Today’s Daily Stoic writing prompt: Do I really need to argue and quarrel so much?
This one so isn’t me. I am conflict-averse. I can’t stand arguments. I like a good intellectual discussion, but actual quarrels? Words said in anger? No. I absent myself before those actually happen. I pretty much cannot progress beyond a good bicker.
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Schools don’t have unmarked graves.
These were prisons. For children. They were designed to kill – both in body and in spirit.
Genocide is not too strong a term. I think we’ve got to accept that if we’re going to have any chance of changing.
It can be done, although it may be difficult. Germany has done it. South Africa has made tremendous progress.
Canada can do it, too. And I at least have some degree of confidence that there will be attempts. I’ll do everything possible I know to work towards meaningful reconciliation.
In the face of shame, of dishonour, let us be the ones to stand tall and say, “Yes, we acknowledge the wrongs. But we also acknowledge the future is not yet set. We may have not been “better than that” in the past, but we can be in the future, if we listen to truth, are humble, and are willing to learn–and then to act with a spirit of justice.”
I decided to open the evening Toastmasters meeting with a land acknowledgement:
“The City of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Today, the City of Hamilton is home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island (North America) and we recognize that we must do more to learn about the rich history of this land so that we can better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, partners and caretakers.”
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And speaking of tragedies: There is this:
This has echoes of the Sampoong Department Store collapse to me (which is coming up on its 26th anniversary on the 29th), although I am assuming this will not prove to be the result of corruption and incompetence.
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On the more positive front, it was announced today that the province will move into Stage 2 on Wednesday, and the Shaw Festival promptly announced some modified performances, including a series of concerts. I am eager to see what they end up with for their “Coffee Concerts,” which may involve some string quartet performances. There are also some very tasty looking swing/jazz type concerts that look intriguing, and a multi-media thing based around the Kreutzer Sonata — not just the Beethoven original, but the literature and subsequent quartet by Janacek it inspired. Maybe there will be a little music this summer after all.
Tomorrow is vaccination #2. I will be happy when it’s done–I am still no fan of needles, and I have a little bit of nervousness about what side effects lottery I will win–but it’s a step I’ve been looking forward to for 16 months.
Scilicet 