Vaisakhi

Celebrated on April 14, Vaisakhi is a festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community and the religion of Sikhism. It is celebrated by the Sikh community and founded by Guru Gobind Singh. The celebration first originated India, by a group of Sikhs known as the Khalsa and today is widely celebrated throughout Canada as well as other countries hosting Sikh communities. It is celebrated by wearing brightly coloured clothes and dancing the bhangra. There are also some fairs of singing and acrobats. The day of Vaisakhi starts early with a bath, change of clean clothes and special prayers partaken with others of the community in a local temple.

I really have no intimate feelings of Vaisakhi. Since I am not Sikh I don’t actually celebrate
Vaisakhi. Diwali actually ties more into my religion than Vaisakhi however I do like the fact that in the past years free Indian food was brought to school for us to eat. If anything, its worth celebrating Vaisakhi for the food. However I do also understand the importance of the celebration, that its in honour of those brave enough to stand up
for what they believe in. To be that is more than enough to
celebrate a hundred years worth of tradition.

Tigers

There are many mysteries surrounding the tiger. Beautiful and strong, these proud creatures defiantly march across the Asian land that they lovingly call their home. Better associated with India, these cats happen to be the largest of the big cats and also the most popular, second to the panda. Making their home in Asia, their habitats can include from the jungles of India, to the snow capped mountains of Siberia.

Felis tigris, or panthera tigris, is a widely popular symbol of India and used as one of the zodiac animals of the Chinese New year calendar. Popular in folklore they are often described as the divine punishers of the mythical world and associated with many royal families. One famous myth talks of a monkey who rode on the back of a mean spirited tiger. The tiger’s vicious hunting style is also adopted into many fighting moves, a popular one being the crouching tiger move sported in karate.

Contrary to popular belief, tigers enjoy swimming and, when not hunting or resting, spend most of their time paddling through rivers and streams. However despite their love for water the cats hate getting their faces wet. Tigers live solitary lives, guarding a select territory. Females guard a much smaller territory, generally within that of a male.

Tigers have always held a place in my heart, ever since I first learned of their existence at the age of four. Beautiful and unique these fascinating creatures have held my imagination captive to their immense beauty and redeeming strength. And while I grow in awe of their presence with each passing year I fear more sympathy and regret for the status that surrounds their name. Feared by many aboriginals of Asia and hunted for their beautiful fur, these creatures dwindle drastically in numbers with each passing year to the point that they are considered one of the most endangered species of the world. Much of this is human fault; their habitats cut down for lumber and paper; hunted for profit; feared by the villages; considered nuisances by some. Tigers have done nothing wrong, even when it seems like they have. For example, many man-eating tigers are the result of protecting cubs or their territory from intruders.

I want to live in a world where animals are treated with respect not as some form of entertainment for our sick minds. Tigers and many other animals have been here long before us and we need to respect that. If not, then by the time we have grandchildren there won’t be any animals left to talk about.

Easter Weekend

So…What will I, a mere young mortal in the world of humanity, be doing this weekend of four day bliss? Well its most certainly not homework I can tell you that much! (Okay maybe a little, but I hardly count a two page English assignment as homework. And of course we can’t forget French and Math.) No, it most certainly, most definitely, is not English or any other form of torturous mundane task presented to us by the wardens of our school. Instead, I’ll be spending the weekend in Whistler, followed by a little shopping spree in Vancouver! It’s going to be awesome! In fact I’m so excited, I’m about to throw up!

Okay I lied, I’m not excited. Actually I’m quite dreading the trip scheduled for us during this long holiday. Two days in an incredibly commercialized joint followed by a tedious journey of shopping horror. Not to mention that my traveling and shopping companions consist of a) one incredibly severe, pensive father b) shopaholic, sensitive mother c) and an irritating, bratty, bully of a younger brother that I have to put up with for three days within the confinements of our car and hotel. Oh joy. Kill me. In fact no words-wait never mind. Kill me just about covers it.
I’m going to die. I hate shopping-if you haven’t guessed already-and I really don’t want to visit Whistler. I just want to stay at home, chilling out and relaxing with a gigantic slurpee and at least three good chick flicks guaranteed to make me cry. I’d rather mellow out in the rut that I seem to get cocooning myself in and seclude myself within the confinements of my boring room. Yep I’m in a melodramatic mood. Sue me.

Well, while my parents are frantically trying to pack our bags and get everything ready, I’m mentally preparing myself for the hours of verbal and emotional shopping abusive that I’m going to experience; Trying on ridiculously looking clothes, walking back and forth between stores, buying something only to return said item for something else. I’m going to end up bald, crazy and in a mental institute by the time we’re done! Oh gosh, sigh, I wish we could stay home but apparently we need to bond! (Dad’s words not mine.)

St. Patrick's day

St. Patrick’s Day, held on March 17 each year, is a holiday celebrated in honor of the man Saint Patrick who is believed to have brought Christianity to Ireland. His birth is speculated to have been around 385 AD , Wales with his place of death much disputed; some believe he died in Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland with others claiming he died in Glastonbury, England. It is believed that he died on March 17. Today Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world with Irish people being the main celebrators. Most of the day is celebrated drinking and participating in the Irish festivals of the day whether it be feasting, dancing, singing or watching parades. Saint Patrick day is also most notorious for being the day of “green” and people found without a single article of green on them often find themselves the victim to pinching. Canada celebrates this earnestly along the many Irish immigrants and descendants from past times.

Personally I think St. Patrick’s Day is such a fun and exciting day, it’s almost hard to imagine that it resulted from a Saint dying. The folklore and traditions tied to St. Patrick’s Day are so unique it makes you wonder what were going through the people’s mind when they created them. I like St. Patrick day, I enjoy the traditions and eagerly relish the folklore, especially the ones about the leprechauns. Of course I do not approve of such distasteful acts such as drinking but other traditions such as dancing and singing, I find quite enjoyable.

ON My Birthday

Birthdays are special occasions, when one celebrates their birth. Cakes are bought, candles are blown out and a new sense of responsibility descends upon your shoulders as you feel yourself grow another year older. However, while each year you celebrate, have you ever wondered what other events could have taken place on your birthday? What tragedies, festivals, and celebrations that could have taken place or take place each year on the date of your birth? Many people go for years not knowing how significant their day might truly be. Whether it be the birth of a celebrity, death of a King or rising of an empire, history may have happened on the day you were born.
In 1935, a terrible hurricane hit Florida killing 423 people. The hurricane brewed on Labor Day, before heading to the South Atlantic ocean before finally merging with a cyclone and thus disappearing on September 10. 1940, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park finally got the land it needed and on September 2, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially dedicated park. The park went through a 6 year battle in order to officially be recognized by the government. In 1964, notable actor Keanu Reeves, who has been acting for more than twenty years now, was born in Beirut, Lebanon. 1993, South Africa celebrates “Day of Peace.” The country would then receive their first black president the next year. 1978, George Harrison marries Olivia.

Canada and Diabetes: Are we really getting our money's worth?

Diabetes is a major concern in Canada. The disease caused by either family lines or routine overdoses of carbs and sugar, affects a over two million Canadians and it is expected that the number will rise over years. Clinical tests, supposed to be routine for anyone living with diabetes, are being done for less than one third of all patients. The question is: Why is this happening?

Clinical tests, if done routinely, can help patients control their diabetes ,helping in overall health and well being. However in recent studies, of the four tests (hemoglobin Ac1 test, urine protein test, feet test and eye exam) only 32 percent of patients have recieved all tests within the amount of time. Of these 32 percent, most are well off individuals with a steady income and profitable life. Most people in poverty can't afford to take care of themselves. People in poverty have the greater percent of diabetes but economical issues prevent them from taking both the time and money to mantain their health. Doctors have recommended electronic devices to help keeping track of schedules and switching to specialists but many people are still unable to recieve all four tests at their recommended times. The Canadian Diabetes Association will release a report on the severity of the issue.

I really am quite upset about this. Millions are struggling with diabetes but only 32 percent can actually afford the tests on time. This is unacceptable. Diabetes is a serious disease that needs to be mantained. Not only does it destroy the pancreas but it prevents your body from properly detoxing itself of waste. People need to learn and understand that by waiting to recieve your tests you're only putting yourself in further risks. Doctors also need to make the time to properly check their patients and recommend that each of them recieve the tests. Clinical appointments should also be very through-not just for five to ten minutes. Yes doctors have a lot of patients but its their job to provide the proper medical care and advice to the people paying them. Not enough time is not a good enough excuse. People are dying because "not enough time" forced them to ignore their health problems. We need to start doing more to health the sick in our community and stop worrying about ourselves. People need help. We need to start caring and help them.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/12/04/diabetes-tests-canada.html#socialcomments

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day
Celebrating those who have bravely died and honoring those who still keep fighting, Remembrance Day both celebrates and mourns the ending of World War. Always held on November 11, the day marks the ending of World War, which ironically ended on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. Remembrance day is respected all throughout North America and, like the name suggests, it marks the day when we annually take the time to remember the brave soldiers who died during World War I, World War II and the Korean War which were fought by many brave men and women. Its symbol, worn on every Remembrance Day, is a poppy with blood stained petals and an onyx coloured center. Recognized worldwide, it is instantly associated with both November 11 and the famous poem by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor who wrote the poem in honor of his friend and because of the way the barren field that the troops were staying on burst into a sea of red poppies after the battle. His poem has become a national anthem of Remembrance Day and even today it is still sung at every Remembrance memorial where both citizens and war veterans stand proudly and humbly as they remember the precious lives taken during the wars.

Remembrance Day, to me, is a very special and grave time where one stops to remember the reason why we got our freedom. It’s a time of honouring, crying, mourning, remembering and proudly standing tall. Where families remember relatives, friends remember friends, and a generation to rediscover why we stand here today. However while I would like to say that I’ve always known about Remembrance Day and have always celebrated it, I can’t. South Africa doesn’t celebrate Remembrance Day. In fact, we don’t even know what it is. The first time I learned of Remembrance day was when I was six and attended a school assembly to celebrate it. It was my first year in Canada and I didn’t really know much. The assembly started with a movie and half way through I turned around to my friend and said, I can still remember this, “this is sooo cool!” My friend was not impressed. He told me it wasn’t and that I shouldn’t be saying things like that. Needless to say my perspective on the world got wildly rearranged. For one, I began to understand the real meaning of Remembrance Day. It wasn’t just another history day. It was a day where we gave thanks and showed gratitude towards the soldiers that secured our freedom and for the soldiers that are still trying to secure freedom for others. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, but it took me years to finally understand Remembrance Day’s importance. Now whenever the guns are shot and we bow our heads to in silence, I proudly take part without confusion or hesitation. Whenever someone else starts laughing or talking during the memorial I glare at them to be quiet. Yes, I’m not a descendant of war but that doesn’t mean I still can’t pay respect to everyone else who is.