No Homo(phobes)!

Slang, by definition, is popular language that is being used. Unfortunately, this often is developed from a hateful place, though it's circulation may be naive and simply part of a fad.
     "Don't be retarded", "I'd rather kill myself", "Why are you being such a girl about it?", "That's so gay"...
     Often, our common dialect becomes just another way to put down a minority, and for some reason it is simply accepted by the majority.
     I had a personal experience with this earlier in the week; a younger peer was participating in an event I was running through our school, I heard him ask his friend to stop being "so gay" and had to intervene. At first the boy felt that he was in the right and I was overreacting, he was "just joking around" and it "wasn't mean to anyone". This forced me to teach him a harsh life lesson, but I'm glad he learned it from me. I responded honestly, "I'm gay; when you use my sexuality as an insult amongst your friends, that hurts. What if someone less confident than myself heard that, someone who wasn't out, who was embarrasssed by their sexuality, how would they feel?" Obviously, this kid shrank to about three times his size, I am a well know senior, perhaps the first gay person he's had a confrontation with, and he just insulted me. Humbly he apologized and we were able to hug and move on.
      Some people can be much more ignorant and much less malleable, hence the continuous promotion of hate through slang. Yesterday, I found a website called NoHomophobes.com, it's purpose to keep track of hateful speech being circulated daily through the twittersphere, check it out!
      Remember to be kind for even the little things you say or do can change someone's life, for better or worse.

Photo source: Example poster from the ThinkB4YouSpeak.com website & campaign.

On My Bucket List - A Journey of 780km Begins With a Single Step

      My obsession with the Camino de Santiago began two summers ago when I saw Emilio Estevez's The Way in theatres; I wanted to experience the 780km trek known as the pilgrimage along side Martin Sheen, and you won't often hear me volunteering to spend time with Martin Sheen. Since seeing the movie, okay, alright, since seeing the movie 6 times, I've purchased several guidebooks and non-fiction works about the walk. I've truly become infatuated with the Santiago, as millions have before me for thousands of years now. Originally, the walk was completed as a holy pilgrimage, endured with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Nowadays, it is a popular "walking holiday" beginning in France and continuing through northern Spain, walkers carry only a bag-pack and reside in the spotted hostels; however, many people still find spiritual meaning in the walk. Personally, I am planning on taking a 'gap year' after I graduate high school and the camino is on my list of to-do's, as a young adult I hope to grow from the experience in my understanding of self whilst enjoying gorgeous landscapes and toning my calves.

Photo Source: http://www.frescotours.com/photos_camino_de_santiago_14june2008.asp

Another Reason To Love Swedish Fish

    Browsing a popular user generated news website, Reddit, I stumbled across an article about Sweden's new energy program (link posted below). The program converts household waste into energy for heating an electricity. Sounds like a perfect solution, what's the flaw? The only major problem so far is that the program is TOO successful. Sweden is now importing waste to eliminate, from else where in Europe, as they don't produce enough waste themselves. Their plan is to import from countries like Italy, Romania, or Bulgaria, as they have the largest landfill programs.
   Sweden has often been ranked as one of the happiest places to live; they've given the world, ABBA, Ikea, and now this! Well, I am quite a fan!

To learn more about their waste to energy program read the original article:
http://www.pri.org/stories/science/environment/swedes-import-trash-to-power-the-nation-10428.html
Photo source: Article - (Photo by Vattenfall via Flickr CC.)

Her Body - Her Rights

     It is impossible to turn on the news without being exposed to footage of the ongoing Indian rape protests. Many people, myself included, believe,"it's about god damn time". These protests sparked from the rape of a 23 year old woman by 7 men. The reaction was an uproar against 'rape culture': teaching women not to get raped instead of teaching men not to rape. The protesters are calling for serious repercussions  some even call for the death penalty, however the current legislation places a maximum 3 years of jail time on the attackers. This year in Dehli, India, there were over 900 reported cases of crimes against women, known as the "rape capital". What is clear from theses protests is that the people of Indian are taking a standing for women's rights and a stand against violence, demanding a change in how society and the law handles rape.

Photo source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2252169/India-rape-protests-Extraordinary-courage-rape-victim-lost-intestines-horrific-attack.html

I love you.

     Today I propose one small step for man, one giant step for mankind, in the right direction. A step towards loving yourself. A step towards acceptance. A step towards a positive use of the media. I want to take a stand against cyber-bullying, from the little bullies and the big corporations. Confidence shouldn't be muted by media screams, simply so that they can sell it back to us. I am more than a size 8. I am more than anonymous insults directly spat over the internet or indirectly spat into beauty products; 2 for 1 special anyone?
    In local news, a student at our school recently decided it would be funny to make a slander account, mocking other students. It wasn't funny. Our student took a stand and fought hate the way we always manage to, with #CBLove. We fought our problems the best way possible, with #CBSolutions.
   Ideally, everyone would jump on this bandwagon, bullies included, of course. We could all spread love instead of anxiety. You deserve that, you deserve that because you are an individual, you are beautiful, and you are important. I love you.
   We've learned, from the media, to pick on flaws to make ourselves feel better. Calling someone fat doesn't make you any thinner, calling someone gay doesn't make you any straighter, and calling someone retarded doesn't win you any Nobel prize. However, calling someone beautiful can turn their whole day around, and you'll feel better too. Spread the kind words, via twitter, a secret post-it note, or face to face. Let people know that they are lovely the way they are, that includes you. It's easy to get suffocated by your own insecurities when you're always breathing in. So take a deep breath, appreciate yourself, and spread the love.

Just a friendly reminder from another human being, you are not alone.

Photo sources: Tumblr (Original Authors Unknown)

Independence - Freedom - Happiness

    Today I felt very inspired, inspired to travel to Vietnam, all due to this episode of a travel show, Departures! One of the hosts, Scott Wilson & Justin Lukach, put it best when they said, "people see Vietnam as a war, not a country." This was accurate of my own views of Vietnam. I had completed a research assignment on their war last year, but never bothered to look into the broader picture. After seeing that episode I was dumbfounded by the rich culture and friendly people they met among gorgeous scenery. So, feeling inspired, I looked into some more Vietnam trivia, from the ever reliable, Wikipedia.

• Population 87.8 million
• Area 331,210 km² (size of Germany)
• Has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era (2.6 million years ago)
• Ranked 16th worldwide in biological diversity, being home to approximately 16% of the world's species
• Bicylces or motorcycles are the most common form of transport in the cities
• 85% of population identify as Buddhist
• Unemployment at 2.3%
• Literacy rates at 90.3%

More importantly, as far as I'm concerned...

• Round trip flights, Ottawa to Ho Chi Minh, start from $1,682.82 

Here are some great pictures I found of Vietnam, from National Geographic, to give you a taste of what I'm now day dreaming of!

A Bitter Too Late

Twas the night of elections, when all through the land
All the creatures were stirring, from NY to Los Ang.
The poll stations were hung, in the public, with care
In hopes the eligible voters soon would be there

Some adults were nustled, all snug in their bed,
With visions of the economy boosting in their heads.
But some with no beds, not even a cap,
Had to settle outside for a long winter's nap.

On the White House lawn there was such a clatter,
"So why bother vote, if I don't even matter!?"
Pompous politicians argue over cash,
But regardless, stocks grow and they crash.

- A Short Sattirical Poem By Self, Based On Twas The Night Before Christmas

      I'm currently watching the CNN coverage of results and as anyone with a basic comprehension of the electoral college system (very few Americans) can tell you... the system is awful. Quoted as "a filter from pure democracy". To put it very simply, an entire state votes for one candidate, based on 51% + of the votes. Whether or not this system is effective is one thing but the repercussions are clear. If you live in a red (Republican) state your vote for Obama is pointless, so why even bother voting? Based on the twittersphere for example, is very Pro-Bama, as many youth are. However, that is not being reflected in the votes adding up on my television screen. It doesn't matter if 99% of Americans are Democratic, it matters what 51% of VOTERS are, well I suppose even that is a stretch... 51% of Electorates are what decide America's 4 year destiny....

Just a short cynical rant on the red, white, and blue (literally).

A basic graph of the electoral college votes in the last presidential election - Source: Wikipedia