My cover of "A Pair of Brown Eyes" by the Pogues

It's been a wee while since I recorded myself singing - think it was around 1987 as my old punk band, Ick on Fish, was winding down. While actually attempting to sing somewhat here, I'm sure you can pick out the punk residue covering my lack of any real vocal talent.

Just like in the Ick days when we used to record with a ghetto blaster, this one was a low-tech taping (or digitizing I suppose) off of my wife's new camera that we picked up today (to replace the one killed in my kayaking mishap).

Anyrood, just having a laugh here. Note: there was no alcohol used in the production of this video, though it most likely would have been an asset!

Anyone want to start a band?

Slainté!

Past, Future Forward

The Article:

The University of Saskatchewan has turned down a $500,000 endowment from an alumnus who requested the money be awarded to "non-aboriginal students" only.

The university said the race-based bursary proposal would violate university policy and provincial human rights law. [..]

The rejected donor contacted the Saskatoon StarPhoenix but would speak only on a condition of anonymity out of fear of negative publicity; both she and her husband work in public-sector jobs.

"I really want to raise this issue, but not at the expense of my own personal safety," the woman said. Designating the bursary for non-aboriginal students only was not a form of racism, she argued.

"In my view, aboriginals are basically taken care of [in university]," the 57-year-old nursing graduate said.

"I wanted to leave an award to someone who was just like me, who was struggling and could really use this money. "This isn't a racist thing, it's a fairness thing. It's just what I want to do with my money." (The National Post)


My Response (Letter to the Editor, Edmonton Journal):

The controversy in Saskatchewan over rejecting a university bursary that excludes Aboriginal peoples demonstrates the need to change national policies. Present policies clearly are not assisting Aboriginals due to corruption on the reserves, many of which are like Third World countries. Policies are also feeding the racist attitudes of some non-Aboriginals, as they view the whole arrangement unfair, an opaque point with some validity.

Canada is a nation, born of atrocities, accomplishments and imperialism's refugees. Similar policies, which we must remember were British in origin, not Canadian, which persecuted the First Nations peoples existed in different forms against other groups, such as the Irish in this country. British occupation and a forced famine that wiped out one million of the Irish population and saw another million emigrate in the 1800's, sent Irish refugees here in coffin ships to a world where they too were treated like third class citizens. Many Irish children were adopted by French families in this country, and had their own Irish language taken from them in Ireland where they were forced to speak English. The Irish suffered horrific abuses in Catholic schools, and essentially made up the bulk of this nation's poor. Yet, somehow, the Irish managed to survive and created healthy, vibrant communities.

My point is we can say the same about almost every other ethnic group in this country: the Ukrainians, Chinese, Italians, etc. None of these people were granted the things given to First Nations peoples. While the issues facing Aboriginal Peoples in Canada today are complex, I believe that if we truly want to help our Native brothers and sisters, we must do so by cutting the purse strings, giving them a sense of ownership and continue to educate all Canadians so that similar atrocities are not repeated, which have resulted in our present situation. In my opinion, culture is ever evolving and represents how we live today. This is our way of life and does not require political directives to survive.

"A Lament for Education and Academic Freedom"


I was the mainstream -
a rich running river of life
once flowing forcibly, natural
determined, etching malleable landscapes,
now drowned in dust.

Animals grazed harmoniously and prospered over my lush leaning banks,
I sparkled pure, crystal, white,
while others flourished beneath my mirrored still
and ferocious foam

I fed streams, tiniest tributaries, bogs
teeming with living, amidst teasing twists, cryptic mists and fogs
what was given was as well too me given back
forging canyons from fragments and finger-like cracks

my silt settled, evolved into stone,
my purpose was my purpose, with all and nothing to be known

I once built wonders that made wonder grow
my currents, respected, their tempo and flow
but the respect now evaporates
in billows of dust,
leaving me dry upon a tegument sedimentary saline crust
for I was the mainstream,
but now am no more
a forgotten scar upon the planet's floor.

Sex, Religion and the Educational Debate


Education is a very difficult field in regards to establishing curricula. For example, the debate wages on over religion and sex education being offered in schools. In Alberta, for example, there is a proposed bill in the legislature that will enable parents to withdraw their students from class if they do not find the subject to be favourable. This pits the will of the parents against the will of the state – a tenuous situation as neither are perfect and both have the right in having a say about what education a child receives.

As a teacher, I have observed and studied terrible mandates from the state such as the residential schooling of Aboriginal peoples, in addition to other less notorious policies, both past and present, with which I do not agree. Certainly the education policies in many non-democratic countries and democratic ones as well have served as vehicles of propaganda and even hate. In the end, with the changing world, politics and new research, education will continue to change, and the change will consist of all points in the range of the pendulum's swing – the good, the bad.

On the parenting side of the coin, we also see a range of opinions and ability. A family has a right to raise their children as they see fit… or do they? Though many parents are amazing and wonderful mentors for their children, the reality is that there are many out there who are perhaps not the best decision makers or who make decisions that can be harmful, if not straight out abuse. There is no professional requirement to become a parent (nor is there to become Minister of Education). Just as we must question government ethics, so too must we examine how some parents raise their children. For example, what do you do with religiously fundamentalist parents who decide to home school their children because they feel there is some atheist conspiracy at work within the system, resulting in a child who has the potential to be a doctor intellectually, but is 13 and does not know the alphabet?

At the end of the day, school should be a place to explain and expose students to new ideas and offer explanations about how the world works from a variety of points of view. The method in which these things should be presented should be objective, as opposed to evangelical. For example, I can teach students about Communism without trying to convert them to being Communists. I can teach the theory of Creationism alongside the Big Bang, and let the students decide for themselves as to what they believe. Just as I do not believe the state has a divine right to tell people what to believe, I do not believe that "beliefs" should allow parents to isolate their children from other points of view. No matter which way we go, mistakes will occur and we can not expect to please everyone.

So, let's look at the two most contentious issues: religion and sex education.

As far as religion goes, I think that we should examine all the major religions of the world over one's educational career. It should not be done in a matter that is offensive or derogatory, but rather an examination of views from within each faith. Creationism should be presented as a theory, just as Science is portrayed as theoretic. I do not believe that religious freedom should deny individuals the opportunity to learn about other faiths. The only result from such practices is intolerance, ignorance and hate. I also believe that if a parent elects to send their child to a Christian or Islamic school, that these schools have an obligation to objectively teach about other faiths. At the end of the day, families may live according to whatever beliefs they hold. Likewise, I believe that children are entitled to different points of view upon which to base their future.

In regards to sex education, again, I believe that to deny a child this because of parents beliefs can be very dangerous for the child and may also be considered a health risk to society as a whole. Regardless of parental beliefs, sex is a fact of life and, regardless, their children will face temptations. I know that this is a delicate issue, but sometimes, again, we must be reasonable in regards to the age in which we live. Unwanted pregnancies, STD's, AIDS, and so on are real possibilities, and the risk is personified by ignorance. In Africa we see where cultural beliefs are resulting in tragic statistics of HIV and AIDS. I want to respect cultural boundaries, but, at the end of the day, some things simply must be changed. Just as the abuse of women under the Taliban is unacceptable, so too is denying children the knowledge they require to be safe.

In conclusion, I know that I am excessively liberal and even heretical individual in the eyes of many. I am certain that many of the bureaucrats, devoutly religious parents, etc., believe just as strongly in their views as I do in mine. As much as I want to respect their opinions, I also believe that I have a right and responsibility to speak my mind. As I do speak my mind, I truly believe that I have the best interest of children at heart, and wish to offer them an objective education that is presented under the mantle of tolerance and enquiry. As the ages change, so too do we, and few of us turn out to be just like our parents are. While both the state and parents have rights in regards to children, those children must also be allotted the right to choose a path based upon a fair exposure to differing points of view. I say this both as a teacher and a parent.

My First Kayak Outing of the Year Proves to Be an Adventure!


Eager to get out in our kayaks for the first paddle of the year, my mate Kev and I headed to Elk Island this morning. It was gorgeous and warm, but there were still massive chunks/sheets of ice all over the lake. Anyway, we were about 15 minutes out when we were separated by a massive sheet of ice that spanned a considerable distance, and on my side I was coming up to a dead end. The ice was about 20 cm thick, and there was a long crack that looked fresh at one point, that we figured is had been recently just cut by a couple of canoeists we had seen take off in the same direction as we were preparing to put in...

So, I began to cut through this crevice, got halfway through when something happened to cause me to shift too far to starboard, which resulted in the water flooding over my gunwale and submersing my kayak under the water, lurching me overboard and toward the bottom of the lake, beneath the ice.

At this point I recall thinking firstly, I can't believe that this is happening - I have never capsized accidentally. The next thing was the shock of the water and the sensation of one of my shoes being sucked off by the water rushing in and my body rolling out. It was only about 25 m from the shore of an Island in the lake, but I am not a very good swimmer and I stupidly did not want to abandon my stuff. So I swam for it, pulling my submerged kayak and paddle in one hand, having the presence of mind to think "my wife is going to kill me for wrecking her camera", so I attempted to perch that over my shoulder (my cell is now dead as it was in a water resistant, but not water tight bum-bag, along with my wallet, etc.), and pushed forward. It took me between 3-4 minutes to make land. My partner was frantically making his way back the way we came in an effort to circumvent the sheet of ice so that he could reach me).

When I finally did reach shore - adrenalin pumping - I noticed that my left hand and knee were bloodied, caused by impacting the ice as I rolled out. Nothing major. My life vest was the main hero in all of this as it is what prevented me from submerging under the ice by making my buoyant and lessening the distance my body plunged. I was also freezing.

This is where my lesson in complacency and dumb luck can be reflected on. Never having, nor planning, to capsize on this day, I should have waterproofed my stuff better. Also, though we had contemplated bringing a few survival tools with us such as a flint, etc., we got lazy and that could have cost us. I should have know better with my training, and my partner was miffed at himself for his complacently in planning as well.

The weather was our greatest ally as it was a beautiful, sunny day. The wind did begin to pick up considerably, making the trip back a wee bit rough, but it could have been much worse. Also, the fact that this all transpired 15 minutes out as opposed to an hour or two, makes one feel a tad lucky!

In the end, I've got a few scrapes, have chills (either a smidge of hypothermia or a mild bit of shock), and I'm feeling that post adrenalin crash that makes you want to sleep. My stomach is also pretty queasy and I've got a smashing headache. I feel bad as my wife, daughter and I were supposed to go on a picnic with some friends this evening, and I've ended up staying home and told them to go on without me. Oh well, I'm still living and moments like this, as dark as it may sound, really does make you feel alive and like you... well... survived. Not something I care to experience on a regular basis, but it is a good kick in the pants!

...and as an end note, my wife was more upset about what had happened to me than her camera. I'm certain she's looking forward to getting a new one!

...and as for my new cell phone (my first one and less than a month old!)... I guess I'll have to let my friends know when I get a new one!