NoveMBER 15, 2005

THE CADRE ¢ 2

Ae SN

Laur enecnseenrnssesseneeesetenennasonsensenencernccremncneedl HEL Yee Reese a eee

member of Cat (CUP). The Cadr Plus for mi

But I digress...

Ray Keating Managing Editor

This past Saturday I spent some quality time shopping here in Charlottetown. It was the most pleasant experience I’ve had since last time I hit my thumb with a hammer. It never ceases to amaze me how people get themselves worked up into a buying frenzy for the six weeks or so preceding Christmas. The entire reason for the holiday is somehow lost. Now, before you put some sort of label on me here, I am not making a play for more religion in the season, or anything else like that. That’s your own business and not something I am inclined to get into. What I am talking about here is disgusting displays of commercialism without any thought given to how the less fortunate are spending their holiday season.

This issue we have an article about “International Buy Nothing Day”. I won’t go into it here, go take a look at the story... but I’d like to propose that we all go one step further. Can you imagine the impact it would have if we all considered what we normally spend on gifts during this season and then took 10% of that and bought small tokens of our affection for the people on our lists while using the other 90% to support a charity or our choice? In this brief period of the year, we could make a massive difference in the lives of a huge number of people. I support the idea of “Buy Nothing Day” but I don’t think it’s enough. That’s about economic control; we need to combine it with actively caring for others.

I recognize that what I’ve just suggested is a bit drastic and not likely

to be embraced by the masses... so how about something less drastic. Why not commit to sharing your good fortune in at least a small way. Why not flip that number around and consider devoting 10% of your holiday spending to someone less fortunate than you? Food banks around the country (and right here on our campus) are in desperate need of donations. The demand placed on them during the holiday season is always the highest. . . and really, you may have never used a food bank, but most students know what it’s like to be broke; try being broke at Christmas and having a family to feed... let alone buy gifts for. That leads to another idea. Find an organization and buy a children’s gift. After all, Christmas really is for kids. On the lighter side of things, the coming season brings more than simply need for generosity. .. it brings snow. .. and in PEI, snow brings out the worst in our drivers. I was looking back at an issue of The Cadre from this time last year and we featured the “Campus’ Worst Parking Jobs”. I'd like to say we’ ve all gotten the hang of parking intelligently on snow covered lots, and that we all have learned how to drive on a slippery road, but alas, this is simply not the case. I am sure that this year will bring more of the same. With even less parking on campus this year than last, I am also sure that the creativity that people employ when parking will be even more interesting than last year. Even if you don’t drive to campus, you’ re not off the hook just

yet... for those of you walking to campus, when the snow starts to fall, use that thing on your shoulders for more than an hat rack. .. remember that people in Charlottetown are incapable of driving safely when it’s slippery and will likely run you over if you dart out in front of them (in which case you might at least be eligible for a Darwin Award). Aside from the risk of getting run over, we don’t want Ryan Gallant laying around on University Avenue again pretending he got flattened by oncoming traffic just to make a point about crossing the road safely.

‘In any case, have no fear, we at The Cadre will be out in force, documenting driver’s incompetence for all to point and laugh at.

Canadian companies are helping China to eliminate Tibetan culture...

Support the innocent by joining ~ the campaign to — fight Bombardier’s

support of China’s

occupation.

studenteforafreetibet.org sftpel@gmall.com