Cocoa Beans and Canada

Cocoa Beans

By Charles Quist-Adade

Dialectic Reading Method, Video blog1

What questions did this chapter/text raise?	How did the text/chapter answer this?	How does this match our own ideas and experiences?
Does the past affect our present?	Yes, this video shows that in fact our present is greatly affected by our past.  Because the once seeds grew into cocoa beans that are now being used here in Canada for chocolate, hot chocolate, etc…	I already had a preconceived idea that our pasts affected our futures.
Do our actions affect more than our environment?	Yes they do. Like in Charles’ video “What do my cocoa beans got to do with Canada?”  He talks of his childhood in Ghana, and how he worked on the cocoa farm as a child. Also how now in Canada the now grown cocoa bean trees, are being imported, for chocolate and such here in Canada.	I did not know that my actions affected more than just the immediate environment.

Social Justice Event

Ghana Field Students

On Novemember 10th I went to the event in Surey put on by 15 students and only a couple teachers. All of the students seemed to be impacted in a varierty of ways, during thir 3 week stay in Ghana. Stephanie was shicked by the culture and how people just let things go. Her experience in Ghana taught her to slow down and pay attention and it made her look differently at the world. She believes it was a very rewarding experience for the students and children. Anther student Natalie had an experience which made her open her eyes and adapt to what the people in Ghana have. She was also very shocked to find out that children in schools sharpened the’r pencils with razor blades. Also she was shocked to find that the teachers were not educated and that the teachers sometimes go without pay for months. All in all i believe this was a well done event and what i learned from ick with me for a long time.

September 11: Forgiveness is not Part of the Lessons Learned

September 11: Forgiveness is not Part of the Lessons Learned

By Charles Quist-Adade,

(Publishers/Editor Sankorfa News)

Paraphrastic Reading Method

 

The text speaks of the atrocity that occurred on September 11^th of 2001 and how forgiveness among other things has not yet been learned. It also states that instead of reaching out with forgiveness, politicians and media attracted the worse of human instinct, “nationalist hatred and lust for retaliation” (p.92).

 

“If forgiveness was among the lessons learned, Bush and his team would not be seeking to go into another war—against Iraq in the shadows of the anniversary of 9/11. If forgiveness was among the lessons learned, the cries and moans of thousands of innocent Afghan men, women, and children from their graves would temper Bush’s war-mongering rhetoric and intentions. He would ponder over the potential loss of innocent lives of Iraqi citizens when he attacks Saddam Hussein.”

 

Paraphrase:

 

In other words: If Bush and his team had any forgiveness in their hearts or even cared to give it a chance they would not be looking to go into another war against Iraq. Innocent woman and children would not be dieing at the hand of Bush and his team if forgiveness was learned. And maybe Bush would stop and think about the innocent lives lost, due to his vengeful war tactic.

Who will Liberate Liberia?

Who will Liberate Liberia?

By Charles Quist-Adade, (Sankofa News December, 2003)

Paraphrastic Reading Method

 The article speaks of the obsessiveness over “Our Orwellian World” and getting the biggest profit where we can. For example, the Iraqi war, was ‘intended’ to free the Iraqi from Saddam Hussein, but other countries that are not in the Middle-East, like Liberia which is located on the western coast line of Africa are not getting the attention they need because they have no oil. The US gives reason for invading small towns and villages in Iraq, by saying it is for Liberation, when the fact is, it is for OIL. They spend all this money for making ‘Peace’ as they call it, when the money spent could be put to better use, for example the money used is more than enough to give half the worlds’ population basic necessities like health and nutrition.

I have chosen this segment to paraphrase because I believe it sums up the article quite well. As well, I chose it because of the absurdity of it being true that we’d spend all this money on one man when it could be used for so many better things.

“And so it makes perfect sense to spend $200 billion on one man and one natural resource – Saddam Hussein and Iraqi oil. After all, in the end, the price of democracy will far outweigh the cost of war and reconstruction or prostrate Iraq. It all makes sense. The cost of the war is being recouped as corporate America loots the spoils of the war. Christian morality and compassion can wait.”

Paraphrased:

In other words: It makes all the sense in the world to spend so much money on Saddam Hussein and Iraq’s oil. In the end there is not a price for democracy, and it will out-shine the price of war, and rebuilding overthrown Iraq. It is all clear. The price of war is being recouped as business America takes their spoils of war. Throw Religion and morality on the back burner, because it can wait as long as there is oil to be had!

The Phantom of the Race: The Myth of Race and the Reality of Racism

The Phantom of the Race:

The Myth of Race and the Reality of Racism

By

Charles Quist-Adade, PhD,

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC, Canada

Dialetic Reading Method

What questions did the text/chapter raise?	How did the text/chapter answer this question?	How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences?
Is there such a thing as Race?	According to the text there is no scientific thing called Race. It was used in the 15th century to describe a line of kings and earliest in the 19th century.	Although Race may not exist, many people give power to the word giving it influence in our daily lives. I do not believe in Race but it does not mean the next person shares the same view.
How do we eliminate the concept of “Racism”?	In the text it says that racism was created by man; So if man gave power to the word we can take it away.	I agree with the text, and I had already a preconceived belief that racism was man “powered” there for can be eliminated by man.
Why do people from different regions, differentiate in appearance?	People in different regions look different because of the relation they live to the equator. People who live closer to the equator have darker skin because of  the  melanin in the skin preventing them from getting skin cancer. This concept also works for the lighter pigmented skin, helping them hold heat in.	I had already learned about this in my biological anthropology class. But I found it interesting how it was used in relation to race/racism.

Negotiation, not Retribution

Negotiation, Not Retribution

By Charles Quist-Adade

Calabrians Multicultural News, September, 2001

http://www.angelfire.com/id/multicultural/quadade.htmal

Paraphrastic reading method

 

 

The article Negotiation, not Retribution by Charles Quist-Adade speaks of the useless killings of innocent victims. The senseless killing, brought about by the hunt for one man, has done more harm than good for the civilians and victims of war than to the actual people responsible for the September 11^th attack.

I believe the more important segment of the writing is:

“As United States launches its open-ended attack on global terrorism, the West should not be oblivious to the ever-widening chasm between the rich and poor nations, between the “haves” and “have nots” in their own backyards. Playing the ostrich may have even more devastating consequences. Several years ago, Lord Pamelston reminded us that in politics there are only permanent interests, not permanent friends. Osama bin Laden, if indeed he master-minded the September 11 attacks, was courted, trained, and armed by the US to kill Russian soldiers and Afghans, including mothers and their children in order to “roll back” the “Evil Empire.” Today, he is the devil incarnate.”

Paraphrased:

In other words: As the US begins its unwavering attack on global terrorism, there should be no surprise to the West, of the ever-growing valley between the rich and the poor nations, between the “Bourgeoisie” and “Proletariat” that are right in front of them. Hiding from these issues may have more traumatic results then intended. Pamelston has given us a reminder that when it comes to politics, there can only be concrete interests and not concrete friendships. Osama bin Laden, if he was the infamous plotter on the September 11 attacks, was chosen, taught, and given weapons by the US to murder Russian soldiers and Afghans, giving no exception to the mothers and their children in order to take control of what they saw as an “Evil Empire”. Even though today, Osama is known as “the devil incarnate”.

 I have chosen this section, to paraphrase because, it in itself summarizes the article perfectly and i believe that it is the most important part of the text.

Discrimination faced by the Members of the LGBT community

Discrimination Faced by Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community

By

Carrie Buist and Andrew Verheek

Issues in Social Justice

Affective Reading Method

 

 

In chapter two of, Issues in Social Justice, Carrie Buist and Andrew Verheek, discuss the discrimination received by the LGBT community. As well as the difficulties they face when coming out and being accepted in a social world. Two central premises of this chapter are: The legalizing of same sex marriages and sexuality being related to one’s identity.

I feel frustrated with this reading, as well as disgusted with those who think it is alright to dictate how other people live, be they gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. It shouldn’t matter we are all people. It is not like someone is dating a goat because let’s face that is a bit strange. I am by no means comparing LGBT marriage or relationship with that of a goat (or any other animal), all I’m saying is there is nothing wrong with it. It is just two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together.

I think it was poorly written and dry, but I also believe it made many well thought out points about the LGBT community, in how most don’t come out because they fear, that they will be discriminated against, or physical harm may be brought on them.

I believe, unfortunately that it will be a long time until the LGBT community is accepted into society. It’s a sad thing because they are just your average person. The only difference being; they wish to spend their lives with someone of the same sex or both or they wish to change their outer appearance to reflect who they are on the inside.

I know that if something more isn’t done about welcoming the LGBT community into society that it most likely will never happen. They will go on being afraid of who they, live in fear because they aren’t sure how someone will react when they find out or being shunned into silence from society.