Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I know, I am late with my last post on fasting, my apologies. I was supposed to post it on Christmas, if I stuck with the schedule, but I was busy celebrating that day :)
So, my last week of fasting was living with limited water, I only took military showers - no long 10 minute showers. As someone recently told me, most of our daily water consumption is in the shower (the charity of that week, charity:water, offers further insights into water usage and water as a social justice issue). I will admit. I cheated on this one. In that, it was not much of a challenge because I did this for all of last lent and through the summer in El Paso to conserve water.
In reflection, I did think some about how we use water here in the U.S. We water our lawns with it, some neighborhood association require you keep your lawn green. We take long showers to relax muscles, warm up, practice our singing, etc. oh and we get clean in there some how as well :) Our brothers and sisters in many countries often struggle to even get enough clean water to drink. When I was in Nicaragua this summer, we couldn't drink the well-water (our bodies aren't used to all the little parasites and things in their water). There were just two pumps in one of the little villages and if I remember correctly those were fairly new. Many folks bathed in the river, as well as did the laundry - tried both of those while there, makes you appreciate an indoor closed shower and washing machine. And that is where my advent season concluded. With Christmas morning, waking up in a bed, taking a shower, checking my email, and eating a diverse range of foods (all healthy and nutritious of course).
After this month of fasting, am I a changed person? Perhaps. Am I more appreciative of the many things I take for granted? Yes. Am I also more disgusted with the world? Probably. But there is not much I can do to make the whole world less materialistic and more focused on relationships, experiences, and the other many things that hold true meaning. So I will continue to rant and try to live out Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Thank you to all who joined me, cheered me on, read this, laughed at/with me :)
One final, unrelated to advent thought. This Wednesday is the two year anniversary of the death of my fellow peace-loving, social justice-living friend, Lauren, who died of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Please, keep her family and friends in your prayers and in her honor purchase a carbon monoxide detector if you do not already have one. The price is definitely worth the cost of not having one. If you want to learn more about Lauren or Carbon Monoxide poisoning you can check out The LAUREN Project website (http://laurensproject.org/).
Love you all and may your 2011 be filled with blessings and peace.
Paix,
Karen
Friday, December 24, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
And the children were nestled all snug... on their floor?
Dear Friends,
As a child, of probably eight years or so, I can remember for a Girl Scout badge we had to write down our two favorite places. To this day I remember my response was: Chuck E Cheese and my bed. I have to say, those are still my two favorite places… Just kidding.
This past week was my week sleeping on the floor instead of in a bed. Amazingly this has been the easiest week so far. Thank you exhaustion. I have always been able to sleep almost anywhere; I fall asleep on noisy planes, with screaming babies, often before we even take off. I spent a semester of my college career sleeping in a sleeping bag; A week of my life on a mission trip without beds; And other random nights on the floor but never with the intention of reflection specifically on the bed-less part of those experiences.
Even sleeping on the floor, I could not help but think how lucky I am. At my office, we receive more than 300 phone calls each day. The majority of those calls are from individuals who are sleeping on the floor. Unlike my sleeping on the floor experience, many of these people do not have a stack of blankets, an insulated house, or even heat for that matter. Even in my rental house, the heat is set at a comfy 68 degrees during normal waking hours and, thanks to one of my generous roomies, I have blankets galore. When I got home to Oregon, my floor had an additional benefit: Carpet. Most of the moms I talk to on the phone at work are more likely than not putting their children to ‘floor’ without so many blankets and potentially on hard wood or the cheap indoor/outdoor, hard-to-destroy carpet common in low-income rentals. In the past week, at A Wider Circle, we put out a request for blankets as the temperatures outside were in the teens (gosh, I missed my El Paso-desert-bike-commute on some of those mornings). It was amazing to see a table stacked with more than 20 blankets be cleared completely within a matter of hours. Again, something so simple that I often take for granted. Between my two homes, Oregon and Maryland I personally own 17 blankets, I believe. And for those of you who know how much stuff I own in general, those really are a huge part of my belongings.
I have also been thinking even about how much ‘bed’ has become a part of our lexicon. “Early to bed, early to rise…” “I’m going to bed.” “Three little monkeys jumping on the bed…” In our country, it is just something that we assume is in ever home. We even call it a bedroom in English (something that doesn’t happen in the other languages I have learned). Just some food for thought.
In seeing many of you since I have been back in Oregon, I have found I have trouble explaining the work that I am doing and what my organization really does. I feel like you have to see it to believe it, in some ways. The example that comes to mind though is in the movie Blindside (for those who have seen it). There is a scene where Leigh Ann Tuohy shows Michael his room and he asks if that bed is his and then says he has never had his own bed before. I cried at that moment. That is story of many of the more than 1,000 individuals and families currently waiting on our waiting list. As well as the 10-15 families we serve each day.
Here is my challenge for the week. At A Wider Circle, we have one key policy. Do not say anything about someone that you would not say to his/her face. This means other staff but also donors and clients. I think this is a mantra to live by in all aspects of life and can’t help but think how, if we all took this to heart, the amount of hurt in our world would greatly decrease. There are enough random bad things that happen in this world that cause us pain, why add to each other’s pain with petty gossip? That extra negative energy, I am sure, just spreads. So for this week of love in the advent season (who needs Valentine’s day? We’ve got a whole week of love :-P). My challenge is to live by that one key policy and let every action and word be one of love. It will at least make you a happier person. Instead of cursing out the driver who just cut you off, say a prayer (s)he gets to her/his destination safely. Instead of complaining about your mother-in-law’s dry turkey (which is definitely my plan), become a vegetarian. : )
Until next week, peace and love be with you! And a very Merry Christmas.
~ Karen
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Oh Happiness, Thy name is Carb
Hi Friends!
I hope you had a great and peaceful week! For those who have been following my blogging, you will know I gave up most food (only eating beans, rice, squash, corn, apples, and milk) for the past week. Even as I write that, it seems like I was still eating a lot of stuff. And again, I learn more and more about 'addiction' I feel each week of 'fasting'. This was a hard week though.
One of the first things I realized was that I have an overwhelming access to food. It may be with the holiday season, I think it is just the generosity of those with which I work, but there were at least three different 'free foods' sitting on our kitchen counter each day. Everything from mixed nuts, chips, and fruit to muffins, cinnamon rolls, and bagels. Needless to say, there was endless temptation :). I can proudly say I have enough Catholic Guilty that I did not cheat once on my fasting :). In this though, I did realize that if for some reason I had just not had the money to buy food this week, the reality I live in would never have allowed me to be hungry. One day I even heard one co-worker saying, "I haven't gone to the store because it is so cold outside so I literally have no food in my house." Another co-worker then offered, "Do you want half of my lunch?" Food access is definitely not something I lack...
Another realization that I came to is that food for me is more than just a way to nourish my body. When I am stressed or emotional in a negative or positive way, I cook/bake/eat. I still cooked and baked this week, I just fed it to other people excluding my rice and beans :)
I also don't think I have ever really understood the word craving before... All I wanted all week were things from the bottom of the food pyramid, excluding rice. Bread. Pasta. Cereal. My stomach some mornings would literally wake me up growling, because one can only eat so many bowls of squash, beans, rice, and corn. Yet, when I would get to the kitchen to heat up my rice and milk breakfast, my stomach would have changed its mind, if that was the option, and I would literally have to choke down the bowl trying to tell my body it would need the nourishment for the bike ride to work...
So the next time I contribute to a non-perishable food drive, I don't care if beans and rice give me the most bang for the buck, I will be buying some kind of healthy canned soup or fruit or something with some excitement. I will be passing on something that someone will enjoy eating. Something that I would enjoy eating. Perhaps some pasta to go with that soup...
The next week of advent is the week of joy, yahoo pink candle. This is a side note and a bit of a tangent, as a child I always use to think or would pretend (because I was never that naive a child :-P ) that the pink candle was because of me as it almost always falls right near my birthday :) So be joyful! I have really tried to do that constantly at work, because everyone is stressed this season both those who call to donate furniture, co-workers, and those who are sleeping on the floor. It is amazing to see how it rubs off. So rub off some joy this week and I will send you my reflections on sleeping on the floor next weekend from OREGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until then,
~ Karen
The Carb-a-holic
P.S. Saturday is my Break-fast day, and I literally had to stop writing mid-way through this to truly appreciate and devour a succulent bagel. :)
I hope you had a great and peaceful week! For those who have been following my blogging, you will know I gave up most food (only eating beans, rice, squash, corn, apples, and milk) for the past week. Even as I write that, it seems like I was still eating a lot of stuff. And again, I learn more and more about 'addiction' I feel each week of 'fasting'. This was a hard week though.
One of the first things I realized was that I have an overwhelming access to food. It may be with the holiday season, I think it is just the generosity of those with which I work, but there were at least three different 'free foods' sitting on our kitchen counter each day. Everything from mixed nuts, chips, and fruit to muffins, cinnamon rolls, and bagels. Needless to say, there was endless temptation :). I can proudly say I have enough Catholic Guilty that I did not cheat once on my fasting :). In this though, I did realize that if for some reason I had just not had the money to buy food this week, the reality I live in would never have allowed me to be hungry. One day I even heard one co-worker saying, "I haven't gone to the store because it is so cold outside so I literally have no food in my house." Another co-worker then offered, "Do you want half of my lunch?" Food access is definitely not something I lack...
Another realization that I came to is that food for me is more than just a way to nourish my body. When I am stressed or emotional in a negative or positive way, I cook/bake/eat. I still cooked and baked this week, I just fed it to other people excluding my rice and beans :)
I also don't think I have ever really understood the word craving before... All I wanted all week were things from the bottom of the food pyramid, excluding rice. Bread. Pasta. Cereal. My stomach some mornings would literally wake me up growling, because one can only eat so many bowls of squash, beans, rice, and corn. Yet, when I would get to the kitchen to heat up my rice and milk breakfast, my stomach would have changed its mind, if that was the option, and I would literally have to choke down the bowl trying to tell my body it would need the nourishment for the bike ride to work...
So the next time I contribute to a non-perishable food drive, I don't care if beans and rice give me the most bang for the buck, I will be buying some kind of healthy canned soup or fruit or something with some excitement. I will be passing on something that someone will enjoy eating. Something that I would enjoy eating. Perhaps some pasta to go with that soup...
The next week of advent is the week of joy, yahoo pink candle. This is a side note and a bit of a tangent, as a child I always use to think or would pretend (because I was never that naive a child :-P ) that the pink candle was because of me as it almost always falls right near my birthday :) So be joyful! I have really tried to do that constantly at work, because everyone is stressed this season both those who call to donate furniture, co-workers, and those who are sleeping on the floor. It is amazing to see how it rubs off. So rub off some joy this week and I will send you my reflections on sleeping on the floor next weekend from OREGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until then,
~ Karen
The Carb-a-holic
P.S. Saturday is my Break-fast day, and I literally had to stop writing mid-way through this to truly appreciate and devour a succulent bagel. :)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Advent Week One... Overcoming addiction
Dear Friends,
Happy Hanukkah! These are my reflections on my week without personal email/facebook/useless internet surfing...
I now have even greater respect for individuals who have overcome an addiction. I have to say I also didn't realize how much I use my email as an escape. I woke up a week ago and as normal I thought, I wonder if anyone sent me an email and I am so excited it is Sunday because that is when Postsecrets changes their posted secrets :) Throughout the week while I was baking, cooking, or before leaving work my default would be, I should check my email. When I would get home from work I would think I should check facebook and see if I needed to poke someone or wish someone a happy Birthday. In the few spare moments I had through out the week, I started thinking of planning my Christmas break (which largely means visiting folks in Oregon) and again would be foiled by the lack of 'communication ability.' I had some attempt at a social life this week and am planning a holiday party for next week, both of which again are more difficult without the email and facebook to which I have grown accustomed. I also did wake up excited to be able to again check my email. I definitely did not realize the level to which email/facebook primarily had so completely taken over my life. I do think to some degree instead of being means to an end they have become an end in themselves. It is my opinion that those tools should be used as just that - a way to assist in communication with people. Instead I have to some degree I think allowed them to become an idol in my life with which I have an active, yet one sided relationship.
Without the "privilege" of these things in my life I did notice a shift in my behavior. I found I spent more time reading, socializing in person, and probably sleeping without the constant draw of the computer. I also found I had to let go of some of my control freak-ness. I couldn't easily shoot someone a message to figure out our evening plans. I also had to be willing to accept that I would potentially miss some opportunities (I heard recently and may have quoted here that life is nothing but a bunch of missed opportunities - not in a negative way because for every opportunity missed that means another was taken advantage of).
I read a book two summer ago that talked about the important of mindfulness and focusing on just one thing at a time for inner peace. I have to say that without the computer that was much easier. I normally can be found in the kitchen cooking, cleaning, eating, reading emails, responding to emails, some times talking on the phone/texting/G-Chatting, while making my next to-do list and checking things off of my current to-do list. Needless to say, I am probably not doing any of these things to the best of my ability because I am only using one-tenth of my ability on any task. So in addition to learning of my addiction, I have relearned the importance of mindfulness (and will most likely have to relearn that one another million times in my life time).
I do think I will try perhaps to only use the email every other day or something along those lines so that it again is a tool to help me instead of the all consuming addiction that it seems to have become in my life. This week of computer fasting has definitely been an enlightening experience.
For the next six days, I will be on the beans, rice, corn, squash, apples, and milk diet to see what I learn about taking for granted the great variety and accessibility of food in my life. Though in looking at that huge list, I feel like I am granting myself too much variety...
Also one final tangent, do to my being out and about more this week, because I wasn't wasting so much time on the computer, I have been spending a lot of time on the bus (which is always an eye-opening experience to encounter humanity). I have noticed, and come to realize, those who are living with less, often in economic poverty, tend to wish others a "blessed day" or to even say "I am blessed!" more than individuals of higher economic standings. I especially notice this on the bus and in many of the phone calls I answer at work. I have never had a person calling to donate furniture bless my day or talk about how blessed their life is but regularly have folks calling to get furniture bless my day or in response to "how are you?" say 'I am blessed' (which is often then followed by 'and could you tell me how much longer until I can come get a bed')... I am still formulating my reflections on that but just find it interesting...
Have a blessed week and rest of Hanukkah for those of you 'in the tribe.' I think this week the advent candle symbolizes peace if I remember correctly... So on that note, peace be with you.
Happy Hanukkah! These are my reflections on my week without personal email/facebook/useless internet surfing...
I now have even greater respect for individuals who have overcome an addiction. I have to say I also didn't realize how much I use my email as an escape. I woke up a week ago and as normal I thought, I wonder if anyone sent me an email and I am so excited it is Sunday because that is when Postsecrets changes their posted secrets :) Throughout the week while I was baking, cooking, or before leaving work my default would be, I should check my email. When I would get home from work I would think I should check facebook and see if I needed to poke someone or wish someone a happy Birthday. In the few spare moments I had through out the week, I started thinking of planning my Christmas break (which largely means visiting folks in Oregon) and again would be foiled by the lack of 'communication ability.' I had some attempt at a social life this week and am planning a holiday party for next week, both of which again are more difficult without the email and facebook to which I have grown accustomed. I also did wake up excited to be able to again check my email. I definitely did not realize the level to which email/facebook primarily had so completely taken over my life. I do think to some degree instead of being means to an end they have become an end in themselves. It is my opinion that those tools should be used as just that - a way to assist in communication with people. Instead I have to some degree I think allowed them to become an idol in my life with which I have an active, yet one sided relationship.
Without the "privilege" of these things in my life I did notice a shift in my behavior. I found I spent more time reading, socializing in person, and probably sleeping without the constant draw of the computer. I also found I had to let go of some of my control freak-ness. I couldn't easily shoot someone a message to figure out our evening plans. I also had to be willing to accept that I would potentially miss some opportunities (I heard recently and may have quoted here that life is nothing but a bunch of missed opportunities - not in a negative way because for every opportunity missed that means another was taken advantage of).
I read a book two summer ago that talked about the important of mindfulness and focusing on just one thing at a time for inner peace. I have to say that without the computer that was much easier. I normally can be found in the kitchen cooking, cleaning, eating, reading emails, responding to emails, some times talking on the phone/texting/G-Chatting, while making my next to-do list and checking things off of my current to-do list. Needless to say, I am probably not doing any of these things to the best of my ability because I am only using one-tenth of my ability on any task. So in addition to learning of my addiction, I have relearned the importance of mindfulness (and will most likely have to relearn that one another million times in my life time).
I do think I will try perhaps to only use the email every other day or something along those lines so that it again is a tool to help me instead of the all consuming addiction that it seems to have become in my life. This week of computer fasting has definitely been an enlightening experience.
For the next six days, I will be on the beans, rice, corn, squash, apples, and milk diet to see what I learn about taking for granted the great variety and accessibility of food in my life. Though in looking at that huge list, I feel like I am granting myself too much variety...
Also one final tangent, do to my being out and about more this week, because I wasn't wasting so much time on the computer, I have been spending a lot of time on the bus (which is always an eye-opening experience to encounter humanity). I have noticed, and come to realize, those who are living with less, often in economic poverty, tend to wish others a "blessed day" or to even say "I am blessed!" more than individuals of higher economic standings. I especially notice this on the bus and in many of the phone calls I answer at work. I have never had a person calling to donate furniture bless my day or talk about how blessed their life is but regularly have folks calling to get furniture bless my day or in response to "how are you?" say 'I am blessed' (which is often then followed by 'and could you tell me how much longer until I can come get a bed')... I am still formulating my reflections on that but just find it interesting...
Have a blessed week and rest of Hanukkah for those of you 'in the tribe.' I think this week the advent candle symbolizes peace if I remember correctly... So on that note, peace be with you.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Advent - The start of a new year...
Hello My Blog-Reading Family,
I hope this finds you well and that you spent your Thanksgiving surrounded by Love. I have had a number of visitors since my last post and have also traveled to Philly (for work) and NC to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my sister. All were great additions to life. The big change in my life since I last wrote is that I de-moted myself. Many of you will no doubt say, "WHAT?!?! I thought you loved your job!?" So here is the story... (My apologies this is a long blog)
I am really interested in Development/Fundraising/Marketing and was/am excited about all the potential there. But, when I kept thinking about the job (as I slowly became more and more overwhelmed), I kept thinking, as my organization is growing VERY fast, we need someone who knows what he/she is doing in that position. After de-moting myself, I also did realize it was not just the right decision for the organization but also for me. I was constantly stressed, there was more to do than was humanly possible, and I was not happy with the quality of work I was turning out. I could not direct, learn, and do all at the same time. Plus, I realized I was in the job because either other people told me it was what I wanted to do with my life and that it would get me where I wanted to be or because other people seemed to think I would fail and I didn't want to give them that satisfaction. I realized I don't know what I want to do with my life, so why do something that was causing so much anxiety and that I am the only one who can judge what my personal "failure" is. Plus, since when do I give a you-know-what about what other people think? :-P Oh, how great self-reflection is... So where does that leave me? I am a Development Associate. My replacement as Director starts on Wed and so hopefully that will allow me to actually feel successful at my job. So that is my work-life. With this job shift, I will again have a complete life to share with you not just a work-life. :)
I have been thinking a lot about Advent lately and thought I would share my musings/plans with you all. I know growing up, advent was always the time to give something up. As a child/teen I never really understood this. I was told it makes you a better person (Karen without Chocolate doesn't make a better anything). As I have gotten older, and especially through recent readings of various religions, schools of thought, etc. I have in someways changed my opinion (though giving up chocolate still seems pointless to me :-P but if it makes you a better person more power to you and more chocolate for me). I have realized, especially in this season, how frustrated I get with the materialism in our society. How frustrated I get with the fact that people think more stuff will make them happy when in my opinion it often just drives us apart from real, true, meaningful human connection which is what ultimately satisfies us. Our computers, clothes, TVs, etc will never give us the love and support that truly makes us content human beings, yet all of the external inputs tell us that is what makes a good life. As Christmas approaches, things get stressful, and everyone is more worried than ever about money and keeping up with the joneses I have decided to try to better appreciate things I take for granted. I also want to invest in bringing these same 'granted's to others who don't share my reality. After taking a walk in another man's shoes I think it will make me understand that reality a little better. Also in thinking of end of year giving, which is a huge push right now at any non-profit, I figure I should put my money where my mouth is and really make my donations meaningful. So this advent, I want to focus on six things I take for granted: (1) The people in my life; (2) My computer/Email; (3) Food; (4) My bed (5) Clean Water; (6) A stable environment to live.
Now you will say, that is nice you crazy lady how do you plan to appreciate those more. I am going to try to put the phrase you don't know what you've got until it's gone into action. For each week of advent I am going to "Give-up" something different, spend time reflecting on it, share my reflections, and contribute to improving the 'reality' in which others live. I share these thoughts with you both so I am held accountable and because if any of you would like to join this advent adventure in any capacity, I would love to have a community with which to experience and reflect.
So this first week, I am going to give up my personal email/facebook/internet surfing. I have thought, read, and talked with people about how technology at times can detract from personal relationships not help with them. We have less human connection because many of us will now email, text, or 'write on the wall' of a friend instead of picking up the phone and calling. I also find I spend hours of wasted time surfing the internet to try to fill lonliness or boredom instead of dedicating that time to actually interactions or productivity. This will mean that I will have to plan my week in advance (ie no spending hours googling recipes, etc) and that I will have to find meaningful ways to fill my spare time. This also means that if I want to communicate with people I will have to call them (WHAT?!?!? Unheard of), you will also have to call me if you want to tell me something. I also am going to make a donation to First Time Computers, an organization that helps to give more people in the DC area access to the benefits of computers, which in many ways have become essential to 'success' in the world today.
The second week, I am going to give up the food diversity I currently enjoy. I spent lots of time thinking on this one because sacrificing my health will not do anyone any good. I remember in all my Mexico/South America classes we learned how native people would live on beans, rice, squash, and corn because that combination has all the amino acids you need to survive (medical folks you can correct me if I am wrong). I am going to add apples and milk to that mix but live on just those six things for a week. Especially after my trip to Nicaragua after graduation, I have come to realize the amount of options we have in our society when it comes to food is insane. Just think about the cereal aisle in your grocery store. In my opinion, so many options only bring more stress (especially if you have multiple children to shop for - my favorite scene to watch unfold in the store). For that week, I am going to support the Oregon Food Bank. They do such great work in what will always be my home area and I volunteered there with my Papi a few summers ago so it seems like a good fit.
The third week, I am going to give up my bed and sleep on the floor. First, because this is something I really truly take for granted yet I speak daily to many, many people who sleep on the floor nightly or on a rug or a blanket. It is also my job to help explain this reality to donors and I feel like until I have been through it, my explanation of another's experience only goes so far. In thinking about it, not only do many in our country sleep each night without a bed but through out the world mattresses and beds are a real luxury, yet most of us would never even think of going to sleep each night anywhere else. For that week, I am planning to support A Wider Circle. It is this great non-profit organization that for a $33 donation can provide one person with home essentials, including a bed ;)
The forth week, I am going to give up my lengthy 7 minute showers for military showers and increase my appreciation of water (again giving up drinking clean water for the week didn't seem to make sense :p). In most of my study abroad experiences, even living with upper-middle class families in the cultures I was in, daily long showers were considered wasteful and were unheard of because water is so scarce. Many hundreds of thousands of people wouldn't even dream of an unlimited supply of water rushing over their heads because they must spend their whole day just carrying enough contaminated water to have something to eat and drink. Again, something many of us would never even imagine. In some countries, children do not get to go to school because they must spend their days traveling to and from the closest water source. For this week I am going to support charity: water. They build wells to bring safe drinking water to thousands. There website has more great info on water scarcity.
Lastly, in honor of Christmas, recognizing that Jesus was born to immigrant parents. They were traveling in a foreign land and no one wanted to let them in. I plan to give to Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center. Also, in honor and support of the 90 men, women, and children whose lives I was a part of while working there. I can't say there is much I can give up to make myself appreciate the struggles of immigrants but after spending 12 months listening to their stories and sharing their struggles, some of which you all read about in my blogs as a Border Servant Corps volunteer, I feel like I do know and connect with many of the challenges.
So you may say, that is only five of your points (or some of you may say please stop typing because I have to get to my online shopping ;) ) The sixth 'granted' in my life is all y'all. Simply, having a support system and people who say, "Oh, you got a new job. Awesome" or "Oh, you quit your job. Awesome." means a ton. So I am going to try my darndest to update this blog at the end of each week to share with you how the week with out a 'granted' went. And like I said three pages ago. If any of you want to join me in this adventure, even if only for a day, a week, or a financial commitment, I would love to reflect together - like a book group without the book.
On that note, I should get the few emails responded to that I must get back to before I leave my email for a week and then I must sleep. Happy Advent.
Karen
I hope this finds you well and that you spent your Thanksgiving surrounded by Love. I have had a number of visitors since my last post and have also traveled to Philly (for work) and NC to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my sister. All were great additions to life. The big change in my life since I last wrote is that I de-moted myself. Many of you will no doubt say, "WHAT?!?! I thought you loved your job!?" So here is the story... (My apologies this is a long blog)
I am really interested in Development/Fundraising/Marketing and was/am excited about all the potential there. But, when I kept thinking about the job (as I slowly became more and more overwhelmed), I kept thinking, as my organization is growing VERY fast, we need someone who knows what he/she is doing in that position. After de-moting myself, I also did realize it was not just the right decision for the organization but also for me. I was constantly stressed, there was more to do than was humanly possible, and I was not happy with the quality of work I was turning out. I could not direct, learn, and do all at the same time. Plus, I realized I was in the job because either other people told me it was what I wanted to do with my life and that it would get me where I wanted to be or because other people seemed to think I would fail and I didn't want to give them that satisfaction. I realized I don't know what I want to do with my life, so why do something that was causing so much anxiety and that I am the only one who can judge what my personal "failure" is. Plus, since when do I give a you-know-what about what other people think? :-P Oh, how great self-reflection is... So where does that leave me? I am a Development Associate. My replacement as Director starts on Wed and so hopefully that will allow me to actually feel successful at my job. So that is my work-life. With this job shift, I will again have a complete life to share with you not just a work-life. :)
I have been thinking a lot about Advent lately and thought I would share my musings/plans with you all. I know growing up, advent was always the time to give something up. As a child/teen I never really understood this. I was told it makes you a better person (Karen without Chocolate doesn't make a better anything). As I have gotten older, and especially through recent readings of various religions, schools of thought, etc. I have in someways changed my opinion (though giving up chocolate still seems pointless to me :-P but if it makes you a better person more power to you and more chocolate for me). I have realized, especially in this season, how frustrated I get with the materialism in our society. How frustrated I get with the fact that people think more stuff will make them happy when in my opinion it often just drives us apart from real, true, meaningful human connection which is what ultimately satisfies us. Our computers, clothes, TVs, etc will never give us the love and support that truly makes us content human beings, yet all of the external inputs tell us that is what makes a good life. As Christmas approaches, things get stressful, and everyone is more worried than ever about money and keeping up with the joneses I have decided to try to better appreciate things I take for granted. I also want to invest in bringing these same 'granted's to others who don't share my reality. After taking a walk in another man's shoes I think it will make me understand that reality a little better. Also in thinking of end of year giving, which is a huge push right now at any non-profit, I figure I should put my money where my mouth is and really make my donations meaningful. So this advent, I want to focus on six things I take for granted: (1) The people in my life; (2) My computer/Email; (3) Food; (4) My bed (5) Clean Water; (6) A stable environment to live.
Now you will say, that is nice you crazy lady how do you plan to appreciate those more. I am going to try to put the phrase you don't know what you've got until it's gone into action. For each week of advent I am going to "Give-up" something different, spend time reflecting on it, share my reflections, and contribute to improving the 'reality' in which others live. I share these thoughts with you both so I am held accountable and because if any of you would like to join this advent adventure in any capacity, I would love to have a community with which to experience and reflect.
So this first week, I am going to give up my personal email/facebook/internet surfing. I have thought, read, and talked with people about how technology at times can detract from personal relationships not help with them. We have less human connection because many of us will now email, text, or 'write on the wall' of a friend instead of picking up the phone and calling. I also find I spend hours of wasted time surfing the internet to try to fill lonliness or boredom instead of dedicating that time to actually interactions or productivity. This will mean that I will have to plan my week in advance (ie no spending hours googling recipes, etc) and that I will have to find meaningful ways to fill my spare time. This also means that if I want to communicate with people I will have to call them (WHAT?!?!? Unheard of), you will also have to call me if you want to tell me something. I also am going to make a donation to First Time Computers, an organization that helps to give more people in the DC area access to the benefits of computers, which in many ways have become essential to 'success' in the world today.
The second week, I am going to give up the food diversity I currently enjoy. I spent lots of time thinking on this one because sacrificing my health will not do anyone any good. I remember in all my Mexico/South America classes we learned how native people would live on beans, rice, squash, and corn because that combination has all the amino acids you need to survive (medical folks you can correct me if I am wrong). I am going to add apples and milk to that mix but live on just those six things for a week. Especially after my trip to Nicaragua after graduation, I have come to realize the amount of options we have in our society when it comes to food is insane. Just think about the cereal aisle in your grocery store. In my opinion, so many options only bring more stress (especially if you have multiple children to shop for - my favorite scene to watch unfold in the store). For that week, I am going to support the Oregon Food Bank. They do such great work in what will always be my home area and I volunteered there with my Papi a few summers ago so it seems like a good fit.
The third week, I am going to give up my bed and sleep on the floor. First, because this is something I really truly take for granted yet I speak daily to many, many people who sleep on the floor nightly or on a rug or a blanket. It is also my job to help explain this reality to donors and I feel like until I have been through it, my explanation of another's experience only goes so far. In thinking about it, not only do many in our country sleep each night without a bed but through out the world mattresses and beds are a real luxury, yet most of us would never even think of going to sleep each night anywhere else. For that week, I am planning to support A Wider Circle. It is this great non-profit organization that for a $33 donation can provide one person with home essentials, including a bed ;)
The forth week, I am going to give up my lengthy 7 minute showers for military showers and increase my appreciation of water (again giving up drinking clean water for the week didn't seem to make sense :p). In most of my study abroad experiences, even living with upper-middle class families in the cultures I was in, daily long showers were considered wasteful and were unheard of because water is so scarce. Many hundreds of thousands of people wouldn't even dream of an unlimited supply of water rushing over their heads because they must spend their whole day just carrying enough contaminated water to have something to eat and drink. Again, something many of us would never even imagine. In some countries, children do not get to go to school because they must spend their days traveling to and from the closest water source. For this week I am going to support charity: water. They build wells to bring safe drinking water to thousands. There website has more great info on water scarcity.
Lastly, in honor of Christmas, recognizing that Jesus was born to immigrant parents. They were traveling in a foreign land and no one wanted to let them in. I plan to give to Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center. Also, in honor and support of the 90 men, women, and children whose lives I was a part of while working there. I can't say there is much I can give up to make myself appreciate the struggles of immigrants but after spending 12 months listening to their stories and sharing their struggles, some of which you all read about in my blogs as a Border Servant Corps volunteer, I feel like I do know and connect with many of the challenges.
So you may say, that is only five of your points (or some of you may say please stop typing because I have to get to my online shopping ;) ) The sixth 'granted' in my life is all y'all. Simply, having a support system and people who say, "Oh, you got a new job. Awesome" or "Oh, you quit your job. Awesome." means a ton. So I am going to try my darndest to update this blog at the end of each week to share with you how the week with out a 'granted' went. And like I said three pages ago. If any of you want to join me in this adventure, even if only for a day, a week, or a financial commitment, I would love to reflect together - like a book group without the book.
On that note, I should get the few emails responded to that I must get back to before I leave my email for a week and then I must sleep. Happy Advent.
Karen
Saturday, November 6, 2010
'Tis the season to be jolly...
I hope this finds you all well! Perhaps enjoying a bowl of soup... It is a soup day here in Silver Spring.
As an update on my life, it is going well. Most of the light hours are spent at work, or biking to work. I have been trying to learn as much as I can, as quickly as I can about being a Director of Development. My biggest enemy is my own perfectionism, which is not a good thing to have when learning something new.
I really enjoy the diversity of experiences I get to have each day, though at times it is challenging transitioning from writing a grant, to answering the phones for an hour, to coordinating partnership days with local stores and restaurants, and then having to find meaningful and helpful tasks for seven different interns - who all have varying skill levels. Then there are the networking events, foundation luncheons, award ceremonies, charity fairs, and general making sure the ED has what he needs going into meetings with potential donors, just to name a few of the tasks I do regularly. Needless to say, I am really having to work on my stress management skills. I am hoping that I will be able to find a better balance as time goes on and will just keep trying to roll with it until then. I, hands down, most enjoy the networking and awards luncheons because I get to talk to people and get them excited about what we are doing.
I also still find time to cook and bake. This is the most recent recipe I tried, it was delicious :)
Some of my favorite experiences so far here have been on the bus. I don't spend a lot of time on the bus, but usually when I have to go somewhere I spend a bit more time and a lot less money by taking the bus. At the beginning of October, I ran a 5K that one of our board members was helping to organize (it was fun, I finished 100 of 300+, no one needs to know the time ;) ). On the way back from the race, on the bus, this gentleman started chatting with me. As we were talking, I was asked how old I was - if I didn't think that was rude. I, of course, being my friendly self, really didn't care if this dude knew how old I was, so I told him. And asked how old he was, 51 was the answer. That was followed by asking if I was single. Again, my inability to lie caught me, so when he learned I was, I got the lecture, which I have actually received twice on the bus since I have been here, of how it is amazing a pretty thing like me was single (apparently I look highly attractive un-showered in my sweats, running shoes, seven-year old hoodie, and six-year old torn jacket :-P). I was then told how I needed a real man who could show me a good time, take me out on the town, buy me a nice dinner, etc, etc, etc. To which I responded, with my normal level of sass, "Well, Leonard you let me know when you find that man and send him my way because I have yet to meet him." His response, with 110% sincerity was, "I think I may just be that man." Needless to say, I jumped off that bus about three stops early, walked the opposite direction from my house, and took a new route home :) Then I laughed a lot...
I hope my life continues to amuse you as much as it amuses me! Thanks for keeping in touch. Your emails, notes, calls, etc always brighten my day, and make me wish we were not so far apart!
Shabbat Shalom!
As an update on my life, it is going well. Most of the light hours are spent at work, or biking to work. I have been trying to learn as much as I can, as quickly as I can about being a Director of Development. My biggest enemy is my own perfectionism, which is not a good thing to have when learning something new.
I really enjoy the diversity of experiences I get to have each day, though at times it is challenging transitioning from writing a grant, to answering the phones for an hour, to coordinating partnership days with local stores and restaurants, and then having to find meaningful and helpful tasks for seven different interns - who all have varying skill levels. Then there are the networking events, foundation luncheons, award ceremonies, charity fairs, and general making sure the ED has what he needs going into meetings with potential donors, just to name a few of the tasks I do regularly. Needless to say, I am really having to work on my stress management skills. I am hoping that I will be able to find a better balance as time goes on and will just keep trying to roll with it until then. I, hands down, most enjoy the networking and awards luncheons because I get to talk to people and get them excited about what we are doing.
I also still find time to cook and bake. This is the most recent recipe I tried, it was delicious :)
Some of my favorite experiences so far here have been on the bus. I don't spend a lot of time on the bus, but usually when I have to go somewhere I spend a bit more time and a lot less money by taking the bus. At the beginning of October, I ran a 5K that one of our board members was helping to organize (it was fun, I finished 100 of 300+, no one needs to know the time ;) ). On the way back from the race, on the bus, this gentleman started chatting with me. As we were talking, I was asked how old I was - if I didn't think that was rude. I, of course, being my friendly self, really didn't care if this dude knew how old I was, so I told him. And asked how old he was, 51 was the answer. That was followed by asking if I was single. Again, my inability to lie caught me, so when he learned I was, I got the lecture, which I have actually received twice on the bus since I have been here, of how it is amazing a pretty thing like me was single (apparently I look highly attractive un-showered in my sweats, running shoes, seven-year old hoodie, and six-year old torn jacket :-P). I was then told how I needed a real man who could show me a good time, take me out on the town, buy me a nice dinner, etc, etc, etc. To which I responded, with my normal level of sass, "Well, Leonard you let me know when you find that man and send him my way because I have yet to meet him." His response, with 110% sincerity was, "I think I may just be that man." Needless to say, I jumped off that bus about three stops early, walked the opposite direction from my house, and took a new route home :) Then I laughed a lot...
I hope my life continues to amuse you as much as it amuses me! Thanks for keeping in touch. Your emails, notes, calls, etc always brighten my day, and make me wish we were not so far apart!
Shabbat Shalom!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Transitions...
First, as always, I must apologize for the long lapse in blogging... My last five months in El Paso flew by at lightening speed. I ended up with a huge case load of around 90 clients whose cases I managed. Due to increases in visa availability and a number of other events all colliding it seemed there was more need than when I first started. I definitely learned a TON about the durability of the human soul and human beings ability to overcome hardship from my time working with survivors of domestic violence and crime. I really don't think I have fully processed that experience and all that I saw in my time with the Border Servant Corps.
So as for the transitions... Since not all of you know where I am now or what I am doing :)
I wrapped up at :as Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center August 5, with many tears saying good-bye to my clients and co-workers. I spent August 6, packing and saying many more goodbyes to my Border Servant Corps group mates and other friends and flew out early August 7, to Baltimore, MD. For those of you who have never lived in an intentional community it is hard to explain how hard it was to leave my group mates. I tend to say, "It is like saying goodbye to your family when you strike out on your own but you know you will not be back for holidays." I tried to not cry because it was over but smile because it happened, though even now I miss that group of 11 more than I can say, as well as many of my other friends and clients in El Paso.
A dear friend picked me up from the Metro in DC and I moved in to her living room... As I had no home... August 9, I started work as a fellow at A Wider Circle, the same non-profit I worked for two years ago. Our mission is to help individuals and families to lift themselves out of poverty. The simple description is that we make sure individuals who were sleeping on the floor last night have a bed to sleep in tonight and that they have access to health and wellness education, money managment, stress management, and job skills information that those in poverty usually can not access. It is an AMAZING place and we have been recognized for our outstanding programs. I was hired to direct the educational programs... I was just starting to wrap my mind around what that meant my third week of work or so and was offered a different job at the same organization...
I am now the Director of Development. I agreed to a two year contract (I know you are all thinking, "WHAT!?!? Karen commited to something!?!?! And it sounds like a real job!?!?!" :P ).
So I will be here at least that long. I have to say I have never before felt like I am in the exact right job for me. I am amazed that the Exec. Director and Assistant Director were able to see something in me that I didn't even know was there. For all my writing teachers who are reading this, those skills you nurtured will now be put to use writing grants. I get to manage and organize events. I get to network. I get to make connections with corporate partners. I get to form relationships with individual donors. I get to help oversee a million different things while forming mutually beneficial partnerships and explain to others why they should want to be involved in making sure that every child has a bed in which to sleep. Who knew there was a job that encompasses everything that I love to do? Now I just have to figure out how baking and making bread contributes to ending poverty... And when I will have time to do that...
I literally wake up in the middle of the night because I am coming up with new fundraisers, new approaches, new things we could try, etc. It is amazing - Not the lack of sleep but the energy and excitement I have for this job! I have a ton to learn but as my boss said, "This will probably be intellectually challenging for you." My response was, "GREAT!" Now I just need to be patient with myself as I learn, which is a virtue I lack for myself :) .
Other than that I bike around, pretty much everywhere. I love being in a place with trees again. I live near a trail which I bike, run, and walk on and just find myself smiling as a play in the rain (Yes, I am an Oregonian at heart).
So that is life now days. I will make the same promise I always do, I will try to update this regularly and improve on my communication. I think I hope if I keep saying that sooner or later it will actually happen :) I would love to see any of you who would like to travel out to these parts, and now you have two years to do it :)
Though I miss you all loads - except for the few of you who are out here and I get to see so I don't have time to miss you- know that I am very content with where I am at and feel like this will be a great place to be for the next two years.
Many hugs and lots of love to you all!
So as for the transitions... Since not all of you know where I am now or what I am doing :)
I wrapped up at :as Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center August 5, with many tears saying good-bye to my clients and co-workers. I spent August 6, packing and saying many more goodbyes to my Border Servant Corps group mates and other friends and flew out early August 7, to Baltimore, MD. For those of you who have never lived in an intentional community it is hard to explain how hard it was to leave my group mates. I tend to say, "It is like saying goodbye to your family when you strike out on your own but you know you will not be back for holidays." I tried to not cry because it was over but smile because it happened, though even now I miss that group of 11 more than I can say, as well as many of my other friends and clients in El Paso.
A dear friend picked me up from the Metro in DC and I moved in to her living room... As I had no home... August 9, I started work as a fellow at A Wider Circle, the same non-profit I worked for two years ago. Our mission is to help individuals and families to lift themselves out of poverty. The simple description is that we make sure individuals who were sleeping on the floor last night have a bed to sleep in tonight and that they have access to health and wellness education, money managment, stress management, and job skills information that those in poverty usually can not access. It is an AMAZING place and we have been recognized for our outstanding programs. I was hired to direct the educational programs... I was just starting to wrap my mind around what that meant my third week of work or so and was offered a different job at the same organization...
I am now the Director of Development. I agreed to a two year contract (I know you are all thinking, "WHAT!?!? Karen commited to something!?!?! And it sounds like a real job!?!?!" :P ).
So I will be here at least that long. I have to say I have never before felt like I am in the exact right job for me. I am amazed that the Exec. Director and Assistant Director were able to see something in me that I didn't even know was there. For all my writing teachers who are reading this, those skills you nurtured will now be put to use writing grants. I get to manage and organize events. I get to network. I get to make connections with corporate partners. I get to form relationships with individual donors. I get to help oversee a million different things while forming mutually beneficial partnerships and explain to others why they should want to be involved in making sure that every child has a bed in which to sleep. Who knew there was a job that encompasses everything that I love to do? Now I just have to figure out how baking and making bread contributes to ending poverty... And when I will have time to do that...
I literally wake up in the middle of the night because I am coming up with new fundraisers, new approaches, new things we could try, etc. It is amazing - Not the lack of sleep but the energy and excitement I have for this job! I have a ton to learn but as my boss said, "This will probably be intellectually challenging for you." My response was, "GREAT!" Now I just need to be patient with myself as I learn, which is a virtue I lack for myself :) .
Other than that I bike around, pretty much everywhere. I love being in a place with trees again. I live near a trail which I bike, run, and walk on and just find myself smiling as a play in the rain (Yes, I am an Oregonian at heart).
So that is life now days. I will make the same promise I always do, I will try to update this regularly and improve on my communication. I think I hope if I keep saying that sooner or later it will actually happen :) I would love to see any of you who would like to travel out to these parts, and now you have two years to do it :)
Though I miss you all loads - except for the few of you who are out here and I get to see so I don't have time to miss you- know that I am very content with where I am at and feel like this will be a great place to be for the next two years.
Many hugs and lots of love to you all!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Value of a Life and the Drug War
Hello Friends and Family,
I apologize for not writing sooner. Work life has been very crazy lately, I will catch you all up on that later... I have also been gone/out and about for a few of the past weekends. We went to Santa Fe for a retreat with other volunteers who are serving in Denver, it was lots of fun. I love new friends. Then I went to Seal Beach to spend time with my Grandma, Great Aunt, and Great Aunt's friend. It was AMAZING! I had so much fun. Enjoyed relaxing and being pampered :) And the beach was a nice touch too. I am in love with the beach. I visited it multiple times a day while I was there. Other adventures include seeing the singing policeman, going to Jewish Temple, and enjoying the sun :)
So I have been meaning to write on the violence in Ciudad Juarez, the city that borders El Paso in Mexico, for a long time and have been collecting statistics and such but when I saw this article on Yahoo News I realized the time had come to write.
First some background. Ciudad Juarez has been the battle ground for drug cartels for a while now. The US, through plan Merida has been helping to fund the Mexican Officials on combating the cartels, however, if anything this has only caused more violence as the heads of cartels are taken down many more start waging for the power. Additionally, there is documented corruption amongst the military in Mexico, yet the US continues funding it. According to this Yahoo news article, "Nearly 18,000 people have been killed since Calderon deployed tens of thousands of troops and federal police across the country in December 2006 in an offensive against drug traffickers."
To put the number of murders in perspective, there were 2,650 documented murders in Ciudad Juarez last year, a city of around one million people compared to NY's 460 murders for a city of eight million people. This weekend two US Americans were killed, one of whom worked at the US consulate, so Obama is saying this must be investigated and that he is saddened and outraged by the murders. I say this with no disrespect to these two individuals but SINCE WHEN ARE US CITIZEN LIVES MORE VALUED THAN MEXICANS? Why as a nation are we not outraged that 2650 of our neighbors were murdered last year, who cares what national anthem they are singing? Why do we continue to sink our tax money into a 'solution' that is only contributing to the problem? It is my belief that every human life is just that, a human life. Why should a USC have to die for us to finally care about the violence that has been tearing apart the lives of thousands, many of whom are family to some USCitizen?
Though I am never in favor of ignoring human suffering, regardless of where it is taking place, I could at least understand the perspective of 'ignoring' this if we were in no way responsible, from a governmental perspective (Mind you I say I could understand, not that I would agree). How are we responsible for violence in Mexico you may ask. Well, my friends, thanks for asking. From my research and understanding there are two reasons this violence has gotten so out of hand, and both are thanks to the individualistic, self-serving policies and perspectives of the US population (Can you sense the brooding frustration :) )
The number one reason, which I will do my best to outline here is our US drug consumption. The other would be our unjust trade agreements, but I will leave that for another time.
According to a speaker at the Latino Congreso, the US has 4-5% of the world population but 1/4 of the world drug consumption, 25% of the prison population (much of which is associated with drug based offenses) and 50% of the drug base of Mexican/US drug smugglers money is from Marijuana. What is my point with all this? Well, first, US Americans need to have some self control. Your drug problem is killing people and not just you. Second of all, Marijuana is safer than booze so why is it still illegal?
My argument is that we should legalize, at least Marijuana. Then it can be regulated and we can tax the heck out of it. Those taxes could be used for drug rehabilitation to help people overcome addictions instead of just locking those people up in jail. This would also reduce our jail/court costs because sooo many crimes are linked to pot. It would all around be a financial asset to our society. Some people are also going to smoke the stuff, like it or not. If it is regulated, at least you know your kid is going down to the corner pot store with a fake ID instead of going to a shady ally or risking life or limb to get a hold of pot. While drug dealers are not all sketchy people, some are. Additionally, it would help to cut the legs out from under the drug traffickers, which would save innocent lives. It could also be grown and sold locally, which has further financial benefits. Yes, there are other drugs and that problem should also be addressed but Marijuana is a start. I am sorry I don't have better statistics for all y'all on this but I don't take enough time to research and document my musings they just build up in my head after hearing things from many sources.
Soooo my messages from this blog are: Smoke local, it saves lives. And Don't do drugs, it is killing people.
Can't wait to hear your reactions, thoughts, and musings in response.
I apologize for not writing sooner. Work life has been very crazy lately, I will catch you all up on that later... I have also been gone/out and about for a few of the past weekends. We went to Santa Fe for a retreat with other volunteers who are serving in Denver, it was lots of fun. I love new friends. Then I went to Seal Beach to spend time with my Grandma, Great Aunt, and Great Aunt's friend. It was AMAZING! I had so much fun. Enjoyed relaxing and being pampered :) And the beach was a nice touch too. I am in love with the beach. I visited it multiple times a day while I was there. Other adventures include seeing the singing policeman, going to Jewish Temple, and enjoying the sun :)
So I have been meaning to write on the violence in Ciudad Juarez, the city that borders El Paso in Mexico, for a long time and have been collecting statistics and such but when I saw this article on Yahoo News I realized the time had come to write.
First some background. Ciudad Juarez has been the battle ground for drug cartels for a while now. The US, through plan Merida has been helping to fund the Mexican Officials on combating the cartels, however, if anything this has only caused more violence as the heads of cartels are taken down many more start waging for the power. Additionally, there is documented corruption amongst the military in Mexico, yet the US continues funding it. According to this Yahoo news article, "Nearly 18,000 people have been killed since Calderon deployed tens of thousands of troops and federal police across the country in December 2006 in an offensive against drug traffickers."
To put the number of murders in perspective, there were 2,650 documented murders in Ciudad Juarez last year, a city of around one million people compared to NY's 460 murders for a city of eight million people. This weekend two US Americans were killed, one of whom worked at the US consulate, so Obama is saying this must be investigated and that he is saddened and outraged by the murders. I say this with no disrespect to these two individuals but SINCE WHEN ARE US CITIZEN LIVES MORE VALUED THAN MEXICANS? Why as a nation are we not outraged that 2650 of our neighbors were murdered last year, who cares what national anthem they are singing? Why do we continue to sink our tax money into a 'solution' that is only contributing to the problem? It is my belief that every human life is just that, a human life. Why should a USC have to die for us to finally care about the violence that has been tearing apart the lives of thousands, many of whom are family to some USCitizen?
Though I am never in favor of ignoring human suffering, regardless of where it is taking place, I could at least understand the perspective of 'ignoring' this if we were in no way responsible, from a governmental perspective (Mind you I say I could understand, not that I would agree). How are we responsible for violence in Mexico you may ask. Well, my friends, thanks for asking. From my research and understanding there are two reasons this violence has gotten so out of hand, and both are thanks to the individualistic, self-serving policies and perspectives of the US population (Can you sense the brooding frustration :) )
The number one reason, which I will do my best to outline here is our US drug consumption. The other would be our unjust trade agreements, but I will leave that for another time.
According to a speaker at the Latino Congreso, the US has 4-5% of the world population but 1/4 of the world drug consumption, 25% of the prison population (much of which is associated with drug based offenses) and 50% of the drug base of Mexican/US drug smugglers money is from Marijuana. What is my point with all this? Well, first, US Americans need to have some self control. Your drug problem is killing people and not just you. Second of all, Marijuana is safer than booze so why is it still illegal?
My argument is that we should legalize, at least Marijuana. Then it can be regulated and we can tax the heck out of it. Those taxes could be used for drug rehabilitation to help people overcome addictions instead of just locking those people up in jail. This would also reduce our jail/court costs because sooo many crimes are linked to pot. It would all around be a financial asset to our society. Some people are also going to smoke the stuff, like it or not. If it is regulated, at least you know your kid is going down to the corner pot store with a fake ID instead of going to a shady ally or risking life or limb to get a hold of pot. While drug dealers are not all sketchy people, some are. Additionally, it would help to cut the legs out from under the drug traffickers, which would save innocent lives. It could also be grown and sold locally, which has further financial benefits. Yes, there are other drugs and that problem should also be addressed but Marijuana is a start. I am sorry I don't have better statistics for all y'all on this but I don't take enough time to research and document my musings they just build up in my head after hearing things from many sources.
Soooo my messages from this blog are: Smoke local, it saves lives. And Don't do drugs, it is killing people.
Can't wait to hear your reactions, thoughts, and musings in response.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Interconnectedness of Social Justice
Hi All!
I wrote this about a month ago and forgot to post it... Again I apologize for the rant. Hopefully it will breed discussion and amusement :)
In my attempts to escape from reality a while today I ended up watching Food Inc. An AMAZING film documenting what the US food industry has become. For those of you who have netflix accounts it is one of the films you can stream for free to your comp instantly, for all others it is worth renting.
I feel like that film alone gives me a good reason to say why I am a vegetarian. Our meat industry is dripping with injustice toward the animals, yes my bleeding heart cares about the animals, but also towards the human beings working in the industry. Ignoring the unhealthy product that we now are recognizing as meat. The meat industry has been getting much more attention recently I feel. The New York Times have featured it multiple times since I have been in El Paso. It really scares me what my grandchildren will be eating, or if food as we know it will seek to exist at the point. Yet another good reason to not reproduce :-P. Random side note on that topic, did you know turkeys all must be artificially inseminated because we have modified them to have big breasts so they can't reproduce. One of my roommates enjoys sharing this fact with us anytime another is eating turkey of any kind.
I may not have grown up on a farm but at least I know what one looks like. I have picked berries off a bush with my own hands and shoved them greedily into my mouth til my lips matched those very berries. It terrifies me that soon that will not happen. I guess I am a person who ties all my actions very closely to the moral implications of them and what sort of effect they are having on the world but how could one not? If by what I choose to eat I am choosing to make someone's life healthier and happier or condemning them to a modern day slavery where they will probably be injured and then out of a job binding them and their families in a life of poverty, is the decision really all that difficult?
Yes, I will acknowledge not everyone has the monetary ability to decide on their consumption based on the moral implications but for those of us that have monetary cushion, it seems to make sense to make moral food decisions instead of buying some commodity item.
This movie also reminded me how all social justice issues are so interconnected. It touches on how many immigrants who are coming with or without documents to this country do so because they were forced to by our foreign policy decisions, ie NAFTA/CAFTA. These folks are then exploited to provide us with cheap food. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I also think of the connection to the current healthcare crisis. The number of 'health problems' we have in this country seems to have a direct correlation to the high fructose corn syrup and other processed foods we consume. Those individuals that most tax our healthcare system are those who end up in the emergency rooms, unable to pay, or with severe chronic conditions. Arguably those who are economically poor most often fall into this category because the only foods they can afford (both economically and based on the expendable time they have) is food which is not healthy. This leads to many health problems, a large number of which drastically correlate to obesity and poor eating habits that exist in our country, throughout all economic levels. This then leads to our insurance companies getting bogged down with all the major healthcare issues relating to obesity alone. But what are we doing about it?
All this goes to say our food industry can be tied to two of the most debated domestic policy issues today. But that is never brought up in the debate because the food industry has such a strong lobby. To end, so as not to continue my rant as probably only about ten of you are enjoying this :). It makes me think how we should all question if the bills our government are attempting to pass are simply band-aids for a gushing wound or the forethought to prevent that wound from reopening.
I hope you have enjoyed knowing what goes on in Karen's head often while she should be sleeping :) It is a troubling place :-P Love you all! Take Care!
I wrote this about a month ago and forgot to post it... Again I apologize for the rant. Hopefully it will breed discussion and amusement :)
In my attempts to escape from reality a while today I ended up watching Food Inc. An AMAZING film documenting what the US food industry has become. For those of you who have netflix accounts it is one of the films you can stream for free to your comp instantly, for all others it is worth renting.
I feel like that film alone gives me a good reason to say why I am a vegetarian. Our meat industry is dripping with injustice toward the animals, yes my bleeding heart cares about the animals, but also towards the human beings working in the industry. Ignoring the unhealthy product that we now are recognizing as meat. The meat industry has been getting much more attention recently I feel. The New York Times have featured it multiple times since I have been in El Paso. It really scares me what my grandchildren will be eating, or if food as we know it will seek to exist at the point. Yet another good reason to not reproduce :-P. Random side note on that topic, did you know turkeys all must be artificially inseminated because we have modified them to have big breasts so they can't reproduce. One of my roommates enjoys sharing this fact with us anytime another is eating turkey of any kind.
I may not have grown up on a farm but at least I know what one looks like. I have picked berries off a bush with my own hands and shoved them greedily into my mouth til my lips matched those very berries. It terrifies me that soon that will not happen. I guess I am a person who ties all my actions very closely to the moral implications of them and what sort of effect they are having on the world but how could one not? If by what I choose to eat I am choosing to make someone's life healthier and happier or condemning them to a modern day slavery where they will probably be injured and then out of a job binding them and their families in a life of poverty, is the decision really all that difficult?
Yes, I will acknowledge not everyone has the monetary ability to decide on their consumption based on the moral implications but for those of us that have monetary cushion, it seems to make sense to make moral food decisions instead of buying some commodity item.
This movie also reminded me how all social justice issues are so interconnected. It touches on how many immigrants who are coming with or without documents to this country do so because they were forced to by our foreign policy decisions, ie NAFTA/CAFTA. These folks are then exploited to provide us with cheap food. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I also think of the connection to the current healthcare crisis. The number of 'health problems' we have in this country seems to have a direct correlation to the high fructose corn syrup and other processed foods we consume. Those individuals that most tax our healthcare system are those who end up in the emergency rooms, unable to pay, or with severe chronic conditions. Arguably those who are economically poor most often fall into this category because the only foods they can afford (both economically and based on the expendable time they have) is food which is not healthy. This leads to many health problems, a large number of which drastically correlate to obesity and poor eating habits that exist in our country, throughout all economic levels. This then leads to our insurance companies getting bogged down with all the major healthcare issues relating to obesity alone. But what are we doing about it?
All this goes to say our food industry can be tied to two of the most debated domestic policy issues today. But that is never brought up in the debate because the food industry has such a strong lobby. To end, so as not to continue my rant as probably only about ten of you are enjoying this :). It makes me think how we should all question if the bills our government are attempting to pass are simply band-aids for a gushing wound or the forethought to prevent that wound from reopening.
I hope you have enjoyed knowing what goes on in Karen's head often while she should be sleeping :) It is a troubling place :-P Love you all! Take Care!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
525,600 Minutes
Hello friends and family,
I hope this finds all of you well and that you had a good new year and holiday season. I will soon blog again on my life at the border, currently it entails ear infections, sinus infection and my body generally waging war against me. I am writing to ask for your prayers. As many of you have no doubt seen on the news one of my fellow '09 UP classmates didn't survive the Haitian earthquake that occurred on Tuesday. Molly Hightower, the laughing lady in the picture, was a good dormmate and friend to me throughout my college career. She was working at an orphanage in Haiti. Whether singing Disney songs or telling of the latest dilemma she had encountered, her smile and love for all were contagious. I ask you for your prayers for her family, friends, and those in Haiti in this particularly difficult time. Especially for another friend and classmate, Rachel, who survived the collapse of the building Molly was in.
Molly was a fellow blogger of her service adventures, and much better than I at updating the blog, if any of you would like to read more about her and her experiences. Also if any of you were wanting to donate to the Haiti relief efforts, Friends of the Orphans, the organization Molly was working with is taking donations. Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, crossed fingers, and love. As always with tragedies like this I am reminded how much the people in my life mean to me. Thanks for being such great friends and family. I love you all.
-Karen
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