Nationalism

Look at that face! So cute, holding his Emmy, all proud. This is not the reason I'm blogging tonight, although I'm watching the live C-SPAN stream online of the Emmys.

This is a question that I think about a lot. Almost obsessively, really. When watching, reading or listening to the news, there is always an emphasis on nationality. I get news alerts in my inbox from CNN, one of which the keyword is "Canada," because being Canadian, I like to know when Canadian news hits CNN. I got an alert a few minutes ago about a story in Thailand, about free shelter for widows of war there. This is the reason why it came into my mailbox:

On September 23, bombings in a tourist town claimed the insurgency's first Western fatality, a 29-year-old Canadian teacher, and wounded an American and a Briton.

So, my question as a person is why does nationality seem to matter so much? It's always reported as "blank killed, this many Americans die." I know as a journalism student, that the answer is because facts matter, and because it hits closer to home if someone from your own country has been killed elsewhere. But as a person, it's always confounded me because we're all the same. Nationality doesn't matter. It's almost insulting to everyone else there that died, and are not addressed in the same manner simply because they don't come from the right place. It bothers me. It always has. It shouldn't matter. We should honour all people the same way, no matter the country they come from. This nationalism, division, only causes problems and differences between everyone. My political science teacher would tell me I'm being an idealistic liberal right now, but can't we all just get along and be from the earth?

I've been blogged again!

My second comment posted on the 360 blog, partially in response to a comment before mine. Again, it wasn't an Anderpost, but it was about Darfur.

It is too bad that this is all getting in the way of CNN covering the horror in Darfur first hand. The political posteuring on part of the Sudanese government is a convenient excuse so they don't have to let anyone in that may be able to get the message to a huge audience. On another note, I'd like to point out that the genodice in Darfur is not, in fact, Islam-led. It is ethnically based off of territorial disputes between the Arab and African tribes in the area. It is the Arab-led government and janjaweed that is causing this atrocity, not Islam. Islam has a bad enough wrap as it is, no need to make it worse through misinformation.
Posted By Chelsea, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada : 5:49 PM ET
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2006/09/so-close-yet-so-far.html

Happy Birthday to Me!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can now go vote in the next election, whenever it may be called. YAY!

Early Happy Birthday!

Andy is looking around to find me. He's getting ready to wish me an early happy birthday. My birthday is Thursday. Someone needs to give Andy some ideas on what I'd like (besides him!).

My brain hurts. Being sick sucks. More later.

Ahmadinejad and the Pope

I'm so glad that Anderson has finally been on HIS show. I was getting quite sick of JR. The interview last night with Ahmadinejad was incredible. Andy got a little snark in here and there. Ahmadinejad is very, very well spoken and it is entirely obvious that he knows the audience he is addressing. He changes his words, his manner, depending on who it is he is speaking to. He seems very personable and charismatic in the way he talks, unlike some other leaders.

He completely avoided most of the questions Anderson asked, but that is only to be expected. How many politicians give anyone a straight answer? Especially if it's a foreign leader, they're not going to give you a straight answer. I still wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

I cannot decide what I think of the Pope. Yes, he should of known better. He probably did know better than to say what he did. It's kind of obvious that it would be taken out of context. So, I think he knew what he was doing, and I think that all of his moves afterwards have been entirely too calculated. I don't know what he's up to, but I'm sure he's up to something. The irony is that his point was made for him with the extremists reacting the way they did.

I've been blogged!

I have made my first ever comment on the 360 blog to be posted! It wasn't an Anderpost, but still, it's an incredibly important topic to me.

I'm so glad that 360 decided to take on this story when no one else in the media will. It truly is tragic that it requires the invovlement of a celebrity in order to gain the attention of normal people, people who have an obligation to try to protect those who have no protection. Every time something like this happens, we say that we will never let it happen again. Yet, here we are, three years into a government supported genocide. Let's not ignore the pleas of George Clooney or Elie Wiesel, like we ignored the pleas of Romeo Dallaire during the genocide in Rwanda. Show your support by wearing a blue hat to signify the blue helmets of the UN on the Global Day for Darfur, September 17.
Posted By Chelsea, Halifax, NS, Canada : 11:15 AM ET
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2006/09/helping-darfur.html

George Clooney and Elie Wiesel

I feel so bad for letting the blog fall into disarray. Seriously. I didn't think that it would get this bad. My classes have been keeping me pretty busy. My poli sci and journalism classes are so far the most interesting of all of them. My math class is fairly interesting. It's going to be a blend of history, which I enjoy immensely, and problem-solving, which I don't enjoy at all. I can't wait to go home to find Mark and bug him about math. My math prof is totally quirky and interesting. I enjoy him.

Today in journalism, we spent a lot of the first half discussing the coverage of the shootings in Montreal yesterday. We were looking at why, and how different networks have gone about covering it. We watched some video from the CNN website. A lot of the things raised, sensationalism and right to know what the extent of something is, were things that I've thought before. So, my mind is being molded further into thinking of stories and how to tell them. I think that having my lit course while I have this is going to be a big help. A lot of that course is dealing with structure and connecting things.

I've really slipped up at trying to keep my opinions on things and my snarky comments in order as pertaining to news stories. I've been watching Andy every night with my roommate, but most of the time I have something else to read or to write, so I can't pay a lot of attention. I will say this though: I am incredibly disappointed that Anderson did not mention the role of Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Canadian Forces have taken over all allied troops in southern Afghanistan, and there is Canadian presence in Afghanistan. Not to mention, he didn't bother to even touch the issue of friendly fire. That's a story I think the press is simply ignoring, especially the American press.

I am incredibly excited for the interview with George Clooney. I hope that Clooney talks extensively about what's happening in Darfur, because no one seems to care unless it comes out of the mouth of a celebrity. We always say that we will never let anything like this happen again. Here it is, happening right in front of our eyes, and yet there's no news stories, no real coverage, most people have no idea what's happening over there! No one cares. These people are being slaughtered by their own government, and there is no passionate plea from the majority of people. I'm disgusted, and I know there are many other people like me who are equally disgusted. I hope that it really is Anderson doing this interview tonight, and he asks really good questions and hits home to his viewers what's happening. Someone just needs to pay attention.

Actor George Clooney and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel appeared before the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to make an impassioned plea for immediate UN intervention in Sudan's Darfur region.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/09/14/clooney-wiesel-darfur.html

Elie Wiesel! Elie Wiesel is making a plea! Not just George Clooney. This man lived through the Second World War, he lived through Auschwitz. Read his book Night. It will make you cry. This man should be an inspiration to all of us, and this story got a tiny headline at the bottom of the CBC page. No one cares. Show someone you care, sign a petition write your member of parliament or congress, write your local paper, and wear blue on Sunday.

Global Day for Darfur

Unfortunately, the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan has continued despite the signing of a peace agreement on May 5th, 2006. People are still be raped, killed and displaced every single day. The Sudanese government still refuses to allow a UN Peacekeeping force into the region even though the UN has passed a resolution authorizing a force in the area, and has said that the African Union troops will have to leave at the end of this month.
To continue placing pressure on the international community to do something about the acts of genocide occuring in Darfur, September 17th has been designated at the Global Day for Darfur. Events are taking place all around the United States and in Canada in protest and support of Darfur. If you cannot make it to an event, you can wear a blue hat or the colour blue to represent the blue helmets of UN soldiers. Sign a petition and get involved.
http://amnesty.textdriven.com/home/index_darfur.php?lang=ing
http://www.dayfordarfur.org/index.asp
http://www.genocideintervention.net/index.php

At University

Yaaaaay! I've made it to university! My roommate is really nice and fun. I've met a lot of the other international students through her because they all arrived almost a week prior to the rest of us. I've also met up with everyone from my school that came here too. It's been pretty awesome so far. The first day of classes is tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. I only have Journalism and Lit tomorrow. I have nearly 10 hours between my classes tomorrow. So tomorrow I'll go out between classes and get some errands done.

Sabrina and I have of course, been watching Anderson. We've been flooded about the death of Steve Irwin, which truly does sadden me. My brother and I always used to watch The Crocodile Hunter after school when we were younger, so I have some really fond memories of that. Jeff Corwin was on both LKL and AC360. He just happens to be from where I'm from, which is pretty awesome. I should be the one who is on AC360 from Halifax though, LOL!

Last night, AC360 addressed that a Canadian soldier, Pte. Mark Anthony Graham, was killed by American friendly fire and more than 30 soldiers were injured. Because Afghanistan isn't dangerous enough, Canadian soldiers have to be worried about American friendly fire! This soldier was not the first to be killed by Americans. Four other Canadian soldiers were previously killed in a single Afghani friendly fire incident by Americans. So why is it that Canadian soldiers, who are carrying the majority of duties in Afghanistan, have not killed any Americans, and there has been only one incident, in which a child was killed, that has been called into question and is under investigation (rightfully so), but so far 15% of Canadian casualties have been caused by American soldiers? I just don't understand. I mean, I would assume that they would be under relatively the same amount of stress, have the same amount (or lack thereof) of sleep. It just has been bothering me. I wonder what the difference in training is.

So, that's all for now, folks. I probably won't be able to blog at nearly the same pace as I used to, which was pretty scattered anyway. Still no new fic to update. Sorry everyone! I've been so tired, Welcome Week has been pretty hectic. I haven't slept in past 9 since... God knows when! As soon as I have something, I'll update, I promise! Toodles!

Farewell to Nova Scotia

I leave first thing in the morning, around 8am, tomorrow. I've been so busy this week, running around, visiting and eating my mom's cooking before I have to live off of cafeteria food. Unless I can find someone who lives off campus and has a full kitchen, so I may cook for myself. Which I would enjoy all too much. So, I bid Farewell To Nova Scotia, The Seabound Coast (anyone from here will know that of which I speak). I will update as soon as I can.

Adieu.