Warning, if you are easily offended or have issue with me speaking my mind, or dislike colorful language, turn back now. 

My Rant today is about this article:

(Click for Article)

I read this article and had to pause.  Are these people fucking insane?

Reparations...

For slavery in the 16th to 19th centuries?

ummmm.... what?

Based on the article, slavery was abolished in 1834 in Canada.

Are there a lot of 183+ year old people running around in Canada?  Because those would be the only one that I think had any right to any reparations.

The article goes on to say that it wasn't until the 20th Century that they could consider themselves citizens, or free people. I can agree with that, but the 20th Century began nearly 118 years ago, and it’s unlikely that any one 118+ years old are running around either.       

There are notes in the article stating that a formal apology would be a good step.  Allow me to be the first to offer it to Lynn Jones....

I'm sorry you're delusional and bat shit crazy.

I know this is a harsh statement, but I can't fathom how anyone thinks this is a good idea. But in the interest of fairness, and cultural evolution, if they can produce someone who was an actual slave up to and including the year 1900, I will personally bake them a cake, and beg sincerely for their forgiveness.

I would like to offer now, that this article is proof that racism still exists.  I would also like to add that people like Lynn Jones would have you believe that it is a one-way street, and that white people are the supreme oppressor.  Whether this is her actual view, or she chooses to spin it as such, she needs to wake the fuck up.

I won't say racism doesn't exist, but I refuse to allow others to say, or believe, that it is a one-way street. Many people of color use that to their advantage daily. They know that people don't want to be labeled as "Racist" so they can play the race card to get what they want, without reprisal, or any issue.  Not everyone does this, but I can assure you some do.  If I went into a store that was run by a person of color, and was legitimately treated unfairly due to my race, do you think my complaint would have any value to anyone?

I would hope it would, but I won't be holding my breath to find out. 

Many people, places and companies go the extra mile to accommodate people of color.  Frankly I'm glad they do, but there are some instances where this should, and can be viewed as racist.  I'll use Nova Scotia Power as an example.

NSP has 10 Scholarships that they offer for advanced education.  Of these 10, Caucasians are eligible for 8. Visible Minority groups are eligible for 9, and one is reserved specifically for Mi'kmaq students.  The Nova Scotia Power Employment Equity Scholarship specifically states Visible Minorities in Canada are defined under the Employment Equity Act as: “persons other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in color".  So this excludes a race based on its color, or lack thereof. 

Excluding someone based on their race...sounds Racist to me. No one really says anything about it.  Would they if we excluded a race of color from one of the other scholarships? 

you bet your ass they would.

People have this misconceived notion that if it doesn't specifically indicate a race of color that they are summarily excluded.  They are wrong.

I don't want to get a lot into this racist point, because I could go on Ad nauseam.  I do want to speak to one final point, and that was the one statement:

"We know that African-Nova Scotian students are underrepresented among the students who graduate, so our dropout rates have been higher,"...."But we also attribute this to racism within the education system".

Again this was a what the fuck are they talking about moment....

I wonder if they have any real concept, or they are just being told what they want to hear. An article from the CBC in January of 2017,  (Click for Article) spoke about a free course by the African Canadian Transition Program, that helps black students get a High School diploma.  The program began in 2006, so you'd think, if things are as racist as suggested, that those who were "wronged" out of their High School diploma would jump, nay...  LEAP at the chance to correct that wrong. 

Well you'd be wrong.  In 11 years, the program turned out 95 graduates. As a matter of fact, the program did not run for the last 2 years due to... you guessed it!  Lack of Enrollment.

So, I ask, in all honesty, are black students being under represented in the number of graduates, or do they simple not care enough to complete their education?  If it is the latter, as the enrollment numbers for the diploma program suggest, is it fair, or acceptable to scream racism where it potentially doesn't exist?

Please do not take my comments as racist.  I am far from it.  I have always been a fair and equitable person, but I also expect that fairness and equality to go both ways.  I expect us as a culture to fight racism in both directions.  I expect our politicians and people of power to not pander to claims without first checking for merit.  I expect those who make these claims to be reasonable, and have a viable argument.....

You know, perhaps I want too much.

I only ask one thing of my readers. Speak up.  If you disagree with me, Speak up.  I'm no stranger to criticism here, but be ready to argue and have solid facts to back it up. 

To those who agree with me.  Same thing.  Speak up.  Also, be ready to argue and have solid facts to back it up.

That's my piece my friends.  I hope i didn't offend too many of you, sometimes I wonder how I still have friends left. ;)