It does not matter what city, state, or country in which we reside. It does not matter what religion we practice or if we practice a religion at all. It does not matter what the color of our skin, hair, or eyes. What matters is the one thing that unites us all: the human race.
If I choose to take some of my hard-earned money and donate it to a global cause, that is a privilege I have that comes with earning that money. If I choose to donate to local charities or to help my neighbor, that is a privilege I have. If I choose to use that same money to help those I know the best: my family or my closest friends, that is a privilege I have earned. Or if I choose to selfishly spend my money on my self and my own desires, this too, is a privilege that I have earned.
It sickens me that so many people are anti-aiding people in other countries.
I am not referring to those people who are struggling to make ends meet on their own and do not have an extra dollar to send. I am not necessarily referring to those who do have an extra dollar to send, but choose not to; as stated earlier, earning and owning money comes with the privilege of choosing what to do with said money. I am referring to those who exert so much energy bashing those who are sending money to aid those in other countries--countries whose residents have had everything ripped from them. (Think Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 or Haiti Earthquake of 2010.)
I understand that we have the right to freedom of speech, and it is people's right to publicly disagree with how others spend their time, energy, and money. I am not trying to take this right away from anyone. But I would like to kindly point out that this 'right' is a direct result of the privilege of being born into a country that grants its citizens this right.
I see the human race as one. The social injustices and devastation that citizens of other countries face hurts my heart; the way some people of the privileged world respond to these injustices and devastation hurts my soul. I promise you, as long as I have money and/or time to give, I will be helping others, both inside the boundaries of this country and outside.
February 24, 2010
I Am Who I Am...
I grew up on a gravel road in the middle of this country. I had a corn field or bean field behind my yard. (I know about rotating crops.) I know what it means to “go to town.” I also know the meaning of a friendly neighbor. I know that borrowing an egg or a cup of sugar did not die with my grandparents’ generation. I knew my neighbors: Mailboxes and front yards were as much a part of social hour as barstools were “in town.”
I graduated high school in a class of less than 100 people. I attended preschool with most of them. I attended school in a town where school events are the heart-and-soul of the town. I played on sports teams that were successful, even state champions. I also played musical instruments for a successful music program, state champions as well. I know what it is like to walk down a Smalltown sidewalk and have no anonymity. I also know the social isolation of not being invited to The Party of the weekend. I know what it is like to be one of only a few “first generation” kids to be living in Smalltown.
I know what it is like to go to University and expect the Smalltown hero to prevail, but Smalltown heroes lose their power when they are no longer in Smalltown. I know what it is like to earn top grades. I also know what it feels like to struggle to make average grades. I know the frustration of trying my hardest yet still falling short. I know what it feels like to be one among many. I know what it is like to have many talents, yet have them fall to mediocrity under the greater talents of others. I know what it is like when all that I have is just ‘good enough.’
I am on a journey. I have visited 41 states and 8 other countries. I seek to understand the human race. I am my mother’s daughter, but I am a Daddy’s girl. I have a young heart, but an old soul. I know that I am only one, but I am one who can make a difference to another one. Although I have some understanding of the needs of the world, there is no way to grasp the full demands of those needs. I know what it is like to feel the pain of hunger, yet I know where to turn for food. I know what it is like to face the cold, yet I know where to turn for warmth. I know what it is like to feel alone, yet I know where to turn for fellowship. I have had my spirit broken, but have not lost my soul. I have lived among the impoverished, but only as a visitor. I have missed a meal, but it was by choice.
I know what it is like to stand on the brink of the unknown, fully confident in the lessons learned and ready to face all the unknowns that lie ahead. I know what it is like to spread my wings, ready to make that great journey into the unknown, only to step off the ledge and realize I never learned to fly. Now knowing how to fly, I have learned there is a difference between flying and soaring, and I long to soar. I married my soul mate, even though I met him 5 years earlier than I had planned. I am smart enough to know that God’s plan is better than my plan. I seek to understand that plan and stay true to the course. I am a child with so much more to learn.
I graduated high school in a class of less than 100 people. I attended preschool with most of them. I attended school in a town where school events are the heart-and-soul of the town. I played on sports teams that were successful, even state champions. I also played musical instruments for a successful music program, state champions as well. I know what it is like to walk down a Smalltown sidewalk and have no anonymity. I also know the social isolation of not being invited to The Party of the weekend. I know what it is like to be one of only a few “first generation” kids to be living in Smalltown.
I know what it is like to go to University and expect the Smalltown hero to prevail, but Smalltown heroes lose their power when they are no longer in Smalltown. I know what it is like to earn top grades. I also know what it feels like to struggle to make average grades. I know the frustration of trying my hardest yet still falling short. I know what it feels like to be one among many. I know what it is like to have many talents, yet have them fall to mediocrity under the greater talents of others. I know what it is like when all that I have is just ‘good enough.’
I am on a journey. I have visited 41 states and 8 other countries. I seek to understand the human race. I am my mother’s daughter, but I am a Daddy’s girl. I have a young heart, but an old soul. I know that I am only one, but I am one who can make a difference to another one. Although I have some understanding of the needs of the world, there is no way to grasp the full demands of those needs. I know what it is like to feel the pain of hunger, yet I know where to turn for food. I know what it is like to face the cold, yet I know where to turn for warmth. I know what it is like to feel alone, yet I know where to turn for fellowship. I have had my spirit broken, but have not lost my soul. I have lived among the impoverished, but only as a visitor. I have missed a meal, but it was by choice.
I know what it is like to stand on the brink of the unknown, fully confident in the lessons learned and ready to face all the unknowns that lie ahead. I know what it is like to spread my wings, ready to make that great journey into the unknown, only to step off the ledge and realize I never learned to fly. Now knowing how to fly, I have learned there is a difference between flying and soaring, and I long to soar. I married my soul mate, even though I met him 5 years earlier than I had planned. I am smart enough to know that God’s plan is better than my plan. I seek to understand that plan and stay true to the course. I am a child with so much more to learn.
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