Author: Bassam Abun Nadi
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A Community Perspective on the Christchurch Terror Attack
As this very moment, the number of dead from the Christchurch terror attack remains unknown. Authorities say 49 dead, but a snuff video posted by the perpetrator gives an indication as to a much higher body count. The victims undoubtedly woke up with plans, dreams, and worries like the rest of us, not knowing that […]
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Khabib, McGregor, and What the UFC Can Learn From FIFA
Image: Joe Amon, ESPN The Fight UFC 229, which took place on October 6th, had a rather unconventional ending. Nearly two weeks have gone by, and the sporting world and social media are still abuzz with the implications of the post-fight melee. In case you missed it, here is the basic gist. Khabib Nermagomanov, the […]
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Depressed That Game of Thrones is Over? We Have a Cure
Tonight was the season finale of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the consequence of which will be months of Westeros-withdrawl for many of us. The hit show is based on George RR Martins book series A Song of Ice and Fire, a yet to be completed fantasy series originally published in the mid 90s. There is […]
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Assad’s Pyrrhic Victory: What the Fall of Aleppo Means for Syria
The Fall of Aleppo The recapture Syria’s second city by Syrian forces now seems all but inevitable. The Syrian army, along with Russian airpower and regional allies have managed to take control of large swathes of the city’s Rebel-held eastern-half. Russian involvement in the operation, which has proven to be decisive, is fueled by Russia’s […]
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Fentanyl – Are We Asking the Right Questions?
Much like heroin in the 1960s, Fentanyl is ripping through Surrey and Vancouver’s East side, leaving law makers, emergency responders, and police in a highly reactive state. Makeshift safe injection sites, bicycling first responders, and millions of dollars in government funding are just a few of the ways this province has worked to deal with […]
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What Does Fidel Castro’s Death Mean for Canada
Fidel Castro, one of the 20th century’s most influential and divisive figures, passed away today. At 90 years old, the passionate left-wing revolutionary stood in defiance of what he viewed as American imperialism. His iron grip on the island nation ensured his government’s survival decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union. While his legacy […]
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Why a Trump Presidency May Not Be as Bad as you Think
I hate Donald Trump. I hate him with a visceral, deep passion. With that said, I am not all that disappointed that he won this election. There are a handful of things that Canadians can look forward to from a Trump presidency (If you are American you can stop reading now, because the next four […]
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What Justin Trudeau Must Do
In my lifetime I have really only known two Prime Ministers: Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper. With that in mind, it is easy to understand why many believe that Justin Trudeau represents a seismic shift in what it means to be Prime Minister (substantively and aesthetically). Whether you voted for him or not, all would […]
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What Happens When you Take Away the Means, But Not the Motivation, for Palestinian Resistance?
Making sense of the violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Image Source A New Phase in an Old Conflict Nearly 30 Palestinians and 7 Israelis have been killed in, what appears to be, a new phase in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The mainstream media’s refusal/inability to accurately cover the ongoing, daily nature of the […]
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Millennials Suck, & it’s The Baby Boomers’ Fault
In my professional life I spend an extensive amount of time engaging with the decision makers of academic institutions across Western Canada and the Middle East. That’s right, when I am not busy writing tirades about what is wrong with the world, I actually have a job. Recently, I attended a meeting at a very […]
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Chapel Hill: Controlling The Narrative
Craig Stephen Hicks sits in the Durham County courtroom on February 11, 2015 in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty By now nearly everyone has heard about the tragedy that unfolded less than 24 hours ago in Chapel Hill North Carolina. To recap, three American Muslims – outstanding human beings by all accounts – were […]
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A Culture of Failure
(Image Source) The Trouble Facing Our Young Men In July of this year I was blessed with the birth of my first child. Telling you that having a son is a life changing experience is a bit of an understatement. 120 sleepless nights later, I often find myself daydreaming about his future soccer games, and […]
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The Colour of Terrorism
Canadians are understandably on the edge of their seats in the wake of this week’s events. This morning, a gunmen opened fire in Ottawa killing one solider. The gunmen was subsequently fired upon and was also killed in the attack. The latest reports suggest that authorities are in pursuit of a second assailant. Earlier this […]
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The Muslim Vote
A Historically Inactive Population Has the Opportunity to Play a Decisive Role in the Future of Surrey. (Image Source) The municipal election season is upon us, which means that candidates are scrambling to draw up support for their slate. Historically, voter turnout for municipal elections in British Columbia’s major cities has been embarrassingly low. In […]