Hurricane Earl was slightly disappointing. I do not exactly like natural disasters, but what I do like is seeing neighbors out helping each other after the fact. It gives me some sort of pride to see the people who I pass by every day pitching in and helping virtual strangers. I say strangers because we spend too much time doing just that- passing by each other. Somehow, when something bad happens, the whole world slows down. It is nice when you see the everyone else slow down with it- take notice and do something about it.
I think that people are capable of recognizing when someone else needs a break- we just have to pay attention. We can be aware that when someone is moody, they might actually just be having a bad day. Customer service should go two ways- you, as the customer, should see the people helping you as PEOPLE. Someone might just be an asshole, but they could also be going through the worst time of their entire life.
I was most grateful one day when I was going through the bridge toll in my city. I had been broken up with the previous day and was going to pick a friend up to go for a drive outside of the city. I had been crying but waited until it was less obvious to leave the house. When I went to give the man change for the toll, he stopped me and said “You know what, this one’s on me” , to which I replied “really” and he explained “yup, I like to do that for someone who looks like they could use a break each day”.
75 cents. That was the cost of someone letting me know that they saw I was in pain and that it mattered to them. Of course, as I drove away this made me cry more (EMOTIONS!) But it was the nicest feeling.
My best memory of my younger brother was when no one else was home and I found out (another) boyfriend had been cheating on me. He saw that I was crying, and without a word, sat down beside me and put his arm around me. He just let me cry for ten minutes before he even asked what was wrong. You have to understand that my brother is quiet and secluded and while we get along we do not talk much. This was even more the case in highschool, which was when this happened. Anyway, when someone notices that you need them to be kind to you, whether it is a stranger or someone close to you, it matters.
My question: why can’t we all go into situations with an understanding that not everyone is having a good day? A smile to a stranger, a thank you, or even an “are you ok” can change their day completely.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Adulthood: A Bigger, Scarier Schoolyard
I remain undecided in a lot of areas that, historically, have offered up danger and pain to people. God is one of them. I think I believe in some force greater than what I can see, but organized religion has nothing to offer me. I was raised Catholic but can not grasp the idea of an angry/judgemental god. If you were capable of creating something this beautiful and this intricate- would your mind really be on whether people are having sex outside of marriage or were gay? Also, would you need middlemen to tell the world this? I would think you would be more concerned that people were ruining the world you created – but littering and oil spilling does not appear to be a sin. How do we decide?
We are living in a world where, in politics and religion, if you make the most noise, and come up with the best insults against another organization, then you must be the one that is right. It’s like our political and religious leaders are in a pissing match. Since when did bullying become the path to ruling the world? Oh wait, that’s right, it kind of always has: Be the most feared and dangerous and you will actually get somewhere. It seems to be shifting almost entirely, though, from physical bullying to psychological manipulation. It occurs between social groups/classes; pretty much everywhere we look, and can be blatant or indirect.
When I grew up and found (yes, found) myself in adulthood I thought I was finally free of the school yard mentality. In reality, I’ve just entered into a bigger, scarier one where people pretend they are something different. Let’s call a spade what it is – a big fat bully who plays the “who can scream loudest to scare the most people into being on their side” game.
I chose to talk about religion, but this can be applied to most areas of adulthood.
So I question: why are we so easily distracted by fancy suits and words . If we are ALL created, we ALL have a right to believe in the things that inspire us- not the things that drown us in manipulation and accusations that we are someone bad even if we are good-hearted people.
We are living in a world where, in politics and religion, if you make the most noise, and come up with the best insults against another organization, then you must be the one that is right. It’s like our political and religious leaders are in a pissing match. Since when did bullying become the path to ruling the world? Oh wait, that’s right, it kind of always has: Be the most feared and dangerous and you will actually get somewhere. It seems to be shifting almost entirely, though, from physical bullying to psychological manipulation. It occurs between social groups/classes; pretty much everywhere we look, and can be blatant or indirect.
When I grew up and found (yes, found) myself in adulthood I thought I was finally free of the school yard mentality. In reality, I’ve just entered into a bigger, scarier one where people pretend they are something different. Let’s call a spade what it is – a big fat bully who plays the “who can scream loudest to scare the most people into being on their side” game.
I chose to talk about religion, but this can be applied to most areas of adulthood.
So I question: why are we so easily distracted by fancy suits and words . If we are ALL created, we ALL have a right to believe in the things that inspire us- not the things that drown us in manipulation and accusations that we are someone bad even if we are good-hearted people.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Save the planet; Stop making babies!
So guys, it’s serious times now.
We MUST put an end to immigration, we MUST stop building houses, we MUST stop producing food. Human beings need to know that reproduction will not be tolerated…sterilization is the way to go. Act now, before it is too late to save our planet.
Sounds like something from Science fiction right? Well…no (well, yes, though) a gentleman (I use the word loosely) by the name of James Jay Lee actually held the people at discovery channel hostage yesterday with these demands (see http://www.globaltoronto.com/James+manifesto+from+savetheplanetprotest/3469978/story.html)
Sometimes when I see a lot of road kill in a short period of time, and see how we deal with disasters like the oil spill, I think the human race sucks at caring about anything but their own comfort…but I don’t believe the solution is to cut us off and stop making babies.
Though, I would recommend parenting classes and support to everyone who has children. Does that count? Can I still believe in a better planet!? Pretty please!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Ranting of a Student in (63,000$) Debt + Interest
63. That is the number of thousands of dollars I am in debt after 7 years of post secondary education. This does not take into account the fact that my parents helped me or that I was working three jobs for half of that time.
In 9.5 years, if I pay the estimated 680$ a month (which I cannot even come close to affording with a very good job) I will have paid 15,000$ in interest. I am already incurring 6$ a day in interest despite being in a “grace” period. Bringing my grand total of debt to 78,000$.
This is assuming the economy doesn’t get better and the rate of prime doesn’t increase. If prime increases to even 5%- My interest more than doubles. I will have paid over 100,000 to get myself through university.
Being that I found that very good job, I likely do not qualify for interest relief. At 44,000 a year (2200 of which I actually see each month) I cannot afford to manage my debt.
In Canada, tuition used to be paid. From what I understand this was stopped to help fund the war. Well- that has been over for decades, so what is the government’s excuse now? About 40,000$ of my debt is due to tuition costs- much of my living expenses were covered by myself and my parents.
My debt reduction options for the NS portion of my student loan are actually quite good compared to Canada- which only appears to have interest relief possibilities as opposed to reduced debt. Still- not good enough. Even if it was compulsory for me to pay back every cent I had borrowed that would be hard enough, but now I am supposed to pay half a year’s salary (after taxes) MORE due to interest.
There has to be SOMETHING that can be done if the government will continue to claim that tuition can never be free: Reduce costs, provide more grants, provide more debt reduction opportunities- for the love of god gives us a tax break for the first 5-10 years we are in the workforce. I will beg and plead for the opportunity to have some end in sight. Some light at the end of the tunnel.
Yes, I could wait 10 years and if I am still paying THEN the government will start to help- but I will be entirely stressed and unable to save for a home for that entire time. I will be 36 when that time comes- and then I can start saving? YAAAAAAY.
My question: What kind of adult-debt super humanoid that MUST live for 100 years or more if it ever wants a debt free, child/home enriched future, is the Canadian government trying to produce?
In 9.5 years, if I pay the estimated 680$ a month (which I cannot even come close to affording with a very good job) I will have paid 15,000$ in interest. I am already incurring 6$ a day in interest despite being in a “grace” period. Bringing my grand total of debt to 78,000$.
This is assuming the economy doesn’t get better and the rate of prime doesn’t increase. If prime increases to even 5%- My interest more than doubles. I will have paid over 100,000 to get myself through university.
Being that I found that very good job, I likely do not qualify for interest relief. At 44,000 a year (2200 of which I actually see each month) I cannot afford to manage my debt.
In Canada, tuition used to be paid. From what I understand this was stopped to help fund the war. Well- that has been over for decades, so what is the government’s excuse now? About 40,000$ of my debt is due to tuition costs- much of my living expenses were covered by myself and my parents.
My debt reduction options for the NS portion of my student loan are actually quite good compared to Canada- which only appears to have interest relief possibilities as opposed to reduced debt. Still- not good enough. Even if it was compulsory for me to pay back every cent I had borrowed that would be hard enough, but now I am supposed to pay half a year’s salary (after taxes) MORE due to interest.
There has to be SOMETHING that can be done if the government will continue to claim that tuition can never be free: Reduce costs, provide more grants, provide more debt reduction opportunities- for the love of god gives us a tax break for the first 5-10 years we are in the workforce. I will beg and plead for the opportunity to have some end in sight. Some light at the end of the tunnel.
Yes, I could wait 10 years and if I am still paying THEN the government will start to help- but I will be entirely stressed and unable to save for a home for that entire time. I will be 36 when that time comes- and then I can start saving? YAAAAAAY.
My question: What kind of adult-debt super humanoid that MUST live for 100 years or more if it ever wants a debt free, child/home enriched future, is the Canadian government trying to produce?
ISMS't the Media Biased
Had a pretty healthy discussion about minority portrayals in the media on facebook of all places. I was pretty impressed with how well everyone involved handled themselves. Especially after a white reporter said she had seen no instances of media portraying minorities more negatively than white people.
I suspect, as did others, that she meant intentionally. Although, I still think that in unfortunate cases there are probably reporters out there who very willingly spread their biases and propaganda into the minds of naive readers/listeners/watchers throughout Canada (and definitely throughout the world).
While it is becoming increasingly unacceptable to make these biases obvious in today’s society (with regards to race; sexism seems to actually be becoming increasingly more tolerated in media, and people are still quite open about their feelings against gay rights. Then there is ageism…don’t get me started) that doesn't mean it doesn’t continue to be rampant in our media.
I, by no means, pay as much attention as I should in order to think critically with the images I am bombarded with every day. My own whiteness is not an excuse for my lack of awareness, but it can get overwhelming when you realize just how ridiculously unfair and relentless the media can be. And! For the most part this isn’t even on purpose- can you imagine if it was (well, of course you can…throughout history we have seen what happens when minorities are purposefully depicted as the “other” that is dangerous or in some way wrong).
I find it easier to relate to the sexism- the fact that men can look and act however they want on TV, but the women that are married to them have to be beautiful, understanding, at least somewhat successful and definitely skinny. It doesn’t matter what the man does- they are always forgiving and would never leave. It is women that are scorned and neurotic and men can do no wrong (I’m not saying this is always the case, but see situational comedies and name me one that turns out differently). If women don’t fit into this category- well, they don’t exist. You would think that Rosanne would have helped break through this barrier and made people realize that TRUER depictions can sell- but that was 20 years ago and we’ve only continued to perpetuate these ideals.
SO, my question is- yes, it has been proven that Canadian/American culture buys into bias and eats it up- but it doesn’t’ have to be true. Is it unawareness and/or greed on behalf of the media industry, is it our society as a whole- and regardless of the reason, why does it seem so unwilling to change?
I suspect, as did others, that she meant intentionally. Although, I still think that in unfortunate cases there are probably reporters out there who very willingly spread their biases and propaganda into the minds of naive readers/listeners/watchers throughout Canada (and definitely throughout the world).
While it is becoming increasingly unacceptable to make these biases obvious in today’s society (with regards to race; sexism seems to actually be becoming increasingly more tolerated in media, and people are still quite open about their feelings against gay rights. Then there is ageism…don’t get me started) that doesn't mean it doesn’t continue to be rampant in our media.
I, by no means, pay as much attention as I should in order to think critically with the images I am bombarded with every day. My own whiteness is not an excuse for my lack of awareness, but it can get overwhelming when you realize just how ridiculously unfair and relentless the media can be. And! For the most part this isn’t even on purpose- can you imagine if it was (well, of course you can…throughout history we have seen what happens when minorities are purposefully depicted as the “other” that is dangerous or in some way wrong).
I find it easier to relate to the sexism- the fact that men can look and act however they want on TV, but the women that are married to them have to be beautiful, understanding, at least somewhat successful and definitely skinny. It doesn’t matter what the man does- they are always forgiving and would never leave. It is women that are scorned and neurotic and men can do no wrong (I’m not saying this is always the case, but see situational comedies and name me one that turns out differently). If women don’t fit into this category- well, they don’t exist. You would think that Rosanne would have helped break through this barrier and made people realize that TRUER depictions can sell- but that was 20 years ago and we’ve only continued to perpetuate these ideals.
SO, my question is- yes, it has been proven that Canadian/American culture buys into bias and eats it up- but it doesn’t’ have to be true. Is it unawareness and/or greed on behalf of the media industry, is it our society as a whole- and regardless of the reason, why does it seem so unwilling to change?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)