Apathy turned inside-out
In light of all the Oklahoma Politics lately, I thought I would zoom out, then zoom in again, then zoom waaay in. And I think I know what to tell my grad schools, finally, when they ask why I want to study blah blah blah... and what to tell people when they ask why I joined the Peace Corps.
I really loved the post recently by tashar and it reminded me of a book I found in the PC office called "Citizens of Nowhere" which was put out probably by some UN agency and was mostly a little glossy about the problem of Statelessness. People who have no identity, because their passports were lost or their country ceased to exist or what have you. It's mostly ignored because it mostly happens to people from countries that are not on the radar of international news media. I think it's fascinating and tragic. I think there was a little taste of the feeling of statelessness when Tom Hanks did the movie about being stranded in the airport. ( I can't remember the name, Google it)
So here are some bits about it.
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/publication/detail/5051
"These situations are a very low priority on the agenda of the United Nations. At the Geneva headquarters of the UNHCR, only two individuals focus on helping the world’s stateless people. UNHCR field offices have guidelines that regulate the activities in the field of statelessness, but at the local level, representatives and protection staff alike appear unwilling to take on these caseloads. "
This issue and that of human trafficking, (AKA SLAVERY) are so overlooked.
We IMPORT women and children who are forced or tricked into a situation working as 'nannies', 'dancers', or 'massage therapists'. If they are lucky, they are just cleaning houses.
http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pid/748
http://www.imagelibrary.iom.int/details.asp?id=836&c=modern
this image is tagged: moldova, sexual exploitation
I did some seminars and classes about this using a IOM kit in PC and it's continually shocking. But what's also shocking is the lack of human rights in our literal back yard.
I had a conversation with a friend about how people see homelessness and assume drug and alcohol addiction. People see someone walking in my city, and assume they are homeless. What is missing when we judge a person and ignore the system that failed them just because it hasn't failed us YET?
My stepfather has daily dealings with Veteran's Affairs. Mis-diagnosis upon medication interaction upon general incompetence.
I see homelessness and I see OUR FAILURE. I see slave trafficking on United States soil and I see greed and apathy.
So that's why I get into politics. Not for glory or money, not to impress my friends and family, not to
make connections or even change things for the better. Primarily, because if I don't, I'm a failure in this world. And I feel that on a basic level that goes beyond emotion, beyond religion or dogma, and way past economic feasibility. It's just because I have to. It's my reaction to the world.
I really loved the post recently by tashar and it reminded me of a book I found in the PC office called "Citizens of Nowhere" which was put out probably by some UN agency and was mostly a little glossy about the problem of Statelessness. People who have no identity, because their passports were lost or their country ceased to exist or what have you. It's mostly ignored because it mostly happens to people from countries that are not on the radar of international news media. I think it's fascinating and tragic. I think there was a little taste of the feeling of statelessness when Tom Hanks did the movie about being stranded in the airport. ( I can't remember the name, Google it)
So here are some bits about it.
http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/publication/detail/5051
"These situations are a very low priority on the agenda of the United Nations. At the Geneva headquarters of the UNHCR, only two individuals focus on helping the world’s stateless people. UNHCR field offices have guidelines that regulate the activities in the field of statelessness, but at the local level, representatives and protection staff alike appear unwilling to take on these caseloads. "
This issue and that of human trafficking, (AKA SLAVERY) are so overlooked.
We IMPORT women and children who are forced or tricked into a situation working as 'nannies', 'dancers', or 'massage therapists'. If they are lucky, they are just cleaning houses.
http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pid/748
http://www.imagelibrary.iom.int/details.asp?id=836&c=modern
this image is tagged: moldova, sexual exploitation
I did some seminars and classes about this using a IOM kit in PC and it's continually shocking. But what's also shocking is the lack of human rights in our literal back yard.
I had a conversation with a friend about how people see homelessness and assume drug and alcohol addiction. People see someone walking in my city, and assume they are homeless. What is missing when we judge a person and ignore the system that failed them just because it hasn't failed us YET?
My stepfather has daily dealings with Veteran's Affairs. Mis-diagnosis upon medication interaction upon general incompetence.
I see homelessness and I see OUR FAILURE. I see slave trafficking on United States soil and I see greed and apathy.
So that's why I get into politics. Not for glory or money, not to impress my friends and family, not to
make connections or even change things for the better. Primarily, because if I don't, I'm a failure in this world. And I feel that on a basic level that goes beyond emotion, beyond religion or dogma, and way past economic feasibility. It's just because I have to. It's my reaction to the world.