Rant Of The Moment
Friday, 11th Feburary 2011
Okay. I know I said I wasn't going to use this blog to ramble and rant about my personal life, but honestly, my neighbours are making me crazy. I absolutely hate the apartment building I live in right now, but when I moved into it, I didn't have many alternatives, it having been September and this being a university town.
Don't get me wrong. Many of the neighbours are nice, well meaning people. I'm sure they don't have any actual intent to harm anyone else. My problem is the lifestyle habits of some of these people are affecting me now, and in my mind, that is unacceptable. Cigarette smoke constantly filters into my place from neighbouring flats
and from individuals smoking in the hallway. I get massive noise pollution from the tenant downstairs. The entryways are never cleared of snow. People leave their stuff all over the laundry room. Debris in common areas doesn't always get cleaned up, and I have observed tenants cleaning in common areas, which is not the job of the tenants.
To top it off, I was blamed for making another tenant late for work because this person could not get a full night's sleep due to noise allegedly coming from my apartment. My answer to that? I hear noise from downstairs almost every night, and I'm never late for work. If you can't get up in time for work, that's not my problem.
To make matters worse, I need to give sixty days' notice to get out of my lease. As you might imagine, this is giving me some problems locating new housing because most of the rentals are available the month following the date they're listed. I looked at a gorgeous house yesterday, but unfortunately, circumstances will not allow me to lease it.
This is killing me. It's like dangling a carrot in front of a horse, and then snatching it away. The situation I'm in right now is, I'm sure, yet another of the universe's cruel jokes. I know I'll get to move eventually, but will my health and my sanity both be intact when I do?
The Search For Intelligence
Friday, 4th February 2011
Earlier this week, I read a news story on the CBC web site that made me want to gear up for another "Rant of the Moment". It seemed that a married couple in Newfoundland had their children removed by Child, Youth & Family Services ("CYFS") because the couple scored low on intelligence tests. My immediate reaction was to ask why these particular people should be singled out
when there are so many truly stupid people out there doing untold harm to their children and flying under the child protection radar? It appeared this couple in Newfoundland were loving parents who did their best to provide for the needs of their two young children. Apparently, the mother's only crime had been that she'd missed a doctor's appointment for her son. It scared me to
think that CYFS could wield so much power in this instance, in essence saying these people weren't smart enough to have kids. The situation also seemed discriminatory. I felt outraged on their behalf.
Today, more information came out regarding this situation. A CBC reporter conducted a nearly 20-minute interview with the mother. In this interview, the woman confesses that she was sexually assaulted and that she believes her older son was conceived as a result of the sexual assault. She says
she needed counselling, but she was afraid of social services because of experiences she herself had, growing up as a foster child. She confessed that she lied to staff at a transition house, telling them that her husband had abused her, so that she could stay there and avail herself of their counselling services. It was apparently for that reason the children were removed. Authorities were acting to protect
the children from any potential harm that might come to them from their "abusive" father. The intelligence testing came later, after the children had already been removed from the parents' care. It still seems as though CYFS is using the low intelligence test scores to keep the children away from these parents, since it must now be clear that the husband did not abuse the wife and that whole story was concocted so
she could get the counselling help she wanted and needed.
From the interview, it's clear this lady isn't a genius, but it's highly unfair to say she isn't intelligent enough to take care of her own children. After hearing more details of this story, I understand wny CYFS would have taken these children in the first place, but I don't understand why CYFS will not return them now. This couple has had no prior involvement with CYFS, and it's now been brought to light that the mother made up the abuse allegations;
however, these parents are still limited to supervised visits at a neutral location. The children
were removed in October. Surely, five months would be adequate time to conduct an investigation into the allegations of abuse.
I believe CYFS was justified in removing these children in the first place, considering the allegations of abuse. It is better to be safe than sorry, after all. I don't think it's right, however, for these parents to fight it out in court to get their kids back. If the parents need guidance, it would be most beneficial to return the children to their home, and to have a CYFS worker assist the parents in developing good parenting
strategies. I always think of the apprehension of children as a last resort. If people can learn to be better parents, why shouldn't they be given the chance?
Maybe it isn't the intelligence of these parents we should be questioning.
Rant Of The Week
Tuesday, 21st December 2010
People are stupid.
No, that's not the Rant of the Week, although it could be. In fact, that statement could qualify as a Rant of the Day. During some days, it could be Rant of the Hour.
I'm not even kidding. Sometimes, I see such a lack of forethought and common sense, I just want to place my head against a brick wall and bang it repeatedly.
First of all, I want to say "Rant of the Week" probably isn't the most precise title, since I can't promise I'll have one ready every Tuesday. I'm thinking that "Rant of the Moment" might be more accurate. That would also give me a convenient excuse to post more than one rant per week.
For this week's rant, I'm actually going to tell you a story. Names and occupations have been changed to protect the identity of the parties involved.
This story is two people who work together in an office. These people are called Carrot and Potato. Carrot is a bright young employee who has been with the organization for a relatively short time. Potato, on the other hand, is settled in and deeply rooted.
Carrot and Potato are asked by their boss to attend a training session. The session is on a topic with which Carrot is quite familiar, but she says nothing and attends the training session anyway, thinking that she might learn something new. Potato also attends the training session.
During the course of the training session, Carrot mentions to the trainer that she's had a lot of prior experience in this area. Potato pipes up that he knows a thing or two about it as well, and that's a good thing since he'll be handling this job when he and Carrot return to work. Carrot thinks
she would be better equipped than Potato to handle the bulk of this job, but she says nothing. By now, Carrot is wondering why she was asked to attend this session, if she isn't going to be allowed to put her skills to use in a practical situation. She feels as though she's lost three hours of her valuable time.
After the training, Carrot and Potato return to work. A few days later, Potato is busy with the task for which they'd attended the training session. Potato becomes a little frustrated when he can't get something to go exactly the way he wants, and he calls Carrot over to help. Carrot quickly solves the problem
and points out a few more small things to help make Potato's task easier. Carrot goes back to her own chores. When Potato calls her over for more assistance, Carrot offers to take over the task. Carrot can tell that Potato has only a basic grasp of the concepts involved, and the vindictive side of her is dying to
call Potato out on his assertion during the training session that he knew all about this.
Carrot completes the task, and Potato seems surprised by the result. Potato's response is, "Wow...you really do know how to do this!"
Carrot is annoyed, because she now has the distinct impression that Potato didn't take her seriously, and had doubted her all along. Carrot is dying to say, "Why yes, Potato, I do. Did you think I was just talking through my roots the other day in the training session?" Instead, Carrot settles for a disdainful glare, straight into Potato's eyes.
Later that day, Potato tells Carrot they ought to mention Carrot's skills to their boss, Farmer John, and that perhaps Carrot could take over the chore in question. Carrot smiles and says that if Potato is sure he doesn't want to do it, she will take over. No problem.
Nothing is actually said to Farmer John. Life goes on.
What's the moral of this story? I'm not sure yet, but it's probably something along the lines of "People who are older aren't always wiser."
Christmas In Song
Sunday, 19th December 2010
This entry probably falls into the category of "boring stuff about Wendy's real life." I apologize, if anyone who might be reading this was expecting something different tonight.
This evening, I participated in the second of three Christmas performances I'm scheduled to be in. The first was a choir concert that wasn't without its drama. Tonight's performance
was a cantata by our church choir. It went off remarkably well, and we had excellent attendance. I've sworn off singing O Holy Night, though. I hope I've performed it for the last time in a very long time. I like the song, although
I can honestly say it's far from my favourite. It's a difficult song to sing, and though I'm quite capable of doing it, I'm getting tired of people requesting that I do it. I know a lot of people love that song, so some part of me feels bad
for not wanting to perform it; however, the problem is that the audience only hears the finished product. I have to hear myself do it dozens of times in rehearsal, with all the horrid mistakes. Please, if you're reading this and you're one of
the few who love me, do not ask me to sing O Holy Night. That's one of my Christmas wishes.
After the concert, I was able to catch up with some friends I hadn't seen for a while. I met some interesting people and had some great lobster sandwiches.
On an unrelated note, I "Secret Santa'd" someone. That actually felt really good.
Tidings Of Comfort And Joy?
Friday, 17th December 2010
There are only seven more sleeps until Christmas!
I'm usually a lot more excited about the big day than I am this year.
I don't know why I'm not in the Christmas spirit this year. I certainly should be.
I have a great job, good friends, a loving family, and fulfilling hobbies. The housing situation
isn't so great at the moment, but it's hardly going to tip the balance of my life into the "terrible" category.
Maybe I'm subconsciously flashing back to last Christmas, a time which shall go undiscussed in this blog, for various
private reasons. Maybe I'm just not into it because I see so much suffering that I can't do anything about.
CBC is currently in the midst of their annual Turkey Drive, the goal of which
is to put a turkey on the table of every poor Island family for Christmas. As of today, Islanders have donated over 3,000 turkeys to families
less fortunate. I personally have donated to the food bank this year, and Grace has donated some of my money to less fortunate dogs who will be spending their holidays
in cages at the Humane Society. A co-worker of mine donated toys for needy children. Everywhere I look, there
are campaigns going on to collect food, clothing, toys and money for needy people (and animals).
I love how generous Islanders are. This is the sort of place where people know how to come together as a community and help those in need. I see this even in the city.
People seem to be especially generous at Christmas. Of course, there are exponentially more help-the-poor campaigns at this time of year, so the generous souls are reminded
constantly that their assistance is needed. I'm glad to do my part, to make Christmas a little brighter for someone; however, what happens when the holidays are over? It's
impossible for us to keep donating all year the same way we do at Christmas.
Poverty isn't going away. As the book of Matthew says, "The poor you will always have with you." Why is this? I believe it's because we live in a culture that incubates poverty.
In Canada, we have thousands of jobs that pay next to nothing. By the time an employee at one of these workplaces factors in the cost of travel, the cost of child care, and the cost
of medical care without insurance, there's nothing left of the paycheque. In some instances, it may be more profitable for a single parent not to work, but collect Social Assistance and stay home to
care for her own children.
There are multiple generations of Canadians who have grown up with Social Assistance as their primary source of income. Lack of financial resources can be directly
linked to poor nutrition, inadequate access to justice services and health care, and poor educational opportunities. How can anyone be expected succeed when they are so disadvantaged by their circumstances?
How can someone pull herself out of poverty when she cannot obtain the means to do so?
What can we do about this? I don't know, to be honest. Simply throwing money at the problem isn't going to work, because poverty is about more than just a lack of money. Governments need to find ways to
make healthy food more accessible, hire more doctors and nurse-practitioners so that we all truly have equal health care access, and lower post-secondary tuition so that universities don't become strictly a rich kid's privilege.
Do I know how to fix the poverty problem? No. I honestly do not know how we can fix it.
I recently heard a speech by a very wise man who might have some ideas on righting the poverty epidemic, though. Police Commissioner and
former Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island, Gerard Mitchell, said these enlightening words during International Human Rights Day.
Maybe next year, instead of giving monetary donations, I will give some serious thought to becoming involved with an anti-poverty organization. Thank you, Mr. Mitchell. The world needs more like you.
Wednesday, 15th December 2010
So, I finally got around to redesigning the site. Nothing like a fresh coat of paint to spruce things up, right?
Seriously, I've felt for a long time that my domain should be used for something more grown up and professional than
virtual pet sites and roleplaying forums. I've been wanting to start a blog for a while now, and since I have blindjustice.ca at my
disposal, I thought why not?
During law school, I was an avid user of LiveJournal. I used to chronicle the more interesting events of my daily life, from writing exams, to buying a new camera from someone on eBay to telling about some funny graffiti I'd seen on the wall of the ladies' room.
The focus of this blog is going to be somewhat different. I may still share some details of my life, and I'll never be able to give up the fun of pointing out bizarre observations I've made. There's always room for amusing tales of human nature, after all. This blog
is also going to be about my ideas and opinions about current events, social issues, and popular topics in the media. My goal is to inform as well as to entertain.
I am not going to apologize for my opinions. Every person is entitled to his or her own opinion. I will respect yours. I ask you to respect mine.
I'm not the sort of person who "bashes" people, so you won't find a lot of trash-talk here. My simple aim is to tell it as I see it.
If all of that hasn't scared you off, then maybe you're going to be the first fan of my new blog.
I'm not on Facebook or MySpace, so if you have a comment on anything in my blog, please feel free to send me an email. The most recent blog entries will be at the top.