I’m going to stop a moment from writing my paper for my Constitutional Law class to write this post. I’m not going to consider this procrastinating really because I need to vent so I can go back to having a positive, optimistic mindset the rest of the day.
I woke up this morning and it was a BEAUTIFUL day - I’m talking “sun is shining, sky is blue, birds are chirping” type of days. I don’t like being sad on days like this because the winter just ended and I like to enjoy the spring before the DC summer comes along. Then I jumped on my email and started reading my Foreign Policy Morning Brief (#SISwonk) like I do every morning and got REALLY fucking pissed off.
Let me begin by saying, I’m not a realist. I’m not an idealist either. I’m not really sure what “paradigm of thought” I would exactly fit into. I know there is violence, I know there are wars, I know there are human rights violations occurring around the world, and I know there is hate - A LOT OF IT.
I’m just going to say I’m so irritated that all of this violence and hate is still going on. I know that’s an obvious statement and that even though I don’t like it it’s still going to happen. But everyone’s TALKING about how much they hate it. Some people are ACTING on it and trying to make a difference. Honestly, I’m hoping our generation is the one that stands the fuck up and says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. There shouldn’t HAVE to be negotiations or laws. Why? A little something called HUMAN fucking DECENCY. Nobody wants to live in a world where there is so much hate. So why do we?
Because we grow up surrounded by hate and prejudice. We are bred in a society where there is STILL racism. Where the attacks of September 11 served as a catalyst for further misunderstanding of Islam and fear of Muslims. Where children are used as weapons of warfare. Where a person can’t marry the person they love because … well, I’m not really sure why because that’s totally beyond my understanding.
It’s disappointing, to say the least, and I’m tired of it. This doesn’t go without saying that I know there are great people in this world too. There are people that are saving lives and making a difference and spreading the idea of tolerance and acceptance.
What I’d like to do … what I’m going to try to do … is post one article/biography/letter/picture/event (anything really) every day that will serve to restore my faith in humanity (hopefully yours as well) and that will spread the word about inspiring people and organizations and things that we can do for our community (both locally and globally). It’s a small thing … but I hope it will inspire others to reach out and do something, whether it’s developing a better understanding of world events, attending a seminar, participating in Cover the Night (on April 20), read a book, volunteer with a charity, raise money for a cause … the possibilities are endless.
Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love.
“I will remember the kisses, our lips raw with love and how you gave me everything you had and how I offered you what was left of me and I will remember your small room the feel of you, the light in the window, your records, your books, our morning coffee, our noons our nights, our bodies spilled together sleeping, the tiny flowing currents, immediate and forever, your leg my leg, your arm my arm, your smile and the warmth of you who made me laugh again.” ― Charles Bukowski
“We’ve seen these kids. We’ve heard their cries. This war must end. We will not stop. We will not fear. We will fight war.”
There’s a new phenomenon that’s hit social media the past couple days: KONY 2012. It’s a campaign initiated by the Invisible Children organization with one goal: bring Joseph Kony to justice.
WE’VE SEEN THESE KIDS.
WHO is Joseph Kony? Leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony has victimized the people of Uganda, Sudan, and the DRC for over 20 years. Known as a “prophet” by his army, he has led them to abduct 30,000 children.
WE’VE HEARD THEIR CRIES.
The boys become child soldiers - forced to kill, rape, and mutilate. The girls become sex slaves - forced to succumb to the sexual needs of the soldiers of the LRA, physically abused when unable to cater to their needs, and often also forced into combat.
Because of this man, because of this WAR that he initiated against the people of Central Africa - 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes. Families have FLED in a desperate attempt to protect their children from the certain tragic fate that would certainly wait for them if they stayed.
THIS WAR MUST END.
There is a reason that Joseph Kony is MOST WANTED by the International Criminal Court - that is because he has shown such a reckless disregard for the value of human life, because he has time and time again gone back on peace negotiations, because he has ordered the abduction/enslavement/rape/abuse/torture/murder/victimization of millions of people in Central Africa.
WE WILL NOT STOP.
The Invisible Children organization has started the Kony 2012 campaign to make the name ‘Joseph Kony’ a house-hold name, to make him INFAMOUS. Not to glorify the acts that he has done, but to make it clear that WE, as a people, WILL NOT REST until he is brought to justice for the crimes he has committed. They have suggested doing this by hosting “Cover the Night”. Cover the Night involves participants going throughout wherever they happen to be on APRIL 20TH and hanging posters, stickers, flyers, banners, ANYTHING in order to ensure our politicians, policy-makers, and government that we will not stand idly by while the LRA continues to wreak havoc and hurt the people of Central Africa. We will not be silenced while children are being abused. And we will not fucking wait around when TWENTY YEARS have already passed.
WE WILL NOT FEAR.
There has been skepticism as to the motives of the Invisible Children organization. (1) they haven’t made people aware of the crimes that the Ugandan military has committed as well, (2) they’re financially irresponsible (not ALL of their money goes directly to the cause for which they are advertising), (3) is it really necessary for the United States to intervene?
(1) It is true that the crimes of the Ugandan military have gone unnoticed. Operation Wembley was intended to stop organized crime and prevent the growth of terrorist cells in Uganda. The Operation resulted in the arrest and torture of more than 432 individuals who were kept in unauthorized locations, denied the right to a speedy trial, denied the right to habeas corpus, and denied access to relatives/lawyers/medics. This should by no means go unnoticed - however, people also shouldn’t JUST be relying on Invisible Children as a source of information. Do your own research. Bringing Kony to justice is THEIR platform, whether you want to follow them or not is your choice, NOT your obligation.
(2) I’m not asking you to donate money to Invisible Children. I’m not even donating money to them because I also question where their money goes. What I am asking you to do is acknowledge the amazing job that they are doing using Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media as a way of spreading the word and making their cause known! In less than a week’s time they have gotten millions involved in their movement. They’re making people aware. That is a beautiful thing.
(3) Is it necessary for the United States to intervene? No. Absolutely not. We haven’t for the past two decades and look where that’s gotten Central Africa - the LRA has expanded from Uganda to Sudan to the DRC. That’s not to say that people in these countries haven’t done anything, they have. But the fact is, over 1.5 million people have LEFT. These are people who are scared and running for their lives and the lives of their families. That’s 1.5 million people less to fight against the violent forces of the LRA. The United States sent 100 troops to the region in November 2010 to provide logistical support, funding, and train and equip local battalions operating in LRA-affected areas. These efforts have worked in decreasing LRA numbers and preventing them from regrouping. And honestly, it’s worth it if it means saving the lives of the millions of men, women, and children whose lives are being threatened by the presence of the LRA.
WE WILL FIGHT WAR.
Say what you want. Do what you want. But, you haven’t seen the last of me yet.
And I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means I survived.
I’ve never forgotten him. Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams. They are nightmares mostly, but nightmares tinged with love. Such is the strangeness of the human heart. I still cannot understand how he could abandon me so unceremoniously, without any sort of goodbye, without looking back even once. That pain is like an axe that chops at my heart.
She was not good on the phone. She needed the face, the pattern of eyes, nose, trembling mouth… People talking were meant to look at a face, the disastrous cupcake of it, the hide-and-seek of the heart dashing across. With a phone, you said words, but you never watched them go in.
Excerpts from Chris Hedges’ novel - I had to read it for a class and absolutely fell in love with his writing:
” … And yet there is a part of me that remains nostalgic for war’s simplicity and high. The enduring attraction of war is this: even with its destruction and carnage, it gives us what we all long for in life. It gives us purpose, meaning, a reason for living. Only when we are in the midst of conflict does the shallowness and vapidness of our lives become apparent.”
“I learned early on that war forms its own culture. The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug, one I ingested for many years. It is peddled by mythmakers - historians, war correspondents, filmmakers, novelists, and the state - all of whom endow it with qualities it often does possess: excitement, exoticism, power, chances to rise above our small stations in life, and a bizarre and fantastic universe that has a grotesque and dark beauty.”
“War makes the world understandable, a black-and-white tableau of them and us. It suspends though, especially self-critical thought. All bow before the supreme effort. We are one. Most of us willingly accept war as long as we can fold it into a belief system that paints the ensuing suffering as necessary for a higher good; for human beings seek not only happiness but also meaning. And tragically, war is sometimes the most powerful way in human society to achieve meaning.”
She was precious, like a flower. She grew wild, wild but innocent; a perfect prayer in a desperate hour. She was everything beautiful and different…you can’t fence that in, it’s like holding back the wind.
Every year, I do Lent. I don’t do it because I’m devoutly religious or even because I really understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. I mostly do it just to see if I can abstain from something for the duration of Lent (rumored to be 40 days and 40 nights, it’s not … it actually depends on what/whose calendar you go by). I’ll normally give up Facebook or sweets. I tried giving up meat once, that was a fail.
This year, I decided to go all out. I’m not just doing one thing because … well, because I feel like it. Now among those items which I will deprive myself from, I will also incorporate different duties which I hope will ultimately result in me being a better, more caring, and understanding person.
1. There’s a Methodist Church near my school where I intend to attend services on Sundays. I have never really been to church (unless you count the youth group I went to in Panama for two years - shout out to my Crossroads family) but I remember going to a Methodist church when I was little and I remember the congregation being among the most accepting and tolerant individuals I’ve met. That being said, I don’t mean others aren’t as welcoming, but this church is also in the closest proximity. So, we’ll see how this goes. I hope that from this I will at least gain a better understanding of Methodism.
2. Give up Facebook. I KNOW, I KNOW. I’m going overboard. But really, I’ve done it before, I can do it again. Granted, Lent also gives you a break on Sundays, so I will be sure to jump on then. Other than that, you can text me or email me or call me. If you MUST, you can always Facebook message me (it will still come to my phone) but I won’t respond via FB.
3. Be healthier. Over the past few weeks I’ve realized that when I work out and eat better, I feel fabulous. I have more energy and while I will sometimes be in immense pain - IT HURTS SO FUCKING GOOD. This means no more sweets, no more sugary drinks (unless it’s mixed with alcohol, I’m not crazy), no more fried foods. You can check out all of my hard work after spring break betches.
4. I’m stealing this one from one of my favorite men - Matt Ford. BE HAPPY AND DON’T STRESS ABOUT THINGS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. That’s it. That’s really as simple as it is. I’m literally just going to stop giving a shit about things that don’t affect me. I like being happy, I don’t enjoy being upset, I love my friends, and while I do it a lot (don’t judge me, you all do it too), I NEED to stop talking about other people. Frankly, the only person’s life I should care about is my own (and my family’s) and I’m wasting more time caring about what other people are doing with their lives than I am with living mine. That’s going to stop now.
5. Become a better person - whether that means educating myself on issues I know nothing about, taking a tour of a museum downtown, or being more reliable when my friends need me.
