There's very little for me to write about this week, as no unusually exciting moments have occurred. The semester is now significantly underway, and my time is spent watching films of all sorts as well as reading countless articles self-indulgently assigned by the professors who wrote them. I don't mind reading the articles, but having a two-hour lecture with the professor is an article enough for my taste! I could always talk about The Pope, but that's practically old news already. I should mention, though, that while I was talking with my father over Skype several days ago he actually asked me if I had seen that there was a new pope elected. I immediately laughed. Did he forget The Pope is world-wide news? Regardless, I told him that I was well aware and am a lot closer to the newly chosen leader than he is.
Two or three posts ago I had discussed several conversation tidbits that were appalling yet too humorous to ignore. 'The (other) American' was at it again last night during a quiet evening of new found friends and Indian cuisine. To help introduce everyone to one another, since there were many new faces, we were all to go around the table and state our name along with our favorite country. Two people in and the American states that her favorite country is Africa. My face went blank as I turned to look at her to find out whether she was trying to be funny or was serious. I'm afraid to report it was the latter. Once again, I felt like giving up all hope to prove that the American's weren't all versions of the stereotypical American. And if this wasn't bad enough, we were on the topic of one country's proximity to another. While the Europeans were all joking in historical context unknown to me due, frankly, to a lack of education in foreign affairs (anytime after WWII and before now is a weakness on my end), I heard another girl at the table (Yes, from America) blurt out that Cuba isn't American. 'Technically,' I thought... I kept quite to avoid argument (a lesson I've learned time and again at Weibl-family dinners) and began thinking. How much do people really know about the world? Is it enough to know your country inside and out but not know a thing about the 'outside world'? It's an upsetting thought because it doesn't take long for people to complain, but a good majority complaints come from conditions created far in the past.
While in the United Kingdom, I still keep up-to-date on United States news. For instance, I'm well aware that Joy and Elisabeth will be leaving The View, Ohio (and Republican) Senator Rob Portman announced his support for gay marriage (an issue that is being argued orally in front of the Supreme Court on the 26th and 27th of March), and the United States is once again beginning to fear the unknown of North Korea's draconian government. The question then becomes how much we, as United States citizens, are exposed to the news of other countries. How many people know that Scotland is trying to separate from England? The referendum vote is getting closer and closer. England doesn't handle it very well when countries try to leave. Take Revolutionary War for us or even the Irish War of Independence in 1921. Either way, it's a big deal that the world should be aware of. And as for North Korea, this is also a worldly issue that needs the attention of everyone. If you want to see how the United Kingdom dealt with the last threat of nuclear war, go watch the documentary 'The War Game.' I'm not saying we need to know it all, but it should be a bit higher on our priority list than learning of Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough have called it quits.
All of this does lead me to a point. I know that some of you keep track of world events very well. Those of you who don't, I challenge you to read one story from the New York Times' 'World' section every three days (Why not every day? The NYT only gives 10 free article reads a month. If you do every three days, you won't have to pay for your subscription :P). It takes 5 minutes, and the understanding and compassion you start to cultivate is incredible.
I hope this wasn't too 'pushy' and that you got something out of this post. I just felt it important to address. Worry not, though. Next week will be a visual blog of sorts!
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| Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. - James Bovard |
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