Year of the Tiger

I'm Tamil, and being from the city of Toronto the average citizen is now at least vaguely aware of the existence of my culture with the slew of anti-genocide protests that nearly brought the city to a standstill early last year. But the average Torontian is apprehensive when acknowledging the Tamil struggle, partly because our only political voice in our nation is a rebel group of militant fighters that have been deemed by the Canadian government and several other nations as a terrorist organization. The Tamil tiger terrorists; the alliteration rolls off the tongue, and as quickly as caring Torontonians were willing to lend their sympathies to our cause they withdrew them in fear that they may be tacitly supporting terrorism in some form.

Admittedly the dealings of the Tamil Tigers have been anything but diplomatic in the 20 year bitter ethnic conflict with the Sinhalese that ended in May; they have conscripted children, beaten and tortured innocent civilians, and are infamously known as the inventors of the suicide bomb. I am not going to engage in a political discussion here on the merits and demerits of both sides. This blog is not about politics, or about humanitarianism, its about ME and if that sounds selfish to you you are welcome to leave at any time. The fact of the matter is I have perused the online chats and discussions on the topic and they always degenerate from an at least remotely intellectual conversation to a back-and-forth online cursing match. Somewhere in these hateful exchanges the truth goes missing.

Anyways, the reason I mention the Tigers at all is because it occurred to me recently that 2010 is the year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar. Let's be honest, 2009 was a brutal year for tigers all over. The bengal tiger is still an endangered species, the Tamil Tigers suffered a crushing defeat, and need I mention the ever unfolding saga that is Tiger Woods' life. Tigers are to some the forgotten voice of a disenfranchised people, to others the symbol of a ruthless terrorist organization, but first and foremost they were and are beautiful animals. So, for 2010 lets unleash the inner tiger in all of us and just appreciate the power and beauty of these majestic creatures. I was born in 88' so I'm officially a dragon in the Chinese calendar but off the record I will always be a tiger. And if you confuse that for some hidden political stance or support of terrorism, well, then your seriously messed up.

Stussy Year of the Tiger t-shirts. That first one is dope. Japan exclusive
Supreme Tigers varsity jacket. If you asked me last year I might not have rocked this. Now I'm all for it. Funny how things change.