Forward to the future with an eye learning lessons from history.
Yesterday was a very significant day in Canadian history.
100 years ago, the Halifax explosion happened. 2000 people lost their lives during the explosion and an additional 9000 were injured. Despite the extent of this disaster, so many things occurred. As many were left blind following the explosion, a desire to help ultimately led to the creation of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The casualties would have been worse if a telegraph operator hadn't diverted a train at the last moment before he died a selfless hero. Medical personnel from Boston came to help creating a lasting friendship between Halifax and Boston. Halifax is still thinking their cousins south of the border. New and safer shipping regulations were developed. From all accounts, this tragedy brought out the best in people.
23 years ago yesterday, the Montreal Massacre where 14 lives were ended simply because a struggling man blamed women for every problem he ever had. Victims were targeted simply because of their gender.
Also, Time magazine released their Person of the Year and it was the Silence Breakers. The #MeToo has become one of the most powerful and quick moving movement of all times. The more silence breakers who have come forward have given courage and acceptance for others to come forward. Hopefully, we will never go back.
The cynical side of me noted that President Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on the day that Time magazine was honouring the Silence Breakers. Interesting timing. He campaigned that he would do this arrogant gesture. So, why would this meglomaniac make such a pronouncement yesterday when he has had a year to do it and also has three more years to go? I think it because he is an accused and a denier. He couldn't let us have one day? He can't stand a day without being in the spotlight.
But, it appears that the women's movement still has some ways to go. A week or so ago, I read about an organization called Happy Period in the US. This organization collects feminine hygiene products for low and no income women. Not having products to manage your period is actually a huge health concern. Yet, it was revealed that when applying for social assistance in the US that men's razors are considered essential, but women's feminine hygiene products aren't? Doesn't really make sense and is a small but important indication that we still have ways to go.
Today on the news, there was a side story about Calgary Airport store selling a box of 8 tampons for $15. The story went on to describe a widely accepted practice in retail called the Pink Tax. Basically, men's products are considerably cheaper than women's products. They compared to razors that were the same except for the colour and women's were about 1 1/2 times the cost. We are still making less than our male counterparts yet we are paying more for the same products.
Last evening, I shared a riddle that I remember from my childhood with a man who I consider to be a feminist. The riddle is that a father and son were on a road trip. Their car crashes killing the father instantly. The son is alive but he has major injuries and requires immediate life-saving surgery. He is rushed to the nearest hospital. The surgeon comes in to assess the patient. The surgeon says, "I can not operate on this child. He is my son." The riddle asks how that is possible?
The man that I shared this riddle with couldn't get the obvious answer. The surgeon was the boy's mother. I was shocked that this man couldn't get the riddle.
In my home of Winnipeg, it was announced that a brand new Women's Hospital which was due to open in 2013 has been delayed again and won't be open until 2019. It will be a state of the art facility, yet one has to wonder if a 6 year delay would have been acceptable if it was a man's hospital.
Time moves forward whether we want it to or not. Let's hope feminism decides that it wants to move forward at the same pace. Better yet, let's decide that all form of discrimination remain part of our past so that 100 years from now history will reflect the same lessons of the Halifax Explosion. That 2017 was the year that many decided to break their silence. It was a painful time in our history but resulted in many positive changes and it ended up bringing out the best in people.
100 years ago, the Halifax explosion happened. 2000 people lost their lives during the explosion and an additional 9000 were injured. Despite the extent of this disaster, so many things occurred. As many were left blind following the explosion, a desire to help ultimately led to the creation of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The casualties would have been worse if a telegraph operator hadn't diverted a train at the last moment before he died a selfless hero. Medical personnel from Boston came to help creating a lasting friendship between Halifax and Boston. Halifax is still thinking their cousins south of the border. New and safer shipping regulations were developed. From all accounts, this tragedy brought out the best in people.
23 years ago yesterday, the Montreal Massacre where 14 lives were ended simply because a struggling man blamed women for every problem he ever had. Victims were targeted simply because of their gender.
Also, Time magazine released their Person of the Year and it was the Silence Breakers. The #MeToo has become one of the most powerful and quick moving movement of all times. The more silence breakers who have come forward have given courage and acceptance for others to come forward. Hopefully, we will never go back.
The cynical side of me noted that President Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on the day that Time magazine was honouring the Silence Breakers. Interesting timing. He campaigned that he would do this arrogant gesture. So, why would this meglomaniac make such a pronouncement yesterday when he has had a year to do it and also has three more years to go? I think it because he is an accused and a denier. He couldn't let us have one day? He can't stand a day without being in the spotlight.
But, it appears that the women's movement still has some ways to go. A week or so ago, I read about an organization called Happy Period in the US. This organization collects feminine hygiene products for low and no income women. Not having products to manage your period is actually a huge health concern. Yet, it was revealed that when applying for social assistance in the US that men's razors are considered essential, but women's feminine hygiene products aren't? Doesn't really make sense and is a small but important indication that we still have ways to go.
Today on the news, there was a side story about Calgary Airport store selling a box of 8 tampons for $15. The story went on to describe a widely accepted practice in retail called the Pink Tax. Basically, men's products are considerably cheaper than women's products. They compared to razors that were the same except for the colour and women's were about 1 1/2 times the cost. We are still making less than our male counterparts yet we are paying more for the same products.
Last evening, I shared a riddle that I remember from my childhood with a man who I consider to be a feminist. The riddle is that a father and son were on a road trip. Their car crashes killing the father instantly. The son is alive but he has major injuries and requires immediate life-saving surgery. He is rushed to the nearest hospital. The surgeon comes in to assess the patient. The surgeon says, "I can not operate on this child. He is my son." The riddle asks how that is possible?
The man that I shared this riddle with couldn't get the obvious answer. The surgeon was the boy's mother. I was shocked that this man couldn't get the riddle.
In my home of Winnipeg, it was announced that a brand new Women's Hospital which was due to open in 2013 has been delayed again and won't be open until 2019. It will be a state of the art facility, yet one has to wonder if a 6 year delay would have been acceptable if it was a man's hospital.
Time moves forward whether we want it to or not. Let's hope feminism decides that it wants to move forward at the same pace. Better yet, let's decide that all form of discrimination remain part of our past so that 100 years from now history will reflect the same lessons of the Halifax Explosion. That 2017 was the year that many decided to break their silence. It was a painful time in our history but resulted in many positive changes and it ended up bringing out the best in people.
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