tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post2058306254900195257..comments2009-03-28T19:18:42.273-04:00Comments on Peace Blog: Finals Week!!!!Bad Runnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11487294423544434727noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-31523874854444288832007-12-19T20:46:00.000-05:002007-12-19T20:46:00.000-05:00I feel weird being the last person to post on this...I feel weird being the last person to post on this peace blog, maybe in a while, so I guess I better make it good. Two main things that this course, and this peace blog, taught me are that it is important to stand by what you believe in and also that it is incredible how far efforts at reconciliation can take an individual or a group of people (as my post from a few days ago illustrated). When I first heard of this Peace Blog concept, I was a bit skeptical. I thought a lot of people would just make generic entries to fulfill the 10 post requirement. However, I found that most people in this class were significantly affected by this concept, including myself. I personally found myself at first stretching to do significant things to be able to post on the blog. This is not to say that I didn’t do things on a regular basis that were “peaceful.” What the peace blog did do for me is to try new things that went beyond every day actions I may have partaken in. <BR/><BR/>It was interesting to experiment a little bit socially by doing things people weren’t accustomed to see out of me, such as smiling more often when encountering people around campus, but what was most rewarding was the fact that everyone is capable of doing things that can make them be more at ease with themselves, which translates to the world in general. Everyone’s concept with peace is different, and it is up to everyone not only in this class, but in the world, to discover that, and employ it. We may not feel “peaceful” every day, and that’s okay. But there’s always tomorrow, and it’s that tomorrow that we must always look forward to, as it is tomorrow when the power to forgive (and to move on) still exists. Whether that peace comes from getting back in touch with an old friend, an estranged parent, or from forging a new, comprehensive, and lasting peace agreement in the Middle East, the impetus for change must come from within oneself, and in the willpower to acknowledge one another’s mistakes, forgive, and move forward to a better tomorrow.Mike Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15917476466796154148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-40942342505320757142007-12-19T18:51:00.000-05:002007-12-19T18:51:00.000-05:00For this Peace Blog (hopefully it gets in before t...For this Peace Blog (hopefully it gets in before the deadline), I have decided to do something to alleviate people’s stress while in airports. When you go to catch a plane, you see hundreds of people shuffling and hustling about, anxious (or even angry) at late arrivals, weather delays, international travelers suffering from jet lag, etc. Also, oftentimes, travelers are alone. Instead of being that creepy person that randomly walks up to a person, I’m going to indirectly make someone else’s day a little better by picking up their tab, and I’m going to pick the most distressed-looking person I can see. Hopefully, this fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on which way you want to look at it) person’s day can be made a little better by having someone else pick up their check. As long as the person wasn’t ordering up too much, and having plenty of drinks to back up their meal (if you know what I mean), It should make me feel a little better too.Mike Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15917476466796154148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-82901223740494913272007-12-19T16:37:00.000-05:002007-12-19T16:37:00.000-05:00For my final peace blog, I’ll take a look back at ...For my final peace blog, I’ll take a look back at the whole experience. I think overall that this peace blog experience was good, especially for me since I have never blogged before and never write down my feelings in any sort of journal. While at times it was admittedly annoying, since I had to remember to write up my experience to get credit for them, the benefit still outweighed the cost in the end. I think most importantly, this experience has forced me to more closely examine my own thoughts and actions and the actions of others, and to question if the normal way of acting is indeed the best way. For instance, during this semester I found myself taking an extra second to think about how I wanted to respond to other people and situations, instead of just blindly acting. I found that after thinking about my responses, they tended to be much more peaceable, and that I was able to reduce stress and conflict with others as a result. As bad as it is, my first reaction is usually prone to causing conflict, so this was a very worthwhile improvement. This peace blog experience has also taught me how much easier it is to stand idly by during a conflict, instead of trying to stop it, and how easily conflicts can be started. I’ve seen conflicts start from insults, sports outcomes, and alcohol, and each time; it took almost nothing to set everyone off. It just seems that if everyone took a second or two before they acted, then maybe many of these conflicts would never happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-28952799205440120382007-12-19T16:29:00.000-05:002007-12-19T16:29:00.000-05:00Peace Blog ReflectionAs I look back on my peace bl...Peace Blog Reflection<BR/><BR/>As I look back on my peace blog efforts throughout the semester, I realize that they have caused me to consider the parts of my daily life that do and do not bring peace. Throughout the semester, I found that "peace" was becoming one important lens through which I view my decisions and interactions. It would sometimes even turn into a mantra to "be peace."<BR/><BR/>While I appreciate the macro-level, policy issues that are associated with interstate conflicts in peace studies, my real passion lies with the micro-level things that each of us can do to promote peace. With this in mind, I really enjoyed the structure of the course -- in that we began with the smaller issues that became building blocks for looking at larger issues. The peace blogs was especially helpful in challenging us to put these important "building blocks" topics into action while also forcing us to inject a little more goodness into the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-68155737139274774742007-12-19T16:28:00.000-05:002007-12-19T16:28:00.000-05:00I watched “Munich” for the first time last night, ...I watched “Munich” for the first time last night, and I was struck by how it showed violence in an extremely negative light. At the start of the movie, it seemed as though it would be fairly pro-violence, since the entire plot revolves around Israel trying to get revenge on those involved in the Olympic attacks in Munich. However, it soon became a story about the pointlessness of revenge and violence. Every time that the Israeli strike team assassinated a Palestinian, the Palestinians would launch another terrorist attack. It became a vicious cycle that neither side could end for fear of seeming weak and giving their opponent hope for victory. This movie also showed how draining a life of violence is, as the Israeli strike team is seen sinking into paranoia and fear as the movie progresses, until they can no longer trust anyone. I thought that this was a great film, because it did not glorify violence. Quite the opposite, it showed violence as the brutal problem that it truly is, and that more violence will only ever make things worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-39755556486856127852007-12-19T16:25:00.000-05:002007-12-19T16:25:00.000-05:00When I used to think of peace movements, my perspe...When I used to think of peace movements, my perspective was limited to well-known, grand-scale initiatives like Gandhi in India or Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States. It was hard for me to conceive that peace movements can be implemented on a lesser level. Through the peace blog in Introduction to Peace Studies, I became disavowed of this notion. Even though it was assignment, the benefit of the project transcended the classroom. As a result of peace blogging, I discovered more about global and local injustices and developed a greater definition of peace. I view this project as beneficial in two ways. First, it was educational. Second, it was mutually enriching for my recipients and me.<BR/><BR/>I tried to use this assignment to gain an insight into what was going on around the world, and what little things I could do to help. The viewing of “God Grew Tired Us” exposed me to truths about Sudanese refugees in Kenya. The dinner I attended at the KROC institute gave me an insight into current theories about the morality of war. Recently, when I went to the Christmas shop in LaFortune. I had an enlightening conversation about regional economic stress. An important first step in building peace is recognizing and understanding injustices in the world. These three blogs provided me with such information.<BR/><BR/>Blogging also allowed me to bring others peace and happiness while experiencing the same sentiments myself. Through my experiences with Slice of Life Tutoring, I have helped my students learn to read, but I have also gained motivation to give back to the community on a consistent basis. I also found my thank you note blog to be mutually enriching. I felt relieved and happy when putting the letters in the mailbox, and I hope they feel the same when they receive them. <BR/><BR/>When we were first assigned the peace blog, I saw it more of a nuisance. I thought that I was already doing a lot towards promoting peace, and this would be an extra, tedious weekly assignment. I was wrong—on both accounts. Peace blogging changed my perception of the little things that can be done to create peace. From attending a dinner on the morals of war, to donating twenty dollars to Heifer International, I learned that I can individually provide a little bit of peace to this world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-37410115944084131382007-12-19T15:55:00.000-05:002007-12-19T15:55:00.000-05:00I recently had the chance to bring peace to my sis...I recently had the chance to bring peace to my sister. I had received a phone call from her late on a Friday night / Saturday morning. She was panicking because she had recently fallen and hurt her leg. I was out with some friends at the time and was taken aback by the news. Though I didn't immediately recognize it, I could quickly tell that she was nervous about the injury.<BR/><BR/>When she hung up, I talked about the situation with my friend, who helped me realize that she had called me for a reason. I called my sister back and told her that I would accompany her to the Emergency Room so that we could get things figured out. I walked alone to her dorm room -- through the snow -- and helped her into the car we took to the hospital. She remained nervous at first because her leg was badly bruised, but she calmed quickly after I arrived. Though we didn't get a definitive diagnosis that night, we were able to help each other redirect our attention to catching up on other things. What was an unfortunate situation became an opportunity for us to talk and laugh while waiting in the Emergency Room until almost 5 AM.<BR/><BR/>Family forms special bonds; I am fortunate enough to have my sister here at ND with me. It was nice to see in this instance that we were able to comfort and bring peace to each other in difficult circumstances.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-84754041386057691512007-12-19T15:34:00.001-05:002007-12-19T15:34:00.001-05:00As I look back on my peace blog activities and ref...As I look back on my peace blog activities and reflections, I notice a theme—not that I have necessarily made large-scale differences in the lives of others, but that I have made small-scale changes in my own life. I think that the area in which my peace blogs helped me the most was the recognition of the many instances in my own life where I’m not as peaceful as I could or should be. I honestly now find myself thinking when I get angry with a roommate, family member, or friend, “We’ll never resolve this conflict if I react like this.” My peace blogs have forced me to evaluate the personal dimension of peace. They have compelled me to think about the fact that peace isn’t just something that’s needed between nations; it is also something that is needed between people in everyday interactions. Road rage, cursing, gossip—all of these small actions are violence in their own way and can quickly escalate into situations that breed hatred and leave lasting scars. <BR/> My peace blogs have also inspired me to move beyond the personal dimension of peace and to think about the role that I can play in fostering world peace. That phrase sounds so cliché, yet I hope that someday it will happen and I will be a part of it. These blogs have changed the way I look at the world and the way that I see my role in it. I am glad I had the chance to examine these aspects of peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-64727634146859536662007-12-19T15:34:00.000-05:002007-12-19T15:34:00.000-05:00Probably my most difficult peace blog activity was...Probably my most difficult peace blog activity was one that I did a long time ago but that took me a long time to process. In the middle of this semester, my parents called me, put me on speakerphone, and told my siblings and I that they were getting a divorce. The announcement came as little surprise since things had been far from peaceful for a long time, but it was devastating in its own way.<BR/>As a result of my parents’ announcement, I was angry. I was angry in an immature way about silly things – the fact that I have to call home twice if I have good or bad news, the fact that it hurt my schoolwork, the fact that I wasn’t there when they told us and didn’t get to hear my little brother say he loved me because they hung up before he had a chance to talk. However, I was also angry about things I consider more “real” – the fact that my little brother is sad all the time, the fact that my family is dividing, the fact that my parents cannot make peace. I was angry and sad for a lot of reasons, and I wasn’t making much progress on changing that.<BR/>Before Thanksgiving break, however, I sat down and decided to make each of my parents a mix CD. Despite my anger, I also knew that both of my parents were hurting and that the divorce was difficult for them, too. Making them mix CD’s really made me think about the way that each of them was feeling and why. I began to think about the reasons why divorce might be the best option. As corny as it sounds, I thought about Israel and Palestine, about how an integrated population may not be the best route to peace for them either, sometimes at least temporary separation might be necessary. I still do not believe in their divorce, but I understood a little bit more. This meditation helped me to work through my anger toward my parents and to be able to focus instead on how much I love them and how difficult this transition will be for them and the rest of my family. More anger will not help any of us; we need to have hope that peace will someday come.<BR/>When I went home for Thanksgiving, I gave each of my parents a hug, and smiled when I finally got to hear my little brother tell me he loved me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-9789003729406004912007-12-19T15:02:00.000-05:002007-12-19T15:02:00.000-05:00Peace Blog ReflectionI have to admit, when I first...Peace Blog Reflection<BR/><BR/>I have to admit, when I first heard about the peace blog assignment, and even now, I was skeptical. It's great to go around commiting random acts of kindness and getting informed about movements for peace, but, really, I have wondered, is it really going to change anyone's attitude? Here's what I have learned over the course of the semester...<BR/><BR/>No, my attitude about peace has not fundamentally changed. I still think its a great thing! How has blogging affected it? Well, it has forced me to really think about my actions and how they contribute in large and small ways to creating peace in my immediate environment. <BR/><BR/>For instance, this finals week, I was incredibly focused and a little (or a lot) stressed. What's new, right? Well, here's what's new. I can honestly say that the thought of writing a peace blog reflection at the end of the week influenced my behavior in little ways. I doubt anyone else around me noticed anything out of the ordinary, but, I really tried to take myself away and study on my own this week. And this was not soley because I needed quiet and no distractions. It was in part because I knew that in staying around, I would only be letting little things get to me and thereby bringing the others around me down. So, I suppose I could say that, to a certain extent, peace blogging has effected my personal behaviors.<BR/><BR/>How else? Well, it has increased my awareness of social issues. This wasn't only the result of my own peace blogging initiatives, but, also, others'. Things that I never would have known people were doing, I learned about. Reading my classmate's reflections gave me ideas on how to live a more peace-promoting existence. <BR/><BR/>Yet, in the beginning, I mentioned that I am still a little skeptical. My concern is that by posting peace initiatives on the internet, it is eliminating that face-to-face contact which I feel is so crucial to social movements. People need to feel connected. Now, I don't have any evidence to back this claim up, and perhaps, at the age of nineteen, I am already old-fashioned. But, there is something about blogging-- I can't quite put my finger on it-- that makes me a little nervous.<BR/><BR/>There are so many things in my science, technology, and society class which have pushed me to become skeptical of replacing traditional modes of communication with more technologically advanced ones. To some extent, this seems illogical to me. How is writing an essay about peace fundamentally different than posting a blog about peace? Over break, after my mind unwinds, I intend to push this and to figure out just what it is that makes me uneasy.<BR/><BR/>Overall, I have enjoyed the peace-blogging experience, particuliarly the chance it affords to speak conversationally-- and even in the first person! So often, at school, as I write papers, I feel so distanced from the subject material due to the necessarily formal structure of composition. I have to say it was nice to be able to take a little break from discussing the nuances of philosophical arguments, and to delve into something more relaxed, more personal, and more heartfelt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-58437216181507594742007-12-19T14:39:00.000-05:002007-12-19T14:39:00.000-05:00Over the past few weeks, as I was compiling inform...Over the past few weeks, as I was compiling information on my historical conflict, my concept of peace was so focused on external problems, things I have no control over. As the semester comes to an end, I really want to focus back in on the way we began it- bringing peace into our own lives. I want to think about an area in my personal life that needs peace, something that I personally have control over...<BR/><BR/>Over the summer before my junior year of high school, one of my guy friends and I became really close. We would talk all the time, and I felt like I could really relate to him- we had some of the best conversations I've ever had. Eventually, we dated, and, despite the fact that I continued to see him primarily as a best friend, or maybe because I didn't want to lose him as a friend, we continued to date for fourteen months until we left for college.<BR/><BR/>When we left for school, I was so sure we would be able to stay close. However, inevitably, feelings were hurt and we stopped talking for about three months. I was devastated. <BR/><BR/>At the time, I was the kind of person who believed that no matter how a friend hurt you, if you were close at one point, you should make every effort to stay close with that friend. I couldn't understand how he could simply write me off. Finally, after I made every effort to make things right, we were beginning to heal our friendship.<BR/><BR/>Then, this summer, things became difficult again. I can honestly say that it was the first true fight I had ever had with a friend, and I didn't know what to do. I suppose I was always too afraid of losing a friend to ever become visibily angry at them. I think this was part of the problem in the first place...Since May, we haven't spoken, with the exception of a one line e-mail or text. <BR/><BR/>This, Christmas, I want to attempt to bring peace into this area of my life, an area which, for me personally, is most difficult at this time. I hope that it is alright that I haven't completed this peace blog yet. I have been contemplating all semester whether or not I should attempt to patch things up, and with the end of the class, I guess I've finally got the courage to do it.<BR/><BR/>Only now, I possess a much fuller idea of what it means "to make things right." Before, I would have wanted to simply get us talking again, or at least have the appearance of a friendship. After thinking for a very long time, and with the help of this course, I realize that the fight we had in May is only a symptom of a larger problem in our friendship. While I recognize it may not be possible to fix this problem, I at least want to make my personal ammends for it. As they say in Love Actually, "If you can't say it at Christmas, when can you, eh?" <BR/><BR/>I want to find some peace in my heart by finally letting go of the hurt caused by losing a best friend. I hope that by reaching out, perhaps I can give him the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-5745236180243985252007-12-19T14:28:00.000-05:002007-12-19T14:28:00.000-05:00Doing peace blogs has made me far more aware of ho...Doing peace blogs has made me far more aware of how I’m feeling, and how I choose to let that affect my relationships with people. It’s amazing how often I’m frustrated over stupid stuff. I’ve come to a better understanding of how my actions are having an effect, whether it’s how I treat my roommates or what kind of sister I choose to be. Now I see situations of conflict as an opportunity to be peace. Everything I’ve done for the blog has been relatively small, but challenging in unique ways. I loved doing this, and I’m definitely going to keep looking for opportunities to make peace. I’m going to miss reading other people’s blogs, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-84683843303706768082007-12-19T13:44:00.000-05:002007-12-19T13:44:00.000-05:00This is my last peace blog post (::sad::). I have...This is my last peace blog post (::sad::). I have really enjoyed this part of the class this semester. Although, I posted mine pretty much all at once (I am technology retarded and I didn’t figure out how to deal with the blog until a long ways into the semester), I liked that it was a semester long project. It really raised my awareness of ways I can add to peace. I have also really enjoyed reading many other peoples peace blogs. They have given me some great ideas of other things to continue doing in my life. I think my favorite part was realizing just how many different ways each individual person can add peace to the world. Thanks everyone for making this a fun class!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-18252656270228213082007-12-19T13:38:00.000-05:002007-12-19T13:38:00.000-05:00A couple weeks ago I wrote a letter to the editor ...A couple weeks ago I wrote a letter to the editor of my home newspaper. I wrote and sent it then because from December 3 - 14, Indonesia hosted an international conference on climate change. At this meeting, countries were starting to shape a new set of binding rules on critical global issues. The rules currently in effect under the Kyoto Protocol expire in 2012. In my letter I wrote about it being necessary for the US to play a role in these talks and to embrace the outcome. This is important now especially since we were not very cooperative during Kyoto. Climate change is one thing that cannot be fixed without international cooperation. The actions of people in one country effect everyone. It is irresponsible to abuse the environment because although it may not effect us very much now, it is going to effect future generations in a much more direct way. Also in this letter I suggested that the cooperation needed can start on a very local level. Mayor Manross, of Scottsdale, AZ has started a number of programs to conserve energy. All government buildings are now “green.” Also, anything the local government prints is on recycled paper. She is working on a number of tax benefits for people who take steps to make their houses “green.” I urged leaders in neighboring cities in Phoenix to take the same and more steps. I have no idea if the letter will be printed or not (and I don’t read that newspaper regularly, so I might miss it if it is), but I really hope it is because I think this issue is something that should be of concern to more people and the local initiatives that have been and can be taken are often ignored in favor of international steps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-27844324936505085242007-12-19T13:04:00.000-05:002007-12-19T13:04:00.000-05:00Let me start by saying that this was really hard t...Let me start by saying that this was really hard to write, so sorry if it ends up being rambly. A few years ago my parents split up. They were separated for a couple years and the divorce went through about a year ago. For ages I denied that it was affecting me at all, but honestly, it really screwed me up. I was severely depressed for months. It took me forever to acknowledge that this whole period in my life was probably a result of my not dealing with my parent’s separation in a healthy way. (I’m still awful at talking about it. My roommate is one of my best friends ever, and I didn’t tell her my parents are divorced until I had known her for over a year.) Looking back, the worst thing wasn’t almost screwing up my own life entirely, it was being a crappy big sister. My little sister had no one to look up to that was handling the situation well. Probably as a reflection of what I complained about, she ended up with a lot of resentment towards our dad. A couple months ago, I found out that my dad is getting remarried to a woman I just met in August. I’m not surprised, since they’ve been dating for awhile, but it’s hard not to be pissed off that he’s moving on so quickly. It really sucks for my sister, because she’s still in high school, and she has to spend every other weekend with my dad… soon to be my dad and his new family, including his fiancee’s kids. I don’t really care that my dad’s get remarried, it’s just not something I want to have to deal with. And I know that over Christmas break I’m probably going to have to meet my future step-siblings (weird) and try to act all friendly, when really, all I want to do is pretend it’s not actually happening. But I know that I need to be better for my sister’s sake. I’m going to try to keep any resentment or even annoyance I feel with my Dad to myself. I need to love him (because I do) and try to be happy for him for finding someone he cares about. And I need to be peace for my sister, who hasn’t had the luxury of being away from home while all this was developing. I wish I could not have to deal with it… but since the wedding is going to happen anyway, I guess I need to try to be positive about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-70782432181536023822007-12-19T12:25:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:25:00.000-05:00Unfortunately, I’ve experienced something very clo...Unfortunately, I’ve experienced something very close to what Sarah V and Katie have written about. Almost exactly one year ago, my best friend was raped. When she told me about it I was shocked. She had made awful decisions. She got into a car with a male friend of hers who had already been drinking (mistake #1). As soon as she got into the car, he handed her a bottle of hard alcohol and said “drink”. They went out and she kept drinking. When she was downtown and wasted, she started calling friends to ask for help. She didn’t call me, because she thought I wasn’t home for Christmas break yet. In fact, I had arrived home that afternoon. She didn’t talk to anyone who was able to help her. She talked to some of her friends from school, none of whom were even in the same city. They just told her to get home, assuming she could get home safely and sober up. She let the guy drive her home, and at some point he pulled over and raped her in the backseat. Once she was home her parents realized what a bad state she was in and took her to the hospital. She was treated for the alcohol, but I don’t think she asked them to help with the trauma of the rape. She hasn’t pressed charges or anything. I’ve had a hard time dealing with what happened because even though my friend is absolutely a victim, I can’t help but being mad at her for making such stupid choices. She obviously put herself in a dangerous situation. I don’t blame her for being raped, but I’m so frustrated that she was irresponsible enough to get where she was. I also can’t stop thinking about how maybe I could have stopped it from happening. If she had known I was already home from school (if I had reminded her), she would have called me when she was in trouble. I know that I wouldn’t have let her get off the phone until I knew she was going to get home safely. I would have picked her up myself, even! I can’t blame myself for what happened, but I can’t get the what-ifs out of my head. My feelings about the whole situation are so screwed up. I can’t come to terms with anything. It doesn’t help that she hasn’t talked to anyone else about it. She didn’t tell the police or doctors or anything, and she didn’t even tell the friends she talked to that night (just that she was really drunk when she called them and she eventually got home). She’s told me and just one other person. I tried to convince her that it would help to talk to someone she didn’t know, like a counselor, but she refused. I haven’t seen her since the summer, and we haven’t even talked about it since like January. I guess she’s trying to deal with it through denial. But I know she’s still hurting, and I don’t know how to help her. I guess there’s no point to this peace blog, except that I still don’t know how to help her achieve peace for herself. And until I know she’s going to be okay, I’ll never be able to come to terms with what happened to her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-46065089423198748482007-12-19T12:24:00.001-05:002007-12-19T12:24:00.001-05:00I’ve been doing something small for peace every si...I’ve been doing something small for peace every single day- and you can all do it too! If you care at all about the issues of hunger, breast cancer, child health, literacy, the rainforest, or animal rescue (or all of them in varying degrees), it’s really easy to do something. Every day I go to http://www.thehungersite.com and click to donate food. From there I click the tabs to the other sites and click on those, too. Sponsors donate money to the various causes for every click (you can do it once a day). It’s absolutely free for you, but doing it every day can make a difference! I added the site to my toolbar so that I don’t forget. It takes virtually no effort, but it’s a good reminder every day that things we take for granted (like having food and being able to read) aren’t available to everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-2570736121029152902007-12-19T12:24:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:24:00.000-05:00Like Krista, I decided to stop chanting “kill” dur...Like Krista, I decided to stop chanting “kill” during the kill cheer. After everything we’ve learned this semester, it just started to feel uncomfortable. I started way overanalyzing the cheer as I was doing it. What makes thousands of people feel comfortable shouting the word “kill”? It wasn’t something I had really thought about before. I have no problem getting pumped up about football, but the kill cheer is really just unnecessary. I considered holding up the peace sign during the cheer, but my roommate told me that she wouldn’t sit with me anymore if I did! I’m still working on bringing her around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-37880988056646896412007-12-19T12:23:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:23:00.000-05:00Rather than examining violence in the media (after...Rather than examining violence in the media (after reading other people’s peace blogs, I have a pretty good idea of what I would have found), I decided to spend a day paying attention to how gender issues were treated on TV. Unsurprisingly, gender stereotypes were abundant. When I actually paid attention to commercials, I realized how easy it is to get offended by them! In commercials set in the home, women are almost always performing some domestic duty. If men are present at all, they’re detached from what’s going on. Ads for children’s toys never seemed to challenge gender stereotypes. The slogan for Tonka trucks is “Boys are Built Different” (because apparently no girls want to play with trucks… we’re different). The ads for Hasbro’s “Rose Petal Cottage” (basically a toy home for girls where they can pretend to do laundry and dishes, cook and take care of a baby) are kind of appalling. There’s two versions, one targeted towards the girls, the other for the moms who would buy it. In the first version, the little girl sings “taking care of my home is my dream, dream, dream!” In the ad targeted towards the mom, the voiceover describes the toy as “her place, where her dreams have room to grow.” Excuse me? Apparently according to Hasbro, all little girls dream about is to be able to run a household of their very own. I’m sure many do, but I certainly had other goals in life when I was little. Why are we encouraging little girls to limit their “dreams” to just the domestic sphere? What century are we in? If our media continues to perpetuate ideas like this, how are we going to work towards gender equity? You can watch the ads here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qVgHrV9H-8k and http://youtube.com/watch?v=2dXlAjCU8G4.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-47778214916583387232007-12-19T12:22:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:22:00.000-05:00Sometime around fall break (yes, it's been awhile ...Sometime around fall break (yes, it's been awhile since I posted) I went to a Free Burma rally at fieldhouse mall. There weren’t a lot of students there, but I felt like everyone there was really passionate. The rally was while the monks’ protests were going on, and everyone seemed to believe that reform was possible. I honestly believed that change was going to happen. But the military squashed the protests eventually, and there’s been virtually no progress since then. International pressure did lead the military to offer to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, but it hasn’t happened. Despite international condemnation of the Burma regime, there’s been basically no action taken beyond sanctions. It’s frustrating to see how public interest has declined so fast. Headlines about Burma have disappeared from our papers, but the people are still suffering. I’m glad I went to the rally, but rallies here are basically worthless if we can’t pressure our government to take serious action.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-88161366307406964092007-12-19T12:17:00.000-05:002007-12-19T12:17:00.000-05:00My mom has always pestered me about writing thank ...My mom has always pestered me about writing thank you notes. They had to be long, thoughtful, and most importantly—prompt. This school year I have especially focused on writing thank you notes when due, even without incessant reminders from my mother. Because of my cast, I am backlogged with notes to write, so I decided to make this “batch” more meaningful. <BR/><BR/>For this peace blog, I decided to write thank-you notes to my family, friends, and other people who helped me when I had my cast on. While it’s important to let others know of your appreciation throughout the year, I think now is a really special time to let other people know that you care. I love receiving thank you notes, and I think it’s crucial to write them because often times people don’t know how beneficial their actions are. <BR/><BR/>Strengthening interpersonal relationships is very essential to peace. Peace building begins on the individual level, stems to the interpersonal level, and reaches all the way to the international realm. By focusing on this elemental aspect of peace, I am applying concepts learned from class while also constructing sustainable relationships.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-63192364803593592132007-12-19T11:39:00.000-05:002007-12-19T11:39:00.000-05:00My experience with the peace blog was a lot like t...My experience with the peace blog was a lot like the majority of people's responses to it. Doing a little something every week in the spirit of peace actually helped ME just as much as, if not more than, the people I touched. I found it very ironic, though, that I would do things with the peace blog in mind, but the hardest part was actually writing what I did down. I would definitely call myself a procrastinator; I'm not sure I would justify it with the "I work better under pressure" excuse, but rather "I actually WORK under pressure". Anyway, I think being constantly aware of how I, or anyone, can promote peace changes one's outlook completely. In that way, this peace blog has definitely changed the way that I perceive and act on a lot of things. <BR/>When I entered into the class, I was surprised to hear about the peace blog. I had never participated in one and actually found it to be a relatively strange requirement of the class. But strange is oftentimes a positive thing, especially in this case. It took me a couple of weeks to think up something that I could do that would be perfect for the peace blog, and soon came to the realization that, nine times out of ten, you can work with what you are given. I attended multiple discussions and presentations put on by KROC, much like a lot of peace bloggers did, but didn't really feel like my attendance actually impacted people around me. They surely opened my eyes, but I wanted to open others'. So, the majority of my peace blogs are very small--butI think meaningful--acts of kindness. The people I chose to extend peace to ranged from those very close to me (my best friends and family members) to those not so close (acquaintances, once-friends), to those that I didn't even know and I simply came across, choosing to extend the peace their way (a homeless man in Chicago). <BR/>I think the one thing that touched me the most was over Thanksgiving when my dad bought lunch for a table packed full of young guys in the service. I had talked to my family about the peace blog I'd been participating in, and my dad's action convinced me that it's things like that that benefit both himself and other people--including me and my family, who thought it was great that he would do that on his own accord, even without us knowing (it wasn't till after the fact that he told my mom, who told my brother, sister, and me). <BR/>Overall, my experience with the peace blog was amazing. I am a little relieved that I don't have to physically write things that I did down any longer (even though it takes less than ten minutes), but i DEFINITELY will continue to "participate" in the blog, spreading the spirit of peace through my actions. Hopefully my acts of kindness will motivate other people to be more peaceful, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-15743083861928222852007-12-19T11:32:00.000-05:002007-12-19T11:32:00.000-05:00Peace Blog 10The experience of peace blogging as a...Peace Blog 10<BR/><BR/>The experience of peace blogging as a whole was great. Most of the things I blogged about are things that I normally do, but not in the context of a class or the notion of peace necessarily. Some different I tried to do was take advantage of the lectures on campus. That was a wonderful thing that the peace blog encouraged me to do. I was able to attend one amazing talk on femicide in Mexico and watched another online about women’s rights internationally. These are events I normally would not have made time for, but since it was an assignment of sorts I became motivated to make time for these lectures. Without someone bringing up the Kiva organization, I would have never known what a great opportunity that is to help those in need. I was able to branch out this semester and truly grow in my knowledge of what peace means and how I am a part of it. I think we should have talked about our blogging experience in class once or twice because I know I didn’t have time to read everyone’s blogs each week, but I know some amazing things have been accomplished this semester. So overall, I enjoyed the experience because I was able to redefine my ideas about what it means to bring peace into the world. I was able to go beyond my past efforts to be a constructive part in this movement and broaden my abilities and interests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-55651661366465291902007-12-19T11:31:00.000-05:002007-12-19T11:31:00.000-05:00Peace Blog 9This is by far my favorite experience ...Peace Blog 9<BR/><BR/>This is by far my favorite experience with “peace blogging."<BR/><BR/>Last Wednesday, I went to La Casa de Amistad where I volunteer. My friend and I decided to go buy them some Christmas presents first to spread some holiday cheer. So we bought sports equipment, games, books, candy canes, some poinsettias, and other random things. We arrived at La Casa with bags in tote, and the kids had the happiest looks on their faces. They were all smiling and running up to us to see what we had brought. They immediately ran outside with the new basketballs and soccer ball. Some kids decided to play Candy Land. I hope they all had the sincere feeling that someone cares about them a lot, especially during this time of year. Obviously, this was a small gesture that I’m sure they’ve already forgotten, but that does not make it unimportant. This experience helped me to realize that any good deed can be a deed worth doing. The happiness those kids expressed even if it was just for a couple hours is so imperative for them as they grow up, and I am so blessed to be able to a part of it. Between the two of us we only spent about $25 a piece. It just goes to show that it truly does not take a lot to make a difference. The whole experience with those kids throughout this semester has helped to learn so much about what a true vocation to peace within this world is. The wide variety of things I can do astounds me because I can connect everything back to the notion of a life of peace and love, in the most non-cliché sense. That has been my greatest lesson this semester.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430827873190220616.post-3857739598463038842007-12-19T10:55:00.000-05:002007-12-19T10:55:00.000-05:00For my final peace blog, I wanted to relay my thou...For my final peace blog, I wanted to relay my thoughts about the peace blogging process. From the beginning of the class, I thought that peace blogs were a great idea. They seemed like a good way to get people to actively promote peace, even if it was in little, everyday ways. <BR/> However, peace blogs were much harder than I had thought they would be. For almost this entire semester, I spent more time worrying about what I could do for my next peace blog, or stressing about not having enough done, that it took away some of the enjoyment from the whole process. I wish that I could turn back time and start from scratch. I wish I had made a list of things to do, and done them with other people, rather than just trying to think of things on my own. I also wish that I had done bigger or more unique things. <BR/> But, even though I have these regrets, I still really like the idea of peace blogging. It is a great way to not only challenge yourself to try to "increase the peace", but you can also see what others are doing as well. My only recommendation for the peace blogs would be possibly require a few group peace activities (with a few members of the class in a group), so that the class can be more involved with one another's peace efforts. And, having more people can make the process more interesting, and can possibly impact more people. However, all in all, I really like the idea of peace blogs, and I hopefully, I can continue the peace blogging process in my own life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com