The World's next Genocide?

One major theme in catholic social teaching is solidarity. Solidarity is all about everyone being brothers and sisters, especially internationally. We are called to be aware of the crisis in Syria. We are called to respond in any way we can. We, as an international community, should rally around the people in Syria. We can not have another genocide like Rwanda. We can not lose that many people again, when this can be prevented by come help from other nations. Syria needs support right now against the hostility and hated that is growing. It is most defiantly realistic to use CST principles and themes to guide or decisions. That is the best way to make decisions with human dignity and rights in mind. Making sure that every person has their basic needs met. Making sure that other people uphold the themes of CST is so important. We just can't be aware of, and live these themes we need to make sure other people do to. So we must act in situations like the one in Syria because if the idea of human life and dignity is being forgotten or over looked, we must act. We can act internationally and individually, and we must act with the CST principles in mind.  

Silence begets violence?

I think that we have all been shaken to our core about the Connecticut shooting. Mostly because we all have little children in our lives that we love and adore. For me, I have my sisters who are two and my little cousin who is five. Some of those kids were only six. I know how innocent they are, I know how truly loving they are. Little kids love with all of their hearts, they don't question it, and they don't hide it. This horrific act demands our attention because this cannot happen again. No more families should ever experience the pain of losing such an innocent heart. No lives should be taken from this world before their time.  Those kids haven't even lived. They didn't get a chance. Their lives were taken before they could experience anything that life has to offer. They had so much time, and that time was taken from them. As a society we NEED to respond, there is no other option. We cannot stand by and watch these things happen. We are all called to act because that couldn't have been one of children we love. We are called to act because I always hear that our society is a society of death and violence Well let’s stop it. No one wants these events to happen. No one wants to watch children die. So let’s act. Let’s make sure this never happens again. Let’s get gun control, let’s look warning signs in people. Because at the end of the day it’s not guns that kill people, people kill people. From here, we move forward. This will always be n our hearts, and those children will never be forgotten. We are more aware and conscience now. Let’s not lose that. Let’s all be suspicious, let’s question. Let’s be more aware of the people around us. Killings like this always have warning signs. Always. So it’s important to look out for them. Let’s not let this passion and urgency we feel now die, because with this passion we can get things done.

Factory Fire

I think the biggest issue with the fire, other than the horrific deaths, is that the major companies didn't know they were even involved with this factory. The companies in America need to be more aware and conscience of where they get their products. They need to be more aware of how all of their workers are being treated, even if they are not on US soil. I think this tragedy will make everyone more aware of where our products are coming form, not just the companies but the customers as well. The huge corporations are defiantly at fault here because they should defiantly be aware of all imports for their company. I think the wages is a tricky thing though. The country the product is being produced in is in charge of its own economy. Different economies call for different wages what we consider living wages may not be the same in Bangladesh. That being said working conditions should always abide by human rights and should be the same everywhere. The government in Bangladesh should take immediate action to help the working class in their country. 

Radical Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a hard thing, for anyone. It is difficult forgiving people for piety things such as gossiping about you or stealing the guy you like. To forgive someone who tried to kill you, or to forgive someone who genially wanted you to die seems impossible. Yet, incredible people such as Immaculee and Pope John Paul  II do forgive such people. Pope John Paul II forgave someone for trying to take his life. Someone wanted him gone forever and was willing to commit the ultimate sin to do it. Yet. Pope John Paul could look at him and tell him " I forgive you." Immaculee forgave people who killed her family. Forgiveness is such a difficult thing and these two people command such grace and pose. It takes tremendous amount of courage to face those who have wronged us and these two people are heroes in my eyes.

How's the World.... Messy

The funny thing about human suffering is that everyone hears about it and, unless you’re a psychopath you feel sad, then most times we just put it to the back of our heads. My response to a world use, I must confess is to feel bad and recognize that it is happen but  never act to end it. Whereas with a friend I would do just about anything to help them, and fix whatever problem they are having. I don't just listen and feel bad, I act when  friend is in need, so why don't I act when it is a global issue? We ought to respond to every issue. Those are our brothers and sisters dying and suffering we should help them, but everyone? We are called to help everyone we can. Everyone, in solidarity, is our family. We must look after each other for when we need help ourselves. I help with hurricane sandy when we needed to donate money at school. I drove my friend his keys when he forgot them at a party. I however, never help any of my brothers and sisters in Iraq and Afghanistan. I never help the poor and homeless in my own neighborhood. I think that is what we as population need to work on. Stop stressing about our own lives but worry about the lives of the people around us. Looking at our busy day, and taking a second to help someone who needs it. Who really needs it, because we don't need that one second a day.

Global Solidarity

Throughout this course, and throughout my life right now it seems, Solidarity is a HUGE reoccurring theme. Of course it is our responsibility to care for women who are abused or take advantage of. They are our sisters, they are our family, of course it is our responsibility to protect them. Especially if we see it everyday and continue to do nothing. Protect the dear neighbor. Isn't that part of the mounts mission statement? On a global level, people tend to help more when it is a signification event that effects millions of people at one time. Examples of such events are hurricanes  wars, tsunamis  It is easier to rally around to help one event at one time, especially if it effects our area, example hurricane Katrina. The shock and urgency of such events attract attention and publicity, leading people to be more inclined to help. When really things happen everyday that need to same amount of attention and urgency, but don't get it.

Resolutions

I think the year of faith is a great idea. Personally I'll take that year day by day, but it’s such a great thought that you can look at your life for year and make changes day by day moment by moment. If you make the suggested resolutions and commit to living them every day, they will not only change your life but the lives around you. When I read this and heard about this time of renewal I got excited, because it takes all our old teachings and puts emphasis on the traditions we have known since childhood.

Five resolutions I would make is:

1. Read the Bible everyday- okay. Maybe not every day but really try to read it and understand it. Take in the words interpret them for what they mean to me, not what someone told me the words meant. Really let the words change me.
2. Learn about the lives of saints- I believe studying the lives of faith filled people, will help me live my life in a fulfilling way. Kind of like WWJD, but using the actions of saints to guide my thinking in some situations.
3. Help those in need- Just stop thinking about myself. I think of this in two ways. One, care for the homeless and poor, and just the strangers who need my help. Two, The people I love who need my help. My family and my friends need me, and sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I’m doing I forget about the people need me to be there for them.
4. Incorporate Beatitudes in everyday life- This is the part of the year I think I will take with me the rest of my life, not that the rest won’t change me forever, I just think this one will change me the most. If I really live the way the beatitudes teach, my life will never be the same, because I know I’m not living by the beatitudes right now.
5. Last, I just want to make a revolution to talk to God at least once a day and not just begging him to help me on my AP Calc test. I want to talk to him like a friend and pray. Pray all throughout my day. I want God to become my friend over the next year.