The Ottawa-Carleton District College Board stated it was ‘conducting a radical investigation’ to deal with the difficulty of the enjoying of the music Haza Salam
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A 2022 file picture of the outside of Sir Robert Borden Excessive College. Photograph by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia
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Ottawa-Carleton District College Board trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth is livid in regards to the “very much political and very much divisive” choice to play an Arabic-language Gaza peace music at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Sir Robert Borden Excessive College on Monday.
She stated Tuesday {that a} “hollow apology” provided after the very fact wasn’t sufficient and that additional disciplinary motion was essential.
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The music, Haza Salam, was the one music chosen for the ceremony, which additionally confirmed pictures of Canadian navy members together with printed messages. The music is commonly used as a protest music towards Israel.
Late Monday, principal Aaron Hobbs delivered a message of remorse in a letter emailed to folks.
“Our intention during the ceremony was to foster a message of peace and remembrance, reflecting on the importance of unity and reconciliation,” Hobbs wrote.
“However, we recognize that the song chosen — while intended to highlight themes of peace — also inadvertently caused offence and discomfort to some students, and for that we regret our choice. We acknowledge that Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion, where the focus should remain on honouring those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we hold dear. The inclusion of a song that could be seen as politically charged was not in line with the values of respect and unity that we strive to uphold at this school.”
That was not sufficient for Kaplan-Myrth. She requested OCDSB training director Pino Buffone for an in depth clarification for who was accountable, however as of late Tuesday afternoon had not obtained a response.
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“The people writing to the school board now are the families of those who fought in wars, the grandparents and great grandparents of the students and younger veterans,” Kaplan-Myrth stated. “They are upset. They feel disrespected. And the Jewish community is also upset.”
Sir Robert Borden has additionally been the positioning of earlier anti-Semitic incidents. In 2022, two Jewish college students alleged they walked right into a room in the highschool and had been greeted by college students utilizing a German accent and providing a Nazi salute. A swastika was additionally on the ground.
A December 2023 file picture of Ottawa-Carleton District College Board trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth. Photograph by Jean Levac /Postmedia
Kaplan-Mirth stated the musical choice additionally ran counter to the OCDSB coverage to avoid taking political stances on any and all points.
“There is no excuse for this, playing one song at a Remembrance Day ceremony and it’s a song about Gaza? How many times and how many ways can you hurt the Jewish community? Somebody made a choice and there’s no place where this is an appropriate choice for Remembrance Day,” she stated. “What if there was a Russian peace song or a Chinese peace song or an Israel peace song? None of that would be OK.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa stated it was additionally “deeply concerned” in regards to the ceremony.
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“It is a day to pause, reflect and honour our Canadian heritage and the sacrifices made to uphold our values and freedom,” the group stated in a launch. “Including a song associated with one side of an ongoing foreign conflict, especially one currently contributing to division and tension in our communities, reflects poor judgment for a public school setting.”
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod has additionally been outspoken in asking for Hobbs to be additional disciplined.
In an announcement Tuesday afternoon, the OCDSB stated it was “conducting a thorough investigation” to deal with the difficulty appropriately.
“Student well-being is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students,” the board’s assertion stated. “In order to ensure the integrity of the investigation, we will not be commenting further on this matter until the investigation is complete.”
Sir Robert Borden’s choice to situation an apology to folks doesn’t sit properly with the Canadians for Justice and Peace within the Center East, a non-profit group devoted to assist Canadians acknowledge human rights on this nation and internationally.
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“The selective outrage and swift backlash reveal a troubling double-standard that unfairly targets Palestinian and Arabic cultural expression, framing it as inherently controversial or politically charged,” Jamila Ewais, a lead researcher for the affiliation’s anti-racism program, stated in an announcement.
“Such responses reveal an underlying bias that labels Arabic expression as inappropriate in spaces intended to promote inclusivity and unity.”
— With information from Ontario Chronicle
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