Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
"Discussion/Lecture with Michael Lerner" - Busboys & Poets Immersion
I really enjoyed the Michael Lerner lecture. A few things really stood out to me as I listened to him share. For starters, his lecture was not at all what I was expecting. I cannot tell you what I was expecting because I do not really know, but when I went the last thing I was expecting to hear was a lecture on hope. It really reminded me of what we have been talking about in class with law of attraction and making things happen and believing that anything is possible. Michael talked about the difference between hope and optimism. It was a comparison that he had heard before that really stood out to him that he had never forgotten. “Optimism is the belief that everything is going to go away; whereas, hope it a choice to fight regardless of the consequences.” Michael made the comment that without hope it is difficult to live.
Michael asked a really thought provoking question during his lecture: “how do we live with the brokenness of the world?” I thought it was a really good question because I feel as though that is what everyone is trying to figure out. The world we live in is undoubtedly a broken world: it is a world that is hurting and searching for the hope that we talked about earlier. As I think about my response to this question, I think that everyone has to find their hope. Everyone is searching to fill the same void but everyone fills it in a different way. The goal is ultimately to not have to live in a broken world, but until then we must learn to cope. I do believe that seeking to change it is part of the “living with it” process. Settling is the worst thing that someone can do and simply accepting the brokenness is settling for it. Everyone has a small role that they can play and when you start making a difference it brings that hope that people are searching for in their own lives. As everyone starts making a change then before you know it that brokenness won’t be as strong as it use to be. Michael’s response was “the best way is to truly feel it and to feel it deeply. We have to see the brokenness as a source of awakening. We need enough of us to feel that brokenness to make a difference.”
The most impressive thing that I learned about Michael was that he is a Christian. The whole lecture was for the Smith Farm Center, a center that brings hope to people who are battling cancer. He was very honest as he talked about the despair that he got into as he dealt with his cancer. He said that he came to the point where he realized his need for absolute surrender to the living God. There is no better hope than Jesus Christ and knowing that He loves you and that you can have a real relationship with Him. He is the rock that gets you throw the storms of life like cancer, death of family members, and the numerous other things that make this life hard and this world broken. Michael made the comment “many people deny the spiritual world exists” and I believe this with my whole heart. Very few people do I think have an absolute denial that there is anything higher than this world. I would say that most people have a knowledge that they accept about a higher power or spiritual being even if they don’t really embrace it. It is sad because I truly believe that the belief is God brings a hope that nothing in this world can ever bring. It also brings a healing on a deeper level that is indescribable and easily attainable.
As Michael talked, he said that “true healing takes place in the unique particulars”. They talked about how they go on natural walks at the Smith Farm Center and how it helps people heal and I thought that it was a really good concept. You can’t help but look around and see the hand of a higher power in this beautiful world that we live in and I think that seeing how intrinsically the trees, flowers, birds, and everything in nature is made it brings a healing and hope to us as humans that if someone out there could make all of these things flow so perfectly, He must care about us.
Michael made the comment that “being broken evokes kindness and makes us receptive to kindness”. He said that kindness is a word that people understand and that it’s a good way for us to help each other heal. Kindness is easy to understand but it is seen less and less in this world today. It was a good admonition for me to just not take lightly the impact that kindness can have on people. Simple gestures like saying hello and smiling to people can make someone’s day. “We must hope that we find the golden thread together as human beings…the golden thread relates to the planet as a whole and it goes back to deep spirituality.” We are all here on this planet together and it’s about time that we start acting like it and help each other.
Michael asked a really thought provoking question during his lecture: “how do we live with the brokenness of the world?” I thought it was a really good question because I feel as though that is what everyone is trying to figure out. The world we live in is undoubtedly a broken world: it is a world that is hurting and searching for the hope that we talked about earlier. As I think about my response to this question, I think that everyone has to find their hope. Everyone is searching to fill the same void but everyone fills it in a different way. The goal is ultimately to not have to live in a broken world, but until then we must learn to cope. I do believe that seeking to change it is part of the “living with it” process. Settling is the worst thing that someone can do and simply accepting the brokenness is settling for it. Everyone has a small role that they can play and when you start making a difference it brings that hope that people are searching for in their own lives. As everyone starts making a change then before you know it that brokenness won’t be as strong as it use to be. Michael’s response was “the best way is to truly feel it and to feel it deeply. We have to see the brokenness as a source of awakening. We need enough of us to feel that brokenness to make a difference.”
The most impressive thing that I learned about Michael was that he is a Christian. The whole lecture was for the Smith Farm Center, a center that brings hope to people who are battling cancer. He was very honest as he talked about the despair that he got into as he dealt with his cancer. He said that he came to the point where he realized his need for absolute surrender to the living God. There is no better hope than Jesus Christ and knowing that He loves you and that you can have a real relationship with Him. He is the rock that gets you throw the storms of life like cancer, death of family members, and the numerous other things that make this life hard and this world broken. Michael made the comment “many people deny the spiritual world exists” and I believe this with my whole heart. Very few people do I think have an absolute denial that there is anything higher than this world. I would say that most people have a knowledge that they accept about a higher power or spiritual being even if they don’t really embrace it. It is sad because I truly believe that the belief is God brings a hope that nothing in this world can ever bring. It also brings a healing on a deeper level that is indescribable and easily attainable.
As Michael talked, he said that “true healing takes place in the unique particulars”. They talked about how they go on natural walks at the Smith Farm Center and how it helps people heal and I thought that it was a really good concept. You can’t help but look around and see the hand of a higher power in this beautiful world that we live in and I think that seeing how intrinsically the trees, flowers, birds, and everything in nature is made it brings a healing and hope to us as humans that if someone out there could make all of these things flow so perfectly, He must care about us.
Michael made the comment that “being broken evokes kindness and makes us receptive to kindness”. He said that kindness is a word that people understand and that it’s a good way for us to help each other heal. Kindness is easy to understand but it is seen less and less in this world today. It was a good admonition for me to just not take lightly the impact that kindness can have on people. Simple gestures like saying hello and smiling to people can make someone’s day. “We must hope that we find the golden thread together as human beings…the golden thread relates to the planet as a whole and it goes back to deep spirituality.” We are all here on this planet together and it’s about time that we start acting like it and help each other.
Monday, May 2, 2011
"Creative License" - Busboys & Poets Immersion
To be honest, I’m not the biggest music guru. I enjoy most of it from hip hop to country but have never gotten really deep into the history or even the legal issues with it. I come from a strong “music obsessed” family where my dad has a pretty strong passion for a lot of music- especially Motown, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and many other black artists. My youngest sister got that same obsession that my dad has and my older sister falls somewhere in between with a deep love but not as passionate as my dad and younger sister.
As soon as I got to Busboys & Poets and saw Mazi from “Words, Beats, & Life”, I was really excited for the presentation. I knew that it was going to be a panel discussion but I didn’t really know what that was going to be like. We have panels at my church at least once a month where all the pastors share on what we’ve been talking about in service and then they open the floor for questions, comments, and testimonies. I figured it would be similar but I wasn’t exactly sure. The discussion started with Casey Rob Hunter, from “Future of Music Coalition”, interviewing Peter De Cola, a law professor who had done a study on sampling and its effects on society. Peter had stated how he was first introduced to sampling on an airplane and quickly learned that sampling happens in every genre. That is what prompted him to do his study on sampling and see what people think about the topic, especially musicians. He gave a lot of insight that I didn’t know- because I’m essentially ignorant when it comes to this topic, because it isn’t public knowledge, or a mixture of both. Peter explained how music has two copyrights: sheet music/lyric copyrights and music/sound copyrights. “According to the 6th Circuit, no matter how much of the sound you take from a song, you can be sued unless there is Fair Use” he stated. I had been exposed to Fair Use very briefly last semester while I was making a video for my Community Leadership course. We were required to add a song to our video about our Experiential Learning project and we had to make sure we had permission to use the song. I had wanted to use a song that I felt really represented my project but wasn’t able to because of copyright and was forced to choose from the Fair Use websites my professor provided or from the music already given on iMovie.
Peter went on to talk about how specific people get with their music when it comes to sampling: “who can sample this”, “what will they do with it”. As I thought about it, it really did make sense to me that people would want that control since they work so hard to create it and don’t want it to be butchered by some other artist. It really is an example of leadership because as the author/creator of your music, you wouldn’t want it to be used for an artist or song that you don’t support. It’s one of the aspects we discussed a lot in class- how we need to be fully aware and involved in whatever our name is attached to in life.
After the interview, two DJs- DJ Robbie Rob and DJ Two-Tone Jones- joined Casey and Peter and they discussed the heavy influence that sampling has on Hip Hop. They discussed a lot of the pros and cons to sampling. Two-Tone Jones made the comment that people have learned about different genres of music because they heard it later in a hip hop song where it was sampled. When asked if the music can still be considered creative or artistic if it’s used samples of other music, Robbie Rob responded “It’s a work of art to sample and sample so well that people can’t even tell that you did.” I was talking to a friend of mine who is really into hip hop music and writes and records his own stuff the next day about the panel and he strongly agreed with that comment. He felt as though it’s almost harder to take something from somewhere else and transform it into something brand new that is still amazing and people have no idea that it was taken from this song or that genre. One of the cons was talking about technology and how it has oversaturated the market today allowing anyone to “make music” by simply downloading an AP on their iPhone. Two-Tone Jones stated how many people who were considered “legendary” didn’t have everything that people do today. Ultimately, sampling is a double-edged sword for the hip hop industry.
I really enjoyed this experience because it showed how leadership is truly all around us: from music to the more blatant leadership of being a manager to President. Everyone has the ability to make an impact in whatever “world” they are part of and making good leadership choices are essential.
As soon as I got to Busboys & Poets and saw Mazi from “Words, Beats, & Life”, I was really excited for the presentation. I knew that it was going to be a panel discussion but I didn’t really know what that was going to be like. We have panels at my church at least once a month where all the pastors share on what we’ve been talking about in service and then they open the floor for questions, comments, and testimonies. I figured it would be similar but I wasn’t exactly sure. The discussion started with Casey Rob Hunter, from “Future of Music Coalition”, interviewing Peter De Cola, a law professor who had done a study on sampling and its effects on society. Peter had stated how he was first introduced to sampling on an airplane and quickly learned that sampling happens in every genre. That is what prompted him to do his study on sampling and see what people think about the topic, especially musicians. He gave a lot of insight that I didn’t know- because I’m essentially ignorant when it comes to this topic, because it isn’t public knowledge, or a mixture of both. Peter explained how music has two copyrights: sheet music/lyric copyrights and music/sound copyrights. “According to the 6th Circuit, no matter how much of the sound you take from a song, you can be sued unless there is Fair Use” he stated. I had been exposed to Fair Use very briefly last semester while I was making a video for my Community Leadership course. We were required to add a song to our video about our Experiential Learning project and we had to make sure we had permission to use the song. I had wanted to use a song that I felt really represented my project but wasn’t able to because of copyright and was forced to choose from the Fair Use websites my professor provided or from the music already given on iMovie.
Peter went on to talk about how specific people get with their music when it comes to sampling: “who can sample this”, “what will they do with it”. As I thought about it, it really did make sense to me that people would want that control since they work so hard to create it and don’t want it to be butchered by some other artist. It really is an example of leadership because as the author/creator of your music, you wouldn’t want it to be used for an artist or song that you don’t support. It’s one of the aspects we discussed a lot in class- how we need to be fully aware and involved in whatever our name is attached to in life.
After the interview, two DJs- DJ Robbie Rob and DJ Two-Tone Jones- joined Casey and Peter and they discussed the heavy influence that sampling has on Hip Hop. They discussed a lot of the pros and cons to sampling. Two-Tone Jones made the comment that people have learned about different genres of music because they heard it later in a hip hop song where it was sampled. When asked if the music can still be considered creative or artistic if it’s used samples of other music, Robbie Rob responded “It’s a work of art to sample and sample so well that people can’t even tell that you did.” I was talking to a friend of mine who is really into hip hop music and writes and records his own stuff the next day about the panel and he strongly agreed with that comment. He felt as though it’s almost harder to take something from somewhere else and transform it into something brand new that is still amazing and people have no idea that it was taken from this song or that genre. One of the cons was talking about technology and how it has oversaturated the market today allowing anyone to “make music” by simply downloading an AP on their iPhone. Two-Tone Jones stated how many people who were considered “legendary” didn’t have everything that people do today. Ultimately, sampling is a double-edged sword for the hip hop industry.
I really enjoyed this experience because it showed how leadership is truly all around us: from music to the more blatant leadership of being a manager to President. Everyone has the ability to make an impact in whatever “world” they are part of and making good leadership choices are essential.
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Alchemist
1.) Discovering your Personal Legend
2.) The lesson would be a group discussion that would hopefully cause everyone to start thinking about their Personal Legend: whether they have discovered it or not, pursued it or ignored it. The discussion would ask questions like: "After reading this book, how many people feel as though they know what their Personal Legend is?" "How many people feel as though they know what it is but have been too afraid to pursue it for one reason or another?" "Out of the characters in the book searching for their Personal Legend, which can you most relate to?"
3.) This purpose of this exercise is to get people to start thinking about their lives and their purpose in life. As college students, the vast majority of us are searching for our Personal Legend if we haven’t already found it and this exercise will be beneficial to get us thinking about all the “omens” in our lives that we’ve been ignoring. I truly believe that God created everyone differently for a reason and that each of us has a job that only we can do.
4.) I believe that everyone can relate to one of three characters in the book: Santiago, the boy on his quest to fulfill his Personal Legend who goes; the crystal merchant, the man who knew what his Personal Legend was but was so paralyzed by his fear of change that he never pursued it; or the Englishmen, searching to discover his Personal Legend by studying other people. Everyone has their Melchizedek, caravan leader, and alchemist- these are the people that God places at different points in our lives to keep us heading down our path. They don’t give us the answers we are looking for but they cause us to discover the answers for ourselves. Their truths are brought to our minds continually either through circumstances or in the words of others. While we are on our Personal Legend, we will run into other people on the same quest that can very easily discourage us from persevering. When Santiago met the crystal merchant, he was at a very low point and had resolved to give up and go home. During his time with the crystal merchant, Santiago came to realize that this man hadn’t pursued his Personal Legend out of fear and it ultimately became the fire underneath Santiago to help him continue his quest and not settle like the merchant. The same way we can be hindered in our quest by others, we can try to walk out other people’s quests the way Englishman did without fully pursuing our own. He had to get past reading about things to experience things for himself. Every circumstance we find ourselves in is a learning one: from a shepherd, to a crystal merchant, to an oasis counselor. If we take the time to pay attention to what happens around us- the omens- we can be part of some amazing things. Ultimately I feel as though the personification of the heart, wind, sun, etc. represent our personal battle with ourselves and with God. The answers we need in life come from our relationship with God even though we have people who help us along the way to discover it. We need to look inside ourselves: listen to our conscious and the truths we have learned from our relationship with the Lord in order to fulfill our Personal Legend.
2.) The lesson would be a group discussion that would hopefully cause everyone to start thinking about their Personal Legend: whether they have discovered it or not, pursued it or ignored it. The discussion would ask questions like: "After reading this book, how many people feel as though they know what their Personal Legend is?" "How many people feel as though they know what it is but have been too afraid to pursue it for one reason or another?" "Out of the characters in the book searching for their Personal Legend, which can you most relate to?"
3.) This purpose of this exercise is to get people to start thinking about their lives and their purpose in life. As college students, the vast majority of us are searching for our Personal Legend if we haven’t already found it and this exercise will be beneficial to get us thinking about all the “omens” in our lives that we’ve been ignoring. I truly believe that God created everyone differently for a reason and that each of us has a job that only we can do.
4.) I believe that everyone can relate to one of three characters in the book: Santiago, the boy on his quest to fulfill his Personal Legend who goes; the crystal merchant, the man who knew what his Personal Legend was but was so paralyzed by his fear of change that he never pursued it; or the Englishmen, searching to discover his Personal Legend by studying other people. Everyone has their Melchizedek, caravan leader, and alchemist- these are the people that God places at different points in our lives to keep us heading down our path. They don’t give us the answers we are looking for but they cause us to discover the answers for ourselves. Their truths are brought to our minds continually either through circumstances or in the words of others. While we are on our Personal Legend, we will run into other people on the same quest that can very easily discourage us from persevering. When Santiago met the crystal merchant, he was at a very low point and had resolved to give up and go home. During his time with the crystal merchant, Santiago came to realize that this man hadn’t pursued his Personal Legend out of fear and it ultimately became the fire underneath Santiago to help him continue his quest and not settle like the merchant. The same way we can be hindered in our quest by others, we can try to walk out other people’s quests the way Englishman did without fully pursuing our own. He had to get past reading about things to experience things for himself. Every circumstance we find ourselves in is a learning one: from a shepherd, to a crystal merchant, to an oasis counselor. If we take the time to pay attention to what happens around us- the omens- we can be part of some amazing things. Ultimately I feel as though the personification of the heart, wind, sun, etc. represent our personal battle with ourselves and with God. The answers we need in life come from our relationship with God even though we have people who help us along the way to discover it. We need to look inside ourselves: listen to our conscious and the truths we have learned from our relationship with the Lord in order to fulfill our Personal Legend.
"The Forgotten Bomb" - Busboys & Poets Immersion
“The Forgotten Bomb” is a documentary about the atomic bomb that the US dropped on Japan, July 16, 1945, during World War II. The video showed people from both the United States and Japan and their responses to the event. The response was the same for many of the Americans interviewed in the film: dropping the bomb won us the war. However, consequently by dropping the nuclear bomb on Japan, the United States catapulted the world into the atomic age.
I really enjoyed this video because it shed a lot of light on not only the atomic bomb, but the events that surrounded the situation and the horrible repercussions of it. The consequences of negligent leadership were truly emphasized in this video. It is amazing how selfish we can be as human beings and sad to say, especially Americans! The video expounded on how the atomic bomb wasn’t as necessary to use as many people think. In fact, the world had a chance to get rid of the atomic bomb but President Truman ruined those chances. Our leaders didn’t know and, even worse, didn’t care to know what atomic bombs could do. It reminded me of what we talked about in class this past week about the responsibility for our leaders to know the meaning behind the symbols that they use and I think that this is an example of it. What the United States told the world by dropping the atomic bomb is that we will stop it nothing to win and appear the best. It doesn’t matter who we have to step on, how many innocent lives we will destroy- we WILL get our way at any cost of others. And what is even worse in my opinion, is that afterwards we will cover up how gruesome our behavior was so that the Americans will continue to be ignorant of what our country is capable of. The video talks about how many people are currently fighting to keep the effects of radiation a secret. The museums in the United States don’t show how intense the bombing was in Japan compared to Japanese museums which are incredibly graphic about what happened and how people were impacted. The exposure to the radiation caused survivors to be unrecognizable to others. Stories were told about how maggots were growing in and eating the flesh of people, how insides were completely destroyed and how people were forced to watch neighbors, friends, and loved ones die excruciating deaths without being able to help them.
I wonder how many of our leaders would have thought twice about dropping the bomb on Japan if they were forced to watch the video of the damage they would create in these lives. So often I feel as though we see things very generally: we are at war with this country. Do we ever stop to think that this “country” that we personify is made up of hundreds of thousands to millions of people just like us? The choice to drop a nuclear weapon on a country is choosing to destroy millions of human lives. I know that there are instances where people are going to be hurt, especially in a war. It is the responsibility of the country’s leaders to keep them safe, but at what point does it turn from self-defense to murder? Then at what point does it turn from a leadership issue to everyone’s issue? As we talked in class this week about responsibility, we also mentioned that it is our responsibility as the people to be educated on the issues so that we can correctly support or not support what our leaders’ decisions. Sometimes there is very little that the people can do to sway the opinions of leaders once in office, but during elections we have all the power. We need to take the time to learn about our leaders so we can place the right person in office: the person who stands for the same things that we do and who we know will accurately represent us in this world. But for now, we can still make a stand. The effects of radiation are a serious matter. Many workers right here in the United States have died due to the exposure of radiation. The video gave numerous contacts that are fighting against these issues that people can support. Once we are exposed to a situation, we have a responsibility to speak out against it if we don’t agree with it. The purpose of the documentary was to expose nuclear weapons for the terror that they are so that people can help put an end to their use. It’s risky exposing the government and our leaders the way that this video did, but you have to take risks if you want change. It always amazes me the common theme throughout all the key players in any significant change and that is their ability to stick their necks out for what they believe. The response for the video at Busboys & Poets alone was phenomenal and I can only assume that it is continuing to grow as the video is spread throughout the nation and it is all because one man’s conviction.
I really enjoyed this video because it shed a lot of light on not only the atomic bomb, but the events that surrounded the situation and the horrible repercussions of it. The consequences of negligent leadership were truly emphasized in this video. It is amazing how selfish we can be as human beings and sad to say, especially Americans! The video expounded on how the atomic bomb wasn’t as necessary to use as many people think. In fact, the world had a chance to get rid of the atomic bomb but President Truman ruined those chances. Our leaders didn’t know and, even worse, didn’t care to know what atomic bombs could do. It reminded me of what we talked about in class this past week about the responsibility for our leaders to know the meaning behind the symbols that they use and I think that this is an example of it. What the United States told the world by dropping the atomic bomb is that we will stop it nothing to win and appear the best. It doesn’t matter who we have to step on, how many innocent lives we will destroy- we WILL get our way at any cost of others. And what is even worse in my opinion, is that afterwards we will cover up how gruesome our behavior was so that the Americans will continue to be ignorant of what our country is capable of. The video talks about how many people are currently fighting to keep the effects of radiation a secret. The museums in the United States don’t show how intense the bombing was in Japan compared to Japanese museums which are incredibly graphic about what happened and how people were impacted. The exposure to the radiation caused survivors to be unrecognizable to others. Stories were told about how maggots were growing in and eating the flesh of people, how insides were completely destroyed and how people were forced to watch neighbors, friends, and loved ones die excruciating deaths without being able to help them.
I wonder how many of our leaders would have thought twice about dropping the bomb on Japan if they were forced to watch the video of the damage they would create in these lives. So often I feel as though we see things very generally: we are at war with this country. Do we ever stop to think that this “country” that we personify is made up of hundreds of thousands to millions of people just like us? The choice to drop a nuclear weapon on a country is choosing to destroy millions of human lives. I know that there are instances where people are going to be hurt, especially in a war. It is the responsibility of the country’s leaders to keep them safe, but at what point does it turn from self-defense to murder? Then at what point does it turn from a leadership issue to everyone’s issue? As we talked in class this week about responsibility, we also mentioned that it is our responsibility as the people to be educated on the issues so that we can correctly support or not support what our leaders’ decisions. Sometimes there is very little that the people can do to sway the opinions of leaders once in office, but during elections we have all the power. We need to take the time to learn about our leaders so we can place the right person in office: the person who stands for the same things that we do and who we know will accurately represent us in this world. But for now, we can still make a stand. The effects of radiation are a serious matter. Many workers right here in the United States have died due to the exposure of radiation. The video gave numerous contacts that are fighting against these issues that people can support. Once we are exposed to a situation, we have a responsibility to speak out against it if we don’t agree with it. The purpose of the documentary was to expose nuclear weapons for the terror that they are so that people can help put an end to their use. It’s risky exposing the government and our leaders the way that this video did, but you have to take risks if you want change. It always amazes me the common theme throughout all the key players in any significant change and that is their ability to stick their necks out for what they believe. The response for the video at Busboys & Poets alone was phenomenal and I can only assume that it is continuing to grow as the video is spread throughout the nation and it is all because one man’s conviction.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
"Pushing the Elephant" - Busboys & Poets Immersion
“Pushing the Elephant” is a documentary about Rose Mapendo: a Congolese Tutsis who was in a refugee camp during the 1996 war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and her story of forgiveness. Rose was married, the mother of eight children, and pregnant with twins when she entered into the refugee camp. One of her daughters, Nangbire, was forced to live with her grandparents when Rose and the rest of the family moved because in their home city the women do everything and the grandfather wouldn’t take one of the many sons. Nangbire was separated from her family from the age of four: although this spared her from the refugee camp, this separation was the cause of many personal issues for Nangbire later in life.
While Rose was in the camp, her husband was killed and she began to curse God for what had happened to her family. At some point, Rose came to the realization that her bitterness was a choice and that it was only making things worse. She made the choice to forgive her enemies and not let the bitterness and anger continue to destroy her. When she gave birth to her twins in the camp, she decided to name them after the commanders who had killed her husband because it was the biggest demonstration of love that could be shown in her country.
After her husband died, her oldest son John became the “father” of the family. When the soldiers came to kill John, Rose begged them for mercy and asked if there was anything that she could do to spare her son’s life. The soldier told her that if she gave him her oldest daughter, Aimee, that he would spare John’s life. Rose gathered John and Aimee together and told them both about the situation. Aimee told her mother that she would sacrifice herself to save her brother’s life and was ultimately raped and became pregnant in order to do so. The situation was later turned for good as it was the same soldier that got Aimee pregnant who helped deliver the Mapendo family from the refugee camp.
Rose, who now lives in the US, travels around the world telling her story of forgiveness. She shares about the struggles her family faced and encourages 1) the people who have/are facing similar circumstances to not be bitter, but love their enemies and 2) the people who have the ability to make a change in these countries to do so. Her focus is on unity, reconciliation, and peace- not on retaliation. Rose explains how change is like pushing an elephant: one person can’t move an elephant alone, but many people can move it together and it is the same for change. As people band together they have the ability to make a drastic change for the better.
I was really inspired by Rose’s story as I always am with people who overcome such major life circumstances. The most impressive and encouraging part of Rose’s story for me was her strong emphasis on forgiveness. I can’t even imagine having to face what she did and then having the ability to love and forgive her enemies. It is a principle that is stated all over the Bible: “love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you” and Rose was the perfect example of practically applying that. I believe that there are many ways to make a change in this world and anger and retaliation is very often the most popular method. Rarely do you see people killing others with kindness and pursuing change in a way where they aren’t stepping over others to get it. I am the biggest proponent of leading by example and that is what Rose did by forgiving her enemies and then using her experience to bring awareness to the world. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for her after she moved to the US either. When Rose was finally reunited with her daughter Nangbire, she had to balance work and her family since Nangbire especially needed a lot of attention. In her story they showed the reality of how in life we have to choose between important things. What Rose did was rather than pick one over the other she brought Nangbire with her on some of her speeches and presentations. She not only gave her daughter the attention that she needed, she was also able to show her daughter how important it is for them to be strong role models for the world. Their story is so important and the fact that her mom takes the time to share it with people has a lasting impact on many lives. There were times where Rose’s son would also try to discourage her from going places to share out of fear for her safety but she explained that very truth to him about their responsibility to speak out against the war. The courage that Rose depicts is astounding because she is living what she is preaching. She is showing even her children how necessary it is to truly fight for change. The documentary shows the family constantly praying for the war to end in the Congo and Rose is taking it a step further and doing all that she knows to do. She knows that the future is in the hands of the Lord, but she also realizes her responsibility to be an example in word and deed. As she continues to speak out at seminars and travel the world telling her story of forgiveness and change, Rose is able to continuously gather more people to help push the elephant of change for the Congo.
While Rose was in the camp, her husband was killed and she began to curse God for what had happened to her family. At some point, Rose came to the realization that her bitterness was a choice and that it was only making things worse. She made the choice to forgive her enemies and not let the bitterness and anger continue to destroy her. When she gave birth to her twins in the camp, she decided to name them after the commanders who had killed her husband because it was the biggest demonstration of love that could be shown in her country.
After her husband died, her oldest son John became the “father” of the family. When the soldiers came to kill John, Rose begged them for mercy and asked if there was anything that she could do to spare her son’s life. The soldier told her that if she gave him her oldest daughter, Aimee, that he would spare John’s life. Rose gathered John and Aimee together and told them both about the situation. Aimee told her mother that she would sacrifice herself to save her brother’s life and was ultimately raped and became pregnant in order to do so. The situation was later turned for good as it was the same soldier that got Aimee pregnant who helped deliver the Mapendo family from the refugee camp.
Rose, who now lives in the US, travels around the world telling her story of forgiveness. She shares about the struggles her family faced and encourages 1) the people who have/are facing similar circumstances to not be bitter, but love their enemies and 2) the people who have the ability to make a change in these countries to do so. Her focus is on unity, reconciliation, and peace- not on retaliation. Rose explains how change is like pushing an elephant: one person can’t move an elephant alone, but many people can move it together and it is the same for change. As people band together they have the ability to make a drastic change for the better.
I was really inspired by Rose’s story as I always am with people who overcome such major life circumstances. The most impressive and encouraging part of Rose’s story for me was her strong emphasis on forgiveness. I can’t even imagine having to face what she did and then having the ability to love and forgive her enemies. It is a principle that is stated all over the Bible: “love your enemies, do good to those who persecute you” and Rose was the perfect example of practically applying that. I believe that there are many ways to make a change in this world and anger and retaliation is very often the most popular method. Rarely do you see people killing others with kindness and pursuing change in a way where they aren’t stepping over others to get it. I am the biggest proponent of leading by example and that is what Rose did by forgiving her enemies and then using her experience to bring awareness to the world. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for her after she moved to the US either. When Rose was finally reunited with her daughter Nangbire, she had to balance work and her family since Nangbire especially needed a lot of attention. In her story they showed the reality of how in life we have to choose between important things. What Rose did was rather than pick one over the other she brought Nangbire with her on some of her speeches and presentations. She not only gave her daughter the attention that she needed, she was also able to show her daughter how important it is for them to be strong role models for the world. Their story is so important and the fact that her mom takes the time to share it with people has a lasting impact on many lives. There were times where Rose’s son would also try to discourage her from going places to share out of fear for her safety but she explained that very truth to him about their responsibility to speak out against the war. The courage that Rose depicts is astounding because she is living what she is preaching. She is showing even her children how necessary it is to truly fight for change. The documentary shows the family constantly praying for the war to end in the Congo and Rose is taking it a step further and doing all that she knows to do. She knows that the future is in the hands of the Lord, but she also realizes her responsibility to be an example in word and deed. As she continues to speak out at seminars and travel the world telling her story of forgiveness and change, Rose is able to continuously gather more people to help push the elephant of change for the Congo.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Culture Night: Hellenic Society & Italian Club
When I went to this event, I was really excited to learn about Greece and Italy. All that I really know about them is that they have good food and gorgeous scenery, but I was really looking forward to learning more about their culture. I even brought a friend with me to the event because he is really into different cultures and languages. I knew that we would both have a great time. Boy was I wrong...
The description of the event said that we would be learning about both cultures and that we would be exposed to their music, dance, food, and other entertainment. When we went into Dewberry Hall, the lights were turned down very low. The music was blasting, along with the DJ, as if we were in a club. I figured that maybe it was just the "introduction" as everyone ate before the activities started. There was a slide-show behind the DJ that had pictures of Greece and Italy and there were also a few articles of clothing spread out on a table. They had pastas, Greek salad, and a few other items that were specifically from those countries. My friend and I each made ourselves plates and sat down at the tables that were spread out. The food was really good and we both went back for more. We sat and talked for a while while we waited for things to start. After about an hour with nothing happening,my friend had to leave for class. I stayed a while longer waiting for something to happen until I finally went up and asked the instructors if anything else was going to be happening besides the music blasting and people sitting around doing nothing. They told me that a few people were going to be performing some music but for the most part it was going to just be that the entire night. I sat back down and continued to wait until the DJ made an announcement talking about how they were going to be turning up and the music and encouraging everyone to come out on the dance floor and dance the night away. I was pretty amazed at hearing that. I had noticed that the event was scheduled for 6 pm - 12 am and of course I thought that that was a pretty long time but never did I think that it was simply a dance party. After the announcement I left because I had another meeting to attend but I planned to come back. When I came back an hour and a half later, the music was blasting even louder, the lights were off but there were colored spot lights on the dance floor, and people were dancing. I could tell from everything that was going on that this was simply a dance party so I left.
I have to say that I was really disappointed with this because I feel as though this club really missed out on a great opportunity to expose their culture to their attendants. Maybe I was the only oblivious one who came expecting to learn something about Greece and Italy, but there were older adults at the event as well who I'd assume were expecting a different experience. I walked away with nothing except some pasta in my stomach. Although at first I was just really upset about the experience, I am happy that this was the even I attended. All semester long I've had great experiences learning about people who did things right and made the most of opportunities that they had, but this time I was able to see a time where the leaders DIDN'T use their time to the fullest. How often do you have a big audience of people in front of you coming to learn about culture- YOUR culture- something that you supposedly take a lot of pride in? All I could think about was how if that were the Chilean women, Anita Hill, Tupac, Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou or any of the other people I've learned about this semester and they had the chance to talk to people about their culture, there is no way that they would just throw a dance party and not take full advantage of educating people on their culture. It really showed me the necessity of everything I've been hearing from my professor and our guest speakers as they've been emphasizing the need to truly DO something. Make a stand- make a change- don't just waste the time and opportunities that I'm given. As much as I learn from the good events, I take a lot more away from the ones that fall short because it really stirs me to make sure that I never squander my chances because you never know when it's the only chance you will have!
The description of the event said that we would be learning about both cultures and that we would be exposed to their music, dance, food, and other entertainment. When we went into Dewberry Hall, the lights were turned down very low. The music was blasting, along with the DJ, as if we were in a club. I figured that maybe it was just the "introduction" as everyone ate before the activities started. There was a slide-show behind the DJ that had pictures of Greece and Italy and there were also a few articles of clothing spread out on a table. They had pastas, Greek salad, and a few other items that were specifically from those countries. My friend and I each made ourselves plates and sat down at the tables that were spread out. The food was really good and we both went back for more. We sat and talked for a while while we waited for things to start. After about an hour with nothing happening,my friend had to leave for class. I stayed a while longer waiting for something to happen until I finally went up and asked the instructors if anything else was going to be happening besides the music blasting and people sitting around doing nothing. They told me that a few people were going to be performing some music but for the most part it was going to just be that the entire night. I sat back down and continued to wait until the DJ made an announcement talking about how they were going to be turning up and the music and encouraging everyone to come out on the dance floor and dance the night away. I was pretty amazed at hearing that. I had noticed that the event was scheduled for 6 pm - 12 am and of course I thought that that was a pretty long time but never did I think that it was simply a dance party. After the announcement I left because I had another meeting to attend but I planned to come back. When I came back an hour and a half later, the music was blasting even louder, the lights were off but there were colored spot lights on the dance floor, and people were dancing. I could tell from everything that was going on that this was simply a dance party so I left.
I have to say that I was really disappointed with this because I feel as though this club really missed out on a great opportunity to expose their culture to their attendants. Maybe I was the only oblivious one who came expecting to learn something about Greece and Italy, but there were older adults at the event as well who I'd assume were expecting a different experience. I walked away with nothing except some pasta in my stomach. Although at first I was just really upset about the experience, I am happy that this was the even I attended. All semester long I've had great experiences learning about people who did things right and made the most of opportunities that they had, but this time I was able to see a time where the leaders DIDN'T use their time to the fullest. How often do you have a big audience of people in front of you coming to learn about culture- YOUR culture- something that you supposedly take a lot of pride in? All I could think about was how if that were the Chilean women, Anita Hill, Tupac, Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou or any of the other people I've learned about this semester and they had the chance to talk to people about their culture, there is no way that they would just throw a dance party and not take full advantage of educating people on their culture. It really showed me the necessity of everything I've been hearing from my professor and our guest speakers as they've been emphasizing the need to truly DO something. Make a stand- make a change- don't just waste the time and opportunities that I'm given. As much as I learn from the good events, I take a lot more away from the ones that fall short because it really stirs me to make sure that I never squander my chances because you never know when it's the only chance you will have!
Threads of Hope
I didn't know too much about what happened in Chile until I attended this event. This movie, "Threads of Hope", was part of the Global Justice film series and it was about the women of Santiago, Chile who make arpilleras (patchwork fabrics depicting the events) in the hopes of finding their lost loved ones: sons, husbands, and brothers. The military had taken these men prisoners during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990) but never admitted that they had taken them. The arperillas were made and sold with letters inside to expose the world to the horror that was raging in Chile. As people in other countries began seeing the arperillas and everything that was going on during this time period, they were able to help stop the dictatorship and support the change. Now, years later, as the government still refuses to admit their major role in this horrible event, the women desire closure and long to at least be able to bury the bodies of their loved ones properly.
Anytime I watch or hear about events where people are being tortured and oppressed (physically and emotionally) it makes my heart sink as I imagine it does for most people. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that those people felt during this time. Both sides, male and female, were horrible but my heart goes out so much for the women because the large part of the pain is the mystery. The uncertainty that they had to battle every day- "where are they?", "how badly have they been beaten?","are they alive?", "are they dead?" But the amazing part was how these women turned all of their pain and anger into determination. They chose to not just sit there and let the government get away with this destruction of human rights. They weren't able to physically fight the military, but they did what they could: they made arperillas! And their little pieces of cloth played a major role in putting an end to the dictatorship in their country. It is so inspirational because it shows that you don't need to have the biggest or best to make a difference. You can make a difference with whatever seemingly small or unimportant gifts that you have. The main ingredient is determination- the willingness to sacrifice and give your life for the cause you are supporting. These women would protest publicly whenever they were able despite their old age. They undoubtedly shame many of us younger people who don't even have the heart to stand up for what we believe when there are no consequences. These women risked their lives and were physically attacked for their cause, yet they prevailed. They never quit, they didn't back down- they did what they needed to do to make change happen.
God forbid that I ever have to face anything similar to what they did, but it isn't impossible! Would I have the conviction to put everything, even my life, on the line for my cause? I was cringing as I watched all that they had to endure and at that moment I was really doubting if I had it in me. It's why I'm so thankful for God who promises that He won't put us through anything that we can't endure. Therefore if I ever have to face something to that magnitude I can stand assure that I am able to stand with God on my side and that He will give me the strength to prevail. I know that those women probably NEVER would have guessed that they would be able to do what they did, but the hardships of this life make us stronger and build character in us that we never would have got without them.
Anytime I watch or hear about events where people are being tortured and oppressed (physically and emotionally) it makes my heart sink as I imagine it does for most people. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that those people felt during this time. Both sides, male and female, were horrible but my heart goes out so much for the women because the large part of the pain is the mystery. The uncertainty that they had to battle every day- "where are they?", "how badly have they been beaten?","are they alive?", "are they dead?" But the amazing part was how these women turned all of their pain and anger into determination. They chose to not just sit there and let the government get away with this destruction of human rights. They weren't able to physically fight the military, but they did what they could: they made arperillas! And their little pieces of cloth played a major role in putting an end to the dictatorship in their country. It is so inspirational because it shows that you don't need to have the biggest or best to make a difference. You can make a difference with whatever seemingly small or unimportant gifts that you have. The main ingredient is determination- the willingness to sacrifice and give your life for the cause you are supporting. These women would protest publicly whenever they were able despite their old age. They undoubtedly shame many of us younger people who don't even have the heart to stand up for what we believe when there are no consequences. These women risked their lives and were physically attacked for their cause, yet they prevailed. They never quit, they didn't back down- they did what they needed to do to make change happen.
God forbid that I ever have to face anything similar to what they did, but it isn't impossible! Would I have the conviction to put everything, even my life, on the line for my cause? I was cringing as I watched all that they had to endure and at that moment I was really doubting if I had it in me. It's why I'm so thankful for God who promises that He won't put us through anything that we can't endure. Therefore if I ever have to face something to that magnitude I can stand assure that I am able to stand with God on my side and that He will give me the strength to prevail. I know that those women probably NEVER would have guessed that they would be able to do what they did, but the hardships of this life make us stronger and build character in us that we never would have got without them.
Sojourner Truth Lecture: Anita Hill
I really enjoyed going to Anita Hill's lecture, "Re-imagining Equality: Gender, Race and Finding Home in America". Sadly, I wasn't too aware of who Anita Hill was going into the presentation. I may have heard about her before, but I honestly didn't remember.
The issue of sexual harassment is such a major one, especially in the workplace. For the longest time, people weren't speaking up about for a number of reasons I'm sure: too afraid, too ashamed, knowledge that nothing would happen if they did so why even bother. But Anita Hill made a stand that many other people, especially women, didn't make at that time: she spoke out. For years women had simply suffered in silence, but because of her boldness and willingness to risk everything for the basic human rights of everyone in the workplace, now women have a voice to speak out. What Anita really emphasized was the need to rejoice in improvement. Of course we shouldn't settle for just improvement when the issue is still at hand, but too often we forget to celebrate the victorious battles even though the war is raging. It is going to take years to overcome all the years of oppression, harassment, etc. in the workplace, much less the nation or world; but the encouragement is really needed for people to continue fighting.
Anita's speech was more of a rally in my opinion. She was encouraging all of us to rally together for this cause and begin to do our part to make change happen. "We need people who are fearless and better legislators" - said Anita. "We need to not be able to have people file a claim when they are sexually harassed, but assure them that they won't need to file a claim!" That second quote really hit me and inside I was like "YOU'RE RIGHT!!!" The point isn't to make sure that people get justice when they are harassed or attacked (although that is definitely the first step), the point is to make sure that harassment is ended in the workplace altogether. As she was closing Anita said "If you're really committed to a change, it has to be a lifetime one!" and I really liked that statement because so often we get rallied and excited for a cause and we start pursuing for a while and then slowly it dies off and we go right back to normal. The commitment Anita made was for life: a lifetime devotion to fighting sexual harassment in the workplace. She is fighting through her speeches and campaigns and other similar means. Not all of us will have the opportunity to reach out in that way, but we can make a lifetime commitment to fight for the important issues in our lives through our actions such as: supporting (or not supporting) specific organizations, people, etc. It's always encouraging to see people like me, African-American women, making a difference in the world simply through their boldness. It really encourages me to do the same!
The issue of sexual harassment is such a major one, especially in the workplace. For the longest time, people weren't speaking up about for a number of reasons I'm sure: too afraid, too ashamed, knowledge that nothing would happen if they did so why even bother. But Anita Hill made a stand that many other people, especially women, didn't make at that time: she spoke out. For years women had simply suffered in silence, but because of her boldness and willingness to risk everything for the basic human rights of everyone in the workplace, now women have a voice to speak out. What Anita really emphasized was the need to rejoice in improvement. Of course we shouldn't settle for just improvement when the issue is still at hand, but too often we forget to celebrate the victorious battles even though the war is raging. It is going to take years to overcome all the years of oppression, harassment, etc. in the workplace, much less the nation or world; but the encouragement is really needed for people to continue fighting.
Anita's speech was more of a rally in my opinion. She was encouraging all of us to rally together for this cause and begin to do our part to make change happen. "We need people who are fearless and better legislators" - said Anita. "We need to not be able to have people file a claim when they are sexually harassed, but assure them that they won't need to file a claim!" That second quote really hit me and inside I was like "YOU'RE RIGHT!!!" The point isn't to make sure that people get justice when they are harassed or attacked (although that is definitely the first step), the point is to make sure that harassment is ended in the workplace altogether. As she was closing Anita said "If you're really committed to a change, it has to be a lifetime one!" and I really liked that statement because so often we get rallied and excited for a cause and we start pursuing for a while and then slowly it dies off and we go right back to normal. The commitment Anita made was for life: a lifetime devotion to fighting sexual harassment in the workplace. She is fighting through her speeches and campaigns and other similar means. Not all of us will have the opportunity to reach out in that way, but we can make a lifetime commitment to fight for the important issues in our lives through our actions such as: supporting (or not supporting) specific organizations, people, etc. It's always encouraging to see people like me, African-American women, making a difference in the world simply through their boldness. It really encourages me to do the same!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Master Class- Maya Angelou
Proverbs 18:16 says that a man's gifts make room for him and that is exactly what comes to mind as I think about Maya Angelou. Here is a woman who had her share of major life battles, but rather than allow them to defeat her she was able to overcome with the help of her family and mentors. The law of attraction is a choice to not let the issues of life hinder you from becoming the person you were created to be. No one has the ability to control what is going to happen in life and if people think they do then they are crazy. But what everyone does have control over is how they are going to respond to the circumstances that come their way. Success didn't come to Maya because she "wished" it would, the success that she has had comes from her determination to look for the "rainbow in the clouds". She doesn't focus on the negatives of life, instead she looks for the rainbows which are the opportunities to grow despite the opposition.
Everyone has gifts and talents and strong potential, but not everyone uses them to their fullest. People like Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein, and countless others didn't have some great power that is unattainable for the rest of us. Yes- many of these people had gifts of writing, communication, intelligence, and other things that not everyone possess, but their biggest strength was their drive and determination. They made the choice to take risks, to get up when they were knocked down, to make sacrifices that honestly the majority of us are not willing to make. I really liked one of the statements that Maya made: "You can only become great at the thing that you are willing to sacrifice for." It is a truth that you see all around us. The great athletes, writers, speakers, etc. are all the people that gave up relationships, specific foods, a social life, and other luxuries to attain to achieve their high goals. Maya could have made the choice to remain a mute for the rest of her life and succumb to her fears, but instead she choice to become the person she was meant to be.
When I think about "leading with a spirit of love" in reference to Maya Angelou, I immediately think about her mother and grandmother and the large impact that both played on her life by their love. Once she returned to her grandmother after becoming a mute, her grandmother led her by love through her encouragement. She wasn't forcing her to start speaking again, although that was something she wanted and knew would eventually happen. What her grandmother did was continually remind Maya of the gifts that God had given her that would make her important in the world. The love of her grandmother and her mentor that introduced her to poetry was what ultimately set her free from her bond to silence. "Love liberates" was the phrase Maya repeated over and over as she talked about her relationship with her mom later in her life. The love her mom showed to her whenever she fell or was beat down by the world was what gave her the power to go back out and try again. The confidence that her loved ones showed Maya was what led her to become the great poet, author, and woman that she is. They never told her what to do, they simply encouraged her to do what she had been raised to do: "do right". Not only that, but Maya took that same spirit of love and turned it towards everyone she came in contact with. The wisdom she has about the power of words and how they can destroy or uplift people is rare in the world. What is even more impressive about Maya is that not only does she have that wisdom for herself, she holds the rest of the people she associates with to the same standard. She doesn't allow slander in her house and around her and she reproves in love. She is gentle and that's how she leads.
Everyone has gifts and talents and strong potential, but not everyone uses them to their fullest. People like Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King, Albert Einstein, and countless others didn't have some great power that is unattainable for the rest of us. Yes- many of these people had gifts of writing, communication, intelligence, and other things that not everyone possess, but their biggest strength was their drive and determination. They made the choice to take risks, to get up when they were knocked down, to make sacrifices that honestly the majority of us are not willing to make. I really liked one of the statements that Maya made: "You can only become great at the thing that you are willing to sacrifice for." It is a truth that you see all around us. The great athletes, writers, speakers, etc. are all the people that gave up relationships, specific foods, a social life, and other luxuries to attain to achieve their high goals. Maya could have made the choice to remain a mute for the rest of her life and succumb to her fears, but instead she choice to become the person she was meant to be.
When I think about "leading with a spirit of love" in reference to Maya Angelou, I immediately think about her mother and grandmother and the large impact that both played on her life by their love. Once she returned to her grandmother after becoming a mute, her grandmother led her by love through her encouragement. She wasn't forcing her to start speaking again, although that was something she wanted and knew would eventually happen. What her grandmother did was continually remind Maya of the gifts that God had given her that would make her important in the world. The love of her grandmother and her mentor that introduced her to poetry was what ultimately set her free from her bond to silence. "Love liberates" was the phrase Maya repeated over and over as she talked about her relationship with her mom later in her life. The love her mom showed to her whenever she fell or was beat down by the world was what gave her the power to go back out and try again. The confidence that her loved ones showed Maya was what led her to become the great poet, author, and woman that she is. They never told her what to do, they simply encouraged her to do what she had been raised to do: "do right". Not only that, but Maya took that same spirit of love and turned it towards everyone she came in contact with. The wisdom she has about the power of words and how they can destroy or uplift people is rare in the world. What is even more impressive about Maya is that not only does she have that wisdom for herself, she holds the rest of the people she associates with to the same standard. She doesn't allow slander in her house and around her and she reproves in love. She is gentle and that's how she leads.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"What the Bleep Do We Know", "Hidden Messages in the Water", & "The Secret"
These videos were interesting to me for a number of reasons. From the title alone, I wasn't exactly sure what the videos were going to be about but I've come to realize that I can't really be prepared for anything in this class. The first video had my mind reeling from the start simply from trying to comprehend everything that was being said. I'm not sure if it was my mind having trouble following or what, but it seemed as though things were jumping around a lot. The first concept I was grasping was "why are we here?" and for me that it is probably the easiest question to answer: we are here because God created us, along with the rest of the world, to praise and give Him glory. Whenever I hear that question I have mixed feelings because on one hand I know what the truth and the answer to the question is so I don't relate to the people who are continually searching for the answer, but on the other hand I'm not surprised that people spend their entire lives searching for the answer to that question. It is the question that you ponder in the early morning as you are watching the sunrise or any other indescribably breath-taking view. It's the question that prevents you from going to sleep some nights as you lay there wrestling with the reality that there is a power- a supernatural being- that longs for you to have a relationship with Him. The fact is that people don't like the truth because it requires a surrendering of their lives in ways that they aren't willing to surrender. As a result, many people search and search for an even "deeper" meaning to life and rather than embracing the truth they feel better about saying "there is no way to know for sure" or "everyone makes their own answer". Many people (and I believe that I would fall into this category if I wasn't a Christian) are content in their ignorance and don't like to go down the intellectual paths that these videos take you down. When you find an answer you are then confronted with a responsibility to act on your findings. You are held accountable for what you know, therefore ignorance is very often bliss! We don't want to think about eternity or the true meaning of life because that will take away from me completely indulging myself right now. Everyone will, if they haven't already, heard the answer to that great question of "why are we here?" but the reality is that the vast majority CHOOSE to reject the answer to it. The fact is that there are many, many, MANY different philosophies and concepts and things that honestly go way over my head about life and this world and sadly they are just rabbit holes that continually send people farther and farther away from the Creator of the Universe and their souls. When I see videos like these I don't get angry or upset- I definitely don't entertain the majority of what they are saying because I already know the truth- but it opens my eyes to just how many different world views are out there as a wisely crafted diversion from the truth.
One aspect that I think they nailed on the head was when they were talking about the complexity of the mind and body. The Bible speaks about how we as humans are fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God. I completely agree with the narrators when they spoke about how there are so many things of this world that we couldn't even begin to comprehend. The truth is that our finite minds can't fully grasp the infinite wonder of God's creation. He gives us glimpses and that alone is enough to blow our minds! Even as the "Hidden Messages in the Water" video depicted, it is almost frightening what our minds can do. How we can take things and completely change reality in our mind to dictate specific circumstances or view points that we have. One of the speakers mentioned how it is foolish to try to dive into the complexity of these things because the more we try, the farther into the rabbit hole we will fall and I believe that completely. Knowledge is a two-edged sword in my opinion. It is a great and powerful thing that gives us insight and illumination about things that we often times need a little explanation in order to act appropriately. But there is such thing as too much knowledge. I've seen it many times where people, especially young adults in college, have allowed knowledge and information change the way they think about life. They begin to over analyze things and basic truths ultimately get turned into major philosophical issues. I consider myself blessed that I've never had an insane hunger for knowledge because I see how it can destroy people if it isn't controlled. The Bible says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". As a Christian, our entire lives are to be lived by faith. We will never understand God and I believe that that's a main reason why people choose not to believe in Him. I don't have to see or touch God to know that He is real but that is the opposite of a lot of the sciences of today. Everything has to be proven and understandable in order to be real. Now don't get me wrong- God is MORE than able to prove His power and I believe that the world is going to be exposed to the power of God in ways that they haven't been to this point. We are seeing it now with the natural disasters and the issues in the Middle East and there is much more to come as He prepares to send Jesus back for the church of Christ. But faith is such a foreign concept to our generation and we are instructed to search and study and only do things that we completely understand and I have to say that I can't do that as a Christian.
The law of attraction was also interesting. Once again, I feel as though it is a concept that has been twisted in order to remove God from the picture and rather than admit that there is a sovereign God who orders every person's steps it states that the universe is making things happen based off our attitudes. This concept I'm going to probably pick apart the most because there are underlying truths mentioned in it, but I don't believe it the way it was stated in the video. I don't believe in coincidence or fate- I'm definitely guilty of using those words from time to time but I know that they aren't real. Nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission and everything happens for a reason. Now, I can't even pretend to start answering all the questions about why there is rape, abuse, molestation, natural disasters that kill thousands or any of the horrible things that are in the world. All I can say is what I do know and that is that God works all things together for good and that He is always in control of each and every situation. Even though God is always in control and nothing can thwart His will for each of our lives, we do have choices. We have the choice to react certain ways to circumstances or to view the world positively or negatively. I can say from personal experience that the majority of times when I see the world the way they describe in the video- negatively and focusing on bad things- is when I'm completely absorbed with myself. But once I stop focusing on myself and get my eyes on God and as a result on helping others, the things that seemed so huge and personal "suddenly" disappear. I don't believe that simply by strongly wanting something I can attract it to myself. I DO believe that God will answer us according to the things that are our treasures and therefore know how important it is to have the right treasures. But if I could get what I wanted simply by wanting it then my life would be extremely different right now. I believe that we have the ability to make changes for the better in our lives, but they don't come because we focus on them really hard and then "the universe" gives them to us. Many people are dedicated and driven and have succeed because of those personality traits. I think people confuse what people take for themselves with "blessings". "The universe" will do nothing for us: we have the option to either 1) put our faith in God and receive His blessings as a result of our obedience to Him, or 2) go out and get what we want using our personalities, character traits, and ambitions.
One aspect that I think they nailed on the head was when they were talking about the complexity of the mind and body. The Bible speaks about how we as humans are fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God. I completely agree with the narrators when they spoke about how there are so many things of this world that we couldn't even begin to comprehend. The truth is that our finite minds can't fully grasp the infinite wonder of God's creation. He gives us glimpses and that alone is enough to blow our minds! Even as the "Hidden Messages in the Water" video depicted, it is almost frightening what our minds can do. How we can take things and completely change reality in our mind to dictate specific circumstances or view points that we have. One of the speakers mentioned how it is foolish to try to dive into the complexity of these things because the more we try, the farther into the rabbit hole we will fall and I believe that completely. Knowledge is a two-edged sword in my opinion. It is a great and powerful thing that gives us insight and illumination about things that we often times need a little explanation in order to act appropriately. But there is such thing as too much knowledge. I've seen it many times where people, especially young adults in college, have allowed knowledge and information change the way they think about life. They begin to over analyze things and basic truths ultimately get turned into major philosophical issues. I consider myself blessed that I've never had an insane hunger for knowledge because I see how it can destroy people if it isn't controlled. The Bible says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". As a Christian, our entire lives are to be lived by faith. We will never understand God and I believe that that's a main reason why people choose not to believe in Him. I don't have to see or touch God to know that He is real but that is the opposite of a lot of the sciences of today. Everything has to be proven and understandable in order to be real. Now don't get me wrong- God is MORE than able to prove His power and I believe that the world is going to be exposed to the power of God in ways that they haven't been to this point. We are seeing it now with the natural disasters and the issues in the Middle East and there is much more to come as He prepares to send Jesus back for the church of Christ. But faith is such a foreign concept to our generation and we are instructed to search and study and only do things that we completely understand and I have to say that I can't do that as a Christian.
The law of attraction was also interesting. Once again, I feel as though it is a concept that has been twisted in order to remove God from the picture and rather than admit that there is a sovereign God who orders every person's steps it states that the universe is making things happen based off our attitudes. This concept I'm going to probably pick apart the most because there are underlying truths mentioned in it, but I don't believe it the way it was stated in the video. I don't believe in coincidence or fate- I'm definitely guilty of using those words from time to time but I know that they aren't real. Nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission and everything happens for a reason. Now, I can't even pretend to start answering all the questions about why there is rape, abuse, molestation, natural disasters that kill thousands or any of the horrible things that are in the world. All I can say is what I do know and that is that God works all things together for good and that He is always in control of each and every situation. Even though God is always in control and nothing can thwart His will for each of our lives, we do have choices. We have the choice to react certain ways to circumstances or to view the world positively or negatively. I can say from personal experience that the majority of times when I see the world the way they describe in the video- negatively and focusing on bad things- is when I'm completely absorbed with myself. But once I stop focusing on myself and get my eyes on God and as a result on helping others, the things that seemed so huge and personal "suddenly" disappear. I don't believe that simply by strongly wanting something I can attract it to myself. I DO believe that God will answer us according to the things that are our treasures and therefore know how important it is to have the right treasures. But if I could get what I wanted simply by wanting it then my life would be extremely different right now. I believe that we have the ability to make changes for the better in our lives, but they don't come because we focus on them really hard and then "the universe" gives them to us. Many people are dedicated and driven and have succeed because of those personality traits. I think people confuse what people take for themselves with "blessings". "The universe" will do nothing for us: we have the option to either 1) put our faith in God and receive His blessings as a result of our obedience to Him, or 2) go out and get what we want using our personalities, character traits, and ambitions.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Tipping Point
The “law of the few” is the concept about “the people critical to social epidemics” (pg. 34) and what makes these people so important in society and different from the rest of the world. In “The Tipping Point”, Malcolm Gladwell uses Paul Revere as an example. We all know the story of how Paul Revere rode around Boston and the surrounding cities to warn them that the British were coming and how because of his ride the British were amazed when they arrived to a group of people ready and waiting for them. The part of this incident that I didn’t know (and I’d assume there is a large population just as ignorant as I am) is how there was another man, William Dawes, who also rode that night warning people the British were coming. He went the opposite direction that Paul Revere went and covered the same amount of ground in the same amount of time, however, his impact was nowhere near as great as Paul Revere’s to the point where some people didn’t even hear about the news even though William Dawes had passed through their city. The reason Dawes wasn’t as successful as Revere was because he didn’t have the same connections to large groups of people as Revere did. Because of his positions in numerous “communities”, Revere knew all different types of people and therefore had the ability to spread news so much faster through his many channels. This is essentially what Gladwell means when he says the “law of the few”: how one person can cause an epidemic due to all of the people they are connected to through a number of ways. Gladwell calls these people “Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen”. Connectors are the people that we know that simply know everyone: they know someone in every circle and have connections to all different types of people. Mavens are the people that are extremely knowledgeable: they have “information on a lot of different products or prices or places”(pg. 62). They are known as “information brokers: sharing and trading what they know” (pg.69). Salesmen are the persuaders: the people who have the ability to persuade their friends and people they know “when they are unconvinced of what they are hearing” (pg. 70). According to Gladwell, all three of these people – Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen – are crucial in the tipping point.
This concept of “the law of the few” was really interesting to me, mainly because I could easily identify with it. Although I have never thought of this concept in this way, I was able to immediately think of people who fit these roles- especially the Connector. I really liked the examples that Gladwell used as he was talking about what the Connector does in the world such as Hush Puppies, etc. The reality is that people follow people and whether it is fashion, food, career, or life issues, we are going to listen more to what we are told by friends than we are by an advertisement. When you combined all of the talents of these few people you can truly start an epidemic. These people have the ability to change the world based on their connections, knowledge, and ability to persuade people to do things. What I took from this was the importance of using your gifts to the fullest. The example of Paul Revere was perfect because it showed what someone can do to use their talent to change the world. I am glad that we were able to see the reverse side as well to really put in perspective the power that these people hold and as the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”. As the next generation we have taken everything to the next level in the fact that we all have the ability to be Connectors due to technology. Facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. have given people the chance to connect with people they have never even met in person. I read recently about how someone received an organ from a person they met on Facebook. It is apparent that connections are essential in life and this book reemphasizes just how important they are. The impact you can have is directly related to your ability to connect with people. You can’t start an epidemic without having the ability to spread things to other people. I think of the importance of Connectors in campaigning. If Obama didn’t have connections to people in all different circles then he would have undoubtedly lost the election. But I’m sure that he had people on his campaign team that were Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen that had the ability to spread like wildfire the news of Obama and persuade people to vote for him.
One of the most impactful comments for me that Gladwell made was slightly for humor as he said he felt bad for the products that the Connectors didn’t like because it is probably the reason why they failed. The statement was humorous but so true. There are so many things that succeed or fail based off a few people’s opinions and their ability to impact the world. Is it sad that one person can have such a major impact on the world? Yes and no. If used for superficial reasons such as fashion and appearance then yes it is pretty sad. But if used to make a lasting impact on the world by bettering society then no it is not sad, it’s beautiful. I think the point of this section of the book was to open our eyes to the delicate power that is held by people – some of us – and how we can use it the same way Paul Revere did: to save our community!
This concept of “the law of the few” was really interesting to me, mainly because I could easily identify with it. Although I have never thought of this concept in this way, I was able to immediately think of people who fit these roles- especially the Connector. I really liked the examples that Gladwell used as he was talking about what the Connector does in the world such as Hush Puppies, etc. The reality is that people follow people and whether it is fashion, food, career, or life issues, we are going to listen more to what we are told by friends than we are by an advertisement. When you combined all of the talents of these few people you can truly start an epidemic. These people have the ability to change the world based on their connections, knowledge, and ability to persuade people to do things. What I took from this was the importance of using your gifts to the fullest. The example of Paul Revere was perfect because it showed what someone can do to use their talent to change the world. I am glad that we were able to see the reverse side as well to really put in perspective the power that these people hold and as the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”. As the next generation we have taken everything to the next level in the fact that we all have the ability to be Connectors due to technology. Facebook, twitter, youtube, etc. have given people the chance to connect with people they have never even met in person. I read recently about how someone received an organ from a person they met on Facebook. It is apparent that connections are essential in life and this book reemphasizes just how important they are. The impact you can have is directly related to your ability to connect with people. You can’t start an epidemic without having the ability to spread things to other people. I think of the importance of Connectors in campaigning. If Obama didn’t have connections to people in all different circles then he would have undoubtedly lost the election. But I’m sure that he had people on his campaign team that were Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen that had the ability to spread like wildfire the news of Obama and persuade people to vote for him.
One of the most impactful comments for me that Gladwell made was slightly for humor as he said he felt bad for the products that the Connectors didn’t like because it is probably the reason why they failed. The statement was humorous but so true. There are so many things that succeed or fail based off a few people’s opinions and their ability to impact the world. Is it sad that one person can have such a major impact on the world? Yes and no. If used for superficial reasons such as fashion and appearance then yes it is pretty sad. But if used to make a lasting impact on the world by bettering society then no it is not sad, it’s beautiful. I think the point of this section of the book was to open our eyes to the delicate power that is held by people – some of us – and how we can use it the same way Paul Revere did: to save our community!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Salsa, Soul and Spirit pg 181-201
I had never heard of the word "acculturation" until now but I can't think of a more accurate term for leadership in our nation. "People who are receptive, skillful, and adaptable to other cultures while staying centered in their own." I can't help but notice how easy it is to say this phrase but how much harder it is for people to actually do it. Although we live in a nation where we are culturally diverse, we are- as humans- creatures of habit. We reject the unfamiliar and it takes time for us to adapt and accept change. As a leader in our nation, we need the ability to accept faster, adapt quickly while remaining true to our own culture, beliefs, and standards. That last part is very key in our society I think because people seem to believe that they have to merely accept everything and everyone when that isn't always the case. There are differences in beliefs and cultures and just because you are the leader doesn't mean you have to change your personal beliefs in order to make everyone else happy. In fact, I think the true sign of a leader is the person who is able to stand on his own beliefs and values while open to ideas that do not alter those beliefs and values.
I liked the principles for leading that the book mentioned:
-Learn from the past
-Have a collective sense of community
-Treat each other as relatives
-Act generously and do not take more than your share
-Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness
-Have an indomitable hope for our future
A few of these principles were really substantial to me, the first being "learn from the past". I am a firm believer that we have books and are taught history and told stories about our family and country's past because it is suppose to be our guide for the future. There is nothing new under the sun so what our ancestors experienced is the same thing we will experience just possibly in different wrapping. What is the point of having history documented if we aren't going to learn from it? See what worked well and why, see what failed and why- we have the ability to make life so much easier on ourselves and others but we are normally either too blind or too arrogant to see it that way. If a leader learns from the past- his and others- then that shows wisdom.
"Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness". I feel as though these things are majorly lacking in our generation and it is very discouraging. We are an entitled generation and we are usually so busy running to the latest and greatest that we don't take the time to stop and be thankful for what we currently possess. I learned contentment not from this nation or from my generation- I learned it from my parents. They drilled it into me from my youth that everything I had was a blessing and how thankful I should always be for everything I owned. If this nation was more grateful then we wouldn't be in the preposterous debt we are in because we would have been focusing on what we do have and not what we lack. Hope is another characteristic that I feel has been robbed from my generation by our prosperity. We have everything at our fingertips that we have no need to have faith or hope for anything. Therefore the concept of believing for something is pretty foreign to us and we lack the strength that our parents and grandparents had. They had to hope in God for their survival- for the strength to endure slavery and segregation. The strength that they have is because of all they went through. Their hope was what got them through and we need to do our absolute best to covet that same hope for our generation. Finally, forgiveness. The phrase that comes to mind is the Bible verse that talks about forgiving enemies and loving those who persecute you. The ability to forgive isn't natural. It takes a special power from God to genuinely forgive others for the wrong they have done. It takes even more to forgive those who continuously wrong us and have no remorse for it. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness and bitterness is a large weight that people end up carrying around their entire lives that is constantly preventing them of being the people they were meant to be. The Bible says that we are to forgive others the way God forgives us and that when we don't forgive then God puts all of our faults back onto our account. I don't pretend to have this working because the ability to forgive is one of the hardest characteristics for me to acquire right now, but I can't do it on my own anyways. My strength is in the Lord- my hope and my trust. Hope not just for the future, but for myself. The belief that God will change my heart and give me the ability to forgive others the way I've been forgiven. "He who has been forgiven much, loves much". Can you truly be a good leader without love? Gratitude, hope, forgiveness- they all go hand-in-hand and they are characteristics of a good leader because the person who can do all those things has a true love for the people they are leading!
I liked the principles for leading that the book mentioned:
-Learn from the past
-Have a collective sense of community
-Treat each other as relatives
-Act generously and do not take more than your share
-Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness
-Have an indomitable hope for our future
A few of these principles were really substantial to me, the first being "learn from the past". I am a firm believer that we have books and are taught history and told stories about our family and country's past because it is suppose to be our guide for the future. There is nothing new under the sun so what our ancestors experienced is the same thing we will experience just possibly in different wrapping. What is the point of having history documented if we aren't going to learn from it? See what worked well and why, see what failed and why- we have the ability to make life so much easier on ourselves and others but we are normally either too blind or too arrogant to see it that way. If a leader learns from the past- his and others- then that shows wisdom.
"Practice gratitude, hope, and forgiveness". I feel as though these things are majorly lacking in our generation and it is very discouraging. We are an entitled generation and we are usually so busy running to the latest and greatest that we don't take the time to stop and be thankful for what we currently possess. I learned contentment not from this nation or from my generation- I learned it from my parents. They drilled it into me from my youth that everything I had was a blessing and how thankful I should always be for everything I owned. If this nation was more grateful then we wouldn't be in the preposterous debt we are in because we would have been focusing on what we do have and not what we lack. Hope is another characteristic that I feel has been robbed from my generation by our prosperity. We have everything at our fingertips that we have no need to have faith or hope for anything. Therefore the concept of believing for something is pretty foreign to us and we lack the strength that our parents and grandparents had. They had to hope in God for their survival- for the strength to endure slavery and segregation. The strength that they have is because of all they went through. Their hope was what got them through and we need to do our absolute best to covet that same hope for our generation. Finally, forgiveness. The phrase that comes to mind is the Bible verse that talks about forgiving enemies and loving those who persecute you. The ability to forgive isn't natural. It takes a special power from God to genuinely forgive others for the wrong they have done. It takes even more to forgive those who continuously wrong us and have no remorse for it. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness and bitterness is a large weight that people end up carrying around their entire lives that is constantly preventing them of being the people they were meant to be. The Bible says that we are to forgive others the way God forgives us and that when we don't forgive then God puts all of our faults back onto our account. I don't pretend to have this working because the ability to forgive is one of the hardest characteristics for me to acquire right now, but I can't do it on my own anyways. My strength is in the Lord- my hope and my trust. Hope not just for the future, but for myself. The belief that God will change my heart and give me the ability to forgive others the way I've been forgiven. "He who has been forgiven much, loves much". Can you truly be a good leader without love? Gratitude, hope, forgiveness- they all go hand-in-hand and they are characteristics of a good leader because the person who can do all those things has a true love for the people they are leading!
"He Who Shall Not Be Named"
To some you are a myth, a legend, a fable:
You are the one who did the things that others were not able.
You have a known enemy, as all heroes do,
However unlike in movies or comics,
The people You saved don't like...no, they HATE You!
At one point they loved You but that was short-lived,
Now You're despised after giving all You had to give.
You are He who shall not be named.
Granted, these haters of You aren't blatant
In fact they would probably disagree
But as soon as You ask for their true love they flee.
Because You're love, although free, is costly
Yet nothing is too much when compared with eternity.
If they could have bits and pieces of You they would
In their minds they should: their love is circumstantial- that's understood!
Even though they only "reverence" You a few times a year
You're called upon in times of anxiety and fear.
They may call out Your name in a "thank you" or two
But as soon as things go wrong, they are right back to cursing You.
You are He who shall not be named.
Now things are worse than ever
They are trying to blot You out of history forever
You are now outlawed from schools and private places
You will soon be officially banned from You're own birthday party!
Hatred for You is growing stronger
The minuscule thread of tolerance won't hold out much longer.
They hate You and want You dead but You they cannot see
Therefore they take it out on the few who have chosen to be set free.
They can say Your name in mocking or profanity,
But allowing us to share it in love is insanity.
You are He who shall not be named.
Extremists, radicals, fanatics, Bible thumpers- we have many names
Because the few of us that are truly real don't play games.
To be what we are is also borderline illegal
To take Your name and all the hatred and "shame" that comes with it can be lethal.
We are told to be quiet as Your name we declare
They are longing for the day that they can do more to us than just glare.
Tolerance applies to the whole world except us
Because when we live what You taught they make a huge fuss.
Who would have guessed that spreading the love of someone so great
Will be enough to make us in this nation the enemies of every state!
I have many fears as the days go on:
That my faith and strength may not be enough to carry on
But each day is full of decisions- great and small
Daily tests demonstrating whether or not I've given You my all.
I fail many times but in my weakness You are strong
And I am continuously reassured that to You alone can I belong.
By Your grace, with each passing day I will not be the same,
Believing that at the end of whatever is ahead I will be ready to die for Your name.
Jesus: may Yours be the only name I ever proclaim!
You are the one who did the things that others were not able.
You have a known enemy, as all heroes do,
However unlike in movies or comics,
The people You saved don't like...no, they HATE You!
At one point they loved You but that was short-lived,
Now You're despised after giving all You had to give.
You are He who shall not be named.
Granted, these haters of You aren't blatant
In fact they would probably disagree
But as soon as You ask for their true love they flee.
Because You're love, although free, is costly
Yet nothing is too much when compared with eternity.
If they could have bits and pieces of You they would
In their minds they should: their love is circumstantial- that's understood!
Even though they only "reverence" You a few times a year
You're called upon in times of anxiety and fear.
They may call out Your name in a "thank you" or two
But as soon as things go wrong, they are right back to cursing You.
You are He who shall not be named.
Now things are worse than ever
They are trying to blot You out of history forever
You are now outlawed from schools and private places
You will soon be officially banned from You're own birthday party!
Hatred for You is growing stronger
The minuscule thread of tolerance won't hold out much longer.
They hate You and want You dead but You they cannot see
Therefore they take it out on the few who have chosen to be set free.
They can say Your name in mocking or profanity,
But allowing us to share it in love is insanity.
You are He who shall not be named.
Extremists, radicals, fanatics, Bible thumpers- we have many names
Because the few of us that are truly real don't play games.
To be what we are is also borderline illegal
To take Your name and all the hatred and "shame" that comes with it can be lethal.
We are told to be quiet as Your name we declare
They are longing for the day that they can do more to us than just glare.
Tolerance applies to the whole world except us
Because when we live what You taught they make a huge fuss.
Who would have guessed that spreading the love of someone so great
Will be enough to make us in this nation the enemies of every state!
I have many fears as the days go on:
That my faith and strength may not be enough to carry on
But each day is full of decisions- great and small
Daily tests demonstrating whether or not I've given You my all.
I fail many times but in my weakness You are strong
And I am continuously reassured that to You alone can I belong.
By Your grace, with each passing day I will not be the same,
Believing that at the end of whatever is ahead I will be ready to die for Your name.
Jesus: may Yours be the only name I ever proclaim!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
"We Are The World"- critical song for the world
I chose "We Are The World" as the song that I think is important for the world to hear because the whole point is that there are people in the world who aren't nearly as fortunate as we are as Americans especially and that as human beings we have a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those in need. The song came out 2x (to my knowledge)- the first time was for "USA (United Support of Artists) for Africa" and the second time was recently after the tragedy in Haiti. I really feel as though this message is important because it once again puts the "ball in our court" as Americans and as people. We have the ability to make a difference in the lives of other people around the world and it is our responsibility to do what we can for others. I also like it because it applies to everyone: diverse races, genders, ages, and colors all helping those in need. The songs themselves, when performed, show a large variety of artists coming together for a cause and since media has such a strong influence on our nation it is really important and critical to lead by example in this matter of helping our fellow man in need.
Michael Jackson - We Are the World lyrics
There comes a time, when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth you know
Love is all we need
chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me
Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
chorus
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one.
chorus x9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxt-bUDsrF8
Michael Jackson - We Are the World lyrics
There comes a time, when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth you know
Love is all we need
chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me
Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
chorus
When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one.
chorus x9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxt-bUDsrF8
"American Idol" Media Critique- Teen Mom
My media critique is of Teen Mom because I feel as though it glorifies the irresponsibility of teenagers getting pregnant. What MTV has done is take a serious situation- a current epidemic in our nation- and turn these "teen moms" into celebrities because they accidentally got pregnant. When girls watch these shows they aren't getting the real deal about what happens when you get pregnant before you are ready. Yes, it shows tears and other "hardships" but it turns babies into the latest "accessories" for teenage girls and that is shameful. Things like this ruin lives and families and MTV is making it "cool" by showing this program. These teen moms are all over the covers of magazines and talking about having more kids with their boyfriends and they aren't even old enough to be drinking! Call me crazy but if you aren't considered responsible enough to buy liquor, why would we encourage you through media attention to be in charge of a helpless human life??? You hear of things like the "Pregnancy Pact" that happened a few years ago by the teenage girls after Jamie Lynn Spears got pregnant and it brakes my heart to hear how teens can do a thing like that because of how it is portrayed on television. This issue is close to home for me because my younger sister accidentally got pregnant at 19 and being a mom is a life-long responsibility that should not be taken as lightly as it is portrayed on this show. If a show is going to be made about teen parenting, it needs to show the truth about it and how important it is to wait until you are mature enough to know the real responsibility it is to be a good mother. "Teen Mom" should be a show completely devoted to preventing teens from becoming mothers! 
Busboys & Poets- March 28
This wasn't my first time at Busboys & Poets (although my first time was only the day before)but it was my first time to a open mic poetry reading. Obviously the only thing that I can base my ideas of what they are like off of are what I've seen on TV or movies. The hostess even made the comment "We don't snap- it's not the '70s" but I was truly wondering if that's how I was suppose to respond after people finished reading!
What I was really impressed with was the family- a father and his two daughters- that came from Maine or Pennsylvania (can't remember exactly). The dad went first and read a funny poem about Facebook which made me laugh and I think he loosened up the crowd for his daughters which I figure was his intent all along. The older of the two daughters went after her dad and she was probably 14-16 years old. Both of her poems were really good and I was really impressed not only with the talent but also the courage that it took for her to get up in front of complete strangers- much older than she is- and perform her art. The youngest daughter who was probably 9-12 years old went last and she was very cute. I wish I could understand most of what she said but I could tell that she was presenting someone's else work.
Many other people went up and presented poems. A few you could tell were "regulars" and others, like our classmate, was new to it. But it was really cool watching everyone get up and express themselves the way they did. One older man who was a regular shared a poem he called "Not IF" which I really liked because he essentially exaggerated what we do as humans to show us how insensitive and selfish we are. The poem expressed what we usually do which is the opposite of what we say and tell others to do. It really captured my attention because when you listen you are like "Man, that person is horrible!" but once you stop and think about it you realize how often you fall into the same traps. I also really liked the Professor's poem about leaving a family legacy. The entire time she talked I was thinking about my family and the things that I have learned from them that I plan to pass on to my children and how they will live on through those life lessons. One woman shared poems about self-esteem and an experience with a child who was struggling. They were so beautifully written and you could easily identify with all the emotions she tried to relay. Others spoke on love and other issues that really hit close to home for them and I really enjoyed all of those!
I wasn't very fond of the main speaker- not because of her writing ability because she was undoubtedly talented- but because of her content. I realize that people write about what they know and I do admire them for that, but it's sad if that is the only content you have to write about. She was open and honest to warn the family about the content of her poetry and as soon as she started talking the father sent his daughters out of the room. I couldn't blame him! Looking back, I should have done the same thing because that isn't the content that I want to be filling myself with as a Christian. I was really encouraged when the dad took his daughters out because it showed that there still is innocence in the world and that some parents really try to do their best to spare their children as long as possible. I personally spaced out from time to time because the content of her writings didn't capture my attention- they were offensive to me and I should have had the boldness to do as the father did and remove myself from it. I don't at all blame the poetess because that is her job- that's her life and how she is expresses herself. If anything it makes me even more thankful for the environment that I was raised in- that I don't have to resort to degrading means in order to make money. She was a very pretty and talented woman and she deserved/deserves better. I wasn't angry at her for what she wrote about- my heart more broke that that's what she has to draw from for inspiration to write. She also wasn't the only one- many of the readings were about negativity and were vulgar, etc. It opens my eyes to how much people are lost and hurting and searching for satisfaction and acceptance. I love writing because it is an outlet to get things off your chest- sometimes things that you could never say to the person they are intended for. However, I'm thankful even more that I have Jesus who saved me from myself, my sins and everything that I could have been if left alone and who is always there as the necessary outlet to express the feelings of my heart.
As always, this was such a great learning experience. I'm beginning to realize more and more how everything in life is a chance to learn something either about this world or myself and I definitely learned about both during this open mic night.
What I was really impressed with was the family- a father and his two daughters- that came from Maine or Pennsylvania (can't remember exactly). The dad went first and read a funny poem about Facebook which made me laugh and I think he loosened up the crowd for his daughters which I figure was his intent all along. The older of the two daughters went after her dad and she was probably 14-16 years old. Both of her poems were really good and I was really impressed not only with the talent but also the courage that it took for her to get up in front of complete strangers- much older than she is- and perform her art. The youngest daughter who was probably 9-12 years old went last and she was very cute. I wish I could understand most of what she said but I could tell that she was presenting someone's else work.
Many other people went up and presented poems. A few you could tell were "regulars" and others, like our classmate, was new to it. But it was really cool watching everyone get up and express themselves the way they did. One older man who was a regular shared a poem he called "Not IF" which I really liked because he essentially exaggerated what we do as humans to show us how insensitive and selfish we are. The poem expressed what we usually do which is the opposite of what we say and tell others to do. It really captured my attention because when you listen you are like "Man, that person is horrible!" but once you stop and think about it you realize how often you fall into the same traps. I also really liked the Professor's poem about leaving a family legacy. The entire time she talked I was thinking about my family and the things that I have learned from them that I plan to pass on to my children and how they will live on through those life lessons. One woman shared poems about self-esteem and an experience with a child who was struggling. They were so beautifully written and you could easily identify with all the emotions she tried to relay. Others spoke on love and other issues that really hit close to home for them and I really enjoyed all of those!
I wasn't very fond of the main speaker- not because of her writing ability because she was undoubtedly talented- but because of her content. I realize that people write about what they know and I do admire them for that, but it's sad if that is the only content you have to write about. She was open and honest to warn the family about the content of her poetry and as soon as she started talking the father sent his daughters out of the room. I couldn't blame him! Looking back, I should have done the same thing because that isn't the content that I want to be filling myself with as a Christian. I was really encouraged when the dad took his daughters out because it showed that there still is innocence in the world and that some parents really try to do their best to spare their children as long as possible. I personally spaced out from time to time because the content of her writings didn't capture my attention- they were offensive to me and I should have had the boldness to do as the father did and remove myself from it. I don't at all blame the poetess because that is her job- that's her life and how she is expresses herself. If anything it makes me even more thankful for the environment that I was raised in- that I don't have to resort to degrading means in order to make money. She was a very pretty and talented woman and she deserved/deserves better. I wasn't angry at her for what she wrote about- my heart more broke that that's what she has to draw from for inspiration to write. She also wasn't the only one- many of the readings were about negativity and were vulgar, etc. It opens my eyes to how much people are lost and hurting and searching for satisfaction and acceptance. I love writing because it is an outlet to get things off your chest- sometimes things that you could never say to the person they are intended for. However, I'm thankful even more that I have Jesus who saved me from myself, my sins and everything that I could have been if left alone and who is always there as the necessary outlet to express the feelings of my heart.
As always, this was such a great learning experience. I'm beginning to realize more and more how everything in life is a chance to learn something either about this world or myself and I definitely learned about both during this open mic night.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Vicious Cycles
I titled this week's post "vicious cycles" because that is what I feel is the theme for this week's readings. The cycles that are enforced by society truly are vicious.
In "The Cycle of Socialization", the author focuses on the way society has categorized people and the specific groups that everyone is placed in based on their race, gender, social class, religion, etc. This reading was very captivating to me because as I read I found myself in both groups: the "agent group" (middle-upper class, abled, heterosexual) and the "target group" (female, colored, younger). However, people (including myself) are more likely to automatically put me in the target group because those characteristics are the "first impressions" people have of me. And I'm definitely guilty of falling into the "norm" that the author spoke of as the person who for the most part "knows my place". In my position, I'm satisfied and happy with my place in society and have been privileged enough to not knowingly experience discrimination based on my target group characteristics. Many of the phrases and ideologies mentioned were exactly how I was raised and what I've embraced as a young adult. Granted, being raised as a Christian erased all of the hostility that is the major issue. I really liked what the author said when they mentioned how we aren't going to "just get along"- I liked the honesty in that statement. The author then throws the weight back on the readers in that it is our responsibility to make change happen.
"The Cycle of Cynicism" also emphasized how we, as a society, have once again become trapped in a cycle that we may very well not even realize we are in. Honestly, I agree with cynicism: I believe that naturally as human beings we care about ourselves. However, everyone expresses that "selfishness" in different ways. Some people are blatantly selfish to where they don't care how they get there or who is hurt in the process as long as they get exactly what they want. Others help people because it makes them feel good about themselves and they get a "high" from giving to others. What I liked about this article was the distinction between the Cycle of Cynicism and the Cycle of Hope and how the cycle of hope is when people do more than just feel bad about what's going on but actually go out and make a difference. I guess that is maybe also why I feel as though people are naturally selfish because when it is a cause they truly care about then go to great lengths to find a way to help out. So when natural disasters and other things happen that people feel bad about but don't do anything to contribute it makes me question how bad they TRULY feel. I also like the "9 Traps that Stop People from Making a Difference". To be quite honest, I feel as though it should be labeled the "9 COP-OUTS that Stop People from Making a Difference" because if we are honest with ourselves we realize that that is what the vast majority of these things are. They are things that we tell ourselves that make us feel better about not actually going and doing work. "That's just the way the world is" is one that you hear all the time and one that I'm guilty of myself, especially when it comes to Christianity. I know that there will never be a time when the whole world believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior but that doesn't release me from my responsibility to tell people about Him. Many of the other "traps" just re-enforce how cynical people are/can be: "I don't have the time or energy", "It's not my responsibility", "I'm not a saint", "I'm not an activist". The common denominator in those phrases is "I"! You can't tell me that people aren't naturally selfish when we use the word "I" more then we use "they, he or she". I think the author of this article is trying to open our eyes to the fact that we CAN make a difference once we get our eyes off ourselves and open to sacrificing for the good of others.
In the Salsa, Soul, and Spirit book there are even more examples of people realizing that everyone has a role to play in being a leader and changing. People all over the world are responsible for the change in their communities: one women, after realizing how much Hispanic women lack leadership training, took the opportunity to head up a National Hispana Leadership Institute. The association Dr. Joseph made between black leaders and religious tradition, morals, and ethics and what is good for the whole not just the individual was also insightful for me. The common denominator in cultural leadership is that because minorities have been oppressed for so long, their values and morales are founded on better the community as oppose to themselves alone. It once again shows the differences between leadership in races and genders. Ultimately, the major theme underlying all of the stories in this section was that they all promote activism in the midst of oppression as oppose to just whining.
Taking the Implicit Association Test and the tests on the marriage website was very insightful because it put reality into tests. For instance, one of the tests that I took was on "age" and how my mind automatically associates being old with bad things such as agony, hurt, etc. I feel as though I unconsciously associate specific groups with either positive or negative views on life. Same thing was made evident in another game/test where I created my "perfect baby" and had to pay more for a white child that isn't gay and is athletic and smart. I really liked the games because it really opened my eyes to how I view things. Honestly- my results weren't off at all and they showed how much society dictates my view of groups.
In "The Cycle of Socialization", the author focuses on the way society has categorized people and the specific groups that everyone is placed in based on their race, gender, social class, religion, etc. This reading was very captivating to me because as I read I found myself in both groups: the "agent group" (middle-upper class, abled, heterosexual) and the "target group" (female, colored, younger). However, people (including myself) are more likely to automatically put me in the target group because those characteristics are the "first impressions" people have of me. And I'm definitely guilty of falling into the "norm" that the author spoke of as the person who for the most part "knows my place". In my position, I'm satisfied and happy with my place in society and have been privileged enough to not knowingly experience discrimination based on my target group characteristics. Many of the phrases and ideologies mentioned were exactly how I was raised and what I've embraced as a young adult. Granted, being raised as a Christian erased all of the hostility that is the major issue. I really liked what the author said when they mentioned how we aren't going to "just get along"- I liked the honesty in that statement. The author then throws the weight back on the readers in that it is our responsibility to make change happen.
"The Cycle of Cynicism" also emphasized how we, as a society, have once again become trapped in a cycle that we may very well not even realize we are in. Honestly, I agree with cynicism: I believe that naturally as human beings we care about ourselves. However, everyone expresses that "selfishness" in different ways. Some people are blatantly selfish to where they don't care how they get there or who is hurt in the process as long as they get exactly what they want. Others help people because it makes them feel good about themselves and they get a "high" from giving to others. What I liked about this article was the distinction between the Cycle of Cynicism and the Cycle of Hope and how the cycle of hope is when people do more than just feel bad about what's going on but actually go out and make a difference. I guess that is maybe also why I feel as though people are naturally selfish because when it is a cause they truly care about then go to great lengths to find a way to help out. So when natural disasters and other things happen that people feel bad about but don't do anything to contribute it makes me question how bad they TRULY feel. I also like the "9 Traps that Stop People from Making a Difference". To be quite honest, I feel as though it should be labeled the "9 COP-OUTS that Stop People from Making a Difference" because if we are honest with ourselves we realize that that is what the vast majority of these things are. They are things that we tell ourselves that make us feel better about not actually going and doing work. "That's just the way the world is" is one that you hear all the time and one that I'm guilty of myself, especially when it comes to Christianity. I know that there will never be a time when the whole world believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior but that doesn't release me from my responsibility to tell people about Him. Many of the other "traps" just re-enforce how cynical people are/can be: "I don't have the time or energy", "It's not my responsibility", "I'm not a saint", "I'm not an activist". The common denominator in those phrases is "I"! You can't tell me that people aren't naturally selfish when we use the word "I" more then we use "they, he or she". I think the author of this article is trying to open our eyes to the fact that we CAN make a difference once we get our eyes off ourselves and open to sacrificing for the good of others.
In the Salsa, Soul, and Spirit book there are even more examples of people realizing that everyone has a role to play in being a leader and changing. People all over the world are responsible for the change in their communities: one women, after realizing how much Hispanic women lack leadership training, took the opportunity to head up a National Hispana Leadership Institute. The association Dr. Joseph made between black leaders and religious tradition, morals, and ethics and what is good for the whole not just the individual was also insightful for me. The common denominator in cultural leadership is that because minorities have been oppressed for so long, their values and morales are founded on better the community as oppose to themselves alone. It once again shows the differences between leadership in races and genders. Ultimately, the major theme underlying all of the stories in this section was that they all promote activism in the midst of oppression as oppose to just whining.
Taking the Implicit Association Test and the tests on the marriage website was very insightful because it put reality into tests. For instance, one of the tests that I took was on "age" and how my mind automatically associates being old with bad things such as agony, hurt, etc. I feel as though I unconsciously associate specific groups with either positive or negative views on life. Same thing was made evident in another game/test where I created my "perfect baby" and had to pay more for a white child that isn't gay and is athletic and smart. I really liked the games because it really opened my eyes to how I view things. Honestly- my results weren't off at all and they showed how much society dictates my view of groups.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Critical Book Essay
Night
by Elie Wiesel
When it came time to choose a book for this critical book essay, I had to admit I was completely at a loss for which book to read. After much endorsement from classmates, I decided that Night would be a good choice. I, along with most college students, have heard stories and read books on the Holocaust. I have even been to the Holocaust museum in DC and read short stories about people who lived during that horrible time. I was a little nervous about reading this book from the stand point of how deeply I hurt while reading about people’s sufferings. However, I would venture to say that I read this book faster than I have ever read a book in my life. Once I started I could not put it down. Many things about the author’s life made this autobiography not just another book that I was reading- I felt as though I was facing every challenge and triumph right next to him.
I had never heard of Elie Wiesel until now, but there were many things about his life in this book that made an impact on me. The first thing that stood out to me was his hunger for knowledge, mainly spiritual knowledge. At such a young age, an age where most boys would probably be fleeing knowledge and understanding, he was desperately searching for it to the point where he was being taught by a poor man in the synagogue. Not only did he have a desire to know the mysterious of their religion, Kabbalah, he wasn’t going to simply embrace it without an understanding. I liked when his “teacher”, Moishe the Beadle, asked him the thought provoking questions “Why do you cry when you pray?” and “Why do you pray?” because it prompted Wiesel to truly understand what he believed and why. So often people, especially children, simply embrace what they are told without a true understanding of what it is they are professing to believe. This self-examining character trait became even more impressive once Wiesel was put in the concentration camp. I truly admired his honesty about everything he encountered. He didn’t lie and say that he never lost hope and completely trusted God through it all. He was honest about his doubts, anger, and frustration with God through this immense trial. Even near the end when it came to thoughts about whether or not to leave his father, he was completely honest even if he was ashamed at the state of his heart. Ultimately, his love and care for his father was another characteristic that truly blew me away. Part of my feels as though in such a traumatic situation that clinging to my mom or dad would be a natural instinct because I would want as much assurance as possible; but another part of me feels as though it would be extremely hard to continue day by day to care for such on older person in addition to myself in such horrible conditions. To some degree, it almost seems easier to physically die for a loved one than continually die to your personal needs and desires daily so that a loved one can survive. His selflessness was heroic. He never gave up: he fought until the end for his dad and continued to encourage and care for him until the very end. Wiesel’s persistence was another trait that really stood out to me. He seemed to have numerous chances to simply give up but he never did. Even when he had lost all hope in the world and in God, he wouldn’t stop fighting. As with many stories, you can’t help but cheer for him throughout the entire book.
I feel as though there were two main ideologies emphasized in Wiesel’s story: discovering one’s personal beliefs in God and survival. Throughout the entire book, Wiesel battled his belief in the God that he had learned about his entire life. He seemed determined to come to his own conclusion about God and was as honest as he could be with himself. In the most perilous time of his life, he wrestled with his belief which is really powerful to me because it is easy to believe when things are going smoothly but it is in the pits of despair that we are confronted with what we truly believe. I agreed with Wiesel coming to his own conclusions about God and not simply conforming to his religious background, although it seemed that many denounced their stands the longer they remained in the concentration camps. The other main ideology was survival and the ability to dig down deeper than imaginable to overcome atrocious circumstances. Wiesel was a warrior: he believed in fighting until the end and never giving up. He realized that survival wasn’t only for himself; it was for others as he realized the toll that his death would potentially take on his father. It is impossible not to agree with his survivor ideology because as humans it is innate within us. I am a little astonished to say that I agreed with every ideology that I picked up from this book, which is something that rarely happens- if ever.
I think one of the most enjoyable things about this book in relation to leadership is that it isn’t your typical “over-coming the horrible to become a major leader of my people” story. Honestly, while I read the book I was a little amazed that this story was chosen as one for leadership. But as I think about who Wiesel was as a person, you can’t deny the leadership traits that he exhibited. Wiesel was relatable. You could identify with all his emotions while reading the book. Even during the times when he described not being able to stand up for his father out of utter fear that he would be beaten you understood completely his dilemma. Wiesel was honest. No matter what the feeling or thought he had, he was transparent enough to share it. He lived honestly and wasn’t swayed by norms of how he should think or act. Wiesel was a fighter. His entire autobiography tells about his survival attitude that kept him through all the battles he encountered no matter how severe or unthinkable. The things he endured- beatings, starvation, dehydration, bitter cold, emotional distress, physical issues- made him stronger than he could ever imagine. He is the living example of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”! Wiesel was humble. It would probably seem obvious that in the situation he was in that he had no other choice but to be humble, but he never put himself above others. Of all the times in a person’s life where you would imagine that they are “justified” in putting themselves first, this is definitely near the top. Yet he had the ability to continuously put the needs of his dad before his own: servant leadership. It is undeniable that his experience during the Holocaust shaped Wiesel into the man that he became. Through his sufferings he gained a strong conviction for people. If he hadn’t experienced all those things in the concentration camps, his eyes would not have been opened to how inhumane people can be. He wouldn’t have had such a strong desire to make a difference in this world or the fight to see it through. Because of the silence around the Holocaust, Wiesel now uses his voice to speak out against the sufferings of humanity. His story reminds me of the bible verse “What Satan intended for evil, God turned for good.” It makes you realize the importance of every circumstance we face in life and how the choices we make are building character traits that will shape our future.
by Elie Wiesel
When it came time to choose a book for this critical book essay, I had to admit I was completely at a loss for which book to read. After much endorsement from classmates, I decided that Night would be a good choice. I, along with most college students, have heard stories and read books on the Holocaust. I have even been to the Holocaust museum in DC and read short stories about people who lived during that horrible time. I was a little nervous about reading this book from the stand point of how deeply I hurt while reading about people’s sufferings. However, I would venture to say that I read this book faster than I have ever read a book in my life. Once I started I could not put it down. Many things about the author’s life made this autobiography not just another book that I was reading- I felt as though I was facing every challenge and triumph right next to him.
I had never heard of Elie Wiesel until now, but there were many things about his life in this book that made an impact on me. The first thing that stood out to me was his hunger for knowledge, mainly spiritual knowledge. At such a young age, an age where most boys would probably be fleeing knowledge and understanding, he was desperately searching for it to the point where he was being taught by a poor man in the synagogue. Not only did he have a desire to know the mysterious of their religion, Kabbalah, he wasn’t going to simply embrace it without an understanding. I liked when his “teacher”, Moishe the Beadle, asked him the thought provoking questions “Why do you cry when you pray?” and “Why do you pray?” because it prompted Wiesel to truly understand what he believed and why. So often people, especially children, simply embrace what they are told without a true understanding of what it is they are professing to believe. This self-examining character trait became even more impressive once Wiesel was put in the concentration camp. I truly admired his honesty about everything he encountered. He didn’t lie and say that he never lost hope and completely trusted God through it all. He was honest about his doubts, anger, and frustration with God through this immense trial. Even near the end when it came to thoughts about whether or not to leave his father, he was completely honest even if he was ashamed at the state of his heart. Ultimately, his love and care for his father was another characteristic that truly blew me away. Part of my feels as though in such a traumatic situation that clinging to my mom or dad would be a natural instinct because I would want as much assurance as possible; but another part of me feels as though it would be extremely hard to continue day by day to care for such on older person in addition to myself in such horrible conditions. To some degree, it almost seems easier to physically die for a loved one than continually die to your personal needs and desires daily so that a loved one can survive. His selflessness was heroic. He never gave up: he fought until the end for his dad and continued to encourage and care for him until the very end. Wiesel’s persistence was another trait that really stood out to me. He seemed to have numerous chances to simply give up but he never did. Even when he had lost all hope in the world and in God, he wouldn’t stop fighting. As with many stories, you can’t help but cheer for him throughout the entire book.
I feel as though there were two main ideologies emphasized in Wiesel’s story: discovering one’s personal beliefs in God and survival. Throughout the entire book, Wiesel battled his belief in the God that he had learned about his entire life. He seemed determined to come to his own conclusion about God and was as honest as he could be with himself. In the most perilous time of his life, he wrestled with his belief which is really powerful to me because it is easy to believe when things are going smoothly but it is in the pits of despair that we are confronted with what we truly believe. I agreed with Wiesel coming to his own conclusions about God and not simply conforming to his religious background, although it seemed that many denounced their stands the longer they remained in the concentration camps. The other main ideology was survival and the ability to dig down deeper than imaginable to overcome atrocious circumstances. Wiesel was a warrior: he believed in fighting until the end and never giving up. He realized that survival wasn’t only for himself; it was for others as he realized the toll that his death would potentially take on his father. It is impossible not to agree with his survivor ideology because as humans it is innate within us. I am a little astonished to say that I agreed with every ideology that I picked up from this book, which is something that rarely happens- if ever.
I think one of the most enjoyable things about this book in relation to leadership is that it isn’t your typical “over-coming the horrible to become a major leader of my people” story. Honestly, while I read the book I was a little amazed that this story was chosen as one for leadership. But as I think about who Wiesel was as a person, you can’t deny the leadership traits that he exhibited. Wiesel was relatable. You could identify with all his emotions while reading the book. Even during the times when he described not being able to stand up for his father out of utter fear that he would be beaten you understood completely his dilemma. Wiesel was honest. No matter what the feeling or thought he had, he was transparent enough to share it. He lived honestly and wasn’t swayed by norms of how he should think or act. Wiesel was a fighter. His entire autobiography tells about his survival attitude that kept him through all the battles he encountered no matter how severe or unthinkable. The things he endured- beatings, starvation, dehydration, bitter cold, emotional distress, physical issues- made him stronger than he could ever imagine. He is the living example of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”! Wiesel was humble. It would probably seem obvious that in the situation he was in that he had no other choice but to be humble, but he never put himself above others. Of all the times in a person’s life where you would imagine that they are “justified” in putting themselves first, this is definitely near the top. Yet he had the ability to continuously put the needs of his dad before his own: servant leadership. It is undeniable that his experience during the Holocaust shaped Wiesel into the man that he became. Through his sufferings he gained a strong conviction for people. If he hadn’t experienced all those things in the concentration camps, his eyes would not have been opened to how inhumane people can be. He wouldn’t have had such a strong desire to make a difference in this world or the fight to see it through. Because of the silence around the Holocaust, Wiesel now uses his voice to speak out against the sufferings of humanity. His story reminds me of the bible verse “What Satan intended for evil, God turned for good.” It makes you realize the importance of every circumstance we face in life and how the choices we make are building character traits that will shape our future.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
March 9th Reflection
1.) Bynoe's Who Shall Lead Us gave a very good picture of two different types of leaders. The charismatic leader, who is energetic, enabling, and is able to envision change, and the citizen leader, who is your average person that is fully committed to making a change in their community. As with all personality types, there are pros and cons.
A pro to having a charismatic leader is that they are a visionary. They have the ability to see things in a different, many times more positive, way than the rest of us. Their charisma enables them to persuade others of their values and beliefs. They get people excited about the issues they are addressing: their passions become the passions of everyone that they are leading. What is also great about the charismatic leader is that they are emotional people which makes it easier for their followers to relate to them. Many times when I think of charismatic people I think of actors: people who can play the necessary role. They can be the biggest supporter of whatever it is they are part of which makes following them very exciting. The cons to a charismatic leader are the double-edged sword of many of their pros. When someone is so charismatic and energetic, many times that is all that there is to them. After the exciting of the rally is over, people are left with empty promises because the leader was more about the hype of the change than the change itself. Like I mentioned earlier, the charismatic leader can have the tendency to be an actor and simply be acting out another role as oppose to being fully committed to the project. People that are around charismatic leaders enough can battle a lot of doubt and not be convinced that the change is real. "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me" can become the attitude of the followers and it makes the charismatic leader less likely to be trusted. The personality of the charismatic leader is their strength and weakness. They can quickly become "the boy who cried wolf" which is very sad.
The pros to being a citizen leader is that they are in the community: they are Joe, Fred, or Bob from down the street that knows the issues and has the respect and trust of his peers. The focus of the citizen leader is truly on the community and making it better. They have the servant leadership mentality: it's not about them! These are the leaders that are a lot more likely to see that change happens. They may not be as energetic and enabling personality-wise as the charismatic leader, but they are going to make sure that the jobs they committed to are completed. They truly are, for all intents and purposes, "the voice of the people"! The cons of being a citizen leader are that they can easily get swept up in the emotional side of things. Because they are part of the community, they are attached on a deeper level than other leaders which can cause issues if not guarded against. They can also have the propensity to simply give everyone what they want even if it's not what is best because of the relationships they have. Like the charismatic leader, the pros and cons of being a citizen leader go hand-in-hand. What can be their greatest strength has the potential to likewise be their greatest weakness.
I have two types of leaders that come to my mind when I think of potentially citizen or charismatic leadership: pastors and student body presidents. Both of these leaders have the potential to fall under theses categories and here is why. You hear of and watch pastors on television, in the paper, etc. who are unbelievably charismatic people. They get up on stage and preach sermons that truly blow people's minds and get them beyond excited about their religion. Yet after the service is over, the pastor goes his own way and does not have any communication or role in the people's lives. He doesn't know their struggles, fears, etc. But there are other pastors who are citizen leaders. They know their congregation by name and really relate to the issues they are dealing with. They give counsel and preach on topics that will truly help their people deal with the issues they are facing. It's not about the glitz and the glamor, it's about helping people make the necessary changes in their lives. The same thing follows for student body presidents. You can either have the leader who is the cheerleader and gets everyone excited and rallied together but then does his own agenda once elected or you have the leader who is right there with his peers every day and truly understands the issues and works to address them.
2.) Ella Baker teaches us that we need leaders who know and understand our community. We need to fight battles that we understand and that affect us as oppose to simply fighting for what we are told to fight for. The people we support should be the people who know the issues and have the ability to convey them to the public. Ella Baker supported citizen leaders. Even the charisma of Martin Luther King, Jr. was too much in her opinion to detract attention from the main issues they were fighting for. What I walk away with from Ella Baker is I have the responsibility to fight for the issues in my own background.
3.) When I think of the word "patriotism", I automatically think of the movie Patriot with Mel Gibson. It has always been one of my favorite movies and I think I grab a lot of my definition from that movie. Mel Gibson's character is against the American Revolution until his son is killed by a British officer. He ultimately joins the Colonial Militia and plays a substantial role in their success. Why his stand is patriotic in my opinion is because he is fighting for something he believes in. He wasn't easily swayed by his peers to join the militia and fight because everyone else wanted him to: it wasn't until it became his personal conviction and retaliation that his mind was changed. Because of this war, he lost two sons and his relationship with the rest of his children suffered at times, but he gave it up for the end result. A true patriot isn't selfish. When you are standing for something- whether your country or your personal view in a class- you are taking a huge risk. More many patriots, they don't even get to personal experience whatever it is they are fighting for. But a patriot sees beyond himself to the greater good. He views things on a macro scale. A protest, a walkout, a war, or whatever it is that they are involved in isn't about a personal offense against themselves- it's about a human right that they have deemed worthy of their free time, freedom, or life. These are reasons why I can't associate "fans" as patriots. Unless you are willing to sacrifice even to death for whatever it is you are supporting, you aren't a patriot- you are just another charismatic cheerleader.
A pro to having a charismatic leader is that they are a visionary. They have the ability to see things in a different, many times more positive, way than the rest of us. Their charisma enables them to persuade others of their values and beliefs. They get people excited about the issues they are addressing: their passions become the passions of everyone that they are leading. What is also great about the charismatic leader is that they are emotional people which makes it easier for their followers to relate to them. Many times when I think of charismatic people I think of actors: people who can play the necessary role. They can be the biggest supporter of whatever it is they are part of which makes following them very exciting. The cons to a charismatic leader are the double-edged sword of many of their pros. When someone is so charismatic and energetic, many times that is all that there is to them. After the exciting of the rally is over, people are left with empty promises because the leader was more about the hype of the change than the change itself. Like I mentioned earlier, the charismatic leader can have the tendency to be an actor and simply be acting out another role as oppose to being fully committed to the project. People that are around charismatic leaders enough can battle a lot of doubt and not be convinced that the change is real. "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me" can become the attitude of the followers and it makes the charismatic leader less likely to be trusted. The personality of the charismatic leader is their strength and weakness. They can quickly become "the boy who cried wolf" which is very sad.
The pros to being a citizen leader is that they are in the community: they are Joe, Fred, or Bob from down the street that knows the issues and has the respect and trust of his peers. The focus of the citizen leader is truly on the community and making it better. They have the servant leadership mentality: it's not about them! These are the leaders that are a lot more likely to see that change happens. They may not be as energetic and enabling personality-wise as the charismatic leader, but they are going to make sure that the jobs they committed to are completed. They truly are, for all intents and purposes, "the voice of the people"! The cons of being a citizen leader are that they can easily get swept up in the emotional side of things. Because they are part of the community, they are attached on a deeper level than other leaders which can cause issues if not guarded against. They can also have the propensity to simply give everyone what they want even if it's not what is best because of the relationships they have. Like the charismatic leader, the pros and cons of being a citizen leader go hand-in-hand. What can be their greatest strength has the potential to likewise be their greatest weakness.
I have two types of leaders that come to my mind when I think of potentially citizen or charismatic leadership: pastors and student body presidents. Both of these leaders have the potential to fall under theses categories and here is why. You hear of and watch pastors on television, in the paper, etc. who are unbelievably charismatic people. They get up on stage and preach sermons that truly blow people's minds and get them beyond excited about their religion. Yet after the service is over, the pastor goes his own way and does not have any communication or role in the people's lives. He doesn't know their struggles, fears, etc. But there are other pastors who are citizen leaders. They know their congregation by name and really relate to the issues they are dealing with. They give counsel and preach on topics that will truly help their people deal with the issues they are facing. It's not about the glitz and the glamor, it's about helping people make the necessary changes in their lives. The same thing follows for student body presidents. You can either have the leader who is the cheerleader and gets everyone excited and rallied together but then does his own agenda once elected or you have the leader who is right there with his peers every day and truly understands the issues and works to address them.
2.) Ella Baker teaches us that we need leaders who know and understand our community. We need to fight battles that we understand and that affect us as oppose to simply fighting for what we are told to fight for. The people we support should be the people who know the issues and have the ability to convey them to the public. Ella Baker supported citizen leaders. Even the charisma of Martin Luther King, Jr. was too much in her opinion to detract attention from the main issues they were fighting for. What I walk away with from Ella Baker is I have the responsibility to fight for the issues in my own background.
3.) When I think of the word "patriotism", I automatically think of the movie Patriot with Mel Gibson. It has always been one of my favorite movies and I think I grab a lot of my definition from that movie. Mel Gibson's character is against the American Revolution until his son is killed by a British officer. He ultimately joins the Colonial Militia and plays a substantial role in their success. Why his stand is patriotic in my opinion is because he is fighting for something he believes in. He wasn't easily swayed by his peers to join the militia and fight because everyone else wanted him to: it wasn't until it became his personal conviction and retaliation that his mind was changed. Because of this war, he lost two sons and his relationship with the rest of his children suffered at times, but he gave it up for the end result. A true patriot isn't selfish. When you are standing for something- whether your country or your personal view in a class- you are taking a huge risk. More many patriots, they don't even get to personal experience whatever it is they are fighting for. But a patriot sees beyond himself to the greater good. He views things on a macro scale. A protest, a walkout, a war, or whatever it is that they are involved in isn't about a personal offense against themselves- it's about a human right that they have deemed worthy of their free time, freedom, or life. These are reasons why I can't associate "fans" as patriots. Unless you are willing to sacrifice even to death for whatever it is you are supporting, you aren't a patriot- you are just another charismatic cheerleader.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Dear Mr. Malcom X
I heard your Oxford Union Debate on Extremism in the Defense of Liberty. I don't personally know a lot about your life, but I am aware of your participation in the Black movement. I admire your courage and zeal, but what I was most impressed with during your debate was how you took your personal race out of the situation and addressed a specific problem- a problem that I completely agree with. The issue shouldn't be whether or not a specific race is allowed to act "extreme" when they are oppressed; as humans, everyone should be treated with the same level of respect regardless. People of all colors, races, and backgrounds were created with a spirit, soul, and mind. We all feel the same way and should respect each other the same way. Sadly, we don't live in a perfect world where that is the case. African Americans are treated at best like less humans and at worst animals. However, when you beat an animal, the natural response for most of them will be a retaliation of defense; yet people are completely blown away when black people, as human beings, are quick to defend themselves and show any sort of emotion when they are treated horribly.
I am an African American woman so I have been beat down to the lowest notch of this food chain. How do I not defend yourself when I have been deprived of basic human rights? How do I not become angry as I watch my parents and friends be forced to serve others and treated like animals? How do I not become extreme while I watch white children go to school and get a great education and a brighter future when my children have no hope of experiencing the same successes because of the color of their skin?
Not only am I African American, I am also a Christian. I'm a firm believer in you reap what you sow and working hard for what you achieve. I believe in rejoicing with those that rejoice and weeping with those that weep. This country is said to be founded on Christian principles however apartheid is nowhere to be found in my bible. I feel as though we have forgotten the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children" where it is clarified that "red and yellow, black and white- they are precious in His sight". You hit the nail on the head when you made the statement of people preaching one thing and acting the opposite. Ultimately, my hope is not in this world because it is corrupt and full of evil and wickedness. I fully believe that the Lord is in control of our lives and that He truly does hear the cry of the brokenhearted and oppressed. But we have a job to do as well: beat them with kindness and love. We are undoubtedly naturally justified in our anger: we are being punished for the color of our skin- something we have absolutely no control over. However, two wrongs don't make a right and it does us no good to become as bitter and angry towards them as they are towards us for the color of our skin. I believe it is our job to become extreme: extremely loving towards our enemies. We have to stand up and speak to what is wrong. We can't just sit by and allow things to happen when we can have an influence on it. We are fighting not just for ourselves, we are fighting for our children and grandchildren. We are fighting for principles: the principle that all men were created equally and should be treated that way. Like you mentioned, it isn't about African Americans only- it is about anyone being treated wrongly and having their rights stripped from them. Does it hurt? Of course. Am I confused and at times unbelievably angry? Absolutely! But by allowing myself to sink to their level and ways of doing things will make the situation even worse. We don't control the situations we find ourselves in, but we do control how we respond to them!
I am truly grateful for your willingness and ability to fight for our rights. Continue to be extreme without lowering yourself to their level and I believe that we will come through this victorious! "Don't be weary in well doing for in due time you will reap if you faint not." - Galatians 6:9
Sincerely,
Brooke Hayden
I am an African American woman so I have been beat down to the lowest notch of this food chain. How do I not defend yourself when I have been deprived of basic human rights? How do I not become angry as I watch my parents and friends be forced to serve others and treated like animals? How do I not become extreme while I watch white children go to school and get a great education and a brighter future when my children have no hope of experiencing the same successes because of the color of their skin?
Not only am I African American, I am also a Christian. I'm a firm believer in you reap what you sow and working hard for what you achieve. I believe in rejoicing with those that rejoice and weeping with those that weep. This country is said to be founded on Christian principles however apartheid is nowhere to be found in my bible. I feel as though we have forgotten the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children" where it is clarified that "red and yellow, black and white- they are precious in His sight". You hit the nail on the head when you made the statement of people preaching one thing and acting the opposite. Ultimately, my hope is not in this world because it is corrupt and full of evil and wickedness. I fully believe that the Lord is in control of our lives and that He truly does hear the cry of the brokenhearted and oppressed. But we have a job to do as well: beat them with kindness and love. We are undoubtedly naturally justified in our anger: we are being punished for the color of our skin- something we have absolutely no control over. However, two wrongs don't make a right and it does us no good to become as bitter and angry towards them as they are towards us for the color of our skin. I believe it is our job to become extreme: extremely loving towards our enemies. We have to stand up and speak to what is wrong. We can't just sit by and allow things to happen when we can have an influence on it. We are fighting not just for ourselves, we are fighting for our children and grandchildren. We are fighting for principles: the principle that all men were created equally and should be treated that way. Like you mentioned, it isn't about African Americans only- it is about anyone being treated wrongly and having their rights stripped from them. Does it hurt? Of course. Am I confused and at times unbelievably angry? Absolutely! But by allowing myself to sink to their level and ways of doing things will make the situation even worse. We don't control the situations we find ourselves in, but we do control how we respond to them!
I am truly grateful for your willingness and ability to fight for our rights. Continue to be extreme without lowering yourself to their level and I believe that we will come through this victorious! "Don't be weary in well doing for in due time you will reap if you faint not." - Galatians 6:9
Sincerely,
Brooke Hayden
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Nina Simone
I was really taken back by the words of "Four Women". I had never heard or heard of that song before so when I watched the first YouTube clip where Kelly Price, etc. were singing it I kept wondering what the title of the song was. The story of each woman was really powerful and it gave you a very accurate view into each of their worlds. Whether you were bi-racial, a prostitute, perceived as completely bitter, or just "plain ole" Aunt Sarah, there was a lot of darkness in each life. To be honest, it is hard for me to hear songs like that because it really hurts my heart. I've been so unbelievably fortunate enough to grow up in a time where although there is still racism, I am free to walk around the same way my white friends do- use the same bathroom, stores, play on the same sports team, get the same education, etc. It is nothing that I've done in myself to where I deserve this, I was simply born in a "more accepting" generation. It hurts to hear how black people, especially women, were treated years ago and all that they had to endure. It's not right, it's not fair, it's not how God intended life to be at all. I can't imagine growing up the way my grandparents and great grandparents had to, but I'm thankful that they did because through it they taught my parents strong life lessons that they have now passed on to me. There is a Bible verse that talks about how God turns the evil deeds of men and uses them for good. My ancestors were strong people and endured a lot of oppression and hate- things that I can't even fathom- and that gives me a legacy to be proud of.
It was clearly evident how close the lives of black women were to Nina Simone's heart even before I read her biography. After reading her biography, I felt like she identified the most with Peaches. She seemed to be so angry about the racism that was running rampant in America at that time and how it was affecting her life and the lives of the people around her that she loved. She had been rejected and taken advantage of multiple times and by a certain point in her life she had simply had enough. Her music was used as anthems during the black movement, which she was part of herself, and it gave inspiration to black women during that time. Women were able to identify with her characters portrayed in "Four Women" and other songs and it gave them an outlet to be flat-out angry it appears. What I'm the most impressed with is how Nina Simone didn't just be angry though, she used her talent for the cause she was fighting. She was able to say "Look America- this is how black women are being treated and it's not at all right!" through her music. She used the talent that she had to voice her feelings in a form that people would listen to at this time. Too often I feel like people just stay angry and are content to do so and feel "justified" since they've been wronged in a situation. Although it is true that there are situations that are completely unfair, everyone has the choice to do something about it. I can't say that I have respect for the people that complain and remain bitter without even attempting to make a change compared with the people like Nina Simone and Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others who saw something wrong, got up, and did what they could about it. Not everyone has the same abilities to inspire- although I can play the piano and read music after taking lessons for years, I'll never be a Nina Simone because that is not the talent that God gave me. I also don't have the gift of commanding an audience the way Martin Luther King did. I'm not exposed to hundreds of thousands of people that I can have a personal influence on during the course of my life like many artists and celebrities are.It's about using the talents you do have to make a change where you can. I'm not fighting for freedom or my rights to the same degree that Nina Simone and others had to, but reading about her definitely convicts me about fighting for the things that I do believe in and need to fight for. Everyone is going to live some sort of impact on this world and we are in control of the level of that impact.
It was clearly evident how close the lives of black women were to Nina Simone's heart even before I read her biography. After reading her biography, I felt like she identified the most with Peaches. She seemed to be so angry about the racism that was running rampant in America at that time and how it was affecting her life and the lives of the people around her that she loved. She had been rejected and taken advantage of multiple times and by a certain point in her life she had simply had enough. Her music was used as anthems during the black movement, which she was part of herself, and it gave inspiration to black women during that time. Women were able to identify with her characters portrayed in "Four Women" and other songs and it gave them an outlet to be flat-out angry it appears. What I'm the most impressed with is how Nina Simone didn't just be angry though, she used her talent for the cause she was fighting. She was able to say "Look America- this is how black women are being treated and it's not at all right!" through her music. She used the talent that she had to voice her feelings in a form that people would listen to at this time. Too often I feel like people just stay angry and are content to do so and feel "justified" since they've been wronged in a situation. Although it is true that there are situations that are completely unfair, everyone has the choice to do something about it. I can't say that I have respect for the people that complain and remain bitter without even attempting to make a change compared with the people like Nina Simone and Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others who saw something wrong, got up, and did what they could about it. Not everyone has the same abilities to inspire- although I can play the piano and read music after taking lessons for years, I'll never be a Nina Simone because that is not the talent that God gave me. I also don't have the gift of commanding an audience the way Martin Luther King did. I'm not exposed to hundreds of thousands of people that I can have a personal influence on during the course of my life like many artists and celebrities are.It's about using the talents you do have to make a change where you can. I'm not fighting for freedom or my rights to the same degree that Nina Simone and others had to, but reading about her definitely convicts me about fighting for the things that I do believe in and need to fight for. Everyone is going to live some sort of impact on this world and we are in control of the level of that impact.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
My Cultural Self Portrait
Brooke’s Cultural Self Portrait
My Family History
I have been exposed, in part, to two cultures so far in my life: African American and Haitian. For the first portion of my life if asked my racial background my immediate answer would of course be “I’m African American”. For the longest time that was all that I knew about myself because that was what was obvious. I have never been the person who was extremely curious about my family history: I can’t remember a single time in elementary, junior high or high school where I had to do a school project on my family tree or history so I was never even “forced” to have an interest. As far as I was concerned, I already knew all the “important” stuff: I have two parents, a dad and mom, and I’m the second of three girls. It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned the history of my family.
My great, great grandparents on both of my dad’s sides were slaves. Grandpa Hayden grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama and only made it to the 4th grade because he had to go work on the family farm whereas Grandma Hayden, who grew up in Georgia, made it to the 10th grade: this later made education for my dad imperative for both grandparents. My dad says that they had the mindset of Martin Luther King- a nonviolent approach to equality. “We are black and we need to know that” he said was something that they really instilled in him growing up. They didn’t have a lot of animosity towards white people, but they knew the difference in diversity and had gone through a lot of racial segregation growing up in the South. He recalls one incident when he was five years old where he was on a road trip with his mom to Florida to visit a friend. During a bus stop, he went to use the bathroom and since he was still pretty young he did not know that there was a “whites only” bathroom. He vividly remembers being snatched by his mom before he could enter and being told that he could not use that bathroom because it was for whites alone. However, the biggest thing that my dad took away from his parents was the importance of education. “Since both of them were products of the 40s and 50s, education for blacks was a very big issue for them” my dad said. Haydens were big on education and sowing back into the community: a mentality that my dad passed down to my sisters and me. Both of my parents graduated from Syracuse University and at the end of May 2011, I will be the second Hayden daughter to graduate from George Mason University. My dad’s parents died before I was old enough to remember them and he was an only child for all intents and purposes so although I know a little about that side of my family, I never had any interaction with them.
The only blood relatives that I have personally known have been my mom’s family, the Vixamas: her two parents, two brothers, three sisters, one cousin, nine nieces/nephews, two great nieces/nephews, six second cousins- and these are just the people that I’ve had some personal relationship with. As you can imagine, the Vixamas more than made up for the lack of family on my dad’s side. Even though I spent a large portion of my childhood with them, the fact that they were Haitian- making me 50% Haitian (a very large part of myself to be ignorant of) - never really struck a nerve with me. I don’t know the exact age I was when I truly realized that I was half Haitian but ever since that time it has been something I’ve identified a lot with verbally, especially since I have more Vixama physical traits than I do Hayden ones. I was able to get a small eye-opener as I heard of my extended family rallying together after Hurricane Katrina to get in contact with relatives we have in Haiti (relatives I didn’t even know existed), prepare care packages, and make preparations to go physically assist themselves. I don’t know if it has increased as we’ve grown or if I’m just more keen to it now that I’m older, but hearing phrases like “that’s the Haitian in them” has been a lot more common around my home.
As much as I would probably like to, I can’t blame my mom for my ignorance of my Haitian decent. I grew up on Haitian dishes and hearing Haitian Creole words completely oblivious to their origin. There is one dish in particular of red beans and rice with this special chicken that I had all the time growing up that I loved which was a small introduction of my Haitian background. My younger sister labeled that meal “The Grandpa Meal” because my mom always made it on the days he was either coming to visit or vice versa. My mom, along with all of her brothers and sisters, called my grandparents Momom, which is “my mother” in the Haitian culture, and Papam, which is “my father”. She also refers to her father’s sister as Matant which you’ve probably guessed is how Haitians refer to their aunts. It has always been a running joke among us cousins and we even teased my mom about being called Momom by my niece.
However, Haiti was always a main character in my personal story. My mom was born in Haiti, Port-au-Prince to be exact, and got typhoid when she was around the age of four. The disease was so severe that Momom was told to take my mother to a hospital, places where people left their sick to die. Momom refused and by the mercy of God was able to help nurse my mom back to health. That story has been a testimony to the power of God in my family for as long as I can remember. There is no doubt in my mind that this miracle served as the anchor my mom stood on believing for a family while she was told by doctors that she would not be able to have children. This Friday, February 18th, my older sister will turn 27 and my mom will be able to celebrate once again her memorial of how the Lord not only spared her life, but gave her three daughters and now one granddaughter to carry on her legacy of a strong God-fearing Haitian woman.
My mom lived in Haiti for about five more years after recovering from typhoid. Papam had moved to New York to look for work before bringing Momom, my mom and her siblings over to America. Strong work ethic and the importance of education were things that my mom took away from her parents. My mom, along with all her siblings, was given the chance to go to college and be successful. Four out of the six Vixama children still live in New York and have been able to work and thrive in their fields based on the traits given to them by their parents. To this day she will talk about Papam’s keen sense of business and how hard he worked. He had his ups and downs and there were a lot of issues after his death among the siblings. But even though he didn’t leave her money, what he left my mom was character; character that she would be able to teach her children and grandchildren in years to come.
Cultural Importance
I have never realized how important culture is to me until now because I’ve never had a concrete personal definition of culture. When I hear the word “culture” my mind automatically begins to wonder to African beats and bright colors or to Hispanic fiestas along with their maracas, tortilla chips and salsa. I guess in a word you could say that I use to associate someone’s culture with traditions. I would automatically send people back to their place of origin- their “mother country”. But as I’ve grown older I’ve learned that everything has a culture. It is very common to hear “I chose that company because of their culture” or “That particular campus culture is very energetic”. Culture, in my opinion, is the combination of values and goals along with the systems set in place to achieve those goals. It is a particular way that a group of people live their life based on their beliefs and knowledge. Although I can’t say I have always taken a strong interest in my African or Haitian culture, I’ve always held a strong opinion about the different cultures I have been part of. For example, the most influential culture in my life is my church culture. My church, Calvary Temple, is non-denominational: whatever the Bible says is what is taught and enforced. The Bible is our “mission statement and core values” and the goal is to be a place where the Spirit of God dwells and where those who want help getting to heaven will get it. We are a family and community. I wasn’t raised by two parents: I was raised by a community of Christians who had the same amount of authority in my life as my biological parents did. They taught me to read, write, and do arithmetic as they implanted Godly character traits of doing everything to the best of my ability and giving God the glory for all of it. Nothing was out of my reach because with God anything, according to His Will, is possible. They were there during my greatest achievements and helped me get back up after my biggest failures. I graduated high school in front of them and I will probably graduate college in front of a good portion of them. The same people who helped raised me will be there to help raise my children. Because of this culture that I was raised in, I have a level of respect for authority that is unbelievably rare in my generation. Where the majority of my peers feel entitled to everything regardless of the effort put forth, I am bound by the scripture verse proclaiming “You reap what you sow- Galatians 6:7”. That is my culture: it’s the beliefs and knowledge set forth by a society of Christians to raise their children to know nothing else. I have been brainwashed to believe and live my life this way, the same way people of other cultures have been brainwashed to believe in the importance of education, riches, or status. The way I do things is different from others based on my culture; the biggest difference being that I don’t live my life to become something great in this world, rather I live to bring God the most glory that I can and share the good news of eternal salvation by Jesus Christ with others before He returns for His church.
No one can escape their culture, but they can choose to reject it. Our generation is full of people rebelling against the values established by their parents and grandparents. It has almost become a good thing to rebel against one’s culture and start their own path. I can’t say I understand this mentality but I can once again attribute that to being raised in a culture completely opposite of my peers. Another fundamental value drilled into me from my youth has been “follow those who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises – Hebrews 6:12”. Why create my own path when the one plowed before me is the right one?! Culture is important to me because without it I would have no idea where I was heading in this life.
Molded into His Image
When I think about my life, especially my childhood, I can’t remember a time where I didn’t hear praise and worship music playing in the kitchen every Sunday morning while my mom sang along as loud as she could while making dinner before church. If you don’t hear a loud “Hallelujah- Thank You, Jesus!” anytime something monumental happened then you definitely aren’t in the Hayden home. Scripture verses are the sayings that “haunt” me through every life choice as I can’t escape the constant reminders from my mom that God is omnipresent and in control. “We have to trust God” is the phrase I’ll repeat over and over to my children as the belief that their grandpa drilled into me whenever life was at its harshest. I’ve learned to allow the doubts of others to motivate me even more to be the “best” because my dad taught me to never crumble under critics but to rise above because I was more than able to succeed, in sports and more importantly in life. To this day, I can be suddenly awakened in the early hours of the morning by my mother praying over me while I sleep or wake up to find her reading her Bible and seeking God before she starts her day. As far as I’m concerned, that is my family history. These are the things that have shaped my identity. That is why “There is nothing hid that won’t be revealed- Luke 12:2” comes to my mind before I make a decision to do something possibly deceptive. It’s why when I’m at my lowest, I run to the sanctuary of my church to pray as oppose to food, music, or any natural comfort. It’s why when I think of culture or heritage I think of my church community because my parents have brainwashed me to believe that although I love and cherish my natural family, absolutely nothing comes before Jesus Christ and my Christian family.
Raising a Stronger Next Generation
The biggest lessons that we learn in life don’t come from educational institutes; they come from our parents and the communities that raise us. There are many natural character traits that I plan to pass on to my children that I received from my parents that they received from their parents. The importance and privilege of education, especially as an African American, is something that I will inevitably instill in my children. The love of family, especially their immediate family members, is one of the most powerful natural wisdoms I have taken away from my parents. “Friends come and go but your sisters will always be there” is something that my mom beat into me relentlessly and now when asked who my best friend is I quickly respond “my sister”. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world and everywhere we went, whether it was Costa Rica, Mexico, Caribbean, etc., my mom made sure that we took the time to see how the natives lived. My parents instilled an attitude of thankfulness for everything that we had as they reminded us of the rarity of our lifestyle even compared to their own childhood. All these life lessons have been monumental in shaping my identity, but my parents didn’t raise me this way simply so that I would have good morals and be “accepted” by society. There is a Bible verse that is the foundation for the ministry of my church and has been influential in my growth as a young adult: “the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also- 2 Timothy 2:2”. If I were to go on in life, start my own family, and fail to transmit these same life lessons and values to my own children then I will have failed my parents, my children, and myself.
As a look to the future and ponder how I plan to grow and what I would like my legacy to be when I die, I want to be stronger, wiser, and greater than my parents. When I say this, I don’t mean that I want more knowledge of business, culture, or economic affairs than my parents. I don’t want to be stronger or more equipped to handle the chaos of this world as far as humanity is concerned. I don’t want to make a greater humanistic impression on this world than my parents did. I don’t want a better job, more money, or a “better life” than my parents had or gave me. I may achieve all these things as a by-product of having exceptional parents, but that is neither of our desires. The strength I desire comes only from being in the presence of God. The wisdom I want can be found in only one book: the Bible. I want to be greater for the Kingdom of God than my parents because that is what they raised me to be. I want to study more: not more views of this world, although that may happen, but the scriptures and mysterious of God’s Word.
My parents gave me the chance to be successful in life when they raised me as a Christian. Because we are in this world they gave me the tools necessary to live like education, sound morals, and social skills; but they gave me eternal life when they gave me Jesus. I think about one of the most prominent genealogies in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Bible is full of passages referring to God as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” and I can think of no better legacy to leave this world than a third generation of Hayden-Vixama’s who are serving Jesus with their whole heart.
My Family History
I have been exposed, in part, to two cultures so far in my life: African American and Haitian. For the first portion of my life if asked my racial background my immediate answer would of course be “I’m African American”. For the longest time that was all that I knew about myself because that was what was obvious. I have never been the person who was extremely curious about my family history: I can’t remember a single time in elementary, junior high or high school where I had to do a school project on my family tree or history so I was never even “forced” to have an interest. As far as I was concerned, I already knew all the “important” stuff: I have two parents, a dad and mom, and I’m the second of three girls. It wasn’t until I was much older that I learned the history of my family.
My great, great grandparents on both of my dad’s sides were slaves. Grandpa Hayden grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama and only made it to the 4th grade because he had to go work on the family farm whereas Grandma Hayden, who grew up in Georgia, made it to the 10th grade: this later made education for my dad imperative for both grandparents. My dad says that they had the mindset of Martin Luther King- a nonviolent approach to equality. “We are black and we need to know that” he said was something that they really instilled in him growing up. They didn’t have a lot of animosity towards white people, but they knew the difference in diversity and had gone through a lot of racial segregation growing up in the South. He recalls one incident when he was five years old where he was on a road trip with his mom to Florida to visit a friend. During a bus stop, he went to use the bathroom and since he was still pretty young he did not know that there was a “whites only” bathroom. He vividly remembers being snatched by his mom before he could enter and being told that he could not use that bathroom because it was for whites alone. However, the biggest thing that my dad took away from his parents was the importance of education. “Since both of them were products of the 40s and 50s, education for blacks was a very big issue for them” my dad said. Haydens were big on education and sowing back into the community: a mentality that my dad passed down to my sisters and me. Both of my parents graduated from Syracuse University and at the end of May 2011, I will be the second Hayden daughter to graduate from George Mason University. My dad’s parents died before I was old enough to remember them and he was an only child for all intents and purposes so although I know a little about that side of my family, I never had any interaction with them.
The only blood relatives that I have personally known have been my mom’s family, the Vixamas: her two parents, two brothers, three sisters, one cousin, nine nieces/nephews, two great nieces/nephews, six second cousins- and these are just the people that I’ve had some personal relationship with. As you can imagine, the Vixamas more than made up for the lack of family on my dad’s side. Even though I spent a large portion of my childhood with them, the fact that they were Haitian- making me 50% Haitian (a very large part of myself to be ignorant of) - never really struck a nerve with me. I don’t know the exact age I was when I truly realized that I was half Haitian but ever since that time it has been something I’ve identified a lot with verbally, especially since I have more Vixama physical traits than I do Hayden ones. I was able to get a small eye-opener as I heard of my extended family rallying together after Hurricane Katrina to get in contact with relatives we have in Haiti (relatives I didn’t even know existed), prepare care packages, and make preparations to go physically assist themselves. I don’t know if it has increased as we’ve grown or if I’m just more keen to it now that I’m older, but hearing phrases like “that’s the Haitian in them” has been a lot more common around my home.
As much as I would probably like to, I can’t blame my mom for my ignorance of my Haitian decent. I grew up on Haitian dishes and hearing Haitian Creole words completely oblivious to their origin. There is one dish in particular of red beans and rice with this special chicken that I had all the time growing up that I loved which was a small introduction of my Haitian background. My younger sister labeled that meal “The Grandpa Meal” because my mom always made it on the days he was either coming to visit or vice versa. My mom, along with all of her brothers and sisters, called my grandparents Momom, which is “my mother” in the Haitian culture, and Papam, which is “my father”. She also refers to her father’s sister as Matant which you’ve probably guessed is how Haitians refer to their aunts. It has always been a running joke among us cousins and we even teased my mom about being called Momom by my niece.
However, Haiti was always a main character in my personal story. My mom was born in Haiti, Port-au-Prince to be exact, and got typhoid when she was around the age of four. The disease was so severe that Momom was told to take my mother to a hospital, places where people left their sick to die. Momom refused and by the mercy of God was able to help nurse my mom back to health. That story has been a testimony to the power of God in my family for as long as I can remember. There is no doubt in my mind that this miracle served as the anchor my mom stood on believing for a family while she was told by doctors that she would not be able to have children. This Friday, February 18th, my older sister will turn 27 and my mom will be able to celebrate once again her memorial of how the Lord not only spared her life, but gave her three daughters and now one granddaughter to carry on her legacy of a strong God-fearing Haitian woman.
My mom lived in Haiti for about five more years after recovering from typhoid. Papam had moved to New York to look for work before bringing Momom, my mom and her siblings over to America. Strong work ethic and the importance of education were things that my mom took away from her parents. My mom, along with all her siblings, was given the chance to go to college and be successful. Four out of the six Vixama children still live in New York and have been able to work and thrive in their fields based on the traits given to them by their parents. To this day she will talk about Papam’s keen sense of business and how hard he worked. He had his ups and downs and there were a lot of issues after his death among the siblings. But even though he didn’t leave her money, what he left my mom was character; character that she would be able to teach her children and grandchildren in years to come.
Cultural Importance
I have never realized how important culture is to me until now because I’ve never had a concrete personal definition of culture. When I hear the word “culture” my mind automatically begins to wonder to African beats and bright colors or to Hispanic fiestas along with their maracas, tortilla chips and salsa. I guess in a word you could say that I use to associate someone’s culture with traditions. I would automatically send people back to their place of origin- their “mother country”. But as I’ve grown older I’ve learned that everything has a culture. It is very common to hear “I chose that company because of their culture” or “That particular campus culture is very energetic”. Culture, in my opinion, is the combination of values and goals along with the systems set in place to achieve those goals. It is a particular way that a group of people live their life based on their beliefs and knowledge. Although I can’t say I have always taken a strong interest in my African or Haitian culture, I’ve always held a strong opinion about the different cultures I have been part of. For example, the most influential culture in my life is my church culture. My church, Calvary Temple, is non-denominational: whatever the Bible says is what is taught and enforced. The Bible is our “mission statement and core values” and the goal is to be a place where the Spirit of God dwells and where those who want help getting to heaven will get it. We are a family and community. I wasn’t raised by two parents: I was raised by a community of Christians who had the same amount of authority in my life as my biological parents did. They taught me to read, write, and do arithmetic as they implanted Godly character traits of doing everything to the best of my ability and giving God the glory for all of it. Nothing was out of my reach because with God anything, according to His Will, is possible. They were there during my greatest achievements and helped me get back up after my biggest failures. I graduated high school in front of them and I will probably graduate college in front of a good portion of them. The same people who helped raised me will be there to help raise my children. Because of this culture that I was raised in, I have a level of respect for authority that is unbelievably rare in my generation. Where the majority of my peers feel entitled to everything regardless of the effort put forth, I am bound by the scripture verse proclaiming “You reap what you sow- Galatians 6:7”. That is my culture: it’s the beliefs and knowledge set forth by a society of Christians to raise their children to know nothing else. I have been brainwashed to believe and live my life this way, the same way people of other cultures have been brainwashed to believe in the importance of education, riches, or status. The way I do things is different from others based on my culture; the biggest difference being that I don’t live my life to become something great in this world, rather I live to bring God the most glory that I can and share the good news of eternal salvation by Jesus Christ with others before He returns for His church.
No one can escape their culture, but they can choose to reject it. Our generation is full of people rebelling against the values established by their parents and grandparents. It has almost become a good thing to rebel against one’s culture and start their own path. I can’t say I understand this mentality but I can once again attribute that to being raised in a culture completely opposite of my peers. Another fundamental value drilled into me from my youth has been “follow those who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises – Hebrews 6:12”. Why create my own path when the one plowed before me is the right one?! Culture is important to me because without it I would have no idea where I was heading in this life.
Molded into His Image
When I think about my life, especially my childhood, I can’t remember a time where I didn’t hear praise and worship music playing in the kitchen every Sunday morning while my mom sang along as loud as she could while making dinner before church. If you don’t hear a loud “Hallelujah- Thank You, Jesus!” anytime something monumental happened then you definitely aren’t in the Hayden home. Scripture verses are the sayings that “haunt” me through every life choice as I can’t escape the constant reminders from my mom that God is omnipresent and in control. “We have to trust God” is the phrase I’ll repeat over and over to my children as the belief that their grandpa drilled into me whenever life was at its harshest. I’ve learned to allow the doubts of others to motivate me even more to be the “best” because my dad taught me to never crumble under critics but to rise above because I was more than able to succeed, in sports and more importantly in life. To this day, I can be suddenly awakened in the early hours of the morning by my mother praying over me while I sleep or wake up to find her reading her Bible and seeking God before she starts her day. As far as I’m concerned, that is my family history. These are the things that have shaped my identity. That is why “There is nothing hid that won’t be revealed- Luke 12:2” comes to my mind before I make a decision to do something possibly deceptive. It’s why when I’m at my lowest, I run to the sanctuary of my church to pray as oppose to food, music, or any natural comfort. It’s why when I think of culture or heritage I think of my church community because my parents have brainwashed me to believe that although I love and cherish my natural family, absolutely nothing comes before Jesus Christ and my Christian family.
Raising a Stronger Next Generation
The biggest lessons that we learn in life don’t come from educational institutes; they come from our parents and the communities that raise us. There are many natural character traits that I plan to pass on to my children that I received from my parents that they received from their parents. The importance and privilege of education, especially as an African American, is something that I will inevitably instill in my children. The love of family, especially their immediate family members, is one of the most powerful natural wisdoms I have taken away from my parents. “Friends come and go but your sisters will always be there” is something that my mom beat into me relentlessly and now when asked who my best friend is I quickly respond “my sister”. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world and everywhere we went, whether it was Costa Rica, Mexico, Caribbean, etc., my mom made sure that we took the time to see how the natives lived. My parents instilled an attitude of thankfulness for everything that we had as they reminded us of the rarity of our lifestyle even compared to their own childhood. All these life lessons have been monumental in shaping my identity, but my parents didn’t raise me this way simply so that I would have good morals and be “accepted” by society. There is a Bible verse that is the foundation for the ministry of my church and has been influential in my growth as a young adult: “the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also- 2 Timothy 2:2”. If I were to go on in life, start my own family, and fail to transmit these same life lessons and values to my own children then I will have failed my parents, my children, and myself.
As a look to the future and ponder how I plan to grow and what I would like my legacy to be when I die, I want to be stronger, wiser, and greater than my parents. When I say this, I don’t mean that I want more knowledge of business, culture, or economic affairs than my parents. I don’t want to be stronger or more equipped to handle the chaos of this world as far as humanity is concerned. I don’t want to make a greater humanistic impression on this world than my parents did. I don’t want a better job, more money, or a “better life” than my parents had or gave me. I may achieve all these things as a by-product of having exceptional parents, but that is neither of our desires. The strength I desire comes only from being in the presence of God. The wisdom I want can be found in only one book: the Bible. I want to be greater for the Kingdom of God than my parents because that is what they raised me to be. I want to study more: not more views of this world, although that may happen, but the scriptures and mysterious of God’s Word.
My parents gave me the chance to be successful in life when they raised me as a Christian. Because we are in this world they gave me the tools necessary to live like education, sound morals, and social skills; but they gave me eternal life when they gave me Jesus. I think about one of the most prominent genealogies in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Bible is full of passages referring to God as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” and I can think of no better legacy to leave this world than a third generation of Hayden-Vixama’s who are serving Jesus with their whole heart.
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