Make The World Smile

America the Beautiful

2009-01-24T11:44:00.002-05:00

The video speaks for itself. Enjoy and share it with others.

Executive Orders for Guantanamo Bay

2009-01-22T19:12:00.006-05:00

Earlier today on the second day of his Presidency, Barack Obama signed four executive orders related to Guantanamo Bay. The four orders spiraled from an anticipated desire to break from the Bush administration policies, and for the new President's wish to win the war on terror on his own terms.

Gitmo History
After the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan which began in October 2001, the U.S. government contemplated what to do about potential enemy captives that were held in military custody. These captives were arrested by American soldiers during battle, turned over to troops by Afghan allies, and collected by bounty hunters who seeked big profits for their capture.

Following September 11, 2001, now former President George W. Bush declared that the U.S. was in a "war on terror." Shortly thereafter, a question lingered as to if the captives were deemed as prisoners of war? The U.S. government thought otherwise. They believed that because these captives were not affiliated with any recognizable military force, they didn't qualify for protection as prisoners of war under the international rules of war via the literature and protocols of the Geneva Convention. Therefore, these captives did not fall into a category which kept them in legal bounds for trial and dodging extensive interrogations.

And then there was Guantanamo Bay Prison, or 'Gitmo' for short. The first prisoners arrived at the U.S. detention facility in Cuba in 2002. U.S. officials who supported the detention facility argued that the prisoners in custody were enemy fighters who had few legal rights and could be interrogated about their potential links to Islamist extremist groups. At the time, the U.S. announced that it was to try these prisoners using military commissions, a process that was intended for dispensing battlefield justice to captives or suspected war criminals caught outside the United States (more information involving military commissions can be found on the Department of Defense website). This process had not been used since after WWII, and legal-rights activists around the world and within the U.S. were distraught with this decision.

In 2003 and onward, many court challenges were brought forth demanding full legal rights for prisoners at Guantanamo, plus the right to be tried in a civilian or military court. This would allow for the inmates to challenge evidence against them in the prosecution, and to call on any witnesses necessary, as well as to form an appeal to higher courts. Courts in the U.S. began to make rulings on these challenges, and many courts discovered that the inmates should be entitled to certain rights.

In 2004, the inmates were put before a panel for their review, to determine whether they were captured foreign soldiers or not. Nearly all the inmates were declared "unlawful enemy combatants," which prevented them from receiving the rights outlined in the Geneva Convention. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court reached a split decision, declaring that military commissions were in fact illegal, which created a violation of the Geneva Convention for the United States government. The ruling followed cases filed by inmates who challenged their detention. A then Republican-controlled U.S. Congress responded to the Supreme Court ruling by passing the Military Commissions Act. It took the court's concerns into account, allowing avenues of appeal and explicitly prohibiting evidence obtained through torture.

In June 2008, a more recent U.S. Supreme Court decision was ruled in favor of the Guantanamo detainees. This new ruling allowed them the right to habeas corpus, a mandate allowing prisoners the right to be brought to court to determine if the individual is imprisoned lawfully.

Overall, in the history of the detention facility, the U.S. government has charged only 21 inmates with crimes, including alleged alleged Sept.11 mastermind Khaled Sheikh Mohammed are among those who've been charged. Many questions remain unanswered after the numerous court proceedings brought forth during the Bush administration, which shed mass confusion as to the process of detaining potential terrorists. This leads us to the new administration which will decide the legal proceedings and the fate of the current detainees at Gitmo.

Executive Orders

The first of the orders will require the eradication of the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year. The second order formally bans torture by requiring that the Army uses its field manual as a guide when conducting terror interrogations. This will eliminate any additional interrogation methods that the Bush administration was criticized for potentially using, such as waterboarding. The third order actually establishes an interagency task force which will be responsible for the review of all detention policies and all individuals on a case-by-case basis. And the final executive order will delay the trial of a man by the named of Ali al-Marri. He is a legal U.S. resident who has been contesting his detention for more than five years, meanwhile the government has failed to bring any charges against him.

These executive orders were long awaited by some who believed that the Bush administration had used torture methods on terror detainees at the detention facility, although these claims were repeatedly denied by the government. However, Obama's move does not come without criticism either. The dilemma he now faces is where the 245 current detainees will be placed when the facility is closed. This vital question is being tossed around due to the severity of implications that may arise if the prisoners are brought back within U.S. borders. Also, another question remains of what the U.S. government will do with the $500 million facility built at Guantanamo Bay following the release of the prisoners. We will have to listen closely to the debates that pan out between President Obama and Congress in the near future, as heated arguments are sure to arise given the significance of the issue.

Mr. President - Day One

2009-01-21T22:48:00.008-05:00

Following a day of celebration for President Obama and his family, reality sank in Wednesday morning when he started his first day on the job. Obama and his wife began their day at a prayer service at the National Cathedral, a long-standing tradition on the first day of a new administration. The Obama’s were joined by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, as well as former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, who would be sworn-in as Secretary of State later on.

The First-family also hosted a reception at the White House for 200 inauguration volunteers and other guests through an internet lottery. But not all was play, as President Obama displayed his efforts early on to revive the economy, map out a new course in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to showcase his hope for diplomacy between leaders of the Middle East.

Obama’s schedule included a session on the economy, in which he pledged to take pertinent steps in reviving. Following last week’s decision of approval for Obama to use $350 billion in leftover bailout money from the financial industry, he led the meeting on the economy which included discussion of the House Appropriations Committee movement toward approval of billions in new spending. These funds are all part of the economic stimulus package making its way to the executive desk for the President’s signature.

His schedule also included a session on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The new Commander in Chief held his first meeting in the Situation Room, along with Vice President Joe Biden and senior military and foreign policy officials. Obama campaigned on a pledge to withdraw U.S. combat forces from Iraq within 16 months, and to step up the commitment in Afghanistan. He placed several phone calls to Middle East leaders in pursuit of peace between Arab and Israeli forces, especially following the latest Israeli attacks on Hamas in the Gaza strip.

White House aides developed a draft of executive orders for the President on Guantanamo Bay, which was rumored to be signed as early as Thursday. Among other things imposed by Obama on his first day, he implemented a ban on gifts by lobbyists to anyone serving in the administration. He also imposed a pay freeze for about 100 White House aides who earn $100,000 or more.

Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton as the new Secretary of State at the Capitol, while Secretary of Treasury-designate Timothy Geithner underwent his confirmation hearing. He was faced with brutal questions that he answered honestly, apologizing for having failed to pay $34,000 in taxes earlier years prior.

Let's hope that the pace of President Obama on day one remains throughout his Presidency - a pace of determination for the American people.

Congratulations President Barack H. Obama

2009-01-20T19:00:00.009-05:00

Congratulations to Barack Obama, the newly sworn-in 44th President of the United States of America. An estimated 2 million people embarked on a journey from other countries, all 50 states, and even down the street to witness the historical event in person. It was a day filled with preponderance of the future, as Obama's Inaugural address reflected upon the current situation of the country and the shift in direction he must lead citizens to meet all challenges.

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

The above is taken from Obama's inaugural speech delivered after being sworn in shortly after noon. His speech lasted approximately 18 minutes and every second was filled with an optimism for change, and a reflection of the dreams of our leaders in the past. It contained reminders of the very foundations and promises that the United States was established upon, and the commitment of the government to maintain those ideals. It also contained a renewal of energy for people of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds, to feel a sense of responsibility and accountability for their actions, and for the actions of the government that represents them.

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

We also cannot forget the historical significance of this Presidential Inauguration, as it comes on the brink of a holiday celebrated in the remembrance of a man who stood up against all odds and defied those against him. In Obama's speech he denoted the melting pot characteristic of our nation - a place where freedom rings and where opportunity is abundant for all. He reminded us that we have emerged from treacherous battles of segregation and division, and have evolved into a nation more united and able to find commonalities as human beings without racial or religious differences.

As for myself, I wanted to share the moment with my family, although regretfully we did not attend the actual Inauguration ceremony despite living thirty miles outside of the city. But I was lucky to have celebrated with them, all together, sitting in front of our television set with tears of joy flowing as the new President was sworn-in. Today was not only an emotional day, but it was also a defining moment in United States history and politics. January 20, 2009, will forever be remembered as the day that marked a culmination of a historic struggle and the fulfillment of the American dream. Congratulations again to our 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

2009-01-19T00:03:00.021-05:00

"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream." These words were taken from the well-known speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963. Although lacking the artic chilled air from yesterday during the Inauguration concert, the feeling of hope and a need for change was just as familiar. Hundreds of thousands gathered for an African-American - one who spoke for change and for the betterment of citizens and the country they occupy. The United States of America has diverged a great deal from the Civil Rights era when Martin Luther King Jr. took on a voluminous amount of risk for those who were denied the proper rights as citizens of this country. He changed the course exponentially for African-Americans following his death and 46 years later, we resound his actions that enabled a person of the same race to become the 44th President of the United States of America. On this day in 2009, we celebrate this holiday unlike we ever have before. For today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration of an African-American Barack Obama, and we celebrate this as a monumental time for people of all races.

Inauguration Opening Concert

2009-01-18T22:10:00.005-05:00

This morning, I woke up at 6:15 am, quickly layered up, and hopped on the metro to Washington, DC, in order to be in line for the opening of the gates at 8:00 am. Once inside, myself and three others placed our blankets over the chilled grass and brought out cards and snacks to keep ourselves occupied for the next 6 and 1/2 hours. We were attending the Inaugural Concert for the future President Barack Obama, which consisted of a lengthy list of performers and actors/actresses. From Bono to Beyonce, songs of unity and pride in country, as well as celebratory speeches, helped kick-off the most anticipated Inauguration in history. Some thought we were insane for being outside in the cold weather for the duration that we did, but we simply knew we were experiencing a piece of history.

I looked around at all the diverse faces of people who were filled with excitement and hope as they anxiously awaited the President-Elect to speak to them with words of encouragement about the future of our country. Always a brilliant orator, the President-Elect delivered a promising speech that filled the ears of the hundreds of thousands of people and left them feeling more empowered than ever before. This was not only a historic moment for African Americans in the United States of America and across the world, but this was a historic moment for every race and background in our country. Whether you voted for Obama or voted otherwise, we as a people must look forward to the future and celebrate the obstacles this country has overcome in regards to racial boundaries. Congratulations to the President-Elect, the Vice President-Elect, and to the United States of America.

Farewell President George W. Bush

2009-01-15T21:13:00.012-05:00

Tonight, January 15, 2009, President George W. Bush conveyed his final message to the citizens of the United States of America through his farewell address. He reflected on the challenges that defied him as President, most notably the attacks of September 11, 2001. Below is an excerpt from the transcript of his speech taken from Fox News:

"This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house, September 11, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor.

I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock. I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke- filled corridors at the Pentagon and to husbands and wives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93.

I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son's police shield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge.

As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.

Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the intelligence community, and the FBI have been transformed. Our nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists' movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots.

And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored Al Qaeda and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school."

Before you reflect on the Presidency of George W. Bush from your personal standpoint, I ask you to accept his words above and listen closely. While much ridicule is often seen in the media's assessment of the eight years during his Presidency, there are certain elements that need to be positioned in the forefront of our minds. Although many, admittedly myself, have faulted President Bush for a number of his executive decisions, we must note that our Commander in Chief has kept America safe since the horrendous attacks in 2001. I do not use this as a justification by any means for his decisions in the Middle East, but I ask that we don't be quick to harshly write-off a man who has continued to keep our borders safe. We need to put our ideologies and judgments aside for one moment, and give some sort of thank you (even if we find it against our will to do so) to President Bush for the often overlooked things he has accomplished. As a liberal who has discovered a paramount of dissimilarity between myself and the President, I give George W. Bush my respect and gratitude for embracing the most powerful position within the most powerful country in the world.

2009 - The Time is NOW

2009-01-11T18:14:00.014-05:00

Happy New Year!

Welcome back to Make The World Smile after an extended time off from authoring any blog posts. Unfortunately, I have failed to manage my time properly between working at my 9-5 and committing myself to my passion for writing. This reminded me how easy it is to lose sight of our dreams and ultimately brought me to write this post tonight.

Right before the holidays, I stopped by my local Starbucks with my family to enjoy a warm chai latte on a frigid December night. While searching through the variety of coffee beans for sale on the shelves and the holiday gift packages, I found a few light books that aroused my interest. Never quick to judge any book by its cover, I flipped through several pages when the words swiftly grabbed me by the arm and screamed for me to make a transformation in my life. Ten dollars later, I took the book home and began to realize that I wasn't living the life I yearned for. Every page, every sentence, and every word encouraged me. The compilation of motivational quotes delivered an animated necessity to take control of my life. It wasn't until I reached halfway through the book when the message was conveyed through a different channel. Fear dove into my body as I quickly ran the calculations through my mind of how many days (based on averages) I had left in this world. The author had presented a convincing, yet frightening argument - what am I going to do with my time left in this world? The calculation goes as follows:

Multiply your age x 365 days. (This will give you your current age in days).
Subtract that number from 27,375 days (That's an average life-span these days).

Perspective is a fascinating thing. Once I viewed my life through this unnerving lense, I realized that there is no day like the present one to make changes. With that being said, I am going to have to step onto the cliche train and discuss what comes along with the start of a new year. The beginning of every year delivers a sense of freshness, the capacity for change, and the thought of finally being resolute with everything you meant to do last year and never did. We all make resolutions to ourselves - to exercise, to eat healthier, to spend more time with family, and even to manage our finances more efficiently. But we also tend to break those resolutions when the promises of the new year vanish, and routine once again mandates our short-lived hopes for finally making the change we've always wanted. Changes do not and usually cannot happen overnight, but it has to start at some point - why not make that NOW? As previously stated, this is far too easy of a cliche to often say and often fail to do. However, if you are reading this and you know in your heart that you are not currently living the life you want, you have the POWER to make the changes in your life TODAY. You are the sole controller of your path, and you are the one who has to take action to initiate changes in your life. You will not be able to attain your dreams unless you concede to the idea that the only thing stopping you from what you want is yourself. Change is in each of us - we just have to make it come alive. Do not let everyday mundane tasks avert you from reaching your best potential. Manage your time and prioritize what's significant to help you and what's insignificant in the process. Surround yourself with individuals who will believe in helping you achieve and do not let negativity from others hinder your ambitions. Put yourself on a path now so that when you do reflect upon your life you can be proud of what you've achieved in this world. Today is the day. And most importantly, see the world and enjoy the small wonders in life while on your journey. Happy New Year - may you learn to live your dreams this year and be happy every year thereafter.

Barack Obama: The 44th President of the United States of America

2008-11-04T23:54:00.007-05:00

Following the election results within the past hour, we have learned that Senator Barack Obama from Illinois will now be the 44th President of the United States of America. I am certainly bias in being ecstatic about Obama's historical win due to my political beliefs and support of his stance on issues. It is late, I am exhausted, but I must leave you with these simple and concise thoughts tonight. Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, or whichever party you may affiliate yourself with - we have an undeniable urgency to unite now more than ever. This is an extremely divisive time within our political landscape and if we wish for this country to move in a positive direction, we HAVE to show our support for President Obama as a whole. We need to find ourselves hand in hand, with benevolence and the audacity for change in our hearts, and be unafraid to coalesce the blacks and whites, the young and old, the rich and poor. On November 5, 2008, I ask you to put your candidate choice behind you and show your devotion to the future of this country by supporting our next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

John McCain's Own Bailout

2008-09-25T20:18:00.006-04:00

While the decision of the $700 billion financial bailout plan by the federal government is pending, President Bush had summoned for the two Presidential candidates to come to Washington to help lawmakers decide on the resolution. Before their arrival however, members of congress had reached an agreement on a bipartisan counter-proposal to Bush's plan, which some argue that the candidates' trips to Washington weren't necessary.

John McCain's unexpected decision Wednesday afternoon to temporarily halt his campaign has thrown into doubt whether Friday's first presidential debate will go on as scheduled. McCain said he would stop campaigning and pull all his campaign ads after Thursday's appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. But the idea was treated with a cold shoulder by his opponent, Barack Obama, as well as the nonpartisan debate organizers and the University of Mississippi, where the debate is scheduled to take place.

"I believe we should continue to have the debate. I think it makes sense to present ourselves before the American people to talk about the nature of the problems we're having," Obama told reporters Wednesday afternoon at a hastily called news conference in Florida.

"We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved," McCain told reporters in New York City on Wednesday afternoon. "I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

But who pulled the biggest political red card of the last 48 hours? Our Republican nominee John McCain. He attempted to be the superhero candidate by announcing yesterday to the public that he does not plan on participating in the Mississippi debate on Friday night until the bailout plan is finalized. While I understand his intentions, I do not think that this type of action is what the country needs right now.

McCain's "maverick" attempt of being a hero has somewhat backlashed against him and dealt him strong criticism from his opponent, Barack Obama. Obama's campaign stated that they think John McCain's decision simply confirms that under pressure he is unable to handle multiple tasks while in a leadership role. Today while watching the news I heard McCain's decision being compared to the actions taken by President Bush during his excessive vacations while in office. McCain was portrayed as "more of the same."

And to the greatest extent, I absolutely agree with the above statement. As the President of the United States of America, your duty is to not only to lead the country in its current state through any crises, but to also give the country hope and direction for the future well-being. Any powerful statement he is trying to make to the public and to Congress about the urgency of the bailout plan is erroneous with the absence of his promise and direction for the country in a ninety minute debate between candidates.

Tonight's debate is the first of three presidential debates that are scheduled over the next three weeks. The only vice presidential debate occurs on October 2 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Hurricane Victims Need YOUR Help

2008-09-18T18:16:00.001-04:00

The devastation of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the Gulf region has left thousands homeless and heartbroken. After seeing the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which still has hundreds displaced and in need of help, our country was at least more prepared for these two grandiose storms. Unfortunately, preparation doesn't completely stop the hurricanes from destroying homes, flooding streets, and crumbling infrastructures. That means people in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana need your help. The Red Cross has been actively involved in serving meals to those in the storm affected areas and other organizations have devoted their time and effort to ensuring individuals that their country is there for them in this time of dire need. Whether it's simply donating money online, organizing supplies to send down to the affected areas, or orchestrating a trip to help rebuild and clean-up - you can lend a hand. Go visit the Red Cross website at http://www.redcross.org/ or visit the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/2008/ike/ to find out ways you can be involved in helping those that were left homeless and speechless because of the storms.

Don't forget, there is going to be a time when you need help in your life and this is your opportunity to help others in their time of need.

Remembering 9/11

2008-09-11T09:30:00.013-04:00

Despaired, frightened, outraged, devastated, petrified. Any word in our very own dictionary could not put a finger on the range of emotions felt on September 11, 2001. Seven years later and the images of such anguish and fear still burns a hole into our hearts, giving us a painful reminder that it still feels like yesterday. No matter the age or background, time stopped for every American that day as we watched terror unfold through our television sets, or even physically through our own eyes amidst the chaos in the streets of New York. We will always remember where we were and what we were doing when the greatest country on earth suddenly felt powerless.

We leaned on strangers' shoulders for support and for comfort, we looked to friends for understanding, and we hugged our families a little tighter to remind ourselves to be thankful for being alive. Through stories of despondence and hope, we were able to give compassion to each other and prove to the world that we were strong and would pull through this with honor, dignity, and respect.

We will never forget those who were brave enough, courageous enough, and warm-hearted enough to volunteer to save lives, as well as the innocent victims who literally went to work and never came home. But despite the hurt and anger of lives lost, we cannot help but to turn this painful reminder into a positive light. We must use this day of patriotism and remembrance to remind ourselves that regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, background, or even political affiliation - we must stand united not only today but every day. We may have differing opinions, as it is in human nature to disagree, but support of country should take stronghold over such divisive issues if we wish to remain the great country of the United States of America. Go talk to a stranger today. Call an old friend. Tell your family you love them. Listen to what others have to say and embrace differences. Let these things become your nature and let yourself contribute to keeping this country united. God Bless.

The Wonders of Life

2008-09-01T13:21:00.007-04:00

It's one of those deeper thoughts of intellect that we often tap into as human beings but we have great difficulty grasping completely. A number of people would blame it on the notion that "everything happens for a reason." You encounter certain people, deal with certain circumstances, and have certain failures for God-given reasons that may be out of our human control. Others believe more in the idea of free will, in which every move an individual makes is interrelated to how their life situations turn out. In otherwords, we control our destinies. Whatever you believe, the idea of "what-ifs" and "going left instead of right" always has, and probably always will fascinate me. When I take a prime example in my life, my best friend and college roommate Rachael, I always can't help but wonder about the "what-ifs" that involves itself in our relationship, or if the "what-ifs" scenario is inferior to a greater being determining our fate.

For four years while at college, Rachael and I always pondered this idea. It all started with being freshmen roommates. Upon entering JMU as a freshman, one must fill out a survey, although not too detailed, that summarizes their lifestyle. Whether you are clean, messy, or somewhere in between. Whether you are a smoker, a non-smoker, or even a non-smoker who doesn't mind being around smoke. Whether you study in complete quiet, study with noise, or can be content with a medium between the two. We especially liked to juggle the "what-ifs" with this simple survey that took us a painless twenty minutes to complete and submit to JMU to be placed with a roommate, and potential life-long friend. "What if that day when I filled out the survey I was feeling somewhat unorganized and I reflected that onto my answer," I asked Rachael. "That one different answer could have meant we would have never been roommates, and if you think about it there's a possibility we could have never met." Rachael said. "What! Why do you believe we could have never met? That's awful to think about," I quickly and anxiously replied. Then it hit me. We had different majors - I started out in marketing and she started out (and continued) with chemistry. Even when we went to join clubs later on that year we realized that we wanted to pursue different organizations. We shared dorm friends, but besides that, our good friendships developed mostly with those inside of our classes and clubs.

Four years later, and continuous best friends throughout it all, we still ask ourselves the same questions. Just what if? Or instead, was this destined to happen since it was out of our control? We may never know... and that uncertain facet of life intrigues me.

McCain - Palin

2008-08-29T14:14:00.010-04:00

“Sarah Barracuda” was the name given to her by her high school classmates. She was born in Idaho but grew up in the hunting, gun-shooting, fishing wilderness of Alaska. She has five kids. She’s the first female Governor of her state. She’s confronted and fought corruption face to face. She is the first Republican female Vice Presidential nominee. She, Sarah Palin, is John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 election.

This morning when the news first broke, I initially held different thoughts about his decision, and was willing to clap my hands for what McCain had done in my mind to merely give the election to Obama by choosing this inexperienced candidate. That thought disappeared minutes into her acceptance speech when I saw the public reaction that seemed to give the GOP a positive roar of excitement. However, I was still skeptical.

Let’s first discuss why McCain picked Palin. To start, he definitely needs to persuade swing voters and shake off the preconceived notion that he will not be more of the same. Secondly, after gender has played a role in this election, with a major following of Senator Hillary Clinton until she dropped out of the race. Palin may have solidified her party and the indecisive voters because it showed the Republicans weren’t scared to elect a woman. But what she doesn’t have is a long resume of national experience, which the GOP has often criticized Obama for lacking. In all fairness, I do think it was a very strategic move to choose Palin for purposes of capturing voters, sparking excitement, and closing gender gaps for winning the campaign. However, is this really fair to the country to put one of the most inexperienced candidates as second in line to our Commander in Chief?

This question has had me going back and forth over whether McCain really had the interest of the county in mind or just the interest of winning the campaign in his favor. Because all too often we become enthralled and inspired by the idea of the individual and forget that their experience, ideals, and leadership ability will have to carry our country through prosperous and devastating times. Many have responded by saying that Palin has made the campaign more exciting for the GOP, but I have to ask why? It’s not because she brings more experience as I have touched on already, nor does she bring a credible background of dealing with national issues, which the McCain campaign harped upon Obama for lacking as the center theme of his campaign in recent months. I am afraid people feel this excitement for all the wrong reasons – because she is a woman, she is an unknown, and the decision itself was completely unexpected. These are not good enough reasons for me to thank McCain for making the Republican ticket ‘stronger.’ He may be able to lever this to win the campaign battle, but the question is whether or not the two of them together can win the war of four years in office.

On the contrary, although I do sit on the left side, I do realize that it seems many have been backing Obama for all the wrong reasons as well. And for this, I reach out to the American people to beg of them to pay attention to the issues at hand and not the historical significance whether it is a woman vice president or a black president. Don’t vote for the individual personality, vote for their ability to turn this country into a positive direction.

I find that Palin does have an appeal about her that makes her very likeable. She is a child of the middle class, an avid ice fishermen and moose hunter who can relate to a population that most people cannot. She has a son about to deploy to Iraq and has a family of five children. She brings more of a “close to home” appeal than most politicians. I certainly can’t say I do not like her, but I am still skeptical that despite her likeability factor, she just isn’t ready to make the leap from Juneau to Washington. Overall, we cannot help but feel somewhat empathetic to the courageous Mother and hard working woman that Palin is. But when it comes to John McCain's famous appeal of "country first," did he really live by his own words and put the country first by making this choice?

Obama - Biden

2008-08-29T14:04:00.006-04:00

I received the news unexpectedly on Saturday morning around 3:45 am via text message. The text was sent from Obama’s campaign announcing that Presidential candidate Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate.

On a personal level, Senator Joe Biden is a 65 year old, giving him nearly 20 years more in age than Obama. Senator Biden is currently serving his sixth term in the senate, making him Delaware’s longest serving senator. He was born and raised in the town of Scranton, Pennsylvania to a working class family where he was raised Roman Catholic, all before moving to Delaware, where he currently resides. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Delaware and went on to receive his Juris Doctor (JD) from Syracuse University College of Law. Tragically, in 1972, his first wife and infant daughter were killed in an automobile accident. At the time he was running for senate, and he almost decided to not take a seat so he could care for his two sons who were also injured in the accident. He was persuaded to still take a seat in the senate and was sworn in at their bedside. He also suffered from a brain aneurysm and nearly lost his life.

Personally, I was ecstatic because I knew that this choice was a positive move for Obama, considering Biden's working class roots and his foreign policy experience. Senator Joe Biden is a congressional veteran whose strengths will counterbalance the lack of experience that critics say Obama does not have. Mr. Biden's strengths include his familiarity with foreign policy and national security issues, which were highlighted a few weeks ago by an invitation he received from embattled President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, to visit Georgia in the midst of its tense face-off with Russia. He is the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee, which brings even more credibility and strength to the campaign.

The only major drawback noted of Biden is his notorious “off the cuff” speaking that has often led him to making troublesome statements. Originally, he was running his own campaign for Presidency in 2007 when he declared that Obama was "not yet ready" for the presidency. These are among other, harsher remarks he spoke of Obama prior to being chosen as his running mate and has received criticism for.

In selecting Senator Biden, Obama did pass over other highly regarded and credentialed options to be his running mate. The most noted of these was former rival Hillary Clinton. Many have viewed his decision to not choose her as both very strategic and just plain ignorant. Either way you choose to look the handling of Clinton, his decision to choose Biden has given the party the depth it needed in the areas that the GOP had previously argued it was weakest in. And to top it all off, Obama’s top advisers believe that he appears by every measure prepared to take over as President, which is a reassuring element to the American people as second in line to Commander in Chief.

Thoughts For Today

2008-08-21T19:18:00.002-04:00

Happiness is a choice
Luck is where preparation meets opportunity
You are what you have learned from the past, what you experience today, and what you dream for tomorrow
The best things in life aren't things
Take time to laugh, it's the music of the soul
Everyone smiles in the same language
An open mind opens the opportunity of dropping a worthwhile thought into it
A soft answer turneth away wrath
Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful
Minds are like parachutes, they only function when open
If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it
We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails
Life is hard by the yard, but by the inch it is a cinch
He who laughs...lasts
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything
It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow
Kindness is like a boomerang, it always returns
Thoughtfulness is to friendship as to sunshine is to a garden
He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love
Some people make the world more special just by being in it
Pray for a good harvest, but continue to hoe
When you become reluctant to change, remind yourself of the beauty of autumn
Politeness is a small price to pay for the good will and affection of others
A memory is a treasure that survives

Beijing Olympics 2008

2008-08-15T19:22:00.005-04:00

08.08.08. The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. We all watched the grand display of China's prosperity over the past few decades, through its well choreographed dancing, drum playing, light show, and fireworks. All the way to the athlete who ran "in the air" at the top of the Bird's Nest to ignite the Olympic flame, and ultimately, mark the official beginning of the Beijing Olympics.

The opening ceremony in itself was remarkable. The symbolism behind the show was awe-inspiring, as it showed different periods in Chinese history. Although there has been much controversy over the support of these games due to Chinese relations within Darfur and Tibet, which we should undoubtedly NOT forget about, the games still went on with hopes of world harmony and unity. The 2008 Olympic games continued the tradition of the Olympic Motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius. "Faster, Higher, Stronger."

To me the Olympics always seems to be fascinating. An official event that brings together the world in one city, seventeen days (more or less in some years), and countless effort. But with each day during the games, athletes bring their pride and honor to represent their respective countries with great dignity in hopes of bringing home a distinction of the world's best athleticism. While we all know the world is full of fighting and disengagement from one another, these 17 days bring about a sphere of influence on our pessimistic minds. During these 17 days we are able to visualize a world in which we can live and compete as friends and neighbors, and not as enemies. If only we could bring this utopia type of world outside of the Olympic arena and into our everyday lives.

2008 Campaign Ads Turn Negative

2008-08-02T09:15:00.009-04:00

Over the past few weeks, the race for the White House has officially turned negative. The McCain campaign has released a negative and controversial ad slamming Barack Obama for his fame and lack of leadership ability. The ad, as many of you have seen, compares Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Why? The McCain campaign believes that Barack Obama is more interested in building international rapport and gaining fame, instead of running a campaign for President. Some have even gone as far as to say that Obama's approach to this campaign seems more like he is promoting a movie than trying to gain support for his leadership. They try to portray him as someone who is very aloof and still unknown to the American people, despite his great fame. They attempt to attack that sense of "unknown" by defining Obama through the definition of their own terms in order to target those American voters who remain indecisive.

Luckily thus far, Obama's campaign has decided to take the high road and not return the negative favor. Sure, the ad will gain great attention, but some view it as an ad that is beneath McCain and his belief in honor, and that it will only backfire on his campaign and what he stands for. This also shows signs that the McCain campaign has changed their strategy in the three months prior to the upcoming election. Could this be a tactic to show that the McCain campaign is worrisome that Obama has gained such grandiose attention in the political arena to the point of needing to attack his worldwide recognition and display it in a negative light?

Personally, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Barack Obama on the same continuum? In recognition, yes, but it stops there. The ad is correct in the sense that he has ever increasing popularity in a "hollywood" sense to the American people, but he is someone with dignity, strong leadership, and ideals that Paris and Britney couldn't even put a finger on. To compare him with the likes of Spears and Hilton is just a pathetic attempt for McCain's campaign to take the limelight off of his weak economic policies (which is one of the most important issues in the current election) and his lack of an ultra conservative stronghold in politics. And for someone who is such an aficionado about honor and dignity through his military pride, he may have just lost his by striking a new low in the campaign. Stick to the issues and your personal beliefs John McCain - stray away from those and it shows weakness and inconsistency.

One definite and agreed upon aspect about this ad is that it will create a forum for discussion and perhaps even spark more fire into those who remain undecided about their candidate choices. While ads like this may be negative, they are at the heart of the modern Presidential campaign, and ignite great debate via one of our country's greatest freedoms - freedom of speech. You watch the video above and decide for yourself what it means to you and how it makes you feel.

Hate, Hope, and Healing

2008-07-14T21:53:00.012-04:00

Hate.
In the Fall of 2006, I researched possible study abroad trips to go on in the upcoming Summer. My eyes flashed at the likes of going to Romance language territories such as Italy, or Spain. Or even our mother country, in hopes of understanding the culture that ours so closely bores its resemblance to and that we were once apart of. However, I finally reached a trip that as soon as I read over the description and the destinations, I immediately knew it was the one I wanted. Seventeen days, four countries, two classes. Hungary, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Why did I choose this one? Because it was out of the ordinary. Not that I am downplaying the typical countries many students embark upon during study abroad atrips, but even the thought of going to a country with a slavic language in itself was intriguing. It included destinations that most students would overlook, and I LOVED the idea that I can go there, because these countries too, do have fascinating stories to tell.

The trip occurred during May 2007 and our first stop was to a terror museum in Budapest, Hungary. Budapest happened to be part of the Nazi occupied territory prior to World War II, where thousands were literally trapped inside the city and persecuted. The museum displayed torture rooms, stories of pain and execution, and images that would make your worst pain feel like a warm breeze. On the first day, and the first stop, I was already completely in shock.

Then there was the shoe memorial that lined the Danube River within the city of Budapest - the river that originally split the city into two separate entities of Buda and Pest. Our tour guide Arthur told us that the Nazis would force their prisoners to line up on the bank of the river, and they would make them take off their shoes before killing them, usually by shooting them into the water. He said that some would hopelessly try to escape by swimming across the frigid waters, but most were shot down and killed. I looked at the Danube that day and I no longer saw the sparkle of the sun on the water in May, I saw blood.

The most touching and alarming of all the visits in my mind was a day excursion we took to Mauthausen Concentration Camp in the rural parts of Austria. Now, I have been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. when I was younger but this was the real deal, cliches aside. It was the setting of thousands of lost lives put through perilous and merciless torture and death, all within the confines of warehouses set by a backdrop of a beautiful Austrian countryside. I was numb. We first traveled inside of the camps and walked through the cell chambers. I saw more blood. This time I could physically see it though, as the sixty years that had passed had not done much to rid the stained walls of the painful reminder. We saw the gas chamber rooms, the small cells where they all packed into rooms to live, if we can even call that living. This was undeniably the most horrifying site I have visited, yet alone saw, smelled, or felt, in my entire life. And it wasn't over yet. The tour guide led us outside to only present us with another terrifying piece of such a hateful puzzle. He took us to the cliff overlooking a small, and wondrous, shallow body of water below. He told us that prisoners were forced to push each other off of the edge to their gruesome fates below, as the Nazis watched in laughter and amusement. How could death ever be so comical? We then quickly noticed to the right an exceedingly steep set of stairs that curved almost around the gates of hell before finally reaching the bottom below. I, myself, am not too afraid of heights, but I felt extremely uncomfortable walking at the slowest pace down these stairs. We finally reached the bottom before our guide spoke any word to us about the significance of these stairs. Hindsight, he probably wanted us to hear nothing but silence, so we could literally feel the presence of prisoners walking down these stairs sixty years before us. I looked up in awe, as the stairs seemed infinite. To our right now was the cliff that bore a drastic and lengthy fall to the water below. Behind us was a watch tower. The serenity of the surroundings mixed with the creepiness of the immediate area sent chills up my spine. These people were prisoners of their own kind. Other humans trapped them. Other humans prevented them from living free in the beautiful countryside that lurked beyond the camp. The story was that the Nazis would drive trucks near the bottom of the stairs where they would unload bricks and stones. These heavy 'burdens' had to be carried by the prisoners up the endless flight of stairs. Unfortunately, they would pack thousands of prisoners against each other while doing so. The purpose was the likelihood that a few would inevitably lose their footing, thus causing a domino effect and sending others to their deaths. The prisoners had to make this ill-fated climb on a diet of one tablespoon of food every three days, making it even more difficult for them to stand their ground while carrying heavy weight. As we headed back up the stairs, I took step by step into thought, trying to imagine the pain and fear that they endured, especially after hearing the full story. For me it was a tour and I had been well fed, but for them it was relentless cruelty placed on their innocent lives. Not only was I more thankful for my life, but this gave me a new appreciation for an even simple and dauntless task of having to walk up a flight of stairs.

Hope.
We experienced so much of the history of hatred on our trip, yet what was most intriguing to me were the survival stories. Hearing our Jewish tour guide at the Synagogue in Budapest tell us stories of what people did to survive, and how they came together, surpassed any heartwarming life saving stories I have ever heard. And not only did they live for the day when they were free from Nazi occupation, but they gave hope to their country and went on to experience a transformation of individual and country. After seeing the excruciating sites at Mauthausen, we walked further into the museum site and found stories of hope. On the walls bore stories of survivors who broke free after the camp was liberated, and went on to be devoted citizens and promote peace and raise families. These stories are the ones we want to remember - the ones we want to picture in our minds when we think of these countries. But we cannot forget the stories of persecution and victimization that burn a hole into our hearts, because they are the background for what made these countries stronger and wiser.

Healing.
Today the countries I visited have luckily flourished after such a horrifying period in history and have evolved into developed nations, for the most part. They are free of mass killings and their citizens are able to live freely and without such grandiose fear. This gives the rest of the world the hope that they too can heal from war, genocide, and hate. If anything, my experience that I am sharing with you should encourage you to read, research, or and/or go visit places such as these. I really used this trip as a personal revelation - a moment where my rose colored glasses were put aside, and I realized I had been blinded from this history of persecution, which ultimately had an impact on every one of us regardless of race and background. This trip did confirm my belief that it is truly difficult to empathize with the unfortunate events that others have gone through, and currently go through, until you physically see it. Coming from a citizen of the most powerful country in the world, a country where I can be anything depending on the level of effort I devote, it is easy to forget others misfortunes. And after seeing the stained blood on the walls of Mauthausen, and the layout of the shoes where young men and women such as myself once stood alive before being shot to their deaths, it gave me a new outlook on the world around me. Not only did this trip teach me to be more understanding of the history behind other cultures, it taught me to be more accepting and open to each and every individual from a different background. The quote that we are familiar with says it best "be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."

Bird's Eye View of History

2008-07-14T21:36:00.008-04:00

Written from the plane on July 6, 2008

I sit here on an airplane on my way back from Connecticut, high above white clouds, and thousands of miles away from civilization. I take a look down below, with the wing of the plane in my peripheral, and ponder the pioneers of innovation in my head. Have you ever seen the movie Aviator about the life of Howard Hughes? Or taken a trip to the Orville and Wilbur Wright Memorial? Yes, those guys gave me the astonishingly beautiful bird's eye view from up here.

But as I think of them I can't help but to advance further back in time to people who produced the materials to help them even build such a structure. Or even further. The ones who constructed governments and gave us an organized way of maintaining trade and commerce to obtain such materials. And then further to the world renowned navigators who explored distant lands and brought civilization together, which enabled us to make such exchanges.

Absolutely fascinating. These men and women have lived in the same world as all of us, only at different times. They have breathed this air, walked this ground, and have dreamed upon the same stars that we dream. To think that I could have been alive at the time of Ferdinand Magellan, William Shakespeare, Marie Curie, George Washington, Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Augustus Caesar, or Benjamin Franklin? They all have impacted this earth with either their oration, their innovation, their thoughts, their intelligence, their dedication, or their dignity. And that leaves me asking myself what am I going to do to give humanity a gift as wonderful as they did? How can I have such an impact? I love the endless possibilities in the future and I respect all those before me.

Why Traveling is Necessary

2008-07-14T21:23:00.008-04:00

In today's time, we think, hear, see, feel, and act in a global context. This is due to the inevitable impact that technological advances have had on mass communication. What a Western Union telegram would take a week to send news within the U.S. can now be relayed on the internet and across borders within seconds. It is an exciting time to live through such a transformation, but along with it comes an inherent sense of global responsibility.

What I mean by global responsibility is that we now have access to knowledge that was previously unknown to us. Especially after World War I, and further World War II, there was a technological spur that has enabled our world to become more and more interconnected. Globalization has transformed and shaped our world in a manner where Thomas Friedman could proudly say "The World is Flat." Therefore, because lines and boundaries have flattened between societies in respect to communication, we are able to see what is happening all around us, and gather knowledge in a global sense. We know that Genocide is occurring in Darfur, that there are terrorist cells in Afghanistan, hostages who are being held in Colombia. So what do we do with that knowledge? As a whole, we have a global responsibility to take this knowledge and use peaceful means to better our world.

However, it isn't that easy to convince people of this global responsibility as of yet. Many still have a nationalistic approach of self and own country, but in this age, we should be acting as collectively as citizens of the world in order to assist each other. This doesn't mean that one should give up it's identity of country, but instead that they should acknowledge the evident presence of others and their struggles, and do their best to give succor if at all possible.

This leads me to the necessity of travel. I am going to go out on a limb and say those who have embarked on travels to other parts of the world, especially poorer countries, would agree with me on this stance. And why? Because they have seen it for themselves. And for those who haven't, psychologists have even said it is hard sometimes for individuals to fathom or feel personally effected by events in other countries enough to take action. This is due to the difficulty that humans have in empathizing unless they have physically seen it occur or have been a part of it.

So next time you wish to travel somewhere, go to another country. See their cultural beauty, as well as their defaults, and appreciate it. Learn from it and it will open your eyes. Maybe then people will realize that there are others who are worse off and it will teach them to be more accepting and grateful of one's own self, and others who live across the world.

Diplomacy or War?

2008-07-13T12:05:00.006-04:00

On Wednesday, July 9, the morning news brought about word that Iran had conducted a test firing of missiles as a result of recent "threats" it believes to be receiving from the U.S. and Israel.

Several missiles were tested including the new Shahab-3 missile, which is capable of reaching the Israel region. Tensions between Iran and the U.S. & Israel sparked from suspicion of Iran's Uranium enrichment program for the use of nuclear weapons. Iran's defense is that it is solely using the enrichment program for producing energy. Although world powers have offered negotiations in exchange for the halting of the program, Iran replies that it will continue on because it has the right to do so.

Last month in June, Israel conducted a military exercise in part to display its capability of attacking Iran's nuclear program.

As of now, Iran's President remarks that the country is making all efforts to extend peace. However, tensions between world powers and Iran remain, which we can only hope subsides in the near future and does not escalate into war.

Living Life with Death

2008-06-15T08:52:00.011-04:00

Being a huge fan of Oprah, I usually find myself watching her show on weekday afternoons at 4pm. And this past Tuesday that is exactly what I did, and I am thankful for catching such an astonishing episode. The theme of the show was centered around two people who know they are sick and literally dying, and what they are doing about it. We all face death, but the subject matter seems too morbid and scary for most people to discuss in the open. What would you do if you were faced with your mortality?

The first was a young woman named Kris with a rare form of cancer. She was beautiful and had a great sense of humor. She had a drive to tackle her sickness and let her learn about life along the way, and recorded video of it throughout. Kris sought out ways in which she could find alternative therapy through eating healthier and practicing yoga. How does she maintain such a positive outlook? She says she focuses on the moment of living rather than on dying. "How do you live your life with the knowledge of cancer? I might not be able to get rid of it, but I can't let that ruin my life." And on top of it all, she even got married while she was ill and had no regrets about it. She said her and her husband agreed that "None of us know how long we have, so let's go. We love each other and we're an awesome team." To me, this defines what is absolutely beautiful and fascinating about life. But Kris didn't stop with the words of inspiration there. She left by saying that "I think just go for it. Life is a terminal condition. We're all going to die. Cancer patients might have more information, but we all, in some ways, wait for that great permission to live."

The second was Dr. Randy Pausch, a male professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and married father of three children. He is also dying and suffering from pancreatic cancer. Doctors told him he has only a few months to live. Back in September 2007, Dr. Pausch gave his last lecture to his students at Carnegie Mellon. I decided to include the video of the lecture on here so you can see for yourself just how powerful this message is about achieving life when someone is faced with death. Enjoy his last lecture and take every word in.

In light of the holiday today, I wanted to say Happy Father's Day to Dr. Pausch and Tim Russert for being loving fathers to their children, as well as inspirations. And also Happy Father's Day to my Dad for being my own personal hero.

A Revolutionary Man

2008-06-14T23:38:00.006-04:00

A friend, father, husband, journalist, devout catholic, and overall hero. Tim Russert, 58, shocked the country yesterday when he suddenly passed away at his NBC office. His autopsy reports show that his passing was due to an enlarged heart and cholesterol plaque that had ruptured an artery.

Tim Russert was well known for his Sunday morning TV show "Meet the Press," which revolutionized political television. He was full of passion about talking politics with anyone and everyone, and infusing it into the American media. I do remember that every Sunday for the past several years, I would wake up to my Mother watching his Sunday morning show. I often found her sitting in front of the TV shouting "I would vote for Tim Russert if he ran for President!" After the news of his death broke out yesterday, she reminded me of his famous "White Board" that he introduced during the 2000 Presidential election, and we both laughed and shared other memories we had of him through television.

He truly did touch thousands of individuals by provoking healthy debate into the political arena and setting many standards in political journalism within Washington. Tim Russert was viewed with the highest respect and admiration, and will truly be missed by all. He was even named in TIME Magazine for 2008 as one of the top 100 most influential people.

He leaves a legacy of greatness in not only the political and media worlds, but through his devotion as a husband and father. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and anyone who was inspired and touched by the words and wisdom of Tim Russert.

McCain's VP Decision Still Vital

2008-06-10T14:10:00.008-04:00

As we have seen the spotlight on Barack Obama following his monumental win and the concession of Hillary Clinton, we cannot forget about John McCain. His decision as to which running mate will be chosen is just as important in order to give him a strong campaign. While Obama's upcoming decision has been viewed as a make or break moment for the democratic party, McCain's will still be an intriguing one for the upcoming election.

Many people have firm beliefs that McCain needs to choose someone young and charismatic with a strong conservative base (something McCain has received flack over), as well as significant party recognition. While several people have inferred the likes of Charlie Crist for the job, he lacks this very need for someone who is fiscally conservative to the ticket. Fortunately, there are possible candidates to fit this very profile, and it could very well be Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty, or South Carolina's Mark Sanford.

However, other Republicans wish for McCain to choose a candidate that was previously part of the Republican race, such as Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney. Mike Huckabee could add possible value by drawing in the evangelicals, although his economic track record isn't too glamorous. Mitt Romney on the other hand, could add value because of his experience as a CEO, which gives him an economic edge over others. The reason for this is many of these former Presidential hopefuls have strong points that McCain seems to lack, and they could help bring balance to the Republican party and make the campaign stand even stronger.

A Monumental Time in American Politics

2008-06-10T13:57:00.003-04:00

One week ago, June 3, 2008, marked the end of the longest primary battle in United States history. But it doesn't stop there. On that night, Barack Obama became the first African-American ever to win the Presidential nomination for a major party.

The race for the White House between the two Democratic Nominees has proven to be a outright bloodbath between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Supporters of each of the two candidates are die-hard, brutal, and very loyal to their respective candidates. But now that Hillary Clinton has officially announced that she has conceded from the race, two vital questions remain unanswered. Will her supporters back Obama and who will Obama choose as his running mate?

Hillary Clinton has now turned her focus to pressing her supporters to support the official democratic nominee for President. According to CNN.com in a poll released Friday, "60 percent of Clinton supporters said they would vote for Obama, but 17 percent said they would vote for McCain and 22 percent, said they would not vote at all if Clinton were not the nominee." I admire Clinton's vow to strive for a democratic White House by doing whatever in her power to defeat John McCain in the upcoming election. Therefore, if the democrats wish to take the White House, they will most likely need to listen closely to the Senator's words and unify the party by backing Obama, regardless of their original intentions.But just maybe her supporters won't need such a strong persuasion to support Obama if she is chosen as his running mate in the Presidential election. According to CNN.com, and a recent national poll, "Fifty-four percent of registered Democrats questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Friday think Obama should name his rival as his running mate; 43 percent disagreed." For the majority of democratic voters, they do wish for Hillary Clinton to be named to his ticket. And if this plays out, all of her die-hard supporters will likely give Obama a strong and united democratic backing for his upcoming contest with the Republican nominee, John McCain. Many of Clinton's top supporters have announced that if Obama wants the 18 million votes of Hillary Clinton to back him, then it is almost necessary for him to add her to the ticket. But not everyone sees the Obama-Clinton ticket as a dream ticket, including Former President Jimmy Carter, when he said that would be "the worst mistake that could be made."

The decision of Clinton's supporters to unify or to not unify the party by remaining loyal to the democrats, regardless of Clinton's concession to the race, is a vital one for Barack Obama's campaign. And his decision of who to add as his running mate is just as vital. These two important factors of the race that will be decided in the near future will quite possibly have a major impact on how the entire Presidential election turns out.

Thank You JMU

2008-05-05T18:21:00.015-04:00

After taking nearly a month off from writing on my blog, I decided to take this time to focus on spending as much time as possible on my final moments of my college career. Whether it was my academics, being involved in senior activities, or cherishing my last moments with best friends, I made sure I didn't miss a beat. As I threw my cap into the air this past Saturday afternoon at Graduation, I encompassed a mixture of emotions that is familiar to almost every graduate of a place where one finds attachment to. I loved every aspect of James Madison University, and everyday my Mother reminds me of the decision I almost made to go elsewhere during my college search. Yes, most likely I would have had a wonderful experience wherever I went just because of the flexible and open individual I am, but to me there is still something about this institution that sets it far apart from any other. I may be bias, but from experience, I have seen and heard that JMU offers a sense of pride, camaraderie, and overall genuine atmosphere that cannot be duplicated at most other colleges. I am 100% proud to say I just graduated from one of the finest institutions in the country. It may not be a Harvard or a Yale, but its overall balance of classroom academics and outside involvement in activities definitely puts it a step ahead of the finest academic universities out there. Thank you James Madison University for the greatest learning experiences of my life thus far, whether it was in the classroom or outside of it. This institution provided me with every resource to help me discover and mold myself into the individual I am today.

As I sit here the Monday following my Graduation, I can't help but wonder what the next step of my life will be. I am venturing into the seas of the unknown shortly, and will have to make tough decisions that will impact my life at least for the near future. I am currently unemployed and have been searching for a job over the last semester here at JMU. However, I am very selective in the type of company I want to work for, and the type of work I wish to be doing. My goals in life stand as is and I will not let any company take those or alter those from me. In the next few months, I hope to find a career that fits me, and from there the rest is for me to write. But for now, I am sitting here still surrounding myself by the beautiful mountains of Harrisonburg, with a few friends who stuck around, to enjoy our last bit of living in this life that we have endured for the past four years. Someone once said that all good things come to an end, and for me this has definitely been a good thing that has ended. Although I have shed several tears over leaving this place, I know I have plenty of chapters in my life ahead of me, which is the beauty of life. There is so much unknown in life and that alone is something that excites me. I cannot wait to jump on the new ship into those unknown seas and go exploring. For anyone out there who is going through the closure of a chapter in your life, remember that the only thing you can do is to stay positive and look ahead. Tell yourself that you are not only ready for whatever life has to offer you, but you are ready to give life all that you have to offer.

So here's to my friends, family, and to James Madison University - I am forever indebted to you. Thank YOU for this experience.

Olympics 2008 - Harmony or Divergence?

2008-04-07T10:32:00.010-04:00

China

has been placed in the international spotlight after being criticized because of its role in

Tibet

and also that of Darfur, as I posted about previously. The

U.S.

and other countries have called on

China

to provide civil rights and freedoms to those in

Tibet

and to enter peaceful discussions aimed at resolving the crisis there, as well as in the continual genocide occurring in Darfur. Since

China

is the host of the Olympic Games this summer, protestors have been using the games as collateral for their demonstrations. Today in Paris, these demonstrations interrupted the movement of the Olympic torch relay. The demonstrations forced authorities to have to extinguish the flame of the torch on two different occasions, and eventually place it on a bus, according to the Associated Press. It has been reported that the relay has now resumed the carrying of the torch but there still remains some confrontations between the protestors and authorities. It has also been reported that the police have taken protestors away from the scene and even have resorted to tear gas on those demonstrators who were purposely blocking the route of the Olympic torch. The scene around the Olympic torch bearers have been described of being encircled by several hundred police officers, some in vehicles and on motorcycles, others on rollerblades and on foot. Even the mayor of Paris ordered a banner to be displayed over City Hall that says "Paris City of Human Rights." These demonstrations today come after yesterday’s demonstrations in London, where several arrests were made against the protestors. One demonstrator even attempted to snatch the torch away from the torch bearer. Although it seemed as though it was a day filled of riot against the Olympics, it was reported that thousands also came out to welcome the torch and support the Olympics.

My concern with this is the two sides of the argument that are both reasonable and imperative. At one end of the spectrum, dignity is being stripped away from the athletes of the world by turning the games into nothing more than a political statement. The Olympic Games are about world unity and peace between countries, so to bring the outside fragmented political world into these peaceful games would degrade the entire foundation of what the Olympics is built upon. Yes, China does have a poor history when it comes to human rights and action should be taken against them to pressure them to change that. But to attack the torch is the same as attacking the athletes who carry it and the very Olympic ideal, not China’s human rights record. If politics enters these Olympic Games, they may never be the same, as these games will allow for use of political matters in future Olympic Games as well. And on the other end, this might be the most important method of reaching the Chinese government in taking action to alleviate the distress within Tibet and Darfur. While it is difficult to outweigh the pros of leaving politics out of the games altogether, many believe that doing so in the face of controversy will ignite hotter flames in the eyes of China, ultimately forcing them to move in the direction of peace for Tibet and Darfur.

What do I think? I think people should seize this opportunity to let China know that the world is outraged. Do not let China get away with such political apathy of its responsibilities while the spotlight is on them, but do not go as far as to completely usurp the very honor and respect of other global athletes and their countries. Speak out and speak loud against China, but be careful and gentle to the idealism behind the Olympic Games.

Life is Good

2008-04-05T14:16:00.003-04:00

888 Reasons Why - by Amy Hall
That is the title to a small, yet enlightening book that gives us 888 reasons for why we should enjoy life. I noticed this book stuck in between a best selling novel and a textbook on the bookshelf in the basement of my house, where my sister keeps all of her books. As soon as I flipped through the pages and picked out certain tidbits, I immediately smiled and remembered why life is so wonderful, despite any pitfalls. I asked my sister to please let me borrow it and have it had at school with me ever since. This book is a reminder for us all to smile at the little things in life, even when much bigger problems have burdened us. I am going to share with you a few reasons included in the book, so you can remember these little joys when life seems overwhelming.

Reason 3: No line at the grocery store when your cart is full
Reason 55: Deliberating what cloud shapes look like
Reason 108: The wonderful surprise of receiving a funny card from a friend
Reason 175: The perfect cotton-soft inside of a new sweatshirt
Reason 206: Letting snowflakes fall on your tongue
Reason 252: Evening walks
Reason 272: The fireplace that warms your back
Reason 317: Swimming at nighttime in the darkness and admiring the stars while floating in the water
Reason 392: Soft-serve chocolate ice cream in crunchy cones
Reason 437: The smell of fresh pine needles
Reason 460: The freedom to express yourself
Reason 483: The giraffe- you just gotta laugh when you really look at one
Reason 530: Boys and girls in those tennis shoes that showcase blinky red lights when they run
Reason 591: Bazooka gum cartoons
Reason 642: Succumbing to the temptation of a crunchy funnel cake at the amusement park
Reason 678: The way your muscles tingle and burn after a really good workout with weights
Reason 724: How groups of people do the universal moves of the "YMCA" dance together
Reason 773: The pleasant tone of the doorbell when you're expecting a friend
Reason 789: The neighborhood smoothie shop
Reason 848: The funny souls who cover their cars with bumper stickers
Reason 883: Shadow-puppet theater on bedroom walls

Enjoy life. Smile :)

Stop Loss & VA, The War in Iraq

2008-03-31T12:47:00.016-04:00

Stop Loss & The VA System
I saw the movie Stop-Loss last night and despite the plot of the movie, I was concerned mostly about the issues. The idea behind the movie, stop-loss orders issued by the government, intrigues me quite a bit. This intrigues me because it gives the military the right to order back into duty a member of the military who has already served active time. Yes, this may be necessary since we do not have a draft and casualties are climbing, requiring more manpower, but lets look at the overall picture. By doing this, the government is "backdoor drafting" these fine young men and women, who have already been through the rings of hell in Iraq. As I said previously, they are being placed back into the line of duty because of existing situations that require a certain number of soldiers active over in Iraq. The ability for the government to do this not only disturbing in itself, but so are the repercussions that have followed. We cannot use and abuse our voluntary system of military with these orders, and then not give proper treatment to the men and women upon their return home from war, often injured mentally and/or physically. I wrote last month about the VA (Veterans Affairs organization) and how they improperly handled my Grandfather's situation when he was gravely ill earlier this year. He was elderly, but he did serve in the biggest battles during World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Normandy. He was wounded while on duty, and came back to endure difficult post-war years burdened by alcoholism and other family issues. Can you blame any veteran for suffering from such ill-fated problems after they are shipped back from war? I have not been there so I cannot explain or fathom the extent to which they hear, see, or feel pain. But I have read, watched movies, and talked to veterans, and through their words I have empathized with them. I have empathized with the bravery they devoted to our country while at war, only to return home in worse condition than they were beforehand, and no one gives a damn except their families and friends. If we are going to continue to stop-loss our soldiers, then we better have the best care given to these men and women upon their return home to our land of the free and the brave. And we better make sure that we are giving them the same opportunities to live post-war, as they have been giving us through the various wars they have fought in to protect and preserve our freedom.

Glory

2008-03-23T15:56:00.013-04:00

Glory is the best film I have seen about the Civil War thus far, and undoubtedly a new personal favorite of mine. This movie prides itself as an instant classic that captures a much unknown aspect of our very own Civil War, which our history classes often fail to inform us about.

The movie is based on the letters of Colonel Robert G. Shaw (Matthew Broderick), an officer in the Federal Army during the American Civil War. He volunteers to lead the 54th all African-American Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Faced with much opposition in letting his army actually fight on the battlefield, Colonel Shaw does everything he can to prepare his men for battle and make sure they can proudly show their honor of being part of the army. Their training and fighting eventually leads up to the final assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Their heroic actions take them as the 1st regiment into the Fort, presuming they will face the toughest fighting. This not only brought recognition to African-American soldiers at the time, but it helped turned the tide of the war. The 54th regiment wasn't any ordinary regiment, it was full of men with dignity and the willingness to go to great lengths to fight for what they believed in. And that is just what they did.

This movie is going to be added to my list of movies of profound impact because it is a true story in a time of war. As long as you can get past the 1989 quality of the movie, it is a very enchanting historical account of African-American men who will do anything to fight for their freedom, show their courage, and prove themselves to be just as good of soldiers as the Whites. It reminds us that there is so much for us to learn out there about our history as a human race that is not readily available to us. Although it was during a time of brother fighting against brother, it does show that it is possible for individuals, despite race or background, to rise up and unify together to reach a common goal. We can learn from these displays of unification, and adapt them into our current thinking to ensure we aren't blinded by the boundaries that often divide us.

To make matters even better, Matthew Broderick isn't the only wonderful and immensely fascinating performance seen in the movie. Two other well-known and award-winning actors play prominent roles in this movie, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. In conclusion, I recommend Glory with the utmost anticipation that every movie-watcher and/or history buff will thoroughly enjoy it.

Beijing 2008 - Where Sport and Political Arenas Collide

2008-03-22T14:29:00.016-04:00

There have been recent reports stating that

China

announced 19 people died in riots in the Tibetan capital last week and there is much worry about the unrest spreading into other regions. With

China

’s handling of the unrest in

Tibet

in recent weeks, it has received much international attention. A major concern revolving around

China

is the much anticipated 2008 Olympic Games, which will take place in the capital of Beijing in August. The Olympic Games that represent global unity through sporting events between numerous countries, won’t be able to mask the behind the scenes reality that places

China

in the hot seat. While any Nation who has the capability of helping Darfur, and the will to do so, should step in,

China

has a special and significant obligation to

Sudan

. Unfortunately, after five years of constant conflict, they have not done much to show for it. The country has a responsibility to aid in the crisis of Darfur, as it is the country of

Sudan

’s closest economic, military, and diplomatic ally. So if the country of

Sudan

cannot pull itself out of this mess, who should be next in line to step in?

China

Lately, several people and organizations have reported their willingness to protest the Olympics games in Beijing this summer because they believe that attempts to relieve Darfur must take place before the Olympic Games can go on. To some, this attempt for political reconciliation seems extreme, but for others, they see it as the only way to force China into action. China has the ability to bring peace, security, and hopefully some stability to the people of Darfur. The Save Darfur organization is a huge advocate for speaking against China, as the Olympic Games grow nearer and their efforts to aid in the crisis have not succumbed to much of anything. The Organization, as quoted by their website, has stated that: must take place before the Olympic Games can go on.

“Wherever China tries to sanitize its international image, we will protest and remind the world that China is enabling genocide. And we will not stop until China has brought the Olympic dream to Darfur. Please help us press China by participating in the numerous events and actions leading up the games in August and make sure to check back often for new actions!”

With China having the most probability socially, economically, and politically, to be able to pressure the country to end the genocide in Darfur, China needs to show us that as a rising global power, they will use their position to maintain peace when possible. With the Olympics approaching, which represent global peace and unity, China has an obligation to not only host these games, but to host a movement of peace that will bring an end to the violence in Darfur. As said by UN Members, and agreed by many, China needs to be consistent in its images within both sports and political arenas as host of the world’s sporting games.

Don't Forget About Darfur

2008-03-20T18:30:00.006-04:00

And the genocide continues. Prior to 2003, much was unknown to us about Darfur. After the current crisis broke out that year, we became aware of the region, comparable to the size of Texas, lying in the country of Sudan, which borders Chad, Libya, and the Central African Republic. But what news gave us this familiarity of the region was sadly news of rape, violence, terror, starvation, and even death. And now we are here, five years later, with mass murder still occurring, and Darfur has lost its place in the spotlight of world problems.

The current crisis began after decades of small-scale conflict between rebel groups and the Central government that brewed into something much larger. Now the effects of the conflicts in Darfur have mounted to alarming statistics. Taken from the Save Darfur Organization webpage, the statement below is devastating: “This scorched-earth campaign by the Sudanese government against Darfuri civilians has, through direct violence, disease, and starvation, already claimed as many as 400,000 lives. It has spilled over into neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. In all, about 2.3 million Darfuris have fled their homes and communities and now reside in a network of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Darfur, with over 200,000 more living in refugee camps in Chad. These refugees and IDPs are almost entirely dependent on the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations for their basic needs – food, water, shelter, and health care.”

Luckily, a great deal has been done thanks to the efforts of governments and organizations in making progress toward relief and peace in the region. However, this genocide is far from over. Awareness still needs to be spread and action still must be taken. Check out the website http://www.SaveDarfur.org to learn more of the history behind Darfur and the current situation. Also, check out the United Nations website for any updates. You might just be one person, but your awareness and your word can empower others, and this could have a ripple effect leading to the end of violence for the victims of Darfur, and a step closer to a peaceful world. Check back soon for an update on a recent issue that has placed China in the hot seat for its controversial diplomatic handling of the crisis.

Economy in Turmoil

2008-03-17T11:52:00.013-04:00

As we are on the brink of the Federal Reserve meeting tomorrow, many people are worrying about the country falling into a recession. There is speculation that yet again, the Federal Reserve board will cut interest rates at their meeting tomorrow in attempts to prevent a recession. But what some people are starting to ponder now is the idea of the Fed accepting the fact that a recession is going to happen and should embrace it instead. According to CNN, several economists disagree with the Fed in using more rate cuts to spur economic growth, and instead believe that a recession might be the “best medicine” for the economy in the long term. The reasoning behind this is that they don’t believe Fed cuts can fix what already is ailing the economy, because it is dealing with a problem of confidence. Since this is a minority view thus far, I will discuss it further below for readers to gain a better understanding of this opposition. The view of the majority coincide with the Fed’s movements and believe that rate cuts help give the market more liquidity and say that such a move is necessary for the weakening economy.

Rate Cuts – The Opposition

There is increasing speculation among economists that the country is already dipping into a recession and future rate cuts by the Federal Reserve Board won’t be able to prevent this from happening further. According to CNN, "The problems the markets are facing are not due to interest rates being too high. It's a lack of confidence," said Barry Ritholtz, the CEO and director of equity research for Fusion IQ. They say that rate cuts are causing a sharp decline in the dollar, which in turn are causing record prices for commodities such as oil, which we have seen dipping into consumers’ pockets as gas prices soar across the country. Even food, beverage, and transportation prices are going up, putting a squeeze on the disposable income of consumers. Although prices in these items have risen minimally over recent years, decreasing home prices and tighter credit has put a crunch on consumers’ pockets. Further rate cuts are speculated to just add “fuel to the fire” and won’t help the real problem that is ailing this economy, which is a lack of confidence in lending, with significant distrust among lenders.

According to CNN, one of the critics of Fed cuts is even on the Federal Open Market Committee that meets to decide interest rate moves. Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher, who was the only one to vote against the rate cut in January, has continued to talk loudly about inflation fears recently. He thinks the Fed shouldn’t be as worried about a recession as it has been., and is expected to vote against another rate cut. He says the Fed’s obligation should be to prevent inflation from happening in order to sustain long-term employment growth. Fisher also hinted around at the problem of the weakening currency in our country by saying that "In today's world, where investors can move their funds instantly from one currency to another to avoid depreciation, the price central bankers pay for high inflation is much higher than in the past.”

My Proposal

The Fed Reserve Board has already made significant cuts in rates and I think this has done enough to try to pump liquidity in the market and increase consumer spending, but not enough to fix the problem. I do believe too much is too much, and that further rate cuts will harm the economy of our country. I am taking the view of the minority and saying that we are facing a problem of confidence within our economy, and that can only be fixed in the short-run by lowering rates. So what happens if we don't lower rates further? Yes, we might have to endure short-term pain in our country in order to have long-term growth and gain after all. I think this is a natural cycle of any free-market economy. Going back to 2001, when the Federal Reserve faced a major decision following the burst of the dot.com "bubble," and the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Alan Greenspan had to face a similar dreadful problem. He made a decision to lower interest rates and sustain them at a low level. Now, the after-math of his decision has been passed to Ben Bernanke, as the new chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. Currently, Mr. Bernanke has already been masking the problem by lowering these rates again and again, and tomorrow he has to decide whether to continue to do so, or let nature run its course. If he decides to give our economy another dose of a "quick-fix" like Greenspan did following the events of 2001, our economy will possibly be helped in the short-run, but might just mask a problem that will inevitably have to be faced sometime in the future, and be much worse. On the contrary, if he decides to let the market run its natural course, it will hopefully revive itself from all the short-term "quick-fixes of the past," and will turn around to give us a positive, long-term economic outlook. I think this view is hard to fathom and looked down upon because of the fear of the near future and the pain that consumers will have to face. However, I believe it is a sacrifice we must make to prevent a worse crisis in later years due to continually masking this problem by lowering rates. Then confidence will just naturally find its way back into the markets.

Hope for the Economy

We are only a day away from the Fed meeting that will make the decision of whether to cut rates or not. Only time will tell if their actions will prove or disprove these notable economists’ and will either help or hinder our weakening economy. Follow the news to see what action they decide to take, and continue to follow the markets as it has been predicted to be an economical roller-coaster for the next couple of years. Hopefully, Ben Bernanke and his counterparts will push our country in the proper direction, and will balance the least amount of financial burden on consumers’ wallets during this time of turmoil. What stance do YOU take on the economy?

The Democratic Showdown

2008-03-15T13:19:00.008-04:00

After the Mississippi primary unfolded on Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama increased his lead over Senator Hilary Clinton in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination in delegate counts by 131 delegates. This win follows his win in the Wyoming Caucuses from last Saturday, giving Senator Obama his second win in a row. Therefore, Obama currently leads Clinton 1,611 to 1,480 in the total delegate count, and the race remains tight between the two candidates, with the next primary a long 38 days away in Pennsylvania.

There are several issues that have come about lately regarding these two campaigns, one of them being a topic I wish to address. This issue involves the inevitable remarks on gender and race that we all knew would appear in this campaign at some point. On Wednesday, Geraldine Ferraro, the Finance committee member of the Clinton campaign, and former Congresswoman, stepped down from the Clinton campaign due to the remarks she made about Senator Barack Obama and criticisms she has received over it. Here is the full letter that was written from Ferraro to Clinton:

Dear Hillary –

I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign.

The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.

I won't let that happen.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to make this a better world for my children and grandchildren.

You have my deep admiration and respect.

Gerry

According to the Andersen Cooper 360 blog, Ferraro, in an interview with the Daily Breeze of Torrance, California, was trying to defend her earlier remarks from critics. “Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says, ‘Let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in this world,’ you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up,” she said. “Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?” Inevitably we all saw this coming. Remarks and attacks on gender and race in the Presidential campaign that involves a woman and a black man. In Ferraro’s case, I think it is very offensive for her to negate Obama’s success by saying it is simply due to the fact that he is black. Her initial comments included the fact that “Obama is doing well because of his message and a good campaign. But she clearly stated that he’s successful “in large measure” because he’s black.” In the past, we have seen Black nominees run for office and not be successful. This time, Obama is clearly successful thus far. So is it really because he is black? No. It might give him votes (as shown in the recent Mississippi primary where blacks voted for Obama 91 percent to 9 percent) but it is clearly not the ultimate deciding measure of his success. Obama made it this far because of his message, his stances, and his ability to be a leader. We can prove this through the previous wins he has incurred in states that have a white majority population – North Dakota, Washington, Utah, Iowa, Connecticut, and Vermont. Lastly, I respect Senator Hillary Clinton for taking the initiative to respond to Ferraro’s remarks by addressing to the public that her campaign does not endorse or back up Ferraro’s beliefs.

We the people of the United States of America should not be so focused on the issue of gender and race, but of the human being that is running for office. Whether you vote Democrat or Republican in this race, ask yourself these questions about the candidates. Are they capable of leading our country emotionally and physically through the strenuous times that we have endured as a whole over recent years? Will they help us as citizens maintain the liberty and courage we need in this country? If you can answer yes to these questions, then make yourself blind to their gender and their race. Make yourself see what the actual issue of importance is here.

Kiva.org - $25 business opportunity

2008-03-12T18:44:00.009-04:00

In spirit of the new Oprah reality television show that I posted about earlier today, I decided to add a post about an organization that was brought to my attention because of Oprah in November 2007. The organization, called Kiva, was started in October of 2005 by Matt and Jessica Flannery, and is based in San Francisco, California. Kiva is a nonprofit organization that allows people to lend money via the internet to small businesses in developing countries. The word “Kiva” is a Swahili word that means “unity,” which the founders decided to name their organization after they spent time in East Africa.

How it works (according to the http://www.kiva.org website):

"Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. By choosing a loan on Kiva, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.

Kiva partners with existing microfinance institutions. In doing so, we gain access to outstanding entrepreneurs from impoverished communities world-wide. Our partners are experts in choosing qualified entrepreneurs. That said, they are usually short on funds. Through Kiva, our partners upload their entrepreneur profiles directly to the site so you can lend to them."

Below is a diagram from the website that illustrates the flow of operations within the system:

For a recent idea of how well Kiva.org is thriving with participation I found a statistic to show that people are listening and getting involved. According to Wikipedia, “As of February 3, 2008, Kiva has $21,432,835 in loans from 242,166 lenders. A total of 32,457 loans have been funded. The average loan size is $564.19.”

For more information on this organization, visit their website: http://www.kiva.org

Also check out one of the co-founder's blogs: http://socialedge.org/blogs/kiva-chronicles

If you have the ability to buy 6 drinks from Starbucks, you have the ability to give someone economic independence. Think about it.

Oprah's Big Give

2008-03-12T11:21:00.006-04:00

As I sat down to watch Sunday night TV this past weekend I noticed a new show featuring one of the most recognizable names in show business - Oprah Winfrey. It was the second episode of the show called "Oprah's Big Give," combining Oprah's heart-warming philanthropic ideals with reality television. Here is a summary of what the show entails, taken from the ABC website:

"In eight one-hour episodes, a diverse, determined and competitive group of ten people are given the challenge of a lifetime — to change the lives of complete strangers in the most creative and dramatic ways. In this intense competition, the contestants criss-cross the country, scrambling to find ways to impact the fates and fortunes of unsuspecting people who are in for the surprise of their lives. Lives will be changed in the blink of an eye as contestants race against time to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences and also give away hundreds of thousands of dollars. Who will be the lucky few to get a "Big Give"… and who will get all that cash? The series premiere, "Episode 101," kicks off in Los Angeles, where Oprah hands ten contestants sealed envelopes with only a picture and the name of a complete stranger. Under intense pressure, they must give big to change this person's life in just five days. The contestants must use their creativity and resources to generate the most powerful and sensational ways to make a real difference, and with the clock ticking, the competition, drama and emotion mount and the contestants' stamina, creativity and drive are tested. This first dramatic challenge will send one person packing. Throughout the episodes, Oprah makes multiple special appearances and turns up in various locations to surprise the contestants with dramatic new twists and turns. "The show is fun, entertaining and powerful television with a real heart," said Winfrey. "America will just love the heart of this show." As the competition tightens, big Hollywood stars join "Oprah's Big Give," raising the stakes and turning up the heat. Celebrity guests include Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta and Jada Pinkett-Smith, tennis legend Andre Agassi, skateboarding idol Tony Hawk, racing star Danica Patrick, plus more. At the end of each hour, the contestants must face a panel of three expert judges who will judge them on their leadership, accomplishments, creativity and presentation. They include world-renowned "Naked" chef and philanthropist Jamie Oliver, NFL star, nine-time Pro Bowler and Boys & Girls Club Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, and wife of Chris Rock and charity founder Malaak Compton-Rock. In the end, there is only one rule in "Oprah's Big Give": YOU EITHER GIVE BIG OR YOU GO HOME. In every episode, the contestants must each find innovative and ingenious ways to impact the lives of strangers, or they risk elimination at the hands of the judging panel. As the episodes continue, the "gives" get even bigger, the guest stars get brighter and tensions mount, all culminating in the exciting series finale where The Biggest Giver will become the biggest winner. What the contestants don't know — and only viewers do — is that Oprah Winfrey will surprise The Biggest Giver with a whopping $1 million prize."

As I watched the hour-long episode of “Oprah’s Big Give” on Sunday night, I had mixed emotions about the new show, luckily more positive than negative. First, I must admit, I do enjoy watching people make a difference in others' lives on reality television rather than the majority of these new "brainless" reality television shows. Second, as we all know, Oprah always has good intentions, as I am a huge fan of her work. However, although I am a fan of Oprah and her new show, I am somewhat skeptical of turning charity work into a race for big bucks.

While some of the contestants do seem to be deeply touched by their philanthropic work, whom I respect, others almost blatantly showed us their concern for the monetary reward at the end of the contest. I am almost certain the goal of this show is to inspire people to take action, which I am hoping it will do in significant amounts. But I do not want this show to give individuals' the wrong impression of taking action in peoples' lives. In reality, the majority of the time when you want to make a difference, there is sometimes more hard work involved and not as much recognition as portrayed on television. At the end of the day, there is usually no monetary reward but perhaps just a smile on another person's face.

My message to you is to watch the show, whether you dislike it or not, and take ideas from it. See what action you can take and remember the real meaning for doing what you do. I am extremely interested into see how this show unravels and the feedback it will receive from its viewers. Give it a whirl, and see what you think. The show airs on Sunday nights on ABC from 9:00-10:00pm Eastern time.

LIVESTRONG - Not Just a Fad

2008-02-29T09:19:00.006-05:00

LIVESTRONG. The overwhelming visual support for the cancer fighting organization created by Lance Armstrong in 1997 has seemed to fade away as any trend or fad does in American Pop culture. When the organization was first started, the yellow wristbands spread like wildfire across our society, from ordinary individuals on the streets, to politicians, to rock stars and athletes who were seen wearing them. Over time, this has inevitably faded and it is now difficult to find people who continue to sport these arm bands with the same pride they did when they were deemed "fashionable." The organization was not trying to start a fashion trend, they were trying to create a mindset among individuals to push themselves to live their best lives now and fight hard against any devastating diseases that attempts to derail them. The foundation states that "At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we unite people to fight cancer believing that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything." So make your own fashion statement. Start wearing your wristbands and t-shirts again and wear them proud. The message still stands as it did when Lance Armstrong first spoke it to the world. LIVESTRONG each and every day.

The video above includes the song "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow" by the band Wideawake. Go to iTunes to download the song and the the proceeds will go toward the LIVESTRONG foundation.

In Memory of Nadine Westphal

Everyday Heroes

2008-02-28T15:59:00.014-05:00

Today is my Grandmother's Birthday and she is turning 83 years old. I know most of you are probably wondering why I may be posting about this - so here it goes. From the first moment I can remember, my Grandma has continuously been an inspiration to me. She fights, she honors, she gives, she devotes, she cares, and she loves. She has worked, raised three children, gone to school, been a devoted wife and mother, and somehow still found time to always be passionate about things she believed in. She doesn't just fight for her...she fights for EVERYONE. If there is such a thing as angels living among us, my Grandma is one of them. I can't even begin to tell you how many times she has written or made phone calls to Senators and Governors over numerous issues that were of concern to her or others around her. One issue in particular was about the preservation of Native American land near her house. She went to the local Indian reservation to speak with the people often and devoted her time for their cause. She knew that they were human beings just like anyone else and deserved a chance. My Grandma has also written countless newspaper articles in order to spread the word, whether it is to honor fallen soldiers, or discuss a corrupt system which she thinks should be changed. She was once President of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization and has been an active member for several years, helping support the veterans of our country and their families. So on this Birthday, my Grandmother deserves to be honored.

However, today, February 28, 2008, isn't any regular Birthday for her. This time she is faced with something she hasn't experienced since the first time she laid eyes on my Grandfather. She will celebrate her Birthday without the companionship of her dear Husband, and my Grandfather, George W. Brown. My Grandfather was a World War II veteran who was in the Battle of Normandy and Battle of the Bulge - just to name a few. He was even part of a special mission of four men during the War and was the only one to survive the mission. He was also wounded during the War, yet he still managed to help our country maintain its freedom and come home safe. My Grandfather was an unbreakable human being. He returned from the war at a young age and decided to become a Police Officer, which he did for the remainder of his life. He was a man of few words but he was a man of such great character. I think I learned even more about how wonderful of a man he was after his passing then he ever mentioned to me. He was humble but I do know one thing - he was proud of his job, proud of being a soldier, and he loved his country. My Grandmother and him were married following the War and they stood husband and wife for 62 years. Although my Grandfather did struggle with alcohol for several years, my Grandmother's ability to see through his wounded soul from the war kept her strong and by his side through it all. At 6'5", my Grandfather bore resemblance to the strength of an Ox. He was strong, tall, and nothing could stop him. Unfortunately, these unbreakable images I had of him growing up quickly crumbled as I watched him fade away over the past few months. The most painful part about this is knowing that if issues were handled differently in the hospital and in the nursing home, I am certain he would have lived to tell my Grandmother how wonderful of a woman she was on her Birthday today.

My Grandfather was a VETERAN of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. He served his country through times of need in one of the Great Wars and continued on serving by protecting its streets. What did he get in return when he needed help the most? He didn't get the health care he deserved and he paid for it through his suffering. The full detailed account of the horrific events that happened to my Grandfather (while in the hospital and nursing home), will be posted at a later time once they become available from my Grandmother. I can assure you of this though. Within a matter of a couple months, he went from being able to sit, eat full meals, joke, laugh, and talk in November, to merely lay in bed with his eyes full of hopelessness, as he struggled to swallow even a tablespoon of water I fed to him just last month.

I know that in the cycle of life, if the person is elderly it often seems to lessen the importance of issues like this because of the expectation that they are naturally going to pass away. This expectation of the elderly might prove true but it shouldn't make issues like this any less significant. He lived through pain for this country - physically and emotionally - and yet he still died in pain. If health care was more affordable, and if my Grandfather as a Veteran of the USA had received the care he was promised for being in the military, the course of events would have occurred differently, and maybe he wouldn't have had to suffer the way he did. For my Grandmother and Grandfather's sake, please pay attention to issues of health care and its vital importance to human beings. I am well aware that there are politics behind every matter, so do your research. Not only was my Grandfather suffering, but it made my Grandmother emotionally and physically drained as well, as she continued to fight for my Grandfather until his death. And if you have a loved one who is a veteran, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do your research and check for certainty of the health care service they should receive for being a soldier for our country. Because with my Grandfather, all that was promised wasn't given to him, and the little that was offered to him, was either unaffordable or unmanageable for my Grandmother.

One last note. It is extremely simple for each and every one of us to wake up in the morning and quickly jump into our day without much thought. We transition throughout the day in a routinely fashion and before we know it, we are resting in bed again recapping the day's events with our eyelids half open. Tomorrow morning, and the next morning, until it becomes a habit, wake up and before you do anything else, simply THINK. Think of the little steps you can take to tell someone you love them or think of the actions you can pursue to benefit someone going through a struggle. Call someone you love. Write a letter to a soldier. Thank a friend for their guidance.

I thank my fallen soldier, my Grandfather, for the wonderful love, strength, and courage he gave me and this country. I also thank my Grandmother for remaining strong throughout any obstacle she's ever faced and still being a person of such high respect and admiration. Happy Birthday Grandma - you are one person who can truly make the world smile.

Stem Cell Research - Argued by Many, Known by Few

2008-02-26T13:59:00.025-05:00

The Issue. Stem Cell Research, just like abortion, is a very controversial subject in the political arena. This is an argument that is continually argued by many people but known by few. People are quick to reach a conclusive decision on stem cell research and take a stance on the issue without knowing the scientific significance beforehand. Before I continue I want you to know that I realize this blog post might offend someone and in a way I am thankful. Because if people agreed on everything, there would be no world in which we can learn from and offer new insight. So feel free to respond and give me any rebuttals to my opinions and/or comments.

The Science. In recent years, scientists have discovered that stem cells taken from human embryos have the ability to regenerate tissue and morph into different types of cells within the human body. This type of research can be used to create therapies that can repair traumatic injuries or reverse the symptoms of debilitating diseases including Parkinson's disease, Diabetes, Muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer's. For more scientific background, please visit this website (http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics1.asp), because I am not a scientist and I do not want to relay improper scientific evidence to you.

The Stance of the Government. In 2001, President Bush was the first President who allowed federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, but he limited his support to only the cell lines that already existed in order to not encourage destruction of embryos. The current process has much limitation as there is rigorous oversight involved and great skepticism due to the belief that this research is "killing a life to save a life." There has been legislation brought about in congress in attempts to expand funding for stem cell research, supported by members of congress that include the upcoming Presidential candidates, but both legislations that were brought up were twice vetoed by President Bush. This brings up another side to the argument. President Bush has vetoed these legislations on the belief that he thinks we should look for alternative methods in which we can obtain these stem cells -- from adult tissue. Now in my opinion, I think this is a reasonable argument because of the hope for the preservation of possible human life. But scientifically, through articles I have read, these adult stem cells are generally limited in the types of cells they can be differentiated into. As opposed to adult stem cells, the embryonic cells are considered 'pluripotent' and can become all cell types within the body. So the debate continues.

My argument. When looking at the current Iraq War or any war the U.S. has been involved in during the past, we notice that our country is readily willing to expend thousands of soldiers' lives to fight in wars for the common good. In the natural course of things, this proves to be understandable, as any powerful and established country should be willing to defend its own. However, these are soldiers who have established lives, families, friends, and naturally, a place within society. We use these fine young men and women at the expense of the rest of us in order for our country to have freedom. This scenario plays out as the sacrifice of a few thousand for the benefit of several million. And coming from a family who has had several generations of soldiers fighting in wars for this country, it is difficult to see what war does to them. Therefore, in comparing our methodology of war with stem cell research, our government should start re-thinking its approach toward this research and focusing more on the vital importance of the issue. I don’t want to undermine the beauty and irreplaceable value of human life by asking for the purposeful destruction of human embryos, but I am asking for the expansion of and re-allocation of funds on the use of the embryos that are inevitably doomed to be "medical waste" regardless. If we use our soldiers' lives to benefit the rest of us - real living individuals - then why can't we see that using these embryos isn't a crime and it will help us protect our living, just as the soldiers have been doing. When your son or daughter wakes up one morning in such agony from their chronic disease a few years down the road, I want you to think of the possibilities that you prohibited, and the opportunities you stripped from them. If only you did not take a stand against supporting the expansion of this scientific phenomenon, they could have had a decent life without enduring such varying degrees of pain.

The Future of Stem Cell Research. Luckily for scientific purposes, and the benefit of humanity, whoever wins the upcoming Presidential race will open up more opportunities for stem cells than the current President. The three leading candidates, Democratic Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and Republican Senator John McCain, have all taken a stance in which they support the expansion of federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research (according to the CNN election center). This will extend research beyond the limits that President Bush has set, so we as human begins can start protecting our living and fighting for our freedom from disease and debilitation.

Color Me (RED) for AFRICA

2008-02-25T10:27:00.015-05:00

As I am sure you are well aware of the (RED) phenomenon that has spurred in recent years, I want to emphasize to you its undeniable importance. Product (Red) was created by Bono (U2) and Bobby Shriver in order to collect money for THE GLOBAL FUND, which donates money to women and children suffering from HIV/AIDS in Africa. Now, I know it is sometimes difficult for us to fathom the extent to which people are affected by these epidemics, because in our own country we are not exposed to it every day. But it is real and it is shocking. Luckily, I have my college roommate, Rachael, to thank for opening my eyes to this usually inconceivable problem and share with us how real it is first-hand. She will share parts of her journal that accounts for the school trip she took to South Africa this past May that focused on the HIV/AIDS problem. She described her trip to be "nothing less than alarming." And the worst part about this is, this is only South Africa. There is a much larger population to the North in Sub-Saharan Africa who are surrounded by sickness and death every day.

Journal for South Africa: Rachael Clark

May 10th, 2007

"We arrived to Groots Schuur Hospital after a little mix-up about how exactly to get there. We were supposed to meet with Dr. Roux, but he had to go out of town unexpectedly, so a new doctor, Sara Jane, talked to us instead about their organization. Their project is called Kidzpositive, and it was started in 2002. The aim is to support people living with HIV/AIDS, not just the patient, but also their family and community. It is also an income generation project to provide moms and children with 600-2000 rand a month and also provide them with transportation to and from the hospital. The HIV positive mothers are given the chance to go to high school and there are also counselors provided for them. Since 2004, Kidzpositive has had government support, which has helped tremendously. They provide clean water to the patients to bring home to their shack. They are sure to support and boost their self-esteem, along with educating the patients before they start the treatment. Sara said that she has seen young women come in feeling scared, alone, and betrayed after they found out they are HIV positive. In about a month, some become healthy and independent women. Hearing the excitement in Sara’s voice when she talked about the patients made me want to be a doctor in South Africa. It’s a place you can really make a difference. There are about 450 children enrolled in the program, and about 300 will stay longer than two years. They currently have two outreach clinics so that they can transfer patients home when they are stable, and the healthcare is within reach of them. She said that most patients are successful as far as following the treatment goes. The treatment that they take is ARV’s. The mom and child both take three different medications, but they don’t take the same ones necessarily. Sara also told us about when she was stationed at a very rural hospital in South Africa. She said it was a very traditional group of people, and she saw many, many sick women and children. The women in their community could not get married until they proved fertility, so they would sleep around to try and get pregnant. Of course, in this process they did not use condoms and acquired HIV. By the time the baby was born, it also had HIV from the mother. It was a sad, endless process. After Sara was done talking to us, she showed us around the ward. It was really sad. One section had tiny little babies that had gastroenteritis, and they were all on feeding tubes. One little boy was in a room all by himself who had recently been admitted. Sara told us that he has TB and HIV. I looked in his room, and he was sound asleep on the bed. She told us that he was 9 years old, but he looked about 4 or 5. His legs and arms were so tiny, and his head looked too big for his body. I felt completely helpless. How could anyone in the world deserve something like that? Then Sara showed us some kids who were HIV positive. I felt very uncomfortable here because their parents/grandparents were with them. I didn’t want them to feel like their children were just on display or something. I looked into one of the grandmother’s eyes who was sitting next to her sick grandchild. I could see pain and anguish. I could see the prayers and hope. I could see the questioning; why, why had this happened? Her daughter had probably died of AIDS and she is taking care of the baby. I once again felt helpless, for all I had to offer was a smile to let her know I was sorry. Sorry? Maybe not the right word choice, but I felt for her, and my heart went out to her. Here we were, ten American girls dressed nicely, walking through this hospital ward. What do we know? We have not been through anything compared to what these people have to go through every day."

In reference to kids at an orphanage they visited later that day..."I had so much fun playing with them—I think we all did! None of us wanted to leave them. Within an hour, I already felt so attached to them. I think I could have stayed there for a month at least and never have gotten bored. But they had to go in for dinner, and we had to leave. No! I didn’t realize how attached to them I had gotten until we actually had to go. Most of the group had already said their goodbyes and started walking away. Most of the kids had been called to their respective areas. Myself and two of the other girls couldn’t pull ourselves away from the kids. We waited until the last possible second to leave, and instead stayed and were giving them goodbye hugs and blowing kisses. That’s when I lost it. After a few more kisses were sent flying through the air, I turned and completely lost control of my emotions and started crying. I turned to see the other girls crying as well. I wanted to take the kids home with me! They truly touched my heart in so many ways. You wouldn’t even know by looking at most of them that they are infected with HIV. They are normal little kids that like to sing, dance, play, laugh, and just live. They deserve to live. This deadly disease should not be able to control their lives. So anyway, we eventually caught up with the group and said our goodbyes to the caregivers and workers. They were some of the nicest people I have ever met. Thank God we have people like them in this world."

May 15th, 2007

"Today we were at University of Pretoria all day, where they have a very extensive HIV/AIDS program. Their campus is also very beautiful. The HIV/AIDS program has been going on for about 7-8 years. Some of the key factors in helping the students at the university deal with HIV/AIDS are gender, sexuality, human rights, and stigma. The group of people that work in this program are very diverse and there are about 30 of them. They are representative of the races and cultures in South Africa, and many of them have social science background. They told us that about 12% of South Africa’s population is HIV positive. The University of Pretoria was an African University up until 1993, but it is now bilingual with the English language just as equal. Their HIV/AIDS program contains peer leading with peer leaders. They have figured out that is it a lot easier for a student to talk to someone their age, if they can relate more to them by having HIV themselves or knowing someone with HIV, etc. They offer counseling on campus, which has counselors who are mostly psychology majors at the university. They also have an education awareness team, community outreach team that goes to high schools and such, and another group that helps at children’s homes, and helps them with their homework and things like that. Another team is the research team, which deals more with data capturing and interviews. A major problem that the school is facing is that students are suffering from “AIDS fatigue.” They are just tired of hearing about it. They know what it is, but not all think that it can and will happen to them if they are not careful. Their program tries to make HIV testing seem very quick and easy (because it actually is!). The program works with various research organizations all over the world, and there is currently a study going on about babies of HIV positive mothers. One of the speakers’ name was Rakgadi, whom was part of the stigma project. There is a faith-based portion of the project, which works with a catholic church in the community, and there is also a work portion of the project, which helps people out in the workplace, providing clinics with a trained staff. One more area in which stigma shows up in is the media. They came up with indicators, and then came up with ways HIV positive people could interact with the media. Stigma happens everywhere, but these three areas are probably the top three. Another issue that they mentioned was that white people with HIV have problems because they don’t have as much support at home, and they don’t have as many people to turn to like in the black communities. It is a known fact that women exposed to abuse and trauma are more apt to get HIV, and there is a very high level of abuse among the communities. When the men find out their wife is HIV positive, they abuse her more and blame it on her, when in fact he is most likely the one who gave the virus to her in the first place. There are empowerment programs set up to help women talk about their rape experiences and get their lives back. A very disturbing fact that they told us was that there used to be gangsters who were paid by the state to create chaos in the black communities. They would gang rape women during the day while the men were at work. I could not believe that the state would actually pay someone to do something that awful. These people have seen some horrible things in their lifetime, and I give them many props for still moving forward."

May 16, 2007

"Today was a very eventful day! We walked back to the University of Pretoria in the morning to meet with them for a little while longer. We learned a lot more about their HIV/AIDS program. We learned about their HIV/AIDS human rights research unit, who works with the UN development program. Discrimination in the work place is an example of violation of human rights. Their job is to find gaps in the laws. Some of their advocacy tools are pocket size cards with lists (checklists), website, CD-ROM, etc. They told us that the will is there, but now always the awareness of how it relates to their lives and HIV/AIDS. Another project that they have is Parliamentarians for Women’s Health. This project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. I think it is so great how much money they donate to good causes like this one. They really do spend millions, probably more, for organizations like this one. They said that there is a lack of awareness of the issues that women have to deal with such as rape in marriage and issues of that nature. There is polygamy in South Africa, so that also is another issue. Generally, there has been a positive response from the parliamentarians. They are trying not to force people to get tested, but rather inform them and encourage them, but at the same time must warn them of the consequences. The consequences are things such as becoming an outcast in the community, getting disowned by a family or significant other, losing friends, etc. if test comes back positive for HIV. Next, we learned about the ‘To Grow’ project from Jonathan Laphot. They bring together support groups and train them to become a group leader. The aim of the project is to give support to those people living with HIV. The group leaders are HIV positive, to give the others information and be a peer role model. The old president used to believe that HIV does not cause AIDS. A myth went around saying that if you take a shower after sex, you won’t get HIV. The media has a huge influence over people. These are just a few of the barriers that have to be dealt with in South Africa. There is now research going on for eventually suggesting to women to use microbicides, which is a gel that is inserted into the vagina after or before sex to prevent the contraction of HIV. This research is also funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for the most part. Circumcision helps lower the risk of transmitting HIV, but it is not guaranteed. The Zulu tribes still do virginity testing once a month where the girls have to line up and an elder checks them to see if they are still virgins. Can you imagine? That has to be the most mortifying thing in the world. They told us that this leads them to do other risky behavior like anal sex, which spreads HIV a lot easier. Even though some may think otherwise, they told us that scare tactics don’t work with HIV prevention. They have learned throughout the years many other methods to get their point across, but scare tactics would be a definite failure. Parents are still scared to talk to their children about sex. We thanked everyone at the U of Pretoria and made our way to UNICEF downtown. It was a pretty nice building and the pictures of all the little kids on the walls were so cute. We learned a lot of interesting facts. A few crazy statistics are that there are about 6.29 million people infected with HIV/AIDS in S. Africa. The South African economy and democracy is booming, but child well-being indicators are deteriorating. There are many different departments within the company, some of them being education and adolescent development, health and nutrition, child protection, and advocacy and strategic leveraging. One of their key strategies is early diagnosis and testing of infants. As far as schooling goes, there are one million children out of school, and only 65% reach grade 5. The three main problems at schools are gender inequality, violence, and HIV/AIDS. More than 11 million children live in poverty. Even though all the statistics are very sad, I think this company is doing great things to help the children in this country. We were not at UNICEF for very long, but I would like to learn more about the company on my own at a later date. "

So now that you hopefully have a better picture of the reality and magnitude of this problem, next time you read, see, hear about Product (RED), I want you to think of my roommate's experiences in South Africa. I want you to think of yourself there with the children, holding these HIV/AIDS victims in your arms, knowing that in that moment you would be more apt to give your extra pocket change to this organization or any organization that attempts to relieve the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is imperative - not seemingly for us because it is psychologically difficult for us to realize the depth of this problem since we are not there. But it is imperative to them - it is their one chance at life, and the only world they know is a constant struggle.

Check out the links on the right side of this blog for the (RED) Campaign and I challenge you to take action for the wellness of human beings.

New President, Same Family

2008-02-25T09:55:00.004-05:00

Cuba's National Assembly has recently chosen Raul Castro as the new President of Cuba. The last name sounds familiar, and it should, as he is the brother of the famed ex-President Fidel Castro. This decision came shortly following the announced resignation of Fidel Castro, who is currently 81 years of age and in poor health, which is the contributing factor to his resignation. However, with the change in Presidency remaining within the same family, will we see much change in Cuba, if at all? The debate seems to be pondered by many. Raul Castro has actually been in the picture behind Fidel Castro for a long time, as the leader of the Cuban Army for about 50 years, and more recently, the First Vice-President. Although he seems to be somewhat different from his brother, we still wonder what he will bring to the island country. The answer seems hopeful and promising. He has reportedly told the press that there will be a transition toward socialism and a more democratic society (according to CNN). However, don't be fooled. He helped out his brother in power and aided him in the same uprising that brought about the Cuban revolution. So will he stand by his promises of a socialist and democratic structure within his country despite his past with his brother? Only time will tell.

Every Monday Matters Virginia

2008-02-24T20:30:00.008-05:00

The Every Monday Matters Virginia myspace page is currently up and running! Check it out under the Links of Interest on the right side of this blog. If you are interested in getting involved with EMM Virginia, please contact me at megan.smith.a@gmail.com for more information. I am looking for individuals in the state of Virginia who want to start organizations/clubs within their respective towns, schools, and universities. If you contact me at the above address I will be able to direct you in the creation of your organization and help you get this movement started! And if you are already part of an organization (i.e. fraternity, sorority, sports club, etc.) and you want to learn more about getting involved please contact me. Please send me pictures of you and/or your organizations "in action" while living by the book and making TODAY matter. I will post all pictures of you and your organization on the myspace page so we can spread the movement even further. This is still a fairly new project so if you have any suggestions or ideas please do contact me as well. I look forward to hearing from you all!

Five Faces of Education Victimized

2008-02-24T12:56:00.011-05:00

From left to right: Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; Julianna Gehant, 32, of Mendota; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Gayle Dubowski, 20, of Carol Stream and Dan Parmenter, 20, of Elmhurst.

Five people. Five different and aspiring individuals. Five young men and women who did nothing more than attend class at their university and were killed for it. What does America have to do to keep its classrooms safe? I have read numerous articles regarding the debate of whether or not it should be allowed for students to bring guns into the classroom for protection. I have a huge issue with this statement. Yes, in certain circumstances it may have been beneficial for the innocent to protect their own lives when they are being viciously attacked. However, I know I would not feel safe if I had a lecture of 300 students and any given individual may have a gun hidden in their backpack. The reason for this is simple - some people may be put over the edge on a bad day and use their weapon in "a spur of the moment" action, when they are normally viewed to be a stable individual no different than your A-student son or daughter. With the upcoming Presidential election, the issue on gun laws still plays a prominent role in our Government. Although this time the issue seems to be put on the backburner in comparison to the Iraq War, healthcare, or the economy, it is still a notable issue of great importance. This is why WE all must do our research and vote in the upcoming election for the candidate who will best represent US in keeping our education system a safe haven for students. As we all know, schools shootings have been a problem for quite a while and the media has enabled us to see these tragic events happen from Columbine, to Virginia Tech, and most recently, Northern Illinois University. Mothers and Fathers, Friends and Family, picture your loved ones in the same scenario of the NIU students above. They walked into their classroom on Valentine's Day for their Introduction to Oceanography class with the expectation of learning, and they never walked out. Now, with that in mind, would you continue to allow individuals to break through the loopholes of our system and obtain access to a handheld weapon to murder innocent human lives, or would you vote for stricter gun laws? More Importantly, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the deceased in the NIU shooting victims, as well as for those who have been wounded and have to live with this struggle for the rest of their lives.

Into The Wild

2008-02-16T13:40:00.010-05:00

Into The Wild. Powerful, compelling, and simply fascinating. Sean Penn has crafted one of the most awe-inspiring films I have seen. It is a true story of a young man named Christopher McCandless, who sets out on a journey to find himself shortly after his graduation from Emory University. The movie takes you through Christopher's trials and tribulations as he embarks across country, eventually hoping to reach his ultimate destination: the wilderness of Alaska. This movie, inspired by the book written by Jon Krakauer, was a reading requirement for a course I had in high school. Unfortunately, at the age of seventeen, the moral of Chris's story had virtually no impact on me. Back then, I looked at Chris with skepticism, as I could not fathom anyone partaking on such a journey. As I have matured and grown into a young adult, today I can emphathize with Chris's anomaly in his search for solitude away from the complexes of society. My favorite part about Chris is his ability to breakaway from the societal norm and set sail into a sea of unknown, to appreciate the very foundation of human life that people often take for granted - LOVE. And by this I mean the love that encompasses every aspect of our very being...a true appreciation for the world in which we live and others who inhabit it. The reason I have decided to share this movie/book with you on the blog is because I feel that it brings an astonishing perspective to any young adult who is about to venture out into the world after high school or college. It is a self-revelating story that I guarantee will leave any reader or movie-goer with a feeling of wanting to re-prioritize their lives for the better. If you as an individual have a passion or a devotion to something, it's simple - go for it. Don't major in something for the prestige after college; don't enter into a company because of the name recognition; and don't take a job because you know it will give you a lot of disposable income to spend on material items. I am telling you this because that is what our elders always preach upon us at their old age...it is one of the "you-live-and-learn" factors in life. But it doesn't have to be. If people would just listen to those respected individuals who have gone through the peaks and troughs of life, and if people would simply follow their heart and not their pocket or name plate, they will be able to stray away from these beaten paths that society willingly hands to us at graduation day. And yes, for those who know me, I am majoring in finance which through my own trials and tribulations I have discovered it is not my dire passion. Yet for some it is their passion, and that is the beauty of it all. The beauty is that we are all such a diverse group of individuals in this world driven by various wonders in this life. This is why I am here today with this blog, because sometimes we don't listen to those who know best, we don't follow our hearts, and then we have to make changes. Sometimes those changes are tough because it is hard in today's world to sometimes escape that routine of everyday life once you are positioned into it. Luckily for me, I have realized this at the age of twenty-two, but no matter your age, as Christopher McCandless told the elder man in the movie, you can do whatever you want that lets you "live" again. Old or young, think of what makes you come alive and start going for it. Even if you have to take the tiniest steps at first...a little bit always goes a long way. As the famous quote by Harold Thurman goes...“Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Important Issues - Presidential Election 2008

2008-02-15T13:35:00.005-05:00

CBS News Poll. Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2008. N=1,232 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
"What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" Open-ended.

%
Economy/Jobs 38
War in Iraq 21
Health care 6
Immigration 4
Terrorism (general) 3
Poverty/Homelessness 3
Other 20
Unsure 5

Based on this CBS news poll which is located on pollingreport.com, people surveyed said that the Economy was the most important problem that America faces today. With the current state of the economy nearing a likely recession, the Presidential hopefuls for November have been pressed on what they will do to stimulate and bring the economy back up if they were in office. Meanwhile, President Bush has passed a bill that will infuse cash to individuals as an incentive for using this money to spend and help the economy grow again. However, once the new President steps into office, the economy will still need a strong policy to maintain it or prevent it from collapsing even further. I would like to see what YOU think on the issue of the economy. Do you think it is the most important problem facing our country today? And if so, what stance do you take on the stimulation of our economy and what Presidential candidate's perspective do you agree with?

A Book and the Movement

2008-02-15T10:14:00.006-05:00

Every Monday Matters. After browsing through the impressive, yet small book collection on the shelves in Target, I passed by this book and immediately something about it inspired me to pick it up. I flipped through the pages, reading parts of it here and there, and then put it down. I told myself "No, I am not here to spend money on things I don't need...I came here for one item!" I walked away from the book area and fifteen minutes later, I found myself wandering back towards this book. I picked it up again and without giving it another thought, I threw it in my cart and added it to my "must read" list. When I got home I quickly jumped in my bed and curled up and started reading. Absolutely wonderful. This book is not a novel, it is merely a collection of passionate words designed to inspire an individual to make Mondays' matter, instead of dreading them as most people do. It includes 52 different ways, for each week in the year, to make Monday matter. And the best part about this is, the 52 ways include something as simple as to start exercising! Because collectively, if every one of us could practice these things, as effortless as some may seem, it WILL make a difference in the larger picture. What I love most about this book however, is the simplistic approach it has taken to capture the attention of the reader. In fact, I was moved by this book to the extent that after I read it that day, I went to the website and clicked on the "Contact Us" icon and let them know my thoughts on the book. I did this with the mindset that I knew they probably weren't going to be able to reply back but I wanted them to see the impact it has already had on at least one of its readers! Surprisingly enough, within a few days, I received an e-mail from one of the authors, Matthew, expressing his gratitude for my feedback. We exchanged a few e-mails regarding the book, and I let him know that I was very adamant about the ideas they expressed and I offered my help to enable the movement to grow. Matthew was even kind enough to give me a call and we talked for a while about why they wrote the book, and he shared with me other peoples' feedback he had received. I was utterly shocked that he took the time to even e-mail, nonetheless call me to discuss his new book. Because of the simple thoughts and ideas of two individuals, and the translation of their thoughts onto paper, a movement has begun. So if there is one thing you do this week, pick up the book Every Monday Matters, read it and live by it. Or at least visit their website (http://www.everymondaymatters.com) Also, look for updates on my blog about the myspace website I have started for the Every Monday Matters movement for the state of Virginia!

Background

2008-02-15T09:57:00.010-05:00

Why am I starting a blog such as this one? There are several reasons I could tell you, but for purposes of this blog I will give you the condensed version. Due to my experiences in life, the way I was raised, and the people I have come across along the way, I have come to the conclusion that people are generally good. People will help others, people will be happy, and people will be givers instead of takers...if given the chance and the proper knowledge. I believe that the smile of one person could light up the whole world because it is the most contagious thing on this earth, even more than the flu! Therefore, this blog was simply created to help individuals become more aware and hopefully more interested in current world issues because it starts with knowledge. If you have the knowledge, then you have the power to do anything good in this world...it starts with YOU! And for starters, all it takes is a simple smile!