On the 2nd of December, I attended a memorable social justice event. This event was about the rural African youth of Africa. This event made me aware about what the situation of the young underprivileged African children. This event was organized by students of Kwantlen Polytechnic University with the help of the sociology faculty.This event focused on the scholarship for these African children through the ASSP organization. Their vision and mission is to education this youth so that they came become better persons tomorrow.
Being form a Business background, I normally go for event related to my field. It was a totally new experience for me to attend this event.I had no expectation from this event because this was so new for me. We had to pay for the entrance ticket which was 8$ and included a complementary raffle ticket. There wee about 10 raffle prizes to be given out. This event was scheduled to start at 6:30 to 9:30 but ended up starting after 7:00. Though it started late we weren’t kept waiting. We were entertained by this young band with amazing instrumental soft rock music. This band entertained us for almost half an hour. In the mean time we also showed pictures from the field trip that Dr. Charles Qusit-Adade and his students had, by going to Africa over the summer. There pictures of student enjoying at the beaches, having seminars and various events. There were pictures of the students spending time with these children and the other people of Africa. Soon after the slide show was over we were given a speech by the founder and the operator of ASSP organization. She really inspired me by the way she had all these thing organized without taking anything from it. She isn’t paid to do what she is doing. She gave us a highlight on what she does and how she has made a change in many of these children lives. She, with the help of her teammates has opened libraries and schools for the young children and helped educating them. What she feels for these kids is genuine and she loves what she is doing. After her talk the raffle prizes were given out and there were few lucky people in the audience to win more than two prizes. We finally had Dr.Charles come up and close this beautiful evening for us by sharing his own experience and life changing story to where he is today. He is a living example on how a difference can be made.
I have little knowledge about the youth and the underprivileged children in Africa and wasn’t actively involved in these missions. But this even did make me realize to be thankful for what I have and giving out a little bit for a good cause wouldnt make anything less for me.
Social Justice Event
In this reading we see that Bush now wants to liberate Liberia after he has invaded Iraq and caused much destruction. He now feels like spending more money on war and violence was worth it to prove that America no where behind in fighting behind. It was a wise decision for Bush to spend all the money in liberating Liberia and fight back Saddam Hussein than give half of that money to the poor and underprivileged children and families in Africa, Asia, India etc and help eradicated hunger around the world. Though the Americans didn’t support Bush’s decision but that dint bother Bush, It was like nothing could stop him. Money has been an important aspect in this reading, because of this money did Bush decide that it was fine to go ahead and buy all the arms and ammunition to fight again Saddam and the oil in the Middle East, and that Christian morality and compassion can wait.
“And so it makes perfect sense to spend $200 billion………. Christian morality and compassion can wait.” — So for Bush it made perfect sense in spending 200$ Billion to get back one man and acquire the natural resource, cause at the end democracy will triumph over all the cost and the destruction caused by the war. All of this makes sense since the cost of the war is made up by America looting all the spoils of the war. All of this comes first but Christian morality and compassion can wait.
I chose this paragraph because it summarizes the entire chapter in these 5 lines. It talks sarcastically about what Bush feels right and that at the end his thinking and decisions matter. We as citizens of the country though having a say we are just put behind all the decision made by the government for the well being or destruction of the country.
After the September 11 attack, Bush couldn’t keep quite . His affected thousands and thousands of innocent people’s lives. Bush felt the right thing to do is to teach the terrorists a lesson by fighting back rather forgiving and promoting peace.The reading mainly talks about the adverse effects of Bush’s actions and orders. For him the best way to acquire justice for his country was through revenge ignoring that his people themselves were against it. One side the U.S. citizens were mourning the loss of their loved ones and on the other Bush was in a process of causing more damage and pain to many other families. Later in the reading the author compares the action of Bush with that of President Mugabe of Zimbabwe where he was trying to gain justice for his people but in a peaceful manner. He didn’t want to cause additional pain and remorse for his people but Bush didn’t realize this which caused destruction in many of the Iraqis lives as well as the Americans.
“If Forgiveness was among the lesson learned, Bush and his team would not be seeking … innocent lives of of Iraqi citizens when he attacks Saddam Hussein” (Pg 94, 3rd para)
– I thought this paragraph was important as it shows how Bush was going to fight back and cause damage to the innocent lives of the Iraqis as the terrorist caused the Americans. It also shows that Bush wasn’t going to forgive and forget but would take it to the extremes and made sure this would become History.
If Bush actually forgave the terrorists for what they did he wouldn’t have teamed up and planned a war with them by the anniversary of 9/11. And if he still thought that he was forgiving he would have stopped all this after listening ans seeing to hundreds of Iraqi families suffering and crying being innocent. He should have thought and realized that his target was Saddam Hussein then why torture innocent people.
This Reading talks about the cruelty of man against the world, at the stake of innocent people’s lives. The reading further talks about the terrorist attack on Sept 11th in the United states where again innocent lives were targeted. In return USA at that time fired back without realizing the harm they could have caused by doing so. The reading also throws light on how Osama Bin Laden became the king terror and how an innocent man Nelson Mandela was scarred and blamed for being a terrorist and today labeled as an International Icon.
I feel there will always be a fear of whats going to happen next. People are so revengeful today that they do not realize who they are hurting and is it really necessary?
I think that USA government should strongly take a stand against terrorism but in a right way. We do not need blood shed and violence. The U.S. government should lower on their manufacturing of weapons and reduce exporting their weapons to other countries.
I believe by doing so and if we all encourage peace and love, very soon we all will be living in a better and happier place. Terrorism and Violence is not the answer to our or anybody’s problems.
I know that it will take some time in reducing the number of attacks in the world, but if we have started it we also can stop it, and our first step can be in reducing the supply of arms and ammunition .
THE PHANTOM OF THE RACE: THE MYTH OF RACE AND THE REALITY OF RACISM. – By Charles Quist-Adade (
Race and Racism though we know doesn’t exist we subconsciously look at the race and culture with every person we interact with. We unfortunately are brought up in a society that reminds us of our race and background. We are taught the differences of various cultures and thus we end up differentiating. Most of us still we that the lighter skinned colored people are superior than the darker skinned colored and this being one of the reasons why the U.S. government do not hesitate invading into any country. As it is mentioned in the text that “race is neither natural or biological” – hence proving that it is man-made.
The title “The Phantom of the race” – which itself explains how it is there inside every individual haunting them for who knows how many generation to come. Race has created a pyramid organizing individual of different skin color and cultures into various level, making us follow it blindly. Race has become such a big issue on a global level by influencing the world that I question whether making a change at this point is even possible?
DISCRIMINATION FACED BY MEMBERS OF THE LESBAIN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) COMMUNITY – Carrie Buist and Andrew Verheek
In chapter 2 we come across so many struggle and discrimination faced by the LGBT in striving for equality and social justice. Religion, State and Individual claim the social justice is important and that we are living in a world of equality so then why is the sexual minority treated different? Why do they have to strive and struggle for their identity and justice?
People claim to have their own identity in today’s world, in fact they demand it. Similarly the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender) community also have a right to have their own existence. But in this reading we see that the LGBT community is not given all the rights that every other individual has either politically, by religion or even by society. Over the years this minority faced terrible discrimination from having being mocked from the political, legal and economic point of view to being discrimination and tortured through hate crimes, abuse and ending on questioning their existence and identity. Rules and noms have been so resistant making these individuals struggle for social justice which has now made society question social justice in other areas making them rethink and revise the power, ideology and legitimacy. eg : women discrimination, racism etc. We are made aware of all the factors in this chapter also showing us that , we as an individual can make a difference and step up in considering everyone equal.
PARAPHRASE:
Sexuality cannot change every now and then. People just use heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual to identify themselves. A person today considers his/her self as heterosexual but tomorrow is in a relationship with a same-sex but still considers him/her self as heterosexual. People though soon classify the person as either homosexual or bisexual but the person still considers to be heterosexual one who is still in a relation with the same-sex.
I chose this paragraph to show how a person thinks and feels while in a relation with an opposite sex and then with a same-sex partner. He still considers to be what he was then, now. Whereas, people and society immediately classifies and categorises him as either hetrosexual, homosexual or bisexual.
Homosexuality has been such a controversial and critical case over the past years and has continued to be one in most parts of the world. Religion has been among the first to raise a question and condemn this minority sexual identity sector. For most people or members within the organization maybe able to think differently but de to the fear of losing their position and the reputation they hold they step back. Religion has been powerful in so many ways in holding on their ‘conservative ideologies’ Pg 2 Line 32] and promoting them, thus not accepting and liberalizing the fact that everyone is different and each individual has his own identity and that religion cannot exist on its own as it relies on the shoulders of every individual.
PARAPHRASE:
Religions has greatly influenced society regarding various important issues. Christianity has had major influence on the minds of the Christians in the USA. This has thus lead people and society to think that homosexuality and same-sex marriage is a sin in the eyes of God and that it shouldnt be allowed. But christianity did take a new turn in November 2008, where various religious organisations supported same-sex marriage and stood for the gay rights thus redefining christian beliefs.
I chose this Paragraph because it shows transition from once where gay marriages were considered a sin to now where it is legally being accepted. This is a perfect example that can help us learn that religion too cannot exist on its own but needs the society to make it exist.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING – Darrick Brake
This Chapter is about illegal buying and selling of people done by their consent or by force. The author talks about the suffering and problems of people who have become the victims of Human Trafficking. This has not spared any sex, religion, age etc. the text also includes the causes and continuation of human trafficking and the dirty side of this world. It has thrown light on how people think and work without having any sense of humanity or pity for the victims. Victims eventually suffer from physical, mental, emotional and biological torture. Millions of people are introduced everyday to this world and millions are suffering the pain and effects of it, but will this ever stop? Will there finally be a light of hope for these victims and if at all will these victims be accepted in society again?
- How do I feel? – This chapter makes me feel upset, angry and disturbed looking at how people are treated. Something that has started years ago is successfully continuing as a profitable business till today at the cost of many innocent lives.
- What do I think? - I would like to still think positive, though people dealing in this business are brutal ignoring the pain and the suffering of these victims that they will finally dread certain circumstances or have pity on such victims and their families.
- What do I Believe? – I believe that God still exist and that since he has created each and every one of us and loves us dearly, that he will bring an end to this dark and dirty side of the world.
- What do I Know? – I know if the world stands together against Human Trafficking we will be able to bring an end to it. This is possible if we just step up, make people more aware and guilty of what they are doing and stand for the rights of these innocent victims.
This Chapter talks to us about Race and Racism. It makes the audience awar.the of how Race and Racism has evolved and has become an important factor to every individual. Race was once used to genetically classify people and now used to classify individuals in general. Race proves in giving power to one person and making the other feel inferior. Racism itself is a destructive way of categorizing individuals. The most common race discrimination was and is between the Whites and the Blacks.But who decided that the Whites are Superior and the Blacks are Inferior? The text also throws light on the actual ancestral races of the Whites and Blacks and that these are not the terms under which we should classify a person. We also are made aware, that anti racism should be taught and inculcated in children when they are young so that they grow with an open mind of treating every being equal and just like themselves.
Paragraph that interests me:
The Bible was also used to sanctify race bigotry and social inequality. For example, the Bible story of Ham’s curse suggested that God had ordained Africans to be slaves of Europeans. Euro-Christians came to believe that Africans were descended from Ham who was ‘Black’ (Allahar 1995). This color symbolism in Christianity extended to the image of Christ, ‘white’ male. This may also explain why Satan is symbolized by the color black. God created man in his image; Europeans created God in their image
- This paragraph is very interesting as it makes me realise what the author is trying to say as to how religion can get racist. People have changed God according to their liking. Though the skin colour and face features of Christ has changed and vary from place to place and people to people but still the ‘white’ male image of Christ has remained universal, again giving the Whites a superior sense of feeling. God has created each and every one of us and loves us equally then why has man-made these partitions and divisions creating an inferior and superior sense in one another?
My name is Joanne Monteiro. I am an International student enrolled in Accounting Diploma Program and I am towards the end of my program. I came to Canada 2 years back, it was totally a new experience for me to come here and stay away from my family. I was born in Dubai and later moved to India, I did my school in a catholic school there and as I was finishing my grade 12 decided that I wanted to do something different and move out to explore the world. My parents have supported me in every which way they could for which I am always grateful and thankful off. My parents have always supported our ideas (I have a younger brother) regarding our future even if it costed them a fortune. Canada has been an experience of ups and downs. There are so many things in this country that I admire and respect but the sad part is about living without your family and the beginning struggles. I always believe that all these struggles will make me a better and successful person that my parents will be proud off.
Future: For the future I would further want to transfer into a degree program and later on get a CMA designation. I would then like to continue getting my MBA. I also aspire and want to get a CFA designation. I have another 6 best years that will make or break the rest of my life and I have to get the most out of it. As once somebody told me “do you want these 9 years of struggle or 99 years of a struggling life?”
I believe things that you want don’t just come to you and that you have to work for it. My future is what I make out of it.
Career goals: I plan on getting a good paying job in a firm related to my designation. My job should not only be about my self but also all the other aspects around me which may or may not get affected.
For the long-term: I want to end up opening my own business and see it selling shares on the stock market and also being a reputed firm. 
Interests: I love meeting new people and interacting with them. I am in for learning anything new and admire intelligent and down to earth people. Over these 2 years in Canada I have developed an interest for stock market and shares; also various business strategies and biographies of successful business men interest me.
My hobbies: Reading, Music, Art & Craft since I am a creative person and Tennis. I also love the art of cooking as well.
Finally I would just say I am a very down-to-earth person and I love animals. I lead a simple life and I love it.
Since I have had 2 years of plain accounting courses I thought of taking an elective that is totally new to me. Something that interests me at the same time doesnt deal with ACCOUNTING! So I ended up taking SOCI 1125 just knowing that this subject teaches about society and how this society is shaped and how it shapes an individual, not knowing anything else about it. So far this course has been interesting and I am looking forward to learning more in this subject
