I was on my way to work, and like a habit gone ritualistic (thanks do Dr. Waalkes), reading the first section of the New York times. Really interesting topics.
let me summarize for you: THE WORLD IS GOING CRAZY!
First there is like who knows how many different topics on the Swine flu. Some say PANIC...and the others are like CHILL. or rather in very diplomatic words: there is cause for worry, but do not panic, because CDC has got it under control....Now Only if I was not in the most populated city, i would feel maybe a little bit better. Therefore, it was the cause of my almost panic in the subway today when I started sneezing and wheezing after seating beside a woman who was doing the same thing. yea, I would say panic is the right word there. Soon, there might be ban on traveling, then who knows what else....forget looking cute, we might all be spotting those very not-appealing masks that we are beginning to see everywhere. let us not imagine the worst...but let us not be stupid either. If this gets serious, and it is a mutating strand, then the world might be going to hell faster than the roller coaster.
and here is a question needing of asking, when 80 people die, it is called a pandemic...but when hundreds were dying of AIDS, i wonder why it took forever for the world to panic....(for the sake of normalcy, or sanity...lets not answer that question now).
On to the Romani...commonly known as Gypsies. Seriously, you would think that these particular group of people have faced enough of troubles. Look from the beginning of time, they have been persecuted, and have been outcasts of society. like any act of racism...(which by the way is stupid by any definition of race), the Roma have had enough. Misinformation, misconception and erroneous stereotype about them and their nature is as rampant today as ever. This has led prejudice, persecution, oppression, and ostracization that, if the NY times is any indication, is on the rise. Historically, they have faced forced assimilation, enslavement, and during Nazi Germany they were among the ones who were massively murdered. I believe that is called Genocide.
anyways, this morning, the topic was of Hungary, and how the Roma were being taunted and even killed. All because Hungary's own political party was basically slandering them. You would think that racism would be of the past. Or even in Hungary of all places...you would think that they had faced enough trouble without oppressing a group of people who made a significant contribution to their society. Do you smell a Nazi Germany rendition? maybe.
Now to my most ridiculous or event interesting topic. Atheists. well, here is the thing...I have nothing against them...secular humanists, scientologists...and the lot of them...but when they decided that they are ostracized by society and need to come out of the closet...that is when it becomes ridiculous. They are calling for a separation of church and state, which by the way, is the law. the constitution already has that inclusion...so why are they bumming to get more people in trouble. They are having banners, meetings and marching movements...public hearings and all that. So you have to wonder, do people not have enough things to do with their time, or lives that they are ways to cause trouble. Okay, this is what I mean by trouble...they are gearing to compare themselves to the gay rights movements.
Lets get this straight...they have a right to not believe, I don't know if they are fearful, or if they just need something to make them feel better about not being religious, but whatever it is, they need to get off their high horses and stop being schizo. No one is after them, they are not being persecuted...so what is their deal...someone please help me understand this.
okay...not to my last topic. Grape jelly! This i got while seating on my desk at work. The mail came in, and there was a letter from the planned parenthood. Let me tell you that I was laughing so hard that it is a wonder that I am not packing my desk right now.
Apparently, Jelly is used to prevent pregnancy. So when a girl got pregnant, after using Grape Jelly, she was mystified as to how things could have gone wrong. So here is a lesson...do not use Jelly...it does nothing for you.
All this to say, we live in a crazy world.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Back to Coulter!
Her new book,Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America Coulter has gotten me a little bit riled, if not concerned for what she represents. The thing is, people actually buy that crap and think its the gospel.
She claims to be a christian, but I wonder what extent she is willing to be a WASP when it suits her.
Please tell me though, what makes her better than the non-believers liberals? you see, you believe that no democrat can be a good christian, and yet, Coulter is pressing to me that no conservative can be a good christian (that is, if i was to just base my conservative judgments on her)....
The message might be good, but I am having a hard time listening to that, when it comes out from her, and her professions seem to contradict themselves. (btw, I am not being prejudiced here, because I don't like Micheal Moore's style either.) Actually, I probably would like Moore, so let me compare her to Bill press, because they seem to have the same agenda.
If she stood to be a person of integrity in all that, then I would respect her, but at the moment, I have more respect for Krugman than I do her, because while she has some good points,eg welfare, and biased messages....I still don't see her to be any different than any other columnist or commentator, who throws punches, without thinking of their effectiveness.
well how about it....no name calling. Isn't that what most people want. Look at the message, and not have it sidetracked by name calling. But I wonder if Ann can do that...( well atleast as the christian she believes to be) Coulter's biggest problem is that she basically puts all people who disagree with her in the category of "liberal" without defining it or qualifying it, which is why I have trouble understanding how you justifying her contents without prejudices.
Now before you starting blowing steam through your ears...let me specifically say that Conservatives have been defined and well established, but please, could you define the term liberal...from well lets say, moore's liberalism, to Krugmans liberalism...or even better, the labeled liberal McCain and Moore(or Obama) =(at the moment, those are the ones that I can think of who are far fetched)
I think there is a great deal of spin, this case to be true to everywriter from Beck, Nader, maher, hmmmm. and some that I mentioned above.
She mentions about Obama's security? do you truly believe that he has nothing to fear? At the moment, I can think of three strong reasons he should be protected, and people should be concerned about his safety. Forgive me for this next statement....but for a rich blonde, blue-eyed claiming christian to comment on the fact that it is stupid to worry, or rather it is pretentious of the "liberals" to comment on his safety, well...honestly, its almost as bad as New Yorkers, who ridicule the appalachian mountains, the extremes of suburbanites commenting on the poverty of the Appalachian people.
Oh and she talks about "liberals" whining, what about the team at FOX...( I assume you would be a great fan so you know who am speaking of)
and in her writing this book, isn't coulter doing that same thing...."Oh cons..we are oppressed, they only see one side,etc..." last time I checked, that was whining. (but then again, don't ask me what it means to whine, cause that is an art lost to me)
She seems to have a good message, "don't get pregnant, don't get the mortgage you can't afford, be careful if you have to have sex not to expose yourself to Aids and stds, don't believe everything you read in the media, don't go find someone who seems better than the spouse you already have"....if this happens, then by golly America will be fixed.
and Single mums are responsible for the state of the country?hmm...okay, lets just say I buy the BS; HOW?
She has a strong voice, but if she is going to present arguments, she can't be a satirist, and a person who claims to bring truth....
She claims to be a christian, but I wonder what extent she is willing to be a WASP when it suits her.
Please tell me though, what makes her better than the non-believers liberals? you see, you believe that no democrat can be a good christian, and yet, Coulter is pressing to me that no conservative can be a good christian (that is, if i was to just base my conservative judgments on her)....
The message might be good, but I am having a hard time listening to that, when it comes out from her, and her professions seem to contradict themselves. (btw, I am not being prejudiced here, because I don't like Micheal Moore's style either.) Actually, I probably would like Moore, so let me compare her to Bill press, because they seem to have the same agenda.
If she stood to be a person of integrity in all that, then I would respect her, but at the moment, I have more respect for Krugman than I do her, because while she has some good points,eg welfare, and biased messages....I still don't see her to be any different than any other columnist or commentator, who throws punches, without thinking of their effectiveness.
well how about it....no name calling. Isn't that what most people want. Look at the message, and not have it sidetracked by name calling. But I wonder if Ann can do that...( well atleast as the christian she believes to be) Coulter's biggest problem is that she basically puts all people who disagree with her in the category of "liberal" without defining it or qualifying it, which is why I have trouble understanding how you justifying her contents without prejudices.
Now before you starting blowing steam through your ears...let me specifically say that Conservatives have been defined and well established, but please, could you define the term liberal...from well lets say, moore's liberalism, to Krugmans liberalism...or even better, the labeled liberal McCain and Moore(or Obama) =(at the moment, those are the ones that I can think of who are far fetched)
I think there is a great deal of spin, this case to be true to everywriter from Beck, Nader, maher, hmmmm. and some that I mentioned above.
She mentions about Obama's security? do you truly believe that he has nothing to fear? At the moment, I can think of three strong reasons he should be protected, and people should be concerned about his safety. Forgive me for this next statement....but for a rich blonde, blue-eyed claiming christian to comment on the fact that it is stupid to worry, or rather it is pretentious of the "liberals" to comment on his safety, well...honestly, its almost as bad as New Yorkers, who ridicule the appalachian mountains, the extremes of suburbanites commenting on the poverty of the Appalachian people.
Oh and she talks about "liberals" whining, what about the team at FOX...( I assume you would be a great fan so you know who am speaking of)
and in her writing this book, isn't coulter doing that same thing...."Oh cons..we are oppressed, they only see one side,etc..." last time I checked, that was whining. (but then again, don't ask me what it means to whine, cause that is an art lost to me)
She seems to have a good message, "don't get pregnant, don't get the mortgage you can't afford, be careful if you have to have sex not to expose yourself to Aids and stds, don't believe everything you read in the media, don't go find someone who seems better than the spouse you already have"....if this happens, then by golly America will be fixed.
and Single mums are responsible for the state of the country?hmm...okay, lets just say I buy the BS; HOW?
She has a strong voice, but if she is going to present arguments, she can't be a satirist, and a person who claims to bring truth....
Monday, April 06, 2009
There's a Place for us....somewhere...
if you are familiar with those words....then you have watched West Side story.
A riveting story that can be spun into tales of division, misunderstanding, and strongest of them all, the power of love over hate. or maybe the other way round.
Let us take a good lesson from this production, "Love has power to conquer hate"
easy eh? no so much.
You see, throughout our lives, we as human beings have a bad habit of holding on to anger, or hate. it is not easier, its just much more satisfying to 'stick it" to the other person who has wronged you. Or think has wronged you. Proven is the fact that One uses more energy to be angry than to smile, and be happy.
There is so much hate in the world. So much anger. So much misunderstandings that have caused so many deaths and so much pain and suffering.
While I am not trying to reduce the world's pain in one single word, look at the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, the hutus/tustis, ages and ages of Middle Eastern Politics...and the struggle with the west.
All conflicts that are fueled by hatred and anger.
It was Eric Hoffer, a great American philosopher who was quoted saying, "Passionate hatreds can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. These people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance. A mass movement offers them unlimited opportunities for battle.
Bingo!
Off course it does not help that the media has become and engine for maintained anger. When was the last time you had good news being reported? When was the last time that there was no negativity in the news?
I have a hard time believing that in a world as big as ours, that nothing good is going on. its just that, PR calls for a strategy towards news that arouse emotions of either panic or anger.
Wouldn't be so much more effective to report on the reconciliation that is going on between groups that are in strife. of how people are coming together to overcome their hardships. Telling stories of love, of peace, stories that uplifts us.
Wouldn't a little bit of love go far?
Be it that I am not a supporter of Sufism, Inayat Khan, the founder has some words that we would do well to remember,"The best thing is not to hate anyone, only to love. That is the only way out of it. As soon as you have forgiven those whom you hate, you have gotten rid of them. Then you have no reason to hate them; you just forget."
Or even Gandhi-- "Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred."
So then what brings all, the all consuming hate. What is the root of hate?
if we were created by a Loving God, how then can we hate? I believe that hate comes from our succumbing to selfishness. Hate comes when we are not willing to let go, or even want to be selfish about our "rights". When we are selfish, we want to hoard in all that we can get, whether its material or immaterial. Can we become more human, go back to the place where love comes easily, and we can care more, love more, be in communion with each other.
If you have read the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you are familiar with the quote, "It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility."
AKA....we are born to love,unless we become selfish. If we are open, we can love and love fully, unless we keep reliving our pasts over and over again.
A riveting story that can be spun into tales of division, misunderstanding, and strongest of them all, the power of love over hate. or maybe the other way round.
Let us take a good lesson from this production, "Love has power to conquer hate"
easy eh? no so much.
You see, throughout our lives, we as human beings have a bad habit of holding on to anger, or hate. it is not easier, its just much more satisfying to 'stick it" to the other person who has wronged you. Or think has wronged you. Proven is the fact that One uses more energy to be angry than to smile, and be happy.
There is so much hate in the world. So much anger. So much misunderstandings that have caused so many deaths and so much pain and suffering.
While I am not trying to reduce the world's pain in one single word, look at the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, the hutus/tustis, ages and ages of Middle Eastern Politics...and the struggle with the west.
All conflicts that are fueled by hatred and anger.
It was Eric Hoffer, a great American philosopher who was quoted saying, "Passionate hatreds can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. These people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance. A mass movement offers them unlimited opportunities for battle.
Bingo!
Off course it does not help that the media has become and engine for maintained anger. When was the last time you had good news being reported? When was the last time that there was no negativity in the news?
I have a hard time believing that in a world as big as ours, that nothing good is going on. its just that, PR calls for a strategy towards news that arouse emotions of either panic or anger.
Wouldn't be so much more effective to report on the reconciliation that is going on between groups that are in strife. of how people are coming together to overcome their hardships. Telling stories of love, of peace, stories that uplifts us.
Wouldn't a little bit of love go far?
Be it that I am not a supporter of Sufism, Inayat Khan, the founder has some words that we would do well to remember,"The best thing is not to hate anyone, only to love. That is the only way out of it. As soon as you have forgiven those whom you hate, you have gotten rid of them. Then you have no reason to hate them; you just forget."
Or even Gandhi-- "Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred."
So then what brings all, the all consuming hate. What is the root of hate?
if we were created by a Loving God, how then can we hate? I believe that hate comes from our succumbing to selfishness. Hate comes when we are not willing to let go, or even want to be selfish about our "rights". When we are selfish, we want to hoard in all that we can get, whether its material or immaterial. Can we become more human, go back to the place where love comes easily, and we can care more, love more, be in communion with each other.
If you have read the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you are familiar with the quote, "It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility."
AKA....we are born to love,unless we become selfish. If we are open, we can love and love fully, unless we keep reliving our pasts over and over again.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Ann Coulter: An Intelligent DID
I have made it a point not attack people's personalities, but tried my best to disengage personalities-character from the things they say. For example, I like Palin, she is a nice person, but as a VP she would have turned what good is left into some Holy War. Forget Islamic Jihad...this woman could have presented the Crusades part two. I like that she is a Christian...and am all for salvation of all, but I am not going to stand there and watch forced conversions. The list goes on and On, like McCain, and well, sometimes Obama has crazy crazy moments....then there Rush Limbaugh. But recently, after reading her recent book, Ann Coulter has come to my attention.
In her own words she says, "I'm a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second"
is it just me, does everyone find fault or rather a contradiction in that statement?
Is it that she cannot make up her mind of becoming either a christian,or a bigoted conservative, who happens to be mean-spirited?
Maybe I read my Bible wrong, but doesn't that Holy book call us to be loving, and be all that is good. Being a bigot is definitely not on the "do-good" list in the Bible, and neither is mean-spirited.
I don't know, maybe calling her a DID is not so kind...how about Bi-polar?
In her own words she says, "I'm a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second"
is it just me, does everyone find fault or rather a contradiction in that statement?
Is it that she cannot make up her mind of becoming either a christian,or a bigoted conservative, who happens to be mean-spirited?
Maybe I read my Bible wrong, but doesn't that Holy book call us to be loving, and be all that is good. Being a bigot is definitely not on the "do-good" list in the Bible, and neither is mean-spirited.
I don't know, maybe calling her a DID is not so kind...how about Bi-polar?
Palestinians Deaths vs Israeli Deaths
Since September 28, 2000 to February 15, 2006, these are the accounted death toll. Keep in mind, this is the ACCOUNTED for....there are still some iffy numbers out there
[Total Number of Palestinian deaths] : 4209
* Children: 892
* Women : 273
* Men : 3044
[Palestinians killed by Jewish settlers] 72
[Palestinians killed as a result of Israeli shelling] : 83
[Deaths as a result of medical prevention at Israeli checkpoints] : 117
* Of them stillbirths (born dead at checkpoints) : 31
[Number of Palestinians extrajudicially assassinated] : 561
* Of them bystanders killed during extrajudicial operations: 253
[Total Number Israeli deaths]: 1556
* Children : 113
* Women : 305
* Men : 603
* Settlers : 213
* Soldiers : 322
I know that we are not to play God....but can someone convince me that God really wishes to have these people dying...and the rest of the world looking away because they are "chosen"?
[Total Number of Palestinian deaths] : 4209
* Children: 892
* Women : 273
* Men : 3044
[Palestinians killed by Jewish settlers] 72
[Palestinians killed as a result of Israeli shelling] : 83
[Deaths as a result of medical prevention at Israeli checkpoints] : 117
* Of them stillbirths (born dead at checkpoints) : 31
[Number of Palestinians extrajudicially assassinated] : 561
* Of them bystanders killed during extrajudicial operations: 253
[Total Number Israeli deaths]: 1556
* Children : 113
* Women : 305
* Men : 603
* Settlers : 213
* Soldiers : 322
I know that we are not to play God....but can someone convince me that God really wishes to have these people dying...and the rest of the world looking away because they are "chosen"?
A situation so Dire
For a while now, I have been reading and rereading a book about the AIDS situation in Sub-saharan Africa. I keep hoping that there is a light bulb moment, where I am supposed to find an answer to all my questions.
Have you ever gone through a period where you felt that you could strip off your identity, and just be someone else? I admit, this doesn't happen to me very often, but when it does, i feel like the earth has been shook and it could swallow you?
I am proud of who I am...maybe not the best person, but my mum comes from good stock, and I would hope that I've at least got her goodness in me. Being African has thought me to be tough, and being a person of faith has thought me the essence of goodness in all men.
Today...those two identities were in conflict...and the two things that are the essence of who I am were, for lack of a better word, at loggerheads with each other.
I was telling a friend just the other day that if i had my way, AIDS orphans would have the best that the world has to offer, and at times I wonder why they don't. But reality comes and I have seen the other side of poverty,(and it isn't pretty). Then the hardest thing, being able to pray and truly mean that "not my will but yours be done".
Is there really no answer to AIDS? As I type, a child is losing a parent to AIDS. Somehow, I refuse to believe that the God I know to be merciful is really going to let that child suffer. Jesus was the one who told His disciples to "Let the children come to me" so why are they suffering.
I am not losing my faith, if anything, its stronger, but I wonder, what happened to a continent that I love so much.
Its no wonder people think God Abandoned Africa...I wondered at that myself a while back. Maybe the curse of Ham was truly upon us. But then I discovered that it wasnt God, but man's actions that were turning my home into a bloody wasteland.
Prayer works...I heard this phrase being shouted as I walked from the subway. Yes, prayer works...but does that mean we cant work to help those who are in need of our help?
so am pissed...livid maybe, just because I can't really find why. Have you ever felt helpless in a helpless situation? I've been working on this research paper for a year now, and every time I have hope that there is that solution that might work, it ends up in a dead end tunnel.
Should I be mad at evangelical Christians who are making AIDS patients feel like low scams of the earth, instead of showing them love, and compassion(which is the gospel)
Should I be mad at the government because of the corruption and failed infrastructures?
or maybe the international community, for the foreign Aid which makes them feel good, but ends up doing less, because of the many stipulations that come with the overflow of millions?
Condoms wont work alone, and Abstinence(no matter how much the preaching)wont work alone, and neither will be prayer alone.
Zero grazing, yea, it has a chance of working, but like the rest of the men in the world, African man are not going to stop being polygamous and neither are they going to stop concurrent relationships.
Prayer wont stop a man from pulling down his pants, when the opportunity is there...
Praying and preaching about sin wont help a woman who has three children to feed and has no money or food....
or help an orphan who has to be tough to protect they siblings
or teach that child the important skills of life....
or help them cope with a dying parent that they have to bathe, clothe...
Christians(including myself) start using your hands, help those in need. Dont preach at them, dont judge them(ITS NOT YOUR PLACE!!!!) and just love them(isnt that what Christ did?)
International Community....Stop giving money to governments that you very well know are corrupt (How stupid can you be?)
Help grassroot movements, those small community establishments that are helping children, and patients, to have at least one more day of breathing......
So simple solutions for such a complicated situation....but maybe not so simple
Have you ever gone through a period where you felt that you could strip off your identity, and just be someone else? I admit, this doesn't happen to me very often, but when it does, i feel like the earth has been shook and it could swallow you?
I am proud of who I am...maybe not the best person, but my mum comes from good stock, and I would hope that I've at least got her goodness in me. Being African has thought me to be tough, and being a person of faith has thought me the essence of goodness in all men.
Today...those two identities were in conflict...and the two things that are the essence of who I am were, for lack of a better word, at loggerheads with each other.
I was telling a friend just the other day that if i had my way, AIDS orphans would have the best that the world has to offer, and at times I wonder why they don't. But reality comes and I have seen the other side of poverty,(and it isn't pretty). Then the hardest thing, being able to pray and truly mean that "not my will but yours be done".
Is there really no answer to AIDS? As I type, a child is losing a parent to AIDS. Somehow, I refuse to believe that the God I know to be merciful is really going to let that child suffer. Jesus was the one who told His disciples to "Let the children come to me" so why are they suffering.
I am not losing my faith, if anything, its stronger, but I wonder, what happened to a continent that I love so much.
Its no wonder people think God Abandoned Africa...I wondered at that myself a while back. Maybe the curse of Ham was truly upon us. But then I discovered that it wasnt God, but man's actions that were turning my home into a bloody wasteland.
Prayer works...I heard this phrase being shouted as I walked from the subway. Yes, prayer works...but does that mean we cant work to help those who are in need of our help?
so am pissed...livid maybe, just because I can't really find why. Have you ever felt helpless in a helpless situation? I've been working on this research paper for a year now, and every time I have hope that there is that solution that might work, it ends up in a dead end tunnel.
Should I be mad at evangelical Christians who are making AIDS patients feel like low scams of the earth, instead of showing them love, and compassion(which is the gospel)
Should I be mad at the government because of the corruption and failed infrastructures?
or maybe the international community, for the foreign Aid which makes them feel good, but ends up doing less, because of the many stipulations that come with the overflow of millions?
Condoms wont work alone, and Abstinence(no matter how much the preaching)wont work alone, and neither will be prayer alone.
Zero grazing, yea, it has a chance of working, but like the rest of the men in the world, African man are not going to stop being polygamous and neither are they going to stop concurrent relationships.
Prayer wont stop a man from pulling down his pants, when the opportunity is there...
Praying and preaching about sin wont help a woman who has three children to feed and has no money or food....
or help an orphan who has to be tough to protect they siblings
or teach that child the important skills of life....
or help them cope with a dying parent that they have to bathe, clothe...
Christians(including myself) start using your hands, help those in need. Dont preach at them, dont judge them(ITS NOT YOUR PLACE!!!!) and just love them(isnt that what Christ did?)
International Community....Stop giving money to governments that you very well know are corrupt (How stupid can you be?)
Help grassroot movements, those small community establishments that are helping children, and patients, to have at least one more day of breathing......
So simple solutions for such a complicated situation....but maybe not so simple
Sunday, March 29, 2009
A good date
What constitutes a good date?
connection, chemistry, conversation, respect & laughter? Surprises?
Media, especially books and television have defined over and over again what it means to have a good date. Off course, there are discrepancies there, but honestly, I think that most of our ideas of what a good date would be, comes from a media perspective.
Therefore, it is no wonder that those who watch Lipstick Jungle will dream of a night in Paris, or even a whirlwind romance that takes place in two time zones. Those who watch Friends, or just any chick flick movie would want to have the drama and sweetness involved in getting the perfect date. Dine in Paris, shop in Rome, and spend the night at the Ritz. Did I miss something? Or maybe even include a trip to the Bahamas, or just as simple as a dinner on the rooftop with flowers and some slow music playing...make that a live band.
Frankly, all this looks good on TV and sounds even better when you read it. While I could wonderfully omit the drama that goes with getting to the first,second and third date, I would really like to be flown to Paris for a shopping spree....although I would be satisfied with a trip to the Manhattan Mall.
All in all...the idea of a good date is very much in tatters because we have mixed the media with our personal preferences. In the process, we end being disappointed by dates we go to. Coffee sounds nice, but I am sure there are girls who would prefer dinner at the Arpege, especially if he is paying....well in that case, I would want to end up in Dubai at the Pierchic-less expensive and the scenery is breathtaking.
okay scratch all that. A good date. Well true to my friend's insights, a good date would constitute a level of comfortableness, understanding, good conversation, off laughter and respect. Surprises might be hindering if not carefully planned.
okay so here is what, in my personal opinion, would constitute a good date.
picnic at the park, somewhere quiet and peaceful, by a stream. food either I cooked, or he picked up somewhere(at this early stage, I do not trust a man to cook for me-unless he is a chef)Spend the day talking, playing football might be nice. Napping under the shade of a tree. Conversation that is pleasant, and intellectual.
that sounds simplistic, but there are things that we want to do, whether it is walking across the Brooklyn bridge, a day at the park, a walk around town...or the beach...simple simple things, but listening to someone's wish, simple as it might be, and fulfilling that wish would be a good date. An amazing date even.
connection, chemistry, conversation, respect & laughter? Surprises?
Media, especially books and television have defined over and over again what it means to have a good date. Off course, there are discrepancies there, but honestly, I think that most of our ideas of what a good date would be, comes from a media perspective.
Therefore, it is no wonder that those who watch Lipstick Jungle will dream of a night in Paris, or even a whirlwind romance that takes place in two time zones. Those who watch Friends, or just any chick flick movie would want to have the drama and sweetness involved in getting the perfect date. Dine in Paris, shop in Rome, and spend the night at the Ritz. Did I miss something? Or maybe even include a trip to the Bahamas, or just as simple as a dinner on the rooftop with flowers and some slow music playing...make that a live band.
Frankly, all this looks good on TV and sounds even better when you read it. While I could wonderfully omit the drama that goes with getting to the first,second and third date, I would really like to be flown to Paris for a shopping spree....although I would be satisfied with a trip to the Manhattan Mall.
All in all...the idea of a good date is very much in tatters because we have mixed the media with our personal preferences. In the process, we end being disappointed by dates we go to. Coffee sounds nice, but I am sure there are girls who would prefer dinner at the Arpege, especially if he is paying....well in that case, I would want to end up in Dubai at the Pierchic-less expensive and the scenery is breathtaking.
okay scratch all that. A good date. Well true to my friend's insights, a good date would constitute a level of comfortableness, understanding, good conversation, off laughter and respect. Surprises might be hindering if not carefully planned.
okay so here is what, in my personal opinion, would constitute a good date.
picnic at the park, somewhere quiet and peaceful, by a stream. food either I cooked, or he picked up somewhere(at this early stage, I do not trust a man to cook for me-unless he is a chef)Spend the day talking, playing football might be nice. Napping under the shade of a tree. Conversation that is pleasant, and intellectual.
that sounds simplistic, but there are things that we want to do, whether it is walking across the Brooklyn bridge, a day at the park, a walk around town...or the beach...simple simple things, but listening to someone's wish, simple as it might be, and fulfilling that wish would be a good date. An amazing date even.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Hutus....tustis and Progress
Politics seem to have engulfed me and covered me. i am seating listening to PBS...and listening to the oncoming victorious(or seems so) rise of Rwanda.
Maybe many Burundians and Rwandese have watched Hotel Rwanda and understood that it was worse than this. Two countries...two civil wars..same struggle? Hutus and Tutsis have been fighting, and in both countries each ethnic group has struggled for that seat of presidency since independence, if not before.
I have lived the hate between the Hutus and Tutsis, and almost paid the price with my life. I was among the celebratory gangs when the first Hutu President was elected...and I was among those who ran away from the bullets when the Tutsis decided enough was enough.
Forgive me for making this struggle so simple...but believe me, I know that it is more complicated than this.
The international community is praising Kagame, a man who led uprisings and an army that killed thousands. They are praising his vision for economic growth (which is what the community wants to see) What Rwanda needs is ABOVE ALL economic growth....so says some of the experts. What about the fact that this economic growth is benefiting only one side....? or the fact that Justice is a one-way street. Hutus face criminal charges, and Tustis walk with the bank account. So seriously, how is this going to bring unity? Hutus and Tutsis alike were both offenders and victims of this war....and allow me to be naive and say that Justice is possible...But why not?
Kagame...an offender himself, is supposedly bringing an new china in Africa. All really good reasons. However, I am afraid that we have another Fidel Castro in the making. He suppresses the identity of the people. If you are a Hutu, you are a Hutu...and unfortunately your ethnicity has committed some acts against human rights. If you are Tutsi, you are a Tutsi, and you are part of an ethnic group that took part in injustice. Eventually, the hatred that will(and is) harboring in the people of Rwanda is going to explode...and the international community ( like always) will wonder "What happened?"
Politics are hard, but let us not praise murderers and call them heroes. Unfortunately my own country is far from ending the civil unrest...but at the same time, I dont want a country that I have loved as my own to end up in the same Mass funeral.
Lets not forget that Fidel Castro, Robert Mugabe and idi Amin were all hailed as great liberators.....
So, while the world is thirsty for good news from Africa...lets not be hasty about good news that might turn into a bigger problem.
Maybe many Burundians and Rwandese have watched Hotel Rwanda and understood that it was worse than this. Two countries...two civil wars..same struggle? Hutus and Tutsis have been fighting, and in both countries each ethnic group has struggled for that seat of presidency since independence, if not before.
I have lived the hate between the Hutus and Tutsis, and almost paid the price with my life. I was among the celebratory gangs when the first Hutu President was elected...and I was among those who ran away from the bullets when the Tutsis decided enough was enough.
Forgive me for making this struggle so simple...but believe me, I know that it is more complicated than this.
The international community is praising Kagame, a man who led uprisings and an army that killed thousands. They are praising his vision for economic growth (which is what the community wants to see) What Rwanda needs is ABOVE ALL economic growth....so says some of the experts. What about the fact that this economic growth is benefiting only one side....? or the fact that Justice is a one-way street. Hutus face criminal charges, and Tustis walk with the bank account. So seriously, how is this going to bring unity? Hutus and Tutsis alike were both offenders and victims of this war....and allow me to be naive and say that Justice is possible...But why not?
Kagame...an offender himself, is supposedly bringing an new china in Africa. All really good reasons. However, I am afraid that we have another Fidel Castro in the making. He suppresses the identity of the people. If you are a Hutu, you are a Hutu...and unfortunately your ethnicity has committed some acts against human rights. If you are Tutsi, you are a Tutsi, and you are part of an ethnic group that took part in injustice. Eventually, the hatred that will(and is) harboring in the people of Rwanda is going to explode...and the international community ( like always) will wonder "What happened?"
Politics are hard, but let us not praise murderers and call them heroes. Unfortunately my own country is far from ending the civil unrest...but at the same time, I dont want a country that I have loved as my own to end up in the same Mass funeral.
Lets not forget that Fidel Castro, Robert Mugabe and idi Amin were all hailed as great liberators.....
So, while the world is thirsty for good news from Africa...lets not be hasty about good news that might turn into a bigger problem.
I trade you a thousand Arabs for One Jew
If you have been following the Gaza conflict , you will know what I mean. Every state has a sovereign right to defend their rights, but what if in the process of protecting yourself you deny human rights to those that are innocents. All I know is political science and history, at least in this specific area. How is it that people forget history and let it condemn them again and again? the Nazis also wanted to protect their land, and thus the holocaust. Then it began again in Palestine with the Zionists....and here we go again.
I am not justifying any actions of the Arabs but the fact that the international community closes ears to the cries of the innocents because Israel is an ally...that is pathetic... and pisses me off.
Oh, and Christian sympathizers of Israel....please justify that to me, beyond the "promised Land theory".
Am a little bit testy this morning after reading the paper...( Now the IC is pissed at the condition in Gaza...now they call out Israel for not killing humanely!!1...really am SHOCKED!@)
I am not justifying any actions of the Arabs but the fact that the international community closes ears to the cries of the innocents because Israel is an ally...that is pathetic... and pisses me off.
Oh, and Christian sympathizers of Israel....please justify that to me, beyond the "promised Land theory".
Am a little bit testy this morning after reading the paper...( Now the IC is pissed at the condition in Gaza...now they call out Israel for not killing humanely!!1...really am SHOCKED!@)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Do you have what it takes?
lets blame it on my father. He is the activist in my family and his blood runs thick through my veins. So this is me...so tired and when am not tired, I am indignant.
So here we are, comfortably living. Lord knows what will happen if I don't get my Ipod. o wait, If I don't go out this Friday, and have some guy or gal crushing me, am definitely a loser...wait, it gets better, if I don't get that new CD, am gonna die...no way am gonna live without that new hot pair of shoes (and this comes from a gal who loves shoes).....
This is what we have become. Living from acquiring one material after the other....We have forgotten that we have thousands of brothers and sisters everywhere in the world. There is a child somewhere who is losing their parents to AIDS another one losing their lives due to hunger...Another girl is working so hard to make ends meet for her four brothers and sisters...
Amazing that we find it so hard to even wake up at eight to go to classes.
I am so fed up. I am fed up of seating down and doing nothing. I am fed of hearing and saying "oo" and then going back to my almost meaningless existence.
Are we really that cold hearted? Are we seriously without heart?
I know in America you have it good. And God blessed you so much...but what are you doing with your riches?
Am in this too. Just because am African doesn't mean that I haven't been caught up in this race of greed for a materialistic world. We might not have money, or whatever else, but we do have a voice...complacency will catch up with us.
I mean....read these peoples testimonies, and tell me you don't feel like reaching down for whatever its worth and help them....
"I don't see myself having a future. My traditional healer couldn't help me. The doctor in the hospital couldn't help me either. I have two children from two husbands. Both men are dead from Aids. My family is poor, so what can I do? I'm just passing time until I die. The only thing that worries me is my children. What will happen to them? Who will take care of them?"
Swaziland: Dorris Nzima, 40
"I lost everything. My husband died. My parents deserted me. My son lives with relatives. I don't even have money to pay for food. I sleep in this ugly shack on the ground without a mattress. It's cold and wet. I feel ill and weak. I'm hungry. Isn't a family supposed to support you during times of hardship? My family threw me away like a broken toy. But I am a human being, am I not?"
Namibia: Maria Nashilongo, 32
"Next year I should have graduated from university. I was one of the best students of my year. Sociology was my subject. I liked it. And I really liked that young man who took me out on the weekends. He was sweet. He promised me a family, a future. But then he got ill. Now I am ill too. I'm always so tired. The doctors are confident that I am going to live, but I'm not so sure."
Democratic Republic of Congo: Nicole Katubo, 29
"I am going to die. But until then, I want to live my life. I want to take care of my daughter. I am the only one she has left. My husband ran away with someone after I told him about my HIV status. But I don't look backwards. The future is important. I have three wishes: a family, free antiretroviral drugs for women in Africa and that more people would speak openly about Aids."
Botswana: Malebogo Mongwaketse, 25
"My husband infected me with the virus. I am sure of it. Nobody else has ever touched me. After I tested positive, he left. He's not very far away from here. I know that. I also know that he has many girlfriends. All men do. That's what they are good at. Nothing else. When a man decides to disappear, you can't force him to come back. Ever. I don't like men anymore."
Lesotho: Likae Letsae, 21.
Each day they fight against an invisible virus and the painful stigma often associated with it. They endure their suffering for the sake of their children, families and communities. Many experience sorrow; others find solidarity. But they all share a beauty and a bravery that I have yet to see duplicated elsewhere
So here we are, comfortably living. Lord knows what will happen if I don't get my Ipod. o wait, If I don't go out this Friday, and have some guy or gal crushing me, am definitely a loser...wait, it gets better, if I don't get that new CD, am gonna die...no way am gonna live without that new hot pair of shoes (and this comes from a gal who loves shoes).....
This is what we have become. Living from acquiring one material after the other....We have forgotten that we have thousands of brothers and sisters everywhere in the world. There is a child somewhere who is losing their parents to AIDS another one losing their lives due to hunger...Another girl is working so hard to make ends meet for her four brothers and sisters...
Amazing that we find it so hard to even wake up at eight to go to classes.
I am so fed up. I am fed up of seating down and doing nothing. I am fed of hearing and saying "oo" and then going back to my almost meaningless existence.
Are we really that cold hearted? Are we seriously without heart?
I know in America you have it good. And God blessed you so much...but what are you doing with your riches?
Am in this too. Just because am African doesn't mean that I haven't been caught up in this race of greed for a materialistic world. We might not have money, or whatever else, but we do have a voice...complacency will catch up with us.
I mean....read these peoples testimonies, and tell me you don't feel like reaching down for whatever its worth and help them....
"I don't see myself having a future. My traditional healer couldn't help me. The doctor in the hospital couldn't help me either. I have two children from two husbands. Both men are dead from Aids. My family is poor, so what can I do? I'm just passing time until I die. The only thing that worries me is my children. What will happen to them? Who will take care of them?"
Swaziland: Dorris Nzima, 40
"I lost everything. My husband died. My parents deserted me. My son lives with relatives. I don't even have money to pay for food. I sleep in this ugly shack on the ground without a mattress. It's cold and wet. I feel ill and weak. I'm hungry. Isn't a family supposed to support you during times of hardship? My family threw me away like a broken toy. But I am a human being, am I not?"
Namibia: Maria Nashilongo, 32
"Next year I should have graduated from university. I was one of the best students of my year. Sociology was my subject. I liked it. And I really liked that young man who took me out on the weekends. He was sweet. He promised me a family, a future. But then he got ill. Now I am ill too. I'm always so tired. The doctors are confident that I am going to live, but I'm not so sure."
Democratic Republic of Congo: Nicole Katubo, 29
"I am going to die. But until then, I want to live my life. I want to take care of my daughter. I am the only one she has left. My husband ran away with someone after I told him about my HIV status. But I don't look backwards. The future is important. I have three wishes: a family, free antiretroviral drugs for women in Africa and that more people would speak openly about Aids."
Botswana: Malebogo Mongwaketse, 25
"My husband infected me with the virus. I am sure of it. Nobody else has ever touched me. After I tested positive, he left. He's not very far away from here. I know that. I also know that he has many girlfriends. All men do. That's what they are good at. Nothing else. When a man decides to disappear, you can't force him to come back. Ever. I don't like men anymore."
Lesotho: Likae Letsae, 21.
Each day they fight against an invisible virus and the painful stigma often associated with it. They endure their suffering for the sake of their children, families and communities. Many experience sorrow; others find solidarity. But they all share a beauty and a bravery that I have yet to see duplicated elsewhere
PEPFAR
In his state of the union in 2003, Bush announced PEPFAR a five year-$15 mil plan to combat HIV/AIDS. I probably do not have to go into details of why this is huge, and important step for not only the US, but the international community. The US under Bush took a lead on the fight against HIV/AIDS...( Probably why Bono came to the US for his speech instead of England...or ???)
in 2008, PEPFAR was Reauthorized till 2013...once again, a huge achievement.
Retrospectively, this is not only a major accomplishment for the US but all the international Organizations esp. UN.
While we give rap to Bush's many blunders when it came to foreign policy, we need to honor him for this great accomplishment. Africans especially owe him that honor given that 12 out of the 15 focus countries are in Africa.
Just in 2008,
* Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services for women during more than 16 million pregnancies
* Antiretroviral prophylaxis for women in more than 1.3 million pregnancies
* Prevention of an estimated 240,000 infant infections through fiscal year 2008.
* Globally, PEPFAR supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 2.1 million men, women and children.
* Of this, PEPFAR supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 2 million people through bilateral programs in PEPFAR's 15 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
* When President Bush announced PEPFAR, it was estimated that only 50,000 people were receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Of those for whom PEPFAR supported treatment as of March 2008, more than 2 million are in this region.
* Supported care for nearly 9.7 million people, including care for nearly 4 million orphans and vulnerable children
* Supported over 57 million counseling and testing sessions to date for men, women and children through fiscal year 2008.
** This is just the icing on the iceberg(?). PEPFAR has been able to also bring forth cooperation of individuals and organizations, all coming together to fight the inhumanity that is HIV/AIDS.
in 2008, PEPFAR was Reauthorized till 2013...once again, a huge achievement.
Retrospectively, this is not only a major accomplishment for the US but all the international Organizations esp. UN.
While we give rap to Bush's many blunders when it came to foreign policy, we need to honor him for this great accomplishment. Africans especially owe him that honor given that 12 out of the 15 focus countries are in Africa.
Just in 2008,
* Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services for women during more than 16 million pregnancies
* Antiretroviral prophylaxis for women in more than 1.3 million pregnancies
* Prevention of an estimated 240,000 infant infections through fiscal year 2008.
* Globally, PEPFAR supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 2.1 million men, women and children.
* Of this, PEPFAR supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 2 million people through bilateral programs in PEPFAR's 15 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
* When President Bush announced PEPFAR, it was estimated that only 50,000 people were receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Of those for whom PEPFAR supported treatment as of March 2008, more than 2 million are in this region.
* Supported care for nearly 9.7 million people, including care for nearly 4 million orphans and vulnerable children
* Supported over 57 million counseling and testing sessions to date for men, women and children through fiscal year 2008.
** This is just the icing on the iceberg(?). PEPFAR has been able to also bring forth cooperation of individuals and organizations, all coming together to fight the inhumanity that is HIV/AIDS.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Pursue of Justice in Iraq
Both Barack Obama and John McCain had no intentions of backing down from the interventionist foreign policy when it comes to terrorism. However, they were taking different stances on this war. There are two key differences between Obama and McCain on this issue. First, Obama realized going to war in Iraq was a mistake and needs to be reckoned with, while McCain was and is still in favor of the war. Second, Obama realizes that America’s national interests, as well as Iraqi interests will be best met with the phase out, and withdrawal; while John McCain is willing to remain for an unspecified amount of time.
Barack Obama favors a well planned phase out in a period 16 months. This phase out will require the participation both the American and Iraqi governments in order for it to be successful. He is not planning for a complete, irresponsible withdrawal. His plan is for a residual force to remain in Iraq for the purpose of protecting American diplomats and citizens, but at the same time keeping an eye on Al-Qaeda activities. This force would also offer their services, if needed in helping to train Iraqi military, “as long as Iraqi leaders move toward political reconciliation and away from sectarianism”He wants the responsibility for the Iraqis not on the US government but on the Iraq government. He says that “Only by redeploying our troops can we press the Iraqis to reach comprehensive political accommodation and achieve a successful transition to Iraqis’ taking responsibility for the security and stability of their country” and using their “oil revenues on their own reconstruction”.
In 2001, McCain’s “War is Hell. Now Let’s Get on With It”, was featured in The Wall Street Journal. He states, “We did not cause this war. Our enemies did, and they are to blame for the deprivations and difficulties it occasions. They are to blame for the loss of innocent life. They are to blame for the geopolitical problems confronting our friends and us. We can help repair the damage of war. But to do so, we must destroy the people who started it.” It is obvious that this has not changed over the years. His campaign in Iraq is for success for both the American military and the Iraq government. He sees it as a moral obligation to make sure that Iraq is able to sustain itself and for the government to be able to govern its people effectively. Withdrawing from the country without accomplishing this would be a grave mistake. Therefore, deploying more troops, and increasing the budget would be making sure that Iraq does not become a pawn to sectarian violence, terrorism and neighboring countries. He sees it as a necessity and a matter of justice to keep the American troops situated in Iraq because other wise it might be failure if American troops were to pull out and then leave Iraq in chaos. Until “Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country”, McCain sees not road home for the American troops.
Eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, the Gulf War, about 12 years of economic sanctions, Saddam’s regime and the present war has not been kind to either Iraq or its people. Justice for these people is overdue. Since “the justice that equalizes and abstracts is an unjust justice” , we cannot pursue perfect justice because we might be condemning the Iraqis to injustice. I agree with Obama’s plan as it would serve most justice for the Iraqis; but it would not fully serve justice to the Iraqis. If he secures the socio-economic rights of the people, it would not change the underlying hatred and misunderstanding between the ethnic groups. Reconstruction of the state will require the participation of all these groups, and if they are not made to feel secure in their own communities, all the work that has been done would be sabotaged.
Ultimately, justice would require that freedom and equality exist, but to achieve this there needs to be plural order. To achieve this plural order, there will be a lot required from both the Iraqis and the Americans. We have heard and read that “justice without grace is injustice” and that for justice to occur there needs to be the act of embracing others. As it has been discussed in class, there needs to be embracing of some sort. Volf calls this the “grace of embrace” (24). It is the justice that the Iraqis need. This will mean some serious dialogue and a willingness understanding each other. It will take place on two levels; one between the Americans and Iraqis, and two, between the different ethnic groups. Volf’s idea would involve a deeper understanding where the Americans will have to see themselves through the eyes of the Iraqis and vice-versa. To pursue justice better, Americans will have to understand exactly why Iraqis are critical of the American culture and culture. The Iraqis might find out why the US feels the need to be in their country, and secure their land. This would be a risk. Each culture might find that they are lacking. Even more painful, they might find that, their beliefs that they have been parading for the world to see are not what they intended them to be.
Then there is the element of love, which would shape justice. However, Steve Garber’s lecture pointed out that in order to come to this, we need to know, and then care, before we can love and act. This is scary. If the Kurds, Shias and Sunnis were all to come to an understanding of each other, it would destroy their presuppositions of each other. Listening to each other will demand some kind of order or change, where they will actually have to learn to live with each other’s differences. They will have to learn the process of rendering grace upon each other. Even for those of us who have a grasp on this Biblical concept, it is scary for us to pursue this.
Neither ethnic group nor government can afford to seek revenge, because that will create a whole different set of problems. To seek reparations would require that there is an understanding, and to come to this, it will take more than just listening. We can only embrace those we have forgiven and reconciled with. We have to come to a redemptive part of this narrative where both the Iraqis and Americans embrace each other and forgive each other for the past and present misgivings. The Iraqis need to look at their past and learn from it so that they can step into a future where all three groups are respected, and given an equal voice and a sense that they are important for the rebuilding of Iraq. Neither culture nor government will be betraying their conscience if they reached out and agreed that their past had condemned to the situation that they are presently in. It would be naïve to ask for a justice where each side can seat down and wipe the slate and start a fresh, but maybe acknowledging that states, groups and classes need each other in order to enjoy economic growth, would be a good place to start.
Barack Obama favors a well planned phase out in a period 16 months. This phase out will require the participation both the American and Iraqi governments in order for it to be successful. He is not planning for a complete, irresponsible withdrawal. His plan is for a residual force to remain in Iraq for the purpose of protecting American diplomats and citizens, but at the same time keeping an eye on Al-Qaeda activities. This force would also offer their services, if needed in helping to train Iraqi military, “as long as Iraqi leaders move toward political reconciliation and away from sectarianism”He wants the responsibility for the Iraqis not on the US government but on the Iraq government. He says that “Only by redeploying our troops can we press the Iraqis to reach comprehensive political accommodation and achieve a successful transition to Iraqis’ taking responsibility for the security and stability of their country” and using their “oil revenues on their own reconstruction”.
In 2001, McCain’s “War is Hell. Now Let’s Get on With It”, was featured in The Wall Street Journal. He states, “We did not cause this war. Our enemies did, and they are to blame for the deprivations and difficulties it occasions. They are to blame for the loss of innocent life. They are to blame for the geopolitical problems confronting our friends and us. We can help repair the damage of war. But to do so, we must destroy the people who started it.” It is obvious that this has not changed over the years. His campaign in Iraq is for success for both the American military and the Iraq government. He sees it as a moral obligation to make sure that Iraq is able to sustain itself and for the government to be able to govern its people effectively. Withdrawing from the country without accomplishing this would be a grave mistake. Therefore, deploying more troops, and increasing the budget would be making sure that Iraq does not become a pawn to sectarian violence, terrorism and neighboring countries. He sees it as a necessity and a matter of justice to keep the American troops situated in Iraq because other wise it might be failure if American troops were to pull out and then leave Iraq in chaos. Until “Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country”, McCain sees not road home for the American troops.
Eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, the Gulf War, about 12 years of economic sanctions, Saddam’s regime and the present war has not been kind to either Iraq or its people. Justice for these people is overdue. Since “the justice that equalizes and abstracts is an unjust justice” , we cannot pursue perfect justice because we might be condemning the Iraqis to injustice. I agree with Obama’s plan as it would serve most justice for the Iraqis; but it would not fully serve justice to the Iraqis. If he secures the socio-economic rights of the people, it would not change the underlying hatred and misunderstanding between the ethnic groups. Reconstruction of the state will require the participation of all these groups, and if they are not made to feel secure in their own communities, all the work that has been done would be sabotaged.
Ultimately, justice would require that freedom and equality exist, but to achieve this there needs to be plural order. To achieve this plural order, there will be a lot required from both the Iraqis and the Americans. We have heard and read that “justice without grace is injustice” and that for justice to occur there needs to be the act of embracing others. As it has been discussed in class, there needs to be embracing of some sort. Volf calls this the “grace of embrace” (24). It is the justice that the Iraqis need. This will mean some serious dialogue and a willingness understanding each other. It will take place on two levels; one between the Americans and Iraqis, and two, between the different ethnic groups. Volf’s idea would involve a deeper understanding where the Americans will have to see themselves through the eyes of the Iraqis and vice-versa. To pursue justice better, Americans will have to understand exactly why Iraqis are critical of the American culture and culture. The Iraqis might find out why the US feels the need to be in their country, and secure their land. This would be a risk. Each culture might find that they are lacking. Even more painful, they might find that, their beliefs that they have been parading for the world to see are not what they intended them to be.
Then there is the element of love, which would shape justice. However, Steve Garber’s lecture pointed out that in order to come to this, we need to know, and then care, before we can love and act. This is scary. If the Kurds, Shias and Sunnis were all to come to an understanding of each other, it would destroy their presuppositions of each other. Listening to each other will demand some kind of order or change, where they will actually have to learn to live with each other’s differences. They will have to learn the process of rendering grace upon each other. Even for those of us who have a grasp on this Biblical concept, it is scary for us to pursue this.
Neither ethnic group nor government can afford to seek revenge, because that will create a whole different set of problems. To seek reparations would require that there is an understanding, and to come to this, it will take more than just listening. We can only embrace those we have forgiven and reconciled with. We have to come to a redemptive part of this narrative where both the Iraqis and Americans embrace each other and forgive each other for the past and present misgivings. The Iraqis need to look at their past and learn from it so that they can step into a future where all three groups are respected, and given an equal voice and a sense that they are important for the rebuilding of Iraq. Neither culture nor government will be betraying their conscience if they reached out and agreed that their past had condemned to the situation that they are presently in. It would be naïve to ask for a justice where each side can seat down and wipe the slate and start a fresh, but maybe acknowledging that states, groups and classes need each other in order to enjoy economic growth, would be a good place to start.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
So its sunday night and am seating on my desk, and am watching Monsoon Wedding (yes, I do have a small obsession with bollywood) lol, and writing my paper and studying for Geology...yes, MUlti Tasking...such a new concept you know...
but anyways, all this is happening on the screen on the new iMac that Pete so graciously carried to my room....and I had an epiphany. What an old concept yet it sticks now. Those who know me well know am a cynic when it comes to love...yes, especially when its in the American society when people get married at age 18-20 and by the time they are 30, they have gone through 3 divorces...Wat a Joke on marriage...and Love? hello! if you fall in love, how the bloody snorts do you fall out of love so quickly? ANYWAYS!
I was watching this movie, and arranged marriages, and then I was taken back to a call I received from my father yester morning...too early when i was supposed to be sleeping. he claims to have found a man that would be good for me, if I only would get to know him. While I would never dream of being rude to my father especially on the phone, in my mind, I was like the old man has gone crazy. But then after talking it over with a friend, I saw in his sense that he was worried. Here I am, 21, and not any prospects of marriage. The man wants his cows now, so off course hes worried am gonna get married to some poor american and he wont get his cows, so hes gotta act fast...LOL
back to the movie, so as all this is going through my head, am thinking, wow...this is true love. Not the true love in the movies, but Love as we see it alive and breathing. Be able to set aside one's past, and marry a stranger? Oh the very idea gives me chills. Or should I say, am scared. I would like to know what am geetting myself into...but then if I did, i would prolly carry the baggage of he is never gonna change cause hes' always been so and so.
My second epiphany was the idea of family. While am not into kids (love kids to death, but my own...dont think so) I am not so inclined to have my legacy passed from one generation to another. I think am okay in just investing in those children whose parents left them or were just too stupid to take care of their kids.....
but the idea of family...not Hollywood style but bollywood style. I like it better, because blood is thicker than Water...and that is a concept that never dies. The family that goes throught thick and thin for you....I mean its a pain, but a beautiful pain...anyways, I am still chewin on this one, so give me time and i will post on this again
but anyways, all this is happening on the screen on the new iMac that Pete so graciously carried to my room....and I had an epiphany. What an old concept yet it sticks now. Those who know me well know am a cynic when it comes to love...yes, especially when its in the American society when people get married at age 18-20 and by the time they are 30, they have gone through 3 divorces...Wat a Joke on marriage...and Love? hello! if you fall in love, how the bloody snorts do you fall out of love so quickly? ANYWAYS!
I was watching this movie, and arranged marriages, and then I was taken back to a call I received from my father yester morning...too early when i was supposed to be sleeping. he claims to have found a man that would be good for me, if I only would get to know him. While I would never dream of being rude to my father especially on the phone, in my mind, I was like the old man has gone crazy. But then after talking it over with a friend, I saw in his sense that he was worried. Here I am, 21, and not any prospects of marriage. The man wants his cows now, so off course hes worried am gonna get married to some poor american and he wont get his cows, so hes gotta act fast...LOL
back to the movie, so as all this is going through my head, am thinking, wow...this is true love. Not the true love in the movies, but Love as we see it alive and breathing. Be able to set aside one's past, and marry a stranger? Oh the very idea gives me chills. Or should I say, am scared. I would like to know what am geetting myself into...but then if I did, i would prolly carry the baggage of he is never gonna change cause hes' always been so and so.
My second epiphany was the idea of family. While am not into kids (love kids to death, but my own...dont think so) I am not so inclined to have my legacy passed from one generation to another. I think am okay in just investing in those children whose parents left them or were just too stupid to take care of their kids.....
but the idea of family...not Hollywood style but bollywood style. I like it better, because blood is thicker than Water...and that is a concept that never dies. The family that goes throught thick and thin for you....I mean its a pain, but a beautiful pain...anyways, I am still chewin on this one, so give me time and i will post on this again
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Love Vs Stupidity
Now, I am not a cynic...not really. I could be at times especially when it comes to people who are corny with the mushy feelings...Some of my friends think that I dont have a heart because I dont get all giggly and chatty when a new guy comes into the scene or if the Bf buys them flowers or surprises them. I enjoy buyin flowers for my friends at times, especially when they are down....I do like to throw surprise parties for my friends too...which is crazy for someone who hates surprises...lol. Now dont get all hyped out...this is not a personal blog, but more of my life with some interesting intellectual observations.
So as I promised earlier, I am going to elaborate on the issue of sex and money...sex and media, sex and Africa. Better yet, sex and love. I come from a very different background where, I grew up in middle class Burundi. Then moved to the same in Kenya. When I read books about african women and some socialeconomic issues that make it impossible for women to be independent, I feel a pang of pain and sorrow. At the same time, I feel so blessed because I am bloody independent...prolly explains why I am still single. Back home, I've seen this....yea, women who get into relationships and then in the name of love are abused and even raped by their significant others. they become slaves to that man and off course they are always suspected of cheating so they are beaten even more. Then the absurdity of it all...the men are unfaithful to them and the women know it. Oh Lord have mercy...I will castrate a man faster than he can Say Amen if I ever found him cheating on me, and then expecting me to be okay with it...and then the bastard tries to lay hands on me...yea...not gonna happen.
So its in this independance that I find it necessary to keep my virginity...off course this is faith aside. I am not going to sleep with someone just because they need to be assured of my love for them....I mean, if you cant see it in my eyes and daily actions...then take a hike.
All being said and done, I do believe in the beauty and complexity of love. I do believe that sex is a gift that can be beautiful if its not being used for abuse...I believe in flowers(what woman doesnt?), the chocolates and sweet words...I am a sucker for good romance, but not stupidity.
By now, I have watched enough of Sex and the City, to know that one night stands are not that easy to get over...the media makes it so easy...so easy to sleep with someone and just move on emotionless....haha, RIGHT! please, maybe men are like that, but most women I've met, they are always crying and agonizing about what went wrong and what could have been.
So yea, while my friends to testify to the fact that I lack a romantic heart...I can honestly say, I love it that I have been blessed with a strong back and really hard head...lol
So here is something cute....which moved me really
Gaze into my eyes.
Let me know you'd fight thousands, for my love.
Slip your hand in mine ask me to dance with you tonigh.
Just ask me, for my Love.
I am the "nice" girl you never knew you were looking for....
So yea, I was moved
So as I promised earlier, I am going to elaborate on the issue of sex and money...sex and media, sex and Africa. Better yet, sex and love. I come from a very different background where, I grew up in middle class Burundi. Then moved to the same in Kenya. When I read books about african women and some socialeconomic issues that make it impossible for women to be independent, I feel a pang of pain and sorrow. At the same time, I feel so blessed because I am bloody independent...prolly explains why I am still single. Back home, I've seen this....yea, women who get into relationships and then in the name of love are abused and even raped by their significant others. they become slaves to that man and off course they are always suspected of cheating so they are beaten even more. Then the absurdity of it all...the men are unfaithful to them and the women know it. Oh Lord have mercy...I will castrate a man faster than he can Say Amen if I ever found him cheating on me, and then expecting me to be okay with it...and then the bastard tries to lay hands on me...yea...not gonna happen.
So its in this independance that I find it necessary to keep my virginity...off course this is faith aside. I am not going to sleep with someone just because they need to be assured of my love for them....I mean, if you cant see it in my eyes and daily actions...then take a hike.
All being said and done, I do believe in the beauty and complexity of love. I do believe that sex is a gift that can be beautiful if its not being used for abuse...I believe in flowers(what woman doesnt?), the chocolates and sweet words...I am a sucker for good romance, but not stupidity.
By now, I have watched enough of Sex and the City, to know that one night stands are not that easy to get over...the media makes it so easy...so easy to sleep with someone and just move on emotionless....haha, RIGHT! please, maybe men are like that, but most women I've met, they are always crying and agonizing about what went wrong and what could have been.
So yea, while my friends to testify to the fact that I lack a romantic heart...I can honestly say, I love it that I have been blessed with a strong back and really hard head...lol
So here is something cute....which moved me really
Gaze into my eyes.
Let me know you'd fight thousands, for my love.
Slip your hand in mine ask me to dance with you tonigh.
Just ask me, for my Love.
I am the "nice" girl you never knew you were looking for....
So yea, I was moved
Saturday, September 15, 2007
AIDS vs Women Abuse
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/516sPtW1XdL._SS500_.jpg
I am seating right now in my room holding a book in my hands. For the last five months, I have decided to do two desertations...just for the fun of it, (but off course I end up turning them into my graduate entrace papers). However, as am seating here at 1 in the AM, I feel like I need some sleep, but for the life of me, I cant bloody sleep! So am angry at my inability to sleep...and angry because I feel so taxed already. My inability to sleep is because I keep thinking of the book that I just read. Or parts of it atleast.
AIDS...killer disease, is what they call it in Africa. Being that I am from there, I have made this a personal journey to figure a way out of this mess. So am writing a paper about it, but now I am really mad, because I stumbled upon a disturbing occurence. Women getting abused by men, because they are "in love". ( I will tackle this topic at a later time)...I am not a cynic and I truly believe in love, but when that love is one of the roots of AIDS, then I have a big problem with that. When women are selling their bodies so that they can have a good life, then that is a problem. When a woman is getting beaten by her bf or whoever sugar daddy, then I pity the fool who dares lay a hand on me or my sisters...because this has becomes a health hazard and a big injustice to human rights, then I bloody have a big problem with it. You see, I wasnt surprised as the abuse women get, but the idea that a man can be unfaithful, and expect the woman to be faithful is just not kosher with me...but who cares right? I mean, AIDS is rampant, and it okay?
Drug companies want to develop vaccines. Condom makers want to sell condoms. Churches want to preach sexual abstinence. Politicians want to ignore the frequency of rape, casual sex, and cheating among married people. Individuals want to believe they are safe because they know the people they have sex with...this is the vicious cycle now. However, all these people, want to "help"....maybe its time that Africa stood for Africa.....
"As a woman living with HIV," says Beatrice Were of Uganda, "I am often asked whether there will ever be a cure for HIV/AIDS, and my answer is that there is already a cure. It lies in the strength of women, families and communities who support and empower each other to break the silence around AIDS and take control of their sexual lives." With a vaccine against HIV far off in the distant future (if at all), and with treatment of AIDS in the two-thirds world difficult, expensive, and limited in effect, the name of the game in HIV-AIDS is prevention.
I am seating right now in my room holding a book in my hands. For the last five months, I have decided to do two desertations...just for the fun of it, (but off course I end up turning them into my graduate entrace papers). However, as am seating here at 1 in the AM, I feel like I need some sleep, but for the life of me, I cant bloody sleep! So am angry at my inability to sleep...and angry because I feel so taxed already. My inability to sleep is because I keep thinking of the book that I just read. Or parts of it atleast.
AIDS...killer disease, is what they call it in Africa. Being that I am from there, I have made this a personal journey to figure a way out of this mess. So am writing a paper about it, but now I am really mad, because I stumbled upon a disturbing occurence. Women getting abused by men, because they are "in love". ( I will tackle this topic at a later time)...I am not a cynic and I truly believe in love, but when that love is one of the roots of AIDS, then I have a big problem with that. When women are selling their bodies so that they can have a good life, then that is a problem. When a woman is getting beaten by her bf or whoever sugar daddy, then I pity the fool who dares lay a hand on me or my sisters...because this has becomes a health hazard and a big injustice to human rights, then I bloody have a big problem with it. You see, I wasnt surprised as the abuse women get, but the idea that a man can be unfaithful, and expect the woman to be faithful is just not kosher with me...but who cares right? I mean, AIDS is rampant, and it okay?
Drug companies want to develop vaccines. Condom makers want to sell condoms. Churches want to preach sexual abstinence. Politicians want to ignore the frequency of rape, casual sex, and cheating among married people. Individuals want to believe they are safe because they know the people they have sex with...this is the vicious cycle now. However, all these people, want to "help"....maybe its time that Africa stood for Africa.....
"As a woman living with HIV," says Beatrice Were of Uganda, "I am often asked whether there will ever be a cure for HIV/AIDS, and my answer is that there is already a cure. It lies in the strength of women, families and communities who support and empower each other to break the silence around AIDS and take control of their sexual lives." With a vaccine against HIV far off in the distant future (if at all), and with treatment of AIDS in the two-thirds world difficult, expensive, and limited in effect, the name of the game in HIV-AIDS is prevention.
Back!
So it has been a while since I posted. That is probably because I am too busy and I dont have time to catch up with everything that is going on around in my life.
That being said and done, I have been inspired by a friend I met recently to start blogging again, because after reading my previous posts, I find this to be really satisfying after all. Ranting is not wat i do best, but I have my share of rants.
Since the last time I posted, I have changed a lot...in a good way. There is a lot of media descrepancies that i can rant on... plus I might be more informed this time.
Anyways....this is my first blog for the year 2007,,hehe, pathetic but I will try to keep this up
That being said and done, I have been inspired by a friend I met recently to start blogging again, because after reading my previous posts, I find this to be really satisfying after all. Ranting is not wat i do best, but I have my share of rants.
Since the last time I posted, I have changed a lot...in a good way. There is a lot of media descrepancies that i can rant on... plus I might be more informed this time.
Anyways....this is my first blog for the year 2007,,hehe, pathetic but I will try to keep this up
Friday, July 28, 2006
Code (part two)
So after reading and reading that book, I am still not sure that Brown was in his right mind. Now, I am speaking from a perspective of a reader, the book was a bad read. There was no specific theme, there was just confusion everywhere. Seriously, someone needs to tell him that ppple shouldn't play back and forth with pple's emotions like dat. ...(tb continued)
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
THE DeVInci Code
Ok...this book seriously pisses me off. I mean, publicity and wanting to sell a book has led Brown to deceive pple and in the process destroying pple's faiths. I mean, not only is he a bad author, he is also a liar. What the heck? did he make a pact with the devil so dat he could fool so many pple? well, for now, I will let it go as dat
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Film festival
So this is a late post but o well here goes. The Film fest was quiet enlightening. Out of all the films, I liked four particularly. The Chamber, Roommates, Face to Face, The Missing Window. It was so weird watching these films with all the effects and stunts. For example, The Roommates, since I knew the people in it, I was just blown away. I guess having watched Star Wars; I became more appreciative of the movies and the whole visual effects that went into the movie making. Seeing those stunts being done by people that I see and talk to everyday was an eye opener. The sound quality in that film was not very good but overall, I liked the effects and stunts.
I think that editing in films is just one of the greatest things in film making. The fact that in the process of story telling, you can twist and mix, to make a film longer yet be able to make sense out of it. Each film created its own diegetic world, drawing me as a viewer in its form of story telling. Then there was The Chamber where I recognized a myth. The coming of the messiah was suggested when the main character, became the only one, or the two. I was confused until someone pointed out that this was a funny remake of the Matrix (which I haven’t seen)
Face to Face was my favorite movie, not because it had great film making or great stunts but because of the content. I found that this was the case with many of my friends who I talked to. They liked the film because of the content. I however talked to a few who didn’t think that it was that great. We all see different things in a film and what we like about it might be very different. My knowing most of the actors in the film might have also influenced the balance to tilt toward them.
The Missing Window being the best film was creatively made. Albeit it has similar storylines as most war movies I’ve seen but the whole mise en scene attracted me to the characters and the story. The change from present and past, keeping your suspense drew me in wanting to know exactly what happened.
I think that editing in films is just one of the greatest things in film making. The fact that in the process of story telling, you can twist and mix, to make a film longer yet be able to make sense out of it. Each film created its own diegetic world, drawing me as a viewer in its form of story telling. Then there was The Chamber where I recognized a myth. The coming of the messiah was suggested when the main character, became the only one, or the two. I was confused until someone pointed out that this was a funny remake of the Matrix (which I haven’t seen)
Face to Face was my favorite movie, not because it had great film making or great stunts but because of the content. I found that this was the case with many of my friends who I talked to. They liked the film because of the content. I however talked to a few who didn’t think that it was that great. We all see different things in a film and what we like about it might be very different. My knowing most of the actors in the film might have also influenced the balance to tilt toward them.
The Missing Window being the best film was creatively made. Albeit it has similar storylines as most war movies I’ve seen but the whole mise en scene attracted me to the characters and the story. The change from present and past, keeping your suspense drew me in wanting to know exactly what happened.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
I am not one of them
Retract...third person effect. Romance. Love. Chick flicks....three words that should be associated with my name. I love them. Love reading books, love watching chick flicks. But somehow, I think that it has affected everybody but me. Or maybe I think that my small group of friends who love these romance movies and books are exceptionally different. WEll, what can I say, there is a whole lot in those books that I really don't buy into. Infact, I think they are ridiculous, but the fun of it is that I like reading or watching them to make fun of people and see how ridiculous they can act. LOL yeah for real. I would like to see what happens in my own love life persay, but that is yet to be seen since I don't have an existin one yet. Back to third person affect. I think that I am exceptional from this rule but as we all kno, that aint true. I am not. I just want to believe that I am. Those books affect me as much as media affects other people.
Well, this is my two cents on that and this
Well, this is my two cents on that and this
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