There’s only two weeks until another Christmas is upon us. That means that there’s only one more issue of The Voice Magazine that will be published this year. Only one more that you need to take into consideration for your pick for the Best of the Voice issue, which will be showing up in January. Was there something last year that stood out? A story that pulled at your heart or had you nodding? If so, we want to hear about it so that we can give it the attention it deserves! Write us at voice@voicemagazine.org with your picks.
Of course, you may wonder at my use of the word “Christmas”, perhaps you assume it means I hold some religious feelings, or that I’m not exhibiting proper sensitivity to other religions. But honestly, it really more comes from the idea that that is what the season, for the vast bulk of North Americans, is called. Like it or not, believe in it or not, our society is based on the Christian religion in a lot of ways, and, personally, I think to deny that is simply being disingenuous. When I use the word Christmas, I’m not acknowledging any religion?I don’t have one. I’m too firm a believer in science and evolution to feel that Christianity holds any benefit for us, but it’s still part of our history, and the word is not an attack on any other religion, any more than speaking of Kwanzaa is an attack on Christianity.
Plus, I’m a firm believer in the idea that words have power. I wouldn’t do this job if I didn’t. One of the powers that words have is to allow us to identify and examine concepts. When we prevent a word from being used, we are, in essence, preventing people from examining the concepts behind them. But people should be examining the concepts behind Christmas. Much of it is stuff that our society simply needs more of.
Huh. Okay, so I had a bit of a rant built up on that issue, it seems.
Getting back to this issue, our Meeting The Minds feature is bringing us a research board member that the Children’s Hospital Institute of Manitoba, Dr. William Diehl-Jones. He has taught some of the higher level nursing courses at AU, and is currently designing two new courses for the nurse practitioner program at AU.
Our cover article this week is Carla Knipe’s “A Complicated Holiday” a look at what happens when life intervenes with the expected feelings of joy that the season is supposed to bring. It’s a personal story, about a secret club that nearly everyone ends up belonging to at one time or another, and how you cope when reality stands in the way of expectations.
Also in tune with the season, Samantha Stevens has given us a look at how independent band Lipstick is getting into the spirit of Christmas. And, of course, we have our selection of interviews, reviews, advice, and other articles to keep you busy and in touch with what’s going on with other AU Students. So enjoy the read!
