"Not all that glitters is gold."

How we become invisible…

I love social media, I won’t deny it. It’s disgusting how many hours I’ve logged on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, … Wow, it’s upsetting seeing how many sites I actually frequent. But the point is, how social is social media? And what happens when everyone is using it?

As we sit behind out LED computer monitors, are we really being social? Creeping on other peoples lives and pretending that we are involved in them? For instance, the lovely girls I live with… I rarely go on their Facebook pages (okay, unless I’m lying in bed and have to share a really good YouTube with them or make a witty comment… Edit: It has come to my attention that I need to clarify. I don’t ‘creep’ on their pages—that is to say anonymously go through their FB pages to keep tabs on their lives.), unless it’s to steal a cute picture from a few days ago that I want to make my profile picture. But I’m actually involved in their lives—at least I like to think so. So what is it about social media that makes it social? Is it the fact that we can stare at pictures, read status updates, or what?

Yes, this post is going to come off a little hypocritical since I’m definitely a user of social media (duh), but here we go…

Social media frightens me, to some degree. There is a level of invisibility that is given with these social media sites. Just look at the amount of bullying that takes place on the internet; there is so much that it has actually been given a name: Cyberbullying. I mean, holy cow. Welcome to the brutal 21st century, right? The thing that really upsets me is the lack of accountability. People are able to hide behind their computers and say whatever they want to say, with very few consequences. I mean almost a year back now, a girl that went to my university passed away and some people actually started posting nasty things on her Facebook. Instead of it being a place for people to write their condolences for the family or express the whirlwind of emotions that are associated with grief, it became the playground for a malicious sicko. And no one knew (at least I don’t think) who it was. That’s ridiculous and absolutely unacceptable. Where was this persons respect and sense of accountability? Who knows.

So what happens when we go back into the ‘real world’ (and by that I mean, out from behind our own computer) and believe we still have the same kind of ‘unaccountability’ that we do online? Sooner or later, our mouths will start running (like they do on many ranting, negative Facebook updates) and we’ll be confronted with someone who actually has something to say back—to our faces (GASP!). What then? In some cases, you get slapped. In others, maybe just reprimanded verbally. But does it get worse than that? I’m sure it does.

Of course the internet offers a space where individuals, companies, organizations, etc. can express their opinions openly. I mean, look at me, I have a blog for goodness sakes. But I still maintain that there should be a degree of accountability that is associated with the freedom of the internet.

The question remains, what can we do to keep people in check when they are hiding behind their computer screens, cell phones, or whatever? I’m not sure anyone has a decisive answer to this problem, but it’s definitely one that should be looked into as the world becomes more ‘connected’ via social media. Although individuals may become invisible when they are behind their computer screens, accountability should not.

Brainwash.

It’s not that I hate the military, that’s not true at all (although some of you who know me personally may question how unbiased I can be right now, haha), but I do question some of their methods. Keep that in mind as I proceed.

As I’m sure many of you heard, there were gruesome and disgusting pictures taken with the remains of an Afghan man who was killed in an explosion (check here for the full story). This is so sad. I mean really, it’s simply a reflection of how the armed forces prepares these men to go off into war.

I have the privilege to be friends with some of the gentlemen who are enlisted in the United States Army and they are wonderful people. They are full of energy, fun, intelligence, and many other notable characteristics—as I’m sure some of these other men were. But in an attempt to create a cohesive and efficient killing machine, the military has a certain way of influencing their train of thought. It’s easier to kill an animal than it is a human, so why not make these enemies inhuman? The language that surrounds these soldiers all the time—whether by leaders, peers, or other sources of information—changes their idea of mortality and makes them feel that they have the preemptive right to decide who lives and who dies. Many of these guys really do go off saying “All I want to do is kill people” and it’s not because they’re bad people (although they definitely could be), but because of how their environment glorifies the act of killing. Newsflash: It’s not epic, it’s not like the movies, and it doesn’t make you more of a man. Additionally, like the soldier in the LA Times article says, this kind of behavior really is a breakdown of leadership within the military.

I guess what I’m really trying to get at is, shouldn’t the military be there to protect people, not kill people? Now I understand that this is a childish question because sometimes the two must go hand-and-hand, but with the power to deal out death or life, shouldn’t soldiers not only be trained to kill, but also to make judgment calls? Was this not a huge failure of a particular judgment call? How are we keeping those in military leadership positions accountable with their influence over an already fragile ecosystem? How do we keep those individuals accountable for being responsible for the lives of others?

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” - J.R.R. Tolkien (Gandalf)

Making a Difference?

As I continue my studies at UW in International Studies, a constant question comes up… How does a person actually make a difference in this crazy world? This question is, of course, met with different responses; some are pragmatic (join an organization, volunteer), some are ideological (change your behaviors to break out of the post-colonial or feminizing world), and some are radical (and I mean literally… Go on a hunger strike, join the Occupy movement, etc.).

Okay yes, these are all valid answers, but what I’m searching for is a little more specific. The more you dive into organizations, the more critiques emerge. Take the Gates Foundation, for example. There are so many people who critique their work because it’s too biologically oriented, it’s not sustainable, blah blah blah. What would happen if they stopped offering medicine to the ‘underprivileged’? Dr. Paul Farmer, one of my personal heroes, created clinics in Haiti and has done tons of significant work in the Public Health field, but he is constantly critiqued for presenting unsustainable care for those in Haiti. Yeah, I guess it’s SOOOO bad that he can go to sleep knowing that he saved a life or two in his clinic that day (in case sarcasm translates poorly via text, that was definitely sarcasm). So when it comes down to it… what can you do to make a difference? Because in this day and age, there are a whole lot of nay-sayers.

I think that there is a balance that needs to be achieved; an incredibly difficult balance. Microcredit programs (different from for-profit microfinance programs) are criticized by brilliant minds on the grounds of romanticizing the “Third World Woman” as a hero of her terrible situation. This is true. By portraying women in such a manner, as poor, in need of aid, and yet so thankful for the support of microcredit, these helpful institutions are just perpetuating the ‘unhelpful’ portrayal of these women. But here’s another question… are you really going to say no to giving women the opportunity to make a living? I mean, seriously? Do you honestly think that opening up the opportunity for women to receive credit in some developing nations is a bad thing? I honestly don’t think so. For the sake of our world, I really hope you don’t either.

And herein lies my point: Yes. All organizations need to be moderated/mediated/made accountable. Without that it’s clear how the best intentions can be devastating (think Structural Adjustment Policies that were supposed to bring Latin American, Africa, etc. into the same kind of modern society the ‘Developed’ world live in), so yes… being critical is not bad. BUT, what happens when you’re so critical that all you do is sit around being .. well.. critical. Get off your butt, you Negative Nancy, and do something about it. Don’t think an organization is sustainable? First of all, start thinking about how DIFFICULT it is to create ability and think about that. Second of all, start working towards changes within that organization—I’m sure they would appreciate that progressive mindset (and if they don’t.. get out).

So I suppose my question still lingers (despite my point against overly critical individuals), what’s the best way to make a difference when you have so many people trying to disillusion you from your progressive and (potentially idealistic) ideas? Is there really anything to do, but go and do something?

[Shout-out to my 490 class who inspired this post. Most of these ideas sprung from discussion amongst them!]

“I’d let Chris Brown punch me in the face.”

As many of you know, Chris Brown’s F.A.M.E. (which stands for “Fans Are My Everything” or Forgive All My Enemies”) won the “Best R&B Album” award at the Grammy’s last night. Good for him. 

Now, the reactions of the Twitter/Facebook/what-have-you were disgusting. And I mean… “Are you effing kidding me?!” disgusting (If you want to take a peek, have a look here). In fact, the title of this blog post is a direct quote from many Tweeters. 

You know what this makes me want to do? Have every single female/male in the world who said this line up, so I can punch them in the face. Yes, yes, I know. This definitely would not be the most eye-opening or educational experience for some of them, but then again maybe it would. We’ll go ahead and assume it wouldn’t and instead go on a mini rant (with some education bits) explaining why these individuals are ignorant, infuriating, and some other choice adjectives. 

Ready for some statistics? (Pulled from here and here)

• Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten. 
• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. 
• Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.
• On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day.

I mean, seriously? How can you look at these kinds of facts and say to the world “Oh yeah, I’d be fine with him beating me up any day”? Sure, he’s gorgeous and his dance moves are definitely swoon-inducing, BUT REALLY? YOU WOULD LET HIM BEAT YOU UP!?! What about your friends? Or your daughters? I mean c’mon. There are severe psychological consequences (trust issues, more general stress), physical harm, illnesses, unemployment (as people miss work to handle injuries), problems in school, and many more. Stop being completely ignorant to these kinds of consequences of domestic violence and educate yourselves. This goes for women and men, alike. Society teaches individuals to not get raped, rather than to not rape (Thanks for that one Pinterest), so take the time to educate yourself to avoid being a statistic—whether as a victim or perpetrator (For example, individuals who experience or witness violence at young ages are more likely to exhibit this kind of behavior in their future… But with knowledge comes power folks. You can control who you become). 

As far as Chris Brown goes, I hope he grows out of this rebellious stage of his. I hope he stops throwing chairs out of windows, tweeting homophobic slurs, and beating up ladies. He is one hell of performer and comes out with pretty decent music, but until he finally grows up and gets his act together, he will simply remain the butt of many inappropriate jokes and never reach the ranks of other R&B gems. I hate that celebrities believe (and often do) that they can do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences. Chris, if you think that “Fans Are Your Everything” maybe you should consider what kind of influence you’re having on them. Young men look up to you and you’re being one hell of an example—thanks for that, big guy.

Just grow up already. All of you—especially you, Mr. Breezy. 

A Little Perspective on “The Right to Survive”

So the other day, I wrote a rant about how there is a rising cost of education, while the quality of education continues to deteriorate (okay, maybe that’s not exactly what I said, but it’s still a good point to get across, right?) and now I’d like to push that boundary a little further and challenge everyone who things social policies are the plague of society, economic stimulation, etc.

Here we go.

There are certain things that should be accepted as very basic human rights. As Americans, one of the first things we jump to is the right to free speech (so long as that ‘speech’ causes no harm). But what about the really basic human rights? The right to live. The right to breath. The right to be healthy. And let’s push that a little further, the right to education. As Paul Farmer says,a right to survive.

This right includes the right to safe living, education, and health care. Let’s unpack that a little more, shall we?

Safe living is fairly straight forward. Every person deserves the opportunity to live free from persecution, from rape, from abuse, and more generally from harm. As Americans or citizens from other ‘Developed’ nations, we often take this right for granted. We are not faced with death in our faces—and I mean literally IN YOUR FACE, not on the news or on TV—every day. Guess what? Some people in the world are. People have seen their family members, quite literally, cut down in front of their eyes. Yes, war and conflict is an inevitable consequence of being human, but this is still an measure of inequality, lack of protection from the state (in fact sometimes it is the state), and lack of intervention by international institutions (yes, they’re SO EFFECTIVE RIGHT?.. More on that later). The amount of stress associated with this kind of environment clearly effects the ‘productivity’ of a person.

Education and health care go hand in hand. Research has shown that the frequency of tuberculosis and other contagious diseases that were rampant in the past, decreased before the invention of penicillin. In fact it was basic sanitary measures that helped minimize the spread of these sicknesses. Also, education is directly related to a lower number of children per woman (think about that, those of you who are so concerned with the population number) and higher marriage age. While injecting people with medicine is great (sometimes), education the population about the consequences of their actions—like unprotected sex—can often prove to be an effective method distributing ‘health care.’

Now, I’m sure you’re bored with this and wondering where I’m going with this (or you’re just bored and have already returned to your Pinterest boards), well here is where I’m going with it…

DEAR PEOPLE WHO ARE SO AGAINST SOCIALISM/SOCIALIST POLICIES/ETC.,

Public welfare programs are not the end of all that is Holy. In fact, as I touched on briefly before, how do any of you expect to have a thriving society as civil wars rage, diseases kill, females are being murdered for “honor,” and education is sparely distributed? Oh wait. It won’t.

Before you can expect everyone to be a productive member of society, it is necessary to make sure that their very BASIC needs are being taken care of. Everybody needs their health. Everybody needs education—education and teachers are what inspire you to want to do better and make a change in the world (see last post). So stop thinking that you’re the only one that works hard and every one else needs to catch up. Get some perspective on the world and your own country before you think believe you’re capable of running the country (okay, that was a little personal… Ha).

So are social policies so bad? Not in my book. Are they the same thing as… (here comes the big bad word)… SOCIALISM?! Not in my book, either. Try getting educated about your facts before you automatically associate productive policies with a method of governing that would NEVER be acceptable to the American people or government due to our collective memory and history.

Try thinking instead of assuming.

LET’S KILL EDUCATION!

I mean, that’s a great idea right? Let’s make it even more difficult for any United States-born child to take a competitive stance in the growing global market. That sounds GREAT. I mean, one of the United States biggest exports is patents, so let’s lose our competitive edge and intellectual drive. AWESOME, RIGHT?

Not.

So why is education constantly being cut? Why do you hear college kids crying about budget cuts to their colleges—hiking prices higher and higher ever year? WHY? WHY? WHY? I, for one, don’t get it.

I don’t understand why the United States government (AND THE FREAKING PEOPLE FOR THAT MATTER) are not taking this situation seriously. Recent studies have shown that an efficient and effective teacher can substantially raise the life-time earnings of an entire class (check that study out here). Although numbers are an easy way to look at success, there are more than enough personal anecdotes to support higher budgets for education and more comprehensive evaluations for both teachers and students.

I have been lucky enough (well, luck had something to do with it, but mostly my mothers placement into a good school district) to have phenomenal teachers/professors. The best teachers are able to inspire individuals and make them feel as if they are capable of making a difference in the world or even just in one person. In my mind, these teachers deserve all the pay raises that they demand (within reason) and far more respect than they receive. Their position is crucial to the development of the future generations of the United States.

Dear politicians and other people who think that we should cut education: Do you seriously not see how this position is important?!

Unfortunately there are teachers who bring the bar down. Teachers who make your HATE their subject and make putting effort into school similar to the feeling of pulling teeth with no Novocaine. Going to class becomes incredibly mundane and you can’t help but going onto Facebook on your phone underneath your desk. WHY DID YOU BOTHER BECOMING A TEACHER IF YOU HATE IT?! It’s not exactly the most thriving job sector, nor does it pay incredible six-figure salaries. WHY DID YOU DO IT?! Here’s a thought: Get your head out of your butt and realize that you have a serious impact on the individuals you are interacting with every day. Ever wonder why so many people hate math? Because they way you teach it sucks. That’s right, I’m talking to you Mr. Frank. Sorry.

So, aside from my rant about ineffective teachers, as voting season begins, I implore all of you to step away from your party affiliations and look at actual policies regarding education. How do you want your children to be educated? How do you want to the rest of the business world to value your/their education? Do you want your own education to be competitive? Do you want your teachers or your child’s teachers to be effective?

Demand excellence from your politicians for the survival and strengthening of education.

Note: Supporting the development of human capital (via education and health care) is NOT socialism. In fact, many sociologists and economists strongly support that without the development of these VERY BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS there can be NO economic growth. Think about it.

Mistakes versus flaws.

I think that some people mistake mistakes as flaws. At least I did at one point—life-changing mistakes can have that effect on people. I’ve made many mistakes, as I’m sure many others have, and those mistakes have made me stronger, smarter and an overall better person. But this is not a post to discuss all the mistakes I’ve made and explain why they’ve made me better. No, that is not what this is about. This is simply a call to those who have not realized that their mistakes are not flaws.

They are lessons.

A flaw is defined as “a mark, fault, or other imperfection that mars a substance or object” (by good ol’ Google). This definition implies that the “substance or object” was perfect to begin with or there are other “substances/objects” that are perfect and there is nothing to do to fix this imperfection. When you define it as such, the difference between flaw or fault and “mistake” or “error in judgment” becomes clear. Although, a mistake must be a one-time offense. As soon as you make a mistake twice it becomes a conscious choice; no longer is it a mistake and then could accumulate into a fault or flaw.

So what’s my point? My point is, don’t let your mistakes—so long as they are true mistakes—define you or even make you feel bad about yourself. You do deserve good things and so long as you work towards them, you can achieve whatever (mostly, as an individual who was not born in the country, I can’t be president… Dang). You know who you are, so do not let anything you no longer control define you—the past, nay-sayers, even friends and family. Take control and go where you want to go. Those mistakes gave you strength, wisdom and courage; find those things and take charge.