It's three years since the troops went into Iraq and there are mixed feelings about whether or not the troops should stay in or leave.
On another note but still in Iraq, over a week ago, it was confirmed that one of the CPT (Christian Peacemakers Team) hostages was killed. Tom Fox, one of the four taken hostage was confirmed dead, killed by the Swords of Truth, the group that took him hostage in November. You could read his blog here. And here is an article he wrote the day before he was abducted. My prayers go out to his family. (I blogged about the abduction on 23 Dec 05)
March 18, 2006
March 03, 2006
being filipino and canadian
The past few weeks have forced me on a few different levels to tap into both my canadian-ness and filipino-ness. Two weeks ago I took part in a studio recorded panel discussion on canadian politics, particularly on the recent federal elections. I sat in a discussion panel with four other canadians, and the host, who was also canadian. It was fascinating and nerve-racking, given the fact that I had never done anything like that and I am not all that politically savvy. I was defaulted into the panel being one of the few canadians in bradford. The show might air this weekend but I haven't heard anything about it, but will definitely post some information once I find out.
This past week I also got to sit in on a roundtable discussion with the Philippine Ambassador to the UK to discuss peace issues and sustainable development in the Philippines. I sat amongst much more qualified and informed Filipino students. A wiser person would equate ignorance with keeping her mouth shut, but I suppose, I'm not that wise of a person. Regardless, it was a special time. I got to know the other students here (there were 10 of us in all) and I learned a lot more about the Philippines. I am starting to recognise and acknowledge the Philippines as one of the places I would like to consider for work. If you had asked me five years ago, I would have said 'not a chance' but there's been some stirring in me for the past three years about the Philippines. We'll see what that means and where that takes me.
On a another level, I am thinking of looking to some degree on identity for my dissertation. On an academic note, I think it will be useful to consider how we shape our understanding of ourselves and how we differentiate ourselves from 'the other'. On a personal note, I think it might help me consider how I define myself and recognise some of the labels I give myself to attach meaning to my personhood and hopefully explore some of the questions that I have been asking myself for the past few years. It's all in the preliminary stages of the dissertation right now. I don't suppose I'll really know what I'm saying until the night before its submission.
This past week I also got to sit in on a roundtable discussion with the Philippine Ambassador to the UK to discuss peace issues and sustainable development in the Philippines. I sat amongst much more qualified and informed Filipino students. A wiser person would equate ignorance with keeping her mouth shut, but I suppose, I'm not that wise of a person. Regardless, it was a special time. I got to know the other students here (there were 10 of us in all) and I learned a lot more about the Philippines. I am starting to recognise and acknowledge the Philippines as one of the places I would like to consider for work. If you had asked me five years ago, I would have said 'not a chance' but there's been some stirring in me for the past three years about the Philippines. We'll see what that means and where that takes me.
On a another level, I am thinking of looking to some degree on identity for my dissertation. On an academic note, I think it will be useful to consider how we shape our understanding of ourselves and how we differentiate ourselves from 'the other'. On a personal note, I think it might help me consider how I define myself and recognise some of the labels I give myself to attach meaning to my personhood and hopefully explore some of the questions that I have been asking myself for the past few years. It's all in the preliminary stages of the dissertation right now. I don't suppose I'll really know what I'm saying until the night before its submission.
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