Why is it still ok?

So, I was walking to the library at Acadia University the other day and came across a cardboard box that had been placed by RedBull. This was for a doddle contest. If you look closely you will see the drawing that I found most offensive. It shows a First Nations character in "full Indian headdress and war paint", pointing a gun at the White Sheriff. This picture is wrong on so many levels. First, the stereotypical portrayal of First Nations, and second, as the violent aggressor. If we look back in time, the opposite is true, the oppressor on the other side, the mass murders, the genocide all prove this true. As I scanned the box, I did not notice any other groups being stereotyped. I did not notice the Muslim being portrayed as a terrorist, as this would be racist and wrong. I did not notice the US president being portrayed as a primate (remember the New York Times..even they did not get this one), as t his would be racist and wrong. I did not notice an Asian person being drawn with those eyes from the days of Bugs Bunny, or the facial characteristics that were once drawn of those of African descent, as all this would be racist and wrong. So why is it, that First Nations, and stereotypes are still fair game? Why is it that schools across this country, and the US, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities, as well as professional sports teams, can get away with using stereotypes and likenesses of First Nations people and culture? And to those who say it is done as an honor, out of respect, I say go to hell! I dare you to ask a First Nations person if they are honored with the Washington Redskins, The Atlanta Braves (remember the tomahawk chop!!!), the Cleveland Indians, the Seminoles, the Warriors, the Redmen.. not to mention the mascots!!
A letter has been sent to Red Bull asking for the removal of these offensive boxes from all Universities. An apology has also been asked for. Will they be removed? Will the apology surface? I say no. After all, this is the same company that sets up on school grounds and offers its addictive, potentially lethal products to kids for free. Why expect anything different from a company with no morals.

Inclusion, not just for school

When you mention inclusion in schools to most parents, the conversation always falls to the outdated “Special Ed” classroom. Parents look at this in one of two ways: This is so great for my child, or my child will suffer from this. From my experience, the latter is usually the parent of a child who would not have fallen into the category of “Special Ed”. These parents fail to see the benefits of inclusion in the classroom. If these parents would get the opportunity, as I did, to see 60 elementary students forming a circle around one child (who without inclusion would not have had the opportunity to go camping) and cheering her name as she climbed a tree, they would see the benefits that all children get from inclusion.
When society thinks about inclusion, I believe this is the topic that is at the front. However, inclusion goes far beyond the classroom, and far beyond abilities. First Nations (FN) have never been included in mainstream society. As a matter of fact, when it comes to FN, the opposite holds true, exclusion. For many years, up to and including today, the Federal Department that is in charge of the “health and welfare” of FN people, the Department of Northern and Indian Affairs, employed very few FN people. Decisions are made without consultation of First Nations people themselves over and over again. Relocations such as James Bay, bending of their own rules, as in the case of Indianbrook Fisheries, mandated two year elections (the main reason very few enterprises will negotiate with FN governments), Residential schools ( I use the term schools lightly, prisons fits better), have all done nothing but help build a distrust of Mainstream society in FN communities. A lack of understanding of FN issues, life, culture, and society, from mainstream Canada has led to mistrust, cultural stereotypes, animosity, and sometimes hatred from mainstream Canada towards FN people. So, where do we go from here?
Education is the key. A strong understanding of the lives of FN people. An understanding of what it is like to be a stranger in the land your ancestors walked on for thousands of years. An understanding of the system we have to navigate constantly to get through this life. A willingness to forget all the things you THINK you know, and replace it with things you DO know. A willingness to see that Canada has a system set up that has two sets of rules, one for FN people and one for the rest of Canada. A willingness to understand that if we live in our communities, we can not start a business, as we are unable to build equity in homes we are not allowed to own, unlike mainstream Canada. A willingness to understand that the drug and alcohol abuse is a mechanism to deal with the pain and hurt mainstream Canada caused with Residential schools (and remember, not just the survivors are hurting, three generations and counting are suffering due to the abuse their grandparents and great grandparents suffered) A willingness to let our voices be heard in decisions that affect us (for the first time in the history of this country, June 11, 2008 was the first time a FN organization was invited, no, allowed in the House of Commons)
It is time for inclusion of FN in the Canadian society, but mainstream Canada, please remember, we do not want you to say we can be included, we do not want your permission to be included, we just want it to happen.

Take that mask off....pardon me???

Seems like Metro Transit has been in the paper quite a lot lately. First for operators who get upset and threaten drivers, and now for full out racism towards Muslim women. The bus driver not just refused to let a woman on the bus who had her face covered by a veil, but also yelled at her "It's the law" I know the Criminal code quite well, and I do not recall the section where a veil on a bus is mentioned. If this bus driver knows the law so well, I would love for him to educate me as to its whereabouts. According to the Union, the driver "did the right thing" by calling for clarification... clarification for what? Did she have a shirt on, I would say yes. Did she have footwear on, yes. What is there to call for clarification for? According to the rules, a person must be wearing a top and shoes. Let's assume the driver did do the right thing by calling for clarification (you know what they say about assuming though). If this was the right thing to do, why did it take over 10 minutes for him to do so? So the Union is apologetic for the actions of the driver, but defending his racist actions in the same breath. Now, my beef is not with the driver, not with the union, it is with the ignorant comments that follow this story on the cbc website http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/03/13/ns-bus-muslim.html
It is making me sick to my stomach just to type these, please please PLEASE, I beg you, these are NOT my words in any way:
This woman should not have to cover her face. My God, smelling your own breath all day.
Unfortunately, she is victim of some dark age custom that has not let go.
Why couldn't she take her mask off? MASK.... Dark age custom (take a look at some of the Christian rituals) By the way thank you buddhawest for seeing the "flaming bigotry" in that

My favorite...There is no need in this country to dress like a terrorist.

To you I ask, how exactly was it that Timothy McVeigh dressed? How was it that Dr. Theodore John Kaczynski (The Unibomber) dress (that's right DOCTOR)? How was it that all the terrorists who have bombed abortion clinics across the US and Canada dressed? How is it that all the gunmen who have gone into schools and work places across the country dressed? Dare I say the terrorist uniform of Levi's and a t-shirt
Got to end this here. All this is making me really cranky on a Friday night. By the way, Metro Transit, I seem to remember the days when Mardi Gras was in downtown Halifax. How many people wore masks on the bus then???

Too many to talk about, whiners abound

I have been reading a lot of posts recently, on Facebook groups, CBC discussions on articles, and have seen a common theme. "Minorities stop whining". "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps", if you have never had the opportunity to own boots, how is this possible.
I just finished reading through post about a article in where a local drugstore had a display case, under lock and key, for certain products for Black folk. Yes, under lock and key. Along side you could buy products such as you aussie shampoo, brylcreem, clips, barrettes, combs, and any of the other millions of products geared towards White folks. While reading through the comments people insisted the store had a right to lock up anything they feel neccessary. They had a right to protect their property. I totally agree to this, yes, they do have a right to protect their property. But are they protecting it properly? Since statistics in the US and Canada show the majority of shoplifting is done by White mid to upper income females, should they not be locking up the aussie shampoo? what about those barrettes? This is not protecting your proprty. This is buying into the stereotype that Black folk are theives, and not law abiding like the "norm" of society. Like I said, buying into and perpetuating the stereotype. The same stereotype we see on shows like Cops, Law and Order (remember Adam Beach, in his final show, even he was hauled away in the back of a police car.. I wonder if he was dropped on the outskirts of Saskatoon like so many before), even the current season of 24 has the Whitehouse being taken over by a poor country in Africa who the Americans are trying to save. The same stereotype that shows a black man on the front page of a local newspaper being put in the back of a car (caught) and a White guy's picture, small as possible, buried in the paper even though he is wanted for robbing a bank.
The other comment I noticed over and over is that minorities should "stop whining". I find it interesting that pointing out an injustice is considered whining. Is it whining that is going on in the South end of Halifax because they want to divert tucks onto the throughway for the train? No, it is called a community rallying together. Is it whining when a group of Black folk get together to protest the newest racial profiling case, aka "driving while Black", by the police? Why do these two questions get different answers. I find it quite ironic that when White folk are telling minorities to quit whining, they themselves are the ones doing the whining.