-size caps” and reduced prep time for teachers. This means that the “delivery of [course content] and assessments will be limited” according to a teacher at Glenforest. These proposals,
“serves only to limit our meaningful face-time with students and further erodes the professionalism of what we do,” according to Paul Elliott. Thereafter, high school teachers from seven districts, namely Peel District School Board, Durham District School Board, Halton District School Board, Lakehead District School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Rainbow District School Board, Waterloo Region District School Board, where called upon during the annual meeting to get ready for a strike. There is a possibility
that high school teachers strike by end of April at the earliest, according to Paul Elliott, and only meaningful negotiations, directed towards improving working conditions and salaries could avert a strike. The possibility of a strike came by as a surprise to the administrators of Peel District School Board. According to the CTV news, the board believed that the bargaining between the OSSTF and Peel had been going on well and they were taken aback by the statement of the OSSTF that the teachers at Peel might go
on a strike. Similarly, the Ontario Public School Board Association president, Micheal Barret said that “there’s not an element of distrust across the table, there’s still a good discussion going on. So I’m a little perplexed on why there’s a call for action at this point.” If the strike takes place, the teachers may not take part in certain activities like after school programs and staff meetings or there may be a complete withdrawal of services. “We remain committed to reaching fair, negotiated agreements and avoiding any
disruption to student learning. We value our secondary teachers as dedicated, caring professionals committed to student success”, says the Peel board on their website. As discussion goes on between the school boards and the Union, students and parents are concerned about what future has in store for them.
Sex education "Sexually aware or sexually victimized?" “M
by: Rena Gao
ath, not masturbation. Science, not sex.” Signs like these have plagued Queen’s Park over the last few months, ever since Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that Ontario will be updating the existing sex education curriculum in public schools. Some are convinced that “it’s about time.” Other parents are not so sure that this is the right way to go. So what exactly will the new curriculum entail? Proper names for body parts will be taught in grade 1. In grade 3, students will be taught the con-
cept of same-sex relationships. Grade 6 students will be taught about masturbation and will learn about healthy relationships and consent. Students will be warned about the dangers of sexting in grade 7, and will also be informed about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, oral and anal sex. As before, parents have the choice of pulling their children out of class when these topics are being discussed. However, there are parents who entirely object to the things that their children will be learning in school pertaining to sex education. They say that sex education should
not be taught because it corrupts the minds of the young and innocent, and that learning about sex will increase the crime rate and cases of rape. These parents must be urged to think about the bundles of information about sex being fed to children every time they open an internet page. Is all of that information correct and secure? Is it the information that children should be receiving? Definitely not. Parents cannot protect their children from learning about sex, as hard as they might try. The only question is, from where do they want their children to be getting their information
about sex? From pornography, or from a controlled classroom environment where the information is discussed maturely, in a safe and secure manner? Nothing good will come from a lack of sex education. Think of the child who is being sexually harassed by his gym teacher every Wednesday when it is “body inspection day.” Think of the child who is lured into an Internet scam and is tricked into showing their body parts to a stranger online. Think of the teenager who says yes to her boyfriend without truly knowing what this means. For the most part, children and youth are still in-
nocent, and it is understandable that parents want to retain that innocence. But there is a certain naivety that comes with innocence, and that naivety is being corrupted every day. A child who knows what child pornography is, a student who knows it is wrong for anyone to be touching them inappropriately, or a teenager who knows the implications of having unprotected sex; they are all much more protected than people who are naive and confused about the dangers of the world. Children are taught not to talk to strangers, not to play with the stove, and not to run out onto the streets. So what
is so different about teaching them about sexual dangers? Parents don’t want to have the birds and the bees talk at an early age, but the problem is, the birds and the bees are flying to their children—in speeds and ways that are not controllable. Parents who refuse to give their children the education that they need and deserve must realize that sexually aware is better than sexually victimized.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 5
Local
OFSAA: Education Through School Sport T
by: Milena Cioana
he Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) is a federation of 18 regional school athletic associations spread across the province, committed to providing Ontario students with opportunities to participate in provincial school sport championships. As Glenforest is a member of the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) under OFSAA, highly-dedicated Gryphon athletes have the privilege of attending these provincial championships. The qualifications for these championships are challenging—they require athletes to have won their regional championships (in Glenforest’s case, the ROPSSAA championships) for their events, or to have acquired competitive times in racing sports. This year, Glenforest was able to send ten of its high-performing athletes to these rigorous championships for two different sports. Coming in first place at ROPSSAA, Jamey Irwin competed in the Nordic Skiing OFSAA championships on February 19th in Sudbury in the Para Stand Girls 2km Classic event. She competed in -20 degree conditions and raced to a very strong finish in her field, achieving first place! This incredible Glenforest finish was followed by one of the best swimming seasons in terms of medal performances. The Senior Girls’ Medley Relay
team, composed of Alice Chen, Olivia Leung, Milly Cioana, and Beata Cheung, the Open Boys’ Medley Relay team composed of Terry Wang, Fares Hatabeh, Stefan Piric and Ziming Gao, as well as breaststroker Andew Yang all won gold medals at ROPSSAA for their events. The OFSAA Swimming championships welcomed them on March 3-4 at the Etobicoke Olympium. The Senior Girls’ Medley Relay team made the finals and finished 13th overall, while the Open Boys finished 19th. Andrew Yang finished 19th in the 100 meter breaststroke race, competing with swimmers from 24 other schools. Olivia Leung, who also qualified for two Junior events, won the B finals for 100m Individual Medley. She was just 30 milliseconds away from winning gold in the 50m backstroke race, coming in second in the province. When asked about her experience with OFSAA, Olivia stated, “My experience as an OFSAA athlete has greatly impacted my life. Last year, as a grade 9 student, I had my first taste of competing at OFSAA – I came in 5th place. I immediately set a goal to win a medal next year, and I was able to do just that. Competing at OFSAA was the fulfillment of my year-long quest for success. However, it was the journey to OFSAA which I will cherish most; the early morning practices with my teammates, and the countless belly flops.” OFSAA believes that
sports enhance the education of students by teaching them valuable life skills. Olivia reflects, “People sometimes ask me, how do you juggle being an IB student and an athlete? Well, swimming has definitely had a positive influence on my academic results. This sport has helped me develop better time management skills, and is an excellent way for me to relax and take a break from studying. When I’m in the water, my mind is clear and quiet. There’s nothing like it!” Glenforest had a lot of other notable performances from its other school sports teams this year. The basketball season was one of a kind with the Jr. Boys finishing third in their division, the Varsity Girls finishing second in the tier II ROPSSAA championships, and the Sr. Boys finishing first in a tournament of 36 teams! The Table Tennis team fell just short of qualifying for the OFSAA championships, finishing in second place. The Sr. Boys’ Volleyball team won gold at their tournament playoffs and the Varsity Tennis Team was two games away from qualifying for the OFSAA championships. The school sport season is not over yet! The badminton, track and field and soccer championships are all around the corner. Come support your fellow Gryphons in their athletic pursuits or join a sport team yourself!
Success at the Sears Drama Festival O
by: Jamey Irwin
n February 25th and 26th, Glenforest students participated in the Sears Drama Festival at the district level, students showcasing their dramatic talent by performing a 15-50 minute single act plays. The Sears Drama Festival is the largest and oldest festival in the world of its kind for youth, and this year Glenforest had the privilege of both hosting and participating in the event. Sarini Kumarasinghe and Srobona Podder directedTuna Fish Eulogy, a project that the cast had worked on non-stop since November. Sarini commented, “Myself, my co-director, and our production assistant Gabriel Yeung worked with our actors for four hours
a week, helping them learn not only their lines, but due to the format their fellow actors' lines as well. The task was difficult, yet not impossible as we discovered. The final performance was absolutely brilliant!” Although the cast did not make it to the regional level, the performance garnered amazing reviews, and the entire team — including all of the hard working actors, directors, producers, backstage crew, and staff supervisor, Ms. Luke — agreed that the team’s dedication, perseverance, and effort is what helped pull the show together. Similar praise accompanied Kareem Baassiri, Haris Saud, and Mauli Bhatt’s production of Down Came the Rain. The one-act play centred around the interactions of two
brothers, out on a camping trip. The younger brother, played by Baassiri, has a mental disability. The performance was often a challenging one for both Baassiri and Saud, because of the complex nature of their characters, but the end result garnered high praise and merit awards. “I can tell you one reason that made this entire experience so great: The enthusiasm. Right from the beginning, when all the drama executives and Ms. Luke were working hard to make sure everything was ready for the schools coming in, I could see the excitement of Glenforest's actors / directors, the enthusiasm of all the drama execs and even the energy from the Welcome Team in the foyer!” says
Stage Manager, Twinkle Mehta, about the experience. This incredible opportunity was only enhanced with the performances by students from other local schools, which Glenforest also hosted. Twinkle believes that their enthusiasm to perform was what helped to make the event special, “If that isn't all, the schools that came is were a lot more spirited than nervous than I had expected. I watched all the performances, but more importantly I got to talk to all of the amazing actors, actresses and directors from other schools who came in to perform! All the actors / actresses from Mentor College and T.L. Kennedy seemed nervous but also incredibly excited to perform.” The Sears Drama Fes-
tival is an annual event that has helped students develop their dramatic talents since 1946. The District Festival is a celebration of theatre in local communities, and every participant, whether they are a director, actor, or stage crew, can take something away from the event. Ms. Luke recalls her participation as a student in the festival, “I was involved in the festival when I was a student in Grade 13. I directed a play by Eugene Ionesco called “The Bald Soprano”, and it was one of the best experiences I had in high school.” Overall, the Sears Festival was a remarkable event for everyone involved. Though it took a lot of work, students and staff had a very positive experience, and should be very proud
of the commitment, effort, and enthusiasm they put forth to make Tuna Fish Eulogy and Down Came the Rain come alive. Hopefully the amazing crew will return next year to put on another spectacular performance to showcase their dramatic talent to the community, and any students interested in joining the team are encouraged to get involved.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 6
Global
When plagiarism gets you expelled and rape gets you a slap on the wrist A
by: Vivian Mai
s the end of our school year draws near, we must bid farewell to our beloved seniors, many of whom will soon be headed off to post-secondary institutions. Not only the centres of education, but also avid promoters of strong, safe communities, right? Perhaps not. In recent years, some of us may have noticed the emergence of the term “rape culture” in the media. But what is it? By definition, rape culture is the normalization and trivialization of rape and sexual assault, due to societal attitudes toward gender and sexuality. Whether it be through catchy pop songs about the “blurred lines” of consent or the ever-so-hilarious “prison rape”
jokes, there shouldn’t be a question of the existence of rape culture in our society. However, it becomes exceptionally worse when the rape culture mentality is emphasized even more in a college or university environment, where students have a right to feel safe and supported. Not only have students displayed wildly inappropriate behaviour and actions, ranging from “jokingly” threatening to sexually assault their classmates to actually committing rape, but they have gotten away with their actions with little to no punishment; barely more than a slap on the wrist. According to a case study conducted by the Huffington Post, fewer than 30% of rape cases resulted in the perpetra-
tor’s expulsion, and fewer than 47% resulted in suspension. In some recent cases of sexual assault, rape charges resulted in extraordinarily soft punishments, such as having to write a short reflection report about their wrongdoings (University of Kansas), sensitivity training and a warning (Brandeis University), or “expulsion after graduation” (James Madison University). Considering the usual severity of the penalties resulting from comparably trivial offenses, such as plagiarism, these “punishments” are almost laughable. In fact, in 2013, a student from the University of North Carolina was expelled for reporting her rape, and thus creating an “intimidating environment” for her rapist. From this, one
must wonder if campus administration is more concerned about their reputation rather than their students’ safety. Even in Canada, a country that prides itself in being all-around good people, there seems to be a disturbingly growing epidemic of rape culture at our universities. During the frosh week of the 20132014 school year, students at the University of British Columbia were heard proudly chanting "Y-O-U-N-G at UBC, we like 'em young, Y is for your sister, O is for oh so tight, U is for underage, N is for no consent, G is for go to jail." Across the country, the same chant was heard at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Last year, a student leader at the University of Ottawa was the
Namaste, Dalai Lama I
by: Molly Lu
n what may be his final act of defiance, the 14th Dalai Lama conceded in December that he may just be the last. Tenzin Gyatso, or the 14th and current Dalai Lama, is 79 years old; as his death looms near, so too does the question of his successor. Ultimately, the Dalai Lama says, the continued existence of the Dalai Lamas is up to the Tibetan people. However, the Dalai Lama also states that he’d prefer there be no Dalai Lama, than a “stupid” one. Traditionally, the Dalai Lama is both the political and religious head of Tibet, and is chosen through the process of reincarnation. High Lamas (Buddhist religious leaders) such as the Dalai Lama have the ability to choose where and even if they are reincarnated— hence the present struggle. In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India after Chinese Communist Party (CCP) troops crushed an attempted uprising in Tibet. This occurred after the People’s Republic of China annexed Tibet during the Cultural (or Communist) Revolution, making it the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). Since then, China has
struggled with opposition to Chinese control of the area, opposition which they claim has been spearheaded by the 14th Dalai Lama. Whilst the dissenters maintain that the CCP has committed mass cultural genocide in Tibet, eradicating Tibetan language and customs, the CCP holds that the 14th Dalai Lama is a “wolf in monk’s clothing”, a Tibetan nationalist, and a Tibetan separatist. The CCP also maintains that it is the Dalai Lama’s duty to have a successor—and that the CCP has the right to choose who. The CCP has political reasons for its desire to choose the 15th Dalai Lama: Tibet’s proximity to China would make its independence a source of vulnerability for China should Tibet ally with China’s enemies. If the CCP could control the 15th Dalai Lama, however, it could finally gain the acceptance of the Tibetan people, offsetting Tibetan independence. To control the Dalai Lama, however, it would have to be the one to choose him (and it must be a ‘him’—the CCP also opposes the idea of a female Dalai Lama). This same issue manifested itself in 1995, during the selection of the Panchen Lama, the second most powerful
Buddhist figure after the Dalai Lama. The 14th Dalai Lama selected Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, whilst the CCP asserts the position belongs to Gyaincain Norbu. When he was just six years old, however, the Dalai Lama’s choice, Nyima, was seen in public for the last time, disappearing into Chinese captivity. Since then, allegations and controversy abounded surrounding Gyaincain Norbu’s selection, and Tibetan Buddhist leaders have refused to accept Norbu, demanding Nyima’s release. Perhaps most important, however, is the role that the Panchen Lama must play in the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and vice versa. Both require the other’s approval to be valid as the Dalai and Panchem Lamas, and should the CCP not release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, such an approval is impossible. The CCP cites history as justification for the role it should play in the succession— the first Dalai Lamas were, in fact, installed and supported by the Chinese Emperor. The CCP also asserts that the 14th Dalai Lama and his class of monks belonged to a religious serfdom (a system where peas-
ants live under feudalism). The existence of serfdom in Tibet is an area of great academic and political debate, but it is certain that Tibet was not, in fact, the Shangri La envisioned by the West. Pro-China academics assert that up to 98% of the Tibetan population was part of the serf class in in pre-Cultural Revolution Tibet, subject to virtual slavery and brutal treatment at the hands of their monk rulers. Punishments included the gouging of eyes, cutting of hamstrings, and severing of limbs. Pro-Tibet voices, however, state that such a sweeping claim is impossible, as Tibet was composed of many unique subcultures, and if anything, the societal structure resembled a caste-like hierarchy. Further, the 14th Dalai Lama had been making attempts to reform the injustices of his time. However, preoccupation with the abuses of the past does not excuse the abuses of the present. If the CCP continues to push the Dalai Lama, the end of his life may also signify the end of a succession that dates from the 14th century.
subject of “joking” sexual banter, including a suggestion for someone to “punish her with their shaft.” Even earlier this year, the fourth year male students of the Dalhousie Dental School were found with a facebook page, created in their first year, promoting sexual violence and misogynistic behaviour. Some posts joked about drugging the female students with chloroform, and having “hatesex” with them. While the page has since been taken down, only one of the male students remain suspended: the one who reported the page to the school administration. All around great Canadians, eh? As alarming as it is to realize how trivially sexual harassment and assault are perceived in our own educa-
tional facilities, it is reassuring to see some standing up to the campus rape culture. From the internationally-recognized SlutWalk protest marches to Emma Sulkowicz’s Carry That Weight performance at Columbia University, we can see people from all over the world striving to end rape culture. As difficult as it may seem to be to destroy the mentality that’s been ingrained into our heads by society itself, change can only come from the participation of every individual. Let our generation lead the change for a safer, better tomorrow.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 7
Global
T
by: Shankhalika Srikanth
he Canadian government’s controversial new weapon against extreme jihadists takes the form of Bill C-51, also known as the Anti-Terrorism Act. As of now the bill has passed the second reading, with the Conservatives and Liberals in favour and the NDP against. The proposed omnibus legislation that seeks to increase powers for national security agencies has faced enormous criticism from politicians and the Canadian public, who worry that it will limit - or remove entirely - our right to protest, privacy, and free speech. The bill aims to provide more power for our national security agencies in order to protect Canada from domestic and international terrorists. It plans to accomplish this by making it easier to arrest suspected terrorists, ban the promotion of terrorism, and
remove terrorist propaganda from the Internet. It will also give CSIS (the Canadian Security Intelligence Service) permission to disrupt activities and the government the ability to seal court proceedings and strengthen the no-fly list. Under the current legislation, substantial proof is required to arrest someone on suspicion of terrorism. With the implementation of the anti-terror bill, the amount of evidence needed by the RCMP and local police would be significantly reduced. Instead of having to prove that terrorist activity “will be carried out”, they only have to show that it “may be carried out”. In the same way, terrorism peace bonds will be issued to both those who “will commit” and those who “may commit” crimes. If issued a peace bond, citizens would have to surrender their passports, and if they had already committed a terrorism offence, the peace bond could last up to five years. The bill intends
to catch more terrorists and prevent terrorist activities by loosening the regulations for arrests, which many believe will increase the risk of false accusations and convictions. Bill C-51 would also make the international promotion of terrorism a criminal offence. Right now it is only illegal to encourage someone to commit a terrorist act. Officials have noted that the bill doesn’t ban the praise of terrorism, and critics point out that in practice it would be difficult to distinguish between the advocacy of terrorism and free speech. With the passing of the bill the government would give CSIS the power to “disrupt” activities that might increase the risk of terrorist plots. These disruptions would include the ability to intercept phone calls, financial transactions, and travel plans, as well as get in touch with the family of people they feel might be undergoing radicalization. A court order would be required for disruptions that
could infringe the suspect’s rights, and CSIS would have to report all disruptions to the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC). Despite the requirement of supervision, there is still no exact definition of “to disrupt” in the legislation; its implementation would be up to interpretation. Bill C-51 also intends to tackle the problem of terrorism online. Given court approval, the government would have the authority to remove terrorist propaganda from the Internet. In addition, the judge would be able to demand information from Internet service providers (ISPs) about the identity and location of people posting terrorist propaganda. However, in June the Supreme Court ruled that ISPs cannot be forced to hand over private information without a warrant. This creates a conflict, and again raises the issue of breach of privacy and free speech. It is possible to misconstrue many forms of writing as being a form of terrorist
propaganda, and innocent citizens may have their privacy compromised as a result. Finally, the anti-terror legislation proposes giving the government more allowance in sealing court proceedings and strengthening no-fly lists. Currently the government can ask to close court proceedings to the public at the end of the process with Division 9 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. With the new law they can do so at any time. The government would also be able to add people they think might be travelling to commit terrorist activities to the no-fly list at their own discretion. The government would control the appeal process. Numerous phrases in the bill have raised concerns, such as those in the definition of an “activity that undermines the security of Canada”. Examples of such activities include “interference with […] the economic or financial stability of Canada,” but exclude “lawful
advocacy, protest, dissent, and artistic expression.” NDP MP Peter Julian says that under this law, “Treaty rights, land rights, natural resource development, any protest like that, they would be considered eco-terrorists.” Green Party leader Elizabeth May raised the question of peaceful but illegal protests: “Civil disobedience of all kinds is wide open to falling under this act unless it’s amended.” In short, the opinion of those opposed to Bill C-51 is that its vague wording combined with the extended powers of government and spy agencies can lead to the abuse of basic civil rights, such as the right to privacy and freedom of expression. In the words of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, “I would say we should always be extraordinarily careful when we see governments trying to set up a new secret police within their own countries.”
Crimea: A year after annexation I
by: Danny Stratkov
t has been one year since the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in Southern Ukraine. Following the unrest caused by the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, a collection of “little green men” infiltrated the peninsula wielding Russian military weapons and equipment. Not too long after, Crimea declared its independence from Ukraine, and called for a referendum voting on Crimea’s separation from Ukraine and annexation to Russia. Despite the referendum being declared illegal under the constitution of Ukraine, it was
conducted with a result of 96.7% in favour of annexation. The referendum was immediately questioned by many governments around the world, and with good reason. A report from a member of the Russian President’s Human Rights Council concluded that, “In the opinion of virtually all the experts and citizens interviewed ... in Crimea, various data show that 50-60% voted for unification with Russia, with a turnout of 30-50%.” That means only about 1525% of the population voted in favour of unification. However, it can be argued that the true test of the legit-
imacy of the annexation will be whether or not the Crimean population is happy with life under Russian rule. A year has elapsed, so how has life on the peninsula changed? President Vladimir Putin’s many speeches celebrating the anniversary would make one believe that Crimea has become a Russian paradise, but the truth is that life is far from perfect on the peninsula. Its primary food supply, from Ukraine, has been cut off, and the cost of food from Russia has skyrocketed since the introduction of sanctions against it (ironically as a direct result of the Crimean annex-
ation). The cost of food has increased by 50% in Crimea, and the inflation rate was also recorded at 38% last year. As well, their largest industry, tourism, has spiralled downwards, with the number of visitors decreasing by 30% since last year. This is partly due to the fact that as of last year neither Visa nor Mastercard have work in Crimea. “Bring plenty of cash,” says one Russian visitor. There are also results of the annexation that are more grim than the economic realities. The Tatars, a minority group in Crimea against annexation, have been facing silent perse-
cution by Russian authorities. Voice of America, the official external broadcaster of the U.S Federal Government, passed on the words of Smedlya, a Tatar in Crimea: “Over the past year, we saw murders, kidnappings of activists, searching of madrassas and mosques, even the houses of the activists, and illegal arrests and detentions. All this is being done to Crimean Tatars, like the rest of the population, to instill fear.” In fact, the Human Rights Watch reports that at least 15 people, “all Crimean Tatars or Ukrainian activists opposed to Russian rule,” have gone missing in the last year. Yet, there
is no investigation from the central authorities into the kidnappings, despite the protests of their friends and families. The realities of the annexation of Crimea are not nearly as cheery as Russia or Putin are willing to admit. Whether it’s the questionable-at-best referendum, the economic troubles, or the oppression of minorities, the 96.7% approval rating has clearly been distorted.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 8
Global
Misguided: Youth and global Issues C
by: Jovana Pajovic
onsider the following situation. A student has emerged from a leadership conference feeling motivated to make a difference in the world by taking action to combat global poverty, an issue that they feel particularly passionate about. The presenters at the conference encourage eager students to act fast, perhaps by starting their own group at school. The student considers entering a suggested program that sends a team of students abroad to volunteer in an underprivileged nation. There are two aspects of this scenario that we can note. First, that students are incredibly humanitarian and are willing to devote their time to a worthy cause. Second, that most of the time, they are being misled as to how they should approach doing so. The common message that students receive is that the most effective way to support a global movement is by doing something big — really big, that is. Founding a new organiza-
tion with the hopes that it could take off right away is optimistic, but frankly, it’s also unrealistic. Why not join a group that is already successful and that can provide guidance to new members? Similarly, hopping on the next flight to volunteer in a developing country might be seen as admirable, but it isn’t for everybody. Most of the time, students act hastily without properly educating themselves or defining what it is that they have set out to accomplish. The matter becomes unfortunate when groups of passionate students are pitted against each other in a battle for funds. The simple fact is that the more organizations there are, the more competition there is to obtain support, and as a result, the less success each group sees. Writer Pippa Biddle recently published an article revealing the controversies of “voluntourism”. Although volunteers have good intentions, it will always be difficult for them to adapt to the new social, political, and cultural customs that they will encounter in a new place. Truthfully, most
are not qualified to provide long-lasting support to people that actually require trained professionals. Oftentimes, it is hard for us to understand that what we see as a thoughtful gesture may not be received in the same way. “It’s these padres of young people marching off to Africa,” says Biddle, “and just bungling everything up.” If volunteering abroad and founding a school club are not the best ways to get oneself involved in these movements, then what is? “Reading. We need to re-evaluate ourselves before we can start to take action", advocates Dr. Helen Dimaras, a global health professor at the University of Toronto. Dimaras encourages youth who are interested in global issues to attend lectures or seminars that can provide them with the knowledge, skills, and guidance that they need. “There are a lot of different resources that high school students can consult,” says Dimaras. “Education through film is a good way to start.” She recommends attending the Hot Docs film festival, running from April 23rd to May 5 in
Toronto. The festival features documentaries from around the world and covers a wide range of global issues. Additionally, teachers can request in-school screenings of a documentary of their choice during Hot Docs festival dates or organize an in-theatre viewing for their classes, as guest directors in attendance can provide Q&A sessions for students. Independent research and education are also important because another problem with the way that students are informed about global issues is that they are only exposed to “popular” topics that are often featured in the media and are the centre of debate. That’s not to say that these issues are insignificant, but there are others that deserve to be given an equal amount of attention. So, what are these under-appreciated issues? Dimaras offers cancer and Aboriginal rights as examples, and adds that “before we can think about reaching out globally, we need to solve the issues in our own neighbourhood.” Another important point to consider when deciding to
become involved is whether or not you commit for the right reasons. If you choose to involve yourself simply because you want to make your résumé look impressive, then please, consider something else. There are people in the world who take pride in their charitable work, and then there are others who diminish the value of their efforts by taking it for less than what it’s worth. For those students who are genuinely passionate and wish to pursue their interest in global affairs after high school, Dimaras says that there are universities and colleges that offer those programs. Currently, Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo offers a Global Studies program, where students explore three “core” areas of study: globalization and culture, peace and conflict, and international development. Similarly, the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs provides a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs including Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies and Global Journalism Studies. Dimaras also suggests
making contacts early. “Eager students should try to get in touch with professors early on to talk to them about the programs that they run and the high school qualifications needed to enter those programs.” While there are some ways that high-school students can educate themselves about global affairs, the choices are certainly limited. Perhaps the introduction of a new high school elective that focuses on global studies could be the solution to this dilemma. Ultimately, it is the student that decides which path they will take. What will always hold true however, is that volunteering in a far-off land or founding a new organization are great ways to express your passion, but education — reading and thinking — is what makes a true leader.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 9
Global
N
by: Inori Roy
early a third of 2015 is already over, and there has been scarce progress in the fight against racism in the United States. For some, it feels like ages since the murder of Michael Brown, a young, black, innocent man who was gunned down in the street by white police officer Darren Wilson. For others, it seems like only yesterday: the wound still fresh, serving as a reminder that no, we do not live in a ‘post-racial’ society. Michael Brown’s murder was not the first attack by a white police officer against an innocent black male, and it was not the last, but it was a turning point. Police violence, perpetrated by white officers against black, mostly male victims, became recognised by more and more people as an expression of racism – unjustifiable, and steeped in a centuries-long history of white-on-black discrimination and violence. As the movement swelled in 2014, so it continues in 2015. Protests are being held every day, all over the US,
by activists and civilians alike. But as the protests continue, so do incidents of police violence against black males. In March alone, 111 people were killed in encounters with police, and the common pattern across the country is that victims are mostly people of colour, specifically African-American citizens, and are often mentally ill as well. North of Atlanta, Georgia, white police officer Robert Olsen shot Anthony Hill, a 27-year-old African-American Air Force veteran who was naked and unarmed at the time. Anthony Hill was identified as bipolar. In the hours before his murder, he is believed to have been “acting strangely”; however, no witnesses report seeing any attempts by officer Olsen to de-escalate the situation. The New Mexico Public Defender Department has concluded in previous studies that 75% of police shootings “involved a mental health context”. Take, for example, the killings of Ezell Ford, Kajieme Powell, Tanisha Anderson, Michelle Cusseaux, or Milton Hall, whose murders all
occurred because of a lack of understanding of how to deal with potentially dangerous instances of mental illness. “Disability and ‘mental illness’ are not crimes, any more than being Black or Brown is a crime,” in the words of Leah Harris of the organisation Truthout. Another recent incident of racist police violence involved the shooting of Walter Scott by white police officer Michael Slager. Slager shot Scott 8 times in the back after Scott attempted to run away after being approached about a broken taillight. In a video of the crime, it is evident that after shooting Scott and leaving him on the ground to die, Slager picks up his taser from where it had fallen a few feet away and proceeds to place it next to Scott’s body. Slager then lies to police dispatch, telling them that Scott grabbed his taser. Presumably, Slager expected to get away with his murderous, lying ways – instead, he was fired from the police force and is now facing murder charges. However, this is unfortunately one of the only few cases where justice is actually enacted
against the murderers of innocent black people. There have, in fact, been several recent incidents of blatant injustice in the aftermath of police violence: The police shooting of Tamir Rice has now been characterised by the city of Cleveland as being “directly and proximately caused by the failure of [Tamir] to exercise due care to avoid injury.” He was 12 years old, and playing with a toy gun when he was shot and killed by a white police officer. The police officer who shot and killed Rumain Brisbon, a 34-year-old father of two, will have no criminal charges filed against him. The officer apparently mistook Brisbon’s medication for a weapon. Donald “Dontay” Ivy, a 39 year old paranoid schizophrenic, was approached by police, tasered, and tackled after being accused of “suspicious activity”. Ivy suffered from a heart condition, lost consciousness, and was not successfully resuscitated by police. Phillip White, a 32 year old resident of New Jersey, was killed by being mauled to death by a police dog while in
police custody. The officers at the scene made no attempt to help him – instead, they instructed the dog to “get ‘em”. They have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues. The federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Detroit, concerning the murder of a 7 year old girl by police officers, has been dismissed. Aiyana Stanley-Jones was sleeping on the couch when police officers mistakenly raided her family’s house, thinking it was the home of a criminal in the neighbourhood. She was fatally shot by the officers upon entry. To many, it seems hopeless to imagine an America free of racist violence against African Americans. Every day, new reports of assaults, murders, and injustices emerge, with no end in sight. But for most black citizens in America, and even in Canada, this is a constant reality that existed long before the summer of last year. “I’m no more afraid than I have ever been,” says DerayMcKesson, prominent activist and one of the leaders of the contemporary black rights
movement. University of Oklahoma (where recently, a fraternity was disbanded for singing a heavily racist anti-black chant on a university bus) student group Unheard states that, “Even 50 years after the events that occurred in Selma, Alabama, we still have a reason to march. We as a people have indeed come a long way, but yet still have so far to go.” They are referring to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights – the first of many in a civil rights movement that continues to this day. The fight against racism continues on. Ultimately, it is hope that often helps keep protestors fighting. “I love being black…my love for blackness keeps me out here,” says well known activist Johnetta Elzie. “I still love myself enough, and I love our future enough, and their kids, and their future kids enough [to] put [myself] on the line for that.” And according to Deray McKesson, “The reality is that the movement is bigger than any one person, any one night.”
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 10
Opinion Xenophobia poisons Harper's heart P
by: Srobona Podder
rime Minister Stephen Harper has made his stance very clear on women wearing their religious headdresses when taking their citizenship oath. By stating that “almost all Canadians oppose the wearing of face coverings during citizenship ceremonies,” our Prime Minister has taken it upon himself to make gross generalizations, and above all, ridiculously ignorant and racist statements. The niqab covers the entire face except the eyes, whereas the hijab covers the head and chest but not the face; not only does he use these terms interchangeably, Harper is convinced that they are rooted in
a culture that is “anti-women.” Let us examine the scene thoroughly, perhaps glancing just behind Harper, where Edmonton MP Tim Uppal is seated, wearing his blue turban proudly. Turbans were not only an issue a couple of decades ago in the RCMP, but also in 2013 when they were banned from Quebec soccer fields. People were sending anti-turban petitions to the government, and yet Tim Uppal now sits freely behind PM Harper, seemingly agreeing with what he had to say. Is Harper’s most recent statement simply part two of the attack on religious freedom and expression as a whole? Just as important as it is to embrace Canadian cultures and values, it is unacceptable to
force anyone who wants to be a citizen of Canada to leave their respective culture and religion behind. The fact that Harper felt the need to label an entire culture as “anti-women” shows just how closed-minded many Canadians are about different customs. While it can be possible that some women are forced to dress according to their cultural expectations, the majority dress themselves based on their own decisions. Yes, women are capable of making independent choices, Prime Minister, and accusing a religion of otherwise is why you have enraged so many. When immigrants come to Canada, they expect to be accepted for who they are and what they have to offer. It is not the govern-
ment’s job to assimilate every foreigner that comes to Canada; it is their job to make them feel welcome and at home. A woman wearing a hijab was refused to be heard in court by a judge who claimed that she had to remove her headdress first – after this recent dilemma, many women and men feel alienated from Canada simply because of what they wear. Perhaps this whole situation has finally shown Canadians something we had not previously recognized; we pride ourselves on the fact that we are a culturally diverse nation, but we are far from being the perfect, respectful nation we claim to be. The gender-rights gap in our nation is greater than we would like to believe
and, although it is improving, there is definitely a lot of work to be done. Women in unionized work forces in Canada make 82% of the average salary that men make in unionized work forces, and the gap grows even wider for women of colour and aboriginal women. Harper is afraid because he cannot see beyond the veil; because he doesn’t realise he cannot judge a Muslim woman’s character simply by looking at her; or maybe the problem is he judges her too quickly. What an individual wears is a part of them, but it does not, in any way, define who they are. As Liberal leader Justin Trudeau put it, Prime Minister Harper is “doubling down on the politics of fear.” At a time
when the world is fragile with unstable political conditions, Harper is fanning the flames of our apparent xenophobia. It is his job as Prime Minister to try and unite our country, not split it apart because of personal prejudices. Many have taken to Twitter with the hashtag #DressCodePM, asking Harper if what they plan on wearing is acceptable. I wear what I want. Nobody chooses my clothes for me, and nobody has the right to judge me based on what I wear -every woman in Canada should have this same right.
Islamophobia: The media's manipulation by: Zarfishan Qureshi
“M
aybe you should remove that Arabic sticker from the back of your car, sir.” “Wouldn’t it be better for you if you took that hijab off?” “You don’t want to be seen with that kind of attire around here, hon.” “I know you’re a good person, you don’t want people to get the wrong idea about you— which they will if you continue to wear that headscarf.”
The above are common examples of requests that I’ve heard while navigating through life as a Muslim - one that looks the part. Honestly speaking, I’ve always considered them to be unnecessary, and quite nosy too. If I don’t have a problem with my religious expression, which ultimately will only have an impact on me, why should anyone else? Being accustomed to brushing them off with a dry smile, I’ve never paid particular attention to them. Islamophobia is a thing of the past, right? Wrong. Looking back on those remarks now, in 2015, I recall them with a sense of eerie accuracy. Islamophobia
appears to be on the rise—in fact, it never died. On February 15th, 2015, Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and his sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were shot and killed in their own home. All three victims were students, raising money for Syrian refugees, advocates for volunteer work, and known around the community for their services. Their killer, an American man, was the one who pulled the trigger. The killing was a hate crime being passed off as a “parking dispute.” The three were killed by bullets to the head, mimicking an execution. The murder was clearly a hate crime, although
the police refused to label it as such. Completely ignoring the fact that the killer was very openly anti-religion, posting his opinions all over social media, as well as an advocate for gun rights, the killing was passed off as a heightened argument over parking. Not only is this a completely obvious cover up, but it’s also a way to excuse a triple murder by a white man through “justification,” if you can call it that. Had the same situation occurred with the roles reversed, it would immediately have been flagged as a terrorist attack, fueled by political tension and unwarranted hate against Western ideals. The attachment
of these violent, extreme characteristics to Muslims serves as propaganda against them. Meanwhile, the removal of the same characteristics from Americans helps to maintain the pure, “saviour” image that Western media loves to broadcast. Hate crimes against Muslims are then justified, sending out the message that they are acceptable and will have minimal repercussions, if any. Or, youth are taught that they are allowed to engage in such crimes, because backlash is so minimal, and since media will erase it all for them, anyway. Three months into 2015 and we’ve already seen a large handful of Islamophobic at-
tacks. It’s hit a point where people like me are told that we should “get used to it” and “be more careful” as these offenses become so much more normalized. The fact that these trends are only predicted to rise in the near future is a good indicator of the media’s efficient portrayal of Muslims as perpetrators and outsiders that need to be expelled. Every time something of this nature happens, I cannot help but worry for my friends and family sprawled over predominantly white, Western countries, as our safety and security is increasingly dissolved.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 11
Opinion A fearful future
F
by: Sundus Zuberi
ear mongering is the act of purposely arousing public fear towards an issue in order to influence opinions and actions. Throughout history, the systematic exploitation of fear to accomplish political agendas has been a persistent problem. The only thing that has changed in light of the Ottawa attacks is that this practice seems to have reached a new high, with the primary targets of fear induced intolerance being Muslims. Time and time again, Muslims are sweepingly labelled jihadists, extremists, terrorists, and worse by the media. Government officials have also done their part in promoting the ‘Muslims are out to get us’ narrative, starting with Prime Minister Harper who stated that “Islamicism” is the greatest threat facing Canada and who described “violent jihadism” as “ a great evil [that] has been descending upon our world, an evil which has been growing
more and more powerful.” In addition to turning Muslims into the bad guy from Lord of the Rings, Harper’s proclamations only further cultivate the culture of fear that Canadians are already exposed to every time they turn on the T.V, listen to the radio, go online, or read a newspaper. Unfortunately, this heavily propagated campaign of fear has been successful. Fear of Muslims is so deep-rooted in Canadians’ daily lives that we barely recognize its presence or consequences. To say that this type of fear mongering is dangerous would be an understatement. To begin, the foundation of this fear is completely flawed. As Glenn Greenwald, the first journalist to disclose Edward Snowden's documents on covert global surveillance programs, stated, “If you are a Canadian citizen, you have a greater chance of dying by being struck by lightning; or by going to a restaurant and eating a meal that will give you an in-
testinal disease; or by slipping in your bathtub, hitting your head on the ceramic tile than you do dying in a terrorist attack.” Furthermore, the ever-present ‘not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims’ mentality is both false and biased. An FBI study found that between 1980 and 2005, 94% of all terrorist attacks were actually committed by non-Muslims. The reason terrorist attacks by Muslims seem to have skyrocketed in recent years is simply because the word ‘terrorism’ has been distorted, and is now used to describe crimes committed solely by Muslims. The threat of terrorism in Canada has been purposely exaggerated and the consequences of this fear mongering are just as widespread. Due to this exaggeration, all Muslims are villainized, expected to apologize, and forced to pay the price for crimes they did not commit. An attack by ISIS means that Muslims everywhere will be forced to spend the next
month ‘condemning acts of extremism’ and uttering ‘Islam is a religion of peace’ in an attempt to alleviate the blame directed at them. Moreover, the fear of Muslims becomes dangerous when it borders on anti-Muslim attitudes. Since the Ottawa attack there have been numerous hate-crimes committed against Muslims. The Assunnah Muslims Association mosque in Ottawa, a Fort Saskatchewan home, and the Thornhill Islamic Centre are just a few of the places targeted by vandals, while numerous Muslims across the country have been physically/verbally threatened and attacked-something that both the mainstream media and Harper have neglected to condemn. However, the problem with this antagonization of Muslims is more than just sweeping stereotypes, islamophobia and violent acts of hate. Rather, it provides justification for the ‘war on terror’ and the violation of basic rights and freedoms.
So far the fear of ‘violent Muslims extremists’ has been used to justify another invasion in Iraq and continued violence in the Middle East, even though relentlessly bombing Muslim countries has done nothing more than murder thousands of innocent people, reduce countries to states of turmoil, and allow for more violent groups to rise to power. As fear of a terror attack manifests, individual Canadians have become more willing to submit to those in power and less concerned with critically analyzing the role the West is playing in creating these ‘extremists’. According to a recent poll conducted by Ipsos for Global News, two-thirds of Canadians are in support of extending Canadian Forces in Iraq, despite the fact that the 2003 Iraq War was carried on fabricated evidence for the purpose of political and economic gain. In Canada specifically, widespread fear and ostracism of Muslims has justified the
government’s infringement of basic rights and freedoms, such as the attempt to ban the niqab from citizenship ceremonies. Canadians are being further threatened by the new Anti-terrorism Act (Bill C-51) and the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act (Bill S-7), both of which were presented under the guise of necessary measures for ‘protection’ against ‘extremists’. Fear mongering has deliberately misled Canadian to believe that the threat of terrorism in Canada is more prevalent than it actually is and requires more of a ‘crackdown’ than is currently enforced. However, the real threats are not terrorist attacks but those attempting to manipulate Canadians into supporting a continued agenda of foreign wars and domestic control. It is time for Canadians to take a stand against these tactics and acknowledge the reality of the situation. We have nothing to lose but our fear.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 12
Opinion Texting B4 sleep?
“M
by: Lily Li
om, I’m going to sleep right now; don’t worry about me.” Little did her mother know that after the lights have been turned off, another source was left on. The student, fully aware of the white lie but not of the unforeseen consequences, whips out her beautiful, shiny smartphone constantly buzzing with notifications and messages from friends and foes alike. As harmless as it may seem, being exposed to the artificial light from electronics, especially late at night, is notably dangerous over the long term.
Adolescents need at least eight hours of sleep every night, which does not include lying in bed pondering about every possible irrelevant thought. Sleep as in deep sleep, when the body is in a stage of refreshing itself, preparing for the new day ahead. There are numerous downsides of utilizing these social instruments within an hour before bed (and in fact, the National Sleep Foundation found that 95% of people use some type of computer, video game, or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed).
1. Permanently jet(sleep)lagged Looking at the glare from electronics even 30 minutes before bed can decrease melatonin (natural body sleep chemical) levels by up to 22% in a single night, hindering natural sleep cycles. Over time, it would likely cause eye strain (impaired vision) and severe insomnia may develop as a result. 2. Psychological downfalls People, regardless of age, are more prone to depression, anxiety, and social isolation due to a disconnection of the real world. This is because their utilization of social media for
multitasking tend to lower the amount of gray matter in their brain’s anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) compared to non-addicted people. Gray matter is essentially the group of brain cells that control cognitivity and emotions, which explain why the symptoms develop from social media overuse. 3. Wifi = Waves that Bite It’s unnecessary to enable Wifi during bedtime, which act like tiny radio waves, linked with brain tumors at an elderly age and sleep deprivation. The large number of adolescents who knowingly (and sometimes unconsciously) place
their phones beside or under their pillow are most likely to develop the symptoms due to hormonal imbalances and relatively short attention spans. 4. Haunting “Ghost” Vibrations There is a relatively new disease linked with phones called ‘Phantom Smartphone Vibration Syndrome’ (feeling a vibration when it’s not even there) - a study has shown that 68% of cellphone users have experienced this on a regular basis! This can lead to random awakenings at night that are completely unnecessary.
5. Nasty Germs The average phone has 18 times more germs than a toilet seat (approximately 25,000 bacteria per square inch), which may lead to acne (if it comes in contact with skin) or colds from foreign viruses. Feeling overwhelmed? Stop, before putting that phone away in tears, consider keeping electronics out of the bedroom and turning them off—especially those used at a close proximity—for at least an hour before bed. Also, be sure to disinfect the screen and case from time to time to prevent an overpopulation of germs on the screen. TMI?
"What do you see? " "Ignorance." by: Prachir Pasricha
“B
lack and blue, or white and gold?” A question that has never been discussed as thoroughly at the office watercooler, or debated as fervently in the halls of a high school, as any other has been. Eventually, through scientific conclusions and social media, the true identity of the dress and the reason for its’ deceiving look was brought to light. “The dress” was something that came and went away, and life moved on. Its’ debate may have seemed harmless and humorous, but it spoke volumes about our society. February 26th, 2015 was
the date that this optical phenomenon went viral. On the very same day, a gunman in Tyrone, Missouri, shot and killed seven people, resulting in the worst mass murder in the area's history. The victims ranged from 48 to 67 years of age. Around the same time, thousands of Palestinians had been left without power because of the Israeli government’s punishment to Palestine for joining the ICC. February 26th, 2015 was also the three-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s shooting, an event that sparked rallies and protests across the United States of America. These events took people’s lives away from them-their families,
their friends, and their communities experienced some of the worst pains of their life. For these people, the most society can do for them is provide support by raising awareness of these malicious acts, and making it clear that they will not be tolerated. But it seems that on that day, all the society could talk about was “the dress”. As a society with rapidly developing technology and networking mediums, we are reminded of the power of social media every time something like “the dress” comes around. Within one week of the infamous image being uploaded, more than 10 million tweets fueled the worldwide
debate. Celebrities including Ariana Grande, Ellen DeGeneres, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Jimmy Fallon all weighed in, spreading the topic even further through their massive social media followings. Interestingly enough, following the Trayvon Martin incident, the teenager’s name was only tweeted just over 2 million times. This happened within the first month of the event. It is noteworthy to see what society focuses its’ attention on and what is deemed important and unimportant in our day-to-day lives. Why do we choose to create so much awareness for a trivial debate that offers no help to society,
instead of pressing global issues that are dealing with the fundamental rights of fellow humans? Now that it is evident that it is possible to capture the attention of millions of people, it is important that we gear this priceless power towards a topic of value and importance. In the past, social media has been successful in its campaigns such as #BringBackOurGirls and #BlackLivesMatter. It is important that we continue to use social media as a tool to bring about change in the lives of others, and that everyone gets involved. If the image of the dress had never reached social media, the debate would have rested in the local communi-
ty of the person who found it, and that would have been the end of it. People are constantly checking and updating their lives through their devices; even with a few people starting a movement, it can truly become its’ own miracle across the globe. This is especially pertinent to teenagers, who are perhaps the most active users of mediums like Twitter and Instagram, and are the future in serving social justice and defining what is acceptable and unacceptable. Hopefully this article makes you, the reader, think about what types of questions we should really be asking ourselves and those around us.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 13
Opinion
The racial war against Aboriginal women by: Inori Roy he Canadian government
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has once again failed its indigenous population. Through the centuries of Canada’s history, there have been countless injustices against the aboriginal population. First, the theft of land and rights; then, the annihilation of cultures, traditions, and identity as a whole; now, neglect and apathy in the face of the aboriginal population’s latest epidemic. There is a growing pattern of violence against aboriginal women in Canada. Between 1980 and 2012, more than 1000 aboriginal women have been murdered, at a rate 4.5 times higher than any other demographic of Canadian women. Only 53% of murder cases involving Aboriginal women have led to charges of homicide, compared to a much higher 84% for other demographics. The likelihood of being murdered by an ac-
quaintance is 7 times higher for aboriginal women than for others. Hundreds of aboriginal victims’ cases go unsolved, being abandoned by police and the RCMP for lack of evidence – or perhaps more frighteningly, a lack of interest in apprehending the perpetrator. This disproportionately higher rate of violence against indigenous women in Canada is the mark of a far more serious issue: a centuries-old, deep rooted discrimination against the aboriginal population, specifically women, as a result of racist, misogynistic, and classist perceptions which shape the ‘value’ of an aboriginal woman in Canadian society. Several studies conducted by global humanitarian organisations have confirmed that this bias exists. The Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has identified the existence of “underlying factors of discrimination that originate and exacerbate the violence” and “the per-
sistence of long-standing social and economic marginalization” against aboriginal women, and the UN has urged the government to institute a “systemic, comprehensive, multisectoral and sustained” response to this violence. There is no denying that the lives of aboriginal women in Canada are often plagued by threats of violence, as part of a greater system of racial bias against the aboriginal population. In comparison to non-aboriginal Canadians, aboriginal life expectancy and graduation rates are lower, while unemployment, infant mortality, and prison time are higher. They remain the poorest demographic in Canada – all this as a long-term result of colonialism, conquest, and urbanisation that has actively oppressed the indigenous population. Beginning with the arrival of the first ship from Europe, and continuing to this very day, the dominance of white, Western culture over indigenous cultures of North America has
attempted to halt the progress of the aboriginal population. In approximately 700 recommendations made to the Canadian government in the past 20 years, humanitarian organisations have urged that there be a change in the approach to the issue of violence against aboriginal women. Amnesty International states that “this violence requires a specific and concerted response from police and all levels of society.” But there is no way to determine a solution for this issue if law enforcement itself is part of the problem. New York based organisation Human Rights Watch has discovered that aboriginal women are frequently subjected to police threats, torture, and sexual assault by members of the police and the RCMP. In fact, RCMP officers have been caught on camera assaulting aboriginal men and women, and have most often not received adequate punishments. Human Rights Watch revealed stories of police pepper-spraying or
Tasering young aboriginal girls, and having male officers strip search women. Some compare the levels of fear among aboriginal women assaulted by police to those in post-war situations. There are no means by which aboriginal women can receive aid if the very people they should be turning to are the ones victimising them. The Canadian government is no better in its evaluation of the racial war against aboriginal women. When asked whether there would be a public inquiry into the killing of aboriginal women, Prime Minister Harper replied, “Um it, it isn’t really high on our radar, to be honest...Our ministers will continue to dialogue with those who are concerned about this.” He has also remained ignorant of the systemic nature of the issue, insisting that the epidemic of violence is not a sociological phenomenon but a series of isolated incidents. Other politicians in the Canadian government remain equally ignorant,
like Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Bernard Valcourt, who chooses to believe that this violence is perpetuated solely by aboriginal men (a fact which has been statistically proven to be untrue), stating that “obviously, there's a lack of respect for women and girls on reserves. So you know, if the guys grow up believing that women have no rights, that is how they are treated." Valcourt remains blind to the fact that the greatest lack of respect is coming from the government itself. If this were to take place within a more dominant demographic, perhaps there would be immediate action to stop it. But it’s not – this is taking place in the lives of aboriginal women, every day. Mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, nieces, and friends are disappearing, are dying, are being remembered, but are not being delivered the justice they deserve. And as a nation, collectively, Canada deserves to feel an overwhelming sense of shame.
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Entertainment
American Sniper: Your problematic fave A
by: Michelle Wei
merican Sniper: Your problematic fave Before anything else can be said, I have to put it out there: I enjoyed watching American Sniper. Although war movies in general aren’t my cup of tea, it kept me on my toes, prompting the laughs and gasps of horror in all the right places. The acting was believable, the effects realistic – all the makings of a decent film. But this doesn’t mean that the movie was above criticism – far from it. It was riddled with problems, and not just your run of the mill monotonous dialogue, overly dramatic scenes sort of problem either. The issue with American Sniper has less to do with Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood and more to do with Chris Kyle. Directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper details the true story of Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a U.S Navy SEAL during the Iraq war, and the man named the deadliest sniper in American history, with 160 confirmed kills. Based on Kyle’s autobiography
‘American Sniper’, the movie follows his four tours of duty in Iraq as he struggles to protect his fellow soldiers while remaining a good husband and father to his family halfway around the world. Since its release in January 2015, the film has been nominated for a total of sixteen awards, including multiple Academy Awards. As with anything, American Sniper has received mixed reviews, being called “a bona fide cultural phenomenon” (CNN’s Brandon Griggs) on one hand, and “almost too dumb to criticize” (Max Taibbi of Rolling Stone), on the other. However, despite the massive amount of praise, its critics have converged on one bulletproof flaw: the major gap between conflicted, modest, moviehunk-Chris Kyle and fleshand-blood-Chris Kyle. Along with well-excecuted action scenes, the film does an excellent job of ignoring inconvenient truths to portray protagonist Chris Kyle in a favorable light, glossing over the uglier aspects of his real-life character with muscles and charisma. On the
movie screen, I had no trouble rooting for our hero; cheering each time he brought down an Iraqi rebel and tearing up over his inner turmoil about killing. Movie-Kyle is charming, succeeding in winning over reluctant, SEAL-hating Taya (Sienna Miller) who later becomes his wife. He is modest about his label as ‘The Legend’, calling it “a title that you don’t want”, and patriotic, willing to lay down his life for his country. It’s a shame that out of his three redeeming qualities, two are false. Flesh-and-blood Chris Kyle was not modest. Since leaving the military in 2009, Kyle also left behind his anonymity as a sniper, appearing on the cover of Soldier of Fortune magazine and numerous talkshows to embellish his own legend. Even worse than unashamedly boasting, he liked to brag about things he didn’t do, claiming to have killed two carjackers in Texas, shot looters during Hurricane Katrina, and punched former governer Jesse Ventura in the face – none of which, it should be noted, is true. Kyle’s fondness for ly-
ing and adding more kills to his already high body count leads us to the next devastating conclusion: movie-Kyle might have hesitated to pull the trigger on a child throwing a grenade but flesh-and-blood Kyle had no qualms whatsoever. In fact, many argue that the real Chris Kyle was psychotic, alarmed by his descriptions of killing as “fun” and something he “loved” to do. He calls the Iraqi “savages”, saying that his only regret was that he didn’t kill more, not sparing women and children in his verdict. All in all, Chris Kyle’s version of the Iraq war is very black and white; the Americans are heroes because they are American, and the Iraqis are unquestionably ‘evil’ on the account of being Arabic. Kyle doesn’t pause to consider the role of the Americans in provoking the rise of Iraqi insurgents or the thousands of Iraqi who fought alongside Americans in the war – a neglect that carried into Eastwood’s movie. Perhaps Eastwood made a sound decision as a filmmaker to polish up his protagonist for the camera, but his cleanup
of Chris Kyle’s blood-splattered name is turning into a mistake when it comes to his unquestioning audience; patriots are embracing his glamorized soldier and calling Kyle a hero. While American Sniper itself was a morally complex film with shades of grey (at least, when it came to the act of killing), it unwittingly embodies Chris Kyle’s toxic black and white ideologies and turns a remorseless killer into an American symbol. As a soldier, Chris Kyle was just another hate-filled racist, but as Eastwood’s hero, Chris Kyle is a hate-filled racist with a following. Apart from the controversy surrounding the movie’s protagonist, the other glaring hole in American Sniper’s award-nominated name is the disregard for American Sniper’s Middle Eastern characters. While the American soldiers in the film were given well fleshed out characters with families and backstories, the Iraqi were developed lazily, if at all. Even the rival Syrian sniper, Mustafa, is reduced to a mute shadow gunning down Americans from
the sidelines despite being the film’s main antagonist. American Sniper’s overlooked and underdeveloped Arab characters only reinforce real Chris Kyle’s firm belief that all Muslims he shot were deserving of death – a connection between Eastwood’s hero and reality’s man that is racist as well as dangerous in its real life implications. Geared towards a country where Islamophobia is already a serious concern, the movie does nothing but inflame afear and suspicion that should not exist in the first place. But when it is being encouraged by a character who is now widely accepted as an American hero, the threat it poses is doubly ominous. It’s unfortunate that Eastwood chose such an unreliable protagonist for his war thriller; perhaps then his careful cinematography and simple story telling wouldn’t have carried such a heavy consequence.
One step forward, two scenes back T
by: Sarini Kumarasinghe
here’s been a lot of controversy in recent months in regards to the 2015 Oscars consisting primarily of white males and females. While some believe it is entirely possible that the most powerful performances of the year were solely by Caucasian actors and actresses, the situation does shed some light on the racial inequality
present on the big screen. Reviewing the films that were nominated for either Best Picture or Actor/Actress in a Leading Role, I noticed that there were only two films with people of colour in leading roles: Selma and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Considering that in total there were thirteen movies within these categories, this should be quite concerning. Many of these films can’t be held accountable, as they are based on true stories or are set in a specific time or place in
which it wouldn’t make sense to cast a person of any race other than the one they had selected. Of the original thirteen (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash, Foxcatcher, Two Days, One Night, Still Alice, Gone Girl, Wild), six films had to be removed from the list. This included Selma. The final ratio of films with people of colour in comparison to films with white leads was 1:5.
Also, looking back at the 2014 Oscars, the only films with people of colour in lead roles from the three categories previously mentioned were Captain Phillips and 12 Years a Slave, both of which required racial diversity to maintain the integrity of the film. It was not a choice to hire talented minorities, it was a necessity. Another issue with Hollywood’s interpretation of racial equality in film centers primarily on African American actors and actresses. With the
exception of Tony Revolori (playing “Zero” inThe Grand Budapest Hotel), the only other non-black actors of colour within the past five years to star as a lead in an Oscar nominated film, were Suraj Sharma (“Pi Patel”, Life of Pi), Demián Bichir (“Carlos Galindo”, A Better Life), and Javier Bardem (“Uxban”, Biutiful). All of the aforementioned actors, however, were selected for the role solely because the context of the film demanded it, not because of their obvious talent.
While the rest of society seems to be slowly heading towards an era of racial acceptance, the film industry appears to be fixated on the values of the past. Until casting directors decide to cast people of colour in racially ambiguous, non-stereotyped roles, instead of treating white as the default race of “regular” characters, and leaving race-specific roles like slaves or servants to actors of colour, we cannot claim to have racial diversity in film.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2015 PAGE 15
Science
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to vaccines. While the purpose may have been to inform the public, the result was vaccination rates dropping sharply in the United Kingdom and Ireland. What happened immediately afterwards was an unsurprising rise in cases of measles and mumps (two of the most common vaccine types). Though the anti-vaccine movement spans more than 15 years, the heart of the matter lies in Wakefield claiming that vaccines cause autism. Armed with a study attempting to prove the
claim, the controversial study still affects people today. A survey conducted in February 2015 revealed that 1 in 10 Americans believe that vaccines are unsafe, while 20% of Ontarians believe the same. Fast forward to March 1st 2014, people still subscribe to Wakefield's beliefs, even 18 states and 178 infected later. Even though many counter-studies have disproved the findings and the medical science magazine has long since retracted the study, it is clear that it has affected millions of
families. Medicine may not always be an exact science, but there are as many reasons to believe vaccines cause autism as there are Nicolas Cage movies to cause drowning. That is to say, none. The most frightening realization about this vaccine controversy is that the news is being used as a way to throw science out the door. When some hero manages to stumble upon a massive conspiracy, what usually happens is just meddling. Despite what some people think about the
shadowy organizations controlling the world, governments can't collect tax dollars if everybody is dead. This is not the first time that pseudoscience was thrown out into the open, either. The so-called Y2K apocalypse, which was warned to destroy all machinery, only did minor damage. People have definitely had bad reactions to vaccines (such as joint pain or headache), but the effects are far from "causing autism in babies". The real terror isn't vac-
by: Apurva Dixit
Terence Young. It requires all manufacturers of wireless devices to place warning labels on their packaging instead of simply in the instruction manuals where the fine print is often overlooked. Canadians must be made aware of the dangers of electromagnetic radiation emitted from their wireless devices. In fact, the World
Health Organization has even deemed that this radiation may be a possible carcinogen, in the same category as DDT, lead, and car exhaust. “This is not a partisan Bill, it is one that affects every party,” said Young. “Members across Canada are hearing from our constituents that they don’t want our amazing twenty-first
century communications to cause a twenty first century health crisis. It’s time to label the packages with the same warnings the manufacturers already put in fine print.” Over the years, there have been numerous studies done, showcasing the dangers of electromagnetic radiation, but they are often overlooked. Not only has radio frequency
in high dosage been linked to of technology used withbehavioural problems in chil- in our education system. dren, but prolonged contact with these wireless devices has been linked to breast cancer, brain tumours, and alterations in the structure of DNA. The newer generation must be educated about the harm that radio frequency can inflict on their bodies, especially with the exponential increase
he idea of being exposed to a weakened disease in order to protect oneself has been present for more than a thousand years. The modern form of vaccination has been around for three hundred years. The push against vaccination has only been introduced 17 years ago. It is an idea originated by former doctor Andrew Wakefield in a frightening study published in The Lancelet attempting to link autism rates
O
cinating, it's not vaccinating. By choosing to rely on personal ability, this mentality places millions at risk of actual infection. By attempting to combat vaccine-caused autism, the anti-vaccination movement ends up allowing diseases to spread further. Contrary to what conspiracy theorists claim, the things inside vaccines are almost always supposed to be there.
by: Haoda Yan
TTAWA - On January 19, 2015, an organization known as Canadians for Safe Technology (C4ST) helped support the introduction of a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons. This bill, known as Private Member's Bill C-648, is championed by Oakville MP
comics by: Lena Phan
by: Jeffrey Xu
by: Hellen Ngo
by: Suriya Ratnam
by: Amanda Yang
by: Bernadette Abalos
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For the students, by the students.