Tonight, after a tough evening, I had a small moment of realization. I realized that I am doing enough. I can't do it all. I am me, the world is the world and I shouldn't feel discouraged. It's exhausting to always being the one pushing. My energies are in far too many places right now, and I lose focus.
I think as women we learn to do a lot, sometimes more than we can handle, and I catch myself doing it. I vowed it would go differently. I'm working on it.
I'm looking forward to sunny times ahead.
Rach
from a frigid, *snow-free*, Victorian night
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Words Matter
Words carry enormous power. As a future lawyer, words are all I have. Words are my currency; the perfection of the statements that come out of my mouth and those which appear in my written submissions are the bases upon which my future livelihood will be made.
The meanings of words are debated at length in this profession. We have an entire course to learn about interpreting the words the government has chosen to use in its legislation. Every law student knows to be attentive to “means” vs “includes”, and any Charter aficionado knows that positive rights under s. 7 were found in the additional “and” along with the placement of a coma in Gosselin.
Silence, just as much as words, can be oppressive. There is a famous quote that says, “We will forget the words of our enemies, but we will always remember the silence of our friends”. While I don’t consider the first statement to be true at all, the second half certainly is. Recently, I have participated in a number of workshops in the tradition of Theatre of the Oppressed, which is based on the writings of Paulo Feriere in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The tradition comes out of latin America and the work of Augosto Boal, who remarks, “There are no bystanders in life”. Indeed, law school, if nothing else, has taught me that we are all active in holding “the law” in place, and that our words and actions are all incredibly important in establishing the norms and values that society endorses.
What, then, is my point in all of this? My point is, when you choose words, choose them carefully. Think about them, and their affect on anyone who might be around you. When you toss out the words “gay” and “faggot” and “dyke”, they oppresses people. When you use the term “gypped”, that oppresses people. So do the words bitch and douche and retarded. When you talk about “banging chicks”, that’s oppressive. When your team name is Team Ramrod, that, too, is oppressive. Why would you want to cause more hurt with a slip of the tongue when so much pain already exists in the world?
None of us is perfect all of the time, but lets all do better. Let’s be vigilant about what we do and do not say and when. Let’s call each other on our slip ups, and take personal pride in our successes and changes. Instead of permeating this public space that we all share with oppressive comments and hatred, let’s change our words and actions to hold in place a more equitable, more inclusive society.
The meanings of words are debated at length in this profession. We have an entire course to learn about interpreting the words the government has chosen to use in its legislation. Every law student knows to be attentive to “means” vs “includes”, and any Charter aficionado knows that positive rights under s. 7 were found in the additional “and” along with the placement of a coma in Gosselin.
Silence, just as much as words, can be oppressive. There is a famous quote that says, “We will forget the words of our enemies, but we will always remember the silence of our friends”. While I don’t consider the first statement to be true at all, the second half certainly is. Recently, I have participated in a number of workshops in the tradition of Theatre of the Oppressed, which is based on the writings of Paulo Feriere in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The tradition comes out of latin America and the work of Augosto Boal, who remarks, “There are no bystanders in life”. Indeed, law school, if nothing else, has taught me that we are all active in holding “the law” in place, and that our words and actions are all incredibly important in establishing the norms and values that society endorses.
What, then, is my point in all of this? My point is, when you choose words, choose them carefully. Think about them, and their affect on anyone who might be around you. When you toss out the words “gay” and “faggot” and “dyke”, they oppresses people. When you use the term “gypped”, that oppresses people. So do the words bitch and douche and retarded. When you talk about “banging chicks”, that’s oppressive. When your team name is Team Ramrod, that, too, is oppressive. Why would you want to cause more hurt with a slip of the tongue when so much pain already exists in the world?
None of us is perfect all of the time, but lets all do better. Let’s be vigilant about what we do and do not say and when. Let’s call each other on our slip ups, and take personal pride in our successes and changes. Instead of permeating this public space that we all share with oppressive comments and hatred, let’s change our words and actions to hold in place a more equitable, more inclusive society.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Happy New Year: Prose v. Law School
It's been a while. I can't promise this will happen often. But when I write, it's a good sign. So tonight I was thinking about how the movie Milk would fit into my analysis of the blood donation ban. Its because law school dominates the landscape of the mental processes. Its a good thing we have a love/hate relationship of the type we do. I was also thinking about the Price girls in The Poisonwood Bible which I am currently slowly reading. It is a beautiful escapist experience, and stunning on its own accord. I love these epic stories about families, ones with all female characters, beautifully penned, that change your world just a little bit.
Literature is nourishing. Law is kind of the opposite at times. It is the most challenging, the most stimulating environment in which to be immersed, but judgments will always be a far cry from the prose of Ann Marie MacDonald, Barbara Kingsolver, Alice Munro. L'Heureux-Dube's judgments are kind of wonderful in the equality realm, Arbour's dissent in Gosselin inspired me throughout first year law, but the stories they tell rarely proceed so beautifully. Is that the only difference? The law tells it in its own way, which is simply less focussed on the beautiful moments along the way.
It was a good victorian night. I heard it was -28 in London. It was about 6 here today. I feel pretty alright with that. Hope all well in 2009 from halifax to victoria my loves.
Rach
Literature is nourishing. Law is kind of the opposite at times. It is the most challenging, the most stimulating environment in which to be immersed, but judgments will always be a far cry from the prose of Ann Marie MacDonald, Barbara Kingsolver, Alice Munro. L'Heureux-Dube's judgments are kind of wonderful in the equality realm, Arbour's dissent in Gosselin inspired me throughout first year law, but the stories they tell rarely proceed so beautifully. Is that the only difference? The law tells it in its own way, which is simply less focussed on the beautiful moments along the way.
It was a good victorian night. I heard it was -28 in London. It was about 6 here today. I feel pretty alright with that. Hope all well in 2009 from halifax to victoria my loves.
Rach
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Bigger Election '08
Tonight, we can rest easier. Change we can believe in.
I spoke to my Guatemalan roommate who is from Chicago to congratulate her. She was so thrilled, her excitement infectious. It was so wonderful to hear excitement around the world for what happened tonight. Its historic, we will likely always remember tonight. Excitement is titillating in the American people and it reaches far. This was quite the mandate- people want change. Thank goodness, America. You had some of us on the edge of our seats. Virginia and North Caroline were close. It was an epic evening. I watched from beginning to end in the student lounge at the law school. My favourite evening aside from the general anticipation and excitement was when Anna rode the Begbie horse with the Obama/Biden Flag. Who knew he was such a democratic supporter?
What a happy day for America, and for the world. Hopefully he will approach with humanity, courage, and strength his opportunity to change. It will be with much resistance that he is embraced. Hopefully he will find his support more and more broadly, as might indicate the map. But again, it is not without great struggles, with which the world will have to be patient, that he will proceed.
I celebrated with a maple flavour in solidarity. Yeah!
from a clear, starry, hopeful, vicorian night,
luv rach
I spoke to my Guatemalan roommate who is from Chicago to congratulate her. She was so thrilled, her excitement infectious. It was so wonderful to hear excitement around the world for what happened tonight. Its historic, we will likely always remember tonight. Excitement is titillating in the American people and it reaches far. This was quite the mandate- people want change. Thank goodness, America. You had some of us on the edge of our seats. Virginia and North Caroline were close. It was an epic evening. I watched from beginning to end in the student lounge at the law school. My favourite evening aside from the general anticipation and excitement was when Anna rode the Begbie horse with the Obama/Biden Flag. Who knew he was such a democratic supporter?
What a happy day for America, and for the world. Hopefully he will approach with humanity, courage, and strength his opportunity to change. It will be with much resistance that he is embraced. Hopefully he will find his support more and more broadly, as might indicate the map. But again, it is not without great struggles, with which the world will have to be patient, that he will proceed.
I celebrated with a maple flavour in solidarity. Yeah!
from a clear, starry, hopeful, vicorian night,
luv rach
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Election 2008
"Its not that anyone lost. Its that there was nothing to win." -Rex Murphay
On the eve of the 40th Canadian Federal Election, another Conservative minority takes the mandate of the nation. A very conservative Canada showed its colours today. Blue gained new ground across the nation, save for in Quebec.
We must made Canada a fair society, says Stephane Dion. I don't anticipate that will happen under the new, larger, Harper minority. We've sat here for years, watching slashes and the resulting closures of the Law Commission of Canada and the National Assocation of Women and the Law. Equality has been achieved in Canada, didn't you know. Given my last post, I beg to differ. Given the recent gay bashing on Davie St in Vancouver's Village, I make my point.
24 Conservative,19 Liberal, 14 Bloq, 12 NDP women for 70 (leading and elected) women out of 308. A major step forward
10 million eligible voters chose not to vote today. I'm not proud of that. though maybe I understand some reasons why one wouldn't vote in this system. It doesn't look very democratic to me.
Our system is not very democratic in its structure. When a party that 6% of voters chose doesn't receive a seat in the house, what does that say? Or when a governement with only 39% of the vote has nearly 50% of the seats. MMP anyone?
When I see this prime minister, not my prime minister, it makes me okay with judicial activism. Fill your boots, Binnie, Abella and Bev. Well, maybe not Bev.
What will you deliver, Mister Harper? Something better than we've got. "We thank Miss May for her participation in this election." Thanks...that's all? She was the best leader up there.
So, as we sleep tonight, dreams of change in conservative Canada slip further from our reach.
On the eve of the 40th Canadian Federal Election, another Conservative minority takes the mandate of the nation. A very conservative Canada showed its colours today. Blue gained new ground across the nation, save for in Quebec.
We must made Canada a fair society, says Stephane Dion. I don't anticipate that will happen under the new, larger, Harper minority. We've sat here for years, watching slashes and the resulting closures of the Law Commission of Canada and the National Assocation of Women and the Law. Equality has been achieved in Canada, didn't you know. Given my last post, I beg to differ. Given the recent gay bashing on Davie St in Vancouver's Village, I make my point.
24 Conservative,19 Liberal, 14 Bloq, 12 NDP women for 70 (leading and elected) women out of 308. A major step forward
10 million eligible voters chose not to vote today. I'm not proud of that. though maybe I understand some reasons why one wouldn't vote in this system. It doesn't look very democratic to me.
Our system is not very democratic in its structure. When a party that 6% of voters chose doesn't receive a seat in the house, what does that say? Or when a governement with only 39% of the vote has nearly 50% of the seats. MMP anyone?
When I see this prime minister, not my prime minister, it makes me okay with judicial activism. Fill your boots, Binnie, Abella and Bev. Well, maybe not Bev.
What will you deliver, Mister Harper? Something better than we've got. "We thank Miss May for her participation in this election." Thanks...that's all? She was the best leader up there.
So, as we sleep tonight, dreams of change in conservative Canada slip further from our reach.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Londoners with Pride?
Courtesy of Heather's blog, I have found a lot to write about in my away time regarding my thoughts on issues at home. Here's another one. The newspaper in my home town fairly sub-par. The accompanying tv station used to close every night with a shot of a waterskiing squirel or a returned pet that had been missing in Mississippi. This article covers the annual Gay Pride Parade. I especially like the title: Not all have jovial time at parade celebration. Well, I bet a lot did, excpet if you were to ask one of 12 protesters at the parade, which, of course, would represent the opinion that the majority of Londoners would want to hear.
"Londoners Grace and Neal Vangalen stood in silent witness as a parade of tattooed and tarted-up humanity passed by them on Dundas Street yesterday". Sinners, every last one. Its a good thing they have Jesus behind them, supporting their hate. "The Bible condems this", 80 year old Neal states. The wife finds the growing support of politicians and corporations troubling. This is the city I grew up in. I was spawned of this corporate conservative Southwestern Ontario city with one of the best business schools in Canada and local politicians to back big business tax cuts. Yet so were many of my closest and dearest friends in the world, and I think we've managed to turn out just fine, luckily. It could have happened so differently.
How different we are from the nation's largest city just two hours down the road. Their pride celebration draws millions of people from around the world. How lovely is it that in Victoria and in the west, people are cool with whoever you are. Its cool, you're here, welcome. Not tarted-up humanity, but a respected part of a vibrant community. Thanks, London, for the open arms.
Heather noted that when the newspaper isn't masturbating over the union of Anne-Marie DeCicco and Tim Best, they manage to cover something in the meantime. Its a good thing our mayor squeaked into this article, noting her letter of support, because it sure wasn't covering anything worthwhile reading this time. It would have been nice to read an article about Pride in London from someone who took part in the festivities, to see how they enjoyed them, or even from an organizer. But I'm no journalist, I suppose.
"Londoners Grace and Neal Vangalen stood in silent witness as a parade of tattooed and tarted-up humanity passed by them on Dundas Street yesterday". Sinners, every last one. Its a good thing they have Jesus behind them, supporting their hate. "The Bible condems this", 80 year old Neal states. The wife finds the growing support of politicians and corporations troubling. This is the city I grew up in. I was spawned of this corporate conservative Southwestern Ontario city with one of the best business schools in Canada and local politicians to back big business tax cuts. Yet so were many of my closest and dearest friends in the world, and I think we've managed to turn out just fine, luckily. It could have happened so differently.
How different we are from the nation's largest city just two hours down the road. Their pride celebration draws millions of people from around the world. How lovely is it that in Victoria and in the west, people are cool with whoever you are. Its cool, you're here, welcome. Not tarted-up humanity, but a respected part of a vibrant community. Thanks, London, for the open arms.
Heather noted that when the newspaper isn't masturbating over the union of Anne-Marie DeCicco and Tim Best, they manage to cover something in the meantime. Its a good thing our mayor squeaked into this article, noting her letter of support, because it sure wasn't covering anything worthwhile reading this time. It would have been nice to read an article about Pride in London from someone who took part in the festivities, to see how they enjoyed them, or even from an organizer. But I'm no journalist, I suppose.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
My Summer of Detox
When I left Victoria, I had braced myself for a summer of detox. No smoking of any kind, and no drinking. I arrived in Rabinal only to discover that these rules have no application. The modified version of these rules is as follows: don’t do it in public. In the comfort of your own home, anything goes. As such, my Guatemalan nights have been wonderfully relaxing and amazingly stunning.
In terms of purchasing my vices, there is a store just down the road where I go. The woman smirks each time I buy the litre bottles of beer. The other Canadians used to send the boys to buy it, but now there are no boys, so it’s all me. Basically in Rabinal when a woman purchases beer or smokes a cigarette in public, everyone thinks she is a godless, immoral whore. While I am aware of this belief, I can’t be bothered to buy into this cultural construction. And things are changing a bit. The women with whom I work and with whom I am friends all drink every so often, maybe I would say regularly, with no hesitation. So when I would like to have a glass of beer, I am going to buy it myself and take it home to consume since I have no other alternative. That’s the word.
And in terms of my other beloved vice, I was gifted a nug before the departure of my housemates. Said nug has sustained me thus far, though it is on its last legs. I partake with my housemate most nights, but her stash too is nearing the end. One of us will have to make a trip to the lake very soon. I might go not this weekend, but next. I am saving my last bit for Canada Day…that´s just how it has to be. There can be no Canada Day without it. We are celebrating in style next Tuesday.
The status of the third vice in the sex, drugs and alcohol threesome is perhaps the tamest, given the culture in which I find myself. The one lesbian in town, aka my friend Sofia, is currently suffering heartbreak (re to previous entry), though this has not hindered the rapid development of an impossible crush.
That is the current status of my summer of detox and my Guatemalan Nights. More to follow shortly on my trip to the lake and that crush…
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