Opinions

 

 

Finally! Modern cars with classic styles

By Siavash Emamzadeh

Buss those good old days: a
time when automobiles had truly
distinguishing characteristics.
A Volvo was graced with those
beloved square dimensions and a
Mercedes was bulky, wide, and
prestigious. It was back in those
days that Porsche was exclusively
devoted to manufacturing exotic
cars and not SUVs, Honda was
only making sedans and coupes and
not pickup trucks, and Buick and
Lincoln were still producing those
long and powerful classics.

But now, is it all ruined?
Well, technological advances are
certainly tremendous; hybrids are
mother nature’s ally and the Global
Positioning System is a big Tylenol
to many, but I’m not sold on the
new exteriors, they’re too refined
for me. Apparently, though, I
harbour telepathic powers, because
somehow, by some psychic-esque manipulation,
companies like Ford, Dodge, Volkswagen, and BMW
have now rectified some of my disdain—and how!

One word for you: retrofuturistic. That’s what I call
a win-win compromise or a compromise that borders
on the median divider; I like retro, you like futuristic,
and therefore, we like retrofuturistic. Retrofuturistic is
the new Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Volkswagen
Beetle, and BMW Mini, and it’s also what tantalizes
a guy like me that can’t afford any of them. All these
specific models have an easily discernible display of

 

heritage in them; the Mustang resembles the Mustang
of 1964; the Mini, the Mini of ‘59; the Challenger the
Challenger from of 1970, and the Beetle the original
Beetle of ‘38. They all carry their cherished and unique
complexions from their golden years to modern time.
Needless to say, what delights me about
these winners is their head-turning looks, but I sit
here contemplating some disguised and profound
significance that I do believe exists.Other models do
qualify as “fructose for the eyes” as well, such as the
Jeep Wrangler, but there is just something about the

retrofuturistic twist that’s remarkably
appealing. I don’t know, but maybe it’s
the scientific knowledge that we can’t
rewind time and, as a result, some relished
memories from the past can’t be fused
with the luxuries and accommodations
of today. That would indeed be euphoria
if we could selectively pick each happy
memory with a figurative toothpick, place
it on our plate and douse it with a spurt
of modernity. If a care-free childhood,
galore with more grins than growls
(my unsuccessful play on alliteration)
could be recalled to this second, which
is galore with stress and tests (again
with the alliteration), it would be great.
We obviously can’t do that, but perhaps
that concept, greatly amended, has been
incorporated into a retrofutiristic brand
of designing and that’s what draws this
smile from me.

It can’t be denied that designers need
to implement design modifications, like
more flexible curves, but at least we
can still preserve some defining attributes. Indeed,
conformity is not always the answer; following in the
footsteps of competitors might be the safe path, but to
lead the pack, one needs to take a relative risk, which by
itself is not a risk. There will always be those brilliant
designers who deviate from heritage and yet generate a
fine car and, be that as it may, but I can’t guarantee that
it will evoke the same playful smile you get when your
eyes meet a brand new Challenger.

 

Ignorance is not bliss:
hate adds insult to injury

By Priscilla A. Bartleman

“Remembering

Lawrence

friends of Larry. His life and his story
have touched the lives of many. I just

King

 

 

i is a story about a 15-year-old
boy named Lawrence King, who was
shot on February 12, 2008, at E.O.
Green School in Oxnard, California,
and died two days later. Lawrence
was an openly gay boy who liked
to occasionally dress in women’s

8

clothing, sometimes even with makeup
and jewellery. Taunted and teased, he
would verbally fight with schoolmates,
until the day he was eventually shot
by one of them. His shooter is now
being charged, as an adult, with murder
and the commission of a hate crime.

I was reading the posts on the

(Murdered Because He was Gay)”
Facebook group and I was appalled at
what I saw. Lawrence’s life is not a matter
to be debated. This was an unlawful,
unjust death and I cannot believe some of
the things I’ve read. Okay,

so I can believe to some “Fach person is en-

degree that the world is so
full of hate and fear. But no
one should have their life
taken because of who they
are—especially a child.

Some people cannot
even respect the fact there
is a Facebook group in
support of the family and memory of
Lawrence; they have to splash the wall
with their poisonous thoughts. Each
person is entitled to their opinion, but
there is a line and that line has been
crossed. It is akin to walking into a funeral
and bad-mouthing the person in the
coffin; it’s just not right. This may only
be a Facebook group for some, but for
others it was a place to give condolences,
mourn, and support one another.

My heart goes out to the family and

titled to their opin-
ion, but there are
lines that should
not be crossed.”

hope his death was not in vain. I wish for
people to take a moment and do a self
inventory: “Am I what I wish the world
to be? Am I promoting what I would
want to be inflicted upon
myself, my family, my
friends, or someday
even my children? If
this happen to someone
in my life would I be
singing a different tune?”
Maybe not. Maybe
these people who hate
would hate their own
loved ones, too. But I wish that were
not the case because it truly breaks
my heart to see such hate, pain, and
ignorance. Ignorance is not bliss!
There have been many candlelight
vigils since Larry’s death, and a leading
gay-rights student organization, the Gay,
Lesbian and Straight Education Network
(GLSEN), has decided to make King’s
murder one of the central themes of this
year’s annual Day of Silence on April
Ze,