PrairieAFRICAN Issue 2 January 15-Feb 14, 2021 - understanding our roots, promoting our culture I’m proud to be Surviving African music, Is cricket a first Black MLA Covid-19 isn’t and African subcontinental to be sworn in. an easy task, drumming to be game? Why It’s wonderful for especially now particular, is the cricket players in the community. that many require ultimate in terms Manitoba appear Government a strong will of being the most to be from the should reflect the to outlive the interesting, most same area? Plus diversity of the pandemic. How complex and most Trinidad’s Brian population that it did this Somali challenging form Lara best batsman serves. man survive it? of music out there. of all time? CulturePage 3 LifePage 5 MusicPage 9 SportsPage 10 Government Should Naturally Reflect - Audrey Gordon- Audrey Gordon Diversity. aimacan-born Audrey Gordon the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of diversity of the population that it serves.” anything comes with added scrutiny and successfully emerged the first-ev- Arts Degree and a Certificate in Change On whether she was surprised that it criticism.” Jer Black MLA to be sworn in Management as well as another Certifi- took 150 years to achieve that feat. The When she’s not delivering a turkey during the 42nd general assembly of the cate in Applied Counselling. She is the Southdale MLA also had this to say, “I and potatoes and carrots to a fundraiser, Manitoba Legislature. MLA for the Southdale constituency. will say saddened that it has taken that something she does on a regular basis, Before now, Audrey had served as Di- When asked how she felt becoming the long because it certainly is not the first she’s busy meeting with local business rector of Strategic Initiatives at the Win- very first Black MLA in the entire history time that Black candidates have let their owners, school board officials and health- nipeg Regional Health Authority’s Home of Manitoba, spanning over 150 years, names stand for election, but they have care officials in her constituency. Care Program. She has also held other Audrey sounded philosophical. She said, not been elected. So, candidates have put It wasn’t all chitty-chatty during the government positions including, Special “It feels very surreal. I’m so thrilled for their names forward and I’m really glad phone interview with Audrey. We had our Assistant to the Minister of Health, As- the entire Black community in Manito- that the day has dawned, and the time has little moments as well. For example, on sistant to the Deputy Minister of Labour ba. I’m thrilled for women in general, in come when we can actually enter office whether Canada was ready for a Prime and Immigration, as well as Director of our province, and it’s been a hundred and as officially elected individuals to serve Minister of colour, the Southdale MLA the Multiculturalism Secretariat and the fifty years and we haven’t had a represen- our constituencies.” was quick to point out that Blacks and Director of Settlement and Newcomer tative from the Black community. So, I’m In addition to working right out of people of colour still have to position support. proud to be one of three MLA’s elected the constituency office during the Fall, themselves for that opportunity when it An accomplished individual and pol- and the first to be sworn in. I think it’s despite the pandemic, Audrey made us comes knocking, citing the case of US itician known for her work ethic and de- wonderful for the community because It’s understand that she hopes to continue to Vice-President elect, Kamala Harris, who livering results as a proof of hard work, important to have a government for the work out of the constituency office this she says is an incredibly smart, articulate, Audrey holds a Master of Business Ad- people by the people and of the people. Winter as well rather than work from and well-educated individual who already ministration Degree (Dean’s List) from Government should naturally reflect the home, adding that “being the first of visit prairieafrican.com for full story prairieafrican.com PrairieAFRICAN 2 - understanding our roots, promoting our culture January15-Feb 14, 2021 A Few Good Men Liberal Arts Movie Title: A Few Good Men uniform, today, handle issues, especially with what would amount to a slap on the against all forms of natural law, to the Scope covered: Ethical Dilemma as it involves taking human life. Finally, wrist. death of their fellow Marine, may have Teleological and Deontological systems, we have all heard that famous cliche, Lance Corporal Dawson and been wrong, especially when examined Concepts: Ethical Formalism, “a picture speaks more than a thousand Private Downey had been ordered, under the teleological system. Utilitarianism, Ethics of Care, Natural words,” hence my advise that you watch by their commanding officer, to carry Whereas, the deontological system Law, Ethics of Virtue, Religious Ethics this movie, after reading this piece. out a duty. And it was in the midst of only looks at the morality of the duties Few Good Men (1992) is Happy viewing. carrying out this duty that Santiago performed, the teleological system looks a classic movie that has In the movie, a U.S. Marine, died, necessitating a lot of cover-ups. at the consequences of an action, and Acaptivated my entire being, William Santiago, had been accidentally Was it really an accidental death, or a not just the act itself. Since the resultant both for its portrayal of ethical dilemmas murdered by two of his colleagues, retaliation for the deceased’s unwanton effect of their action was cold-blooded and the dramatization of those very Lance Corporal Dawson and Private behaviour of ratting out his colleague murder, their actions are judged as dilemmas, by seasoned actors like, Jack Downey, while carrying out a “code for a fence line shooting that occurred immoral. Nicholson, Demi Moore, Tom Cruise, red,” a military exercise designed as earlier? I would be examining the Even under religious ethics, they J.T. Walsh, and Kiefer Sutherland, to punishment to toughen-up a soldier. movie from both the teleological and broke the golden rule that states, “do mention a few. I chose to review this The movie thus opens with the selection deontological approaches, and also unto others as you would have them do movie, here, to show how far colleagues of the defence team (Tom Cruise, consider Immanuel Kant’s (1724-1804) unto you.” As captured in Dawson’s in a particular work space are willing to Demi Moore, and Kevin Pollak), to criteria of categorical imperative, which words, they had “failed to defend those go, to cover-up a crime. And in doing represent both Marines, who have been states that, “we act in a way we want too weak to fight for themselves” (A so, I hope to bring up connections charged with murder, in a system that everyone else to act, and not by using Few Good Men, 1992). And because to the meaning of the terms, “duty,” was designed to punish the men for people.” of the code of secrecy that runs deep in “loyalty,” “authority,” “power,” “force,” crimes they were ordered to carry out, The deontological system examines “persuasion,” “discretion,” “group while shielding the very brains behind only the duties carried out, by a soldier, think,” “code of secrecy,” “abuse of the crime. As the plot thickens, the for example, and not the consequences. power,” “conspiracy within the force,” defence was able to bring to the stand, So, if a judge was examining a police “noble-cause corruption,” “blue curtain the Base Commander, Colonel Nathan officer’s interaction with a suspect of silence,” and so on, especially as Jessup, played by, the irrepressible Jack resulting in the death of that suspect, the it affects the criminal justice system Nicholson, and through the intricacies of judge (looking at it from a deontological today. Though this movie can be located litigation and the adversarial processes point) will only consider how the officer within the military setting, it will surely of law, were able to indict him, while carried out his duty. Was he complacent help us understand how other men in at the same time, rescue both Marines, in carrying out the assigned duty? The system is not interested in the outcome. YEMU AUTO SERVICE Whether the suspect died during the 648 Sargent Ave, 1123 Notre Dame Ave, process of interaction is immaterial. the military high command, they were Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg, MB The teleological system, on the other duty-bound to keep quiet about the hand, judges the results of an action, homicide, while their bosses handled R3E 0A5 R3E 0N4 Open 9:00am irrespective of the process of arriving at the matter efficiently. However, both Mon - Sat 204-995-1041 204-632-4444 that action. marines were shocked to discover First, such hazing exercise, like the that they were to be arraigned before a 10 ‘code red” had been officially banned military tribunal facing grave charges. years by the U.S. authorities, even though Lieutenant Colonel Markinson, many knew they were still been carried Colonel Jessup’s executive officer (and in out in military formations like that in, deputy at the Base) was faced with the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the ethical dilemma of whether to join in the service movie was set. But if the two Marines cover-up or not. He was the embodiment had refused to carry out the order, they of a virtuous man in the movie.