Did God Grow Tired of Them?

I worked at a Starbucks in Port Coquitlam when I was younger. I didn't make much back then, but I didn't spend much, either. I sponsored a little girl from Africa under the care of Plan Canada (Foster Parents). My father wanted me to focus on school, so I compromised and never worked again until I finished school. Lucky for me, I landed on this job that I absolutely adored with UBC two weeks after I wrote my last final exam. Ever since I started making money (again), I've been making donations to different organizations for different purposes. For example, in May, I went to a fashion show where all proceeds went to British Columbia Breast Cancer Foundation. Likewise, in July, I supported the clean water project in Africa, which was facilitated by Plan Canada (Foster Parents). My most recent donation was made to a group of disabled, handicapped children in Surrey, so they could have the money to have a Christmas like any other normal kid.

I've begun to think why so many fortunate individuals in this world refuse to be generous to those who are in need. It doesn't hurt them to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of designer jeans, but giving a few dollars to charities seems like some sort of torture to them. I don't understand.

The Thai girls forced into sex trade may be total strangers to them. The African babies infected with HIV the moments they come to this world may fail to win their attention because, let's face it, they ain't their babies. I can go on and on, but think about it. Any of them could have been you, me, or the person next to us, at a different time, a different place, don't you think?

Rest in Peace: Mr. Robert Dziekanski

It appeared to be just another regular day at the Vancouver International Airport when Robert Dziekanski, of Pieszyce, Poland, flew to British Columbia to reunite with his mother and start a new life as a Canadian. Little did he know that he was never to step out of the airport and walk on the Canadian soil. The last moments of his life, in the hands of Vancouver RCMP, were vividly recorded on a videotape, which has become a hot (and infamous) topic all over the world through the power of the Internet. However, I'm reluctant to look this up on YouTube. At times, I prefer to live in my own bubble, where my idealism gets me through the day. There are a million negative comments I can make about the police based on my personal experience, in addition to this tragic incident. I am unsure where to start. This story reminds me of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". In the book, a wrongly accused Black crime suspect attempts to escape from prison, so as a result, the American, white guards shot him 17 times. Is that really necessary? The white, American guards try to justify their barbaric actions by blaming everything on the runner. What do our RCMP officers have to explain their conduct and back it up? "I was expecting to see a confrontation, a discussion and things go sideways, then the tasering," anyone with a brain would know, "That's not what you see." Just because the Polish man was an immigrant? I've run out of trash-talk about the police. I lost my respect for them a long time ago anyway.

The redistribution of the RCMP officer involved in the incident would not be the only impact of their (unspeakably cruel, in my personal opinion) actions. How will visitors and future immigrants feel about coming to our city? How will we boast ourselves upon the arrival of 2010? How will we continue to hold the place as the most livable city in the world? Will this damage on our city's reputation ever be fixed? Will this wound ever heal? Simply reassigning the Mounties is not going to sufficient to answer these questions that I just posed.

Sighs, God bless Vancouver.

Remember, Remember, the 10th of November

I used to love Remembrance Day when I was in high school. Not only did I get a day off, I, along with the school band, had a chance to perform in front of 2000 students during the special assembly. I was young and new to the country. The school gym wasn't exactly the perfect place for a bunch of teenagers to get together and reflect on our history. To my surprise, I was far more drawn to the atmosphere back then than I am now. This year, I almost forgot to wear my poppy. When Friday came, the only thing on my mind was how to take advantage of this long weekend. Work's getting busy and will be ridiculously insane by mid-December. Seriously. Still, it doesn't steal my guilt. Oh, I wish. How could I possibly neglect to put my poppy on my shirt? It was such a simple gesture, and yet it was not on my top priority list. Did I need the Centennial band and special assembly to remind me of this important day in our Canadian history? Did many other Canadians feel this way? Ugh. Let the shame eat me away.

It has been almost 100 years since WWI ended. WWII was 60, 70 years ago. We celebrate Remembrance Day every year in the name of honouring our fallen soldiers, but please help me understand why we keep sending troops to Afghanistan. I read about a great number our ceremonies honouring those who've served and inspirational quotes from politicians saying "Remembrance Day is a time to give thanks not only to our fallen soldiers, but also to give thanks to our serving members", yet why are they still not ending the war? I see nothing but contradiction and hypocrisy.

Remember, remember, the 10th of November, that on this day, we honour those who have sacrificed their lives, so others like you and me may live. But will we never put an end to these sacrifices of our own people in the middle east?