Monday, January 23, 2012

Dividing Politics, Multiplying Hope

In 2008, I voted for Barack Obama. As someone hoping for a better future, I loved the invitation to have "the audacity to hope." It resonated so clearly with what I was feeling at the time. After 911, I felt as if the world had shifted. It felt as if I got on the wrong train, a train that was heading in the wrong direction. Standing outside with my neighbors lighting candles in the days following that tragic day, I thought things were going to be different. There was an opportunity in that moment for humanity to take a different “track” and to come together. Sadly, this was not the case, as war and more destruction were followed by discord on a world-wide level. Someone once told me that if you’re not depressed with the current state of the world then there must be something wrong with you, and I understood because in the years following 911 we were in mourning and shock. But then the campaign for 2008 began, and I began to feel that it might be okay to feel hope, again.

During that election, I understood the magnitude of the fact that, not so far in our distant past, this country had fought for Civil Rights and Women's Rights; and that for a woman or a person of color to hope to become president would have seemed like an unrealistic dream only a short while ago in our nation's history. I also understood that what this country so desperately needed, maybe more than anything, was to remember what hope felt like. It was with awe in the possibilities awaiting the people of this beautiful country that I watched as a woman and an African American man were both in the candidacy for our country's most significant recognition: President. I was inspired by the idea that whoever won would do so regardless of gender or race but based on their own merit. It was a glorious historical moment, and I was most excited by the prospect that an intelligent leader would take the oath as President of the United States and offer us the opportunity to hope for a better future.
 
It's been three years since I drank champagne on an election night hoping that our train would get back on the right track. I’m trying to stay optimistic, but sometimes I do feel discouraged, disappointed, and even disturbed. I'm tired of the division created by politics and how this rift is  holding us back from moving forward. "United we stand, divided we fall" is our nation's motto, "Indivisible" is in our pledge of allegiance, and yet we continue to allow our political differences to separate us. Have we not yet learned that the greatness and strength of our country comes from being the United States of America? On the night of Obama's election, I had the audacity to hope that those in government, regardless of political affiliation, would rise above their ideological and political differences to become role models for the people of this country. Call me idealistic, but I'm going to keep on hoping because I truly believe that being "United" is not only our country's name but also our strength, and we should no longer allow politics to keep us divided.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Born and Raising the Roof in Connecticut

Born and raised in Connecticut, I think I've been trying my whole life to escape. Just over a decade ago, I was offered a position teaching internationally in South America. I remember giving all of my winter clothes away to a good friend. I told her not to worry about keeping them for me because I would never be back. Of course, I did come back...and here I am, still daydreaming about my life in the caribbean and always planning my future escape. But in my quest to try to see the good in all things, I wonder if I haven't given Connecticut a fair shake. Here are five things I respect about Connecticut:

5. Pizza Paaarty: Although Connecticut offers a wide range of culturally diverse food options, I think pizza needs its own category here. The pizza in Connecticut is amazing. Right in New Haven, you have Frank Pepe's Pizza, Modern Pizza, and Sally's APizza, all of which, having received national recognition, are always a sense of great debate among Connecticut's residents. As for which brick oven pizza, garden-fresh sauce of perfection, and melted cheese deliciousness is the best, the jury is still out. 

4. Down with the Politics: One thing I love about Connecticut is the balance of politics. There have been several occasions where the majority of the people voted for a Democratic Presidential candidate while simultaneously having a Republican Governor in office. For example, from 1995 to 2011, Connecticut had a republican governor, and yet has voted for the democratic presidential candidate since 1992. It's refreshing that the people of the state are not necessarily devoted to a party but will take into account the individual running for office.

3. Caring for the Kids: World-wide, we have a long way to go with environmental issues, but one thing I am really proud of is that in 2005 Connecticut passed a law banning the use of pesticides on school lawns. The ban, which officially went into effect in 2010, applies to day cares as well as schools through grade 8. Last year, New York passed a similar ban which sadly makes them the only two states in the country currently requiring these regulations.

2. Nothing but Love for Connecticut: In October of 2008, Connecticut became the second state in the U.S. to recognize same-sex marriages. Currently, in 2012, there are only 6 states in the country. With the current rate of divorce in this country, perhaps people should worry more about their own relationships.

1. Keeping the Dream Alive: For the most part, I have found the people of Connecticut to be friendly, down-to-earth, and forward thinking. In addition, according to the 2005-2009 U.S.Census, 12.8% of Connecticut’s residents were born outside of the United States. I love the growing diversity of the state which I find generally results in an influx of culturally-diverse foods and original music as well as something we all need a lot more of: tolerance. After all, when did we forget that (unless you are 100% Native American) somewhere in your geneology, someone arrived in this country with a dream, a hope, and a prayer.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

World Wide Woes

As someone who has kept a journal since she was ten, I’m not afraid to admit that I find the changes in technology slightly overwhelming and even a little frightening. I guess I’m just not used to putting myself out there, publicly. In my generation, everything was always kept under lock and key. Your thoughts were something you kept in your diary which was hidden, usually under the mattress of your bed (which is probably the first place your mother looked). Your best friend was the keeper of your deeper secrets, and your deepest, darkest secrets were shared only with stuffed animals and pets.  Honestly, I kind of admire the way the youth of this generation put it all out there. Although some people would describe it as reckless, I choose to describe the candid nature of this generation as fearless. I think my generation had more than a healthy dose of guilt weighing far too heavily on our conscience.

While the boys of my generation were scared to talk to girls and the girls followed the unspoken (and ridiculous) social “rule” of playing hard to get, this generation boasts of relationships with people they’ve never even spoken to outside of social networking and texting.  My generation wanted “space,” while this generation attempts to “friend” almost anyone including their parents. With the philosophy of “keeping your enemies closer,” kids today also keep their enemies as “friends,” even when there’s adolescent drama.  My generation grew up believing that if you had one truly good friend, you were lucky. This generation sees friendship as a number game leaving me to wonder exactly how friendship is now defined. More importantly, how is respect now defined? 

Although I don’t necessarily agree with how the concept of respect, especially self-respect, is changing, I guess it’s a good thing that kids no longer feel that they have anything to hide from their parents or the world for that matter. There’s a growing self confidence that didn’t come easy to my generation. I hold  a really strong belief in the value of building self confidence in our youth, but I wonder, Are the kids of this generation saying too much? Isn’t even a mild dose of inhibition healthy? Is growing up on the web literally messing with their minds? I'm sure there are already researchers investigating the inadvertant effects of technology on the areas of the brain that deal with conscience, moral reasoning, and/or inhibition, but here’s an idea: Maybe it’s just us, the adults, who who need to adjust our way of thinking to change with the times (just like every prior generation). If you think about it, the idea of putting yourself out there without sensing fear or vulnerability is sort of intriguing. My guess is, with the tough skin they’re developing, the kids of this generation should be just fine.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Taking Up Optimism in 2012

As someone who has always been, by nature, optimistic, I do feel that I've lost some degree and measure of hope during the past decade. Amidst feeling bombarded by the constant media rainstorm of negative news of looming war, human deceit, and mindless and irrelevant celebrity gossip, I've always tried see the good in people and the possibilities of a better future. I would watch the news and think, What a limited view of the world? I'd wonder why we were so focused on such a narrow and negative view of the world and weren't, instead, focusing on the good. I think we've lost sight of the fact that there are good people in the world making significant contributions to humanity every day. Why is it that we are so interested in drama and betrayal and conflict as seen in our obsession with certain television programming? Why don't we value positive contributions to society? Why is it that we get so emotional when we hear about the goodness and generosity of people? And more importantly, why are we so surprised?

I've always believed that people are innately good, but (sadly) I feel that I've lost sight of that since the beginning of this century. I want to believe (and remember) that there's good in the world. I've often felt as if I want to make a difference, but I've felt helpless in how I can contribute. How can little ol' me make a difference in this big old world? Like so many others, I want to make a positive difference in the world. I want to live in a loving world, but I do feel overwhelmed by the dark cloud of despair that seems to have been looming in recent times. Mother Teresa said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another." I feel a lack of harmony in our world and a disconnect from humanity. I smile and say hello to strangers, but when I look into people's eyes, I see sadness and inner turmoil.

I've never been very attached to the idea of a new year's resolution, but this year I've decided that I want my optimism back. Mahatma Ghandi said to "be the change you want to see in the world," and this is the change I want to see. My new year's resolution is to make a positive contribution in my own small way. I want to open my eyes to see the good, and I want to give back by spreading positivity. I truly believe that people are innately good but that our view of humanity has been greatly skewed by the negative focus of the media. I want to once again see, with the eyes of a child, all of the beauty and goodness in people; and hopefully that goodness will continue to grow and spread around the world. So while some people may be frightened by the anticipation of what awaits us in 2012, I have to say that I am hopeful...and optimistic.