Opps, they did it again

For a long time now I have been talking about the bias and racist reporting coming form newspapers across the country. Many people look at the paper and just don't see the things myself and many others do. It is so easy to see, and I would like to thank Lynn Barr-Telford from Statistics Canada for calling the Canadian Press to task on such an issue. On July 22, 2009, papers across the country reported on a study recently released. The article was entitled "Native poverty, jail linked" The article goes on to link Native poverty as a result of high incarceration rates. However, according to Stats Canada, "Our analysis did not examine income levels, and the word poverty did not appear in either our news release or in our report" as per Barr-Telford's letter buried on page A7 Opinions section (I would put a link to the letter, but I can not seem to find it on the Chronicle Herald website) Since the word "poverty" was nowhere in the study...OR the press release, why did Sue Bailey of the Canadian Press feel it was her responsibility to embelish the story? Is this what we can expect from the empolyees of the Canadian Press? I do think this has helped prove my point. While I am on it, should the papers also need to print a retraction instead of hiding it on page 7????

Honour killing...question for you

Not much to say, but one question to ask yourself:

• Gabriela Babineau smothered her child, 3 years old, 1995
• Susan Smith strapped her two toddlers in the car and pushed it into a lake. For nine days she told the world they were kidnapped by a black carjacker. Why? Her boyfriend didn't want kids
• Eric Crutchfield killed his 6 year old daughter with a shot in the back
• Socorro caro shot and killed her three sons while they slept
• Feb 2002, Texas, mother drowns her 5 children in the tub
• Marilyn Lemak, Chicago, smothered her 3 children...with her bare hands
• Manuel Gehring, killed his children and buried the bodies "somewhere" along the highway, never been found
• Mohammad Shafia, allegedly killed his daughters in Kingston

This is just a very small list of children who lost their lives by their parents own hands. In 97 alone 62 children under the age of 12 were killed by their parents. My question is, why is it that only one of them has been automatically been deemed, by the public and the press, and honour killing?
This is a horrible crime, makes me sick just thinking about it, but please, do not make judgments until all the facts are known

Fuck off, we're full??? Racsim and facebook

This morning on facebook I was invited to join a group called "FUCK OFF, WE'RE FULL---> Canada. First I apologize for the language, it was theirs...not mine. Now don't get me wrong, I tried to stay off of Facebook as long as I could, and as my children can attest, I managed to stay off for a LONG time. However, it is a great Forum to discuss issues of the day. It is also a great place for the whole privilege piece to come into play. This group is all about how immigration is ruining Canada (remember, a country that is made up of approx 95% immigration). I have decided to copy my one and only posting to this group here, as I am sure it will not be on the site for vary long:

First of all, the only reason I joined this group was so I could post here. Once posted I will be leaving.

1. The national anthem was FIRST written in French, not English, wow...and you call yourself Canadian. It was not even proclaimed the national anthem until 1980, and the Englis version was not approved until 1968 by the Senate

2. For those of you who say immigrants should learn our ways...how many of you have been to a sweat? A sundance? Even smudged? I take it the silence means very few.

3. For those of you who say immigration should stop, remember, 95% of Canada's population is immigrants, from the past 400 years.

4. For those of you who say that stuff was in the past (treaties, etc) get over it. I say stop celebrating Canada Day, Confederation was in the past...GET OVER it

5. The problem here is something called privilege. When someone feels something is being taken from them (ie, jobs) what they are really saying is "hey, that job should have been mine.... but it was TAKEN away from me.. I deserved it." Why? Because I have privilege and when I did not get that job, it is unjust because a piece of that unearned privilege has been taken away. (if you honestly do not believe in this whole concept of privilege, you have just proved to yourself it does indeed exist, because EVERYONE else knows it is there. If you do not see it, you got it

5. As for the whole taking jobs thing. I hear people whining about immigrants working at corner stores, driving cabs, etc Are these the jobs they are taking away? APPLY FOR THEM dumbass! At the same time, please keep in mind that those immigrants that are working at the cornerstore, or driving you around in a taxi, could be much more of a hero than you. Chances are, they could easily save your life, as they are probably doctors, but due to our racist policies, are unable to practice.

So I have been a little busy, does not mean the attitudes are gone

So it has been a while since I last wrote anything. Does this mean there has been very little to write about? Does this mean the whole systemic racism thing has solved itself and no longer exists? A quote from the editorial section today: "We are a Christian country, pioneered by mostly Christians. We always said the Lord’s prayer in school and saluted the flag every morning. It seems to me that we are letting minorities take over what we stood for for hundreds of years" (Heaven help us *in response to the atheist ads in the bus) see article here First of all, Mr. Rafuse, we are not a Christian country, we are a forced upon Christian society. Christianity was not on this soil until the likes of Champlain, Cartier, and the boys landed on the shores and thought the best way to take over, I repeat TAKE over, was to get the folks living here for well over 13,000 years to become saved. Saved from what I ask? Saved from the physical, mental, and sexual abuse that was delivered daily like communion? Saved from unholy act of speaking your own language? Saved from peace and closeness with the Earth that came with our ceremonies? What exactly was Christianity saving us from? So, you are upset because "we" are letting minorities take over what "we" stood for for hundreds of years. Let me ask you Mr. Rafuse,...how does it feel? Think long and hard about that. Remember, you are talking around 400 years of what "we" stood for. For the First Nations that number is well over 13,000 years of what WE stood for. So when I am told by folks like you "that was the past" "that was so long ago. get over it" "treaties mean nothing", I say to you Mr. Rafuse, that thing you stood for, for hundreds of years, that was in the past... GET OVER IT

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???