Submitted by Sean Hully

Bio/About: I am a musician and former private music teacher who received an MA in music composition from York in 2007. This was my second year as a TA and Ph.d. student in musicology. I haven't decided whether or not to continue my education because I feel that my two degrees and two diplomas are not valued.

My take: Due to the impending back-to-work legislation, I have withdrawn from graduate studies at York University to effectively tender my resignation as a teaching assistant. I feel this legislation is unethical because the Government of Ontario is forcing people to accept wages that are below the poverty line. I cannot be part of an institution that condones this kind of action.

In the past, back-to-work legislation has been reserved for comparably well-paid essential service workers. We are graduate students who teach and do research to earn living costs and job experience while earning a degree. If we are so important that we must be legislated back to work, then we should at least be given a living wage.

I hope that this insidious legislation will be quickly challenged in the courts. If it is not stopped right now, it will set a dangerous precedent.

Are you a student or T.A. at York? Send us your story.

Submitted by Alison Smith

Bio/About: I was born in Regina, raised in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from Glendon College at York University. I currently live in Victoria, B.C., and am the single parent of a beautiful, almost-4-year-old boy.

My take: I have one comment on the budget: NO DAYCARE/EDUCATION funding!!! I see no point in an experienced/educated person with a job not being able to work because they can't find daycare/after-school care, or their daycare/after-school closes or is reduced in funds or staffing. Stupid.

I'd also like to know what I should do with my $150 in tax "relief" that I will be getting. Oh right, I'll relieve the cost of daycare. That will pay for two days of daycare a month.

If you include the $100 all parents get now, working or not, that adds up to three and a half days total per month.

Or, I will possibly pay half of what my childcare subsidy was reduced by because I have a good job, but am still a single parent.

Submitted by Zainab Awl

About: I am a 21 year-old university student at Ottawa University and with today being the 50th day of the transit strike I can no longer stand by and allow this to be acceptable. I am out of patience, I am out of trust in government officials and more tragically I am no longer proud to be an Ottawa citizen.

My take: This strike began quite strategically I believe. December is the busiest time of the year and the Ottawa citizens did not have the time to sit around and figure out what all this meant, how this could happen and what was being done to make it end swiftly. I know this because I am a student and I have a job. When the strike hit I was right in the middle of exams and in the middle of the Christmas rush. My main concern was making it to my exams and making it to work. I have spent hours stuck at school, hours in traffic and spent my wages on food while at the university. My job is at Starbucks and the Christmas period is a period that is exhausting and hectic.

As a barista I was able to see the effect of the strike on my co-workers, on my manager and mostly on the changed demeanor of our customers. As baristas we have a great vantage point into the lives of many different citizens. We serve a variety of customers. My store is especially busy as we are located at the Gloucester Chapters. The neighbouring area is home to 3 different restaurants, a major movie theatre, government buildings and is only two minutes from the highway. We get people coming in our doors from all over Ottawa.

Submitted by Mitchell Curtis

Bio: I am a typical 16-year-old boy. I love to play football, rugby, hockey and many other sports. I go to Hillcrest High school in Thunder Bay, Ontario, a sleepy town in Northwestern Ontario of about 110,000 people. I am very interested in helping my community become the greatest I can make it. I participate in groups like Opportunity Thunder Bay to get information out about projects in our city. I am employed in refereeing little kids at rinks around the city.

My take: Despite these times of despair, it's possible for an entire city to come together and push towards success. This has happened in Thunder Bay, a city of over 100,000 people who have been hit by the crisis in forestry.

The plethora of inaugural balls in Washington on January 20, were packed with notable names and celebrity faces. But there was one couple that stole the show wherever they went.

Canadian Sarah Turnbull was at the Youth Ball when new U.S. president Barack Obama made his appearance at the ball alongside first lady Michelle Obama.

Check out this amazing video of Obama's crowd-pleasing speech and the couple sharing the first dance.

Submitted by Sarah Turnbull

We witnessed the massive crowd on TV, as they gathered to see Barack Obama sworn in as president of the United States. Edmontonian Sarah Turnbull was there in Washington to see it for herself.

Here, you'll see video of the massive crowd collecting as early as 6 A.M. on the streets of Washington. But an early morning and cold weather couldn't keep their spirits down.

Submitted by Dietrich Friesen

Well, today was the big day. The scale was massive, the weather was frigid, and the people were pumped. And what a day it was.

Our effort to wake up at 4 A.M. and proceed to the National mall failed when none of the six of us arose before 7 A.M. However, that didn't stop us from bundling up (albeit not enough) and heading out along with the masses who converged on the Capitol and the Mall. Crossing the streets of downtown DC we were herded along with all the other non-ticket holders passing the many streets blocked off by desert-camo clad army folk.

People were hooting and hollering, selling their Obama wares (heat packs were a big seller) and just generally trying not to get separated and make their way as close to the approaching moment in history as possible. Eventually and much to our surprise we were able to breach the perimeter of the National mall and we posted camp at the base of the Washington Monument facing one of the many big screens that were trained on the event.

Canadian Sarah Turnbull participated in a national day of service on Monday, January 19 in the U.S. While helping to build care packages for the troops, she captured some of the pre-inaugural excitement.

Check out video of the catchy cheer from yesterday.

Submitted by Mary Pynenburg

"The light of today breaks through the remnants of yesterday's fog at the moment of Obama's swearing in."

As an American Canadian with a 300+ year USA ancestry exceedingly participant in creating the USA "Yeoman" democracy", and a self-exile to Canada during the Joe McCarthy era, I feel Obama's election has redeemed the USA. Their original sin of slavery is slain. My family is urging me to return and participate in the Obama "Rebirth of a Nation Movement". I am sorely tempted, but not yet! I have come to see the superior state that Canada is, and hence I need two pieces of evidence that the American nation is serious about change before I would consider returning to my ancestral roots and mission. Obama must reform his own office and show that he:

1. Successfully restores the Presidency to its proper and constitutional function of being an executive office rather than a legislative office. The office of president has high jacked Congress ever since the Second World War; the Kennedy administration further corrupted the office by turning it into an imperial, celebrity type function. Obama must return the legislative function to government by the people through congress.

2. Successfully permits religion to return to its role as the private affair of people, and take it out of its unsavory ubiquitous presence in the public squares and forums of government.

It is not the economy or wars stupid. It is governing by the people through their representatives in congress!

Luke L. Batdorf
Johnstown, NS

Canadian Sarah Turnbull continues to send us her videos from Washington. Yesterday she celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day by offering her service to U.S. troops.

Check out the video from yesterday.

Watch all of Sarah's videos from the inauguration celebrations.

I hold my breath today as you assume your presidency for fear of extinguishing the precious flame of hope you have alighted in the hearts of people around the world. Are you the one we all quietly hope you are? Are you that different kind of leader, who truly governs for the greater good, who is guided by a higher purpose?

Deep down I am afraid to hope because I am afraid of being disappointed. In our consumer culture, even our leaders are presented to us as carefully crafted images, branded as agents of "Change" and "Hope". Yet behind the branding, they invariably prove themselves to be that media-savvy, all-too-familiar kind of double-talking politician, guided more by special interests than by the needs of those who cast the ballots.

Deep inside, I have this gut feeling that you're different somehow -- authentic. An individual with a real life story behind him, filled with experiences that might really shape a person with a higher purpose, the kind the world need now to lead it into the future.

So Barack, I beg you, be that man of vision I so desperately hope you are. Be that man of ideals and integrity. Be couragous enough to do right by your country, the world, our children. Do not disappoint us. Let us breathe deeply, with hope, with pride, without fear, and with optimism for a better future for all of us. Let our flames of hope burn brighter and stronger every day. It can be done, it just takes the right person. Be that person. Our futures depend on it!

GO BARACK!

Yours sincerely,
Marie Graf

As people around the world settle in to watch Barack Obama sworn-in as the new U.S. president, thoughts, emotions and observations are spilling in from all corners.

Watch this spot for some of your words for the new president.

Kathleen Boyce: "Tomorrow marks the beginning of an era of hope as well as a commitment of so many Americans to giving of themselves for a common goal of peace, mutual understanding, respect and of course a solution to the world's economic woes. It is comforting to see such a man of integrity and inner strength with a solid purpose to be the best he can be for the common good of all Americans. He is young but his wisdom and insight will carry him through these coming trials he is up against. I see Obama not as the first "black" to win the Presidential office but someone who unites the people of USA. I am not a religious person but will say a prayer tonight for his safety and his family's safety throughout the years to come and trust him to do the very best he can with the talents God has given him."

If you want to add your thoughts, submit your comment below.

Submitted by Dietrich Friesen

Bio/About:: As a history major I am keen to be a witness to the beginning of what could become a major era of change in the United States. I'm happy to be gauging the moods and opinions of residents and visitors to Washington.

Submitted by Reinhardt Piuk

Bio/About: I'm a carpenter apprentice with the United States Antarctic Program working at the South Pole. I grew up in Peterborough ON, currently residing (when I'm not at the Pole) in New Hampshire.

Here are some photos of the Obama supporters at Pole, cheering on our soon-to-be new president.

Sarah Turnbull

Bio/About: I am a Canadian who took a leave of absence from my day job in August. I worked as a management consultant for the Democratic Party of Indiana, and then for New Hampshire. It was an amazing experience. With my organization, at least 31 Canadian volunteers came to New Hampshire to help out in the final weeks. I'm now in Washington to witness the historic inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama.

My take: Join me as I celebrate this historic moment. Here are some photos and videos of day one of the celebrations.

Submitted by Mark Celejewski

The power outage that threw a large section of Toronto into chaos, leaving 100,000 people without electricity as the city shivers through a bitter cold snap, is slowly being repaired. The subway system was hit hard this morning, with subway service on the Bloor-Danforth line shut down between the Dufferin and Bathurst stations. Though regular subway service has returned to this line, many people were affected by the stoppage.

Mark Celejewski shares his experience from Friday morning.

My take: The TTC failed again (as usual,) they have no recovery/transportation plan when a power outage happens on subway system.

At least the police showed up and they were trying to secure the safety of thousands of passengers covering the entire area of Bloor street at Keele subway station.

People were standing outside and freezing, waiting for shuttle buses which were showing up already full. There was plenty of buses with NOT IN SERVICE signs and they were ignoring frozen passengers.

I ended up going back home from Keele to Kipling.

Was your power out today? Were you left stranded by the outage? Share your story.

Submitted by Arjun Pandey

About/Bio: Arjun Pandey is a nine-year-old student from Waterloo, Ontario. Along with his two brothers (six and eleven) he became so captivated with Barack Obama over the last year that he travelled to Virginia to campaign door-to-door. In honour of the president elect, Arjun has written a speech commemorating his experience on the campaign trail. Arjun and his brothers are hosting a "Hope Has Arrived" inauguration party for their class mates, friends, & teachers.

My take: Imagine 90,000 pairs of eyes staring up at you. Each waiting anxiously for your next word. Eager, anxious, excited. You walk on to the stage, the entire world stares back at you. Cameras are flashing. The press hangs on your every word. You start your speech. The crowd goes wild with applause. This is the real life event of a special man. A man for our times, a man of change, a man named Barack Obama. I was one of those eyes staring up at Mr. Obama on November3rd, 2008 in Manassas, Virginia, on the final election rally, on the very last night of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. This is the story of how I got there.

How did I, a 9 year old boy from Canada, end up just seven feet from the future president of the United States, the most powerful man in the world? Let me tell you my story. My story of how I came to walk in the shadows of Obama.

My adventure began on January 3rd, 2008. I was visiting my great grandmother in India. I was supposed to be writing my speech for the last speech competition, in grade 3. But I was having trouble getting started. My grand-uncle told me excitedly to come watch a historic speech with him, to learn how a great man delivers a great speech.

The speech was Barack Obama's victory address in Iowa on the night of January 3rd. We watched it live on the internet. We downloaded the speech from YouTube , to watch over and over again. I was amazed that a man could inspire so many people with his words. His words were powerful, they were moving, they made you believe. Words were important. It made me think. Perhaps I, too, could learn to speak effectively. I, too, could move people with my words.

Inspired by this man and his words, I wrote my own speech. It was about the importance of Canadians supporting our brave soldiers in Afghanistan, even if we did not support the war in Afghanistan. To learn to speak more effectively, I chose to watch Obama during his debates, his caucuses, and his primaries.

My family and I became captivated by this man. On most school nights, I go to bed at 8:30. During the primary nights, I was allowed to stay up to watch the results come in, sometimes way past 11 o'clock!!

Even my little baby brother, Ashok, became enthralled by Obama. My dad loves to tell the story of a night he came home at 8:30 to find Ashok eager to stay up late. He told Ashok that it was time to go to bed, but Ashok insisted he had to stay up to watch TV. My dad was getting upset. He said "Ashok, we don't stay up on school nights to goof around and watch TV." What could a six-year-old want to watch so late at night? My baby brother said excitedly "but I need to stay up, Barack Obama is going to be on Larry King Live." How did a six-year-old know about Larry King and how could he possibly have known that Barack Obama would be on the show that night? We stayed up to the end of the show.

As the U.S. primaries went on, I was also taking part in many speech competitions. Over the course of the spring, I had won over $150! All of this inspired by the words of one man.

All of a sudden in May, I lost at the Legion's Regional Speech competition! Barack Obama had also started losing a number of primaries to his rivals. We worried that this inspirational man may not succeed. He may not get the chance to change the world. Could we help? Was there something we could do?

My brothers and I each wrote letters of support to Barack Obama. Each of us collected all the money we had saved up and sent it to him to help in his campaign. My baby brother had no money. But he still wrote Obama a letter in green crayon wishing him well. Since he had no money to send, he sent his most precious possession, his lucky shell. A special shell he had collected long ago and always kept with him. He wrote to Mr. Obama asking him to keep it in his pocket as it would bring him luck.

My dad said we would only get a form letter back from Obama. But I knew better. I knew this man would acknowledge my letter. Sure enough, a few weeks later we received a couriered package back from him. A personal letter to each of us, congratulating us on our enthusiasm and thanking us for our support.

I made my dad promise that if Mr. Obama was selected the Democratic nominee for president, he would take us to Washington to campaign for him.

The summer whizzed by, and sure enough Barack Obama was chosen the Democratic nominee. My dad always keeps his promises. In November, we went off to Washington to help the Obama campaign. We met the chief of the Washington campaign headquarters. It was so cool to be there. To be a part of it all. She knew we were enthusiastic to help. She sent us to the battleground state of Virginia, the former seat of the Confederacy. A state no Democrat had won for over 40 years. We went door-to-door in little towns of Virginia convincing the undecided to support Obama.

We were invited to attend Barack Obama's final rally of the campaign in Manassas, Virginia. Security was so tight. We had to walk for miles from where we parked. Seven helicopters hovered over head. We all went through metal detectors and were searched by security guards. There were snipers on roof tops, atop trucks and buses with three foot rifles & night vision binoculars. It was daunting.

At last, after many hours of waiting, Obama walked on stage. 90,000 pairs of eyes stared back at him, hanging on his every word. Eager, anxious, excited. I was one of those eyes. I had walked in the shadows of Obama.

Submitted by Don Woods

Bio/About: I am from Chapleau, Ontario between Timmins and Wawa. I'm currently living and working in the Black Forest in Germany, in a town called Buehl (Baden-Baden.)

My take: I am a proud and patriotic Canadian living in Germany. Many people in Europe, especially Germany, envy me for being a Canadian. A common perception of Canadians is that we are:

• Multi-cultural
• Tolerant
• Easy going
• Peace loving
• Land of opportunities
• Friendly
• Happy
• Free

How they perceive Canada geographically is:

• Vast, endless & pure nature
• Wildlife
• Snow & Cold
• Big Cities, small towns & yet wide open space

I couldn't agree more!

Sometimes I can smell Canada's forest, and I instantly become homesick. I used to stand outside in January at night when it was —40 C and watching the Northern Lights dance I knew I was somewhere special. In the summer when the black flies bit, I knew I was alive.

I love the easy going pace. And yeah, sometimes one gets impatient and annoyed when the Via Rail is an hour late (or even seven), but why rush into the future? When I needed a plumber, he may have come a day later, because he decided to go fishing instead. We may bicker at each other between Quebec and other provinces, but we are all Canadian regardless of language.

Watching our polite anchors such as Peter Mansbridge, Rex Murphy, Peter Armstrong, Steve Armitage, Adrienne Arsenault and Terry Milewski just to mention a few, interview people around the world is a delight. Listening to CBC Radio with Michael Enright, Anna Maria Tremonti, Jo-Ann Roberts and Cathy Haag means I am connected. Chuckling while Don Cherry and Ron Maclean nag at each other like an old married couple is a delight. I miss Peter Gzowski, I grew up hearing his voice and I had the privilege in personally meeting him.

Listening and singing along to songs from Stompin' Tom, Kim Mitchell and Anne Murray; I wish I was back home.
For me, CBC means I am Canadian. I identify myself with a Broadcast Corporation that represents Canada. It lets me know that I am a citizen of a very privileged and unique country on planet earth. I am part of a society that others around the globe view as blessed and privileged. Thank you CBC!

What have I learned what makes a Canadian? Is it because he was born in Canada? Is it because he has Native blood? Can a Pakistani or an Iranian be a Canadian?

What makes a Canadian is the heart.

I have so much more to say about Canada. So many names to mention, so many places to name that an entire book wouldn't suffice!!!

What do you have to say about being Canadian? Add your comment. Share your story.

Submitted by Christian Tatonetti

Update from Christian on January 20: "I am ending my hunger strike today as I wish to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and I have some friends who have been too worried about my health. As we turn the page on eight years of the Bush dictatorship-like regime, I believe that Obama should and will do the right thing and Omar will be sent home in light of the false evidence that has been brought before the 'courts.'

I believe that Obama could not do more than that at this point as he can't just close everything down, but it marks the end of the Bush era. I am also betting that the Conservative Party will become the new opposition party and that Canadian politics is going to be extremely entertaining and interesting while Michael Ignatieff removes Stephen Harper from power and becomes the leader of the 'New Canadian Coalition.' I believe and hope that on the first day after becoming Prime Minister, our future Prime Minister Mr. Ignatieff will ask for Omar's repatriation, thus, doing what this country should have done many years ago."

Christian Tatonetti was on a hunger strike from January 3 to 21, 2009 to ask for Omar Khadr's release from Guantanamo Bay detention camp. This is his story.

About/background: I always have been fascinated by activism in general. When I lived on Salt Spring Island a big logging company had scooped up a bunch of land and were about to give the island a Gillette-style close shave. I wrote letters to the editor and I followed closely what was happening. The community managed to do the impossible and saved Salt Spring!

I don't live on Salt Spring anymore but I took with me ten years of community energy that has changed my life.

My take: I decided to protest against the unfair and illegal treatment and detention of Omar Khadr, who was a young soldier that, regardless of which 'side' he was involved with, should have been granted a minimum of protection from the Canadian authorities.

I am getting physically tired from the strike but I remain loyal to my initial intention, which is to help put pressure on our government to act now and hear loud and clear that many Canadians wanted Omar back to Canada a long time ago.

I would encourage people to seize this opportunity from the transition of power in the US to make it clear to Stephen Harper and Barack Obama that this is a number one priority and that we cannot ethically and morally allow another 7 years to slip by before the case is closed.

I really hope he survives this ordeal and returns to Canada as soon as possible. The support from the Facebook community has been really sweet and I hope more people will join but I am really thankful for all the good sentiments and various prayers that have been sent my way.

CBCNews.ca - See related links:
CBC News In depth: Omar Khadr
CBC News In depth: Guantanamo

Bio/About: My name is Freeman Lewin, I am currently on a two month intensive high school program in a small city in Israel called Hod Ha'Sharon. I am 17-years old and a senior at Frances Kelsey Secondary School in Mill Bay, British Columbia.

My take: When Britain was bombed by the Germans in the second World War, the British Air Force went and bombed cities in Germany saying, "Stop your bombing or we'll kill more civilians." When Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1942, the United States dropped the most deadly bomb known to man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When Israel is attacked for years, they sit and they wait. They pace and they plan. They ask their
citizens to understand their dilemma, for they know that to stop those attacks from the Gaza Strip, from Lebanon, from the West Bank, would be international suicide.

What is the difference between Israel and Britain, or Israel and the USA? For years Katusha rockets have been falling on the cities of Ashdod and Sederot, but still the government practices restraint. They tread lightly on soil that once was their own; they defend the land they have left. They plan for the day when "enough is enough."

Today, and yesterday, tomorrow and the next, there will be meetings in secret rooms on how to lessen the civilian impact on innocent civilians. They will plan on how to safely conduct humanitarian aid within Gaza. They will save lives and mourn casualties, and they will understand that whatever they do they will be looked upon as oppressors of a people. In their heads they will mourn for the people who do not understand, the ones who honestly believe in their heart of hearts that Israel came down too hard on the men and women who had and still have the ideology that Israel, the Jewish state should be obliterated.

When the ground troops finally entered Gaza they knew that lives were at stake, but they were not doing it for themselves, they were there to lessen the impact on innocent civilians. It had been decided that air strikes on Hamas compounds were causing to much destruction of civilians' lifestyles, the tactics used by Hamas were too
detrimental to those who had no involvement. So they went in, not in an effort to kill civilians but in an effort to get rid of the men and women involved in deadly terrorist activities. One is not innocent if they are old ladies carrying guns and shooting at soldiers; one is not innocent if they let Hamas shoot rockets from their hospital; one is
not innocent if they incite violence.

So who are you, the international community to decide what is right or wrong without all the facts? Who are you to think that Israel is the oppressor? As a young man living in Israel I am shocked to see the amount of hatred directed towards a country that is merely trying to defend its people. Do you, the international community say a word
about the civilians whose lives are torn apart day after day by terrorism against Israel? Do you ever take a second to think of the reasons Israel is in Gaza? Or do you believe the propaganda? Do you see the little girls crying on TV and think "The Israelis! The scum of the earth!?"

It amazes me to see how a population, so devoted to enlightenment can still unleash such baseless hate. As a Jew will I be subject to anti-semitism when I get home? Will we really step back in time and let such ignorant taste and media rule our lives again? When I walk in the Holy Land, I see beauty, true and pure. I see history and morals held in highest esteem. I touch the kotel (Western Wall) and pray for peace in the world. I don't see a country in the middle east ravaged by war. I see a country united in a fight for its existence, and that is beauty. Remember what Yitzhak Rabin said minutes before his assassination, "Peace Is possible."

Do you have a different take? Send us your story. Or, submit your comments below.

Submitted by Joey Leblanc

My take: I would like to offer my opinion on how this bus strike is affecting me.

I have been taking the bus ever since I started working. It has been a very convenient and inexpensive way to travel. Whether I'm travelling to and from work or going to hang out with friends, the bus always provides a way. But at the absolute worst time of year this transit strike came in to effect.

The bus drivers chose Christmas of all times to go on strike. What have we as consumers done to be left out in the coldest season of the year to find our own way to work? Whether it is by walking an hour and a half, taking a bike on the very slippery roads and even more treacherous sidewalks, or finding a ride with a co-worker. Not only did they force hard working citizens to brave the harsh Canadian winter, they have also ruined a lot of people's Christmas plans.

Another fantastic effect of this strike is the extra pollution created by citizens driving instead of busing. Not to mention the accidents that are caused by increased traffic.

In a world where being environmentally aware is important, the bus drivers have basically said we don't care. We don't care that we may be speeding up global warming. We don't care that many people's Christmas plans had to be rearranged due to higher traffic, or lack of transportation. We don't care that people are having to walk or bike to work during the coldest season of the year in order to ensure that they still have a job if and when the buses do resume service. And the most frustrating of all, we don't care about anyone but ourselves.

Personally I am rather fed up with the bus strike. I have missed almost 2 full weeks of work due to being constantly sick from walking in the cold to and from work on a daily basis. I am one of the unfortunate who is unable to get a ride with a co-worker and I have to walk over an hour to and from work every day. I have lost about $1200 worth of wages due to this bus strike and have been forced to stretch my money as far as I can in order to survive. I have bills that need paying and when I can't make it to work because I am sick from a cold I would never have had if the bus strike had never started, I get upset.

I'm not saying that I disagree with the strike or that they don't deserve whatever it is they are asking. I am saying that I don't care! By doing this strike in winter instead of summer they have lost my sympathy/empathy. I am tired of this strike and at this point either mayor Larry O'Brien should declare OC Transpo an essential service or fire every single bus driver and hire people who are actually willing to work until summer.

If the strike occurred in the summer months no one would care. Beautiful weather, leisurely walks to and from work would be a nice treat from the usual rut many people have fallen into.

I say that this strike needs to end, because eventually people will become so fed up that they will forget how great the bus can be and associate it only with the disaster that it has currently become.

Submitted by David Borzykowski

Bio/About: I am a master's student in political studies at the University of Manitoba.

My take: Over the past nine days I have been watching and listening to others support or oppose the current goings on in the Gaza strip. Like any conflict and especially the Israeli-Palestinian one, there are two sides to every story, except it seems, among Jews.

Here are my views on the situation.

I do not support the offensive in Gaza.

I do believe in Israel's right to exist.

For most Jews these two statements cannot go together and are in fact the antithesis of each other. What is the most troubling to me is that when I vocalize my opposition to the offensive I am automatically branded an 'anti-Israel wacko' or worse, a 'bad Jew.'

Now, I have encountered this before, particularly when I explain to people that I am writing my Master's thesis on the economic impact of the second Intifada on the Palestinian economy. People jump to conclusions again and think that I'm another self-hating, anti-Israel Jew like so many others that give Jews a bad name. While I certainly do not think that those people give Jews a bad name, I know that I do NOT give Jews a bad name. Why does blind support for Israel have to be equated with being a good Jew?

Because I do not agree with Israel's actions, it does not make me any less of a Jew. In fact, I think that it makes me a better Jew! All through history the Jewish people have been recognized as "the people of the book." We have been known for our mental prowess and the ability to look at the law laid out in the Torah and engage in healthy debate and finally come to a ruling. The entire Talmud is just that — debates on the oral law by the scholars of the day, with additional commentary by Rashi and his family added hundreds of years later. None of these great Jewish scholars ever took the law at face value. Each and every one of them looked deeper into the questions that they had about their religion that they devoted their lives to and came up with reasonable answers. At the Jewish schools I attended we always learned that these scholars were some of the greatest Jews in history and that they were all people to look up to. So why if I don't have blind faith in Israel am I a bad Jew? Because I can look critically at the situation and realize that there are serious shortcomings to the offensive in Gaza? Because I can sympathize with Palestinians I'm therefore anti-Israel?

Mainstream Jewish thinking is seriously flawed. The people who subscribe to the support-Israel-no-matter-w
hat philosophy are pushing people like me further and further away from the community. I know there are other people out there like me, people that do believe in Israel but don't agree with what they do, though we are afraid to voice our opinions. But we are the people that you want in your community. The Jews that are actually anti-Israel and don't believe in its right to exist don't care what the community response to things like this are, because they know that the community won't represent their views.

But where do people like me go? There was a support-Palestine rally on Saturday in Winnipeg. I could never go to a rally like this because there is a fundamental difference between them and me — I cannot support a rally that calls for the dissolution of the State of Israel. At the same time I cannot attend the pro-Israel rally that the community is organizing on Thursday for similar reasons, I do not support what is going on.

I am not anti-Israel.

I lived in Israel; I have taken out Birthright trips as a Madrich (counselor); I am considering moving back there to get my Ph.D. I love Israel. It is honestly one of the very few places that I feel the most at home. I would encourage everyone to go there. In terms of the Jewish community, I feel an obligation to try to get people to go to Israel and to experience what I experienced, and I am on the various Birthright committees so that I can do just that. And so it bothers me even more when people think that I hate Israel and that I'm a bad Jew because of it.

I know that there are other Jews out there that feel the same way. I hope that this post can encourage people to come forward and voice their opinions in opposition to what is currently going on in the Gaza Strip without feeling like they will be branded a 'bad Jew.'

Submitted by Daniel Harvey

It's not easy on anyone.

Since the economic downturn (or should I say "avalanche,") I have read many articles, blogs and e-mails about how people are being affected by the economy. Surprisingly enough, I have yet to see an executive or senior manager share their thoughts and tribulations during these extremely difficult times. There is much media and opinion about the loss of employment by the workforce, but senior management deals with the harsh realities as well.

Any senior manager with the slightest amount of leadership will tell you that these are very difficult times for them as well. Job security? They don't have any more security than the worker in a plant. Even with the proverbial axe over their own personal head, senior management have to make the heartbreaking decision of who stays and who goes. Often without rhyme or reason as to the individual that is affected but simply for financial or restructuring needs. If they are lucky, this will be the hardest part of their leadership role before moving forward. If they are unlucky, they will have to take apart a company piece by piece before filing for bankruptcy protection.

Easy? Not in any way. The pressure and emotional toll on leaders is tremendous.

A true leader is not measured solely for financial performance. They are mainly measured by their ability to motivate people, to create opportunity for their people and to have genuine concern for the people around them and their families. A good leader understands that a company is a "people business, "genuinely working with people to serve people. Having to "lay off" or "let go" of any part of the human equity in a business takes an emotional toll on a true leader. The stress, the anxiety, the genuine concern for the well being of the people they work with weighs very heavily on a senior manager. So much so that many lose their health to this torturous task. Each time that decision is made, a leader loses a very personal piece of themselves.

And once this genuine leader has executed the heart breaking task of downsizing or restructuring, he/she too must face the loss of their employment as well. I know, I've been there. The first thoughts are for people the leader has had to "let go" and it quickly turns into a heavy emotion of having failed the very same people they so genuinely believed in. A sense of shame comes over them. These economic times are heartless and relentless to all, including the leaders. Each individual, at any level, pays a heavy price: loss of income, anxiety, stress, sense of failure or complete confusion.

To those I have failed: thank you for believing in me.

Submitted by Megan Schellenberg

Bio/About:: I am a 23-year-old university graduate from Carleton University (BA Canadian Studies, 2008.) I grew up in North Bay, ON., with my three siblings, mother and step father. I was very successful in school and participated in numerous extra-cirricular activities. However, I suffered from severe depression and began self-mutilating when I was fourteen. I rarely spoke about it, but people noticed the cuts on my wrists and thought I was doing it for attention.

Unfortunately this is a common misconception amongst the majority of the population, so I felt very misunderstood. My struggle with mental illness combined with the alarming rates of suicide amongst youth in some Aboriginal communities made me want to make people aware of this issue- even if it meant that I had to come foward and talk about my own personal struggles.

Jason Yokom on why Canadian students should study abroad.

Read on for his take.