30 July, 2005

Spent the afternoon studying Economics, sipping coffee and hanging with Jules. One more week till this class is over- thank God. Although, I must say, I am enjoying this class more than I thought I would. Who knew supply and demand would be so interesting?

28 July, 2005

Naturally, the common people don't want war, but they can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and endangering the country. It works the same in every country.

-Herman Gorting
Hitler's Reichsmarchall at the Nueremberg Trials

Be a witness

Lost Boys of Sudan was the first look I got at the personal and tragic repercussions of the, what is now realized as, genocide occurring in Sudan, specifically the Darfur region. How many times have I cursed at the news anchor that thinks Tom Cruise getting engaged or railing about Prozac is more important or more interesting than exposing the truth of what is happening? (or the hot weather, or the latest grossly overpaid sports "hero" under arrest for domestic violence, etc., etc.). Do the powers that be at NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, etc. really think that's all we care about? Apparently they do because they aren't telling us the real story about Sudan (or a lot of things- can I say "WMD?"). I just found this website. I can remember the call of the church in my earlier years urging me to "be a witness." Well, this is something to proclaim.

Go here for an opportunity to ask the major news organizations to not ignore this issue. Hopefully our government and world community will hear the call and stop ignoring it too.

I will just say this- The New Yorker wrote a good article last year about what is happening in Sudan. Kudos to them for speaking up. Let's hope others follow suit.

27 July, 2005

Words to live by

“I beg you…to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer…”

-Rainer Maria Rilke