Sunday, November 21, 2010

The House Gets Taken Over By Republicans - Good Luck!

Republicans think they can do it better and the American people believe them. Now here is their chance to really fix all of American's problems with all their great ideas!


Idea's like huge tax cuts for the wealthy adding billions of dollars on to the deficit, repealing health care reform so children with cancer will have to get a job to pay for their health bills, and of course keeping that great policy of 'Don't ask - Don't tell’ because the military is much better off without those gays getting in the way.

Oh - and we get to watch an oversize ompa loompa decide how to run a section of the government. This should be entertaining! One way Obama can make sure that Republicans can be seen for their true colors is to just agree with them, all of the time - that way the Republicans will be left with no ideas at all nothing to show for themselves except their discontent for the American President (Nobel Peace Prize winning American President, by the way).

I'm so excited for these next two years, for Republicans to really show us what they've got, that THEY know how to fix the slow growing economy, that they can bring millions of job miraculously back to America by giving really rich people more money to createcheaper jobs overseas because it’s better for business that way *cough* Meg Whitman *cough*. They have spent the last 2 years whining like babies (Nut Gingrich anyone? - I'm only 23 and I remember what happen last time)- that no one is listening to them - that no one cares what they have to say - and that Democrats are big bullies trying to push their crazy socialist agendas on all of America.

The problem does not lie with the Republicans - they are only the loudest voice in the room. The problem I fear is with the Democrats - their fight for what is right is a quiet one. They do not boast about their accomplishments, they do not highlight the good work they have done as legislators; they do not tout their frustrations with an opposition that simply wants them to fail at everything. Democrats sense of standing up for what is right is done in a way that they are not the loudest voice in the room or the voice that gets the most attention - except for the few brave ones *cough* Anthony Weiner *cough* - who choose to use their voice to gain media attention to bring to light the unfair politics that have been occurring in Washington.

I know Obama is going to get re-elected, that I am not worried about. He is a strong intellectual man who stands up for what is right not based on ideology or blind faith, he stands up for what is right through pure humility in connecting with people on a deeper level than any other president and he knows how to give a speech!

Obama is not who I am worried about - Republicans are not who I am worried about - it is the American people who have been blinded by ignorant hate, by acid words, and by fear filled propaganda. To use Glen Becks homage to WWII - do you ever wonder how an entire country could have participated in the systematic inhalation of 12 million people in a few years? Now I am in no way equating what the right wing does as ever possibly being able to cultivate such strong hatred as to ever reach this level of evil - I am however asking that you open your mind to see how it was possible 60+ years ago with similar campaigns fueled by the rich, similar media propaganda spewed by those who lack the maturity to compromise, similar finger pointing to a single set of people who are the root cause of all the problems our society faces??

No, Republicans it is your turn. You are in power. You are the ones who will take the blame, who will take the fall, who will loose and this time you will not be able to hide behind Democrats for your failures. And don't think for one minute that Democrats will not be right behind you doing the good work they do with the American people's best interest at heart - the quite voices, the humble policy makers, with the well informed and the disenfranchised by their side.

Or maybe you'll succeed - maybe you'll somehow create jobs, lower the unemployment rate, bring prosperity back to America, and once again we will be a strong economic front to the world. All in all, it's a win-win situation - the down side, this continued stalemate of our government, the continued decline in our material wealth and global strength, the continued bloodshed of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the continued policy of 'NO', and the continued suffering of so many Americans needlessly- this would be the greatest loss for the next two years...

I apologize for the length of this post, I have been off the blog radar for some time but now that I have internet in my home I am back, I will be getting the facts, I will be deciphering the opinions and I will be following the issues. More to come, thanks for playing :)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Time to Conga!!

Last night, the Jewish World Watch put on an event entitled ‘Conga Line for Congo’ a Mother’s Day women-only dance party for the Jewish community of Los Angeles. Although I was unfortunately unable to attend the event, it began to make me think about the way people respond to humanitarian need and the way Jews respond to tragedy.

For the women of the Congo who have suffered unspeakable life altering events, a dance party in the city of Los Angels on their behalf might seem a little off to some people. ‘Why are these people dancing around and having a party, while there are thousands of people suffering?’ or ‘what is a dance party suppose to do for the situation in the Congo?’

In my experience with Judaism, tragedy and celebration are closer than one might think. For example, when commemorating the Shoah or Holocaust, the very next day is Israel’s Independence Day, full of celebrations and parties. Judaism seems to realize that tragedy happens and however horrific, life continues and life is wonderful!

At the present moment, organizations are scrambling to get the funding and necessary attention to the country of Haiti who’s people are still experiencing the repercussions of the massive earthquake that hit their under developed country five months ago. When the earthquake first hit and the preceding weeks everyone was willing to donate, via text or through their religious institution or telethons, etc. Now, everyone has ‘done Haiti’ and the situation does not seem so drastic- the need not so needed- and the support has died down.

This is why we need events like ‘Conga Line for Congo’ or ‘Hats off for Haiti’ or ‘Kickball for Kentucky’- because people want to be engaged in many different ways so that their interest in helping others does not dwindle. With any tragedy comes hope, comes the celebration of life, comes the need to more forward in the best way possible.

So what would the women in the Congo think about the Jewish World Watch’s ‘Conga Line for Congo’ event? In my opinion, they are probably happy to know that someone cares enough to mobilize their community in support of helping make their lives better. Along with the many other events the Jewish World Watch puts on- activist protests, educational speakers, direct victim relief- a dace party for women on Mother’s Day seems to be the perfect way to keep the community involved and informed about the situation in the Congo while continuing to enjoy life- mothers, daughters, and sisters together for one purpose- so that the mothers, daughters, sisters, fathers, and brothers of the Congo can live in peace and have a dance party of their own!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Congo Initiative

Hello again ‘Best Blog’ readers! After a brief stint as the Assistant Director of a call center that does telephone fundraising for non-profit groups, I am once again in pursuit of a fulfilling, professional, challenging, and exciting job with a non-profit organization (none of which were the case with the position I held at Telefund). I could go into detail about that experience, however, I think it best to look forward and move on to put my efforts toward the greatest good.

My junior year in college I did an internship with an organization called the Jewish World Watch. The organization was founded by a retired lawyer after an inspiring High Holiday speech at her local Synagogue. From the foundation, their goal has been to mobilize the community in order to do three things: Educate the community about genocidal situations, Advocate for better legislation through public policy, and provide Refugee Relief for those who have suffered from genocidal situations.

Their initial focus was on the situation in Sudan, more specifically the southern Darfur region. The situation goes as such- the villages of the people living in the Darfur regions were being raided by government supported Janjaweed militia for the purpose of displacing the people of the region- all because they had resources those in the north did not have access to.

Flash to October 2004- as the JWW joins other organizations like ‘SaveDarfur.org’- uniting communities for public activism for Darfur, ‘24HoursForDarfur.org’- an online video/ story based organization, ‘EyesOnDarfur.org’- Amnesty International’s response to the situation, and ‘DarfurIsDying.com’- an interactive online experience where you are a Darfuian refugee who has to forage for water, food, shelter, and remain healthy to raise awareness. What is unique about the Jewish World Watch is the Jewish part. A common theme taught in Judaism is the concept of Tikkun Olam, or fixing the world- the JWW harnesses these ideals within the Jewish community to do its part to help the situation.

In the last six years, the Jewish World Watch has mobilized more than 60 Synagogues and more than 2,500 individuals in unity to end the genocide in Darfur. Unfortunately, the situation continues…

More recently, the JWW has taken on the situation in the Dominic Republic of Congo, as a necessary situation that needed more spotlight within the Los Angeles and Jewish community. But why? Don’t we have other problems to deal with?? The US’s economy is still in shambles, the congress still can’t pass any legislation (easily), there are gallon and gallons of oil spilling out all over the gulf coast, earthquakes, volcano’s, tornados, OY VEY! Why- why the Congo, why Africa, why should we pay attention??

Now- take your iPhone, open it up and dismantle it’s parts, ok maybe you won’t go that far- get out your electronic x-ray machine and take a closer look at the newest electronic. Whether it is apparent to you or not, every new iPhone contains minerals such as gold, tin, lithium, and tungsten- all of which are mined out of the Congo. Thanks to the liberal magazine Mother Jones, people can be more aware of the true price of an iPhone- http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/03/scary-truth-about-your-iphone. This is the source of why we, as Americans, and me as a Jew should care about the situation in the Congo- we are all a part of what fuels the ever burning fire.

The Congo is different- the German’s targeted Jews, the Turk’s targeted Armenians, the Janjaweed targeted Darfurians- in the Congo everyone is at risk. With the high demand for the mineral rich land of the Congo, anyone who gets in the way- or doesn’t- is at risk of being slaughtered, displaced, or worse. The women of the region suffer the most- repeated rapes, watching their children be murdered or turned into the very soldiers who assaulted her in the first place.

So this isn’t my normal blog- my normal opinion about the new immigration law in Arizona being unconstitutional or Goldman Sacs giving three million excuses because they know they’ve been caught and are about to be punished for being thieves or how for some reason I don’t believe that a man who beats other men to a bloody pulp didn’t hurt his ex-porn star pill addicted baby’s momma. But it is the most important thing that I’ve written about yet. Next time you use your electronics- 33.75 MILLION iPhones sold to date- think about the lives of women, men, and children- think about murder and greed- think about unsatisfyable wealth and unstable government- think about gang rape and being burned all over your body- think about doing something!

As for me- I’m still in search of my purpose- ‘the little flame that lights a fire under our a**’ (Avenue Q). Whether it be as a youth worker or social justice advocate- I know what my purpose isn’t- to simply make money. No matter what I end up doing with my life, I know that I will never stop caring about other human lives and doing whatever I can to ensure that everyone has the same rights and privileges I have had living in America. With a new puppy, Shlomo, my one year old cat Kit-Kat, and my loving boyfriend Colin- I know I am on the right track!!