H1N1 Aka Swine Flu

H1N1 is an airborne virus that has the potential to leave someone in a fatal condition. If you follow the media one would believe that everyone is in danger of either death or serious injury from the virus. The media reports suggest that H1N1 virus is more serious than any other flu virus and we are facing the next pandemic. During the past few days we have all seen the news reports where hundreds of people were waiting in lines up to four hours long for the H1N1 vaccine. The Public Health departments are putting full page ads in the newspapers and flyers in the mail to warn everyone about the risks of the virus. I am not a medical expert but I am starting to think that the H1N1 virus is getting much unnecessary hype. When the virus first appeared last year in Mexico everyone was scared but that seem to settle down quickly and millions of people didn’t die. However, following the tragic death of a 13 year old boy in Etobicoke everyone seems scared almost to the point of paranoid. Initially, I was frightened and considered lining up for the vaccine, but then I had to stop and think. The flu virus has been around forever, more people have died from the regular seasonal flu than the H1N1 virus. Most healthy people do not die from the flu so what’s all the fear about? It seems that the media attention is making the drug companies who make the vaccine rich and the companies that make hand sanitizers. So lets calm down and look at the facts before we panic. Remember SARS and the Bird flu they were all supposed to the be the next pandemic but that never happened.

Judging a Book by its Cover

You’ve probably heard the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.” As a black male teen, this phrase occurs to me more often than not. As a black teen, adults, especially seniors tend to judge us by the way we look and dress. It’s most common for me to be judged by non-black adults. Toronto is supposed to be a multi-cultural society so you would think people would be used to, or accepting of other races by now. Not so. Everyday I see a person of a certain race being judged by their “cover” (skin). A perfect example would be how “brown people” are viewed at airports since September 11, 2001. At an airport people tend to see “brown” people as terrorists and treat them noticeably different.

The negative practice of judging a book by its cover is extremely evident towards black males almost anywhere in the world. We are seen as criminals, thieves, uneducated and extremely dangerous. As a black male with two earring and braids, I often hear the comment “you’re a thug” by others. Teachers are even surprised when they find out that I’m of above-average intelligence or when they hear that I play so-called “white sports” and sometimes listen to rock. Too many people think that blacks only play two -- sports basketball or football. When I enter a store this prejudiced mindset is even more evident in that the store clerk stares me down the entire time. It’s actually quite funny when I’m witnessing a non-black ripping them off while the clerk is consumed with watching my every move.

Some stereotypes can actually be a positive thing for some races. For example, Asians are viewed by most as intelligent and respectful human beings. People are also judged by their financial status. I see this when someone dressed up is treated special because people see them as rich. Females suffer from this misjudging, too. If she dresses a certain way she is sees as a prostitute. This pre-judging can also explain racial profiling by the police or other authorities. And why do people always assume anyone black is either from Africa or Jamaica?! Why don’t you get to know me first before making any assumptions?

Millionaires

I want to be a millionaire. I’m pretty sure everyone else does, too. The one thing most millionaires have in common is that they are stingy. If you’re a millionaire, maybe you can help me understand how a person, who was once ‘normal’ and possessed common sense, comes into a ton of money and becomes a fool. For example, buying 50 chains or 30 cars or -- get this one -- 5000 pairs of shoes. You are only one person with two feet! Or how can you justify waking up in a house large enough for a family of 30 when you live alone? Most families are cram-packed into a house built for three when it’s the six of them. Why do you people act like this?

The stingy part is they expect the rest of us to give to charity or suggest that they don’t have enough money to give generously. They think it’s up to the world’s billionaires to do the giving. If you haven’t said it, you’ve at least heard it -- “it’s only one million. It doesn’t go as far as it used to.” It’s as though we’re supposed to feel sorry for you because with only a million dollars, you’re still poor. Give me a break! What you’re worth, especially after investments (if you’re smart), could end poverty in some countries.

Remember that the one thing money can’t buy is life. Life is where the secret to happiness lies. Remain selfish and you’ll only be buying yourself a life filled with problems and loneliness. Once you’ve bought all your fancy gadgets, what else is left? The real problem is that you’re all overpaid. As a young black male, I, too, hope to one day be as overpaid as you. The one big difference is, people will remember me for making a positive difference with it. What will people remember you for? Tell me. Tell all of us. Send in your comments. Post them below. Let’s hear it from all you millionaires out there. Are you making a difference in that mansion of yours?

World Vision

World Vision is a wonderful organization, however I am quite skeptical about it. For those of you that recall my position on cancer research, I view mass collection as a scam. Please don’t get me wrong; I think giving to those in need a great thing to do. After all, it’s what Jesus, himself, did. In fact, if I had the money, I would fly into these countries myself. That way, I’d know for certain that my money was going directly to them and not mostly for the high cost of the administration. My parents and grandparents both sponsor kids from World Vision and I always tell them that I don’t think they should because their sponsored children are not the ones benefiting from their generosity.

It seems like these kids that we see on television looking feeble and hungry never seem to change over the years -- despite the millions that have been sent to their countries over the years in financial and humanitarian aid. “For just pennies a day, you can feed a village.” This is what we’re told. Trillions of pennies have been sent in just my generation, yet, nothing’s changed. Even when I see an updated photo of the kids my family sponsor, they appear to look the same as they did before. I strongly believe that World Vision should be targeting the government and the super rich instead of mainly the middle class. The world governments should be forced to put pressure on the governments of these impoverished nations to stand up and do something for their citizens rather than just begging other nations for financial assistance.

For what one first-world nation spends in a day on war, we could end poverty and debt in these countries. Until the governments of the world make it their business, people will have to sponsor generations of malnourished children. I hope you agree. Even if you don’t, I want to hear why. Please post your comments below and share your opinions with me.

Cancer Research

Everyday people give and collect for cancer research. It’s been how many years now and they still haven’t found a cure for cancer?! To me this seems to be a ‘cash cow’ for the researchers that work behind all this, because billions of dollars have gone into this over the years and we’re no closer to a cure than we were when we began.

Whenever I see someone collecting for cancer, I just shake my head. I shake my head at the collector and the giver because I see this as a scam. Cancer is very simple to comprehend; it is just a mutation of your cells that multiply rapidly. If you can’t find a cure after all the money that has been donated by individuals, businesses and governments, there’s definitely something wrong! I’m convinced that there is either no cure for cancer or they already have one but don’t want to risk losing the millions in money and job creation that searching for this cure rakes in year after year. Cancer research is a scam because this disease is only one God can cure. If you have comments, bring it on. Please post them below -- for or against the collection of these so-called research dollars.

Smoking Weed

Many would argue that marijuana, or ‘weed’ as it is commonly known, is a harmful substance. Some, especially those who like to consume it, would argue that weed doesn’t do you any harm expect give you a short ‘buzz’ or “high.” There has been a number of articles written, with supporting statistics, to illustrate both sides of the argument. When I was younger I thought weed was terrible and believed that weed smokers were only setting themselves up for failure. As I got older and realized how many people I knew smoked weed, it seemed as though there was no negative effect; if anything, I even saw some (weed smokers) as successful in other areas of their lives.

Mike Tyson, Ronaldinho and Michael Vick are all very successful athletes who smoke, or have smoked, weed. It doesn’t appear to have had an effect on them or slow them down in any way. However, others suggest it stops them from reaching their full potential. Another successful weed smoker is Lil Wayne. He’s a very intelligent recording artist who is also known for his ability to articulate himself well in public. He, too, is a heavy weed smoker. Another successful and well-known recording artist, Jay- Z, often referred to by those in his circle as ‘the greatest rapper alive’ and ‘entrepreneur extraordinaire’, is a also known weed smoker. With so many famous people smoking weed, icons in their field, it would work to disprove many of the supporting arguments for anti-(weed) smoking. It might even lend to people experimenting with hardcore drugs. The one real and indisputable drawback is the relatively heavy financial cost of addiction to weed.

As a black male that doesn’t smoke weed it’s a struggle everyday to say no to peer pressure. When my friends ask me why not, I don’t have a good reason for them; but as a faithful person, and out of respect for my mother, I continue to decline the offers. To those of you who believe smoking is bad, you might want to think twice before judging those who do. To those who are already addicted, I doubt you’ll rush to quit after reading this. Or will you? Tell me what you’re going to do or not do. Post your comments below.

suspensions

Suspensions, have you ever been suspended from school for reasons as insignificant as being a little late for class? How about you Catholic school students who may have been sent home for improper uniform? Anyone who has been a high school student within the past five years would probably answer ‘yes’ to those questions. I can personally attest to having been suspended for those same reasons and a few more (not that I’m proud or bragging). After being suspended so many times and hearing about others in the same position for the oddest reasons, I’ve come to the conclusion that teachers and principles are just suspending students because they can’t (or don’t want to) think of any other consequence to give that student and they are just trying to rid the school of the so-called “bad” kids. Principles at every school need to find a better solution than the tried and true consequence of suspension. For some, it’s just a vacation -- especially those who don’t like or want to attend school in the first place.

Suspensions no longer have the same sting for a lot of high school students because when they go home they end up staying home alone, getting the whole day to themselves to do ‘whatever’. This may be a great “punishment” for students who have a parent at home to watch them but in today’s society both parents usually work so students end up getting some “me” time. Having just come off of this so-called punishment, I realized how pointless it was; teachers gave me all the work and they promised when I got back I would be caught up and my marks wouldn’t be affected. I got sleep in and do my work when I wanted -- with no one bothering me and stayed up late each night that I was on ‘punishment’. The administrators in Peel schools need to come up with a better and more creative way to punish the “bad” kids because all suspensions are proving is that they’re a very stupid consequence.

What do you think?