The Middle East

In the past few weeks, I have spent more time studying about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Like a parent often thinks, I do not believe it is important to know who 'started' the conflict. Instead, the focus of my attention has been on something far more important - something worthy of my time. 

A few weeks ago, I attended a UNAFF showing of a film called "Faces." This film portrays the plights of artists from outside the country to post their art in very public places. This isn't your average art, either, which makes is even more difficult. You can see the trailer for it here. As much as I was against the Israeli occupation of the state of Palestine before, this film pushed me further outside of my comfort zone, teetering on the edge.

I attended a speech today given by a Jewish-American woman, not too much older than myself, who is pro-Palestinian. It was so relieving to see how many people attended the speech. I really hope that it helped to open the eyes of others. This woman's speech pushed me off the edge of that comfort zone. I feel that I can no longer stand by while innocent people are being killed and not being allowed to have the basic rights that I have as a free person.

I challenge each and every one of you to do some research about this conflict. Do not limit yourself to resources from the United States, because, as a nation, we side with Israel. Read about the Palestinians' plights and the horrors that they must endure just to exist. Put yourselves in their shoes.

If you are interested in learning more about Palestinians, please visit these links:

• Award-winning cartoon about Palestine
• US Aid to Israel
• Toolkits/Information on Activism for Palestine
• Five for Palestine
• Global BDS Movement (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel)
• End the Occupation
• United for Peace (focuses on many other human rights issues as well)
• International Solidarity Movement
• Michigan Peace Team
• Palestine/Israel 101 video
• If Americans Knew
• BBC History
• Global Policy Forum

Please do not be afraid to comment or share your input on this issue. The way to figure out possible solutions is through healthy discussion.

RIP Nick Adenhart

How do you write about someone you never even knew, but whose death has had such an effect on a world in which you take part? I will not try to use fancy words to describe the loss of this amazing young man. I don't think I'm qualified to. I will, however, let Angels fans themselves speak about their feelings.

If you are not sure what has happened, click here or here.

Thanks to KLSnow, my dear friend who runs Brew Crew Ball, for linking to this amazing post at Halos Heaven. I'm not a crier, and I was in tears after reading this post.

The problem of drunk driving is one that needs to be addressed. I agree that we spend too much time focusing on steroids and not on the most abused drug out there.

I really appreciated this post as well. When I was in high school, a close friend of mine was killed walking home on the sidewalk by a person who was on several drugs at the time. It was very hard for me, once I had moved to the anger stage, to not want to chase down this person and tell him exactly what I thought about him. It's hard to understand at first, but the grief that this young man has caused - and in this case, it's a national situation, not just from a small suburb - is going to have to live with him as long as he does. One of the reasons that I don't support the death penalty is that I believe perps should be forced to live with their actions and not be given an easy way out.

Please join me in helping to stop those you know and even those you don't from getting behind the wheel drunk or "buzzed."

• Drunk driving statistics
  
• American Council on Alcoholism
  
• Stop impaired driving
  
• MADD
  
• Recording Artists, Actors, and Athletes Against Drunk Driving (RADD)
  
• Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)
  

And, please, take care of yourself. Remember that when you drive, you are driving not only for those in your car, but for those you care about... and the others on the road, and the people who care about them as well.

Random News Anyone?

Sorry for my long absence again. It's becoming apparent that I won't really be blogging on a regular basis until after finals, so the first part of May or so.

Kurt Cobain has been dead for 15 years now. It's hard to imagine that someone who was gone before my sixth birthday would have such an impact in my life. Call me a conspiracy theorist all you want, but I'm not entirely convinced that his death was a suicide. On my to-do list once I return to visit my family and friends in the Northwest? Visit and write on Kurt's bench.

If you are a House fan or fan of Kal Penn, you should now this. I won't explicitly say it, since there would be spoilers to the show, but if you want to read (and, again, spoilers!), click here.

Also, Obama wants to eliminate the conscience rule for physicians. This means better access to reproductive health care for women, but less of a choice for providers to refuse services. Some people aren't so happy.