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durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, December 15, 2023 | | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Publisher and Chief Executive Officer Neil Oliver Vice President, Content, Community and Operations Dana Robbins Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Paul Gostlin Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905- 579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Baron Acton (1834-1902), historian and moralist, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. In my last article, I spoke about power and privilege and how the latter leads to the former and vice versa. Now let's disentangle this statement above and examine the responsibility of powerful privilege-holders. Is it necessarily true that as one's power increases the moral compass decreases? Or are there sufficient cases in history that renew the humaneness of mankind and show us otherwise? Do power and privilege bring with them certain responsibilities? Let's say to uphold truth and justice maybe? Or is this fallacy? Let's bring in the notion of truth. The landscape of diversity, equity and inclusion is rapidly becoming riddled with doublespeak and newspeak, rhetoric deliberately designed to obscure, churning over and over again in a melting pot of chaotic fake news and misquoted narratives so that we can no longer see where truth begins and deception ends. Or at least, this is what we are confused into believing. Wokeism is being weaponized as a "destroyer" of free speech and academic integrity. In many ways, this anti-wokeism phenomenon is similar to Trumpism whereby we create a scapegoat or an imaginary enemy (those "woke police" with their "cancel culture") so that we detract from the social justice momentum gained through solidarity, thereby repositing threat where society manufactures it and where it comfortably rests: in the bosoms of the powerless. So, let's recentre woke for a second. Let's look at woke as conscious, woke as truth and woke as reality -- woke as it was initially intended. Simply put: to not be asleep to injustices, to open our eyes to the disparities around us, to no longer remain inactive -- to act. One often encounters how power dynamics play out on a daily basis, is witness to how persons are disempowered, stripped of dignity, shrunken into less versions of themselves and made to feel diminished. At the same time, we also experience the power of empowerment when persons are given voice and a platform to speak truth to power and to significantly impact change. Sometimes, it is a matter of choice: on which side of the power coin do we wish to situate ourselves. Power does not erase choice. Rona Jualla van Oudenhoven is a resident of Durham; she currently sits on several Durham local councils and is the chief diversity officer of Radboud University, the Netherlands. COLUMNIST ON THE GOOD AND BAD WOKEISM The holiday season is the most festive and joyous time of the year. Yet, it can also be one of the most stressful and challenging to manage. Someone struggling with substance abuse or an individual in recovery from addiction may find this time of year emotionally painful and draining. Overall, it can be especially difficult for anyone attempting to maintain sobriety. However, there are practical approaches to aid in staying sober. Initially, if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, early intervention saves lives. It is never too late to intervene, and the holiday season is the ideal time to help that person get the treatment they need. When tackling holiday sobriety, there are two critical things to remember; have a well-thought-out plan and practice self-care. "Essentially, this is a holiday survival guide to help you maintain sobriety during the holidays; whether you are new to recovery or choosing holiday sobriety, it is a good idea to develop your survival guide," said Marcel Gemme of Addicted.org. A holiday survival plan may include knowing what you will do if you feel uncomfortable at parties or gatherings. It would also involve having a ride or a way out of the party and bringing non-alcoholic drinks or holiday mocktails. In addition, it is a good idea to know how to turn down a drink and know what to say when someone won't take no for an answer, such as a wild uncle or aunt. The most important part of the plan is the escape plan and having a way out if things become too overwhelming. Finally, practice self-care throughout the entirety of the holidays. The best way to remember how to accomplish this is with H.A.L.T. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired). Take time to ensure you are well-fed with something other than sugar. Do not ignore negative emotions but address them. Stay connected to other people and ensure adequate sleep. Nickolaus Hayes is a health-care professional in the field of substance abuse and addiction recovery. A SOBER HOLIDAY SEASON IS NOT A WILD IDEA NICKOLAUS HAYES Column A participant flashed a big smile as the Cannington Lions hosted the 75th annual Cannington Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 26. Susie Kockerscheidt/Metroland HELLO FROM THE PARADE RONA JUALLA VAN OUDENHOVEN Column