© Opinions the other press e¢ Kali thurber Absurdity and the Consumer Kali Thurber Opinions Editor The generation of youth today is probably the most publicly diverse group in history. However, I believe a large majority of this current gen- eration lives, from a philosophical standpoint, in the middle ground, in an inactive, placid state. By this “middle ground” I mean that we genuinely care about the society we live in, the state of the environ- ment, and even the lives of future generations—but remain docile, and make no positive lasting changes to the world we live in. But I have to ask, what can one expect from a generation in which we con- sider watching movies, and attend- ing social gatherings to be taking action against the daily systems— the very systems that we help to upkeep? All the kitschy anarchists are scrambling to get in line for films like The Corporation, Bowling For Columbine, or whatever tragic- comedy event for the weak (oops, I mean of the week) it is, in order to feel a sense of revolution that they crave. But there is no revolution coming—there are no billboards advertising it, or flyers stapled to telephone poles mentioning any such thing. And that’s OK, because we feel better just having watched a film that shows us how awful everything is, or stomping along ina rally that nobody's paying any attention to. There seems to be a general belief that any knowledge gained of the dark, gloomy world out there serves as some kind of completion, and gives us satisfaction. Once, at a rally to stop the occupation of Iraq, I saw a sign that read, “Just know- ing is something.” But this is a deadly luxury to expend to a people who will surely take advantage of it. And I believe that is precisely what we are doing—extending ourselves the luxury, and taking it. The implications of such a phi- losophy are tremendously danger- ous—for instance, it’s fairly simple to understand the rampant over- consumption of Western society, and if all you need to do is under- stand, then why stop buying prod- ucts that you know are ruining the planet, right? The ever-present media engulfs us in a tornado of swooshes, golden arches and botox commercials that we truly want to believe don’t affect us, but ironical- ly we also use as an excuse for our own bad habits. I went to see The Corporation last week, and after the film, which featured a jarring melody of huffs and sighs from the audience, and a generally felt distain for what life in corporate America has become, I exited the movie theatre. And there I was—standing in the middle of the International Shopping Village that Tinseltown is housed in, won- dering why | still didn’t have any motivation to change the world. Two girls who had sat a couple rows in front of me walked solemn- ly into 7-11, and I saw them point- ing at candy wrappers and car mag- azines—presumably complaining about the brainwashing techniques of advertisements, or maybe about how monotonous, and dull every- thing feels. At the counter one girl bought a coke, the other a choco- late bar. And this is what we've become. A e opinionsubmit@hotmail.com media-based society, in which there is no separation between commu- nity and the big picture. The irony of the situation is not that we don’t have enough information, but that we have too much. Human beings simply aren't capable of compre- hending that large a scope, and so we become immersed in confusion, or give up caring altogether— much like the two girls who went to 7-11 because it seems pointless and far too energy-consuming to resist the daily flow of life. So we don’t resist, and instead submerge ourselves in the eat, sleep, shop cycle, letting the guilt slip away because “just knowing is something.” The absurd aspect of the realized consumer is that we understand the consequences of supporting corporations that have no conscience, but we continue to support them—not out of incom- prehension, but because of the overwhelmed lethargy of knowl- edge that marks the generation | speak of. The inevitable absurdist in us all, always lingering in wait, emerges and every atom feels like filler—like the tone on TV when it's expected that nobody’s watch- ing, or the loaf of bread that molds at the back of the fridge, but we continue to buy out of a habit that was probably formed before we were born. I suppose we are content in this pattern of destruction, realization, and further destruction. That's why we continue on, watching the earth crumble under our footsteps— chanting our mantra, “Just know- ing is something.” February 25, 2004 Over the Rainbow Commissioners Refusing To Marry Same-Sex Couples Laine Le Vecque OP Columnist Commissioners who perform civil marriages are appointed by the BC Vital Statistics Agency. In January a letter was sent out to all commis- sioners telling those “who feel they cannot solemnize same sex mar- riages” to “resign their appoint- ments,” effective March 31, 2004. But there is an MP that feels this is unfair to those commissioners that do not feel they can perform these ceremonies. This MP states that “injection of matters of moral con- science as a condition of employ- ment in the middle of a contract is possibly unconstitutional.” Paul Forseth, MP for New Westminster, Burnaby, and Coquitlam believes that the province has decided to “jump the gun, and actively promote same-sex mar- riage.” The definition of marriage may not be changed federally yet, but in BC us queers can marry one another. He has also suggested that there be two lists made, one of com- missioners who will perform same- sex marriages, and the other of those who will not. My question is would a statement like that be accepted if this were about interracial marriages? Racism is not tolerated and yet the obvious discrimination doesn’t seem to elicit the same reaction as if this were about interracial marriage. Lori Williams, a New Westminster city counselor, and marriage com- missioner, has said that commission- ers should remain neutral. “It would be like a teacher saying ‘I -don't believe in evolution, therefore I’m not going to talk about Darwin at all. You can’t do that—you've got to teach what the curriculum requires.” Marriage commissioners are provid- ing a public service by performing these ceremonies, which means there can be no discrimination and it May Have To Resign seems that’s exactly what Forseth is asking for. Since July 2003, same-sex mar- riages have been legal. As wonderful a victory that is, the battle is not over. We must now protect what we have struggled and fought for. With Paul Martin as Prime Minister, we must be prepared for the possibility that the support we have had for this definition change to pass federally may be weakened. “Paul Martin wants to evade the issue of gay marriage because he’s afraid of the impact on his support at the ballot box,” the Bloc Québécois Justice Critic, Richard Marceau, said before Martin was voted in. Martin has remained quite ambiguous with his opinion on the same-sex marriage issue. He was quoted asking if there were any options other then giving same-sex couples access to marriage itself. Last year was a year of victories— Bill C-250 passed, (the inclusion of gay* bashing under the hate crime law) as well as Ontario and BC approving same-sex marriage. But due to our new federal government we must continue to let our MP’s and Mr. Martin know that equality is a Canadian value, one that our country is known for, and will forev- er support. To contact your MP, and inform them of your support for same-sex marriage, you can look them up at . Click on “Your MP.” and then search with your postal code. Or Write to them at: Name of Member of Parliament or Hon, Paul Martin House of Commons Ottawa, Ont. KIA 0AG Kali Thurber Opinions Editor Today Commercial Drive is a medley of bubbly | tourists, sober alcoholics, and coffee-swilling grumblers. I watch a particularly complacent man as he eats a chocolate croissant and mean- ders down the sidewalk. He stops a young & [= = nS fe co ‘|g ‘| B83 (| s ow eq (| <6 Name: Winston Age: 20 Marketing A mix your household? Five or six watch TV? day. watch the most? Program at Douglas College: Last CD in your stereo? How many TV’s do you have in How often would you say you I guess I'd say a couple shows a What channel do you think you — : Name: Zahara Age: 26 Program at Douglas College: Marketing Last CD in your stereo? A mix from a DJ How many TV’s do you have in your household? Three How often would you say you watch TV? Two, maybe three shows a day. What channel do you think you watch the most? I don't know, what channel is woman who’ rushing to catch a bus, and tells her, “I hope your life is as beautiful as you are,” and I think, “what a nice man, what a lovely thing to say.” Until, of course, I observe him further, and realize he says this line to every woman who walks by, with the same earnest sincerity. The Discovery Channel! the Young and the Restless on? http://www.otherpress.ca Page 7