Emily Dawn Vintage

QotD: Fashion Forward

What do you think we'll be wearing twenty years from now?
Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow

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The same things we're wearing now, but we'll be calling them vintage!

Vox Hunt: Time Keeps on Ticking...

Show us your wristwatch. 

2004 Valentine Special Swatch Enigmatic Love_thm

I love this watch.

Bus driver fuss

The comments on this story have been driving me absolutely crazy ever since I came across it. To sum up, a bus driver allegedly yelled at a Muslim woman who was wearing a Niqab, which is similar to the better-known Hijab, but covers all of the face except for the eyes. Now, I'm hardly an expert on the subject, but I have just spent two and a half months taking the class Women In Islam, so I feel that I am at least more qualified to speak on the subject than most of the people posting on this news story. Some of the comments on the piece are horrifying (especially given that I just wrote a post about what good people Atlantic Canadians are). For example:

Several people claim that the woman's Niqab is an outdated symbol of oppression that serves only to hide the woman and make her feel ashamed. Okay, guys, let me clear something up for you. It is not Islamic law that a woman must wear a headscarf, true. But she is certainly free to choose to do so if she wishes. It only oppression if she does not wish to cover her head and is being forced to do so against her will. You do not get to call it oppression just because you don't like, understand or agree with it. And really, what you are suggesting is no better than what you are accusing others of: you think that she should not be forced to wear a scarf, but instead be forced to take it off? How is that any better? Just because it makes you more comfortable?

Another commenter suggested that the bus driver should be allowed to ask the woman to expose her face so that he could check the name on her bus pass and see if it seemed like it matched her face (because bus passes do not have photos). Really? You're advocating a policy of profiling? What happens if her name is Elizabeth MacGregor? Just because you apparently think all Muslims have names like Zaynab bint Muhammad or whatever doesn't mean they do. Allowing for a policy of judging whether or not people look like their names sound is a dangerous and stupid idea.

One commenter absurdly asked if we would be forced to tolerate people carrying AK-47s if a religion began to worship them. Okay, when women begin shooting people with their Niqabs, then we can talk. Until then, shut up. In a similar vein, someone else asked if an African tribesman whose culture did not allow for the wearing of clothing got on a bus, would we be forced to put up with that? Well, for one thing, public nudity is against the law. Covering one's hair and/or face with a scarf is not. So that kind of invalidates your point.

Someone else suggested that we should ban the wearing of all visible religious symbols. No crosses, yarmulkes, Hijabs, Niqabs, Sikh turbans, nothing. The reasoning offered for this was that the only purpose these things serve is as a symbol of exclusion, to say, "I am a part of this religion, and you are not". Even if that were true, which it is not, is what you're saying is that we should ban other people from wearing or carrying things that make you uncomfortable? Essentially, we should force people to become uncomfortable in order to make you more comfortable? Get over yourself.

Yet another suggested that a woman having her face covered compromised the safety of the other passengers. How? Because you couldn't see her face? I struggle to see how this poses a danger to the other occupants of the bus.

One of the more recent comments said that since Canadian women must cover their hair when they go to Muslim countries, in "Christian countries" such as Canada, women should be forced to stop covering their faces. Are you serious? Since when is Canada a Christian country??? It's called separation of church and state, and it's there for a reason.

I could go on all night, but I won't. Suffice it to say that I think a large majority of these commenters are uninformed and speaking in a xenophobic manner. And it does showcase an unfortunate human trait: the need to get so freaking involved in other peoples' business!  

Aftermath

Waves of sorrow: Search ends for 16 missing in chopper crash.

I don't know how much media play this story has been getting in the States (where most of my neighbors live), but it has been understandably dominating the news up here since yesterday. And it's had me reflecting.

Canadians are very regionalist people. There are the most basic divisions, North, West, East, Central. Within those, you find the West Coast, the Upper Canadians (Ontarians), the Quebecois, the Easterners, the Northerners. Even within those you find further divisions. Out of all of the groups of Canadians, you would be hardpressed to find a set more tightly bound or well-known than the Newfoundlanders.

I think that once you leave Newfoundland, the closest thing (not just geographically speaking) would be the Maritimes, the rest of Atlantic Canada. Of all the people in the country, we are probably the most similar. Atlantic Canadians walk some of the most beautiful land in the world, and we share a common history. The similarity of our land, our people and our past combine to ensure that we share other things as well, specifically a history of tragic losses at sea. I believe it is this common history that causes us to feel the enormous empathy that we do when such things happen. Our lives, past, present and future, are similar and intertwined in both great and terrible ways.

I don't know why this is affecting me so much, but if I had to guess, I would say it's probably because it hits so close to home. Newfoundlanders and Maritimers, we are not so dissimilar. It could so easily have happened here; it could be seventeen Nova Scotians being mourned tonight. I know that people are lost at sea all the time, and I realize that in the grand scheme of things, seventeen people is probably not that many. But seventeen families have been left with empty arms, seventeen futures abruptly silenced, and an unimaginable number of people have been left to grieve. Sixteen families may never have bodies to bury. And in a community as tightly bound as Newfoundland, seventeen is a lot. It would be hard, I suspect, to walk through Newfoundland tonight and find someone who was not connected in some direct or indirect way to one of the men or women killed.

Atlantic Canadians are known for being kind, goodhearted people, good at pulling together to take care of both our own and people from "away". And we are strong and resilient. I have no doubt that this will be true in the days and weeks to come in Newfoundland, but it does not change the magnitude of the sadness at what has happened. I have never lived anywhere else, so I don't have much of a frame of reference, but I would compare the reactions here to those of America and, indeed, the world, in the days and weeks following 9/11. We heard it repeated over and over again: We are all Americans today. And I believe that, truly, at least in Atlantic Canada, we are all Newfies tonight. We are so sorry for your loss.

QotD: Rules When I Was A Teenager

What was the worst rule your parents imposed when you were a teenager?

Hmmm. The one that upset me the most at the time was when they banned me from going to church for several months. And there were several years where I was forbidden to wear sweatpants outside of the house, which annoyed me the most on days where I had, ahem, cramps.

QotD: Changed My Mind

What have you changed your mind about recently? What caused you to do so?

My major! I was going to major in Classics, but I'm switching to Religious Studies. Reason? I wasn't happy with my Classics courses, and I absolutely adored my RS ones. I'm so, so happy with the decision. No uncertainty at all.

Vox Hunt: Make Me a Drawing

Show us a drawing.

IMG_1923

The kid I babysit drew me this (he draws me many things). It's a picture of the McDonald's theme song! It cracks me up whenever I look at it, I don't know why... I think it's the exclamation mark.

Inauguration Day

Congratulations, America, on the swearing-in of your first African-American president.

For your next trick, how about electing a gay man? Or a woman? I, for one, would love to see a gay man sworn in while his spouse holds the Bible he places his hand upon. But that's something I'm not sure I'll live to see, especially in light of "victories" such as the passing of Prop 8.

Political-pictures-barack-obama-white-house-complete-sentences

Things on Tuesday - January 13, 2009

The bad:

• The boots I like in the colour I hate are down to $39 while the colours I do want stubbornly refuse to drop. OMG seriously Aldo? They've been around since JULY. Just let me buy them already!!!
• I'm so sleep deprived. I know it's stupid, but I just can't get used to sleeping without Paddy in my bed. Over the holidays I stayed up late enough that I generally dropped off to sleep without much trouble, but I can't keep doing that during the school year. Sigh.
• I'm sick of being COLD all the time. Unfortunately I'm looking at another two or three months of wintery temperatures. Lame!
• My parents saying things like, Emily, dont' you think you have enough boots? I have two pairs of (well-loved) rainboots, and a pair of purple suede boots that I got when I was fifteen and stupid. I think after four years, it's not unreasonable to want more practically coloured boots.
  

The good:

• I was in the Body Shop today, and I found out that they still had a little bit of the discontinued lip butter flavour that I love!!! It's guarana berry, it smells soooo good.
  
• I'm newly addicted to Gossip Girl. So embarrassing. But such good, trashy TV! So good for de-stressing!
• Since Paddy died, Charlie (one of my other cats) has taken to sleeping at my feet most nights. It's not the same as having Paddy in my arms, but it is nice.
  
• I saw Mamma Mia this week, and although it wasn't exactly a cinematic wonder, it did make me like ABBA again.
• OOH big news, I switched my presumptive major (haven't formally declared yet) from Classics to Religious Studies. My religious studies classes are SO interesting. 
• Superdickery! Hahahaha, it's a website devoted to what an asshole Superman can be. I can't remember who linked me to it originally, maybe lostdwarf? But the one I just linked is my favourite one.

Have a good week everyone!

Big long meme stolen from approximately half my neighborhood

Bolded are the things I've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band [sure, if school counts]
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower [a very poor view of one, anyway]
6. Given more than you could afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis [I think so]
10. Sang a solo.

11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train [it's on my wishlist for next summer]

21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill [from school, not work]
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run [on my first time ever playing Wii sports (today)!]
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors [well, it's not like all my ancestors came from the same place. I've never been to England, Scotland or India]
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied [um... I guess so]  
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.

41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving and snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater [well...yeah, but there wasn't a movie on at the time]
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching [no, shockingly, considering where I live]
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma [I would, but I'm still just a few pounds shy of their weight limit]
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone [surprisingly, no]
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem [someday..]
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous?
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee [14 times.....epic fail]
100. Read an entire book in one day