Rick Mercer Rant

SHOULD, AS RICK MERCER SUGGESTS, ALL WELL-KNOWN HOMOSEXUALS OPENLY ADMIT TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE GAY?

It is, to say the very least, a highly controversial question and still a fairly controversial subject in general. It stands right on a dividing line. On one side, you have the possibility of being a good example to kids and of helping the world to get a little bit more open-minded. Yet, on the other side, you have an individual's right to privacy and his or her right not to put his or her personal life on display for everyone else to see (and judge, of course). As for Rick Mercer's point of view, his solution to schools' bullying problem is essentially to ask every homosexual in the public eye to basically parade their gay pride. Indeed, it comes through as a big request, but in spite of the controversial nature of his demand, I do get where he is coming from. If more famous personalities would show off their homosexuality and their pride, perhaps kids would look at them and possibly get used to and even come to accept gay kids in their school environment.

However, the only flaw that I can find in his theory is that, even if homosexuality becomes more “ordinary”, it will still account for a small percentage of the population and gays will still be tormented as are all minorities in our society. As much as gay people who take pride in who they are can become more common, it will probably never stop to be considered unconventional and thus be subject to teasing. There are more and more fat and obese people making it big (excuse the poor word play) in the world and there are a lot of red haired celebrities too yet, these two minorities still make bullying victims today in many schools. Even as people get older and mature, bullies do not disappear, they do not grow out of it, bullying just takes on another form, this one perhaps more subtle and psychological. I think the solution to bullying, if there is one, does not lie in trying to eliminate the possible targets, bullies always find something, rather it lies in trying to sensitize and monitor kids at a young age to try to irradiate the problem at its most fundamental source.

Rick Mercer

Accordingly, I do not think that all well-known homosexuals should have to outspokenly admit their sexuality to the public, or anyone for that matter. Who does Rick Mercer think he is to demand the exposure of something so personal? He himself did not mention in his own rant that he is gay while asking for every other member of the gay community to do so. Whether you want to tell the world or keep your sexual orientation to yourself is an entirely and exclusively personal choice. Nobody should be instigated to do so by someone who is not even able to follow his own principle.

Youth Crime In Canada

Youth crime is usually not a hot topic in Canada. Still, people tend to think that youth crime is increasing at an alarming rate. In fact, police-reported crimes in general are in a downward trend in Canada in the last years. As for youth crimes, only robberies by youth increased by 2% from 2009 to 2010; homicides decreased by 29%. Statistics for vehicle thefts and serious assault are also on the decline. Currently, youth crime is dealt differently from adult crime in the way that, presently, a little less than 60% of young offenders are not formally charged. Instead, they are diverted from the formal criminal justice system with the use of warnings, cautions and recommendations to community programs¹.

Youth accused of crime, by clearance status, Canada, 2000 to 2010

The Harper government is now trying to pass a nine-part crime bill to deal with the “out-of-control” youth primarily concerning drug-related offenders and sex offenders. Essentially, the new bill implies tougher sentences and more jail-time for young law-breakers. So, since more young criminals will be sentenced to prison instead of alternate sentencing, prison capacities will need to be upgraded and money will have to be taken out of the Canadian people's pockets. It comes as no surprise that “a few” Canadians are “slightly” opposed to that idea. Although, according to the Conservatives, getting tough seems to be the best solution, Texans tend to say otherwise. Texas is known to have a “tough-on-crime” reputation (it is one of the last states where even the death penalty is still practised), but in recent years, the crime statistics have undergone a serious drop. One might think that severe sentences have finally come to have an effect on the local young criminals, but it is the complete opposite. Texas has actually decided to change their stand on youth crime. Now, less and less offenders are sent to prison or correctional facilities, instead, they are sent to participate in community-based programs. Their new tactic has generated a much better results than their old ways and so they are now urging the Canadian government to take it as an example and to realize that the new bill might not get rid of the problems, but aggravate them.

Personally, I would say that I am against the new nine-part bill that intends to get tougher on young offenders. I think we should look at Texas as a warning of what is to come if the Canadian government is to go through with the new legislation. Crime rates are bound to go up and the population is bound to get angry when their money invested in enlarge prisons does not amount to the promised results. Instead, money should be invested in improving programs for the rehabilitation of young offenders and expand the resources available to at-risk youth. Maybe Harper's government needs to try this approach and make the mistake for themselves to see the error of their way. 

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1Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2010. ''http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11523-eng.pdf''

Generation Y

(WHY) DO YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE?

I think that the lack of participation in community service is not at all due to a shortage of interest or empathy towards others. Generation Y is often considered to be the most self-conscious and self-absorbed generation to date. Some might think that the omnipresence of media and technology has made young people immune to the pain that is not theirs, but I think that it has, if anything, made youth all the more aware of other people’s needs, not only in their own communities but from all over the world. Therefore, I would say that the lack of participation would generally be caused by a lack of time. From the moment we were born, society and our parents encouraged us to take part in various and multiple activities like sports and clubs and we have been raised to put values like family and friendship above all else and take time for ourselves and our happiness. So, it should not come as a surprise that less young people have the opportunities to take the time to participate in volunteering activities and to get involved. Also, with the growing emphasis on the importance of financial status and capitalism, society has driven today's youth to lean towards a paying job instead of volunteer work.

The very contrasting fact about the current society, is that even with the rising prominence of money, we still see the growing importance of volunteering in a lot of different domains. From volunteering opportunities in the workplace to programs mandatory to graduation from secondary school, it has really become a priority for most. In secondary schools all over Canada and the United States, students are now required to preforms a certain amount of volunteering either by just having a preset number of hours to perform at any time during secondary school or by service learning, which is essentially the same thing with the addition of a compulsory reflection on your participation to community service. Is one better than the other? A service learning program requires, in fact, more time because of the reflection and that might bore students and make them less eager to just volunteer with no school related project behind it all. Also, the perspective of having to do an oral presentation or a written assignment might make it less appealing to a student as well. However, service learning allows for a better comprehension of the work's impact in the community and enables the students to grow as an individual, more so than by just doing the volunteering only to complete your requested hours. So, I would say that even if it means more work in the end, service learning is better for students and has a much bigger impact on their personal growth.

There is no absolute best way to get people to want to help the community because, if you want a dedicated volunteer, he or she has to be there entirely by choice. That being said, programs that encourage students to take action in their community is a great way to initiate young people to volunteering and getting them started on perhaps a life long habit. Sometimes, people need a little push to do good. Having small volunteering opportunities that do not necessitate a long and intimidating commitment might attract the more casual volunteers. Also, organizations can never advertise too much about their need for help. A lot of people who are willing to give a hand get stuck at the point of finding how to get started. There are more people who want to get involved than people who actually do simply because it just seems too complicated.

Tuition

TUITION FEE HIKES

The increase in tuition, by $325 per year, announced in March essentially means that, by 2016-2017, students will have to wrench a total of $1,600more than their predecessors from their already stretched budget. It goes without saying that, as a student, I am fundamentally opposed to tuition fee hikes. Yet, I do understand the underlying causes of this increase; it is true that Quebec's cegeps and universities are in need of some refurbishing and they do offer a wide range of services for students. Like everything else in life, those things have a price tag. However, the government's answer to those needs seems a little bit drastic. Also, the fact that Quebec students have the lowest tuition cost in Canada should not be used as an excuse to justify the increase.

I have no doubt that the newly raised tuition costs will impede on many people's educational path. A lot of people will be forced to renounce to university because they won't be able to afford it. Personally, I do not think that it will have an impact on my education because I am determined not to let it. I will not sacrifice the plans I have for my future and my life because tuition costs are going to be higher. That is because I know that I can have my parents' help and support throughout my studies, but some students have to provide for everything themselves and I think that those people will be the ones mostly affected by the increase. Although I think that it will not affect my studies, I know that it will certainly affect me later on in my life. To pay off all the debt that I will have accumulated through my studies, maybe I will have to sacrifice the perfect job offer to go for the one that pays better and pays right away, or maybe other areas of my life will have to suffer because of the urgent need for money, I can see longer hours in my future to be able to repay the debt.

It cannot be denied that the tuition fee hikes will have an impact on society. Firstly, simply the higher number of people into debt is, in itself, very explicit. It will also affect the typical student's lifestyle in the fact that more and more young people who will have stretched their budget to get into school will have less time to concentrate on their studies because they will be forced to juggle working and studying. It would also probably cause more failures in school for those who will not be able to cope with the lack of time. It could also affect the job market because people will lean towards job that pay more right away and will be less likely to go for the job that promises to pay off in the long haul. So, the effects on society can be great and I think that they can also be made greater simply because of the general public's disapprobation of the hikes.

Career Choices

CAREER CHOICES

These days, young people are pressure increasingly early to make a choice when in comes to their future. However, a lot of high school and cegep students still do not know what they would like to do with their life and it is perfectly normal. The process of finding one's ambition and desire for the future should not be rushed. Perhaps the most important and life changing decision in a student's life is choosing a career path. It is not one to take lightly; much consideration should be put towards coming to a sensible conclusion. In fact, it can be influenced by a great deal of different factors such as the knowledge of career markets, academic performances, individual skills and competencies, and of course, individual interests.

Firstly, most would consider that interests might be the main influence to students who are still unclear about their plans for the future, but in fact, more often than not, skills and competencies make for a larger part of the equation. According to a Cornell University study (Explaining Influences on Career 'Choice' in Comparative Perspective)conducted by professors from Britain, Israel and Turkey, individual skills and competencies tend to be the most influential on students' career choices¹. As a matter of fact, it is not a surprising result. Indubitably, it is understandable to be compatible and to feel more interested by a career in which you have a greater ability to perform and greater opportunities to advance and excel in your field. For example, you might have a tremendous interest and love for hockey, but if you can't skate, you can't really make it as a professional hockey player. However, skills tend to have a close relationship with interests in the sense that you are more likely to like something you are good at because it requires less effort and human being are intended by nature to want to do the least possible effort.

In conclusion, there is a multitude of factors that can influence one's decision when it comes to choosing a career. From academic performances to skills and competencies to personal interests, the order in which they are considered is entirely dependent on the individual. Some people even think that there is a strong genetic influence on career choice² and that we are genetically predetermined for a career and that it can be passed down from generation to generation, but the nature versus nurture debate is just a whole other story. 

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1 Explaining Influences on Career 'Choice' in Comparative Perspective ( http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=intlvf&sei-redir=1#search=%22influence%20career%20choice%22)

2THE TIMES, Family Tree 'shows a strong genetic influence on career choice'. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article678660.ece)

Immigrants

ARE THERE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM SOPHIA'S STORY?

Sophia's trip from the Bahamas to Granby would be considered a smooth journey by most; a lot of immigrants have to overcome bigger obstacles and more frequently so then the ones that she encountered. Still, from her story, we can gain a better understanding of newly arrived immigrants; the struggles they have to face, and therefore an improved ability to help them. The struggle that stood out for Sophia was the emotional conflict. The feeling of nostalgia that she felt when she first arrived in Canada is common in anyone coming into a new environment, more so if that person in coming alone. Also, in Sophia's case, she did not encounter a language barrier because she initially immigrated to an English-speaking province, but when she moved to Granby, she experienced what most immigrants go through when coming to another country. As citizens of a country welcoming immigrants from all over the world, we could learn to be more patient and open-minded towards newcomers especially when it comes to their speaking and understanding.

HOW CAN WE PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES INTEGRATE AND HELP THEM AVOID POVERTY?

The best way to help immigrants and refugees integrate into our community is simply by wanting them to and by wanting to help them feel more welcomed. The biggest obstacle to their integration is the discrimination and prejudice they are victim of. Most new immigrants don't know how to function in our society since it is probably very different from what they are used to. Ergo, little neighbourly gestures here and there could be equally beneficial to their understanding of our way of life than one big organized event. From showing them the best places to shop for what they are looking for, to teaching them a little of the language or telling them what they will need to be prepared for winter, actions don't have to be big to be relevant and helpful.

SHOULD WE PARTICIPATE/GET INVOLVED IN HELPING IMMIGRANTS INTEGRATE OR SHOULD WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE PROFESSIONALS?

I think it would be best for immigrants if, for the first few weeks, they had support and help from professional because at first, they need some technical information about the country like taxes and the value of money. Professional would provide an assistance better adapted to their particular needs. However, I think that once they get a good start, everyone should get involved in helping immigrants integrate socially into our community. As a newly arrived immigrant in an unknown country, I think I would feel more comfortable getting help from experienced professionals. I would feel more confident in the information they would give me. Still, I think that getting help from the population could be more significant in the social integration process because it would make immigrants feel more welcomed and accepted. They have a better chance to strive in our society if they feel that people want them to succeed.

Poverty

WHAT CREATES POVERTY?

Poverty is a worldwide phenomenon that can be observed in every country with virtually no exception. The reason every nation is affected by poverty is that, by definition, poverty is directly related to the norm of the country in which we live. So a family that is considered poor in Canada's standards of living might be considered as middle class or even rich in other countries in which the general population earns less money. In our society, poverty is usually transmitted from generation to generation; people who are poor have generally been born in poverty rather than having fallen into it at a later age. Nevertheless, it a widespread opinion to blame the poor for their own poverty by a lack of willingness to work or a fatalist attitude. Others might blame the government or its policies. Personally, I would argue that it is because we live in a rich's world, where the power lies with those who can buy it from the rest of the world and in which the poor have no opportunities to obtain any control on their own fate. For example, someone living in poverty will not be able to pay for a higher education and therefore he or she will be stuck working in a minimum wage job with no opportunities for advancement which will never allow him or her to get out of poverty's vicious circle.

Differences in national income equality around the world as measured by the national Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is a number between 0 and 1, where 0 corresponds with perfect equality (where everyone has the same income) and 1 corresponds with perfect inequality (where one person has all the income, and everyone else has zero income).

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY?

The effects of poverty are abundant. Of course, there are physical effects on the poor; usually health issues resulting from the bad nutrition or the unsanitary living conditions. They are also subject to the psychological effects of poverty, mostly self-esteem issues. People who live in poverty, more so in well-developed countries, tend to feel inferior, hopeless and powerless. In children who were born into a poor family, there are common cases of antisocial behaviour due to the general social exclusion and discrimination poor people are often victim in our society. Also, studies show a higher level of stress and tension in economically challenged households, which is a commonly known trigger of violence and abuse. Furthermore, crime is often associated with poverty as well, low incomes tend to induce crimes such as burglary.

HOW TO STOP POVERTY?

No one has a perfect and globally accepted solution to poverty. Obviously, if the perfect solution existed than poverty would be long gone; every idea has its supporters and its opponents so no strategy can be put forth to relieve the poor. In an ideal world, we could solve poverty problems through a redistribution of the resources, but evidently, that would never be accepted by the people who are currently controlling the majority of the resources. A more realistic approach would be to create a better aid programme and support system for those suffering from poverty. Moreover, direct assistance between citizens and putting a stop to the discrimination and prejudice might be just what the world needs to reach some kind of equality. Regrettably, until we learn to be a little more selfless and tolerant, the world may be doomed to be eternally divided.