It's been a while since my last post, and really I'm only posting cause someone bugged me to. Well heres an update about me, ahem.
It's now the end of April, meaning I've just finished my April exams. Meaning? I'm done my first year of University, both yay and nay. I'm a little anxious about my marks, since I'm not exactly an A student. I just hope to up my GPA from my first semester one which was below 3.0. I'd be happy to be at 3.0 now so...wish me luck? Haha. It's kinda weird because I'm actually doing a lot better in terms of effort and percentage now than when I was in high school. Of course now, the passing grade of 50 won't get me anywhere but the path of a dropout. Not that I was ever a 50% student.
Onto some good news, my cousin had her child a week and a half ago! A girl, who they named Kayla. She looks a lot like her dad which worries me a little (xD) But otherwise she was born with a head full of hair,, tiny feet, tiny hands and healthy which is very good. My brothers and I had a looong argument about what our "relationship" was to her. After much arguing, wiking and "I told you so's" we had all agreed that Kayla was our first cousin once removed. Wonderful isn't it? I really hate English genealogy btw. I can't really call Kayla my first once removed to her face can I? Not like grandma, or aunt.
As for less personal news, I'm sure everyone knows (not) that the federal election is coming up here in Canada. And honestly, I find the prospects not so great and depressing compared to our municipal election, which I'm sure everyone remembered me being very pumped for. (NENSHI!!)
I've done some quick, I'm too lazy to really care but I should research. And I've concluded this.
1. No Harper
Why? I do not want the government to be called the Harper Government. Can someone so narcissistic? Nor do I want to be governed by a system named after a man which probably scares small children.
2. No Conservatives AT ALL
This may sound like I'm just repeating the first one. Well I am. but on a more general level =D. I have no interest in a majority conservative government is more of my meaning. Perhaps even more so than Harper being PM. Cause honestly from traditional conservative views and beliefs, they're completely American in my view. And American like "hi I'm a redneck, I drink beer, look down on woman, don't care about the poor and needy, I'm also racist, sexist, narcissistic, egotistic, homophobic and I hate fascist Communist -hic-."
3. It's a three way tie between the Liberals NDP and Green for me.
Honestly I'm usually a Liberal supporter, but I really don't like Micheal. But...I'm willing to give him a try over a Conservative majority government or a Harper PM. I like the ideas of the NDP but they're too unrealistic about taxes. At least the Liberals aren't lying and saying that taxes won't be raised. As for the Greens, I love the environment- but let's be honest here. The Green Party isn't what Canada needs right now. I think perhaps a few decades down the line the Greens could be a strong rival party but for now? No.
Come round May 2nd, I'll probably vote Liberal. Unless anyone can convince me to vote one of the other two? Just don't try to change me to Harper, cause I may just call you stupid to your face and laugh at you.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Judge vs The Condemned
If this post offends anyone I'm sorry, but as always I'm just writing down my thoughts and opinions. Let's all agree on one thing though, we're all entitled to believe what we want. Whether that be God or invisible evil monkey in your closet. We should also be entitled to being whoever we want to be. Of course there are limits, and as long as you're not harming someone else I see no reason why someone cannot be who they feel they are.
If anyone can guess the direction of this post, then good for you. If you can't and I'm being too vague again heres the thing.
Personally I relate myself to Buddhism, in some sort of long fingertips touching way. And I can understand what's so nice about being religious and having something to put your faith in, I do. But I'm far too much of a realist sometimes to really get into it. It's certainly interesting to learn and I'll admit I'm a critic when it comes to Catholic/Christian beliefs. But just as you don't try to convert me I won't try to convert you.
When I read or see some things on the internet, hell when I hear some things it really ticks me off. First, I'll admit I'm an activist at heart. The idea of protesting and fighting for what you believe is right really gets to me. You get it yet? I'm talking about gay rights today.
I know my last few ones have been about women and Japan, but this is something that I've really sat on for years now. Before all my Social Work and Sociology stuff. I grew up in a very traditional family who is luckily very tolerant. In my family's eyes its 'if they're happy about that and if doesn't affect me good for them'. But sometimes I hear things that make me really uncomfortable and I want to talk back. I stop for good reason, not only am I the youngest, but they're my family. And I really don't need family drama in my life.
First I'd like to address the issue of gay marriage. I know it's still talked about here in Canada sometimes, but with it legal up here already I haven't heard of it much. Down across the border though? It's disheartening and honestly very chaotic. And I'll admit now I'll openly support Lady Gaga simply because she does support gay rights. Yeah I'm that kind of person.
You know in news articles where they have pictures of protesters when it comes to this stuff? Things like- "GOD MADE IT NATURAL FOR A MAN AND WOMAN TO BE TOGETHER". Natural, you'll have to tell me the definition of that now. Because I'm pretty sure that 'God' also made a world of green forests and blue oceans but look at where we are now. Then theres the "GOD SAYS ITS WRONG AND THUS IT IS WRONG" crap that I hear. Didn't God also say that one should love thy neighbours? It's one of my dislikes about Christianity- its contradictory. It's unfortunate but these protesters often use God as their reason for why they won't accept it. It's also a mjor reason why I dislike the religion and the idea of God.
But today I saw a picture with the opposing group. "Did we vote on YOUR right to marry?"
No. No we didn't, thats the thing. When you turn the tables on them, when you ask them the questions they get offended but it's perfectly FINE if they're asking someone whose considered queer or gay.
In my Social Work class we received something called a Heterosexual Questionnaire. Basically they're questions that someone who isn't straight faces quite often. When you read this, it's ridiculous and I'll admit even I never realized just who offending these questions could be until you turn it around and point the finger at the majority.
Heres a few examples:
What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
When and how did you first decide you were heterosexual?
Is it possible your heterosexuality is just a phase?
Would you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the problems they face?
Why do heterosexuals put so much emphasis on sex?
Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?
I mean really? REALLY? Right now you're probably thinking either 'damn' or uh, dude that doesn't really work it's being straight. But let me tell you something, it isn't different. If you didn't notice I put up a petition on my facebook page, it really ticked me off reading the article about that app.
Sexuality cannot be cured. A person cannot be cured of their sexuality just like I cannot cure you of being you. You cannot stop me from being Cindy, and honestly people have no right to judge others on something like this and outright hate on them for it. It's no different from racism, sexism etc. If it makes you feel any better bigots Hitler also locked away queer people, had them labeled too. Only, the difference is to him they were treated as equal in a concentration camp as a hetero jew. Both funny and sad isn't it?
So let me ask you this question friends. If someone you loved and known for years comes out one day, will you treat them differently? Your moral reason may say no but that's not the true answer sometimes.
Now I want to get into some specifics. The funny thing is, I didn't start thinking about this until my cousin came up from LA and talked to me about things.
She has a few gay friends so she's perfectly fine with it. Says she;s also been to a few gay bars for fun. Makes sense right? Then she said that she's not comfortable with a lesbian and bisexuals scare her. Does that make ANY sense to you? To me, it makes none. A guy can say two girls together is ok, great even but when you ask him about two guys? He makes a face and says gross or something like that. No different from girls. Tons of girls are yaoi fans and enjoy boyxboy relationships in entertainment such as comics, stories, tv shows etc. Two girls? No way that's not right to them.
And to me, I never understood that. when I finally admitted that homosexual relationships were fine, I made no distinction between two guys or two girls. The weird thing is bisexuals get it worst than any of them. They scare everyone apparently. Cause you know, being attracted to both men and women make you seem so promiscuous and untrustworthy and you must had AIDs and have sex every night.
Does this sound ridiculous to anyone else? This stuff leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I've never done anything about it. Which I am ashamed to admit. I've never spoken out about this to anyone and I've never defended my own views. It's just not in me.
But now that I think about it, people like me are really no better. What supporter am I if I'm afraid to speak up about injustice and discrimination? What right do I have to criticize others when I can't even ask a friend to stop using the gay or fag as an insult? None, I'm no better and honestly I've set myself a new goal to be better.
I'm sure those reading this can already think of a few friends who use those two words or one of the two. Hell you could probably think of a lot of people.
Heres my challenge to you. Become an Ally, not just a bystander to this. I mean if someone makes racist remark are you really going to stand for it? No, so how does this make it any different?
Also heres my question to you.
If a woman or man talks to you about their partner, do you automatically assume that person must be gay/lesbian?
Life Goes By Too Quickly
If anyone can guess the direction of this post, then good for you. If you can't and I'm being too vague again heres the thing.
Personally I relate myself to Buddhism, in some sort of long fingertips touching way. And I can understand what's so nice about being religious and having something to put your faith in, I do. But I'm far too much of a realist sometimes to really get into it. It's certainly interesting to learn and I'll admit I'm a critic when it comes to Catholic/Christian beliefs. But just as you don't try to convert me I won't try to convert you.
When I read or see some things on the internet, hell when I hear some things it really ticks me off. First, I'll admit I'm an activist at heart. The idea of protesting and fighting for what you believe is right really gets to me. You get it yet? I'm talking about gay rights today.
I know my last few ones have been about women and Japan, but this is something that I've really sat on for years now. Before all my Social Work and Sociology stuff. I grew up in a very traditional family who is luckily very tolerant. In my family's eyes its 'if they're happy about that and if doesn't affect me good for them'. But sometimes I hear things that make me really uncomfortable and I want to talk back. I stop for good reason, not only am I the youngest, but they're my family. And I really don't need family drama in my life.
First I'd like to address the issue of gay marriage. I know it's still talked about here in Canada sometimes, but with it legal up here already I haven't heard of it much. Down across the border though? It's disheartening and honestly very chaotic. And I'll admit now I'll openly support Lady Gaga simply because she does support gay rights. Yeah I'm that kind of person.
You know in news articles where they have pictures of protesters when it comes to this stuff? Things like- "GOD MADE IT NATURAL FOR A MAN AND WOMAN TO BE TOGETHER". Natural, you'll have to tell me the definition of that now. Because I'm pretty sure that 'God' also made a world of green forests and blue oceans but look at where we are now. Then theres the "GOD SAYS ITS WRONG AND THUS IT IS WRONG" crap that I hear. Didn't God also say that one should love thy neighbours? It's one of my dislikes about Christianity- its contradictory. It's unfortunate but these protesters often use God as their reason for why they won't accept it. It's also a mjor reason why I dislike the religion and the idea of God.
But today I saw a picture with the opposing group. "Did we vote on YOUR right to marry?"
No. No we didn't, thats the thing. When you turn the tables on them, when you ask them the questions they get offended but it's perfectly FINE if they're asking someone whose considered queer or gay.
In my Social Work class we received something called a Heterosexual Questionnaire. Basically they're questions that someone who isn't straight faces quite often. When you read this, it's ridiculous and I'll admit even I never realized just who offending these questions could be until you turn it around and point the finger at the majority.
Heres a few examples:
What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
When and how did you first decide you were heterosexual?
Is it possible your heterosexuality is just a phase?
Would you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the problems they face?
Why do heterosexuals put so much emphasis on sex?
Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?
I mean really? REALLY? Right now you're probably thinking either 'damn' or uh, dude that doesn't really work it's being straight. But let me tell you something, it isn't different. If you didn't notice I put up a petition on my facebook page, it really ticked me off reading the article about that app.
Sexuality cannot be cured. A person cannot be cured of their sexuality just like I cannot cure you of being you. You cannot stop me from being Cindy, and honestly people have no right to judge others on something like this and outright hate on them for it. It's no different from racism, sexism etc. If it makes you feel any better bigots Hitler also locked away queer people, had them labeled too. Only, the difference is to him they were treated as equal in a concentration camp as a hetero jew. Both funny and sad isn't it?
So let me ask you this question friends. If someone you loved and known for years comes out one day, will you treat them differently? Your moral reason may say no but that's not the true answer sometimes.
Now I want to get into some specifics. The funny thing is, I didn't start thinking about this until my cousin came up from LA and talked to me about things.
She has a few gay friends so she's perfectly fine with it. Says she;s also been to a few gay bars for fun. Makes sense right? Then she said that she's not comfortable with a lesbian and bisexuals scare her. Does that make ANY sense to you? To me, it makes none. A guy can say two girls together is ok, great even but when you ask him about two guys? He makes a face and says gross or something like that. No different from girls. Tons of girls are yaoi fans and enjoy boyxboy relationships in entertainment such as comics, stories, tv shows etc. Two girls? No way that's not right to them.
And to me, I never understood that. when I finally admitted that homosexual relationships were fine, I made no distinction between two guys or two girls. The weird thing is bisexuals get it worst than any of them. They scare everyone apparently. Cause you know, being attracted to both men and women make you seem so promiscuous and untrustworthy and you must had AIDs and have sex every night.
Does this sound ridiculous to anyone else? This stuff leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I've never done anything about it. Which I am ashamed to admit. I've never spoken out about this to anyone and I've never defended my own views. It's just not in me.
But now that I think about it, people like me are really no better. What supporter am I if I'm afraid to speak up about injustice and discrimination? What right do I have to criticize others when I can't even ask a friend to stop using the gay or fag as an insult? None, I'm no better and honestly I've set myself a new goal to be better.
I'm sure those reading this can already think of a few friends who use those two words or one of the two. Hell you could probably think of a lot of people.
Heres my challenge to you. Become an Ally, not just a bystander to this. I mean if someone makes racist remark are you really going to stand for it? No, so how does this make it any different?
Also heres my question to you.
If a woman or man talks to you about their partner, do you automatically assume that person must be gay/lesbian?
Life Goes By Too Quickly
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Illusion vs Reality
Just wanted to share this, it came up in my SW class today. Our topics were sexual diversity, feminism and oppression. You can guess which topic this quote is from.
"Because women's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we're the first to get fired and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get beaten we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nymphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a "real" man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect childcare we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggressive and "unfeminine" and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still can't get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty about abortion and...for lots of other reasons we are part of the women's liberation movement." Author unknown, quoted in The Torch, 14 September 1987
Excuse me as I go look for CBC films on feminism now. =D
Feminism: The radical notion that women are people.
"Because women's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we're the first to get fired and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get beaten we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nymphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a "real" man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect childcare we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggressive and "unfeminine" and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still can't get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty about abortion and...for lots of other reasons we are part of the women's liberation movement." Author unknown, quoted in The Torch, 14 September 1987
Excuse me as I go look for CBC films on feminism now. =D
Feminism: The radical notion that women are people.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Nature vs Man
Friday 2pm local time in Japan, a 9.0 earthquake hit the prefecture of Sendai. This shallow earthquake then caused a 6-8 metre tall tsunami which destroyed everything in it's path.
Friday 1:30 AM local time Calgary. A girl studying for her exams is hit with the fact that she much rather watched in horror with live streamed news than study for her midterm the next day.
Maybe it's because I did that, that I'm more affected by what's happening in Japan. Or maybe it's because I'm just s sensitive person. But it really makes you think about what you're doing in your life right now. A life that thousands no longer have in one small country on a day which they thought was just another day.
Over ten thousand people are missing from one town alone. Corpses have washed ashore and over a million people not face the crisis of having no power or water. Yet here I am, sitting in my room typing this out while others are in search for missing family members and friends. A baby girl pulled from the wreckage three days after the Tsunami, her parents? Probably dead. A man searches for his missing wife and asks other survivors if they've seen her. A man reunited with his daughter, a woman rescued form being swept away from the waves of water.
Three explosions in nuclear plant, following aftershocks ranking around 5.0 on the scale.
This is my opinion. Right now Japan is the top priority country in need of help. This is a developed country in which people live with a high quality of life. These are people who are used to have easy access to fresh water, and living in the comfort of electricity and the comfort of homes and family. And while I know many other situations are occurring in other countries, I cannot say they can compare to a disaster of this scale.
It almost feels like, I have no reason to give charity to an organization right now whom I see pales in comparison in urgency and need. I'm sorry, that may sound quite terrible of me but thats how I see it. Perhaps its because I have always had a likeness towards the country and paid little attention to others now in turmoil such as Libya and parts of Africa. And it makes me shake my head when the next story after updates form Japan are things such as Sydney Crosbey's return to the NHL from injury. Really? Thats the next thing you want to talk about after you've just mentioned that hundreds of bodies have been washed ashore? Sigh.
Such is the world we live in.
What are my problems in comparison to others? There will always be someone who has it worse, I should have no right to complain. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Friday 1:30 AM local time Calgary. A girl studying for her exams is hit with the fact that she much rather watched in horror with live streamed news than study for her midterm the next day.
Maybe it's because I did that, that I'm more affected by what's happening in Japan. Or maybe it's because I'm just s sensitive person. But it really makes you think about what you're doing in your life right now. A life that thousands no longer have in one small country on a day which they thought was just another day.
Over ten thousand people are missing from one town alone. Corpses have washed ashore and over a million people not face the crisis of having no power or water. Yet here I am, sitting in my room typing this out while others are in search for missing family members and friends. A baby girl pulled from the wreckage three days after the Tsunami, her parents? Probably dead. A man searches for his missing wife and asks other survivors if they've seen her. A man reunited with his daughter, a woman rescued form being swept away from the waves of water.
Three explosions in nuclear plant, following aftershocks ranking around 5.0 on the scale.
This is my opinion. Right now Japan is the top priority country in need of help. This is a developed country in which people live with a high quality of life. These are people who are used to have easy access to fresh water, and living in the comfort of electricity and the comfort of homes and family. And while I know many other situations are occurring in other countries, I cannot say they can compare to a disaster of this scale.
It almost feels like, I have no reason to give charity to an organization right now whom I see pales in comparison in urgency and need. I'm sorry, that may sound quite terrible of me but thats how I see it. Perhaps its because I have always had a likeness towards the country and paid little attention to others now in turmoil such as Libya and parts of Africa. And it makes me shake my head when the next story after updates form Japan are things such as Sydney Crosbey's return to the NHL from injury. Really? Thats the next thing you want to talk about after you've just mentioned that hundreds of bodies have been washed ashore? Sigh.
Such is the world we live in.
What are my problems in comparison to others? There will always be someone who has it worse, I should have no right to complain. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Friendliness vs Temperature
Apparently I'm not "personable" over the phone. Well that can account for a lot of things.
A)I'm outside walking in windchill, freezing my face and limbs off while you're probably in some office nice and warm
Well, that was just one thing but still. Anyways I tried to be cheerful over the phone but when you cna't feel your face it's hard to do that. Although I'm fiarly monotonous anyways.
Well there goes one job down the drain, oh well. Back to studying.
A)I'm outside walking in windchill, freezing my face and limbs off while you're probably in some office nice and warm
Well, that was just one thing but still. Anyways I tried to be cheerful over the phone but when you cna't feel your face it's hard to do that. Although I'm fiarly monotonous anyways.
Well there goes one job down the drain, oh well. Back to studying.
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