Most years, I tend to fall short in reaching my new goals for the year. I tend to set high goals, in hopes that I will reach just a portion of them.
But not this year. This year, I get to meet my goal. I've already met my goal. Sort of.
For 2016, I wanted to travel more and often, but especially, I wanted to travel abroad. Before 2016, I had been to 12 different states and had spend about 90 minutes "abroad" on a Bahamian island before I got injured and was back on the cruise ship, getting an x-ray done of my foot. I have had a deep seeded, lustrous, desirous, itching wanderlust for most of my life.
But in 2016, I got to travel to two new states and I've gone on multiple road trips. I got to explore new cities and towns in states I had already been in, and made millions of memories. But my hugest goal was to travel abroad, which I had started to chalk up to being something that would just have to wait until 2017. Until yesterday.
A few weeks ago, on a whim, I applied for a Winter Break Field Study program, as part of my Masters Degree. The course? Pilgrimage to Gandhi's India: Be the Change. The location? India. The timing? December 2016-January 2017. The idea? Social Justice Issues in India and following Gandhi's footsteps. I figured I could at least apply and see if I was able to afford it later, maybe pray to all of the deities that I could make the trip happen financially.
Well, yesterday I got an email confirming that I got a scholarship to pay for the last $1000 that I needed covered for the course and tuition costs.
I'M GOING TO INDIA!
Granted, I need to save up a little bit more money to afford the flight costs, but I did it.
I finally get to meet every goal I set for myself for 2016. Admittedly, hitting only two goals may not seem like a big deal to many people, but when you're in a financial bind and you've never even been given a passport, it's a pretty big deal.
But what's even huger than meeting my goal is the trip content itself. We will be guided through India by Mr. Arun Gnadhi, the 5th grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, visiting locations that were important to Gandhi's life - where we was imprisoned with his wife, where he was killed, his house, his ashram, and museums. We will also follow his legacy of social justice by visiting a college where illiterate women become solar power engineers, we will visit orphanages, and more. I will get to spend two whole weeks traveling through India, following and learning how to bring peace and social justice back to America.
As part of our pre-trip meetings, we attended a talk given by Mr. Arun Gandhi, titled "Non-Violence in a Violent World" He talked about how America, this huge powerhouse of a country, does not help to bring peace to the world. He reminded us, and maybe taught this concept newly to people, that the key to non-violent action is understanding, love, compassion, and respect. That if we do not approach war, violence, conflict, in a non-violent way, if we do not have love and respect for the opposition, then we will always live in a violent world. It is certainly not easy, though. He told us of a story back in 1913, when Mahatma Gandhi did his last major campaign of peace. He went to Africa to discuss, with the government, about racial injustice. After he had announced his campaign, but before he had launched it, another campaign, a rail-workers strike, occurred. They wanted Gandhi to join forces with them against their common enemy. But he refused. He told them that he did not have any enemies, just misguided friends. Those rail-workers got arrested and Gandhi was able to go on to speak with the government and helped to fix just one social injustice issue. That is one of the hugest lessons that we can learn today, is that not everyone is your enemy, that you have no enemies, just misguided friends.
I also got to sit down and chat with Arun Gandhi for 30 minutes before he headed to Brazil, and asked him some advice and questions about his talk the previous night. I asked about his advice on how America could become a peace leader of the world. And as he had mentioned the previous night, he said that the military in America has too much power. We discussed how the budget for the military could be cut down, which I agreed with, as it is too much.
As Americans, we have this mental image of ourselves as the ones who need to go into another country to save others, that we have the ultimate power and that we need to force people to be just like us. But isn't that why the original immigrants to America left Great Britain? That oppressive power? To get away from the violence and hatred?
Except everyone forgets where we came from - and it's not America. There is a small handful of Americans who do have Native American blood, such as myself, but for the most part, this country was built upon violence, of taking away the land and lives of those here before us. It has never sat well with me, and now I know why. In order to truly be a world leader, we need to break down and rebuild our country. We are being presented with a unique opportunity to do so, with our current election, actually. Regardless of who gets voted in as President, they will be changing the course of history. They will have the choice to make America a peace leader of the world. Or to continue on the path that we are on now.
While I am worried about the election, I am not worried about this - that we can change and that we are changing. People are finally seeing and understanding the social injustices of the world. People are speaking up, out, and about the social injustices across the globe. They are looking for a way to change. They want to change, but they are scared and they don't know how.
I am here to tell you, and I will continue to share what I learn. But I can tell you for absolute certain, that love is the answer. 2016 has been an amazing and terrifying year all mushed together. There have been multiple massacres, too many deaths, the 15th anniversary of a terrifying day, and more. But there have also been thousands and thousands of births, there have been celebrations of love and joy, there have been leaps and bounds of acceptance and love. So we just have to keep that up. We have to keep spreading the love, we have to try to understand and accept, we have to respect each other and the differences we have and share, and we have to have compassion.
If you used to be racist, but you want to find another way, I applaud you. If you used to be homophobic, but you realize that your behavior was wrong and silly, I applaud you. You want to make change, you want to become a better person, you want the world to be better.
I know it's difficult and it will always be difficult, but all we can do is try. I know I am going to try. I am going to learn and I am going to share. I can't wait to visit India. I can't wait to experience the world. I can't wait to walk in his shoes, to learn peace from the master and his family. I can't wait to share it with everyone.
As M.K. Gandhi said "Be the change you want to see in the world."
So, until next time--
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
The Sound of Silent Hands
It has been 15 years.
I was in 6th grade science class with Mrs. Tavares, another student, Christopher told her to stop and not turn off the tv, as we had finished a VCR about something sciencey. He was from New York. He knew the image of the twin towers. We didn't realize that it was live tv. But once Mrs. Tavares realized it, she couldn't move, only watch in terror. At the bottom of the screen, which was showing live footage of the twin towers being destroyed, to a classroom of 11 year olds, was information scrolling about other attacks happening across the Northeast.
I felt safer, knowing that we were in South Florida, and that there was not a reason for them to attack us. But I was still a few months from being 12 years old. I didn't know how serious the situation was. I couldn't understand why we had to keep everyone in the same classroom for such a long time, why we didn't have to do classwork. I knew everyone was scared, I knew I was scared by proxy, but I just wanted to get to art class so that I could work out my emotions the only way I knew how. I eventually got to do so, but I also was very sad. I couldn't understand why someone would do that. I didn't blame Islam, though. I blamed those individuals. I wanted to do something, and for years after, even now, I have played with the idea of joining the military to fight for my country. The one that was attacked with, as far as I can tell, no prompting.
But things have changed in the past 15 years. More animosity and hate is spread around to all. In 6th grade, I was friends with a Muslim girl, a black girl, a black boy, a Jewish boy, a bi-sexual boy, a lesbian, and all sorts of other kids. We didn't see a difference in each others skin color, heritage, religion, or sexual preferences. We just saw who was a dance kid, who was a theatre kid, who was a visual arts kid, who played an instrument. That's how we were 'divided' but even that didn't stop us.
It's still how I view the world. All of these labels that cause so much hate are unnecessary. They only cause more pain and strife and hatred. Why can't the guy walking down the street be just a dancer, or just an artist, or just a band geek? Why can't the girl driving next to jamming to rap music just be the dancer with curly hair, or the theatre soprano?
Why do we have to justify each other and our hatred with pointing out skin color or religious markers? Why can't just accept that we harbor some hatred and then try to change that feeling? Why do we have to feed it? Why do we have to build up the hatred? Why can't we just love each other?
For those that quote the bible.... why can't you remember that rule that Jesus made up - forget the commandments, this is my only commandment - love one another.
Why is love so hard for everyone?
EVERYONE is pained by remembering the travesty from 15 years ago. But there is a whole new generation that wasn't even alive when it happened. Every child in grade school either can't remember it because they were 3 years old or younger, or weren't even born yet. Why are we teaching them hate? Why can't we teach them love?
But whats painful is that on this day of remembrance, on this day of reflection, people are still attacking each other. They think that an image of the twin towers will offend some people, namely Islamic people and Muslims. But the thing is, that is not true for most of that population. What offends them is that you think they were not affected either.
Even more painful is that, 3 months ago, in my city of Orlando - more hatred caused more death and even more pain. 49 angels will never be seen again, and finally, the 50+ survivors are all home. But some people have already forgotten that travesty too. They are back to pushing political rhetoric about how love is really only between a man and woman. They are so very wrong.
Ask any child, just like I knew back when I was 11, that anyone can love anyone. That we should all love each other, that we just need to focus on the love, not the hate.
Today is a huge whirl of emotions all over this amazing country, but people are still lashing out. People are still angry. And even though it is 15 years later, I STILL can't understand how so much hate and anger can be harboured by so many people.
Even those who follow other religions know that love is number 1 - taking care of others, being good and nice is what should be default. I just struggle so much with wrapping my head around the idea of such angry people that they can only attack, not uplift.
As I reflect, and can remember nearly every detail where I was during both tragedies, what sticks out most, is that I tried to show my love for others as much as I could. The attacks of September 11, 2001 cemented the idea that I just want to help others and let them know they are loved. The attack of June 12, 2016 reminded me of that, and has pushed me forward in my mission to show love and not hate.
I hope that everyone can find it in their hearts to show only love, even if only for this one day.
If you would like some help with that, just watch these two videos/listen to these songs:
https://youtu.be/3iy2L9VeUfc (Sound of Silence by Disturbed, 9/11 video)
https://youtu.be/tnumaX_EJhE (Hands, tribute song for Orlando, GLAAD lyric video)
So, until next time--
I was in 6th grade science class with Mrs. Tavares, another student, Christopher told her to stop and not turn off the tv, as we had finished a VCR about something sciencey. He was from New York. He knew the image of the twin towers. We didn't realize that it was live tv. But once Mrs. Tavares realized it, she couldn't move, only watch in terror. At the bottom of the screen, which was showing live footage of the twin towers being destroyed, to a classroom of 11 year olds, was information scrolling about other attacks happening across the Northeast.
I felt safer, knowing that we were in South Florida, and that there was not a reason for them to attack us. But I was still a few months from being 12 years old. I didn't know how serious the situation was. I couldn't understand why we had to keep everyone in the same classroom for such a long time, why we didn't have to do classwork. I knew everyone was scared, I knew I was scared by proxy, but I just wanted to get to art class so that I could work out my emotions the only way I knew how. I eventually got to do so, but I also was very sad. I couldn't understand why someone would do that. I didn't blame Islam, though. I blamed those individuals. I wanted to do something, and for years after, even now, I have played with the idea of joining the military to fight for my country. The one that was attacked with, as far as I can tell, no prompting.
But things have changed in the past 15 years. More animosity and hate is spread around to all. In 6th grade, I was friends with a Muslim girl, a black girl, a black boy, a Jewish boy, a bi-sexual boy, a lesbian, and all sorts of other kids. We didn't see a difference in each others skin color, heritage, religion, or sexual preferences. We just saw who was a dance kid, who was a theatre kid, who was a visual arts kid, who played an instrument. That's how we were 'divided' but even that didn't stop us.
It's still how I view the world. All of these labels that cause so much hate are unnecessary. They only cause more pain and strife and hatred. Why can't the guy walking down the street be just a dancer, or just an artist, or just a band geek? Why can't the girl driving next to jamming to rap music just be the dancer with curly hair, or the theatre soprano?
Why do we have to justify each other and our hatred with pointing out skin color or religious markers? Why can't just accept that we harbor some hatred and then try to change that feeling? Why do we have to feed it? Why do we have to build up the hatred? Why can't we just love each other?
For those that quote the bible.... why can't you remember that rule that Jesus made up - forget the commandments, this is my only commandment - love one another.
Why is love so hard for everyone?
EVERYONE is pained by remembering the travesty from 15 years ago. But there is a whole new generation that wasn't even alive when it happened. Every child in grade school either can't remember it because they were 3 years old or younger, or weren't even born yet. Why are we teaching them hate? Why can't we teach them love?
But whats painful is that on this day of remembrance, on this day of reflection, people are still attacking each other. They think that an image of the twin towers will offend some people, namely Islamic people and Muslims. But the thing is, that is not true for most of that population. What offends them is that you think they were not affected either.
Even more painful is that, 3 months ago, in my city of Orlando - more hatred caused more death and even more pain. 49 angels will never be seen again, and finally, the 50+ survivors are all home. But some people have already forgotten that travesty too. They are back to pushing political rhetoric about how love is really only between a man and woman. They are so very wrong.
Ask any child, just like I knew back when I was 11, that anyone can love anyone. That we should all love each other, that we just need to focus on the love, not the hate.
Today is a huge whirl of emotions all over this amazing country, but people are still lashing out. People are still angry. And even though it is 15 years later, I STILL can't understand how so much hate and anger can be harboured by so many people.
Even those who follow other religions know that love is number 1 - taking care of others, being good and nice is what should be default. I just struggle so much with wrapping my head around the idea of such angry people that they can only attack, not uplift.
As I reflect, and can remember nearly every detail where I was during both tragedies, what sticks out most, is that I tried to show my love for others as much as I could. The attacks of September 11, 2001 cemented the idea that I just want to help others and let them know they are loved. The attack of June 12, 2016 reminded me of that, and has pushed me forward in my mission to show love and not hate.
I hope that everyone can find it in their hearts to show only love, even if only for this one day.
If you would like some help with that, just watch these two videos/listen to these songs:
https://youtu.be/3iy2L9VeUfc (Sound of Silence by Disturbed, 9/11 video)
https://youtu.be/tnumaX_EJhE (Hands, tribute song for Orlando, GLAAD lyric video)
So, until next time--
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