Inside The Mind Of Gabi

Wake Up And See The World

Month: October 2016

The Social Gospel’s Lasting Legacy

Hey look, I’m back with a new school-based blog post for the first time this year and recently in class, we have been looking into Canada’s pre-WW1 position and what our nation’s role was in the war. For this blog post, we were asked to look into one fragment of pre-war life in Canada, after getting a glimpse into the our country’s timeline leading up to the war.

I knew the moment that we learned about the Social Gospel, that I wanted to base my research on the Protestant Reform group. But this, in itself, was quite a broad topic, so I needed to focus my topic down to a single question. I decided to ask “What was The Social Gospel and how did they affect the Canadian quality of life? Did the Social Gospel’s legacy carry on into and impact modern day Canada?” (That’s sort of two questions but oh well). I have decided to create an Explain Everything, to dig deeper into what the Social Gospel was and how it was formed, and also how it impacted the quality of life for Canadians, or if it even did. But first here’s a bit of a backstory and an introduction to the time period.

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The Backstory:

So, in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s, before the stirrings of WW1, Canada was evolving through the means of technology, industry, and immigration. But with all of the change came the good and the bad, the bad being the struggle to maintain a good quality of life.

In this era of change and growth, there was hardly any thought going into healthcare, worker exploitation, poverty, and crime, let alone any effort to fix these problems. Since nothing was being done to prevent this way of life, living and working conditions continued to worsen for those impoverished in Canada.

The Prime Minister of the time, Wilfrid Laurier, was a man of compromise and balance, who wanted to keep the peace between French Canadians and British Canadians. But his “take no immediate action” way of government did little to remedy all the problems that arose as the Canadian Industrial Revolution continued. Since the Prime Minister would do nothing to aid quality of life in Canada, social reform movements, such as the Social Gospel, were born, to bring disease, poverty, and crime into perspective and attempt to mend the Canadian lifestyle.

Enjoy:

How I Stay Sane: School Season Playlist

Ok so, you may not know, but school has officially started up once again for the 2016/2017 year. And transitioning from a two-month carefree and relaxing summer break, to the craziness of the Seycove Secondary School halls is a big deal. I am seriously sleep deprived and it’s only the the second week back… As I said it’s a pretty big change.

There is pretty much only one thing that keeps me alive and sane during the never ending days at school, apart from a good lunch, and that’s music. I don’t think there is a point in the day where you won’t find me with a pair of headphones and a phone blasting music into my head. Music gives me an outlet for when I’m feeling stressed or down, it can bring me back to normal in a matter of the few first seconds of a favourite song. And these favourite songs are always changing and being replaced with new and old ones.

One of the best feelings is when you hear a song that you haven’t heard in years and know all the words because it used to be a favourite, and then you have flashbacks of where you first heard it and with whom, and soon it goes and takes back its place as one of the new “old favourites”. I am probably rambling on and sounding a bit obsessive, so I’ll carry on with the whole point of this post; to show you a few of my favourite songs that get me through the school days.

 

She Moves In Her Own Way – The Kooks

Ok so this is a song that I first heard in, like, 2007. It pretty much went through one ear and out the other. But I recently heard it at work, and I fell in love with it completely. I feel like it could be played during a montage of two people falling in love with each other during a rom-com movie, or something like that. But I don’t know, it’s upbeat, and sweet, and makes you want to do a little dance, so it works for me.

Favourite Lyrics: But you don’t pull my strings ’cause I’m a better man / moving onto better things

 

Walking On A Dream – Empire Of The Sun

Similar to ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’, I first heard this song years ago but it just didn’t stick with me. It’s one of those songs that has been on my iPod for, like, six years, and I just recently listened to it fully. Immediately I was caught up in the dreamy synthesizers and vocals. Most of the time when I listen to ‘Walking On A Dream’, I have no clue what is actually being said, but I don’t really mind, because it’s just that good.

Favourite Lyrics: Never looking down / I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me

 

Don’t Be A Fool – Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes’ sound has progressed from innocent guitar riffs accompanied by a young voice as a one man show, to electric guitars and backup bands and a more mature and evolved voice. ‘Don’t Be A Fool’ recently came out, and I love everything about it. I love how he sings about a someone who deserves better than him, and how it has a smooth and soulful sound.

Favourite Lyrics: And don’t be a fool / and wait on me darling

 

Only Love – Ben Howard

Ok so I’m sort of obsessed with Ben Howard; his music lets me close my eyes and float away into a different place. When a piece of music can take me somewhere other than reality, that’s when I know that its powerful. I’m cannot stop listening to the beautiful lyrics for an old lover, and the mesmerizing beat of ‘Only Love’. I feel like Ben Howard will be on my favourites list for quite a while.

Favourite Lyrics: And I’ll be yours to keep / a wind in the shadow a whale song in the deep

 

Send My Love (To Your New Lover) – Adele

OMG Adele… This song is so different to what you usually hear from her, which is mostly sad love songs and ballads. This is one of my favourites from her new album, it’s got a faster and a more catchy beat to it, and I love how she used the guitar, instead of her iconic sound of the piano. And I also love it ’cause I’m actually (sort of) able to stay in key when I sing along.

Favourite Lyrics: I was running, you were walking / you couldn’t keep up, you were falling down

 

The Age Of Worry – John Mayer

Ah, John Mayor, I love love love his voice. I love how almost all of his songs that I listen to, transport me to a dreamland (geez I guess dreaminess is the song theme). This song is no exception. I recently rediscovered John Mayor and began listening to playlist upon playlist of his different songs. And still, ‘The Age Of Worry’ came out on top.

Favourite Lyrics: Dream your dreams but don’t pretend / make friends with what you are

 

Runaway – Ed Sheeran

An essential music list isn’t one without an Ed Sheeran song. There are many of his songs that I listen to, but I especially like ‘Runaway’ because of the smooth sound and Ed Sheehan’s voice; his voice is all I need to hear to make it a favourite song. Runaway just has a little something that makes my heart tingle when I hear it (I can’t believe I said that for the world to see).

Favourite Lyrics: It’s been a long day / thumb on side of the roadway

 

The Sound – The 1975

I first heard of The 1975 about two years ago and fell in love with their first album. Then when they came out with their recent album ‘I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it’, I fell deeper in love with the dewy and nostalgic 80’s sound. ‘The Sound’ is my favourite because it has a thumping beat and lyrics that describe a rockstar relationship.

Favourite Lyrics: She said “I’ve got a problem with your shoes and you tunes / but I might move in

 

Mercy – Shawn Mendes

Having had discovered Shawn Mendes way back when he came out with his very first single, I have been following the release of his first album, and his very recent album. Mercy is my new favourite, which came out August 18th. I love all of it. Enough said.

Favourite Lyrics: I’m not asking for a lot / just that your honest with me

 

So that’s it. These are the core songs that get me through the days (for now). They will probably be different next week, and then the week after that, and that… Well you get the idea. Anyways, I totally recommend all of these songs, so give them a listen! I’m thinking of showing you a different group of songs each month, but I think I’ll be making each post shorter, so you don’t get too tired of reading.

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