Just Because...
A Poem
Just because I'm different
Don't look at me wierd
I'm not crazy
I'ts not bad to be unique
Just because I'm different
You cant treat me different
or make fun of me
I'm not against other beliefs
Just because I'm different
It doesnt mean I'm perfect
I cant always be the rock
I wont change who I am for you
Just because I'm different -- just accept me as I am.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Social Studies Question
Jan.3, 2009
I know that this sounds really sadistic, but... it cant be that hard to corrupt a society. Look how easily Hitler did it! All it takes is one bad apple in the high end of things; a smooth talking, powerseeking gentleman with a good social/political standing, and were on the yellow brick road to destruction. A leader will make or break a society- and a need and greed for power is very dooming. In our world today, power is such a sought after element of life, that some people will stop at nothing to get it!
Very often, a just and democratic society can still have a lot of needs... and even more wants! A clever leader will offer these things and more to the society, but not often give them. He/she will dangle these proposals over their noses like a master dangling his dog a bone, but never really giving the gifts. A few more tidbits and temptations, and the leader is fully and willingly supported. Imagine now how easily, with the world at his/her fingertips, that this leader could turn the whole society against a group or an idea. At this stage, if the hated side took one misstep, war would be inevitable.
So tread carefully, be kind, and please... we know how easy it is to corrupt a society... if you lead, be fair. Dont be hating. Do your best to keep our society just and democratic!
Jan.3, 2009
I know that this sounds really sadistic, but... it cant be that hard to corrupt a society. Look how easily Hitler did it! All it takes is one bad apple in the high end of things; a smooth talking, powerseeking gentleman with a good social/political standing, and were on the yellow brick road to destruction. A leader will make or break a society- and a need and greed for power is very dooming. In our world today, power is such a sought after element of life, that some people will stop at nothing to get it!
Very often, a just and democratic society can still have a lot of needs... and even more wants! A clever leader will offer these things and more to the society, but not often give them. He/she will dangle these proposals over their noses like a master dangling his dog a bone, but never really giving the gifts. A few more tidbits and temptations, and the leader is fully and willingly supported. Imagine now how easily, with the world at his/her fingertips, that this leader could turn the whole society against a group or an idea. At this stage, if the hated side took one misstep, war would be inevitable.
So tread carefully, be kind, and please... we know how easy it is to corrupt a society... if you lead, be fair. Dont be hating. Do your best to keep our society just and democratic!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Media Follow-Up Question: You Be The Editor
"The hardest choices are not between good and bad. They are between differing outcomes which appear to have equal merit."
This tends to be a large issue mainly in media, such as newspaper and news on television. As, say, an editor, one would have to ensure that there is a safe balance of all sides of the story and protect all people, whether good or bad, dead or alive. While you satisfy the public’s right to know what dangers and issues arise in their communities, you must also protect the privacy of the concerned subjects of the article.
Sometimes, an event may endanger the people in an area, in which case the news would have to print the man idea. If there had been multiple drive-by shootings in a few days or so, an editor should print the article, or even the streets, just to warn families. Though, printing the house number or the family name is really not necessary. The best way to ensure that the story is safe for all eyes and people is ensure that nothing but truth is told, then omit any unnecessary or hurtful information or pictures.
This tends to be a large issue mainly in media, such as newspaper and news on television. As, say, an editor, one would have to ensure that there is a safe balance of all sides of the story and protect all people, whether good or bad, dead or alive. While you satisfy the public’s right to know what dangers and issues arise in their communities, you must also protect the privacy of the concerned subjects of the article.
Sometimes, an event may endanger the people in an area, in which case the news would have to print the man idea. If there had been multiple drive-by shootings in a few days or so, an editor should print the article, or even the streets, just to warn families. Though, printing the house number or the family name is really not necessary. The best way to ensure that the story is safe for all eyes and people is ensure that nothing but truth is told, then omit any unnecessary or hurtful information or pictures.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Famous Canadian Conributions to Human Rights
Theresa Ducharme
Theresa Ducharme, a Métis woman born in 1945, started off okay. She was a wild child. As a teen, she modelled for different catalogues and magazines. But, at the age of eight, she was taken with polio and it left her a quadriplegic. Then her dad became abusive, and things just seemed to be falling steadily downhill. Later on in life, she realized the good she could do for this world. A while after, in 1978, she married Clifford Ducharme. Ducharme became a political activist. She ran multiple times for mayor, but had to quit in 2002 when her health became too much of a hindrance. She advocated at seminars and conferences all across Canada.
Ducharme was strong-willed and determined. She spent her life fighting for rights. She fought for her own rights, such as the right to fly on a plane despite medical concern, as well as the rights of others. It is said that multiple times she could have been seen at city hall with a cardboard cigarette on her head as she supported the Winnipeg smoking-ban.
Other than appearing in court and at council and such, Ducharme advocated in other ways as well. Ducharme wrote and self-published a book. It’s called “Life and Breath”. It is about her life as a person with special needs.
Despite all this “fighting for rights” that she did, a curious case came up during my research: Ducharme was the one who fought against Sue Rodriguez. Rodriguez, another political activist with a disability, wanted the right to take her own life, but Ducharme said that that shouldn’t happen! Finally, when in fact Rodriguez’s doctor assisted her in committing suicide, Ducharme attempted to press charges on those witnesses. I find it very ironic that this strong, caring activist would disregard a plea for a right like that. Though, I must agree with Ducharme. I truly believe that “thou shall not kill”, and that includes oneself.
Above all, Theresa Ducharme believed in equality and equal justice for everyone, disregarding race, religion, ability, and disability. She played a huge part in the fight for handicapped buses here in Winnipeg. In fact, my uncle attended many a meeting with her, and helped her to get a bit of what she wanted from Transit. She also advocated for citywide building accessibility and air travel.
A lot of our city, our country, and even our world today have changed sufficiently since Ducharme was young and beginning her activist career. Persons with disabilities are respected now. Discrimination is diminished. Work, travel, and access to buildings and activities is much simpler for those of us with special needs. Yes, we as a community and as a world still have a lot to do to make this world an equal place for all, but a lot of what we have today, we owe to people like Theresa Ducharme. If I could meet her, I would thank her over and over again for teaching us about life as a person with a disability, and for changing our world for the better! Thanks Theresa!
Theresa Ducharme, a Métis woman born in 1945, started off okay. She was a wild child. As a teen, she modelled for different catalogues and magazines. But, at the age of eight, she was taken with polio and it left her a quadriplegic. Then her dad became abusive, and things just seemed to be falling steadily downhill. Later on in life, she realized the good she could do for this world. A while after, in 1978, she married Clifford Ducharme. Ducharme became a political activist. She ran multiple times for mayor, but had to quit in 2002 when her health became too much of a hindrance. She advocated at seminars and conferences all across Canada.
Ducharme was strong-willed and determined. She spent her life fighting for rights. She fought for her own rights, such as the right to fly on a plane despite medical concern, as well as the rights of others. It is said that multiple times she could have been seen at city hall with a cardboard cigarette on her head as she supported the Winnipeg smoking-ban.
Other than appearing in court and at council and such, Ducharme advocated in other ways as well. Ducharme wrote and self-published a book. It’s called “Life and Breath”. It is about her life as a person with special needs.
Despite all this “fighting for rights” that she did, a curious case came up during my research: Ducharme was the one who fought against Sue Rodriguez. Rodriguez, another political activist with a disability, wanted the right to take her own life, but Ducharme said that that shouldn’t happen! Finally, when in fact Rodriguez’s doctor assisted her in committing suicide, Ducharme attempted to press charges on those witnesses. I find it very ironic that this strong, caring activist would disregard a plea for a right like that. Though, I must agree with Ducharme. I truly believe that “thou shall not kill”, and that includes oneself.
Above all, Theresa Ducharme believed in equality and equal justice for everyone, disregarding race, religion, ability, and disability. She played a huge part in the fight for handicapped buses here in Winnipeg. In fact, my uncle attended many a meeting with her, and helped her to get a bit of what she wanted from Transit. She also advocated for citywide building accessibility and air travel.
A lot of our city, our country, and even our world today have changed sufficiently since Ducharme was young and beginning her activist career. Persons with disabilities are respected now. Discrimination is diminished. Work, travel, and access to buildings and activities is much simpler for those of us with special needs. Yes, we as a community and as a world still have a lot to do to make this world an equal place for all, but a lot of what we have today, we owe to people like Theresa Ducharme. If I could meet her, I would thank her over and over again for teaching us about life as a person with a disability, and for changing our world for the better! Thanks Theresa!
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