Memories To Share!! 

Related Reading
RED or BLUE?

As I  close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

    Have you ever encountered a situation where you decide to write about something, and the next day you actually read something that is very similar to your thoughts? This coincidence actually happened to me, and I was really happy for this. In the age of the political arena where you feel that everyone is against you, this coincidence offered validation, and some an amount of hope for the survival of ideas.

   In my previous thoughts I wrote about how conversations / political exchanges could be enhanced / improved, where there are real outcomes with the creation of two diagrams. I viewed conversations are particularly important, where there are difficult topics to navigate, especially where there is opposing thought.

     However, through the material that I was reading, I learned that conversation organizations occur directionally. They are vertical. horizontal, and oblique. Vertical can be described as that from a parent to a child. Horizontal, from peer to peer, or co-worker to co-worker. Oblique is where the types of conversations occur in social institutions, and developing individuals takes place (2007). I thought about these modes of transmission, and felt that while it is good to have some sort of organization, sometimes if not most of the time, transmissions intersect, diverge, and also occurs cross-sectionally. They can vary from culture to culture, setting and environment. Most of the time culture does inform someone how to react or respond, which is why transmission modes and conversation structures allow room for adaptation. 

   When one is removed from one's culture, or entering another setting, such as work or learning  spaces. This is where we can think of the idea of "acculturation" (2007). Examples of this process include when migrants move from one country to another. Certain behaviour changes have to occur to adapt. This could also include the learning of a new language. We can even think of the weather, where adjusting clothing, or making a living space comfortable to accommodate seasonal changes.

     So once again I go back to my original diagrams, which I think probably fit the oblique modes of transmission. I wonder how varying arenas, such as political, educational, or communal have to adapt so that productive discussions are given a chance. Even in the political arena, where there are elements of control, there has to be space to discuss the politics of the day, current events or global issues. Whilst of course it is difficult to see the successes and outcomes, because of the slow pace of social progress, these are spaces where discussion occurs to innovate even at the political level. We can add the thoughts that pertain to political  / Government oppositions. Oppositions could be viewed as an opportunity to engage in crucial discussions, or could even be viewed as the abuse of power from the level of Government.

Further Reading and A Political Discussion Topic.

NY Times - Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Proposal Is at Odds With Legal Consensus

Question: Is this an opportunity for discussion, or can this proposal be viewed as an abuse of power, or even a threat?

My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :) 

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Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on October 31st, 2018.

Reference:
Berry, J.W., Poortinga, Y.H., Breugelmans, S. M., Chasiotis, A., & Sam, D. L. (2011). Methodology and theory. Cross-cultural psychology: Research and applications. (3rd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 

Congratulations Boston Red Sox on your 2018 MLB World Series Championship!!! To all the fans, and supporting members thank you, and to the Los Angeles Dodgers, thank you for your sportsmanship and also the achievement of reaching the finals. Well done everyone!!! :) 

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Related Reading
Tree of Life

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

    I moved from the U. K. when I was 18 years old. At this age just barely stepping in to what was known as a young adult, and also acquiring the percieved privileges that arrive with this life milestone. One of which, is the ability to vote. I remember my parents going to the voting station to vote, but as for me I never got the chance to participate in British democracy, and even now with my immigrant status in Canada of 20 / 21 years.  Whilst of course one should be aware of the surroundings, and what is happening at the political level, again I have not had the chance to participate in the act of voting. So to sum up you can simply say that I have never voted, not once ever in all the years that I have been eligible to vote. However, this does not mean to say that I'm not conscious, or aware of what takes place within politics. Part or if not most of the work involved in education, whatever subject that is desired, the higher the level, the more you realize the influence of politics, and how politics and Government influences activity at the national and international level. And also how major events affect academic participation, and thought. 

     This is exactly what I thought with regards to the recent mass shooting in Pittsburgh, USA; that happened whilst the baseball World Series final games were taking place. I thought about the team colours of red and blue, and how these colours also convey meaning at the political level. 

     We can also think about the terms used as red states for Republican, and blue states for democratic. So while baseball is a sport, I think there could have been political influence of support, and support at the political level. Of course we did see the President swaying in his thoughts via twitter, but it is this idea of colour and the preference of colour that could also intersect with political support. Of course this is an assumption / opinion, but the intersection of the mass shootings, or terrorism occurring within a nation allows us to contemplate. Whilst the game of baseball is also tied to a particular state, at the level of politics we can think, question, and wonder about the influence or meanings associated with the colour red or blue.

Should politics be entrenched to enforce and reinforce dichotomies? Where there should be no immersion of opinion or thought. 

     We can take the example of the border wall. While of course we know that there must be effective solutions for illegal immigrants, drugs, cartels crossing over the border, or gang members. Solutions such as immigration reform. The political vote or passing of any type of immigration reform is halted by President Trump, because he is also asking for the funding of the border wall. So whilst one does desire to identify with a particular political affiliation, we can see the consequence of the inability to work with one another. Each party creates back and forth exchanges, where there is no room for creating negotiation.

Recommendations:
Below I have created 2 diagrams.
*Figure 1. reveals the current back and forth exchanges between Republican, and Democratic parties.
​
​*Figure 2. reveals an ideal scenario, where each political party is willing to walk towards a space of negotiating with one another, where space is created for negotiation. 

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Personal Note:
So whilst I have never voted in my entire life, I think about my involvement in politics, political thought, and opinion. While there is no formal vote, it is difficult to think about current events, or the process of my own learning, without the involvement of politics, or political thought. Today I decided to wear red and blue to illustrate the idea of negotiation between political parties.

Congratulations!!
So whilst we congratulate the Boston Red Sox with the title of the 2018 MLB World Series championships, lets hope that this win is embraced as a win, and is not a source to create further divisions and tension. Lets keep the spirt of sports and sportsman/woman-ship alive!! 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 29th, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     I once wrote about the act of serving for ones nation, this could be through the military, or even part of civic duty. Whilst I do question this duty from the point of view of one's immigration status or not, and citizenship, I do think that one's duty extends beyond status, citizenship, or civic duty. This is derived through our human character, morals, ethics, and also stem from what one values. Active service members, military, citizens, or those serving in some shape or form, understand when one should protect international relations and interests, and also when national interests are at the forefront. 

     This thought can be related to the mass shooting that took place in the Tree of life synagogue, in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. On a Jewish community where 11 individuals were killed. Whilst I do express a deep concern about what has happened and happening in Gaza, Palestine, and the  Israeli occupations, and hope for a peace process; to put forth blame on innocent citizens or individuals belonging to the Jewish faith for the occupations happening abroad, the bloodshed in the Middle East is not accurate. They are not responsible. It is leaders who are allowing violence to continue, and are not trying thier best for peaceful resolutions, or even abiding to the human rights of the vulnerable, in these regions according to International law. Most of the time the innocent become the victims of mass murders, because groups or individuals who conduct these are also trying to convey a message to leadership, Governments, and those who hold power.

Moses in Arabic Text

   It is with these words I offer my sincere condolences to the Jewish people for the suffering that has been caused, in a state of worship. May you heal, may the community, and even nation realize that divisions create more divisions. Divisions allow others to prey on this. When there is unity, there is strength. Regardless of religion, or faith; a society and nation that values pluralism and religious freedom has every right to protect, honor, and defend this right and freedom.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness.

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 28th, 2018.
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Yesterday as I was publishing my thoughts via my website I heard about the stories of suspicious packages delivered to the Obama's, Clintons, and today the Biden's. I did not realize the magnitude of the story until I turned on the news and see what had developed. As I heard the claims of terrorism, hate, horror and so on, I realized there is much more depth to a response, as these events could be reminders from God. Ultimately politicians, Presidents have their say, but truly God is in control. These events are reminders that through divisions, we get divisions, fragments. Nothing is achieved. A unified nation is always stronger at home and abroad. As we continue to hear these stories, may we pray for peace, humble the self, remind the self that, through the striving of who is right and who is wrong, you yourselves create the divides, whilst it is good to take a stand for what one holds important, it should be sought in a way to create understandings, and improve relations.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

​    The other day President Trump held a rally in Houston, Texas in support of Republican senator Ted Cruz. Whilst the crowds of supporters lined up to see him, I wonder about the crowds. Which population segments attended more? And also the chants of "Make America Great Again". Could this slogan be wrapped up in the words "Make America White Again"? While I dislike to evoke racist ideas, I am left to think this when we think of his rhetoric, and made up stories as he responds to the migrants caravan heading to the USA. While of course there are borders to cross, and regulations to pass - how are these migrants going to be treated at US entry ports?

     Whilst President Trump has said he will send the military to the borders, I do think that humanitarian groups, and officials should also be making thier way to these parts to ensure the equitable, just treatment of vulnerable individuals and groups. Who are escaping in desperation. Honduras is a country that has been entrenched with violence, from gangs to murderous plots. Whilst the USA has supported the nation with monetary aid, these sources hardly reach the people who need it. Corrupt Governments feed of this, it is the poor who suffer, with none, to limited livelihoods, especially those who are dependant on agriculture and farming. 

    A better solution could be to allow these individuals to reside in the USA, and utilize some of the same aid that would have been sent to the country, for the migrants who have escaped. And if President Trump is thinking that these migrants are going to be taking American jobs, maybe they will, but they will also be a source for creating jobs for professionals and service providers including: Social Services, Health Care, Settlement Services, Legal, Immigration, Social and Emotional community supports. So in fact while they will try to find survival jobs, the migrants themselves will create jobs for the various professional fields.

     Nothing is ever lost. Something is always gained. President Trump's rhetorics once again evoke fear of others, and the myth go scarcity. Not everything is always about money. Although money is integral to survival. When lives are at risk, then we have to see past the monetary aspects. The response of course from a USA perspective does involve financial aspects, but the response also evokes moral duties, and questions the moral consciousness of an administration and nation. How one treats the vulnerable ultimately reveals characters or the individual or a nation.  

    President Trump's responses , particularly to the Hispanic / Latino/a/x citizens and immigrant populations within America and now Honduras make us wonder if the "Make America Great Again" slogan is really saying, "Make America White again", with the enforcement of immigration policy as a form of modern colonial policy. 

     While we take the time to think about his response, we have to remember that America is not the only country that individuals from Honduras are trying to escape to. I also write these words with a sense of urgency, hoping that these individuals do not experience brutal treatment at the borders, at the hands of Customs and Border Patrol. Instead of showing the worst treatment, why not take a stand for the values of compassion and care? Reveal what the best of America can truly be, when in fact America should consider it an honor that individuals have sought to find safety in the nation of America. 

My thoughts to share with love & Kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 24th, 2018.
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Related Reading:
Review: 22 July

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The other day I wrote my response after watching the film 22 July. After feeling distraught, and living through the trauma of the events, I decided to watch another film. This time I chose "A Star Is Born" at a local cinema, as a way to end my week off school, and also to get outdoors for a walk. 

     After watching this film I was inclined to write a response right away, but after some thought I wondered if a response would reflect a bias, or favouritism for a singer, as Lady Gaga played the leading role of the protagonist Ally. However, after much contemplation I could not leave the issues portrayed without some documentation.  There is a beautiful love story, the romance weaved with complex issues of struggle, survival, mental health, recovery, abuse, addiction and also suicide. The issues are revealed through the setting of the music industry, where the pressure of performing in front of thousands arrives with emptiness, a yearning, craving for some sort of connection, especially when a person has reached a certain level of fame. 

   The film also revealed the complexity, the competitiveness, and even disruption when there are multiple parties involved in a single persons success. Where success, fame, can turn into devastation, distrust, jealousy, and eventually ruin. While we learn of the intricacies, maybe there is truth in the issues that the characters have portrayed. I think there is because stories are pieced together through realities, and imagination to eventually formulate a script, film, or text. 

     To question further, we can think about fame and how this intersects with relationships. Even when we think of a family, or a couple who are truly in love. There is always going to be someone out there that may want to sabotage the success from fame, or happiness, through words or actions. But when we have reached this awareness, we realize what we ourselves must do to protect what is precious to us. Ally eventually reaped success as a singer, but I wonder if the relationship would have survived if Jackson and Ally decided to stay together, write, and sing songs as a couple? As a form of protection towards each other? Maybe it would be the case, but even when there is a couple, fans want to see single artists, because they develop attachments to them, increasing the fan base. 

     But it was the addiction to prescription drugs and the eventual suicide that made me realize that more has to be done within the industry to protect singers / musicians / artists. When all is said and done the success is because they have a message to share, to share their talents with the world, and even fellow artists, but this is also where another layer arrives. That of competitiveness between singers / musicians / artists.  What if singers / musicians / artists would appreciate, love, honor, respect each others talents? Would pressure be reduced? Would there be less tendency to resort to drugs, alcohol if the individuals themselves realized that when lives are at risk, is the desire to be better than another really worth it? 

     However, there is complexity within the question itself. Fame and success is also an addiction within itself. The energy from success becomes a driving force. One that can be positive or negative. Whilst there are complex issues and intricacies, we can see how there is a need for health care, mental Mind/brain care within the industry. We can even take a look at reality where we have lost talent due to suicide or drug overdose. It really is time for the industry to support talent, and come to terms with the pressures that exist. This also includes the back and forth exchanges between singers / musicians. 

Dedication: Thank you "A Star Is Born" for revealing the important topics that have been ignored too often within the industry. And as for love, may we never see relationships ending because of suicide, and real emotional conflict that is caused by the war of words.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 23rd, 2018.
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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     On October 10th, 2018 Hurricane Micheal made landfall in the Florida panhandle. While the striking of the hurricane appeared with reports of destruction to the environment and also death tolls, there were also news stories about the damage and destruction left by hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The timing of these stories brought anger to many. Somehow it didn't seem right talk about a hurricane that had struck, amidst the striking of another. While I think that the damages of Micheal and Maria are significant, I do understand why Puerto Rico was brought up at this time. It was to bring awareness of the American response in Puerto Rico, and potentially compare the response for hurricane Micheal. To this day many families and individuals continue to seek help and assistance for recovery.  

Historical Perspectives
The American response can further be understood when we contextualize Puerto Rico's relationship with the U.S. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is a territory that belongs to the United States where there is limited Government intervention. "However, the U.S. Government retains jurisdiction in most state affairs, including immigration, citizenship, customs, defence, currency, transportation, communication, and foreign trade" (Duany, 2017, p. 425). Many Puerto Rican's support remaining a U.S. commonwealth state, or the idea of becoming the 51st state of the America, while a few support the becoming of an independent state (2017). The island has a unique culture that is defined by food, traditions, music, sports, that are also derived from its history. A colony formally Spanish owned, now belonging as a U.S. island remaining a, "Spanish-speaking Afro-Hispanic Caribbean nation" (2017, p. 425). Today Puerto Rico's inhabitants include immigrants from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. While the Island is U.S. owned, it does not receive the same support as other American states, although it should as "Puerto Rican's and U.S. Virgin Islanders are U.S. citizens and expect the same federal aid and support during national disasters as the rest of the United States" (Zorilla, 2017). 

The Recovery Road
The islands economy, infrastructure were already in dire condition, the hurricane of September 20, 2017 caused damage, and destruction, leading to a slow road for recovery. Lack of aid or support from the U.S. Government is once again an indication of colonials, who choose to assist populations willingly or unwillingly. Puerto Rico's racialized subjects of the colonial world who face the task of rebuilding through this humanitarian crisis. While the U.S. chooses to limit interventions, I believe that the U.S. is at a loss, where they could be assisting this island more, invest in agriculture, growth, for travel and tourism.

     When all is said and done the island is presently a US possession. Why choose to use responses, or lack of response to natural disaster, especially in areas where there are majority racialized U.S. populations to dispose of them without accepting responsibility for them?

"During the Marıa disaster, when federal state actors repeatedly invoked old stereotypes of Puerto Ricans as undeserving and unable to govern themselves while allowing thousands to die"
(Ficek, 2018) 
  

News Article - The Washington Post

~Recommendations~

*A public inquiry as to the amount of federal aid, assistance, and public service workers that were deployed to Puerto Rico to assist with the after-math of Hurricane Maria.

*Calculate exactly how many individuals died.

Questions:

*Were Puerto Rican's left to die in the wake of Hurricane Maria purposely through lack of aid?

*Was this lack of assistance because Puerto Rico is a majority racialized U.S. colony?

Further Reading: Puerto Rico Voted to Become the 51st State. So What Happens Now?

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 20th, 2018.
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​References: 

Cortés, J. (2018). Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria and the Promise of Disposability. Capitalism Nature Socialism. 29 (3), 1-8.

Duany, J. (2003). NATION, MIGRATION, IDENTITY: THE CASE OF PUERTO RICANS. Latino Studies. 1, 424-444.

Ficek, R. E. (2018). INFRASTRUCTURE AND COLONIAL DIFFERENCE IN PUERTO RICO AFTER HURRICANE MARIA. Transforming Anthropology, 26 (2), 102-117.

Hernandez, R. A., McGinley, L. (2018, May 29). Harvard study estimates thousands died in Puerto Rico because of Hurricane Maria. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/harvard-study-estimates-thousands-died-in-puerto-rico-due-to-hurricane-maria/2018/05/29/1a82503a-6070-11e8-a4a4-c070ef53f315_story.html?noredirect=on%26utm_term=.b9b867edc2d0&utm_term=.1c48e60fc19a  

Zorilla, D. C. (2017). The View from Puerto Rico — Hurricane Maria and Its Aftermath. The NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL of MEDICINE, 377 (19), 1801-1803.

Related Reading
Historical Fragments
Reflection: Thought to Practice?
Chief's Kingdom!!
Depth | Knowledge

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     Yesterday I wrote some recommendations for the progression and inclusion, of the rights for the Indigenous people. These recommendations can also be implemented to improve relations with Hispanic / Latino/a/x communities as well to reclaim relations with Spanish America. 

     However, I wanted to reiterate that organizations, advocacy groups, and non-Governmental agencies have gathered information, but once again - to pioneer change to create shifts, really must arise at the level of Government where policy makers are willing to sit down and have conversations with those knowledgeable about the populations segments. To put discussion in policy, and policy to practice.

    For further recommendations I would recommend the development of a task force to inform policy makers. Through this there would then be the development of objectives, action items as to how to reclaim, preserve, build, and maintain relations with Indigenous and Spanish America. 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 20th, 2018 and they are an addition to my previous thoughts written on October 16th, 2018.
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