Letters to the Editor
Send your letters to editor@themanitoban.com or drop them off at 105 University Centre
‘Thinking Africa?’: Ignorance to the rescue
I wish to commend Jacinthe Blab for his sound piece in the February 6 issue. Having written about the stereotypes about Africa during my tenure as comment editor of the Manitoban to the point where I felt I might be labeled a communist — to be sure, a terrible label these days — I have come to the conclusion that everyone reserves the right to be ignorant, if they so desire.
There is abundant evidence that we all understand the world in terms of categories and ideal types. To continue to differentiate between the “Third World” and the “First World,” Africa, as an analytic category has to be conceived as a monolithic place of wars and famine and the developed world must be the place of bliss devoid of problems. Never mind the individual debts and other social ills; we all are just fine.
Clearly laying down the true picture about Africa as Jacinthe clamours for is capable of disrupting things held very dearly and sincerely believed to be true. How else can parents frighten their children into gratefully eating their veggies? There has to be an Africa where everyone is hungry.
There are indeed problems deserving of attention in Africa as everywhere. However, in countries like Nigeria (as well as most sub-Saharan countries); malaria kills more people than HIV/AIDS. Hence, those who honestly believe everyone is dying of HIV/AIDS are those whose next pay cheque depends on believing so. While not meaning to downplay genuine efforts in some quarters, the reality is that the HIV/AIDS industry has become a path to a good international career and a smart way to retire. So, everyone in Africa has to have HIV/AIDS at least statistically.
Let me end with a popular joke about two friends. The first asks his buddy who happens to be from a country in Africa: “Is it true that you guys live on trees?” Totally amused, his friend answers: “Yes, that’s true. In fact, your ambassador lives on the next tree to my family’s.”
Finally, a friend was asked in the U.S. in 2006 if people were connected to the Internet in Canada! People will always have accurate information about whatever they desire, if they look closely enough, but there is no harm in being pleasantly ignorant.
Tope Oriola
Ph.D student in criminology, University of Alberta.
Following the money trail
In response to Nils Vik’s letter to the editor last week, I must clarify that the “$140” he suggests does not only go to UMSU. It also goes to, in his case, his faculty council Students Architectural Society, as well as many different student services that were initiated by referenda. These referenda asked students if they were in favour of contributing money annually to the various services: a few of them include UMFM, the Manitoban and U of M Recycling and Environmental Group.
The other portion of the fees which does go to UMSU goes right back to students in the form of providing support for faculty councils and their events (such as supporting Ditchball), campaigns, events, businesses (such as IQ’s), scholarships and bursaries (because not everyone has parents that can pay their tuition), and many free services, such as GoSA (UMSU’s Gallery of Student Art), which Nils Vik should be very familiar with as his work has recently been featured there. This service is provided free to students, and encourages students from ALL faculties to participate expressing themselves in various different forms and mediums.
If students have a problem with the suggested “mediocre generic rock bands” that play on campus, we encourage them to submit their ideas to us to help make events better. I also encourage students to come and talk to us – they will often realize that UMSU does a lot more for them than they realize.
Amanda Jonson
Vice-President External, UMSU
Science should not be fucked with
Dear Editor,
I was very impressed with Dean Jensen’s passionately argued article (irreverently titled “Don’t Fuck with Science, Steve”) about recent cutbacks to environmental monitoring agencies, including an astonishing 80% budget reduction for the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network, which monitors changes in ecosystems, at the time when we need this information the most!
This is sad news that should have been publicized much more broadly than it was, and I hope The Manitoban can publish Dean Jensen’s sources for this information. We shouldn’t have to be getting our most significant news from student newspapers and late night talk shows now, but such seems to be the case. Bravo to Dean Jensen and The Manitoban for this important information, and the reminder to all of us to be vigilant and outspoken in our care for the beleagured environment, and protest against bad decision-making by our political leaders.
Thank you very much,
Di Brandt
Canada Research Chair in English
Brandon University
Punching Back
I’d like to respond to Jesse Beach’s article “The leadership of a punching bag”, regarding the debate over our role in Afghanistan. Maybe I miss your point, but how can you say that the liberals are responsible for the direct premeditated actions of others? That attitude absolves the murderers of their responsibility for murder. It’s the same thing if I tell a rape victim she is responsible for being raped. It takes the focus off the disgusting act of violating another human for your own sexual gratification, and makes the victim answerable for the crime. You are aware that Mr. Dion is bringing this up because some Canadians are in agreement with that position? In our small attempt at democracy in this country, that is his job; to bring points like this to the forefront.
Adam Hayward
Bloody right ol’ chap!
Dear University of Manitoba Students,
Recently, you may have heard about Canadian Blood Services’ policy regarding the deferral of men who have had sex with other men (MSM) even once since 1977 being debated in the media and at your university. Canadian Blood Services understands that this is a complex and sensitive issue and we would like to provide you with some information to better understand this safety policy.
Why do we have the MSM deferral policy if we test all donated blood? Because our state-of-the-art test for HIV has a limitation. In the early stages of infection, known as the ‘window period’, the virus is undetectable. What this means is that without a screening process, there is the potential for an infected unit to get through the system and be transfused into a patient. And recently released reports from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate that MSM continues to account for the highest rate of HIV infection.
The MSM policy, as with most of our policies, renders anyone whose blood could pose an increased risk to patients ineligible to donate — regardless of their sexual orientation. In fact, there are many well intended individuals who are ineligible to donate blood for many different reasons, such as persons who have lived in the United Kingdom during a specified time frame, or those who were born or lived in Africa since 1977, or individuals with a history of malaria – to name a few. No matter what action we take or what policy is in place, it is with the safety of patients as the overriding principle.
Having said this, Canadian Blood Services continually reviews its policies to ensure they remain in the best interest of patients. As a result of a recent review of this policy, we have begun an active research agenda to inform our decision-making on this issue. Is there a better way to screen for risk of HIV? It is quite possible that there is, but we won’t know that until we complete the research. As we conduct this research we will continue to work with groups such as the Canadian Federation of Students and Egale Canada, as well as keep the public informed on our progress. Ultimately, it is not up to us to make a final decision as that responsibility lies with our regulator, Health Canada.
In closing, I would like to stress the importance of campus clinics. Maintaining an adequate supply is an ongoing challenge for us, because on average, every minute of every day someone in Canada needs blood or blood products. Canadian Blood Services has had a long, rewarding relationship with the students and faculty at the University of Manitoba, resulting in a very impressive average of 1,185 units of blood each year, thus helping a potential 3,555 patients. No matter what your point of view is regarding the MSM policy, while we undertake the research to inform our decision-making on this issue, please remember that patients rely on your support to save and improve their lives.
Thank you for taking the time to carefully consider patient needs in making your decision to be a blood donor!
Ian Mumford,
Chief Operating Officer
My mom and dad only warned me about candy…
In response to ‘Of Hotdogs and Men’ it appears to me that Michael Silicz is unaware of what he is actually talking about. As a veteran U of M student, I have been around for a number of years and would like to point out that the UMSU Day of Action is relatively new to the U of M. Also, it appears that Chelse McKee has her facts wrong…yet again. UMSU did not participate in the Day of Action in 2004. It wasn’t until 2005, when the event was held at the U of M, that UMSU officially endorsed the event. The next day of action wasn’t until 2007. So I’m not sure where the Manitoban staff get their facts from – they always seem to be made up! Didn’t Michael Silicz’s parents ever teach him to not take free hotdogs from strangers?
Edwardo Famakin
The fourth estate
Well, it’s good to see that the Manitoban is back to its old tricks of constantly complaining about UMSU and the CFS. Are they in support or against the campaigns of these organizations? First they complain all the time about how the tuition freeze is bad and then they complain that not enough is being done about the freeze. Good to see the Toban has no clue what they’re doing…as per usual. With all the typos and grammatical errors, it’s always hard to know what they’re talking about. Am I the only one that is embarrassed that our students fees go to pay for such a lackluster publication?
Dike Ukome
Third-year Engineering student
