I Tremble...

This morning in America, the DOW has dropped 184 points, several people are worried about swine flu, a few dozen have quit smoking, and another billion were diagnosed with economical heart failure. This morning in America, one individual has considered the arduous day to day life of other countries' citizens.

As Americans, we fail to acknowledge the existing hardships in other - our brother and sister - countries such as Mexico and Sudan. In spite of all the news surrounding these locations, constantly on TV screens, computer screens, and hidden in the hurried footsteps of bustling feet, we close our minds' eyes to the horrors and continue to live in relative wealth and blissful ignorance, while each of the two places I've mentioned is exploding with unspeakable misery.

The streets of Juarez, Mexico are deceiving, settling for a sharp fog of lies. In every footstep across pavement or dirt is a recent line of fire - 3 young men found in a car, each shot, each smiling prayers to their creator; in every child's eyes is a nurtured sense of fear and distrust, a soul equipped to witness death at 5 years old; in every mother there is a quiet scream, let out on dusty sidewalks where her little boys were once playful; and in every murder there is a drug cartel's profit. Where is the powerful government when dozens of innocent men and women and even children die every day? President Calderon, your people are calling out your name.The people of Mexico need you to regain power.¹

(Recently, our own president Obama visited Mexico to discuss the drug war as well as the economy with President Calderon).²

Along side the crisis in Mexico is the genocide in Darfur. The conflict is between two groups: the Janjaweed (a group of Afro-Arab nomads supported and armed by the Sudanese government)and the Sudanese Liberation Army (who have been fighting for their autonomy). The janjaweed rape and pillage villages in order to defeat the SLA. In this process, they also destroy the homes and lives of millions of Darfurians.³

Because of this devastation, the refugee camps in Sudan are splitting at their invisible seams from the influx of people entering every day. Ever since the warrant for President al-Bashir's arrest, 50% of humanitarian aid has been cut off as a form of retaliation. Millions of internally displaced persons are suffering from this every day.⁴

Sudan is war-torn and hungry, her people are tired and ready for change. Sudan has turned from a peaceful country with a variety of tribes whose violence never reached as far as crimes against humanity, into a nation where little girls and boys learn too quickly what it means to be afraid, and people dress their hearts in middle-aged armor, hoping to have them grow over night, to the right age, have them be old enough to stand the test of crime. Children raised in times of war are modern day anachronisms; their minds' arms cannot carry a gun; their minds' eyes should not have to witness this conflict.

As an American, I too, struggle to find the motivation to join in the humanitarian causes. I have not the money nor the means of really "getting involved." I can barely scratch the surface of these wars, when I'd like to dig in deep, get my hands and nails filthy.⁵ I find that many Americans as well as the rest of the world are not fully (or at all) aware of what is going on in both Sudan and Mexico. This blog represents my activism against violence against the human race; I hope that one day my part in this will develop from subtle activism into one with more fervor. Perhaps today, with this information I can inspire you to do the same or more. That is why I leave you with a 6 minute and 30 second segment by 2 filmmakers who spent the day with the Sudanese Liberation Army in Darfur as well as more information about Darfur in the footnotes.⁶

This video really illustrates the issue and the setting without getting graphic:



My footnotes provide other links to further educate you on the two issues mentioned in this blog. Be aware that some of the videos provided are very graphic.

¹This link contains a 50 minute segment about the drug war in Mexico from Current TV. Journalist Laura Ling reports from Juarez, Mexico, interviewing citizens and officials while also following several crimes that all happen in the course of one day.
² Obama Talks Drug War in Mexico
³ Genocide in Darfur
⁴This article contains more information about the Humanitarian situation in Sudan.
⁵ Save Darfur
⁶ Another informational video about Darfur; This is one of the most recent updates I could find on the genocide in Darfur.

Help I'm Alive

Not only is this the title of one of my new favorite songs, it happens to be the phrase I'd choose to describe my life right now.

Some things to consider (that i've been considering):
Same-Sex Marriage (CNN)
Switching Sides (The Onion)
Ken Robinson: Does School Kill Creativity? (ted.com)

Besides constantly reading articles online and watching videos on TED.com, I go on youtube. I watch spoken word poetry videos in my free time that isn't really as free as I pretend. Basically, I do math homework and I sit on my bed wondering if the motivation to do ACTUAL homework that matters will ever magically appear, perhaps on a highjacked jet-brain or through interpretive dance. It never does. I watch slam poetry instead. All. the. Time.

Some may think that I am lazy, but is it laziness that drives me not to do homework or do i feel that I should be doing something more useful with my time? As an aspiring writer/poet, youtube is my choice.

For your viewing pleasure, some spoken word that I have enjoyed: