Suicide is nota Lee Tae hia Cer

he

> Show some empathy, not hostility

Photo of Chester Bennington Via Bleedingcool.com

Jessica Berget Staff Writer

ver since the recent suicide of

Linkin Park’s lead singer Chester Bennington, people have come to interpret the circumstances of his death in many different ways.

Some say his death is a reminder that anyone can suffer from mental illness, even famous singers and people surrounded by family and loved ones. Some encourage those with mental illness to get help and to reach out if

they are having thoughts of suicide. Then there are those who call his suicide an act of cowardice or selfishness, saying that he couldn’t handle his mental state and took the “easy way out,” leaving his family behind. Not only is this way of thinking incredibly negative and toxic, it is not reflective of mental illness by any stretch.

As someone who has struggled with depression, I never understood why someone would consider suicide a cowardly act. It is an extremely toxic and unhealthy way to interpret someone’s suicide. Suicide is a decision people

make when they feel hopeless, trapped, and isolated. They feel like there is no other way out of the black hole of depression. The sad truth is, when you're contemplating suicide, you're generally not thinking about how sad your loved ones will be if you left them; you are actually thinking about how much better off they would be without you. In some ways you think you are doing it for them, not in spite of them. People seem to forget that depression is a mental illness, and in many ways people with depression think committing suicide is the best thing

to do because their mental illness is

a huge burden on them. To call them

a coward is just insulting them, their

families, and anyone struggling with

depression and suicidal thoughts. Mental illness and depression still

have a lot of negative stigmas behind

them. By calling someone a coward or

selfish for contemplating or committing

suicide, you are not just contributing

to the harmful stereotypes that come

with depression, you are trivializing

the people who have struggled with

suicidal thoughts, and the communities

of people struggling with mental illness.

Nick Spencer: The hero comics deserves

> The writer who sparked endless controversies

Greg Waldock Staff Writer

ick Spencer has been a divisive

writer for Marvel Comics, even if his name isn’t well-known outside of dorky comic circles. There are two main social justice controversies Marvel has had to contend with in the last five years, and Nick Spencer was at the heart of both. It speaks to his talent as a writer that he managed to annoy all sides of the political spectrum without being petty, mean-spirited, or insulting.

Captain America: Sam Wilson saw the mantle of Captain America passed to the titular black hero, which drew the ire of people who lean more traditional. They saw Sam Wilson’s anti-establishment rhetoric as being un-American, and his protection of illegal immigrants as being almost treasonous. These criticisms

appear both in and out of the comics, as Sam Wilson is bombarded with Twitter hate inside the Marvel universe and in the internet of the real world. Accusations

of pandering were thrown around, and Spencer ended up with more than a few death threats and calls for the end to

his career. Spencer depicts the racism

and hate that illegal immigrants face in America, with Sam Wilson’s sidekick being a refugee from Mexico, and it ended up being more than a little predictive when Trump’s wall started (and then

suddenly stopped) being an idea.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Spencer also spearheaded the Secret Empire comic event, which had Captain America (the original Steve Rogers) become a secret Hydra agent. This time around he was slammed from the more progressive side of Twitter, accusing him of humanizing or even endorsing

Nazism, or of being inconsiderate to a character that was built by Jewish scientists to fight Nazis. There were more calls to

end his career and more wild conclusions about his political leanings. The power of Secret Empire is showing how dictatorships start, with both control over and relentless criticism of the media as Steve Rogers

gives suspiciously Trump-esque speeches

on-air and at the United Nations.

The truth is, Nick Spencer is a rare breed: a comic writer capable of portraying immense nuance in characters and world. In Captain America: Sam Wilson, Spencer doesn't just approach the difficult topics of illegal immigration, national identity, or the state of race relations in modern America; he questions why they exist. The people mad at Sam Wilson have legitimate concerns about the guy, but those concerns are inflated by news companies and radio

Keeping chickens 1n urban areas

> Benefits of backyard birds

Colten Kamlade Senior Columnist

here has been an increasingly heated

debate in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. It began in 2013 and has gone in and out of the spotlight ever since.

As of last week, it is once again the main source of contention between residents in the two cities. The proposal of backyard chickens and whether they ought to be allowed is being either vehemently opposed or showered with laudation. Maple Ridge currently permits chicken coops on plots of land that are one acre or more, but it is the minority of residents who own so much property. So, why are chickens not allowed on smaller plots, and is this fair?

Firstly, the noise level bothers some residents. Though hens do not make as much noise as roosters, they still cluck incessantly. If you're

living next to irritable neighbours, this can be a problem. I would still argue, however, that while hens can be noisy, a yappy dog or a neighbour who likes to play his music loudly

is still more of a disturbance.

Secondly, it is thought that chicken coops attract rats. Though it is common for rats and chickens to come hand in hand, it does not always have to be the case. Rats are attracted by chickenfeed,

9 BS c o 5 oO c = o ¢ zt > 5 9 BS 9 < oa

but if a coop is well maintained, excess food should be removed before nightfall. If this is done properly rats should not be a problem. Similarly, smell should be eliminated with proper maintenance. Now, let’s look at the benefits of having backyard chickens. The most obvious is that families can save money on food. Two hens should produce one or two eggs a day. Assuming you have a four-person family, a handful

talk show hosts. At the same time, Secret Empire shows how brutal, oppressive regimes are founded; they are not elaborate military takeovers with rolling tanks and waving flags, but are brought on bya subversive and deeply creepy influence over the way people think about politics. His character nuance also appears in Astonishing Ant-Man and Superior Foes of Spider-Man, both showing the cycle of crime that the justice system and

individual personalities perpetuate.

Despite being widely loathed by “politically engaged” people on the internet—right or left—Nick Spencer has never been more relevant. As Trump’s rhetoric becomes scarier, as voices in the left call for an end to free speech, and as people become increasingly divided by politics, his comics are a call for a basic level of human decency to the people you disagree with.

of chickens should ensure you never have to buy a carton of eggs again.

Another benefit is environmental. If you can start producing a large portion of your food in your own backyard, you can decrease your carbon footprint. Of course, eggs are just one part of this. Growing fruit and vegetables is the next step in leading an eco-friendlier life.

A final benefit is that you can introduce children to agricultural work. Less and less people are going into fields related to agriculture. This could be because suburban and urban children never have the opportunity to nurture an interest in it. Backyard chickens could help revitalize these fields of work by getting children involved at an early age.

Backyard chickens are not going to ruin your neighbourhood. They won't keep you up late at night or wake you up first thing in the morning. They will help families save money, expand their interests, and keep the planet healthy.