Saturday, October 30, 2004

Requiem for a Fourteen-Year-Old

My only connection to the Steven Truscott case is that we studied his case in OAC Law. And for whatever reason, it still resonates with me. Ever since his attempt to clear his name has resurfaced, I've been following it closely. In Thursday's Toronto Star, Pierre Berton republished a poem he wrote to the Star back when Mr. Truscott was convicted. I wish to share this with those who may not have had a chance to read it:

Requiem for a Fourteen-Year-Old -By Pierre Berton

In Goderich town
The sun abates
December is coming
And everyone waits;
In a small, stark room
On a small, hard bed
Lies a small, pale boy
Who is not quite dead.
The cell is lonely
The cell is cold
October is young
But the boy is old;
Too old to cringe
And too old to cry
Though young —
But never too young to die.
It's true enough
That we cannot brag
Of a national anthem
Or national flag
And though our Vision
Is still in doubt
At last we've something
To boast about:
We've a national law
In the name of the Queen
To hang a child
Who is just fourteen.
The law is clear:
It says we must
And in this country
The law is just.
Sing heigh! Sing ho!
For justice blind
Makes no distinction
Of any kind;
Makes no allowance for sex or years,
A judge's feelings, a mother's tears;
Makes no allowance for age or youth
Just eye for eye and tooth for tooth —
Tooth for tooth and eye for eye:
If a child does murder
The child must die.
Don't fret ... don't worry ...
No need to cry
We'll only pretend he's going to die;
We're going to reprieve him
Bye and bye.
We're going to reprieve him
(We always do).
But it wouldn't be fair
If we told him, too
So we'll keep the secret
As long as we can
And hope that he'll take it
Like a man.
And when we've told him
It's just "pretend"
And he won't be strung
At a noose's end,
We'll send him away
And, as like as not,
Put him in prison
And let him rot.
The jury said "mercy"
And we agree —
O, merciful jury;
You and me.
Oh death can come
And death can go
Some deaths are sudden
And some are slow;
In a small, cold cell
In October mild
Death comes each day
To a frightened child
So muffle the drums and beat them slow,
Mute the strings and play them low,
Sing a lament and sing it well,
But not for the boy in the cold, dark cell,
Not for the parents, trembling-lipped,
Not for the judge, who followed the script;
Save your prayers for the righteous ghouls
In that Higher Court who write the rules
For the judge and jury and hangman, too;
The Court composed of me and you.
In Goderich town
The trees turn red
The limbs go bare
As the leaves are bled
And the days tick by
As the sky turns lead
For the small, scared boy
On a small, stark bed
A fourteen-year-old
Who is not quite dead.

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

On the wrong side of victory

So my intermural ultimate season ended tonight, with a dismal loss, something around 9-2, 10-2. It also didn't feel good at all. We ended our season 1-3 without any defaults, which I guess is an improvement over my previous seasons.

As much as I enjoy being destroyed in games as the next person...I really don't. It seems like there are fewer and fewer teams composed of people hoping to play a couple of intermural games with friends. The teams were tougher competition than I faced in previous seasons. Though I lost games in those too, at least they were tight games and there was actual competition between teams. It's possible my team just got a bad draw and played against three really good teams. I don't dispute that possibility, but there's 20-30 teams and to just happen to draw all these teams, I'd have bought some lottery tickets at the same time.

Now, I'm glad there're so many good players at Queen's. It's little wonder that our school team were recent national champions at a tournament out west. However, I'd like to have one season again where we could actually put up a good fight instead of being smothered within the first 20 minutes. To me, it's just been too demoralizing.

Maybe what we need for the intermural league is to split up the teams into 'recreational' and 'competitive' sections because there is definitely a visible difference in skill.

Caveat (October 31, 2004): This is a reproduction of the original post because Blogger, in its infinite wisdom as I tried to update this post, decided to delete the entire thing instead...21st technology is fabulous these days.

Sunbeam

I've noticed that since the start of my masters program (or possibly since the start of my adult life, I'm not sure which) I've been drifting around in a state of confusion, lacking a certain focus, if you will. While I am concerned about this state of...aimlessness, it does certainly provide a good contrast to moments of clarity when I am exposed to them.

And this afternoon, I was given one such moment of clarity. And it felt refreshing during that time. So I do have to thank that little ray of sunshine that pierced through those clouds ever so briefly.

It's good to see the Sun every once in a while.

Victory is Mine!


In the thick of things
Originally uploaded by blackhole.

Well, actually, victory is theirs. Over the weekend, Canada participated in the Dragonboat World Championships in Shanghai and despite China's home advantage, the teams are coming home with 2 golds, 3 silvers and 1 bronze, earning them the Nation's Cup and bragging rights as the world's best (not that we would EVER brag about anything except hockey and health care...)

It is a dream, a goal if you will, to one day participate in said championships, so keep up the hard work, congratulation, and one day, I will peel my lazy butt away from my blog long enough to start training to your level!

Quotes of the night

Here are two very blog-worthy quotes for two completely different reasons:

First off, we have, courtesy of maderblog, a story about Taiwanese legistators in a heated debate that spills over into a massive food fight, all the while being shown live on local television. As one legislator remarked,

"My whole body smells like a lunch box!"


Secondly, we have the ending clips of the Daily Show's "Moment of Zen," depicting an exchange between the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Jerry Falwell. In discussing terrorism and Bush's policy to go after terrorists, Jerry Falwell enthusiastically endorsed the President to hunt them down and,

"chase them all over the globe...blow'em all away, in the name of the Lord."

Now, I may not be a practicing Catholic anymore, or, well, a practicing anything, but last I checked the Bible, Jesus wasn't such a fan of the killings and the bloodshed. Something about cheeks and forgiveness, I can't quite remember what. You'll have to excuse me, I'm a little rusty. If the J-man's up there right now, I wonder how pleased he is of Falwell to use his name like that?


I'm going back to work, like the heathen that I am.


Saturday, October 23, 2004

Queen's Homecoming RULES

This is my 5th year at Queen's. I've participated in several homecoming weekends and they have been quite fun. This year, however, tops them all. It's all about having old friends sleep on your couch and on your floor, watching Matlock at 3 in the morning just so we're rested for Saturday's debauchery. This is Queen's homecoming at its best. It truly is all about the Queen's community and comraderie and finding an Arts '79 in a keg party with undergrads. So to all those who are reading and having a great time all around Kingston, I say:

Oil thigh na Banrighinn a'Banrighinn gu brath

Cha-Gheill!

Cheers to all!

Sunday, October 17, 2004

The greatest Canadian

When I first heard about this series (rip-off of a British series) by the CBC, I thought it was lame. But it's fun every once in a while to entertain oneself with a big Canadian ego-stroking exercise. Tonight was the first show that introduced the top 50 great Canadians as suggested by everyone to the CBC. Here's the top 10 that can now be voted for again to claim the top prize:

Dr. Frederick Banting
Alexander Graham Bell
Don Cherry
Tommy Douglas
Terry Fox
Wayne Gretzky
Sir John A. McDonald
Lester B. Pearson
David Suzuki
Pierre Trudeau

An impressive list. Now, I've nothing against this next person, because he's entertaining and very popular with many Canadians. But DON CHERRY? Are you freakin' kidding me? Canada, seriously, what is wrong with you? You put him above Dr. Norman Bethune, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Dr. Stephen Lewis? As much as I like Don Cherry and he deserves to be recognized, he does not deserve to be in the top 10. There are many other Canadians more deserving. I'm also surprised by David Suzuki's prominence. As a biologist, I'm quite pleased but as a Canadian I'm not quite sure of his stature within Canadian history.

In any case, I can't pick the number one choice because there are many deserving up there. However, here's my top 3 out of the 10 on the list, in no particular order, in my mind of their importance to Canada:

Tommy Douglas
Terry Fox
Pierre Trudeau

Now a word from Jon Stewart

My friend Wesley alerted me to the appearance of Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, on CNN's Crossfire last night and boy were feathers ruffled. You can also go to HERE to try to find a video file in bittorent format or otherwise.

In any case, Jon Stewart went to town with these guys. They expected their guest to toe the line and bring a little Daily Show humour onto their set. Instead, Stewart took them to task on their failing as journalists for not raising the level of political discourse in the country.

Most people responding to the story on Metafilter had an obviously good time watching Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala, get blindsided by the Jon Stewart express. Carlson and people on MeFi raised the point that Stewart had an opportunity to grill Senator Kerry when he appeared on TDS and didn't, and some on MeFi and on MSN thought that Stewart often used "I'm a comedian" as a cop-out to criticism about his 'soft' approach to some guests.

I wholeheartedly disagree. What I find troubling is not the criticisms against Stewart, but the fact that they're being leveled at him at all. That was part of the point that he was trying to raise on this show. In a democratic society with a healthy media, people SHOULD NOT be turning to a comedian for thoughtful, political analysis. The fact that The Daily Show is successful only highlights the problem of media reporting in America and in a lesser extent, Canada. That was his point. That was why he was so surprised when Carlson used Stewart's questions to Kerry against him. Carlson was actually expecting Stewart to be tough on Kerry, requiring Jon to remind him that it's a satirical talk-show ON COMEDY CENTRAL! Mainstream media should NEVER be looking at The Daily Show and admonishing it for not asking the right questions. That's their job, their responsibility.

And I don't think Jon has ever thought he was anymore than a comedian. He doesn't have to ask hard-hitting questions to his political guests is because of the fact that he IS a comedian, NOT a journalist. People see him incorrectly as a journalist so their expectations of him are unfulfilled when supposed "important" questions aren't asked. I don't expect him to ask those questions. I expect him to be funny and witty. If it happens his jokes are politically insightful, then so much the better. But that's not his job, nor his perogative.

Again, that's the job of a journalist. He had an interview with Bill Moyer on PBS where he was saying how it was frustrating to hear journalists wishing they could be looking at things critically when that's EXACTLY the type of thing that journalists should be doing. So let's not put the onus on Jon. Rather, the onus is on journalists to do a better job.

So Jon, keep on fighting the good fight. Even though it's unlikely you'll be on Crossfire ever again, maybe sometime on your junket for your book you'll be lucky enough to wake up a few journalists or pundits to the irony of the popularity of your fake news show so that there will be some changes within the mainstream media.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

What the FUCK is wrong with you?

I'm writing this to release some anger so bear with me.

My prof was hit by a car this afternoon at the end of our field trip in the entrance to the Wolfe Island Ferry. This was a tragic and very avoidable accident because the driver (who had a son in the passenger seat no less) was driving way too fast into the lanes and by the time she started braking, my prof had no chance of avoiding the car. Although I'm unaware of his condition right now, there were no external injuries when he was taken away by ambulance so hopefully injuries will be minor and I hope he will make a speedy recovery.

What makes me sick is the fact that the driver told us she was just going to park her car and instead fucking took off away from the scene of the crime. Yes, it's no longer an accident now, it's a crime scene and she is now a criminal.

These next few lines are to you the driver, even though you'll never read this: I feel sorry for your son, but I hope you are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Not only are you teaching your son a terrible lesson in avoiding your fucking responsibility as a person living in a society, but you left the scene of an accident and you lied to 30 witnesses. We know the make of your car and the license plate, so be responsible, give yourself up and face the consequences that reflect your actions.

The worst thing is the helplessness that set in at the time of the accident. Several students were very responsive to the situation and quickly took action. For that, I commend them because their actions reflect the best that humanity has to offer. I can't help but feel that I should've taken more decisive action in this affair. I know everyone will agree that it happens, but I feel that way nonetheless. I am fortunate to be TAing a class of bright and wonderful students who knows what to do if something arises.

And to all those people who make fun of cops and such, screw you. You have no idea how important the police become when you get into a situation such as this. Even though they have been unable to catch the driver (as far as I know) and could only take statements from us, the symbol of their authority at the time was reassuring nonetheless. That is why I will never make derogatory comments about them. At this point, all I have is the belief that justice will prevail and the cops will catch her.


UPDATE: Oct. 17, 2:29 AM
My other prof sent us an email tonight and it seems that the most serious injury my prof suffered is a serious bump in the head and the driver came forward to the police. I do not know if any criminal charges will be laid and although she is now more contrite (she left a note for my prof in the hospital), I still feel she needs have her license taken away from her, minimum.

Thursday, October 14, 2004

It's under Oak Island, I swear

Warning: This is just a rant, I expect no answers for this post.

In my classes and in the media with the US election and Canadian Parliament back in session, stories are swirling around on money, in terms of how to pay for programs, who's hiding it where, etc. In a recent class we discussed municipal infrastructure and how there's a deficit of it, requiring billions of dollars to not improve our infrastructure, but merely to provide it to people who don't have it. Meanwhile, Ralph Goodale just happened to come upon 9.1 Billion dollars from between his mattresses to pay down our debt and there's the ever constant bickering over health costs and how to pay for it. In the US, election promises abound in terms of social security, medicare, deficits, blah blah blah blah blah.

Lowballing budget estimates and US politicking aside, it's got me wondering about where the hell our money's going? I'm not advocating for lower taxes or any of that nonsense, I'm just baffled. Western nations are the richest in the world and yet we can't even take care of our own citizens or provide for their welfare (no, not the payment, but life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and all that jazz).

Are our expectations of our government (and conversely, their promises) that out of touch with the fiscal and financial realities of our society? In the pension issue, if I believe my public policy prof, then yes, we are WAY OUT OF TOUCH. In that case, we've promised too much to too many (baby boomers, I'm looking at you) and NO ONE has any idea how to pay for it. Lots of talk and sitting of hands, no politician coming out and telling the awful truth.

But for everything else, where's the money at? Corporate profits and the wealthy elite? Seems like an easy way out to blame them (though they may share in a part of it perhaps). Is there some sort of financial black hole in the global market that aren't being taught in Economics? Or is it just illusory, our wealth just 1s and 0s that financial geeks just toss around because they can and if they wanted, could provide all the wealth anyone would need?

The money's out there, and if you have it, let me know, we'll go make a few people happy.

Monday, October 11, 2004

With Friends Like These...

I just spent the evening catching up with two really good friends and it made me realize how important they are to me and how much I appreciate their friendship. Not that I don't appreciate any of the new friends I've made in the last 4 years, because I do immensely, but being able to pick up a conversation with people I hadn't seen in 4 months or a year (whichever the case it may be) like it was old hat (old cliche, I know) just raises the comfort level that much more and gives me a great big bushel of joy...

In a related story during one of those conversations, we discussed a housemate whose expectations of student living far exceeds any I could imagine (or she has a giant stick up her ass, but I can't confirm or deny). In any case, this has caused me to reflect on how lucky I've been the last three years and this year in terms of picking awesome housemates who can get along and are of like mind in terms of house responsibility. No fights, fuss, or arguments. We all have a good time and keep the health inspectors away. It also makes me think about my situation next year, whether I will live with people I know or complete strangers, which would throw off my comfrot level completely. But that's months away and frankly not worth my time right now to ponder seriously.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all

Saturday, October 09, 2004

Wangari Maathai: woman of peace

This year's Nobel Peace Prize took everyone by surprise when the head of the IAEA didn't win.

Wangari Maathai is many things: deputy minister to the environment, Kenyan Green Party member, professor, founder of the Green Belt Movement, defender of women's rights and green space in Kenya. Now, she can add the first African woman Nobel peace prize winner to that category.

Some have wondered why an environmentalist was chosen for this prestigious award when past winners have included such people as Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama and Kofi Annan.

The Nobel committee chose her for her role in promoting biodiversity, job creation and empowering women in society by helping them out of poverty through her programs of forest stewardship and management (thousands employed in the Green Belt Movement), family planning and nutriiton (This is one of the most concrete examples of sustainability in action if I ever saw one, and that's definitely a rarity). She and her grassroots movement have stood up to Kenyan government corruption and advocated for others' behalf, even if it got her in harm's way.

Some have criticized the Nobel committee for expanding the criteria in which recepients are eligible, most notably Carl Hagen of the far right Progress Party in Norway, "A peace prize should honor peace, not environment."

What Mr. Hagen has failed to understand is that poverty and scarcity of resources are always factors in inciting violence and war (umm...*cough* Oil *cough* Water *cough*). The Nobel committee are among the first to recognize the link between global security and the state of our natural environment (I'm not saying the factor to global security, but one of). Ms. Maathai's programs instead help reforest Africa (rehabilitation) while lifting people out of poverty (prevention). Plus, she's been fighting her own government's corruption and for her fellow citizens' rights before being elected. I would say she's trying to promote peace, even if it is on a smaller scale than one would expect.

As much as the environmental movement latches on to her win to milk it for its publicity value, this prize goes to her and her organization alone. Her work should be lauded as an example how sustainability principles can work, not should work. Although, I would be really interested to see if she received any help from any western organizations (besides the universities she attended, of course).

Two more points of interest. One, some have said that previous peace prize winners (Carter, Annan, etc.) have provoked criticism against Bush and his politics and that it was reasonable to take a 'break.' Now, I find that insulting and would diminish the prize given to Maathai if that was the case. But in a sense, it is still a backhanded criticism at Bush (for me anyways) because Maathai's rehabilitating the environment AND promoting job growth at the same time (hint, hint).

Second, Maathai is deputy environment minister on the Green Party ticket in Kenya. What the hell is going on in Canada? How many reps do we have in a cabinet position? Wait, zero? What about in legislature? Wait, zero? Anywhere in Canada? What, zero again? What the deuce? 6% popularity? Are you kidding me? It looks like the Kenyans can teach us a few tricks. Or maybe this is another backhanded way for me to push for proportional representation some more?

In any case, congratulations to Ms. Maathai. I hope her work continues to lift the country of Kenya into a greener, brighter future.

Friday, October 08, 2004

All signs point to No

All signs point to No...No you're Fucking wrong.

It's kind of comforting to think those who responded to my previous post was thinking of a meteorological phenomenon. How quaint.

No, this phenomenon hits a little closer to home. It's funny how hindsight works, or blindsight, as Jon Stewart put it humourously last night. How looking back, when you think maybe, just maybe, everything will turn out right, that you can gamble with the house and come out on top just once. And then, the sudden realization that the shit just hit the fan and every decision was the wrong one. The house wins, the house always win.

I'd go for a drink, but I think my stomach's queasy enough as it is.

Jeff says, "the truth and the lies combine to form a new sort of reality." I like that. Welcome to the new reality.

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Is it chilly in here?

So maybe I'm imagining things. It's quite possible since whenever I get some free time (and these are rare occasions indeed), the creative side of my brain takes over and is drunk with power, running amok in the cerebrum and sometimes vomiting all over the medulla oblongata.

But I'm starting to feel a chill in the air, a cold shoulder, you might say. Where is it coming from? I'm not sure, because I'm uncertain which direction it's emanating from. Maybe no direction. Maybe it's the creative side's hangover.

In any case, September went by quickly and October's reaching top speed. I don't think it's good to head into Thanksgiving with this feeling. I hope she can make it go away before I head home. I really do.

Sunday, October 03, 2004

This one's for the Gipper!

Actually, no. This one's for my housemates at 390A Alfred Street and the ultimate team of Morris2!

We did it. The SURP (School of Urban and Regional Planning) ultimate team won our first intermural game by the score of 6-5. This is my first outright win (my old team had only won through defaults) and had lost many close games. I've sworn to dedicate every win to my old team, who've honed my skills to the semi-competent player that I've become. Standing on the shoulders of giants...well, shoulders of tall people anyways.

Now for some post-game analysis.
We played better, connected more short passes, but had trouble converting in the end zone, especially at the beginning. We need to learn to take our time to look for open players and catchers (me included) need to cut towards the disc more. This may require some scrimmaging.

I was also uncomfortable with the win because many fouls were called. Not that it's a problem in itself, but I know from my gameplay today that the other team let a lot of fouls go while we did not. I know what it's like to play teams who are more adherent to and knowledgeable of the rules and I find it's usually better to let it go or on a contentious point, to redo the play. It is intermurals and it should be for fun. Hopefully we'll find a better balance in terms of how and when we call our fouls.

Next game, I will need to find a way to be more visible. I was quite the Invisible Man today.