One Puff Goes a Long Way

By: Alexa Batitis  

So, Justin Trudeau admitted that he had a “puff” from a joint about three years ago.

I bet he didn’t even inhale.

Does it matter what Mr. Trudeau did three years ago at a party in his backyard? He paints a good scene: kids gone, friends over, slight peer pressure as someone passes him the joint. He’s not even doing anything unlawful – Canadian law only deems possession of cannabis illegal; nowhere does it say anything about smoking.

It’s something easy for the media to fuss about, sure, but his admission to smoking pot has led to the acknowledgment from other political figures, including Ontario’s premier, Nova Scotia’s premier, and Toronto’s mayor. It has clearly shaken the political world.

But what exactly is Justin Trudeau trying to achieve by saying he’s smoked pot? It sounds like he’s trying to admit that he speeds on the highway, or downloads music from the Internet.

Canada is moving on: Health Canada recently announced the launch of a new medical marijuana market, where distributing cannabis will be regulated by the RCMP and health inspectors. The new regime will come into effect in March 2014, and Health Canada will stop producing medical marijuana in April of 2014.

If you have a medical marijuana license, you can still grow it in your own home, until the new system is fully established. Bottom line: Canadians are smoking pot.

So, let’s talk about why Mr. Trudeau stole the spotlight with his admission.

After we overlook his flawed chain of actions – in 2009, he voted in favour of the Harper government’s marijuana laws, but in 2011 he changed his mind and voted against – we can easily see his admission as an obvious appeal to the everyday person. “Look at me. I do what you do, too! After I was elected MP!” It’s easy to see right through his actions, especially after news sources reported, days later, that Mr. Trudeau doesn’t touch caffeine. Doesn’t even have a morning cup of joe.

He is kidding himself if he is trying to connect with the everyday person. The son of a former prime minister born into a family of wealth and privilege – tell me that he knows what it’s like to be an average person.

Ask a group of young stoners if they care about Justin Trudeau’s pot smoking confession. They probably don’t. Because they are going to smoke pot anyway, whether it’s legal or not; whether the Liberal leader said he did or not. Tell a group of middle-aged voters, and they freak out because drugs are bad, end of story. No vote for the Liberals this round.

You missed it, Mr. Trudeau. You’ve overestimated the reactions and your confession looks out of place. What could have been a strategically placed declaration has only turned into an excuse for the media to roll their eyes at you.

Next time, if you really want to cause a fuss, take a leaf out of Rob Ford’s book and pick up a crack pipe.

Women Have All Kinds of Body Types

By: Janet Goertzen

 “Lose some weight, fatty.”

“Eat a sandwich, skeleton.”

Which of those two statements is more likely to be scorned by our society, and which one is more likely to be accepted? Both contain a derogatory term, and both suggest a judgement based on size and appearance. But in our society, the first statement is far more likely to be rejected, while the second is likely to be met with agreement and laughter. Fat shaming, it seems, is now taboo. So why is skinny shaming fair game?

Skinny shaming isn’t just about insults; it can also come in the form of a backhanded compliment, a false show of concern. “You’re nothing but skin and bones,” they say. “You should really eat something.” All this does is draw unwanted attention to an innocent person’s body, and yet bystanders probably take no issue with it. Think of it the other way around: if someone were to say to an overweight person, “You should really stop eating so much,” they would get nothing but flak.

People who are overweight have many reasons for their size, including genetics and various health issues. Thin people have similar reasons for their sizes. Most thin people were born that way, or have medical conditions that prevent them from gaining weight. For many of them, gaining weight is just as difficult as it is for an overweight person to lose weight. Yes, there are certainly people who became thin by way of eating disorders, by all accounts an unhealthy way to live. But, disordered eating is not just characteristic of thin people; overeating is a disorder, too. Furthermore, “skinny people” eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are psychological conditions.

Women’s advertising doesn’t help, either. “Real women have curves” is a mantra that is supposed to empower women, but at the same time, it demeans women who do not have curves. Does this mean that thin women, those who do not possess the stereotypical woman’s hourglass shape, are “fake” women? Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign seems like a step in the right direction but is fundamentally flawed. The campaign’s message is ostensibly “you’re beautiful, no matter your size,” but what does Dove sell, again? Beauty products. So maybe “you’re beautiful, but you could be more beautiful if you bought our anti-cellulite cream” is more apt. The Real Beauty campaign actually reinforces the message it is supposed to be breaking down: appearance is everything. And even so, Dove claims to showcase “real women” with “real curves” in their ads – again, suggesting that women who don’t have curves are not real women.

We need to stop shaming each other based on our appearances. All women are real woman, regardless of size – and, for that matter, regardless of age, race, or sexual orientation. Sure, real women have curves. Real women also don’t have curves. Whether a woman is a size two or 22, she’s a real woman.

No Fracking Way

By: Madison Joe

When I woke up, I did my typical routine: shower, brush my teeth and all that stuff you do in the morning. I sat down at my computer, which eventually led to me opening Facebook. I fully expected the typical: Good morning Facebook peeps, a baby picture and maybe even news of a newly engaged couple. I wasn’t fully prepared for what Facebook had in store for me today—pride.  

The protesting in Elsipogtog First Nation has hit the tipping point. I’ve been fully aware of the protesting going on there and had a friend tell me that eventually this would happen, that the Mi’kmaq of Elsipogtog would reach this point. Peaceful protests have been ongoing for months and now they are getting public attention, but the way the Mi’kmaq are being portrayed does not paint a true picture. One day the protest gets out of hand, and many people label the Mi’kmaq as “typical Indians.”  What does that even mean? Am I a typical Indian? I believe in the rights that were given to our people, and I believe in clean water for the public. I guess this means I’m a typical Indian, who knew?

Police cruisers have been set ablaze, and many people were shot with rubber bullets. The people who set the cruisers on fire are just a few of the thousands protesting. Why should all the Mi’kmaq protesters be described as “unruly Indians?”  It has gotten to a point where I don’t read comments; all they do is highlight that some people shouldn’t be allowed on a computer. The comments had never gotten to me before, just uneducated people, I always thought, until today.

Today, I read a comment that made me sick. “Seems as though the aboriginals are really living up to their nickname…#wagonburners #askedforit.”

What exactly have Aboriginals asked for? Clean water?  A stop to fracking (the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers deep within the earth)? This type of labeling is sickening, and it is not right. Keep in mind that team names are being changed because “Red Skins” and “Indians” are offensive and insensitive towards Aboriginals, but people think it’s still okay to use terms such as wagon burner and squaw to describe Aboriginal people. Up until today, I thought I had a thick skin, but eventually something will pierce it.

Today is a day that I am filled with pride for those who stand in solidarity, those who refuse to be idle. Along with pride, I am also filled with shame for those uneducated people who think that it’s okay to use derogatory terms.

Artwork: Fanny Aishaa

Portrait of Amanda Polshies

Original Photography credit: Ossie Michelin

The protests have been, for the most part, peaceful. Protesters have been respectful and only wanting to keep the land unharmed, because long after this company is gone, it is the people living in the area that will have to live from that land. It is hard to believe that adults have to be reminded to be respectful towards one another like daycare children, so please be respectful.