Guest JakeYYZ Posted September 2, 2003 Share Posted September 2, 2003 Hyphenation seems to be required these days when one talks of identity. Strolling through the Campus Centre at my son’s place of higher learning and taking my eyes momentarily off the first year...well, you know...I chanced to look at the student club fair taking place all around me. Apart from the handful of activity based clubs (Terry Fox run, skiing and badminton being the most notable) and a few based on sexual experiences (bad or otherwise) or orientation, the vast majority of the clubs sought to attract those of a particular race, creed or nationality. Chess Clubs? Nope. Games Clubs? Nah. Frickin' Sierra Club? No way. Insert-your-favorite-nation/religion/whatever Club? Oh yes. Plenty of those. Pride in one's heritage is probably something to be encouraged though some, myself included, would argue that, historically, ethnic/cultural identification has led to more bloodshed than anything else, environmental determinists like T.H. Homer-Dixon notwithstanding. It is interesting though that, based on the crowds flocking to the various displays, those being subsidized for the next four years as we encourage them to learn, to become productive members of society and to broaden their horizons in an effort to improve Canada are aligning themselves with organizations which, based on my observation, will be at each other's throats in about 3 weeks. Meanwhile, each demonstration or controversial speaker, will require the university to pay for security to the detriment of the teaching book and computer funds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ray Darr Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Back to the discussion...Someone said this here earlier. I wish it was my quote, as it was a real keeper: "Welcome to Canada, PLEASE WIPE YOUR FEET before entering!!" Food for thought (or withful thinking, depending on your views). Cheers, Ray Darr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Cronin Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Right on, I liked that line too! The door is open, but slime is not welcome. Don't walk on us. (with apologies to the star spangled banner and the snake) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest leftbase Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Me, I nearly fell on the floor simply reading Ray's subject line....ways to humourize the poor maligned females of Surrey, BC, popped into my head...but I digress. And agreed. Add my opinion to those firmly in favour of respecting their heritage while realizing Canada is YOUR NEW HOME! A wonderful, free, yes I'll even use the buzzword "tolerant", nation. A tad highly-taxed and poorly-governed but hey - they nicest people in the world! Just leave your baggage at the door. You won't need it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest leftbase Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Me, I nearly fell on the floor simply reading Ray's subject line....ways to humourize the poor maligned females of Surrey, BC, popped into my head...but I digress. And agreed. Add my opinion to those firmly in favour of respecting their heritage while realizing Canada is YOUR NEW HOME! A wonderful, free, yes I'll even use the buzzword "tolerant", nation. A tad highly-taxed and poorly-governed but hey - the nicest people in the world! Just leave your baggage at the door. You won't need it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JakeYYZ Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 Mitch, The one UNOFFICIAL club we're forgetting is the one congregating in parking lots - even in the dead of Winter - to smoke cigarettes. We should start a pressure group of our own, call for an end to discrimination & persecution. Tobacco is a legal product; what of other legal products that are even more harmful? Where does one find a McDonald's Greasy Cheesburger Eaters club, fr'instance? How about the Stressed-out Prozac-Popping Workaholics of Canada? Our group obviously transcends gender, racial & religious differences. Our voices must be heard; our interests must be acknowledged & catered to! Viva La Revolucion! So who's with me then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 80 Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 I am currently taking some college courses, because... well, I have nothing better to do these days. Walking through the main hall this week, I am blown away by some of the weird clubs there are. There are the usual clubs that were there when our parents were in college, but some of them just boggle the mind or turn the stomach. What the hell does the "Sexual Diversity Club" do. I mean can't they keep that private? There is also an abstainence club, There are about half a dozen weird feminist clubs, each with their own unique spelling of women. Wyman, Woymen, Womyn, womahn There would appear to be a capital punishment history club, a socialist club AND a Marxist-Leninist club, you would think those two could hook up and save some space. There are clubs for religions i have never even heard of! I wonder how much of my obscene tuition is going to support those stupid groups. There does not however appear to be an aviation club, which is suprising given this school has several aviation related programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JakeYYZ Posted September 3, 2003 Share Posted September 3, 2003 I'm all for any group that fights to keep the campus saloons open. Waterloo U closed two of them last year but thanks to a Coalition of The Drunken, it has returned. Bacchus be praised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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