What makes me cry:
Men crying. I always cry.
Being homesick.
Being so angry that I can't stand it.
Feeling hate.
Realizing disappointment in people.
What Makes me angry:
People having to JUSTIFY who they vote for.
Friends fighting over politics (note the distinction here fighting not debating debating is fine fighting is disappointing).
People judging others.
What makes me happy:
redemption
hope
accepting the ability to change .
I'm not ususally a person who can say what makes me happy or sad or what not (I sometimes laugh at inopportune moments...like when ppl cry). I"m emotional. I honestly HATE the fact I'm emotional. I see it as being a personality flaw. Quite honestly I see it as one of my biggest personality flaws, but this I can say with certainty: When men cry, really cry, I can't help but cry as well.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Gardens
Today, I had the lovely experience of visiting Al Azhar Park. It is an oasis of beauty, vegetation and fountains in the large overwhelming city of Cairo. It's located near the citadel and the Saleh Salem road. One can see the pyramids of Giza the hills of Mokattam the beauties of the city along with the ugliness of its poverty all from the Garden that over looks Cairo. The normal sounds of the city seem nonexistant in the quiet lush garden. It's an area of peace, solitude, and beauty all laid out for us by a great amount of extravagant spending (it cost 30 million to build). It's hard to critique this amount of money spent on a garden though. It is relatively cheap to enter, and it's open to all sectors of the population. It's beautiful. I felt as though I had been on a vacation just from spending a few hours in this lovely place. My flatmates and I, I must admit, were immediately confessing how we would love to go on a date to this location. (Why the female mind always goes to dating, I don't know). I have officially decided that the most amazing date in the world would be going to the garden for the afternoon, and then eating dinner there. *sigh*
In the mean time, the many different facets and nuances of Egyptian life are becoming more apparent to me. It's amazing that there are such many differences within the culture. The other night I was at a party with alcohol, dancing etc. When that very day, I had been in a Christian Egyptian house where the idea of meeting a man in public is considered questionable. There are many differing views and complex relations connecting them all here. I have to begin to define my own view and my own belief and approach to these situations, so I have to define my self within this culture.
In the mean time, I've been dreaming a lot. One of my dreams made it very apparent that I have to choose. I have reached that defining point in my faith, where my distractions are growing dangerous, and I have to decide to choose truth over worldly and emotional idols. I have to choose to engage with God more and to allow Him to have a greater influence over my life. This is frightening to me. He can use people to do great things. I don't know if I am ready to do great things, or if I can even do them. I am okay with living in the background, but I know it's time to step out into the light. It's time for my difference to be visible to the world .
I have to allow my faith to become a garden as well. I need to be a garden of faith within this world the same way that Al Azhar is a garden in Cairo. My faith should be affecting to all people who see it. In the same way that Al Azhar's beauty leaves one stunned and speechless, God's love should be able to do the same to people through me.
Growth pains are hard, difficult, and frightening. I hope that I can weather them well. I know that through Him all things are possible, but I hope that the growth is not as painful as I am expecting it to be. I look forward to the end results.
the following are lyrics to one of my favorite songs:
God has smiled on me. He's been good to me. God has smiled on me. He has set me free. God has smiled on me. He's been good to me.
In the mean time, the many different facets and nuances of Egyptian life are becoming more apparent to me. It's amazing that there are such many differences within the culture. The other night I was at a party with alcohol, dancing etc. When that very day, I had been in a Christian Egyptian house where the idea of meeting a man in public is considered questionable. There are many differing views and complex relations connecting them all here. I have to begin to define my own view and my own belief and approach to these situations, so I have to define my self within this culture.
In the mean time, I've been dreaming a lot. One of my dreams made it very apparent that I have to choose. I have reached that defining point in my faith, where my distractions are growing dangerous, and I have to decide to choose truth over worldly and emotional idols. I have to choose to engage with God more and to allow Him to have a greater influence over my life. This is frightening to me. He can use people to do great things. I don't know if I am ready to do great things, or if I can even do them. I am okay with living in the background, but I know it's time to step out into the light. It's time for my difference to be visible to the world .
I have to allow my faith to become a garden as well. I need to be a garden of faith within this world the same way that Al Azhar is a garden in Cairo. My faith should be affecting to all people who see it. In the same way that Al Azhar's beauty leaves one stunned and speechless, God's love should be able to do the same to people through me.
Growth pains are hard, difficult, and frightening. I hope that I can weather them well. I know that through Him all things are possible, but I hope that the growth is not as painful as I am expecting it to be. I look forward to the end results.
the following are lyrics to one of my favorite songs:
God has smiled on me. He's been good to me. God has smiled on me. He has set me free. God has smiled on me. He's been good to me.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Rock Slide in Cairo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7601926.stm
There are no words to describe the unfathomable damage that this rockslide has done. I have been to Mukattam hills. It is a very very poor area. There are no words. If you would like to see the efficiency of the government, you need not look far. This disater speaks truths that are merely wispered here.
There are no words to describe the unfathomable damage that this rockslide has done. I have been to Mukattam hills. It is a very very poor area. There are no words. If you would like to see the efficiency of the government, you need not look far. This disater speaks truths that are merely wispered here.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Update
My time here has been lazy and busy all at the same time. My flatmates lived with a poor Egyptian family in Massara for the first month they were here. Massara is a very poor community that is in the outskirts of Cairo. This family is, as we say, fresh from Upper Egypt. Upper Egypt is actually the southern part of the country. It is an area with very poor, religious, superstitious people (yes I am generalizing but it's a good one). the family does not understand women speaking with men outside the house etc etc. I was introduced to this family and quickly fell love with this family. They adopted me as one of their daughters. As they say Mamti wi babti fi Masr wi mamti wi babti fi amrika! aka They are my mom and dad in Egypt and I have a mom and dad in America! They truly do treat me with the same love and acceptance that they treat their daughters, as they do my other flatmates. They get excited to see us (even more excited than "real" family at times). They love doing girlie things, yet they have strength that I have not seen other women portray before. The father of the family Abu Hany is completely amazing. He is a man of honor and respect which will become apparent as one learns more about the family. Abu Hany is a man without a lot of money he makes about 400-500 egyptian pounds a week which is no more than 100 US dollars. On top of this stress, the family is protestant Christian. Christians in Egypt make up 15% of the population, but Protestants are few and far between. Most Christians here are Copts, and the relationship between the religions is not good (despite many peoples refusal of the problems btwn the groups). Through my ups and downs in Cairo they have been my support. My constant, and have helped me adjust. I have learned more Arabic in my few times spent at their house than in the past two years!!!!!
In the meantime, Ramadan started this week. This is a time of fasting from sun up to sun down for Muslims...they fast from food water everything...during this time. Then they have a big feast when the sun sets. The schedule here is totally changed and revolves around Ramadan. Children set off fireworks in the street to celebrate iftar (the breaking of the fast). It is believed that this is a time when the gates of hell are closed and the gates of heaven are continually open. Thus, people are on their best behavior (they have no excuse if they screw up). Women dress more conservatively. Men tend to not harass women during this time. It is an interesting time for anyone to be in the Middle East. It is a time when one can see the beauties of Islam, while also seeing it's hypocrisies (which exist in EVERY religion I might add). (Also mom...we "fell back" already..we change our clocks before y'all because of Ramadan...so right now we are 7 hours ahead of you).
During this time, men go around in some neighborhoods banging pots waking people up at 4 in the morning so people can eat b4 the sun comes up....the problem is this loud sound wakes up ALL people Muslim and christian alike.
I also had the first meeting for school. I am going to be taking four classes this semester (12 hrs). My adviser is very happy with this b/c it means if I take 4 classes next semester I could graduate in 18 months as opposed to 2 years!!! Pretty Great eh? My classes include Introduction to Migration and Refugee Studies, International Refugee law, Migration and Refugee Movements in North Africa and the Middle East, and Palestinian Refugee Issues. I am very excited about all of these classes, but also very nervous. I had a meeting with my Introduction to Migration and Refugee Studies class. Everyone was very interesting, and I'm excited to get to know them better. The professor gave us the syllabus (which was intimidating to say the least). She also showed us the reader...we have a different reader each week. These readers are each larger than a reader for one semester of one of my undergraduate courses (so the amount I would read in one semester I am now reading one week per class ek!!!! freaking out a bit yes) This means mom and dad...I won't be looking for a job..but it also means I'll be done with school sooner!!! yay!!!!!! The professor is great, and really interesting. She's Muslim, educated, devoted research specialtist on Somali refugees and the affects of refugee life on gender identifications. I'm excited to be in her class. I'm nervous about other classes b/c I'm going into it blind. This class I know what I need to have prepared for the first class. The others, I have no idea what I"m getting myself into...In fact, I'm considering sending an email to the professors asking if I need to have anything prepared for the first class. We are starting during ramadan...which means all of our classes meet at a different time...and sometimes a different place...frustrating...YES!!!!! Very much so. I will be able to write more about school next weekend. I start school on Sunday (here the "holy" day is Friday...the weekend is friday and saturday).
In the meantime, Ramadan started this week. This is a time of fasting from sun up to sun down for Muslims...they fast from food water everything...during this time. Then they have a big feast when the sun sets. The schedule here is totally changed and revolves around Ramadan. Children set off fireworks in the street to celebrate iftar (the breaking of the fast). It is believed that this is a time when the gates of hell are closed and the gates of heaven are continually open. Thus, people are on their best behavior (they have no excuse if they screw up). Women dress more conservatively. Men tend to not harass women during this time. It is an interesting time for anyone to be in the Middle East. It is a time when one can see the beauties of Islam, while also seeing it's hypocrisies (which exist in EVERY religion I might add). (Also mom...we "fell back" already..we change our clocks before y'all because of Ramadan...so right now we are 7 hours ahead of you).
During this time, men go around in some neighborhoods banging pots waking people up at 4 in the morning so people can eat b4 the sun comes up....the problem is this loud sound wakes up ALL people Muslim and christian alike.
I also had the first meeting for school. I am going to be taking four classes this semester (12 hrs). My adviser is very happy with this b/c it means if I take 4 classes next semester I could graduate in 18 months as opposed to 2 years!!! Pretty Great eh? My classes include Introduction to Migration and Refugee Studies, International Refugee law, Migration and Refugee Movements in North Africa and the Middle East, and Palestinian Refugee Issues. I am very excited about all of these classes, but also very nervous. I had a meeting with my Introduction to Migration and Refugee Studies class. Everyone was very interesting, and I'm excited to get to know them better. The professor gave us the syllabus (which was intimidating to say the least). She also showed us the reader...we have a different reader each week. These readers are each larger than a reader for one semester of one of my undergraduate courses (so the amount I would read in one semester I am now reading one week per class ek!!!! freaking out a bit yes) This means mom and dad...I won't be looking for a job..but it also means I'll be done with school sooner!!! yay!!!!!! The professor is great, and really interesting. She's Muslim, educated, devoted research specialtist on Somali refugees and the affects of refugee life on gender identifications. I'm excited to be in her class. I'm nervous about other classes b/c I'm going into it blind. This class I know what I need to have prepared for the first class. The others, I have no idea what I"m getting myself into...In fact, I'm considering sending an email to the professors asking if I need to have anything prepared for the first class. We are starting during ramadan...which means all of our classes meet at a different time...and sometimes a different place...frustrating...YES!!!!! Very much so. I will be able to write more about school next weekend. I start school on Sunday (here the "holy" day is Friday...the weekend is friday and saturday).
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Ramadan Kareem
Ramadan Kareem Everyone!!!!!!!! I am currently sitting in my flat listening to the friends theme song while the call to pray is resonating throughout my neighborhood...quite contrasting sounds yes. I think their contrast represents in some ways the contrast of an American living in Egypt. Anyways. 85% of the population here is fasting from food, water, smoking, even spitting from sun up to sun down. It is believed to be a time when the gates of hell are shut and the gates of heaven are open. Everyone is therefore on their best behavior...which means men don't harass women AS MUCH in the streets, and women dress more modestly. Evenings are of course a party, because that's when the family and friends gather to eat...eat meals that they normally can't afford to eat, but during Ramadan, they manage to find the money to splurge. In contrast, I am about to visit my Egyptian surrogate family who are Christian. They hate Ramadan, because the food is more expensive. The family that has taken me in as another daughter, is the host family and surrogate family to my other three roommates as well. Their love moves me to tears at times. This family lives off of 100 US dollars a month, yet spiritually I believe they are the richest family I know. I hope I can someday be half the woman that my surrogate mother and sisters are. I will write more soon. I miss all of you who are in America...and I think of you often. You are the reason for me updating my blog. I know I should do it more often...
Sunday, March 09, 2008
International Organizations.........and Disenchantment
When I returned to the Middle East, I thought I would be able to use my power of living in a democratic state to affect the way the United States viewed the Middle East. I thought that International Organizations such as the United Nations and other IOs could be used to improve the situation in Gaza, but now I am recognizing what my professor said in my International Law class when he said that Intergovernmental organizations are unrealistic. They are all talk with no power. In the past there have been a few times in which they were able to exert power to influence their own outcomes. However, this is only under certain circumstances. This only happened when the hegemon decided to support these actions.
These are strange times that we live in. It is a time when globalization has thrust politics all around the world into the political realm of almost every person, yet people in America are currently not political. Protests and politcial movements are things that our generation thinks nothing of. Instead we "leave the politics up to those who can make a difference." Little do we realize, we are those people. At a time when everything is political, it seems no one is political. This is changing somewhat with the students becoming apart of the Obama campaign, but it is still there.
All of this is to say, that I have become disenchanted with the idealist and liberal policy and at times rhetoric. I am sad to confess I do not see International Organizations improving this world (especially when inter-national corporations have more power than international organizations and at times the state). What is to be done then? How do we change the situation in Gaza, Darfu, Brundi, Chad, Kashmir, Chechnya etc.? I don't know. I guess the only way we can change the situation is by changing the thoughts of those problems one person at a time. And (this sounds so naive and completely like Christian rhetoric, but it's true) through prayer.
These are strange times that we live in. It is a time when globalization has thrust politics all around the world into the political realm of almost every person, yet people in America are currently not political. Protests and politcial movements are things that our generation thinks nothing of. Instead we "leave the politics up to those who can make a difference." Little do we realize, we are those people. At a time when everything is political, it seems no one is political. This is changing somewhat with the students becoming apart of the Obama campaign, but it is still there.
All of this is to say, that I have become disenchanted with the idealist and liberal policy and at times rhetoric. I am sad to confess I do not see International Organizations improving this world (especially when inter-national corporations have more power than international organizations and at times the state). What is to be done then? How do we change the situation in Gaza, Darfu, Brundi, Chad, Kashmir, Chechnya etc.? I don't know. I guess the only way we can change the situation is by changing the thoughts of those problems one person at a time. And (this sounds so naive and completely like Christian rhetoric, but it's true) through prayer.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Who Says You Can't Go Home?
I have the joy of working with refugees. I really love it. I love them, but it's probably one of the most emotional jobs that I have. I only work fifteen hours a week teaching them English, and I cannot handle the stress of the job with my school work. I can't believe I just admitted that on the internet but there it is. I can't handle a full load in school with an emotional job and a failing social life.
Last night, I had the ability to take the refugees to ACU's sing song. It's a student production that dominates campus life once a year. youtube it. You'll be amused if you've never seen it before. It actually is quite impressive. My favorite thing about it was watching the refugees faces. Seeing their reactions. Hearing them laugh. Seeing their excitement. I loved it. It was great. I also got to practice my french a little bit...which is in vast need of improvement. Anyways, it was wonderful. They really came alive.
Unfortunately, the performance ended with Bon Jovi's Who says you can't go home. I looked around, and I noticed that their laughing and smiles had faded. I think I even saw tears in one of the young woman's eyes. I realized everyone says they can't go home. They are refugees and that reality began to sink in. They quickly bounced back, but that scene still haunts me. I can't get passed it.
Last night, I had the ability to take the refugees to ACU's sing song. It's a student production that dominates campus life once a year. youtube it. You'll be amused if you've never seen it before. It actually is quite impressive. My favorite thing about it was watching the refugees faces. Seeing their reactions. Hearing them laugh. Seeing their excitement. I loved it. It was great. I also got to practice my french a little bit...which is in vast need of improvement. Anyways, it was wonderful. They really came alive.
Unfortunately, the performance ended with Bon Jovi's Who says you can't go home. I looked around, and I noticed that their laughing and smiles had faded. I think I even saw tears in one of the young woman's eyes. I realized everyone says they can't go home. They are refugees and that reality began to sink in. They quickly bounced back, but that scene still haunts me. I can't get passed it.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Sanctuary
Okay, I have no idea who wrote this song, and I have learned that I know a very different version than that normally uploaded on the net.
Let me start with a little bit of background I go to a coc school (church of Christ). For those of you who do not know, Church of Christ believe that it is a sin to worship with instruments...now, I don't want to get into this strange theological debate esp. since I don't understand any of their arguments, but it is beautiful music to listen to!! All of their singing is so lovely. Today, they sang this song that touches me everytime I hear it.
O Lord Prepare me
to be a sanctuary
pure and holy
tried and true
with thanksgiving
I'll be a living
sanctuary
for you
Lord teach your children
to stop the fighting
and start uniting
all as one
let's get together
loving forever
sanctuary for you.
Let me start with a little bit of background I go to a coc school (church of Christ). For those of you who do not know, Church of Christ believe that it is a sin to worship with instruments...now, I don't want to get into this strange theological debate esp. since I don't understand any of their arguments, but it is beautiful music to listen to!! All of their singing is so lovely. Today, they sang this song that touches me everytime I hear it.
O Lord Prepare me
to be a sanctuary
pure and holy
tried and true
with thanksgiving
I'll be a living
sanctuary
for you
Lord teach your children
to stop the fighting
and start uniting
all as one
let's get together
loving forever
sanctuary for you.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
My Amazing Christmas Tree
Once a year my favorite holiday comes around. The Advent season has serioulsy got to be one of the most amazing times of the year. The whole meaning of Christmas is wonderful to begin with, but then there are all of these beautiful decorations that can keep a person awed for hours, days, weeks even (technically a little over a month).
It is also the one time of the year that I feel I have any sort of artistic and decorative ability what so ever. The Christmas tree is my piece of art in my family's house.
I start of course by assembly the tree. My family cannot have a real tree for health concerns, so we instead have bought a fairly lovely fake tree that we reassemble every year. If anyone else has ever decorated a fake tree then you will know that the fist thing you must do is shape the tree. This is the first step in my expertise. I must shape the tree in such a way that it looks full (so there are no "holes" in the tree), it looks real, and it looks beautiful of course.
Then the real job gets started that is putting the lights on the tree!!!! YAY!!! I must put lights on the tree so that it is fully lighted, not tacky, evenly distributed, and so that the wires of the lights remain unnoticed. I do this by stringing the lights up and down each individual branch so that the wire never moves from one branch to the other in the front of the limb, and each branch is wrapped in lights.
I know this sounds silly, but please indulge me...and hear me out on this. After 800 lights and about five hours of work I accomplished my job. The tree had lights! I then thought about how my beautiful creation would be ruined once the tacky ornaments that I made in elementary school would be placed upon my beautiful tree (remind me to find those and ruin them some day). I stood back in awe of my work, and began to think about what each little light on that tree would cost.
That Christmas tree with 800 lights will remain on 24/7 until about January first. I then thought about how most places in the world do not even have electricity 24/7 for normal everyday appliances. In Gaza there are frequent electrical outages, and people actually try to steal electricity from one another. Israel also uses electricity as a tool to punish the Palestinians, by cutting off the electricity to Gaza.
In Africa, many people still live in the brush and have no such luxuries. Others live in cities, but they are too poor to pay for the electricity. Others still have no access to it because of political and social instability.
I have mentioned places like India (where Dalits have lived in poverty for the past since before the state received its independence), South America, Latin America, the Caribbean (places like Jamaica where the IMF has ruined the local market and de-developed the country) or Haiti, or even America. Let's be honest I have two friends who grew up on farms here in the United States neither of which had/have electricity at home...yep that's right folks right here in the good ol' USA.
All of this said, I do not want it to be a bash on Christmas trees or Christmas decorations. Let us think when admiring our decorations and remember what Christmas is really about. Let us recognize that we are blessed to be able to afford those decorations, and let's think of those who cannot have them. Let's not take joy away from this time, but let's think of what they mean. Let's remember they mean that we are blessed, and we need to help those who are not. If you would like to take time to help a family this season here are some websites to check out if you do not already have plans....
http://www.gfa.org/kcbi
This is a place where you can purchase gifts for families in Asia. These gifts are gifts that will actually help raise the families socioeconomic status.
Other ideas for gifts...find a local charity and give the gift of your time!!! Forget about money for a few minutes and simply give the gift of time and love. Give the gift of life...donate blood. Adopt a child (okay I know that it is considered "trendy" right now to adopt a child, but seriously it's an amazing, amazing gift). Recently, I had the honor of hearing a man speak who was adopted when he was 11 and was given the opportunity to have a family and a future all in that continual act of love. His parents went on to adopt 17 more children. (I don't think most of us can do that, but maybe some of us could adopt one or two...every child counts).Visit a Veteran's Hospital. Okay, I will be the first to admit that I don't agree with the war...but let's get passed the politics and get to what's amazing...our vets.
It is also the one time of the year that I feel I have any sort of artistic and decorative ability what so ever. The Christmas tree is my piece of art in my family's house.
I start of course by assembly the tree. My family cannot have a real tree for health concerns, so we instead have bought a fairly lovely fake tree that we reassemble every year. If anyone else has ever decorated a fake tree then you will know that the fist thing you must do is shape the tree. This is the first step in my expertise. I must shape the tree in such a way that it looks full (so there are no "holes" in the tree), it looks real, and it looks beautiful of course.
Then the real job gets started that is putting the lights on the tree!!!! YAY!!! I must put lights on the tree so that it is fully lighted, not tacky, evenly distributed, and so that the wires of the lights remain unnoticed. I do this by stringing the lights up and down each individual branch so that the wire never moves from one branch to the other in the front of the limb, and each branch is wrapped in lights.
I know this sounds silly, but please indulge me...and hear me out on this. After 800 lights and about five hours of work I accomplished my job. The tree had lights! I then thought about how my beautiful creation would be ruined once the tacky ornaments that I made in elementary school would be placed upon my beautiful tree (remind me to find those and ruin them some day). I stood back in awe of my work, and began to think about what each little light on that tree would cost.
That Christmas tree with 800 lights will remain on 24/7 until about January first. I then thought about how most places in the world do not even have electricity 24/7 for normal everyday appliances. In Gaza there are frequent electrical outages, and people actually try to steal electricity from one another. Israel also uses electricity as a tool to punish the Palestinians, by cutting off the electricity to Gaza.
In Africa, many people still live in the brush and have no such luxuries. Others live in cities, but they are too poor to pay for the electricity. Others still have no access to it because of political and social instability.
I have mentioned places like India (where Dalits have lived in poverty for the past since before the state received its independence), South America, Latin America, the Caribbean (places like Jamaica where the IMF has ruined the local market and de-developed the country) or Haiti, or even America. Let's be honest I have two friends who grew up on farms here in the United States neither of which had/have electricity at home...yep that's right folks right here in the good ol' USA.
All of this said, I do not want it to be a bash on Christmas trees or Christmas decorations. Let us think when admiring our decorations and remember what Christmas is really about. Let us recognize that we are blessed to be able to afford those decorations, and let's think of those who cannot have them. Let's not take joy away from this time, but let's think of what they mean. Let's remember they mean that we are blessed, and we need to help those who are not. If you would like to take time to help a family this season here are some websites to check out if you do not already have plans....
http://www.gfa.org/kcbi
This is a place where you can purchase gifts for families in Asia. These gifts are gifts that will actually help raise the families socioeconomic status.
Other ideas for gifts...find a local charity and give the gift of your time!!! Forget about money for a few minutes and simply give the gift of time and love. Give the gift of life...donate blood. Adopt a child (okay I know that it is considered "trendy" right now to adopt a child, but seriously it's an amazing, amazing gift). Recently, I had the honor of hearing a man speak who was adopted when he was 11 and was given the opportunity to have a family and a future all in that continual act of love. His parents went on to adopt 17 more children. (I don't think most of us can do that, but maybe some of us could adopt one or two...every child counts).Visit a Veteran's Hospital. Okay, I will be the first to admit that I don't agree with the war...but let's get passed the politics and get to what's amazing...our vets.
Friday, November 23, 2007
White Supremacists and Grey's Anatomy
Yes, that's right...White Supremacists and Grey's Anatomy. Now, I know that this is sounding strange to those of you who do not normally watch the show (or who missed it this past Thursday), but the writers of Grey's Anatomy took on the still very strong movement of white supremacists in the United States. An EMS worker who was injured in an ambulance accident refused to be treated by Bailey (claiming he wanted a man) only to find he didn't want a man...he wanted a white man. Dr. Bailey, then asked Cristina to examine him because she is "neither white nor black." Only to find that he had a swastika tattooed on his stomach. Cristina was extremely appalled, for we later learn her grandparents died in a concentration camp. Within all of this the man says, the great thing about this country is you still have to treat me just like anyone else.
Now, I know most of us are thinking "It's Grey's Anatomy!!! Seriously?! You are talking about Greys!" Currently, White supremacists groups such as the Aryan Nations, are a major problem in this country. Now, if one is African American, then they are all to well aware of this problem. However, most middle class Caucasian families pay little to no attention to such groups. I believe that many are under the impression that these extreme racists groups are a thing of the past (let me clarify here...not that racism is a thing of the past but that these extremist groups), but it is clear that this is not true. There is a militia that in Michigan that is over 12,000 men large! (remember these are white supremacists...within the white supremacist ideology women=a subject, a white women's ultimate desire is to serve her white husband and produce white babies) Despicable isn't it?
The interesting thing is that these groups are strongest in the north...that's right the NORTH!!!! For example, the Aryan Nations originated in California, but it moved its headquarters to Idaho. There are now five strong holds for the Aryan Nations and only one of them is in the South (Alabama to be exact).
I am fearful of the increasing amount of intolerance in our nation. However, if a show like Grey's Anatomy has noticed the problems enough to work the topic into the show, then what does it mean? How much have we regressed? How do we overcome this problem?
Now, I know most of us are thinking "It's Grey's Anatomy!!! Seriously?! You are talking about Greys!" Currently, White supremacists groups such as the Aryan Nations, are a major problem in this country. Now, if one is African American, then they are all to well aware of this problem. However, most middle class Caucasian families pay little to no attention to such groups. I believe that many are under the impression that these extreme racists groups are a thing of the past (let me clarify here...not that racism is a thing of the past but that these extremist groups), but it is clear that this is not true. There is a militia that in Michigan that is over 12,000 men large! (remember these are white supremacists...within the white supremacist ideology women=a subject, a white women's ultimate desire is to serve her white husband and produce white babies) Despicable isn't it?
The interesting thing is that these groups are strongest in the north...that's right the NORTH!!!! For example, the Aryan Nations originated in California, but it moved its headquarters to Idaho. There are now five strong holds for the Aryan Nations and only one of them is in the South (Alabama to be exact).
I am fearful of the increasing amount of intolerance in our nation. However, if a show like Grey's Anatomy has noticed the problems enough to work the topic into the show, then what does it mean? How much have we regressed? How do we overcome this problem?
Monday, October 08, 2007
ACU for the IRC.
ACU for the IRC! I have been appointed as the communications officer for ACU for the IRC.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Here I am Lord,
and I'm drowning
in your sea of forgetfulness
the chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I dont want to end up where you found me
and it echoes in my mind,
keeps me awake tonight
I know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
and I stand before you now,
as if I've never sinned
but today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
from you leaving me this way
and Jesus can you show me
just how far the east is from the west
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest,
cause you know just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.
I start the day the war begins
endless reminding of my sin
time and time again your truth is drowned out
by the storm I'm in
today I feel like I'm just one mistake away,
from you leaving me this way and Jesus can you show me,
just how far the East is from the West
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know
just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.
I know you've washed me white,
turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through,
to get me through this night
can't live by what I feel
but by the Truth your Word reveals,
I'm not holding on to you
but you're holding on to me,
you're holding on to me
Jesus you know
just how far the East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I've been,
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know just how far the East is from the West,
just how far,
from one scarred hand to the other.
-Caedmon's Call "East to West"
May I learn to not neglect the problems of this world. May I give them the attention that they deserve, and maybe I share with those around me the stories of the one's without voices. May I not forget my heritage.
and I'm drowning
in your sea of forgetfulness
the chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I dont want to end up where you found me
and it echoes in my mind,
keeps me awake tonight
I know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
and I stand before you now,
as if I've never sinned
but today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
from you leaving me this way
and Jesus can you show me
just how far the east is from the west
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest,
cause you know just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.
I start the day the war begins
endless reminding of my sin
time and time again your truth is drowned out
by the storm I'm in
today I feel like I'm just one mistake away,
from you leaving me this way and Jesus can you show me,
just how far the East is from the West
cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know
just how far the East is from the West
from one scarred hand to the other.
I know you've washed me white,
turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through,
to get me through this night
can't live by what I feel
but by the Truth your Word reveals,
I'm not holding on to you
but you're holding on to me,
you're holding on to me
Jesus you know
just how far the East is from the West
I don't have to see the man I've been,
rising up in me again
in the arms of your mercy I find rest
'cause you know just how far the East is from the West,
just how far,
from one scarred hand to the other.
-Caedmon's Call "East to West"
May I learn to not neglect the problems of this world. May I give them the attention that they deserve, and maybe I share with those around me the stories of the one's without voices. May I not forget my heritage.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Women, Violence, Terrorism and Greek Lit.
In World Literature we are studying Greek lit specifically the Odyssey (of course) Sappho and The Medea by Euripides. Often my professor talks about how women are usually portrayed as monsters. They are always seen as being evil creatures that came out of Pandora's box to curse men. Of course, this is true. There is a very negative view of women in Greek culture in general. In The Medea a woman who kills her husband (and her children) for leaving her eventually turns into a monster. Another example would be the wife of Agamenon who kills her husband because he sacrificed their daughter to the gods so he could go to war. She is often spoken of an example of a bad wife.
I think we can all agree her actions were wrong. Most people ask, why is it that women always have this negative portrayal in Greek lit? Is it to prove that women are really a curse on men?
My question is not only why are women portrayed in a bad light, but why can we not accept violent acts by women, but we can accept them when they are committed by men? A modern example would be terrorists. Female terrorists as seen as wild, emotion, uncontrollable forces who commit these acts as acts of revenge. The academics then fail to look at the political reason for the violence (without such it cannot be considered terrorism). In our society, we expect men to be strong, to fight, to be somewhat violent, but women are supposed to be the calm, subdued sex. We must not have a violent bone in our body.
When we look at Greek lit. we do not compare the violence committed by women in the lit. to the violence committed by men.We only merely ask why are women portrayed as "bad" characters? Well, I want to know why do we see only the women's acts of violence as "bad!" (Granted this cannot be applied to the literal female monsters in the Odyssey, but it can be applied to the female characters). We often as why are there only bad women portrayed (assuming that they are bad b/c they have committed some act of violence). Well, what is the difference between a man committing a violent act and a women committing a violent act? Are we not all fallen humans with violent tendencies? Why is a man's violent more legit than a womans?
I have a prof. who is currently working a book about female terrorists. She often speaks of how they are over looked in the study of terrorism, because they are seen as committing emotional acts instead of political acts of violence. This, however, is not the case. In fact another interesting tid bit, is that the female terrorists who commit an act of terrorism in Iraq do not get media converage. In fact, usually afterwards, we cannot even find any information out about them! Interesting eh? Why are terrorist acts by men more important than acts by women?
That is the question about Greek culture and our present day culture that I want to know. Yes, I know in the end it is a cultural issue, but do we just dismiss it? I have often heard, "That is just the culture." When in the past have we accepted this excuse?!
I do not condone terrorism, but I do want to understand it; study it. I just hope that if I do go to grade school to get a critical terrorism studies degree I learn about male and female terrorists.
I think we can all agree her actions were wrong. Most people ask, why is it that women always have this negative portrayal in Greek lit? Is it to prove that women are really a curse on men?
My question is not only why are women portrayed in a bad light, but why can we not accept violent acts by women, but we can accept them when they are committed by men? A modern example would be terrorists. Female terrorists as seen as wild, emotion, uncontrollable forces who commit these acts as acts of revenge. The academics then fail to look at the political reason for the violence (without such it cannot be considered terrorism). In our society, we expect men to be strong, to fight, to be somewhat violent, but women are supposed to be the calm, subdued sex. We must not have a violent bone in our body.
When we look at Greek lit. we do not compare the violence committed by women in the lit. to the violence committed by men.We only merely ask why are women portrayed as "bad" characters? Well, I want to know why do we see only the women's acts of violence as "bad!" (Granted this cannot be applied to the literal female monsters in the Odyssey, but it can be applied to the female characters). We often as why are there only bad women portrayed (assuming that they are bad b/c they have committed some act of violence). Well, what is the difference between a man committing a violent act and a women committing a violent act? Are we not all fallen humans with violent tendencies? Why is a man's violent more legit than a womans?
I have a prof. who is currently working a book about female terrorists. She often speaks of how they are over looked in the study of terrorism, because they are seen as committing emotional acts instead of political acts of violence. This, however, is not the case. In fact another interesting tid bit, is that the female terrorists who commit an act of terrorism in Iraq do not get media converage. In fact, usually afterwards, we cannot even find any information out about them! Interesting eh? Why are terrorist acts by men more important than acts by women?
That is the question about Greek culture and our present day culture that I want to know. Yes, I know in the end it is a cultural issue, but do we just dismiss it? I have often heard, "That is just the culture." When in the past have we accepted this excuse?!
I do not condone terrorism, but I do want to understand it; study it. I just hope that if I do go to grade school to get a critical terrorism studies degree I learn about male and female terrorists.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Weeping
WEEPING
Written by Dan Heymann
(Copyright to Heymann/Cohen/Cohen/Fox)
______________________________
This is a South African Anti-Apartheid Protest Song. Please take the time to listen to it if you get the chance. Josh Groban recently put it on his album awake. It is essential to remember that our freedom is not the norm in this world, and we cannot forget about those who currently do not have those freedoms.
Written by Dan Heymann
(Copyright to Heymann/Cohen/Cohen/Fox)
______________________________
I knew a man who lived in fear
It was huge, it was angry, it was drawing near
Behind his house, a secret place
Was the shadow of the demon he could never face
He built a wall of steel and flame
And men with guns, to keep it tame
Then standing back, he made it plain
That the nightmare would never ever rise again
But the fear and the fire and the guns remain
It doesn’t matter now
It’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round
I heard its lonely sound
It wasn’t roaring, it was weeping
And then one day the neighbors came
They were curious to know about the smoke and flame
They stood around outside the wall
But of course there was nothing to be heard at all
"My friends," he said, "We’ve reached our goal
The threat is under firm control
As long as peace and order reign
I’ll be damned if I can see a reason to explain
Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain"
This is a South African Anti-Apartheid Protest Song. Please take the time to listen to it if you get the chance. Josh Groban recently put it on his album awake. It is essential to remember that our freedom is not the norm in this world, and we cannot forget about those who currently do not have those freedoms.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Cairo Slums.
There are many things about the Middle East, Egypt in particular, that I love, but there are many things that I also hate. The Middle East, like so many other places in the world, allows for the blatant injustices that are occurring today to hit a person right in their face. One cannot turn their face away from the poverty as easily as one could in most Western/developed nations. (Maybe that in a way is a good thing). Anyways, this article describes ONE of such instances. Check it out. I actually visited similar areas while I was in Cairo. Expatriates call the area that I visited Garbage City. I must note however, that the area I visited (while very poor) is actually not as poor as other neighborhoods (aka...the neighborhood I visited had sewage...for the most part and a few paved streets). They stink with the stench of rooting garbage, some of which usually is set on fire. The rest of the garbage is then sorted and sold to recycling companies; this is the families of these areas make their living, so you can imagine its pretty poor. It is amazing to think that these families are probably poorer than them (after all at least those families have been able to find work). (Please forgive my inability to rotate the silly picture. I am still very new with this...stuff. yes, I know I should have rotated the picture then saved it then uploaded it. I recognize my mistake...but I don't exactly know how to fix it know that I've already put it into place...o well!!!!)
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Fear
I cannot help but fear the names that I know I will be called if I stand for justice. I am not pro-Palestinian, but I am not pro-Israeli. I have found that in this country if one is not pro-Israeli then they are assumed to not care about the Israelis, and they must not be a Christian. I fear the names I will be called. The labels that will be put on me, but what I fear more than all of these is what I will become if I do not stand for justice. Who will I be if I sit by and watch this happen? When the Holocaust occurred, those who did nothing had to live with the shame of allowing such a horrid act to take place. I do not want to live with the same shame.
I know it is hard to believe, but I truly believe that things can change for the better for ALL parties involved in this conflict. Am I idealist, maybe, but do not label me as such. I have become cold to the world. I expect the worst out of people at all times, but this I do believe can be solved. Please, if you disagree with me, share your thoughts, but do not call me unrealistic or idealistic, for that would be admitting that there is no hope. I cannot believe that there is no hope for these people.
I fear the names that people will call me, but I cannot stand by and allow this injustice to occur - on both sides.
I know it is hard to believe, but I truly believe that things can change for the better for ALL parties involved in this conflict. Am I idealist, maybe, but do not label me as such. I have become cold to the world. I expect the worst out of people at all times, but this I do believe can be solved. Please, if you disagree with me, share your thoughts, but do not call me unrealistic or idealistic, for that would be admitting that there is no hope. I cannot believe that there is no hope for these people.
I fear the names that people will call me, but I cannot stand by and allow this injustice to occur - on both sides.
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