In response to this article http://uniter.ca/view/5774/ found in my school's weekly newspaper, I wrote this letter to the editor:
Dear Editor,
My name is Vanessa and I am a third year student here at the University of Winnipeg. Upon reading an article in the most recent Uniter issue, I have been very frustrated. The article, “Grossroots activists slam Youth for Christ once more” by Ethan Cabel is a disgrace to the Uniter, the university, and the city of Winnipeg.
My family has been supporters of various YFC affiliates for many years. My husband has volunteered at the Edge Skatepark for over 13 years and although he no longer volunteers there, he is still very much involved in the program as we are monthly supporters of the director of the Edge. Aside from the considerable amount of personal offense I have taken to this article is it targets me, my faith and my family, my anger and frustration go much further as the faults found within this article are un-ending.
Firstly, and above all other reasons, there is the issue of the comparison of the new YFC drop-in centre with the atrocity that was Residential Schools within Manitoba. To compare these two, a force-free, safe place to hang out for youth of all ages, genders and races, with schools where people were forced to leave family and culture and in many situations terribly abused or even murdered – is a crime. This significantly devalues the extent of damage that Residential Schools have caused and may make Residential School victims feel as though the writer of this article along with Lissie Rappaport who vocalized this comparison, feel as though they together have no knowledge with regard to Residential Schools and also lack any amount of respect for the hurt that Residential Schools have caused.
As mentioned above, the person that was chosen to interview for this article was Lissie Rappaport, someone with seemingly no connection to YFC at all. This significantly decreases the credibility of not only the article, but the Uniter, as using a source that is not involved in the project and has not been affected by this organization is far too removed to have a validated perspective.
I myself have worked for a non-profit organization and have seen first-hand how government funding is often hard to come by. I found, through my own experience, that the government funding we received at Youth Employment Service was based strictly upon the amount of clients we served a day. In this article Rappaport drops the names of a number of organizations but it is completely illegitimate to compare funding for organizations as they are all funded and not funded for very different reasons, reasons that were not researched and therefore should not be included in printed publications.
As a person who reads the Uniter on a regular basis I am sincerely dis-heartened by this article and completely unimpressed with the quality of writing and the credibility of the source used. I hope that in the future greater discretion will be used in selecting articles for print in this publication. Considering the significant amount of problems found with this article I feel it would be appropriate for a retraction to be printed in the next issue. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Stachiw
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Hanging in {update}
It is funny how one day you can feel as though you are complete control of your life and that you are on top of your school life and beyond, and the next day you can feel one hundred percent the opposite. Story of my life. This past week has been one of nose blowing, sore eyes, excitement and short nights. Let me explain: On Sunday night I started feeling sick but of course was at the restaurant and was there the next night as well. Tuesday my eldest sister birthed a beautiful and tiny little lady named Nina. Wednesday I had a book report due. Thursday I knew I had an ear infection as well as a cold oh, and a business presentation.. In French. By Friday I was spent, tired, at the walk in clinic, taking antibiotics and ready for a snooze. What a week. The weekend has most definitely redeemed it. Spending time with the bestest of friends with all of our favourite treats (mint chocolate chip ice cream, wine gums, ddp and creamy dill chips... yes, an overload but we deserved it), listening to and admiring Sarah Harmer, family dinner, lunch with seemingly long lost dear friends, getting well and lastly trying out a new church. It was Anglican, academic, simple and exactly what this weary heart needed.
In school I am taking a Mennonite Studies class and it is proving to be very interesting and thought provoking. I have just finished, or rather am still finishing (though I already wrote the report...) a book about early Anabaptist women. Something that the author points out is that Anabaptism was the "religion of the peasants", that Anabaptism grew among the simple-minded. This has been very intersting to me, as sometimes I feel that evangelican churches lack an academic aspect. That they put such strong value on emotions and basic fundamental values that they leave out discussion, theology and even doubt. One of my best friends has been luring Landen and I to his home church, St. Margaret's, for quite some time. Today we accompanied him and the pastor spoke about repentance from a logical and historical perspective and I felt that something clicked in my brain. Perhaps I have spent too many years at university to appreciate anything other than critical thinking, but it was refreshing to go to a church and have the pastor not tear up, to have notes from a paper written by a university professor and to recite the Apostle's Creed as a congregation. I have heard people say that some people know too much for their own good, that is absolutely not me, studying French doesn't exactly make you a wise person, but I do feel that my university education has changed what I look for in a church and the way that I want to and view growing as a human and a Christian. The evangelical church has absolutely made me feel that thinking and being a Christian are not compatible but today at a fellow protestant gathering, I felt as though I wanted to learn more and that was right. I think we will go back next week.
For tonight, I will finish my book and head to bed. Monday comes so fast these days.
Love, V. xo
P.S. This is a picture of Landy and I before Sarah Harmer, so excited. She was so sweet, hilarious, wonderful and, forgive my star-struckness but oh so cool.
In school I am taking a Mennonite Studies class and it is proving to be very interesting and thought provoking. I have just finished, or rather am still finishing (though I already wrote the report...) a book about early Anabaptist women. Something that the author points out is that Anabaptism was the "religion of the peasants", that Anabaptism grew among the simple-minded. This has been very intersting to me, as sometimes I feel that evangelican churches lack an academic aspect. That they put such strong value on emotions and basic fundamental values that they leave out discussion, theology and even doubt. One of my best friends has been luring Landen and I to his home church, St. Margaret's, for quite some time. Today we accompanied him and the pastor spoke about repentance from a logical and historical perspective and I felt that something clicked in my brain. Perhaps I have spent too many years at university to appreciate anything other than critical thinking, but it was refreshing to go to a church and have the pastor not tear up, to have notes from a paper written by a university professor and to recite the Apostle's Creed as a congregation. I have heard people say that some people know too much for their own good, that is absolutely not me, studying French doesn't exactly make you a wise person, but I do feel that my university education has changed what I look for in a church and the way that I want to and view growing as a human and a Christian. The evangelical church has absolutely made me feel that thinking and being a Christian are not compatible but today at a fellow protestant gathering, I felt as though I wanted to learn more and that was right. I think we will go back next week.
For tonight, I will finish my book and head to bed. Monday comes so fast these days.
Love, V. xo
P.S. This is a picture of Landy and I before Sarah Harmer, so excited. She was so sweet, hilarious, wonderful and, forgive my star-struckness but oh so cool.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
to the moon
I love coming home from work to pencil-written love notes. It's so lovely, and I do have the loveliest husband.
V. xo
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
New Years List
I've never been much for New Years Eve, a feeling I assumably share with many others across the nation. Along with these less than fond sentiments about the night in general, I have also never been one known to make New Years resolutions. In thinking about this, and being asked the question a lot recently with my response consistently being no, I have decided that it is funny that I don't make New Years resolutions because it would fit my character so well. I love making lists and using agendas in general. So this year I am going to make a small list of things that I would like to improve upon and accomplish.
Voila:
- take more photos
- blog more often
- get more things done (like declaring a major FINALLY...)
- actually do readings for school (this will never happen but aim high right!?)
- take more time to make handmade gifts, cards, decorations, etc.
- be thankful
I feel as though these are attainable things to do. Now that they are recorded, I am in some way, as small as it may be, accountable to do these six things. I am going to really focus on the sixth. I think that it is so so very important to be thankful in life for, well everything really. I asked God to make me more thankful the other day and I have been trying to maintain the mindset ever since.
The year has been started on a very good note and I am banking on it lasting throughout.
With a thankful heart,
V. xo
Voila:
- take more photos
- blog more often
- get more things done (like declaring a major FINALLY...)
- actually do readings for school (this will never happen but aim high right!?)
- take more time to make handmade gifts, cards, decorations, etc.
- be thankful
I feel as though these are attainable things to do. Now that they are recorded, I am in some way, as small as it may be, accountable to do these six things. I am going to really focus on the sixth. I think that it is so so very important to be thankful in life for, well everything really. I asked God to make me more thankful the other day and I have been trying to maintain the mindset ever since.
The year has been started on a very good note and I am banking on it lasting throughout.
With a thankful heart,
V. xo
Back to School
Well you heard it. Tomorrow (or today?) is the day my nightmares become a reality - book buying, professor meeting and French speaking. Nightmare may be a word slightly too strong for this stage setting, but it is indeed far from a dream. Last semester was one of my toughest in workload and morale which makes it that much more difficult for my eyes to see this glass half full of life. To encourage this attempt at positivity is the fact that this will be my 2nd last first day of university. At this time next year I will be a newly graduated lady and I will be staring blankly into the eyes of adulthood. It is hard to imagine this actually taking place, but I will keep reminding myself that it could be a reality if I don't succumb to my very strong desire to drop out of school and get a head start on homemaking and the career in the service industry that is oh-so-appealing... So school it is then.
Tonight the Fleet Family celebrated back to school with sushi, candy, and Rummy Cube. It was just what the doctor ordered, though the sleepless night that I am experiencing at the moment is not.
Dreaming of sweet dreams,
Sleepy V. xo
Tonight the Fleet Family celebrated back to school with sushi, candy, and Rummy Cube. It was just what the doctor ordered, though the sleepless night that I am experiencing at the moment is not.
Dreaming of sweet dreams,
Sleepy V. xo
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Happiest Christmas
Well, another Christmas bites the dust. With fond memories still fresh in my mind's eyes, the recently acted acts scroll through and certain events and people stick out as reasons to why this year's Christmas was so very merry. This Christmas season beheld many festivities, more than usual, which only encouraged the jolly feelings already present in my home. I have two jobs which means two Christmas parties, this year they were both a wild success. Laughter, red wine, smiles, delicious food, and good friends were all part of these events, and I have to say they were my favourite work Christmas parties to date. If I have to choose - The Junction Thai food and hilarious re-gift exchange stole my heart.
December 22nd was the night chosen well before the season was upon us, for the Fleet Family to celebrate our love for eachother. Post-exams, spirits were high and our decidedly formal evening took place at a delightful restaurant, which we had mostly to ourselves, feasting on black bean balls, chicken skewers, and shrimp and grits. It was a tasty treat, one I hope to re-love shortly.
The next day brought more celebrations in the company of, yet again, very dear friends. Potluck style food and wine, we dined until our stomachs would allow us to dine no more. Pasta, hummus, cheeses, cupcakes and cakeballs were only a few dishes, among many more, that were present at our annual Friends and Family Christmas gathering (minus two).
Christmas Eve, the night I look forward to from Boxing Day until December 23rd, met every expectation I had expected through the long year of expecting. Visiting, laughing, eating, visiting and more laughing are what make this evening all that it is to me. I love and cherish it and already am eagerly anticipating what next year's eve of Christmas will bring.
After a much needed coma, from days of over-eating no doubt, Christmas morning was upon us and off we went to skate the Downie rink and drink coffee with my parents and siblings. From there we went to celebrate the day and evening with Landen's family, and celebrate we did. It was lovely and I enjoyed every minute.
This year was slightly different in that we waited until Boxing Day to have my family's "Christmas Day". A new tradition, but a good tradition, this day was wonderful. A full day with the people I love most in the world, in all honesty it would be hard to ruin. My family has traditions that most other families do not, and with them come honesty and bonding - products that are surely meant to be noticed.
Though this account is missing so many moments shared and bites taken, I felt is necessary this year to set my feelings in stone. To have down the content, no, bliss that my heart felt this Christmas, seemingly more than any other year. It was one for the books and now it is recorded so that if my memory fails, surely these written words will re-kindle at least some of what this Christmas entailed.
Blissfully yours,
V. xo
December 22nd was the night chosen well before the season was upon us, for the Fleet Family to celebrate our love for eachother. Post-exams, spirits were high and our decidedly formal evening took place at a delightful restaurant, which we had mostly to ourselves, feasting on black bean balls, chicken skewers, and shrimp and grits. It was a tasty treat, one I hope to re-love shortly.
The next day brought more celebrations in the company of, yet again, very dear friends. Potluck style food and wine, we dined until our stomachs would allow us to dine no more. Pasta, hummus, cheeses, cupcakes and cakeballs were only a few dishes, among many more, that were present at our annual Friends and Family Christmas gathering (minus two).
Christmas Eve, the night I look forward to from Boxing Day until December 23rd, met every expectation I had expected through the long year of expecting. Visiting, laughing, eating, visiting and more laughing are what make this evening all that it is to me. I love and cherish it and already am eagerly anticipating what next year's eve of Christmas will bring.
After a much needed coma, from days of over-eating no doubt, Christmas morning was upon us and off we went to skate the Downie rink and drink coffee with my parents and siblings. From there we went to celebrate the day and evening with Landen's family, and celebrate we did. It was lovely and I enjoyed every minute.
This year was slightly different in that we waited until Boxing Day to have my family's "Christmas Day". A new tradition, but a good tradition, this day was wonderful. A full day with the people I love most in the world, in all honesty it would be hard to ruin. My family has traditions that most other families do not, and with them come honesty and bonding - products that are surely meant to be noticed.
Though this account is missing so many moments shared and bites taken, I felt is necessary this year to set my feelings in stone. To have down the content, no, bliss that my heart felt this Christmas, seemingly more than any other year. It was one for the books and now it is recorded so that if my memory fails, surely these written words will re-kindle at least some of what this Christmas entailed.
Blissfully yours,
V. xo
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