13. The Chosen Ones

There is no fair way of picking the 100 people that should be allowed to participate in Challenge Day other than a random draw.  The leadership class does not know everyone in the school, especially what their lives are actually like, so it is not fair for us or anyone else to make that call.  Furthermore, I quite frankly, would be offended and refuse the opportunity if someone asked if I would like to particpate.  I would wonder what they think of me and why they think I need this.  In my opinion, the only good way of going about this is to do a random draw with everyone's name in it.  That way, the chosen ones are randomly selected and have nothing to feel bad about and each person has equal opportunity to be eligible for the event.  As for the actual Challenge Day, I am interested to see how it will go down.  I rarely talk about personal matters, even to close friends and family and often struggle with things such as this.  Therefore, I do not have any suggestions as to how the event should be run.

12. Nelly's Side

Nelly Furtado's talk about Africa and the Middle-Eastern regions of the world was all to save face.  She goes on about how Africa is such a great place to go and how much she learned there but its all a farce.  She conveniantly didn't mention the fact that her concert was paid for by a dictator with dirty money or how she never really gave back to the people of Libya, only that she "wanted" to.  If she really wanted to, then why didnt she?  If she really learned so much and cared about how sad it is over there, why did she just get rid of her dirty money once people found out and go back to her big house to continue making more money?  Its because she did not want to give back to the people of Libya, she did not really learn anything in Africa and she just does not care about anything she talked about.  It was all to save her image and trick people into believing she is a good person. 

6. Down n' Dirty Comments

The people who commented on the school's tradition saying that it was not a good thing have no idea what they are talking about.  Its people like them who make education boring and try to put safety bubbles around everyone.  Anything that is not 'proper' and mature are seen as poor choices and actions when really its something called 'fun'.  I am tired of those who took out the merry-go-round in the park because kids were getting hurt on it.  The reason kids got hurt on it is because they actually used it unlike all of the other stuff they throw in there and call fun.  I am tired of the people who took out the metal slide, again another park reference, because it got hot in the sun.  Its fine!  They are the reason that so many kids hate school and yes, I say hate because that is how the majority of us feel.  Only 10% of kids, "the good kids", actually like and look forward to school and that is all many people care about.  As long as "the good kids" like it, then its ok for everyone else.  Sadly, those 10% of kids who actually excel at the weird concept of school are the ones who will continue this boring tradition and stamp out all fun when they get older.  I realize this is a little off topic but it is those same kind of people that do not like Banting's tradition, that continue to destroy the concept of childhood and actually learning something in school. 

8. Words from Jack Layton

The last words of a dieing man should be heard above all others as they can be some of the most honest and important words he will ever speak.  Jack Layton passed away last summer but he left a significant letter in his stead that demonstrated qualities of a true leader.  It was sophisticatedly written but still understandable to the average person as it delivered its message to Canada.  He spoke of the future, trying to rally the youth of the nation and change things for the better and gave his last words of support to the coalition, doing his best to stand up for what was right.  It portrayed the commitment and passion that every leader needs as he continued to fight for causes even as he lay on his death bed.  For this, I have a new respect held towards Jack Layton leader of the NDP.  I did not always see eye-to-eye with him on political views but I can appreciate that, in the end, he did what he thought was best for Canada and its people.  

11. Nelly Furtado Comments

"I'm all for school in Kenya, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to direct this donation towards the Libyan people?" - Unknown.  I feel that Furtado should have donated the money back to the people from which it came.  Building schools in Kenya is a good cause but the money was stolen from Libyan citizens and should have been returned to them.  If it were me, my conscience would not be cleared until those people were reimbursed for their losses.

10. Nelly Furtado

Despite the fact that Nelly donated $1 million to a charitable cause, I still dont think she deserves any praise.  The dictator that paid her that much stole it from the peopl of his country, making it dirty money which she knowingly excepted.  This obviously weighed on Nelly's conscience, obligating her to give the money away.  She tried to make up for a wrong she committed and for that, I see her as being neutral; neither worthy of praise or criticism.     

9. Poster

Hannah, Nicoletta and I made the poster which says 'Creative'.  At first, I thought the poster would be too busy because of all the different designs and pictures that were on it but, from a distant, the word still stands out well.  I also thought using a variety of colours helped to catch the eye and that using 'Creative' as our adjective was a good fit for IDCI due to all of our art students.  The only regrettable part of the poster was the attempt at an oregami sun.  Too much time was spent as each of us tried to make the sun and failed.  However, if our oregami skills were better, I still think it would have been a good idea to make part of the poster 3D.  Overall, I am happy with the way it turned out.

7. b) Heroism

I do not believe that the term 'hero' should be used lightly but rather be reserved for someone who commits an outstanding deed for the betterment of others while risking everything for themselves.  I have never encountered a person to do such a thing and therefore am unable to proclaim such an honourable title on either a great individual or an action.

7. Book of Awesome

The Adrenaline Rush While Playing an Intense Sport

            There is nothing quite like the massive rush of energy that shoots through your body as what feels like an electric current, energizes your muscles, propelling you to achieve feats you previously thought were not possible.  The thrill of performing at your absolute best with your brain single-mindedly focused on the task at hand, allows any worries to disappear for the time being and just enjoying the epic moment of glory.     

Down n' Dirty

IDCI should definatley have an event similar to Banting's 'Field Riot'.  It is a fun and exciting way to introduce grade 9s into high school, allowing them to act like children one more time while playing in the mud before society expects them to grow up.  As long as the event is optional and no one is pressured into participating, it would be a great time for participants and spectators alike.  High school is often a strict and boring place and this would be a good start to changing the general attitude towards education.

Pat Tillman

Although I never met Pat Tillman, based on what I know, I would declare him a hero and martyr.  He was a great football player making millions of dollars every year and was, as most people would say, 'living the life'.  However, he thought his country needed him so he gave his football career up to join the military and become a marine.  I can think of no man or women that I know who would do such a thing for their country and for others in general.  This act alone is enough for for Mr. Tillman to be considered a great man.  Sadly, once Pat arrived in Iraq to fight the war, he began to find things were not quite as he expected.  He was brave and morally sound enough to speak up against the treacheries committed by the army and, I personally believe, died because of it.  He must have known the risks of telling others about the laws the military was breaking but did it anyways.  That takes a lot of courage and even though he was killed, most likely intentionally by his fellow soldiers, Pat Tillman is a hero for his relentless efforts to help others even in the face of death.