George Floyd’s violent death was a breaking point — an all too familiar reminder that, for Black people, law enforcement doesn’t protect or save our lives. They often threaten and take them. This quote is taken directly from the Black Lives Matter website, specifically under the call to defund the police. The attempt to redistribute wealth…
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a series of guidelines on disease naming. They included useful practices to summarize symptoms and reduce fear. They also explicitly mentioned that diseases must not be named after locations, people, animals, or cultures. This was all done in an effort to reduce the stigma and insult related…
The 1929 American Wall Street Crash caused the intertwined European economy to crash as well. After WWI, Germany was depending on America for loans so she could pay back her war reparations, and the money countries such as France and Britain received money from Germany and going back to America to repay the war bonds.…
Frida Kahlo is recognized as Mexico’s, if not the world’s, greatest painter. She is a Marxist, reconstructionist, disabled, bisexual painter and activist. Kahlo completely revolutionized the way we view art, gender, and society. Her art, particularly her self-portraits share a personal story of pain and suffering, but also a profound resilience. Kahlo explained, I paint…
On March 14th 2018, students across America participated in a nationwide walkout that was both a memorial and protest against the deadly Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting that occurred a month previously on February 14th 2018. The shooting marked the deadliest high school shooting in American history and has prompted many to press lawmakers to…
America: Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, and the world’s deadliest nation by far when it comes to gun violence.
Never Again.
There is no doubt that you have heard or seen the destructive powers of Hurricane Irma, a category 5 (max level) hurricane that has caused havoc among most of the Caribbean and specific parts of America. The photos found online of the wreckage are chilling, and the best thing we can do to help is…
With Donald Trump now officially the 45th president of the United States (I cringe just writing that), the question that many Americans and others around the world are asking is, “What now?” As someone who admittedly knows very little about politics, never mind the seemingly backwards world of US politics, I am in no way…
The United States of America. Not only Canada’s neighbor, but also an influential and close friend to us in all regards. This past election, our friend is conflicted, divided, and in trouble. Thousands of Americans took to the streets to protest Trump’s presidential victory, chanting phrases like “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA!”, with nearly half a…
This article was originally written for purposes unrelated to Youth Are Awesome, however I feel that it remains relevant here. Since his announcement that he was entering the American presidential race, the name Donald Trump has become synonymous with controversy. Already a glaringly successful businessman and real estate developer, as well as host of seven…
February 14th 2016 marked the day of the Democratic primary election in New Hampshire, winning by 60.4% against his opponent Hillary Clinton. Making Bernie Sanders officially one of the front runners in the Democratic race. After entering America’s Presidential Election on April 30th 2015, Sanders was considered an underdog, starting out with only 7% of predicted…
{Source} It has been an outstanding year so far for the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) community! With the likes of YouTube beauty guru, Ingrid Nilsen, coming out and former Olympian, Bruce Jenner, transitioning to Caitlyn Jenner, who knows what’s coming next? But if the colors of the rainbow on your social media feeds are any indicator,…
Caution: Plot Details Revealed! “There is a way to be good again” and so begins Theatre Calgary’s adaptation of The Kite Runner. A couple years ago, I had read Khaled Hosseini’s masterpiece and was overjoyed to be given a chance to see Playwright Matthew Spangler’s adaptation. Having been a while since I had read the…
Well, another year has gone by faster than we want to believe. It is hard to comprehend the significance of each passing day on its own, but string the hours together in groups of 365 (or 366) and the reality of the speed at which our lives advance dawns sadly upon us. Anyways, philosophical rambling…