Commencement

My six months of study at CELI has reached its end. Since I arrived at Montreal, I have met so many new people from all over the world, and people of different ages.

As a person who was born and has lived in a country of monoculture for over 30 years, those times spent in the classroom sitting around desks exchanging opinions on various topics with people of different ages and nationalities seem a tiny miracle.

School is a somewhat miraculous place where all kinds of embryonic future crisscross each other. I was struck by the same sentiment just 20 years ago, on a day of early summer when I was sitting near the window in the classroom of highschool, but this sentiment seems to be more suitable for the experience I had here.

Well, this entry has become almost a monologue, but what I would like to say as a closing is THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK to all of us, as this is just the end of the beginning.
I was so happy to be able to study in this class with wonderful classmates and two splendid teachers.













St.Catherin Street in March (left) and June (right)

Pre-discussion: Responsibility in the Market

Q2. Should government be responsible for protecting the "common good"? What is the "common good"?

Yes, I think government should be responsible for protection of the common good. I suppose that the common good is equal to the citizen's well-being. As the primary aim for companies is the pursuit of profit, consumers need some organization which safeguards them and speaks for their sake. Government should play that role as they are (or must be) representitives of people.


Q3. Should the business involved be responsible for keeping the consumer safe? What is the goal of business in society?

Yes, I think the consumer safe should be the top priority for a company. Any possible hazard should be studied under simulations. Since pollution has become a social problem, companies have responsiblity not only for consumers but for society too.

The goal of business is supposed to be profit, but ideally the profit should be returned to the society in certain ways.

Visit to Two Islands

On Saturday, I visited the old port and the two islands (former Expo site) for the first time. Even though I did research on Expo 67, I have not yet seen the unique building "Habitat 67" or the former French & Quebec pavilion "Montreal Casino" with my own eyes.

I set my foot in a Casino for the first time (and maybe the last time) in my life. I thought that Casino is a place where only dressed-up rich people would go. But my friend explained me that there was a strict dress code until recently, but now almost anyone can get in (Admission, parking and cloak are all free. Dress cord is very easy). I just enjoyed to look around and watch people playing on slot machines. At the cheapest machines, you can play from 5 cent per game (but extremely boring and hardly win).

Two islands are now called Jean Drapeau park, and an agreeable place just to take a walk, with beautiful walking trails and bike paths. (Just one station away from Berri-Uquam by Yellow line.) Next weekend, there will be Formula 1 Grand Prix.