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August 20, 2004

In this country's current climate, Canadian Olympians and Canadian Senators are ideal candidates for scorn.  In the case of the former, a disappointing week in Athens has led to a 31st place standing in the medal count, behind such countries as Azerbaijan and Estonia.  And in the case of the latter, a public that is fed up with cronyism and unnecessary patronage continues to be sceptical about the Senate serving as a viable institution rather than as a place for political friends and lackeys.

Well here are two strong women whose actions have demonstrated the opposite of the above-mentioned cynicism.

Senator Mobina Jaffer has been a tireless human rights activist for many years, long before her appointment to the Red Chamber.  She has also always been a strong personality guided by her beliefs and principles.  So it is no surprise to hear of the personal protest she made in her recent visit to Sudan.

Angered by Sudan's president, who tried to prevent her from seeing evidence of violence in its embattled Darfur region, Jaffer did not play diplomatic footsies with a regime largely responsible for the one million black Africans that have been displaced by marauding Arab militias.  This is in stark contrast to the actions of the rest of the world, as reported by TDH last week.

Instead, Senator Jaffer let it be known that the government's attempts to sweep the massacres under the rug were absolutely unacceptable.  Jaffer, accompanied by President Omar Hassan al-Beshir, travelled to the town of Nyala, which she described as "a parade and hoopla."  When she was continually ushered into sanitized businesses and factories, Jaffer rebelled against claims that the refugee camps were unsafe and "went to the plane and waited for the president to go back."  By Jaffer's account, she "wasn't very ladylike. I expressed my anger."

As a result of her outburst, Sudanese officials gave her free access to the refugee camps in el-Gemina, near Sudan's western border with Chad, on May 20, where she spoke at length with UN workers.

Over in Athens, World Champion hurdler Perdita Felicien is showing what has proven to be a bitter team of disappointment the true meaning of the Olympics.

Felicien has dominated the women's 100-metre hurdles over the past year, and emerged as a true Canadian idol by winning the Velma Springstead Award as Canada’s top female athlete of 2003.  Yet long before the first heats of her event show up on the schedule, Ms. Felicien has garnered quite a following within the Olympic athletes' village.

Every morning, Felicien stands on the balcony of her residence and serenades other athletes with inspirational poetry.

"I yell out loud to all the people at the bus shelter and anyone else in the courtyard walking around.  They can't wait until I come out. People stop and stare, and when they get it, they clap."

In a sea of negativity that has hung over the heads of every Canadian athlete up until this point, it is so very refreshing to see someone who not only wants to share inspiration and passion with her fellow athletes, but also has openly spoke about the spirit of competition trumping the obsession over podium finishes.

With shining examples such as these, maybe the public can once again begin to celebrate the respective disciplines of both of these Canadian role models.

Comments? jonathan@tdhstrategies.com