Category Archive: political junk

Guarding the poppy

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Fri. November 10, 2006

A week or two ago, when I stopped by the mall, I passed by a table with a veteran sitting there selling poppies. I passed by without giving it much thought, but after I’d made my purchases I decided to go back and make a small donation. I’ve been wearing my poppy since then. I’ve been dutifully keeping an eye on it, making sure that it didn’t come off my jacket, as they’re known for doing. Coming out of the theatre after seeing Borat, I noticed that it fell off. I spotted it lying on the carpet, at the bottom of the escalators. I went back, and picked it up despite the fact that there had been people trampling all over it. I brushed it off and re-pinned it to my lapel.

Even though my family is one of immigrants, I’m not ignorant to the fact that the way I live my life today is a direct result of people making sacrifices during the wars of old. I’m thankful, and I guess keeping guard over my little poppy is perhaps the least I could do to express my gratitude. The veterans need us more than ever. As time passes, the wars fade in the conscience of the public. It can’t be helped; it’s fact of time, right. We need to make sure that those who did battle are not forgotten–not necessarily in name, but moreso in deed.

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Losing one’s way

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Fri. July 28, 2006

Just a quick entry for now.

I dunno. I was passing through some blogs and I came across someone who’s saying that humanity has lost just about any sense of goodness that may define human-ness. He was using the conflict in the Middle East as an example, saying that both sides are pretty much able to get away with whatever with just a slap on the wrist. He’s saying that in general, people don’t care anymore and are perhaps becoming more and more numb to all the violence and lack of courtesy.

Fair enough. I mean, I can see that as perhaps being a symptom of living in conditions where it’s a matter of survival. However, to generalize and say that humanity has totally lost its way is just wholly sensationalist.

Of course, I realize that the guy is just reacting to the reactions of the people in power regarding the incident with the unarmed UN observation point. It’s sad. However, war is not a normal situation. Oh hell no. It brings out extreme behaviour on many fronts. You can’t use the event to judge people (or *a* people) as a whole.

Hum.

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Shying away from the real world

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Sun. January 22, 2006

I’ve gone home for the weekend. I think that after the mess that was Wednesday, I just wanted to go into an extreme relax mode for a long period. Though, now that it’s Sunday, I think that this has been long enough. I’m ready to get right back into the groove of things on Monday.

Ah, Monday. It’s going to be a hectic day. The election signs are once again up. They’ve sprouted like weeds, making the landscape ugly with dirty ambition. Some sort of change is up on the horizon whether we like it or not, so it seems. Polls open at 9:30, and since I do want to make a decision, I plan on staying here Sunday night and leaving for Waterloo right after I cast my ballot. I don’t know how the traffic will be on the way back. I’m truly hoping that I’ll have missed the worst of the morning rush. If not, I’ll end up missing class. I don’t want to miss class again! Last week, because of all the Symposium craziness, I chose to miss all my classes to get other work done. Now…it’s been too long! I need to get back. It’s time to sink back into my reality.

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If you love Canada

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Tue. December 20, 2005

You know, normally in my entries I try to remain unpolitical. It’s tough to do so right now considering that Canada is quite politically charged right now. We’re halfway through this marathon election campaign, and nothing has really changed in public opinion. Nothing has shifted one way or the other, from what I can tell. Anyway, I’m a firm believer that who you vote for is none of my business. You can vote Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Marxist-Leninist…it doesn’t matter to me. People’s choices are based on so many factors, that I’m simply in no position to judge.

Why am I posting this? Well, on my MSN list, there’s someone who tacked this gem onto their name: “If you love Canada vote Conservative – Harper for PM”. I take issue upon seeing that. Now, understand this. I don’t take issue that this guy is pro-conservative. Not at all. Harper may win. In fact, I have no problem with the politicos on TV trying to convince you to vote for them. What I take issue with is the “If you love Canada” part. Who is he to tell me how to love my country? If, for instance, I vote for another party, does that somehow mean I hate this country? How dare he! If I hated this country, I would be apathetic and not bother to vote. I vote because I love this place. I vote because I’m Canadian; I’m Canadian because I vote.

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It’s just a little slush

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Thu. December 15, 2005

We’re being hit by major slow-moving snowstorm right now. The Environment Canada peeps predicted that the storm would hit at about 1 p.m. today. Earlier, at about noon, I read at The Star that someone predicted that the storm slowed down and that the drive home would be nice and clean. After reading that, I felt more comfortable knowing that everything would be fine.

Well, whoever said that the storm was slow-moving…that bitch was dead wrong!

At about 3 p.m., a colleague dropped by my desk telling me to look out the window. We headed out to another cubicle to see the roads covered in a thick layer of snow and slush. Well, so much for me being comfortable. At 4 p.m., another colleague passed by my desk. He said that he was surprised that I was still there; our boss had already left, and most everyone else had left early to get a head start. Well, OK then. So, I left early. The roads were dirty white. There was barely any spot where I could actually spot the asphalt. The roads would have been tough to handle. The thing is, traffic was moving so slowly that it really didn’t matter at all. Oh, but even if it was moving at a decent speed, I would have been confident on the road because of my awesome snow tires.

If this weather doesn’t scream, “Canadian, eh?” I don’t know what does.

Oh, speaking of Canadian-ness, the Leader Debates are taking place in French as we speak. I assume the English debate will take place tomorrow. I want to be an informed voter. Thus, I’m trying to watch the thing and absorb what I can from the leaders’ comments. Thing is…and I feel a bit silly admitting that I’m watching this…the finale for The Apprentice is on. So, I’m switching back and forth between the two, trying to get enlightened, and letting my mind go to mush wondering whether Randal or Rebecca will win. Oh, whatever. Tomorrow, I don’t have any must-see shows, so I’ll pay more attention to the debates.

If I remember.

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Political Compass

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Sun. December 4, 2005

Economic Left/Right: -1.13
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.08

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

So, I guess that means that I’m socially liberal, but my economic views are more central. I suppose I believe what it says a little bit.

Considering that an election is coming up, this may be an interesting test to take.

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Lest we forget

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Fri. November 11, 2005

Hope you had an observant Remembrance Day. Never forget that the freedom we enjoy today came at a price.

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The divinity of Catherine the Great

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Sat. October 22, 2005

I spent the day downtown today with Raluca. It was raining hard the whole time, and unfortunately I left my umbrella in the car. Didn’t matter though. We spent much of our time indoors.

The main feature today was going to the Art Gallery of Ontario. There’s a Catherine the Great exhibition taking place there now where they are displaying “paintings, sculpture, furniture, gems, and decorative arts, including the dazzling 18th century Coronation Coach.” The admission was $15 for a student, which was quite reasonable. Honestly, the exhibit was really quite amazing. To think that all of the things that we saw there today was once in the prescence of a powerful ruler like her, it really boggles the mind. Alongside many of the paintings was a small description giving either a brief summary of the depicted scene, or a short history of the person shown. The experience proved to be a nice history lesson.

In the end, one of the strongest messages that I will take away from this exhibit is the idea that history will always be written by the victors. Catherine the Great spent a large amount of her time trying to associate herself with Peter the Great, her predecessor. Moreso however, she attempted to associated herself heavily with the Roman goddess of art, wisdom, and war, Minerva. Minerva is the Roman equivalent of the Greek, Athena. Very often, when paintings and sculptures of Catherine were created, she was shown with adornments associated with the Goddess. To me, it looks as if she was trying to make herself look almost divine and infallible. Imagine, as an average Russian, seeing a supposedly divine woman travelling down the road in her gleaming gilded carriage. Man, her propaganda campaign must have worked wonders.

(By the way, the carriage is part of the display. It really is a magnificent sight.)

I guess you could think that when it comes to holding power, a lot of the concepts of centuries gone by still hold. Propaganda and the spread of information is still the greatest way to mold and form public opinion. Whether or not it’s for the best really will be the opinion of those who will eventually come out on top.

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