notes on a staff, and their equivalency to words on a page...

Music, is a story. Where there is a beginning, a middle, and an end. An introduction, rising action, a climax, falling action, and a conclusion. I am not referring to music by artists such as Eminem, or Rihanna, or John Mayer. But listening to real music. Music that does not require words to tell a story, for the notes on the staff tell the story themself. Music to me, without lyrics, is the best music. For it is heard, and felt. One does not have to stay within the artists creative mindframe, but can journey beyond it and become their own composer. An artist with a "blank canvas," creating their own story, and deriving from it, their own meaning. Within in many crescendos and decrescendos lay beauty. The beauty of sound. The true beauty of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhN7SG-H-3k

"the cove"

The Cove is an incredible movie, which opened my eyes to something I had no idea was going on. Despite being on the other side of the world, in Taiji, Japan, I believe people here in North America, and everywhere else in the world should know about what is happening. This movie immersed me into, “the little town with a really big secret.” This secret is the current environmental catastrophe of dolphin slaughtering. Besides approximately 23 000 dolphins being killed each year, other problems have also resulted. There is currently a huge crisis with mecury, the marine ecosystem is diminishing, and while all of this is happening, the government is sitting back watching the madness unfold.

Taiji, Japan is the largest dolphin supplier around the world. The Japanese keep this industry going as they profit greatly from the dolphins. Receiving $150 000 for a show dolphin, and $600 for a dead one. This all started in 1964 when a man by the name of Richard O’Barry became the most famous dolphin trainer in the world. He was one of the many responsible for creating the new dolphin “fad.” Dolphins became the stars of show, and the public eye loved it, and wanted more. This led to the creation of parks like Sea World, where animals which should be left in the wild are kept in captivity for the enjoyment of the public. There are hundreds of parks around the world, which advertise through media each and every day. A big one here in Ontario is Marine Land, “everyone loves Marine Land.” However Niagara Falls is just one of the places within our vicinity where this is occurring. The media knows they can generate revenue from keeping these animals and exploiting them. If that is what’s going to make them money, then that is exactly what they will continue to do.

We all are hopefully aware of a term described as, “media blackout.” A media blackout is the censorship of news related to a certain topic. In regards to what is happening in Japan, the media refuses to release to its public, information about mercury. Ever since the industrial revolution, mercury levels have increased. Unfortunately mercury just doesn’t remain in the ocean; the process of bioaccumulation collects the mercury which then shows up in the bodies of fish, dolphins, and regrettably in people as well. Japanese consumers aren’t always aware of the fish they are buying. Much of the fish that the Japanese public consumes also has dolphin. The dolphin and fish have mercury in them after living and being part of a toxic ecosystem. These organisms are swimming in “toxic dumpsites.” Due to the process of biomagnification, once the poisonous fish is consumed by people the mercury levels are higher. The Government is aware of what their people are ingesting, yet they fail to do anything about it. Over time a similar tragedy could occur like what happened in Minimata. Children could start being born with diseases and deformities. In addition to the problems related to mercury, the wiping out of dolphins is affecting the ecosystem. The OPS (Oceanic Preservation Society) has noticed through close observation that there has been degradation of the ocean in the same place each year. It is evident that the decreasing number of dolphins is affecting the rest of the ocean. The marine ecosystem is in fact diminishing.

Social change comes from the passion of individuals, individuals who strive greatly for change. It is up to the Japanese whether of not the whaling industry will continue or if they will choose to put an end to it. If the Japanese would be bold enough to do something like boycott fish, it would make a clear statement that they will not sit back while the exploiting of dolphins occurs. There is a Japanese saying, “the needle that sticks out, must be pounded down.” This saying expresses the fact that it if difficult to make change. The population is “singing with the chorus,” as Michael Moore would say. I understand very well that these people have a livelihood to maintain, however there are other means than the atrocious slaughtering of dolphins. Richard O’Barry said, “I was as ignorant as I could be for as long as I could be.” By sitting back and allowing all of this to happen, we are being just as ignorant. I am curious as to when the government will put an end to this, or when Greenpeace will finally step in and do the jobs they are suppose to be doing. Is the dolphin species going to have to become extinct before somebody does something about this? I think everyone should see this film, and films like this one. Change can be made, but will require the help of all people. Just because it isn’t happening in our “backyard” doesn’t make it irrelevant. We will continue to be culprits if we allow this to happen. Everyone has to stop being so aware and interested in the extraneous things of life, and focus on what is really important.

trust: a word of the English dictionary that I'll never come to know or understand

George MacDonald says, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” I believe this to be true, for loving someone is easy but trusting them may just prove to be the hardest thing in the world. A mere five letter word has never proven to me to be so powerful… or so powerless. Beginning with the self, and being hopeful enough to find it within another. It is a word that can be solidified through action, or inaction. Forming a foundation to something beautiful, or shattering forever through one simple act. I haven’t quite decided whether or not I’ll ever come to understand the concept behind the word, or ever genuinely feel the intensity which lay within the letters t-r-u-s-t. What a strange word, trust.

just a thought...

Whether it were the big bang theory that sparked the creation of our earth, or if our faith and belief lay in the story of Adam and Eve… there still remain one question. A question that has been asked for thousands of years, and will continue to be asked – “what comes next?” No matter how many people I ask, how many books I read, or how much google-ing I do, I still have yet to come to a solid conclusion. I always find myself falling back upon this question, in hopes of determining an answer. Determining if there is some kind of “afterlife,” or whether or not there is anything at all. Maybe we are sent into space, or heaven, hell, purgatory? Maybe someday I’ll come back as a ghost, or an animal or plant. Could the journey after life be merely a state of permanent sleep? My mind is incapable of truly grasping the concept of life in all its complexities. Life is so interesting, so beautiful. There must be something more. However, it won’t be until my day comes that I will have an answer. So until then, I will be left - questions unanswered.

"The Bite of the Mango"

As human beings, we don’t take enough time from our “busy” schedules to learn about other people. We hold no desire to learn about where they come from, their experiences, or what they have lived through. We merely look at a person and judge them by what strikes our eyes, without looking beneath the surface to find something more. As people put on this earth not only for ourselves, but for others too, it is our responsibility to look beyond what just appears before us. We need to start looking beyond economic status, and race, and religion, and culture, and finally see that as Amanda Marshall sings, “Everybody’s got a story.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HixtKJyD40g

As a high school student, my school had the opportunity today to hear Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland, co-authors of the book entitled, The Bite of the Mango. A story told by Mariatu and her life experiences, written by Susan McClelland. When we first became aware that we were going to be listening to Mariatu’s story, I think many of my peers were interested in the fact that she is an amputee, missing both of her hands. However, the fact that Mariatu had no hands wasn’t really my concern. I was more interested in knowing how she came to be that way. My interest laid in the story of a woman who was fortunately given the opportunity to tell us, students of Canada, what her life was like during the Civil war in Sierra Leone. The fact that Mariatu is an amputee is a mere fragment of what she came to our school to talk to us about. Of course having no hands would be a challenge, and one that I never wish to face, nonetheless, Mariatu is forced to face even tougher things each and every day. The memories which she remembers on a regular basis, pose as an even tougher difficulty than the handicap that she has. With today’s technology, a limb can be fixed, or substituted for, but there is no fixing or substituting somebody’s childhood. The memories of torture, rape, and having to witness the deaths of friends and family are memories that will forever be engraved in her mind. Mariatu said that the most traumatic of them all, was witnessing her two best friends be locked inside a house, and burn to death. She lost her hands at the age of twelve. She lost her hands, “to the hands of rebels.” Despite all of this, and more I’m sure, Mariatu still has it somewhere within herself, to come and teach us valuable lessons. Ones that we hear constantly, but I don’t think many of us really think about. My very favourite part about Mariatu’s story was when she spoke about a question somebody had asked her. Someone had asked her if she was angry with God for taking away her hands. But she replied by saying, “maybe God took away my hands so I could touch the world with my heart.” That is exactly what Mariatu is doing every day, and that is why I am writing this piece. She was my inspiration today. Mariatu stresses the importance of not taking anything for granted. Most of us have two legs, two eyes, and two arms. Ten fingers and toes, functioning organs, and lastly, a voice. I hope that someday I will play the honourable role of Susan McClelland in becoming the voice of somebody like Mariatu Kamara. I am my own voice, and will continue to be. But I too, want to be the voice of those who sit patiently awaiting their story to be told. Maybe it can't be told because they don’t have the tools such as language to be able to do so, or the resources. But I have a pen, through which I will be that voice. I will instill in them, the power to tell their story. Instilling in them a voice, like Mariatu's, that will be heard.

Writers Block

Writers block is truly a tragedy; especially when the desire lies within oneself to write. I used to face this calamity - until today. Today’s class was one that really opened my eyes, opened my eyes “to the endless possibilities.” Carnovale told us to “just go out, and get some inspiration.” So, that is exactly what I did. He gave us a half hour to leave the class, and go out. But wherever it was we were going, we were asked to look, listen, and smell, all that was going on around us. I wasn’t sure where to go, but finally, the idea struck me to go into the girl’s washroom; a place where only girls are allowed. Where their secrets would be revealed and where they face their own calamity – themselves. Sure, I heard people using the washroom, toilets flushing, and stall doors opening and shutting. But I got to hear each girl who entered, and what she had to say about herself. The highlight of my washroom experience was a girl who was unhappy with her new haircut, “we experimented on my hair... I look like ******* Lady GaGa! I’m just gonna work with it.” It’s amazing how so many girls who are so different, have so much in common. Constantly in the mirror worried about what they look like to other people. When the only thing we should be worried about while at school, is school. Although, I can’t be one to point fingers; because I too, am that girl looking at herself in the mirror with dissatisfaction. This blog entry isn’t about that though. The moral of today’s lesson was simply about getting out and experiencing. Realizing that just listening or noticing things you wouldn’t normally think twice about, can provide a solid foundation to what could potentially become a short story, or maybe just a poem. Whether or not we choose to write about what we hear or experience, is one’s own choice. The point is, that the world is waiting for us to stop, and listen. The world is waiting for our stories.

almighty, Flying Man.

We are all captives of, the Flying Man. The all knowing, Flying Man. Don’t you ever doubt him – for he knows everything. He sees everything, feels everything. Sees your every flaw. And will forgive you not. He sees you approach her, looking at her up and down. She’s tall, slender, light hair, fair yet soft skin. She’s beautiful – but you don’t want her to be. You shouldn’t look at her like that. You have gone against the Flying Man’s wishes. You initiate the conversation while immersed in the deep blue eyes of the seductress. Wanting, wishing, craving her. All of her. You touch – he sees. You kiss – he sees. You touch some more – of course, he sees. A feeling comes over you, you stop. You leave. Leave the beautiful girl in confusion. Leave the memory behind. But it will never leave you, no. The guilt will hang above your head in everything you do. You will wear the shame as if it were your skin. We are all captives of, the Flying Man. The all knowing, Flying Man. It is the one thing we will always be bound to; regardless of the circumstances or consequences. Our conscience is one mere part of our minds, yet so very powerful; only ever defeated by truth itself. Don’t ever doubt him – the Flying man. You cannot escape him, for he knows everything – and will forgive you not.