The niqab debate defies the Canadian Constitution #BarbaricCulturalPractices

#BarbaricCulturalPractices
Choices: thong or no thong

"We want to encourage women to live great lives here."

           –Mayor Nenshi

Jason Kenny CPC Candidate vs. Calgary Mayor Nenshi:

‘This is disgusting and it is time for us to say stop it’: Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi blasts Tories’ niqab ban
“This is unbelievably dangerous stuff. I spoke with a group of mayors and councillors from all over Alberta last week … I stood up and said this is disgusting and it is time for us to say stop it — it’s time for us to say this is enough,” Nenshi said.

Mayor Nenshi
"For Canada to work we have to speak against the voices of intolerance." 

Jason Kenney - Defense Minister

#BarbaricCulturalPractices 

“If anything’s dangerous, it would be legitimizing a medieval tribal custom that treats women as property rather than people,” Kenney, currently running for re-election in Calgary, said in an interview Thursday.

My students preferred their hijabs. We had no kids who wore the full niqab. When they would have basketball practice, with their all-girls teams, they would remove them and relax. They preferred being modest, rather than showing bellies and legs, as other girls did.

Mayor Nenshi's points

1. Of course the polls say that Canadians want the niqab banned, since the Conservatives have turned this issue to political gain.
2. I don't worry about what the polls say when it comes to basic personal rights. It's not about majority rule.
3. It is a basic human dignity. For Canada to work, it means we have to speak against the voices of intolerance and the voices of small-mindedness, wherever we find them. And all Canadians should do that.

'Barbaric cultural practices" a veil?

Canadians should speak out for the kind of Canada they want. Ban it for a 30 second ceremony, or ban it all the time, what is the deal? This violates the Canadian Constitution: freedom to wear a hijab or a turban.

Identity is really important to many of us.

Two Conservative candidates have touted a tipline for the RCMP [Conservatives pledge funds, tip line to combat 'barbaric ... to enforce the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act] if you suspect barbaric cultural behaviour. What does this mean? How judgemental can they be? We have a tipline for domestic violence: 911.

Yet more interference in cultures different than Canada's and wasteful funds: If elected on Oct. 19, the Conservatives would also commit $12 million over four years to help international organizations working abroad to prevent forced marriages of girls and young women, particularly in conflict zones, they said.

#BarbaricCulturalPractices = a veil?

 Let's spend $12 million in Canada to support women's shelters here in Canada, the money that was cut by the Harper government in order to balance their budget. Let's stop offending those whose cultures prefer arranged marriages.

Stephen Harper's War On Women - NOW Toronto Magazine ...

Not that this will surprise those who have tracked this government's record on women's equality since Harper first came to power in 2006. Among its many hits on women was the shutdown of 12 out of 16 Status of Women offices and the entire Court Challenges program, which helped women (as well as members of the LGBT community and those facing physical and mental challenges) fight for their constitutional rights. At the time, Harper referred to those as "left-wing fringe groups."

#BarbaricCulturalPractices
on a beach

The process of cancer treatment; Part III – tests, reading materials, documentation

We were at the Cancer Assessment Clinic just last Tuesday, Oct. 22nd. By Friday, the 25th, we'd been phoned for three appointments for the next month: a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, a Computed Tomography (CT, AKA 'cat') Scan, a bone scan to determine if there are cancer cells in the bones, and follow-up with the surgeon, after all the data was in.
Most importantly, for us, we've been documenting names, dates, doctors, health data, appointments, in the booklet we were provided, although other types are available.

Why do tests?

In education, we test to assess, diagnose, evaluate causes, determine treatment, and determine progress after said treatment.
It is important to understand at which stage the cancer cells sit (Stages I, II, III,  or IV) and if or where they are have spread and are growing.
For example, if you have Stage II Prostate Cancer, this is what you can expect:

• http://www.cancer.gov/PublishedContent/MediaLinks/627858.html

From: Understanding Lab and Imaging Tests

The surgeon was amazingly illustrative about our range of options, depending upon test results, of course. The best treatment depends upon how invasive the cancer cells have become, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. His office, and his nurse, gave us copious amounts of reading material. For the most part, everything he talked to us about was in the booklets we had been given. We need not memorise it! Hubby wisely put it aside that day and the next. Then, he read it all. I flipped through some of it, but couldn't not digest it all.

Reading Materials

As with any information it can be overwhelming. Seeing as the MRI is the next test, I will read up on this specific test, google a map for the centre where we will go, and parse it out that way.

The doctor offered up several websites where we could get the best information. I knew of these from my M.A. on-line research and had published a post on it. I had done a great deal of research for my book, and knew where to go.

 Even so, many websites provide contradictory information. You must be a wise consumer.

I found, when both my parents were dying of cancer, there was little information once they were in treatment. Now, we can find articles such as Bone Marrow Cancer Survival Rates. Neither were likely to be cured, and they underwent treatments that reduced their quality of life. Mom had radiation in 2005, then one chemotherapy treatment, developed a blood clot and died. Dad had radiation that gave him an infection, UTI, and his missed Mom's funeral whilst in delirium.

My guidelines for reliable research...

1. Check the source of information is non-profit, e.g., Canadian Cancer Society (.org), University , or a government (gc= Government of Canada; gov= US government). Not CARP or AARP. They are lobby groups.
2. Check the credentials of the writer.
3. Check for date of publication.
4. Determine if the site is selling a particular drug and has a bias or could have been paid to provide the information. It is common. I get the requests daily.
5. Figure out who is paying for the site. Avoid those with Google ads.

   

   spiritualpathways.ca

6. Avoid sites with spelling errors. 
7. Check references for specific articles or issues. Bad research with poor construct validity abounds, as well as poor data or unreliable data.
8. Ensure that the content applies to you and your specific situation; the type of cancer, the stage of cancer.

I have a hospice client I visit with Stage IV, palliative bone marrow cancer, leukemia. I've been gathering resources for myself, as advocate, as well as information for him. He is in the latter stage of care. (See the image.)

Some of the good websites: 

• PubMed: National Center for Biotechnology Information
• Canadian Cancer Society (CCA) | American Cancer Society  both of these sites offer 

  

  Understanding
   Lab and Imaging Tests 

  information on cancer in general, and specific cancers. CCS will find you specific information, as well as peer support, drivers, etc.
• Specific societies, e.g., Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.org (LLS) I found Understanding Leukemia (PDF), from their website.
• LLS also provides: Understanding Lab and Imaging Tests (PDF)
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC): Cancer and Treatment
• Mayo CLinic Research
•