Genocide

Last night I had a terrible time trying to sleep. In the end, I don't think I slept much at all last night. I kept thinking/dreaming of people being killed.

Reason? I watched Hotel Rwanda yesterday afternoon. It is the true story of some of the happenings of the Rwanda Genocide. I cried. How could a world not care about the killing of millions of people??? Didn't World War II teach us anything??

In 1999 The Guardian reported:
The West must share the responsibility for killings in Rwanda and Bosnia.

Watching the film tore me apart inside. Reading the news articles about it ripped my heart again! Caring about the fact that people hacked eachother up with machetiis requires me to feel! and it hurts badly!

So I'm left with a problem. Do I continue reading these issues. I have very little power to do anything about them. I live in a foreign country and have little or nothing to do with my own. I have no political sway.

If I ignore the cries of these millions of people (because genocide is still happening TODAY) does the blood of the victims fall on me?

Australia...get it right

Australia is often misunderstood. Even in uncyclopedia it is completely taken out of context.

Check it out!

Mars and Snickers on the loose!

It wasn't long ago that Mars and Snickers bars were taken off the shelves of Australia. Now, they're back

If it weren't for the fact that i'm now scared forever into believing that candybars are easily tampered with, i might go out and buy one to celebrate....

then again, i might just go out and buy one anyway.

Adventism and social justice

I was reading an article in the Review today about 4 Adventist friends (two African Americans, one Caucasian, one Latino) in the 1960s who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. They marched to make a stand against the racism in their country.

The official church stance on racism at the time was, "don't get involved". These four men where discouraged from marching, they were discouraged from socialising together, they were discouraged from being friends. But they were and they did.

Over the years, many of these men have distanced themselves (to varying degrees) from the denomination due to the churches reactions to their stand on racism.

Today, the church (as a denomination) has a "no comment" stand on social justice. Many of the members (aka The Church) have made pro-active comments about the need to support social justice in the world. Their efforts are noticed and appreciated by those of us who often feel distanced from their denomination.

But without an official stance from the denomination, we are seen as renegades of our religion by those outside our faith.

Our faith will continue to challenge us to act. That won't change. But a little support might be nice....

Please send more help

I was asked to write a quick letter to a friend outlining the best and worst of my highschool. It took me almost no time at all to remember the worst thing my highschool ever did, asking Mr. Fignole to leave.

He was an amazing teacher. He was my handbell teacher. He taught rhythm and music...But mostly he taught us respect. We respected him and he respected us. Sadly, he was not the most loved teacher in the music department.

Due to some shady dealings on the part of some of the richer families, this man was asked to leave the High School. Well...Asked to leave is a bit harsh, "his contract was not renewed".

The school let go of a man who had more experience in music than ANY teacher we had yet been introduced to. Sadly, the new teacher to replace him was a fresh graduate with very little expirience compared to Fignole. We missed him terribly...we eventually grew to like our new music teacher...although for myself, i never was able to appreciate him like i appreciated Fignole.

So where ever you are, Mr. Fignole, here's to you! You are great, just like you've always been!

Coma

There was a report on the news last night about a woman who woke up from a 20 year coma. According to the report she had knowledge of events and music that happened while in that comma. Immediately, the news reporter used this as evidence that we shouldn't "be so quick" to let a coma patient die.

BULLOCKS I say. For every one person that wakes up after 20 plus years there are hundreds more who NEVER wake up. There are two reasons this story made news here:

1. We just had a person die because they were taken off the machines instead of being forced to continue living. Therefore, it comments on current events

2. But mostly it adds fuel to the debate. It says that the hope that someone will wake up should be enough to pay thousands and thousands of dollars because one day, they might wake up! And if you don't do this, your being cruel because the person is still inside that being, although science and medicine both say there isn't much brain activity happening there.

Being that this is my blog and I like to mix things up...Try this on for size.

Even if there is a person who is aware in that comatose state, is it fair to the family to go through the mental trauma of having a family member but not having them? Is it fair to the children in the family to have the expense of a family member in hospital put upon them? Is it fair keep a spirit captured inside the brain with any way of expressing itself?

Maybe all these things are nothing. Maybe if I were put into a situation I would feel differently...But for now, I tend to think that death is better than a comatose life...For the patient and the family!

Islam...

Have you ever thought that your country should be ruled closer to the principles of goodness? It isn't a foreign concept. Most people want their government to do good things for the people. They want their government to be moral.

The Islamic political group, Hizb Ut-Tahrir has the following purpose:

To revive the Islamic Ummah from the severe decline that it had reached, and to liberate it from the thoughts, systems and laws of Kufr, as well as the domination and influence of the Kufr states. It also aims to restore the Islamic Khilafah State so that the ruling by what Allah (swt) revealed returns.

In the United States there is a Christian political group called, The National Reform Association. Its mission is:

to maintain and promote in our national life the Christian principles of civil government

In Australia, the Christian Democratic Party says,

The Christian Democratic Party has for over twenty years represented the concerns of people who support Christian values, schools and caring institutions, family life, and who uphold the importance of the Commonwealth Constitution.

Now, explain to me the difference between "Christian Values" and "Islamic Values". Much of their Bible is shared, so the values can't be THAT different.

No matter the similarities, it is still Hizb Ut-Tahrir that is under investigation. Is the investigation a necessity? Maybe...But you won't find as many resources going into the Christian activists who are trying to liberate Chapel Corby. They aren't a threat...They don't post threats, attack Embassies, or speak in hate-filled terms. Not like those damn Muslims!

Quick update

I'm busting my butt keeping out of trouble, moving chris into a new house in sydney, working, and occationally looking for real work. But you can read all about it by clicking HERE

Immigrating...

I feel, being an American citizen, that I have the right to point out the stupidities of my country.

As a temporary resident of Australia, I feel I have no rights what-so-ever to point out that their immigration system is one of the most difficult frustrating systems I've ever encountered.

When a call is placed to the immigration office the person on the other end of the phone either is super HARSH or has an accent so thick you struggle to determine if he said hello or f*ck off.

This of course is contrasted with the "hold" operator who continually mentions how happy Australia is to have people apply to stay within their borders.

In the end, I bang my head against the wall to make sense of it all. This works, a concussion seems to help it all make sense!

But like I've said before, I'm only a temporary resident and have no rights what-so-ever to point to their flaws.

Walking...

Torture. It demoralises a person. Makes them less then human, in their own eyes and in the eyes of their torturers as well.

So why do we* allow this to happen?

I don't' know. But we do. We turn a blind eye to it. We create an environment where we can take advantage of people whom we fear.

From Australia's refugee detention facilities, to America's Guantanamo Bay, we continue to accept that our governments, while making a few mistakes, still have our best interest in mind.

But do they? By locking up people in places we would NEVER willingly send any family member to, they are perpetuating myths about other cultures. We are perpetuating fear of that culture. We are raising children to fear and hate others who have a different religion.

Is this really in the best interest of our society?





*we being humans from western countries

What are we?

Australia has a refugee problem. This problem consists of people who claim to be refugees coming into the country and just EXPECTING the government to accept their cry for asylum.

The Australian Government has decided that the best way to combat these "so-called-refugees" is to lock them up until they end up in a mental institution then give them a temporary visa that states, as soon as the government can find somewhere else to send them, they have the right to deport them there!

I know the immigration department claims it is making it easier for those in detention centres to get a visa and get out, but this is ridiculous! By the time they are possibly getting this new visa, they have already been in detention for too long! Then, once they have this new visa, they must deal with the prospect of being kicked out as soon as the government deems it fit for them to go back to their country. If I were these people, I would DEFINITELY be worried that the government might decide that its safe to go home too soon.

Perhaps I shouldn't be critising the place I'm hoping to live for the next couple of years. But I'm happy to stop critising when they stop treating refugees like criminals!

Bono & me (part 1)

This is U2's lead singer, Bono. He is one of the biggest campaingers for world peace.

Bono & Me (part 2)

So in my attempts to bring about world peace, i've taken to dressing like Bono. The more people that look like him the more peace we can inspire. (that's how it works, right?)

Scalping

What is happening to this world??

In my home town of Boise, Idaho a woman has scalped, thats right SCAPLED!, a teenage girl.

It appears that the teenager offended the woman in some way and she made plans to remove the teenage girl's mohock. When she didn't have a raser for the job, she took out her knife and decided, "heck, why not take the whole thing off!" So off came the hair AND skin!

Okay, it may not have happened like that, but i'm appauled!

It is said that humanity is only 2 meals away from barbarianism. After an action like this, i'm starting to think they might be right!

Watch for falling rocks

Top 7 things i hate in the World:

7. Hatred
6. War
5. Corupt Politics
4. AIDS
3. Poverty
2. Death
1. Selfishness

Top 5 Things I love in this World

5. Dreams
4. Love
3. Hope
2. Forgiveness
1. Compassion

The list of hates is long, but i believe the list of love is 10 times stronger. It is through our hopes, dreams, forgiveness, and compassion that the world can be change. It is our choice to make the effort. Will you?

Bush & Justice?

In the wake of the London bombings US President George W. Bush, speaking at the G8 summit, told reporters: "We will not yield to these terrorists, we will find them, we will bring them to justice."



But what would the justice be?? Would it be the kind of justice that is currently being served at Guantánamo Bay?


It seems that this is the only sentence that Bush EVER says. He is always claiming to "not yield", "find", "bring to justice". But let's think about this. Has those responsible for the World Trade Center attacks ever really been found? Short answer, no. Has he brought anyone to justice?...Well...No. (note: torture is not a form of justice). Has he yielded? No, he has instead spread terror and fear throughout the middle east and brought stronger prejudices to the West.

Lastly, I would like to point out that London is not the territories of the USA. Bush has no right to be the police for another country. Let England do what it wants to do as far as "justice" goes.

But let me add this one thing to the USA and to England...Please remember that Torture is NOT a form of justice. I support the need to capture and prosecute those responsible, but do so with mercy and love. Let this set us apart from the terrorists.

Live 8

Did anyone see the Live 8 concerts the other night? Sadly, I was only able to watch the highlights of them due to the lack of cable television here in the dormitory.

Wow! I couldn't believe so many bands, so many people, so much money was spent, just to get the G8 to take notice that there are starving people who could benefit from some fairer trade.

I suppose the next few days will determine what happens. Can we actually begin the process of making poverty history???

I pray we do!

Make Poverty History

I'm sure you've heard of the movement. It's been in the media for quite some time now. Its the big campaign to pressure the G8 into increasing aid, drop the debt, and make fair trade laws. Honestly I'm praying that it works. I would love for the poverty we see in so many countries to be eradicated.

Will it work? I don't know. A friend of mine constantly says that the debt is just figures on a page, meaning nothing. I don't know. I tend to think that removing the debt of these countries,(most of whom are in debt because at one time they were run by one of the G8) is the right thing to do. It seems that it would free up much of the funds that are currently just going back into the pockets of the richest 8 countries.

But will it work?? I still don't know. It has potential. But humans are corrupt. Corrupt governments can sneak a "little off the top", and the people will still be suffering.

In the end, I suppose it depends on a lot of individual humans. Will they sacrifice their greed for a better world?

Support Make Poverty History

Humiliation

Bob Ellis, an award-winning Australian columnist, wrote an article for AdBusters in which he suggests that the photo of Saddam in his underpants is a rouse by the Americans to humiliate him and make his followers stop supporting him. He points out many of the weaknesses of such an act, suggesting that this will only hurt the American's cause not help it.

He further comments that humiliation is part of the American culture. From Little league to Spelling Bees, Americans are all about the winners and losers.

My qualifications on this matter are limited, but present. Having grown up in American culture, I never remember thinking in sole terms of winners and losers. Humiliation was never part of my discipline or culture, thus, his conclusion that humiliations is entirely based in the American way of life, I feel is a bit harsh.

While humiliation makes great public entertainment, it does not win friends. Growing up, I remember valuing friends more than winning. But then again, it is possible that I was a unique case.

I'll accept that. Both my parents have worked to create a culture where their children would learn to empathise with others. They probably succeeded more than they planned.

My empathy leads me to feel for Saddam. I don't like or agree with the kind of horrors that he supported and carried out, neither do I like or agree with the kind of horrors that GW Bush supports and carries out.

War is never pretty. Loss and shame will be felt on all sides before it is over. History will be our ultimate judge. Today, my generation judges the Vietnam war with skepticism and shame. Will tomorrow's generation feel the same about this war?

Something different....

Last night I sat through another conversion story told by an aspiring minister. He told how his life was saved from sex, drugs, and alcohol and he was brought to a life of servitude to Christ. While interesting and occasionally inspiring, I hate those conversion stories. They remind me how inadequate my conversion is. No, not inadequate, boring. My conversion story is boring.

From the first moments I can remember, I remember knowing that God was real. I knew He was because I talked to him constantly. I used to pray when I was playing on the play equipment, running around the field and in the dark in my room. I told Him about the monsters under the bed that I was scared of, and He reminded me that monsters under beds aren’t real. I told Him my desires for the day, He told me to have fun. When I was 11, I was baptised into the church. From then on, I still told Him everything. I told Him about boys I liked. I told Him about my dreams, I told Him my excitements. Then I started high school.

This is the part of the story that, if it was a typical conversion story, I would tell you I got pulled into drinking, drugs, and sex. But in this story, it didn’t happen. While I may have been interested, to varying degrees, in all of those things, I didn’t participate in any of them. Maybe it was because of my belief system, maybe it was my desire to be different to all those TV teenagers whom I despised, maybe it was God. I think it was a combination of all of these things. I never touched any of these “usual” sins.

This isn’t to say that life was easy. Being a teenager is hard and not always much fun! I found myself constantly trying to figure out who I was supposed to be in this world. Matters weren’t made easier when my parents hit, “mid-marriage crisis”. Life was hard. How can you control all the feelings inside? How can you get those feelings and hurts outside yourself? Then a close family friend died and I lost the plot. I sat in my room for hours and hours on end; staring at the ceiling. No, this isn’t the part where I start doing drugs. This is the part where I realise the vast amount of things I don’t like about the world, about my parents, and most of all, about me. I told God everything. I told Him I hurt. I told Him I was angry. I told Him I didn’t like things the way they were. He whispered, “I know.”

This isn’t the part where things get easier. In fact, from this part onwards, they get harder; more friends die, friends leave, parents, well, parents are parents, and I fall in and out of love several times. I’m not going to gloss over these heartaches by saying, “but at least I had God.” Because while I did, those times didn’t feel easier because I had Him. Looking back, however, I can see that it was through His intervention and planning that I made it out in one piece.

So the big thing I had to overcome was my teenage years, and let’s be honest, as hard as they can be, most people survive them. My conversion story does get more interesting from here on, though. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your view, there isn’t any sex, drugs or rock-n-roll in it. What happened was a fulfilment of many of my childhood dreams. I had dreamed of travelling outside my native country. I dreamed of seeing places that no one I knew had ever seen. I wanted to see Paris, London, Sydney, and many others. Thus far, all my dreams from childhood have been fulfilled. Now I have new dreams and I know that my story will continue, more dreams will be fulfilled, more dreams acquired. I don’t keep God around just in case I get into trouble. I don’t keep Him around at all. He chooses to be with me, and I choose to share my life with Him.

So there you have it, my conversion story without any conversion. I told you it was boring.