Thoughts about Africa, blogging, people, etc.

Four years ago, I was in a remote village outside of Kampala, Uganda. I was 22, fresh out of college and out of the country for the first time in my life. I had dreamed about and planned this trip for the better part of five years, and was ecstatic to be there.

My purpose was to serve. To serve in whatever capacity I could. To utilize whatever paltry abilities I had to support and to sustain. To get my hands dirty and work harder than I ever had before. And in the process of serving I found love. An intense, all-encompassing love for a country and for a people that left me irrevocably altered. I also found happiness... happiness in the face of suffering, destitution and loss. And that was a testament to me that happiness can be found anywhere, in spite of anything.

I've been contemplating this notion of happiness in spite of adversity a lot lately. I have a quote posted in my office by Anne Frank that reads: 

"Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy."

The reason why I like this statement is because it reminds me that there is so much to be happy about, even when I am sad and don't feel like it. I just think that it's so easy to focus on all of the craptastic things that happen in this world that it distracts and detracts us from our ability to be happy.

Because honestly, people can suck.

I work in an industry where I often am subjected to the worst parts of human nature (it's amazing how people will treat you and what they will say to you when it's not face-to-face, and even when it is face-to-face) and I have to deal with it all with a smile on my face. It's gets trying, to be sure. Mostly because I perceive this lack of politeness and tact to be disconcerting and something I wholly can't relate to. It seems like a lot of people only care about themselves and don't think of the bigger picture, which also bothers me. 

And then there's blogging... 

There's a blog I read from time to time that really just depresses me. Because it's always so negative. It's negative under the guise of being "real." Nine posts out of ten are downers, and I feel myself gleaning nothing from it. Which is why I have made up my mind not to read it anymore. (I just keep thinking it's going to get better, ya know? That one of these days it'll be enjoyable to read. And it's just not happening.) Conversely, I will readily admit that I tire of the blogs that read like Seriously So Blessed but are non-satirical (mainly because I cringe at all of the unintentional spelling and grammatical errors, not mention the self righteous sanctimony). But I choose not to read those blogs either.

The amazing thing about blogging is that we don't have to read what we don't want to read. We don't have to fill some sort of an English requirement or write an essay on what we've read. It's out there in the wide expanse of the interwebs and can never be completely erased. I personally prefer reading the blogs that teach me something. That enlighten me. That make me happy. I can think of a couple of blogs I read that portray the little delightful moments in life that are happy. That contain smiling photos of beautiful, strong women each with her own unique perspective of life. And I also know that these women have secret struggles and pains that they choose not to share with the masses, or do so only in part and passing. They choose to keep some parts of their lives private. And then are derided for doing so, for not being "real." Are their posts any less real because they focus on the happiness in their lives? Are they any less insightful? Granted there are some blogs out there that I find to be incorrigible. But how do I know what's going on behind closed doors? Who I am to say what they should or shouldn't write?

Personally, I'll admit, I like honesty. I like reading about real people who have real lives and real struggles. I know that I've written about a few of my own here. But I haven't written about all of them, nor do I intend to. And when I write about how much I love my husband or my family or post happy things, I don't want to be labeled as contrived. And I certainly don't want this blog to become a forum for constant complaining or negativity. What's the point of writing if that's all I am doing? I think that those who are most successful at this forum achieve a balance, they find a niche. Whether it's blogging about experiences or events or things, these people have been able to tap into the collective unconscious and speak to people. To relate to people or to inspire. Not to denigrate or diminish.

The rest is just floating out there in internet space, and I for one, just choose not to read it.

Four years and a lifetime ago...

I was here.

And hopefully someday I can go back.

You can read more about what I did here, here and here.

Want to do some good for mankind?

For serious. For those of you that have been reading this for awhile, you may remember a post I wrote awhile back that discussed my experience in Uganda during the summer of 2006. I went there with a humanitarian organization called Reach the Children, and our goal as volunteers was to work side by side with our Ugandan brothers and sisters to create self-sustainable projects that would be maintained long after we (reluctantly) left them.

While we were there, we were able to teach school children about dental hygiene, sanitation and AIDS prevention. We helped till land for a garden for a school that was largely comprised of orphans. We went into hospitals and orphanages and helped distribute hygiene kits and blankets and other supplies. We provided funds for a latrine and a library. Among many other things. In short, it was an experience that is hard for me to articulate because it changed me so much.

This summer, RTC is venturing to beautiful Western Kenya. But they need volunteers.

I know this is not the most opportune time for most of us. The recession and other pressures and responsibilities encompass our time. But, if somehow you could do this, I would highly encourage you to do so. It will literally change the way you look at the world.

Has it really been two years?

Two years ago I was in the incredible country of Uganda, with a group from the Reach the Children organization. It was an experience that I will never forget, that has forever changed me. I share with you now what I wrote the day I arrived.

June 23, 2006

I cannot believe it, but, here I am, sitting under a mosquito net, in Kampala, Uganda. I've dreamed about coming here for so long, I'm awed at the fact that I've made it. Our group actually left Thursday morning... and after flight delays, lay-overs, and bad airplane movies, we're here. The man that is our "guide" so-to-speak is James. Ashley and I had the opportunity to ride with him from the airport in Entebbe to Kampala. I like him already. Already, the Ugandan people have been so amazing. I can't wait to dig my heels in and get to work!! Since it's been about 2 days since I've slept, I'd better wrap this up.

So maybe it's not the most insightful entry I've ever written, but to me it reminds me of what it was like to be there, what it was like to see how most of the world lives. Like I said, I am forever changed. For the better, just fyi.

Quit whining aka there are things in this life I just don't understand

Lately, it seems as if the American public has been bombarded with political rancor from both sides of the gamut. Libelous statements and opinions abound, and I find myself growing quite weary of it. I consider myself to be neither Republican nor Democrat; rather, I am in that limbo zone in the middle, where I try to educate myself as best I can before casting any stones. I grow weary of finger pointing and the spreading of libelous statements to forward a party or a candidate. It actually makes me quite ill, to be honest.

I don't like being yelled at for "defending" Pres. Bush (whom I don't care for) when I say that the recession isn't entirely his fault (yes, the War in Iraq is a huge factor, along with poorly chosen advisers, but let's not negate the actions/inactions of the president before him either) and then in turn get yelled at by someone else who can't believe I'm reading a book by the "Muslim terrorist infiltrator" who is Barack Obama (yes, I am reading The Audacity of Hope, and if you seriously believe all of the "Muslim terrorist" libel, I honestly feel sorry for you).

I just like to study things out and let the facts (which are substantiated multiple times by multiple sources) speak for themselves. That doesn't mean I have all the answers, but factually, it puts me heads and shoulders above those who take things at face value to support their biases.

To be honest, I get tired of all of the complaining. True, it is our Constitutional right to voice our opinion, but must everything be soiled upon? I'd love to take all of these complainers and stick them on a plane to Zimbabwe. (Or Dafur, or Northern Uganda.) I read this article in Newsweek today and felt sick to my stomach. Instead of just providing a link, I am going to post the entire story here, it's that important:

Isolation Nation
Mugabe forced out his foe. What comes next won't be pretty.
Scott Johnson
Newsweek Web Exclusive
Updated: 12:43 PM ET Jun 23, 2008

These are strangely repulsive days in Zimbabwe--a little like watching an Orwellian horror show unfolding in slow motion. Recently, several polling agents loyal to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change were found dead. Whoever had killed them had cut off all of their arms and legs, butchered them and left the remains unceremoniously lying about. Another MDC activist was beaten so badly, and so thoroughly, that her head had swollen to twice its normal size and she was in critical condition at a hospital. But Monday's Herald, the state-run newspaper and mouthpiece of the dictator Robert Mugabe's regime, led with this cheery bulletin: "Government Rolls out Basic Goods." Bravo, Robert Mugabe. Orwell would have been proud.

In fact, there's hardly any news rolling out of Zimbabwe at all these days; the government has made sure of that. And none of it is good, or basic. Instead, it is a baroque litany of terror and mayhem. Yesterday opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been struggling to unseat Mugabe for over a decade, pulled out of the upcoming runoff election with only five days to go, citing unacceptably high levels of violence. Now, Newsweek has learned, MDC activists are investigating whether Mugabe's regime has been plotting all along to assassinate key members of the opposition in a coordinated plan to "eliminate" certain key players. "This is a war going on out there," says MDC activist Simon Spooner, who estimates that a regime crackdown on the MDC election monitoring structures has left a skeleton crew of 20 to 30 percent of its staff able to work, and those in increasingly life-threatening conditions. "They have systematically gone across the country beating and killing polling agents."

But Tsvangirai's decision to withdraw nevertheless cast everything in turmoil. The opposition candidate still has to officially declare his withdrawal to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. If he goes through with it, Mugabe will go to the polls on Friday unchallenged. Within a day he will have appointed governors, senators and a cabinet. He'll have to convene parliament, which the MDC won by a slim majority in the first round election last March 29th. But Mugabe will retain control over the upper house of government and, with firm control of the presidency, will have cemented his iron grip once again.

He will, however, be increasingly isolated. On Wednesday, in a preemptive move, the MDC plans to formally announce its proposal to form a "transitional government" with Tsvangirai as its leader. The hope is that the implosion of the economy, increased pressure from neighboring African states like Zambia and Botswana, and a renewed effort to get United Nations Security Council-approved sanctions will be too much pressure for Mugabe to withstand. This week, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa called for a delay in the elections, and is reported to be in talks to take an increased role in putting pressure on the 84-year old Mugabe to accept some sort of negotiated settlement. Even Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, Mugabe's long-standing ally, has begun to question his neighbor's behavior. Yesterday, Mugabe told supporters that "only God" would remove him from power.

A deal is unlikely, however. More probable is that Mugabe will choose to isolate himself further. Even after Tsvangirai's announcement yesterday, Mugabe thugs assaulted Harvest House, the MDC headquarters in the capital Harare, and arrested over 60 more activists. (Tsvangirai himself has reportedly taken refuge at the Dutch embassy there, out of concern for his safety). "The stance they're taking is they want to keep beating people up, intimidating, cowing everyone," says one international observer in Harare, "It's 'kick them when they're down and eliminate them as any kind of force.'" That strategy may backfire. For one, the economy has imploded. One U.S. dollar today will get you $10,000,000,000 (that's ten billion in case you had difficulty with the zeros) Zimbabwean dollars. Industry has ground to a halt. And with international NGO's forced to halt their work, and maize imports from neighboring countries like Zambia on the decline, Mugabe's worst enemy could turn out to be hunger, anger and the winter cold that has descended upon southern Africa--in other words, all the ingredients for a revolution.

URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/142924

I actually find it a tinge ironic that Johnson referenced Orwell in this article, because I just finished Animal Farm yesterday. Whether it be in this tome, or in his equally powerful 1984, Orwell does a masterful job of portraying the frailties of man. He shows the dark side of human nature that becomes obsessed with power and gain, under the guise of the "public good." Though obviously aiming at Communism, his views can be applied to what's happening in Africa today, what we should be grateful is not happening here.

After reading the artrocities that are taking place in Zimbabwe, please also take for an example what is happening in Uganda today. (I am now sharing information that I received first hand while in the country of Uganda. My sources will remain nameless for their own protection.) Yoweri Museveni has been the president of that country for over 20 years now. Part of of rebellion that toppled the vile Idi Amin, and participant in the subsequent "War in the Bush," Museveni took power to the cheers of the people, because he claimed that his presidency would be different, that he would only run the country for five years. Slowly, the people realized that this was not to be, that Museveni, like his predecessors, intended to be in power until his death. Or until he decides to pass the torch onto his son, who is currently a high ranking military officer.

His likeness is found in every public building throughout the country, his expensive government-issued Mercedes Benz drives through the pot-holed streets of Kampala, while his people starve and fall prey to malaria and AIDS. The LRA has risen to answer Museveni, much as he did to Amin. My friend said, "I cannot think that the Lord's Resistance Army is correct in their methods. However, they just want to be heard. Museveni will not listen. It is like the War in the Bush. 'You will not listen to us so we go to the bush and fight.' In that way, I understand why they fight."

I found my friend's statement shocking. Surely the LRA is worse than the government; more violent, more oppressive. I was obviously mistaken. No one in Uganda can be heard, nothing will change until another rebellion is strong enough to overthrow Museveni. And it cannot be known at what cost this regime will be abolished. The LRA have already done so many unspeakable things-- kidnapping children and forcing them to fight and to kill, using them as human shields for the self-preservation of their kidnappers. When does it end? Will it ever end? Or will the next man to take power become another Museveni? Another Amin?

So basically, I'm tired of under-informed Americans whining about the government, about things that they have the ability to change if they'd just get off their lazy arses and VOTE (provided they actually educate themselves on the issues beforehand, that is). We go to the polls and have more than one candidate or issue to choose; we don't fear a rebellion because ballot boxes are blatantly stuffed (let's leave Florida out of this, you all know what I'm getting at).

So let's stop whining and start DOING. And let's be grateful for the country in which we live.

A flashback.

Today's been pretty boring. One of those days where everyone in the office is antsy and wants to be outside... and I for one am grateful it's sunny today. And apparently 50 degrees. Ooh.

Anyway, since I've had a lot of free time on my hands, I've been thinking about my African friends. For those of you who don't know, I traveled to Uganda a year and a half ago, and had an amazing experience. The choice to go and its resulting experience forever changed the way I view the world, and every so often I have to remind myself of the person that I became there. So enjoy the pics.