The Context: We recently got a dog. It's not my first dog, and it took me a while to agree to get one when my daughter asked. If you have (or have had) a dog - you know many of the reasons why. One of the many reasons I didn't want another dog is the fur. It's everywhere! But because I …
Discrimination
Judge Eidsvik’s comments about “dark people”
Judge Kristine Eidsvik told her class at the University of Calgary that she was uncomfortable walking into a room "full of big dark people." If you haven’t read the brief article in the Toronto Star, you can read it here. Sigh. Welcome to 2018. This type of comment isn’t surprising or …
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What we swear on…?
Three things stand out for me in this clip from Tuesday night’s coverage of the Alabama Senate race in the USA where Doug Jones won. On Tuesday night, following the US election where Doug Jones won, Jake Tapper speaks with one of Roy Moore's spokespeople who doesn't think Muslims should be …
The Niqab and Bill 62
It’s an interesting thing that Quebec has done with Bill 62: they haven’t used the word Muslim or niqab in their Bill, but they have still managed to target Muslim women. Sneaky. And, in my opinion, sinister. There has been a statement to attempt to defend the universalism of the Bill. …
I Can’t Today…
To be honest, today, I don’t feel like writing. There are many things going on in the world that I could write about: Sloane Stephens’ come-from-behind win at the US Open and how she (and other female athletes) are making much less less in sponsorship than their male counterparts. The …
Human Rights – Who Has Them, and Who Doesn’t
A few weeks ago, President Trump decided to reinstate a ban on transgender people serving in the military. It was a blow to transgender rights, which had been creeping along in a positive direction in the US. You can read more about the details here. The first thing that comes to mind is how some …
[Continue reading] Human Rights – Who Has Them, and Who Doesn’t
How Can We Say Such Things To Each Other?
Last week in the Toronto Star there was an article about claims of homophobia, Islamophobia, and racism at The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). You can read more about the emails employees allegedly received from their superiors in the article The first thing that comes to mind, …
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How well do you know the people you work with?
A few weeks ago I took an Uber in Washington DC to get to the airport. As we drove, I struck up a conversation with the driver. I like to hear about people’s lives while I’m sitting in the back seat, and I always learn something new – plus I often get to challenge my own biases! Turns out my …
[Continue reading] How well do you know the people you work with?
Recognize Difference – week 5 of ‘How to be an Ally’
Welcome to week 5 of "How to be an Ally." We’re on the last letter of the ROAR acronym this week: the R. If you missed the others, they are R – Recognize Privilege O – Openness to Learning A - Action The last R is for Recognize Difference. This is possibly the most important of …
[Continue reading] Recognize Difference – week 5 of ‘How to be an Ally’
What we can all Learn From the Toronto Police Video Discussion about a Woman with Down Syndrome
Every once in a while we get to pull the curtain back and see what people are really thinking and saying about others - sometimes even about us. And when it is less than flattering, we are always shocked, hurt, appalled. And we have every right to be, because ideally people (especially those in …