5 months.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dear Law School
I know you have been working hard to try to get the best of me lately. And I don't blame you, I am easy to get the best of. Quite. But for some reason, today is different. I am not going to freak out as easily as I usually do, beat myself up for not being perfect. Intead, I am just going to enjoy the fact I'm human.
Yes, you usually win out and I go to bed stressed and unhappy with myself. But I dunno, maybe its just happened one too many times? I am not falling for your tricks quite a quickly as normal.
Perhaps this is just an off night for you?
Love,
Me
"I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'll be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue"
Yes, you usually win out and I go to bed stressed and unhappy with myself. But I dunno, maybe its just happened one too many times? I am not falling for your tricks quite a quickly as normal.
Perhaps this is just an off night for you?
Love,
Me
"I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'll be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue"
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Favorite Oscar Moment of the Night...
It was an embarrassing award show. I mean, come on! That dance number at the beginning and then the top hat number by Hugh Jackman and Beyonce made me feel like I was indulgently watching a five year old's performance. But the second award of the night for best original screenplay both broke my heart and made me proud. It went to a young man named Dustin Lance Black for his screenplay of Milk.
At the podium, Black succintly recalls his parents unconditional love for him, his move from conversative America to California where he learned a gay man--a man like him--was told he was evil, vile, in need of salvation for just being himself--found his voice and his place in politics.
The assassination of gay rights activist Harvey Milk was an inspiration for Black and he announced to gay children everywhere that they should feel loved for who they are and predicted a time when federal laws would protect the sexuality of all Americans.
At the podium, Black succintly recalls his parents unconditional love for him, his move from conversative America to California where he learned a gay man--a man like him--was told he was evil, vile, in need of salvation for just being himself--found his voice and his place in politics.
The assassination of gay rights activist Harvey Milk was an inspiration for Black and he announced to gay children everywhere that they should feel loved for who they are and predicted a time when federal laws would protect the sexuality of all Americans.
A Continuation of Bush Policies by the Obama Administration
During the painfully long, intense campaign process, President Barack Obama told us he would be a different kind of leader than his predecessor. And in many ways, he has been more responsible, open and inclusive in his 30 days of office than George W. Bush was in eight years. But he has also been, just one month in, a bitter disappointment.
Last Friday, the Justice Department embraced a key policy of the Bush team, telling a federal judge that 600 military detainees in Afghanistan have no legal right to challenge their imprisonment at the United States Air Force base in Bagram, Afghanistan.
The Bush administration told Americans the “War on Terror” was a different kind of war, where "unlawful enemy combatants" could be picked up on the battlefield, and then have no right to contest their detention. The Bush administration argued the federal courts had no jurisdiction to hear cases because the prisoners were non-citizens held in the course of military operations outside the territory of the United States.
The world has watched this habeas corpus lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of several prisons detained indefinitely for years without trial. The detainees argue that they are not enemy combatants. They ask for a judge to review the evidence against them and order the military to release them.
A controversial legal issue throughout the Bush years was whether a civilian federal judge could review decisions by the executive branch to hold terrorism suspects as enemy combatants indefinitely. President Bush’s legal team argued the Constitution granted no authority to federal judges to hear challenges by detainees being held at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba and elsewhere. But this argument was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2004 and 2006, based on the idea that the prisons were on U.S. soil for constitutional purposes due to their unique legal history and circumstances
Due to the rhetoric of change and the fact a constitutional law professor had taken the highest office in the United States, there was the hopeful believe the Obama team would make major changes to this nebulous policy. Instead, the administration has decided to continue the detention policies it inherited.
While Obama has ordered strict adherence to anti-torture rules, the closing of Guantánamo prison within a year and a review of whether conditions at these detention bases meet the standards of humane treatment required by the Geneva Conventions, terrorism suspects captured by American authorities are still being sent to Bagram where they can expect indefinite detention without notice of the charges against them. This is not the “change we can believe in”. Obama’s decision to stick with the Bush policy on detainees is a resounding disappointment for human rights and the rule of law.
Last Friday, the Justice Department embraced a key policy of the Bush team, telling a federal judge that 600 military detainees in Afghanistan have no legal right to challenge their imprisonment at the United States Air Force base in Bagram, Afghanistan.
The Bush administration told Americans the “War on Terror” was a different kind of war, where "unlawful enemy combatants" could be picked up on the battlefield, and then have no right to contest their detention. The Bush administration argued the federal courts had no jurisdiction to hear cases because the prisoners were non-citizens held in the course of military operations outside the territory of the United States.
The world has watched this habeas corpus lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of several prisons detained indefinitely for years without trial. The detainees argue that they are not enemy combatants. They ask for a judge to review the evidence against them and order the military to release them.
A controversial legal issue throughout the Bush years was whether a civilian federal judge could review decisions by the executive branch to hold terrorism suspects as enemy combatants indefinitely. President Bush’s legal team argued the Constitution granted no authority to federal judges to hear challenges by detainees being held at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba and elsewhere. But this argument was rejected by the Supreme Court in 2004 and 2006, based on the idea that the prisons were on U.S. soil for constitutional purposes due to their unique legal history and circumstances
Due to the rhetoric of change and the fact a constitutional law professor had taken the highest office in the United States, there was the hopeful believe the Obama team would make major changes to this nebulous policy. Instead, the administration has decided to continue the detention policies it inherited.
While Obama has ordered strict adherence to anti-torture rules, the closing of Guantánamo prison within a year and a review of whether conditions at these detention bases meet the standards of humane treatment required by the Geneva Conventions, terrorism suspects captured by American authorities are still being sent to Bagram where they can expect indefinite detention without notice of the charges against them. This is not the “change we can believe in”. Obama’s decision to stick with the Bush policy on detainees is a resounding disappointment for human rights and the rule of law.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Family Togetherness
We are preparing for a first: celebrating Christmas with both my parents and Monster's parents. I'll let you know how it goes.
Update: 2.23/09: So they are coming and looking into getting a time share while here. Perhaps they will come the week before or after Christmas and Monster is going to pay his youngest brother's ticket to Vancouver. It's on!
Vacation, All I Ever Wanted?
It has been a pretty productive week. We didn't go away anywhere like I hoped because Monster has to request vacation time at least a month in advance and we didn't think of it fast enough. But really, we just haven't gotten the hang of vacation time yet.
In the States, Monster's job didn't come with ANY paid vacation leave (or even medical coverage a lot of the time, but that's a different story). So when we moved to Canada and discovered it was a federal LAW that all employees get paid vacation, we didn't quite know how to handle it (or handle the amazing health care package that came with his employment, but that's another story). It's like, we don't know what to do with time off because.we.never.really.had.it.before. How sad is that?
This is why, when I see American pundits freaking out that the US is becoming 'socialist' I want to laugh. Why is socialism bad? It has made our lives soooo much easier and better to move to a semi-socialist country: the banks and trades are regulated, time off for employees is mandatory to some point, and while B.C. residents must pay $50 a month for health care this amount covers all primary care, no checking with providers to make sure they take your insurance, no treatment not covered in the E.R. etc.
The kicker for me about the benefits of socialism is the story of my sister's maternity leave. Right now, her baby girl is five months old. And she has both parents home caring for her. That's right. Both. My sister quit her job a month before the baby was born and is covered for a year of goverment paid maternity leave (but she will give this up early when she starts her articling program in two months.)
Her husband took paternity leave starting when Squishy was two and a half months old. I watch them care for this baby together, with all three of them relaxed and happy being together and it just makes so much sense. Starting out the family with the minimum of stress is a pretty great way to insure happy, invested families in the future. The Canadian goverment recognized this and I am happy to use my taxes to pay for it (after all, if I was in the States, my taxes would be used to bail out banks and fund CEOs golden parachutes).
I figure, when pundits work so hard to make Americans afraid of something, like socialism or universal health care or France, it may just be because that thing is pretty terrific.
In the States, Monster's job didn't come with ANY paid vacation leave (or even medical coverage a lot of the time, but that's a different story). So when we moved to Canada and discovered it was a federal LAW that all employees get paid vacation, we didn't quite know how to handle it (or handle the amazing health care package that came with his employment, but that's another story). It's like, we don't know what to do with time off because.we.never.really.had.it.before. How sad is that?
This is why, when I see American pundits freaking out that the US is becoming 'socialist' I want to laugh. Why is socialism bad? It has made our lives soooo much easier and better to move to a semi-socialist country: the banks and trades are regulated, time off for employees is mandatory to some point, and while B.C. residents must pay $50 a month for health care this amount covers all primary care, no checking with providers to make sure they take your insurance, no treatment not covered in the E.R. etc.
The kicker for me about the benefits of socialism is the story of my sister's maternity leave. Right now, her baby girl is five months old. And she has both parents home caring for her. That's right. Both. My sister quit her job a month before the baby was born and is covered for a year of goverment paid maternity leave (but she will give this up early when she starts her articling program in two months.)
Her husband took paternity leave starting when Squishy was two and a half months old. I watch them care for this baby together, with all three of them relaxed and happy being together and it just makes so much sense. Starting out the family with the minimum of stress is a pretty great way to insure happy, invested families in the future. The Canadian goverment recognized this and I am happy to use my taxes to pay for it (after all, if I was in the States, my taxes would be used to bail out banks and fund CEOs golden parachutes).
I figure, when pundits work so hard to make Americans afraid of something, like socialism or universal health care or France, it may just be because that thing is pretty terrific.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Soy Una Perdidor
I lost the law school's student elections. I ran against a first year student who I have never heard of (but I have a sneaking suspecion I sent him my first year's Criminal Law outline through a friend a few months ago).
What does this mean? Well, it means peeps at my law school saw my name in a box and checked someone else's. And that hurts a little. It also means I have more time for myself next year, my third and last year of this crazy little exercize in self-infliction. And I am going to be ok with it. And even welcome it, eventually. Maybe starting right now.
Update: I won! No one told me so I thought I lost. Cool. I am now the Executive Director of AMS Relations.
What does this mean? Well, it means peeps at my law school saw my name in a box and checked someone else's. And that hurts a little. It also means I have more time for myself next year, my third and last year of this crazy little exercize in self-infliction. And I am going to be ok with it. And even welcome it, eventually. Maybe starting right now.
Update: I won! No one told me so I thought I lost. Cool. I am now the Executive Director of AMS Relations.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Tonight We're Going to Party Like Its...1989
This is the second year the two groups I chair (Law Students for Choice and the Women's Caucus) hosted a dance to celebrate two decades of the Morgentaler decision, the court case that brought abortion rights out in the open in Canada. While this dance was a whole lot of work for me and ran me a bit ragged, I am so proud of this dance and the larger dialogue it sparks.
At Law Students for Choice, we have put on a lot of fun events that the whole school likes to attend and get involved in: a board game competition with root beer floats and prizes, condomgram delivery at Valentine's Day and this dress up dance. The "I Heart Henry" dance has been the highlight of the school year the last two years running. Last night, as the dance was winding down, one of the male participants told me he had pretty much given up on attending law school functions as, "They always end up in girls getting groped and crying." Having attended a few events myself, and being grobed before I firmly placed the man's hands away from my body,I concurr. It's really sad that this is happening to law student women, women who should have moved beyond this. who have worked very hard to get where they are and should feel, at the very least, more entitled to their own bodies than they do as it stands. They should be rolemodels for other women coming behind them.
But the greatest thing about having a feminist hosted event, besides the eighties music, the outfits, the dance competitions, is that those law students that feel entitled to non-consentual sexual grops pretty much stay away from our dance altogether. Our dance's attendees are made up of people who respect other people's consent. At our dance last night, the whole group gathered around in a circle and different people took turns dancing in the middle. It was so refreshing to see us encourage each other and respect each others talents instead of competing for the spotlight.
I hope some of the younger women who attend these events and see us self-declared feminists so happy in our lives and enthusiastically pursuing our dreams will realize that there is no stigma in feeling equal to other human beings.
I was happy a few of the law students used last night to announce to me that they are just realizing they are feminists, too. It's a privilege to be a part of that change.
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