Archive for the ‘Activism’ Category

The man sat down next to me on the bench. I was there to wait on my daughter while she took her driver’s test. He was quiet, oriental and old. I am known to be able to start a conversation with anyone so this was another opportunity. I thought it was just going to be me creating 20 minutes of chatter but this man had more to offer. He began by telling me of his life in China and how he got to the United States. The causes he had seen and been a part of.

What took me back to this memory is all the chaos in the name of social justice that is swirling around us on a daily basis. That man, just a little old man sitting quietly on a bench, had seen things and done things I had only heard of in history books. Now I find I too am living in my history. I find that social consciousness has become “trendy”. Again.

For me the history I am living right now is exasperating. In a word I sum the world I see around me filled with “hate”. There is a social action group for this, a social action group for that. The Christians hate the Muslims. The Muslims hate the Christians and not sure where the Jews fit in but I am sure they are subjected to the hate or being hateful to someone. Or it is the color of one’s skin? Whether it is white, black, brown, red or yellow. Coupled with hate of a religious group comes hate of any ethnic group. And while I am at it the political parties hate each other too. And did I mention gays or witches or atheists?

The media feeds on all this hate coupled with the open exploitation of personal woes facing the rich and famous. Shocking! Oh yes, but please don’t interrupt me while I read more, watch more, hear more. And the crisis of lives lost in storms, earthquakes or war. Yes friends there is more going on than in Pakistan. When is the last time you check into Latin American news?

Believe me, I think social consciousness is good. I think it is great. And we all should care about our fellow man (or woman), the earth and what we are doing to it. But I have always believed a social cause should begin with the end of the mind. I think that having a goal in mind before running off is crucial. I had a boss once that whenever I would burst into his office with an idea (because as a Tigger I just bounced right in) he would settle back into his chair look up at me as say, “Amanda, I won’t listen to your idea until you have plan. If you want something done come to me with a plan not just a complaint”. That was a major life lesson for me. And I find I expect no less from others. Everyone is complaining but with no plan on how to fix it. So that leads me to wonder, does anyone want things fixed or does everyone just want to bitch about it? Because, you know, it takes effort to affect change instead of rant with the “f” word here and the “f” word there.

Loud to me is not always better. There have been those who do and have made an effect on mankind without shocking everyone senseless. Mother Teresa is one person I think of (and no I am not Catholic). This physically little tiny lady spent her life making a difference in the lives of many people in India and being an inspiration around the world. If she did use shock to get attention someone please correct me. I don’t remember her spewing the “f” word right and left to prove she cared about mankind.

Other groups that have my admiration are those that help the needy like Mobile Loaves & Fishes – Miracles on Wheels. I would be so turned off if they felt they had to get on a soap box of anger. But their mission statement is about helping everyone no matter what race or religion they are. A lot of people say they are into interfaith organizational assistance for the needy but still fight amongst themselves about who has the direct line to the Almighty. How does that promote interfaith?

I am not a pie in the sky person. I know there is a lot of injustice in the world. But I don’t have to be shocked by it to know it is there. I know animals are mistreated, I know women are abused, I know children need to be protected from pedophilia and I know there are millions of people throughout the world that are hungry or dying. But what I don’t think is I need it thrown in my face using expletives to get my attention. And we all have a choice. There are those that need to do or say things because they need to. People get shocked. Even judgmental, calling down divine judgment at these individuals they condemn. To what end? No one says we have to read or listen to things that are disturbing to us. We can not read that blog, comment on our social network or guess what, we can just walk away. Or in fact, just speak up! Say I am walking away here but I simply do not care what you have to say! Yes, we all get to decide. You can simply not care.

The old Chinese man on that bench that morning taught me a life lesson, he wasn’t loud, rude or passionate with anger. But he had something to share. What I did with that information was up to me. I asked, he didn’t just start a tirade about his noble cause in China. Our conversation has stayed with me over the years.

I don’t want to live in a bubble. I tune in daily to CNN, BBC, New York Times, USA Today, The Daily Telegraph and the Los Angeles Times. Sometimes I lose control and get upset about what I am hearing like the story about Harold Camping’s doomsday prophecy because with no thought about the people affected who committed suicide over his prophecy he just came back with another prediction. That got me riled up. But then I am riled up that hard working Pakistanis eking out a living are subjected to abuses under the Taliban too. I do care but ranting is not going to change these lives. Change is.

And so as I move in the “silver years” of life I hope that I can say and more importantly do something that effects at least one life positively. But I don’t have to cuss my brains out to prove it! Anger is so freaking disturbing!

Earth Day is a whopping 40 years old this year. It was started to boost awareness about the environment. I was there and ready to get a move on to save the planet and reduce my carbon foot print and I have never looked back.

New ideas come up about recycling, saving energy or reducing waste. But many of these ideas are just the old ones rehashed for the younger generation. For example, the computer was not as prevalent 40 years ago so green methods are being advised now. Such as printing on both sides of your paper or putting your computer to sleep when not in use are two ways we can save energy. And another electronic saving of energy is teaching children to turn off video games or other electronics when not in use

We have all gotten use to “BYOB”. Not “bring your own beer” but “bring your own bags”! We do not even blink when we see someone with an armful of bags trotting off to the store with their bags in tow. Some retailers even offer savings if you BYOB.

But! One energy saver I am totally against is the Energy-Star rated CLF light bulbs. They are inefficient and do not live up to their touted claim that they will give you financial savings. Some say they will knock off about $30 over the lifetime of the bulb which, is suppose to last for say, ten years. So after you divide $30 dollars by ten years I had to ask  is that a real savings? And! I ran out and bought these expensive CFLs replacing all my old ones. In less than a year they are burning out in all the light fixture. Someone failed to tell me that we had to get CFL light fixture. Thankfully I saved all my old incandescent light bulbs so I am not out financially there. And what to do with the burned out ones that are laced with toxic ingredients is a real kicker. Someone failed to tell us that all CFLs are imported from another country so if they decide not to import what are we suppose to do about that! As you can tell nothing about this light bulb says saving in time or money to me. A lot will have to change about CFLs to get me convinced I am helping the planet.

For the last 40 plus years I have gathered my newspapers, magazines, papers, cardboard and plastic. Sometimes I did gather glass but now I live in a State that does not recycle glass so I have get creative in reusing as much as possible. I even recycled faithfully while spending years overseas while living in Belgium. Taking my cartons all separated per instructions to the recycle park regularly. I have always just saved my recycles and found somewhere to take them because it just seems like common sense.

Simple ideas like planting trees strategically on the south and west side of your house can be useful to keep your house cooler in the summer is another way to save the planet. (A word of caution: DO NOT over plant. A tree if dropped on its side on the ground has a root system as far out as the height of the tree! You have water and electric lines to consider.) And remember they will need maintenance, don’t want the limbs dragging on the roof! Those limbs are recyclable too.

Home electronics have been upgraded to aid us to save like energy saving washer/dryer units, dishwashers, low flow shower heads and more efficient toilets. Great that technology is helping us out right?

If you cannot think of ways to save and recycle consider these few tips:

• Small glass food jars are great for storing nuts, screws and other small shop items. I use some to prepare my Hummingbird food.
• Magazines (a great tip from Hints from Heloise) can be rolled up and stuck in your boots to keep their shape and you get the added bonus that they absorb odors too!
• Used coffee grounds? Don’t throw this away! Acid loving plant like azaleas love them.
• Those messy foam packing peanuts are great to use in the base of potting plants for better drainage.

There are so many ways to cut corners. Do not get overwhelmed with trying to do it all. Just pick a few areas. A few is better than none. And no guilt! I do not recycle perfectly but I keep trying to lower my carbon footprint.  Here are a few more ways you can get rid of an old item, try www.freecycle.org, donate to a Thrift Store (and yes, they will pick up your things) or post on Craigslist. Just remember your things have to be usable!

As Earth Day rolls around I am reminded of doing something to eliminate waste. What about you?  “Happy Earth Day my friends”

Below is a link to a beautiful poem about Earth Day, enjoy!

A Poem, Earth Day

Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are,

we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men.

It then appears that we are among the privileged.

- Helen Keller

During this month I am taking the time to learn about women, their contributions to society and bring awareness to amazing women. In the Presidential Proclamation – Women’s History Month, 2011 President Obama states “we reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments of women and honor their role in shaping the courses of our Nation’s history”.  I pondered on that thought.  Herein are some women that we can all aspire to be like.

Women who served our country stand out immediately. Throughout time there has been emphasis on men serving the U.S. military but what about women? Marion G. Crandall was the first American woman killed in active-duty service during World War I. Another great woman who served the U.S. in another capacity was Allie B. Latimer, an African-American woman, “attorney, civil rights activist and humanitarian”. She was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. And one more African-American of note is Shirley Chisholm who served in Congress for seven terms.

Other women are interested in fields besides politics, laws or humanitarian causes such as science. This is true of Sally Ride who as an astrophysicist who traveled into space in 1983 as a mission specialist. Sally showed girls that the pursuit of scientific goals are real and can be achieved. Many women excel in science and mathematics.

More inspiration comes from others that set examples for girls to aspire to such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an outstanding Jewish female that served as Supreme Court in 1993. And Asian-American women find representation in Elaine L. Chao who “was confirmed in January 2001 as the 24^th secretary of labor, the first Asian-American woman to be appointed to the president’s cabinet.

 Muslim-American women are speaking out to support causes. One such woman is Rashida Tlaib. Rashida decided to run for office and won. “The child of Palestinian immigrants became the first Muslim woman elected to the Michigan state House of Representatives. But getting there was not easy. Without name recognition, Tlaib campaigned door to door in her district, walking so much that she went through several pairs of shoes.”

Women from all walks of life are speaking up, making a difference and challenging themselves to better their world and the future of the girls that follow in them.

I want to remember what women can do and women need to remember that we do not succeed alone. In order to become successes we need respect from men. While it is Women’s History Month women do well to not overlook fathers, brothers, uncles, spouses or sons who believe in their mothers, sisters, aunts, spouses or daughters. We cannot keep this great dream for women alive without everyone participating. As President Obama stated “As we prepare to write the next chapter of women’s history, let us resolve to build on the progress won by the trailblazers of the past.”

My personal amazing woman who has inspired me is Helen Keller. A Euro-American woman that overcame amazing odds over her handicaps went on to do more for me that any one woman. Isolated from sight and sound she was determined to be more. Ms. Keller was born in 1880. Meaning she was not born into an era of enlightenment regarding her handicaps. And yet she went on to make inroads in our culture and prove that anything can be overcome.  Helen Keller is my hero.

And now I find the girls of the future are becoming amazing women. We already have seen amazing girls coming forward to blaze the trail of the future in all fields. I have barely scratched the surface of girls and women in the United States.  I did not include women worldwide that are recognized during International Women’s Day.  Ladies, “we’ve come a long way, baby.”

Citations:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/28/presidential-proclamation-womens-history-month-2011

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cwg

Dispatch Newspaper, “Women pioneers: America has a strong legacy, 6A

The eastern world, it is exploding

Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’

You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’

You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’

And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

But you tell me

Over and over and over again, my friend

Ah, you don’t believe

We’re on the eve

of destruction.

Lyrics, Eve of Destruction

I read a blog the other day about how many causes there are right now. It seems we are in the age of social consciousness. Or at least that is what we feel like. In my lifetime this isn’t the first time I have experienced this degree of chaos in the world.

Step back with me about 45 to 50 years and you see chaos at a maximum height. The difference is we didn’t have the Internet. In fact we barely had TV that would give us the news as it was happening. The first shocking news that hit our consciousness was Viet Nam. Etched in our minds was a young girl running down the street screaming as she was sprayed with napalm. And we learned that the military was responsible for things we felt were horrendous. And in some ways it was the news that portrayed them as monsters. Along with that were race riots, anti-war movements, you name it. We weren’t ready for that. No more than we were ready for watching the destruction of 9-11 and repercussions of chaos in the streets exploding on the news now. Not just in America but worldwide.

Now daily we can plug in to the Internet through social media groups or maybe your phone has an “app for that” so you can follow it with alerts of breaking news. It can get a bit overwhelming watching and hearing discontent, violence and daily fears broadcasted.  We all watch with baited breath as Tunisia, Egypt and other countries are struggling under dictatorships. I don’t think we can live under a rock. We only have to go to the gas pump to be reminded of the crisis in the oil countries. Or turned to the Weather Channel to hear the affects on the globe and how we are affecting the climate. Over and over again we hear of some place where there are storms or earthquakes. We cannot escape it but we do not have to allow ourselves to be despondent or angry beyond reason either. What I have had to do is have a certain amount of time set aside for the news and then do something else.  All the gloom and doom can easily destroy any resolve to care if I get too saturated.

It sounds like we are on the “Eve of Destruction” as we see countries changing politically. It was not that long ago change was epic for me. In my generation we actually voted for a Catholic to be President of the United States! And that was important in the 1960s and now look how far we have come as a nation.

A lot of people are stressed over the gas hikes. Thirty plus years ago I was in a gas line in the middle of summer pregnant as a blimp with a preschooler in tow waiting, waiting, waiting to gas up. Sometimes it would take about an hour to get up there to the front of the line. And by then sometimes they were out of gas! And if your name wasn’t on the list at the gas station you couldn’t buy there. That just how it was.

Today a lot of our issues are about religion, not the first time that has happened. We have Christian and Muslim countries disputing. Which can be difficult to not get discouraged about since both are expansionists religions. Then I wonder how long, just like you, this will go on? I get confused because of all the sects and divisions that fall under those two large headings.  It just isn’t as easy as, “we should just get along”, like when did that ever happen in the history of mankind? At best we need to accept each other’s difference to find a way to cohabit on this planet that is really such a small place in the entire galaxy.

It isn’t pretty out there that is for sure and I have no intention of falling into apathy, but I do think balance is the key. I have my strong opinions as well as anyone else about freedom, life and religion. But I hope I can see the future past the chaos. The chaos I experienced in America during my youth was hard but it brought with it many changes that were very positive. I can only hope that the chaos we feel now is growing pains for future generations. I hope.

Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will live as one

In the world we live in we have shrunk our global neighborhood with the advancement of technology. We can reach anyone in the world via the internet and travel to any country we desire as easily as we travel through the United States. In many ways, this has been very positive. We have gained understanding of all cultures and enjoy many experiences.

But in a time that reminds me of the upheaval of the 1960′s I have to ask, are we any more tolerant than we were then? We see horrific war time drama played out in the news daily. Our country is going through growing pains again in huge spurts. This is not new. The other night I was watching a documentary of the 1960-1970s. We had three major assassinations (President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King) within such a short time we didn’t have the ability to grieve them individually. Then we had riots in Watts, unrest at Kent State and Wounded Knee along with another “unpopular” war in Viet Nam. The daily news displayed the horrific drama of war and these are only a few highlights of those two decades. And when we today are unsettled by the gas prices I am reminded that in 1976 I was pregnant in mid-summer waiting in a gas line that ran for blocks hoping to get enough gas to fuel up. That gas station had a list of customers and if you were not on the list you didn’t get gas.

I started to fall into the fatalistic emotions that these are the “worst of times” when I realized we have been here before and grew and learned. And we will again. But this time I am more aware of the political unrest as now I personally know German nationals, naturalized citizens and find that my family and friends are a huge a melting pot of ethnicity and religion. So when I hear someone I know criticizing another group I wonder, why? When I was in Germany I sat in the home of friends and listened to them tell me all the things that are wrong with America. But when I wanted to talk about the affects of Nazism well, that was different because I was told they didn’t live then and didn’t want to be responsible for that part of their history.

Then I met naturalized citizens who have chosen to become Americans, took the oath, denounce their prior citizenship only they still have emotions about their “mother” (or father) country so dual citizenship in theory is harder than I understand. It started in the 1980s when I had people from Viet Nam in my home for dinner from there I met Japanese, Chinese, Greek, Native American and African friends along with the German friends we have gained. Now I have broaden that out to Pakistani and Hispanic and shoot I don’t know how many others ethnicities! Because it simply isn’t important, what is important is every person I am a friend to or related to I love them for their diversity and cultural differences. So why the discord, I think of my friends from Germany and how I do not want to be held accountable for things I did not do, decisions I did not make. Nor judge others for their beliefs. When I receive emails that are right wing, left wing I am not mad, I am thankful we live in a country everyone has a right to speak up and say what they want to. What I don’t want, what I can’t agree with, is blaming. Blaming has become the air we breathe, it has got to be someone’s fault so let’s blame someone, anyone.

Being the “old Hippie” I am I do believe that we can live in the world that John Lennon describes above. And like he said, “you say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one……..and the world will live as one.

Cultural Diversity, hmmm….

Photo by Claudio Mutarrego

Please go here and vote for the Dusty Trails Horse Rescue, a shelter that rescues large animals.  I worked with these folks to help set up their non-profit and they are eligible to win both a state prize and a national prize to help them continue their excellent work.

How to Vote:

1.  Visit this site.

2.  In the Shelter Name block type: “dusty trails” then select the state: “AL” and click search. A vote button will show up with our name next to it: Dusty Trails Hose Rescue Inc. Montgomery, Al 36125

3.  Click the vote button and type in the name of the animal in the picture to confirm your vote.

Thanks for your participation!