SMLS Hemline - Justice

st. mildred's lightbourn school

Hem ine

Justice Dec. 2021

Table of contents Title & Author

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TEDx Talk Review “Justice is Many Things” by Emily McMinn The Miracle in Cell No.7 (Turkish Adaptation); Film Review by Zeest Faisal Monday’s Not Coming Book Review by Amanda Wessel Justice Netflix Recommendations by Savannah Vaughan Rap Music’s Ties to Social Justice by Nathalie Roy How Past Acts of Injustice has Affected Our Present by Zara Ahmed A Timeline of Women’s Rights in Canada by Giulia Casha Opinion Piece: Child Labour by Madeline McGraw Marion Jacko: a Biography by Emma Pont What Does Justice Mean to You? An Interview With a Middle School Millie by Emily McMinn Who They Were: a Poem by Chieri Nnadozie Echoing Battles: a Story by Giulia Casha The Breaths of Freedom: a Story by Chjara Morvan Justice in Life: Photography by Eva Liu What is Food Justice? By Giulia Casha Holiday Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cookies by Emma Pont

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Celebrating Justice

A Note From the Editors Throughout the process of writing pieces for this anthology, we reflected upon the theme of justice and how we could better implement embracing justice for all into our everyday lives. With extracurricular activities and within our school community, we pushed ourselves to notice and celebrate examples of justice and, at the same time, correct some of the injustices we came to notice. In this anthology, the Hemline team looked into justice and injustices from the present and past through writing reviews, conducting interviews, creating poems, stories, and more. We hope this issue helps you to reflect upon your own experiences with justice and recognize how you can be a person who can actively promote positive change-making in our SMLS community. Enjoy!

- Emma Pont and Emily McMinn

Back row, left to right: Savannah Vaughan, Zeest Faisal, Amanda Wessel, Giulia Casha, Chieri Nnadozie, Emma Pont, Tamsin Carne, Rushmi Singh Front row, left to right: Chjara Morvan, Emily McMinn, Eva Liu

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“Justice is Many Things” A TEDx Talk Review

by Emily McMinn “What is Justice” is a TEDx Talk by Giuliana Duron which perfectly captures the many different definitions that we may have of the word “justice”. This TEDx Talk dates back to May, 2019, when Duron was only a Junior in high school. Though she mainly speaks about the U.S. justice and incarceration system, she brings light to many unjust elements of our own country’s justice system. She pushes viewers to reflect on our own definition of justice as she provides different perspectives, starting with our own moral code of what is right and wrong, then ending with the Oxford Dictionary definition of the word. She explains that we all have our own interpretations of what is just and unjust, no matter what definition in which we believe. Though her speech is only ten minutes long, it has had a lasting impact on me to this day, and thinking of this TEDx Talk reminds me to reevaluate my priorities and start looking at things from a more open-minded perspective.

Duron speaks about restorative justice, which is rehabilitation rather than incarceration. Restorative justice is “an approach to justice that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for those harmed and those who take responsibility for the harm to communicate about and address their needs in the aftermath of a crime” (Government of Canada, Department of Justice, Electronic Communications).

This form of justice allows an open conversation about the causes, impact, and consequences of many crimes. Duron recommends that we open our minds to this form of justice, rather than resorting to the dictionary definition of the word which relates to following the law and those who hold authority dictating it. She also goes on to speak about child incarceration, which she describes as ineffective to our society. One statement that struck me is, “[w]e are still learning… most importantly, our prefrontal cortex, which [dictates] our ability to make rational decisions, is not fully developed in our juvenile years… If we allow kids to learn from their mistakes and offer them appropriate support and guidance, we allow them to grow into contributing adults that aren’t subject to the pool of the criminal system” (Duron 8:20).

Her point makes rational sense and allows us to grow as a community when we focus on rehabilitation over incarceration. As only a Junior in high school, Duron has done more to change people’s perspectives than many of us will in our entire lifetimes.

Work Cited Government of Canada, Department of Justice, Electronic Communications.

“Restorative Justice.” Justice.gc.ca, 2018, www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/rj-jr/index.html.

Accessed 22 Oct. 2021.

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The Miracle in Cell No.7 (Turkish Adaptation) A film Review By ZEEST Faisal The Miracle in Cell No.7 — streaming now on Netflix — is a Turkish adaptation of the original Korean film made in 2013. The tragic, yet heartfelt movie engages the audience through its tear-dropping plot. It follows a young girl by the name of Ova (Nisa Sofiya Aksongur) and her father, Memo (Aras Bulut Iynemli) who suffers from an undisclosed cognitive disorder which makes him the same age as his daughter mentally. Memo works as a shepherd and the two live a comfortable life in the outskirts of the city; however, that all changes when Memo is wrongly accused of killing the daughter of a high-ranked military official after they find the girl in his arms. The story portrays the arduous self investigation Ova undergoes in order to prove her dad’s innocence whilst showing Memo’s journey in prison. The nerve-wracking part is Memo’s approaching death sentence leaves audience members on the edge of their seats as they wait to find out if Memo receives justice and gets the chance to live innocently or fall prey to an unjust verdict.

I am never a movie crier, but this film certainly made me shed a few tears. I loved it, not only for the cast's amazing performances but for the life lessons embedded within it. The Miracle in Cell No.7 reinforces the importance of familial love, friendship, and justice. Memo’s unconditional and bold love for Ova despite being mentally challenged is the true definition of “love conquers all”. He would do anything for his daughter and vice versa. Memo’s cellmates turn into lifelong friends who are willing to sacrifice their life for him, which displays a beautiful example of companionship and justice prevailing. I personally enjoyed the small dialogues of humour as it helped to alleviate some of the heaviness brought on by the movie and juxtapose the horrific actions of certain individuals. The film is definitely melodramatic and semi-fictitious as it is impossible for a 6 year-old girl to go out and travel by herself to inspect crime scenes.

While this may deter some people from watching, I would still highly recommend the movie. Just have tissues ready!

Work Cited Öztekin, Mehmet Ada. Miracle in Cell No. 7 | Full Turkish Movie - Youtube.com. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=lMdrjVumeSY.

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Monday's Not Coming

Novel by tiffany D. JACKSON Review By amanda wessel Monday’s Not Coming is a powerful novel that explores topics such as race, mental illness, and poverty. The book follows 14-year old Claudia as she returns to school after a summer away to find her best friend Monday is gone.

Monday’s not at school or answering the phone, and her mother orders Claudia to stay away. After the police and social services refuse to help, Claudia decides to launch her own investigation into Monday’s disappearance. As the book changes between time periods, readers get to explore the relationship between Claudia and Monday and the events leading up to Monday’s disappearance.

Overall, this book was an amazing read. I loved reading about Monday and Claudia’s friendship and how they overcame so many challenges. In addition to this, the mystery of Monday’s disappearance was captivating to read and included many plot twists and surprises. It was also interesting to read about Claudia's struggles with dyslexia and how hard she worked to try and get into the school her friend Monday dreamed about, even after Monday was no longer there. The only aspect about which I struggled while reading this novel was the time periods. The author chose to use labels for the time periods that I found confusing at times, especially at the end when all the time periods were intermixed. All in all, this book was an emotional and thought-provoking read that explores important issues in our society while also exploring the theme of justice.

Work Cited Jackson, Tiffany D. Monday's Not Coming: A Novel.

Scholastic, Inc., 2020.

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Netflix Recommendations: Films and series on Justice By savannah Vaughan

13th (2016) This riveting film by director Ava DuVernay captures the disturbing racial inequalities with the criminal justice system in the United States. Although the justice system has the intention of equally protecting everyone, it disproportionately impacts people of BIPOC descent. This documentary is based on the loopholes in the 13th Amendment.

Maid (2021) Maid is a limited TV series available on Netflix and follows a single mother and domestic abuse survivor, Alex, and her daughter, Maddy. She experiences a whirlwind of injustices and struggles to achieve justice for emotional abuse, along with supporting her daughter by cleaning houses and scrambling for childcare in a corrupt system.

This equally heartbreaking and hopeful series is enticing, shocking, and definitely worth binge watching.

Works Cited Daly, Helen. “38 Best True Crime Documentaries Available Now on Netflix.” Radio Times, 27 July 2021, https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/true-crime/best-true-crime-netflix/.

Hale, Mike. “Review: Love, Anger and Disgusting Toilets in Netflix's 'Maid'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Oct. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/arts/television/reviewmaid-netflix.html.

Lerch , Denali. “Documentary Review and Summary: ‘13th’ by Ava Duvernay.” The Red and Black, 14 June 2020, https://www.redandblack.com/culture/documentary-review-and-summary-13thby-ava-duvernay/article_e8597024-addf-11ea-980e-07001be9e7eb.html.

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Rap Music’s Ties to Social Justice

by Nathalie roy

For decades, rap music has been used as a way for artists from minority groups to document their struggles, and more specifically, systemic race-related challenges that have had lasting effects on their communities. Tupac Shakur, one of the most notable rappers, poets, and activists of the past generation, wrote about the struggles of black women, the prison industrial complex, and the poverty that black citizens experienced and continue to experience in North America. Even earlier than Tupac’s musical time in history, Billie Holiday was an established black jazz artist whose most famous song, titled “Strange Fruit” speaks about the lynching of black individuals throughout the Jim Crow era. The famous lyrics “Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze/​​Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees'' is implemented in Grammy Award winning Hip-Hop, Rap, and Alternative artist and producer “Tyler, The Creator’s” song “MANIFESTO”, featured in his 2021 album ‘CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST’. The song describes Tyler’s perspective of how he felt as a Black man during the peak of the Black Lives Matter protests in May of 2020. More specifically, the lyrics describe how he felt as a Black man during the peak of the Black Lives Matter protests in May of 2020. More specifically, the lyrics describe how he felt when he noticed white people suddenly hop on the train of racial justice.

His lyrics “That ain't your religion, you just following your mammy/ She followed your granny, she obeyed master” demonstrate that there is a long line of racial injustice ingrained in the average family as they have been historically on the wrong side of history. Tyler follows these lyrics by saying “I ‘aint gon cheerlead with y’all just to be a dancer/ I’m a groove to my own drums, sunlight in my shadow, baby,” which means that he will support his counterparts in his own manner, rather than with overt, tone deaf, shallow social media posts. After the above verse, Domo Genesis joins in describing higher incarceration rates for people of colour.

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He raps: “How I’m supposed to be protected (Huh? When the laws want us in?/ Y’all want us dead, just ‘cause the skin is the black type.” Genesis’s verse speaks to his own experiences as a black man and how he has seen injustices in his community from the law, education system, as well as from people outside of his community. Tyler finishes the song on a high note, and brings the song to its climax, passionately speaking about how he feels caught in the middle with activism through social media. He wants people who look like him to know that he is supported, but also wants to reflect on these issues thoroughly and does not believe that social media offers him the space to do so. He says, “I feel like anything I day dawg, / So I just tell these black babies, they should do what they want.” The final breath of the verse is Tyler showing his outpouring support for Black youth and the rest of his black community; even though they don’t look like him and don’t have the same status as him, that they are respected, have purpose, and are integral in society and culture. He encourages black youth to support each other as they are the only ones who truly understand each other’s struggles.

Of course, these are but a few lines from one of Tyler, The Creator’s powerful music.

All his albums deal with his own qualms of self expression, acceptance, racial injustices, and his outlook on the world as a queer Black man. More impactful songs from Tyler, The Creator include “SMUCKERS”, “Garden Shed”, “48”, and “MASSA”.

How Past Acts of Injustice have Affected Our Present

by Zara Ahmed How can we live so freely? Today, we live in a country where we have the freedom to speak, vote, and be our own person. We have a vast amount of diversity through perspectives, cultures, religions, interests, skills, and lifestyles.

However, the ability to live like this was not originally implemented. The aftereffects of wars and protests have bettered our country and the world, but there are acts of injustice still happening worldwide.

War is a state of armed conflict between different nations, states, or different groups within a nation or state. These violent acts are influenced by competition for land, resources, and wealth and the demand for power, respect, and sameness between people. World War I and II affected lives in different ways and changed societal views of women. People believed that men were the stronger gender, as they were thought to be intelligent, courageous, and determined. Women, on the other hand, were not acknowledged and represented as individuals.

During and after the war, people viewed women differently because at that point most countries allowed them to vote, work outside the home, all while also taking care of their whole household while the men went to serve in the war. Women also had a part in almost all wars, which brought a new level of respect and perspective: a woman can do anything a man can do. We are still learning that today, but war created a new demographic and view that women have options for education and lifestyle.

The freedom to speak has been a powerful tool, in particular when it comes to protests and standing up for what we believe in.

Protests have been an act of solidarity to causes that we support or actions about which we disapprove. The purpose of protests are to publicly make their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policies.

Protests are meant to be peaceful, but at times, they can get out of hand. Over the past two years, there have been many protests regarding multiple different issues. In late May of 2020, a man named George Floyd was killed in police custody in Minneapolis. This started a series of “Black Lives Matter” protests taking place in different places in North America. Earlier this year, there were also protests regarding the Israel and Palestine conflict after there was an explosion in Gaza and people were getting bombed. Protests have brought a lot of recognition and support throughout the years and it has been a great act of union for people who stand against the same causes.

Past injustices have caused a lot of changes both directly and indirectly, but there are still many conflicts happening today. Israel and Palestine are still in conflict, which has caused more refugees and deaths. The Taliban has taken over Afghanistan again and this has also increased the refugee crisis. Although parts of the world will always be in conflict, one by one, we can fight these injustices with the support of each other and education. Protests and wars are all different and each one has had its unique consequences. We live in a world that has been made better because of all the brave acts of justice fighters.

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A timeline of women's rights in Canada

by Giulia casha

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Opinion Piece: Child Labour

By Madeline McGraw

This reflection is written in response to an essay by Chitra Divakaruni, titled “Live Free and Starve”. In the piece, Divakaruni argues that laws to ban child labour are only effective if the proper social programs are put in place to support and protect the children when they are no longer making an income for their families.

I agree with the points Divakaruni makes in her essay “Live Free and Starve” . Child labour is a horrible thing and should be stopped, but only if there is another and better solution for these children that will allow them to not only survive, but live. Child labour takes away children’s childhoods and subjects them to abuse. No child would willingly put themselves in this situation. They have to do this to survive. Divakaruni states, “[i]f the children themselves were asked whether they would rather work under such harsh conditions or enjoy the leisure that comes without the benefit of food or clothing or shelter, I wonder what their response would be?” (3) There is a certain leisure to not working, of course, but at the cost of basic needs for survival? No, that just isn’t worth it. This is a life or death choice for these children and we don’t even realise it because most of us are so privileged we have trouble viewing things from the perspective of someone who is struggling to attain basic needs like food and shelter. The author also states: “ in the context of our society even we immigrants, who should know better, have wiped from our minds the memory of what it is to live under the

kind of desperate conditions that force a parent to sell his or her child” (3). This claim effectively demonstrates how many of us can’t even begin to put ourselves in the shoes of those who are that desperate to survive.

Some of us (me included) didn’t know any different until I became more educated on this topic. As a child, I was ignorant to the horrible situations other children experienced in other geographic locations. Even still, I don’t think twice about the luxury of there always being food in the kitchen cabinet or fridge. I need reminders like the points in Divakaruni’s essay about what life could be like. I know it should not be this way, but it is, and I do not think I am the only one. Therefore, child labour subjects children to abuse and is, undoubtedly, traumatic for them. Yet, the other option is not having access to basic needs and, to be blunt, starving to death.

Child labour is not a good solution, but it is all these children have, and before creating laws in North America to ban the practice in other countries, a better and more sustainable plan needs to be established to help these children and their families with the means to basic survival.

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Marion Jacko is an Indigenous woman who works in the field of justice. She is from the Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island. Jacko has devoted her life to law, family, and the community, beginning her journey to become a lawyer while simultaneously raising three children. Marion’s story is an exemplary one for women and young girls looking to make their mark on the world with law as a career.

Throughout her career as a lawyer, Marion has worked in Property Rights, Indigenous Justice, and has made quite the name for herself in children’s law, with the notable accomplishment of being appointed as the first indigenous woman to be the Children's Lawyer of Ontario. The Office of the Children’s Lawyer in Ontario is especially crucial in expressing a child’s best interest, which can include cases surrounding child protection, decision-making responsibility, and parenting time in a child’s life. They work with the child to present the best opportunities for them to the court.

Within her litigation experience, Jacko and the Office of the Children’s Lawyer dealt with a case which was instrumental in changing the law under the Hague Convention, which aims to protect families and their children against illegal, irregular, premature, or ill-prepared adoptions abroad. In this case, the Court adopted the “hybrid approach” to determining habitual residence having regard to “the entirety of the child’s situation”. This ensured a more squarely focused approach toward the child(ren) at the heart of the case, making children’s right to be heard even more powerful.

Outside of her career, Marion is also extremely dedicated to the community,

Marion Jacko: A Biography

By Emma Pont especially through her work in minor league hockey.

Marion was the president of the Mississauga Girls Hockey Organization following her many years of coaching experience within the organization, assisting and shaping young girls into well-balanced, hardworking women through sport.

Continuing her work in hockey, Jacko is also the president of the Little Native Hockey League, which runs a tournament for Indigenous hockey teams in Ontario.

Marion has dedicated herself to assisting in the upbringing of youth in the Greater Toronto Area. She has become an excellent role model for not only young women, but also for Indigenous children.

Works Cited “What is the Hague Convention?”. Government of Canada, 29 September 2021, https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp? qnum=1183&top=2 Giannandrea, Stephanie and Robinson, Jonathan.

“Interview with Ms. Marion Jacko, the Children’s Lawyer of Ontario”. Ontario Family Law Reporter, Mccarthy, Martha and Radboard, Joanna, Volume 32, Number 5, Lexis Nexis, November 2018, https://www.complexfamilylaw.com/wpcontent/uploads/migrations/3156945/Interview-with-MsMarian-Jacko-the-Childrens-Lawyer-of-Ontario.pdf Laskaris, Sam. “The Little NHL executive committee welcomes new president”. Anishinabek News, 10 December 2018, http://anishinabeknews.ca/2018/12/10/the-little-nhlexecutive-committee-welcomes-new-president/#

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What does justice mean to you: Interview of a Middle School Millie

By Emily Mcminn Amiya Hansra is a determined and kind SMLS Middle School student. She thrives in independent settings, though she is not above working with her peers in a team setting. When I was tasked with interviewing a student from the Middle School to hear their interpretations of the word “justice”, Amiya was the first person who came to my mind.

When asked “what does justice mean to you?”, Amiya said that she felt justice could be portrayed in many different ways and that there are many different forms it can take. She did, however, compare it to gift-giving; nothing like Kris Kringle, but more the idea that after you help someone, you feel that your reward is seeing them in a better, more just place. Amiya stated, “let’s say somebody is getting picked on. When you want to see justice for them, you’re standing up for them”.

I also asked Amiya: “when have you seen injustice in the school and how did you act?”.

Amiya took a moment to reflect. She says that she once witnessed two of the younger students having an argument over which game they would play at recess. One of the students started dictating the “rules” without making a compromise and asking her friend’s choice as well. When Amiya saw this interaction,

she stepped in and explained the importance of being kind and inclusive. She told me how “when I saw that, I felt the injustice for her not having a say. We can all step in and stand up for those who are experiencing even small injustices”.

The final question Amiya answered was “why is justice important to you?”. To answer this, she mentioned the “Virtue Project” and connected it to this year’s school theme. She feels that since justice is our virtue for this school year, she still has a lot to learn about justice, and she loves to learn about new things. Amiya is always eager to take a leadership role, though she has recently learned that leading also includes the necessity to listen and learn. She states, “learning about new things allows you to use them in different or challenging situations”.

Amiya continues to seek justice within her own life and our school community. I believe that we could all use her determination to make sure everybody feels like they have a voice in and outside of our school community. Thank you to Amiya for sharing these thoughts!

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Who They Were

At fourteen, she was kidnaped, stolen, and abducted to become the comfort of Evil.

Trapped, imprisoned in stations.

Her innocence, childhood ignorance was broken and stolen, left in a delicate bruised, abused, and used body. Covered in violence, no instance of silence.

Left to suffer where no one cared for her.

Still, her existence is denied. They lied, trying to hide their faults. She was a Comfort Woman, yet the girl was still a child.

A Poem By Chieri NNadozie

Author’s note: some readers may find the following content distressing.

Reader discretion is advised.

This poem is in commemoration of the horrors committed by the Japanese army in China during the period of 1932 to 1945. The bombing in Manchuria on September 18th, 1931 marked the beginning of the Second SinoJapanese War. During this conflict between Japan and China, 20 million Chinese lives were lost. Up to 17 million of the casualties were thought to be civilians. Throughout its campaign, the Japanese military committed many war crimes. A few of these crimes include ones against the military comfort women, the research unit known as Unit 731, and, most notably, the Nanking Massacre from 1937-1938. An estimated 300, 000 people lost their lives during this massacre. Despite the brutal and dehumanizing atrocities committed, the Nanking Massacre and similar crimes are rarely talked about in the West. In the words of Chinese American author Iris Chang, it is the “forgotten Holocaust”. Even to this day, some conservative Japanese politicians and scholars minimize the scope of the horrors and some go as far as denying that any of this took place at all.

They were neighbours, classmates, and daughters .

The children of aggrieved mothers and fathers.

They were friends, wives, and sisters.

The missing misses’ to the now widowed misters.

Where is their justice?

Unit seven-three-one: a place of limitless suffering. No one there to hear.

Desperate cries for Help.

Seven-three-one: the last place you’d be seen or heard from.

Three-one: Behind Stood

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One Man Shirō Ishii An evil was allowed to walk free Yet, not a single survivor was left to see.

He lost his sins; hands still stained red, with blood of the innocent punished in his stead.

How is this justice?

It was a day in December, 1937 Evil stormed in with heavy boots.

It was a day of cruelty, a display of inhumane brutality.

Bodies left by the river in the hundreds for all to see.

It was a day of fear.

Desperate voices called out for all to hear.

No way to help, unarmed and defenceless as they watched life disappear.

It was a day of anguish.

All hope left to languish.

Lying awake at night, waiting for dreams to all but vanish.

It was a day in six weeks, friends and family littered the streets, covered in a rust-coloured crust; an abandoned child weeps and shrieks.

It was a day of death where thousands drew their final breath.

They never got justice.

They have yet to acknowledge responsibility for their crimes of indescribable brutality.

Yet no one knows that after ninety years, Ghosts still remember who they were.

Works Cited ABC News. “US Paid for Japanese Human Germ Warfare Data.” ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2005, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-0815/us-paid-for-japanese-human-germ-warfaredata/2080618.

All That's Interesting. “4 Devastating War Crimes You Didn't Learn about in History Class.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 5 Apr. 2019, https://allthatsinteresting.com/worst-warcrimes-in-history.

Blakemore, Erin. “The Brutal History of Japan's 'Comfort Women'.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 20 Feb. 2018, https://www.history.com/news/comfort-womenjapan-military-brothels-korea.

Chang, Iris. The Rape Of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust Of World War II. United States, Basic Books, 2014.

“China Marks Nanking Massacre by Offering J Japan 'Friendship'.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 13 Dec. 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/chinamarks-nanking-massacre-urging-friendshipjapan-n829211.

Oliver, Mark. “27 Nanking Massacre Photos That Reveal One of History's Very Worst Atrocities.”

All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 28 Feb. 2019, https://allthatsinteresting.com/rapeof-nanking-massacre#28.

Oliver, Mark. “33 Images of the Rarely Remembered Japanese Butchering of China during World War 2.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 14 June 2019, https://allthatsinteresting/sino-japanese-war.

Stockton, Richard. “6 Horrifying Human ‘Experiments’ That Wwii Japan Got Away With.”

All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 5 Nov. 2018, https://allthatsinteresting/unit-731/2.

“Who Are the 'Comfort Women,' and Why Are U.s.Based Memorials for Them Controversial?”

NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 8 May 2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/asianamerica/who-are-comfort-women-why-are-u-sbased-memorials-n997656.

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Echoing Battles

His face had a soft smile as he mentioned why he was here, and her heart warms. At least this room held happy memories in its walls, not just the bad.

A story By Giulia Casha

The court room is empty, but the walls still echo with the intensity of the proceedings a mere thirty minutes before. She breathes in deeply, her limbs aching from sitting on the harsh wooden pews, but she makes no move to leave.

Instead, she stares at the bench where Judge Wilson had monitored over the entire trial. The same bench from which he had called out the Jury’s decision.

The judge called everyone to order and they all sat. Ms. Marks shuffled her papers, evidence ready to be shown. Despite her lawyer’s blank face, she could see the lines of stress around her eyes. There wasn’t much evidence, and it would be a difficult battle. The judge called upon Ms. Marks to make her opening statement. She barely heard her lawyer's voice as it demanded the room's attention. Instead, she looked at the defending lawyer, watching him jot down notes of what was being said. Peter, who sat behind his lawyer, wasn’t looking at her, but his face held the smirk of someone with nothing to fear.

The accused walked in with his head held high.

He would have looked intimidating if not for his beaten state. Perhaps, she thought, his injured features add to the air of fear now in the room.

Her lawyer sat straight, head raised and facing the judge. Ms. Marks exuded confidence, the perfect image of the prosecuting lawyer. She had not felt as ready as her lawyer. As soon as the accused, no - Peter (she knew avoiding his name wouldn’t change anything) entered, she slumped, trying to hide as much of herself from view as possible.

“What’s your name?” she asks the little boy.

“Billy,” came his short reply. “Why are you here, miss?” Billy questions. She is taken aback, surprised that the boy who looked so shy before is now speaking freely. “Well,” she starts, carefully mapping her wording, “someone wasn’t very nice to me. He came here today, and they decided whether or not he should be punished.”

“Like a timeout?” asks Billy. “I hate timeouts.”

“A very big time out.” She smiles at his analogy.

She assumes that is the end of the conversation and is thinking of ways to find Billy’s social worker when he asks, “I saw a scary man with cuts on his face come out of here earlier. Was that him?”

“Yes,” she says firmly, hoping that would be the end of it. “He was all beat up, so you must feel better now, right? He was mean to you and someone was mean to him?” She considers his words. It is true that she had felt a slight satisfaction at Peter’s injured face, but that has long since faded. In the end, that doesn’t matter to him, and won’t make him change his ways.

“No, it doesn’t make me feel better.

She remembers her slight satisfaction, seeing Peter injured, but it is gone now. She hears the doors to the court room open, but cannot find the energy to turn and see who enters. She does, however, look when she hears childlike steps making their way into the room. A young boy slowly walks down the aisle, wide eyes taking in all sides of the room. While she has no children herself, she cannot help the urge to make sure the child is alright, so she finally rises from her seat. “Are you alright?” she asks, slowly making her way towards the boy. He nods, looking shy.

“Where are your parents? Are you alone?” She cannot imagine why someone would leave a child to wander a courthouse on his own. “Miss social worker told me to wait outside, but I wanted to look in. I’m being adopted today.”

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What he did was bad, and him being hurt won’t change that. He won’t learn anything.” The boy nodded, but she doubts he fully understands.

She would rather have Peter in a position where he would never hurt anyone again than be beat up, healed, and never regret his actions.

She was called to the stand and Peter’s lawyer stood before her. She remembered the advice of Ms. Marks before the trial: “don’t let him anger you, think about what answer he is trying to get, and remember that you have done nothing wrong. It is not you on trial”. The words had seemed logical, but she found them hard to follow in the heat of the moment. “Ask your questions, Mr. Johnson,” stated Judge Wilson.

That was all the permission Mr. Johnson needed to begin his barrage of questions. Most of the questions seemed reasonable enough, although she shuddered at the way he tried to twist her words. There was one question, however, that stayed with her. “What were you wearing?” The inquiry made her pause.

“Objection,” shouted her own lawyer, but the judge denied it.

“I don’t see how that is important.” The male lawyer simply sighed, as if speaking to a difficult child. “It is important what message you were sending out.” There was an outcry from the women watching the case. Judge Wilson called for order before he allowed her to speak, “my clothes, no matter what they were, do not give out any sort of message. I have a right, same as you, to leave the house and feel safe. No matter what I am wearing.”

She walks the boy out of the courtroom, holding his small hand. “Where did your social worker ask you to wait?” she questions.

“Over there.” Billy points to a small bench with an even smaller backpack strewn across it. A juice box sits on the ground to the left side, and a

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children’s book was open on the seat. They walk over, and Billy sits down, picking up his juice box and taking a sip. She sits next to him, choosing to watch over the boy until his social worker returns, lest he wander off again. “You know, miss, you never told me if the mean man was given a time out or not.” She squeezes her hands tight in her lap, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She took a deep breath, composing herself for the child. “Unfortunately not, Billy.

Unfortunately not.”

The evidence had been presented and the jury had made their decision. There wasn’t enough proof to incriminate him. Everyone in the room knew that Peter was guilty. Despite pleading innocent he made no move to hide that, but the evidence wasn’t in her favour. Her lawyer attempted to console her, saying that justice works in mysterious ways. She wondered what the point of justice was if it was not given out evenly. Eventually everyone left, but she stayed, mind full of injustice.

The Breaths of Freedom A story By Chjara Morvan

Hope had dreams. To laugh, to smile, to cry, to shout. She had dreams of the language of words. A language she didn’t understand, a bit too foreign to her. The murmur of the melody was barely audible, and yet her hand knew all of the dances. But still, she didn’t understand. It was just a bit too foreign, even if it was her only escape in a golden cage. It was like a mask protecting her. Because she had had enough when no bright voice of comfort was heard on her parents’ television. Words became her shield, and she was the soldier. She wondered “why” often. Confined in four walls, as a wrongly accused prisoner. Time wasn’t measured; it didn’t really matter in a cage made out of gold. Routine came and with ink, she escaped. For a few seconds, for a few minutes, she broke the routine. As if she had broken a curse. She was a prisoner whose safest place was her cell. So she wrote. The massacres of kilometres away,

the virus just outside the door, and her loneliness. Out of them all, she was the lucky one. Because whatever could happen, she had the words of freedom in her. If only she was made out of ink. She could write her story, go back in time. Still, she had nothing to worry about compared to everyone else, just the fact that she couldn’t breathe. With a mask too heavy to hold. So in the foreign language, she wrote all the spells. Until she was able to breathe, until she wrote her own story, until she was free; until she understood that in the end, it was normal. Because hope is in every smile and in every terror because life is made out of nightmares and dreams and all we can do is dance to the turns and circles of life. And Hope understood it.

In 2099, Hope Mcmaster uttered her last words. In 2020, the biggest works of literature were written. In 2025, they were published under Hope Mcmaster. In 2030, she became an iconic author. In 2045, in an interview, she said, “ 2020 was one of the best years of my life. It was the year that kept me going”. Today, in 2099, Hope Mcmaster’s last words were: “I can breathe freedom”.

Justice in Life

Photography By Eva Liu

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Expose: What is Food Justice?

By Giulia Casha

Food Justice refers to the social movement for sustainable food available to everyone. In 2017-18, 1 in 8 Canadian households were food insecure (Proof Research Team). Food Justice fights for every person to receive the right amount of food regardless of their income. Food Secure Canada is one of the many organizations fighting for “zero hunger, healthy and safe food, and sustainable food systems” (Food Secure Canada). In 2019, Food Secure Canada worked with the government to produce Canada’s first food policy. The policy aims for the statement “[a]ll people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious and culturally diverse food” (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) to be true. While this policy is a large step forward, its execution has been a difficult path. It is important that we educate ourselves on food justice in Canada and on a global scale, so we can work towards a better future.

Works Cited: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “‘Everyone at the Table!" Government of Canada Announces the First-Ever Food Policy for Canada.” Canada.ca, Government of Canada, 17 June 2019, https://www.canada.ca/en/agricultureagri-food/news/2019/06/everyone-at-the-table-government-of-canadaannounces-the-first-ever-food-policy-for-canada.html.

Food Secure Canada. “Who We Are.” Food Secure Canada, 16 Sept. 2019, https://foodsecurecanada.org/who-we-are.

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Seasonal Recipe:

Hot Chocolate Cookies By emma Pont YIELD: 30 COOKIES.

Preparation time: 10 MINS

Cook time: 15 MINS

Total time: 25 MINS

Hot Chocolate Cookies are cookies made with hot chocolate mix, milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows. What could be more delicious! Curl up under a warm blanket and enjoy these seasonal cookies with a cup of tea or cocoa.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup white sugar 2/3 cups light brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 3-¼ cups all-purpose flour 4 (1-oz packages) hot chocolate mix (not sugar-free; a total of about 1 cup of hot chocolate mix) 1-¼ teaspoons salt 1-¼ teaspoons baking soda 1 cup milk chocolate chips 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows (frozen) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Mix butter and sugars in bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients slowly until combined as thick dough.

3. Fold in the milk chocolate chips and semi-sweet chips. Chill the dough for an hour. Chilling the dough allows the ingredients to blend and also makes a thicker cookie.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

5. Make balls of dough, around 1 1/2 tablespoons each, and place onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Hand place the marshmallows in the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

6. The cookies will still look soft. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

RECIPE NOTES Some bakers have found that freezing the marshmallows help to keep their shape and prevent them from melting out of the cookies.

Work Cited Denney, Christy. “Hot Chocolate Cookies”. THE GIRL WHO ATE EVERYTHING, 10 Nov 2014, https://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/hot-chocolate-cookies/

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Hemline Issue No. 1 Emma Pont Emily McMinn Eva Liu Giulia Casha Chieri Nnadozie Zeest Faisal Zara Ahmed Rushmi Singh Savannah Vaughan Amanda Wessel Nathalie Roy Ms. Vickman

Cover & Design Tamsin Carne