Thank You Veterans! (II)

We are free because of the brave.

Our heroes earned our birthrights and privileges — our abilities and opportunities to exercise our liberty and the pursuit of happiness — our freedom of religion, the press, free speech, our right to assemble, and more!

Sometimes the World Seems

by Larissa Myschuk (Columbia JHS, Fife, Washington)

Sometimes the world seems like it’s upside-down, inside out

Torn down the middle, in need of arrangement

Desperate for guidance, wanting direction

Lacking leadership, losing patience

Turning and flipping, backwards and sideways

Speeding endlessly forward, on a path of self-destruction

And the only thing to stop it, the only thing to calm it,

Is the lives of the men that fight passionately,

Fall readily and die willingly.

THANK YOU VETERANS!

(Full Story)

To Educate is To Empower

To educate is to empower — to unleash the problem solver and the life-long learner within.  (Anonymous)

Meet Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea.

In 1993, Greg Mortenson and four others set out to climb K2, the world’s second highest mountain in northern Pakistan.  A 75-hour life-saving rescue mission to save the fifth climber abruptly ended the climbers’ 70+ days journey to ascend the world’s no. 2.

On his way down, Mortenson strayed from his group.  The weak, exhausted climber came across Korphe, a small ordinary village; shortly thereafter, greeted and taken in by the village chief, Haji Ali.

Mortenson promised to repay the people’s compassion by building schools for the remote village.

Mortenson faced daunting challenges in his quest to raise funds for the building of more than 55 schools in Taliban territory, including death threats from Islamic mullahs, long periods of separation from his family, and being kidnapped by Taliban sympathizers.  Mortenson became a one-man mission with the goal of bringing educational structures and resources to young girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (see Three Cups of Tea)

“One of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time, Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is proof that one ordinary person … really can change the world.” (Tom Brokaw)

The New Food Pyramid — Customize Your Diet

A healthy eating plan can be illustrated in many ways.

Mayo Clinic.com offers five (out of many) food pyramid guides — Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean, Vegetarian, and Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid.

These pyramids emphasize:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables followed by whole grains
• Reduce intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol
• Limit salt and sweets
• Include physical activity
• Drink alcoholic beverage in moderation, if at all
• Control portion sizes

Quick tips on portion sizes:

• One ounce cooked pasta = 1/2 cup
• Three ounces of meat, poultry, or fish = a deck of playing cards
• One ounce of cheese = your thumb or two dominoes
• One-half cup of fruit, vegetables, pasta, or rice = a small fist
• One cup of milk, yogurt, or chopped fresh greens = a small hand holding a tennis ball
• A teaspoon of butter or margarine = the tip of your thumb to the first joint

Want to know your recommended daily consumption per food group? Enter your information for a customized food guide!

Iran from the Eyes of Iranian-Jews

When you hear a story, do you listen to one side, both sides, or three or more sides?

A friend once said, “Idiots believe everything they hear; the average listen to both sides; the wise stay out of others’ affairs.”

Mr. Cohen shed valuable insights into my ignorance on Jews in Iran.  The New York Times Op-Ed Columnist describes the peaceful coexistence of Iranian-Jews with their fellow citizens:

• There are more than a dozen synagogues in Tehran. Perhaps 25,000 Jews live in Iran — descendants of an almost 3,000-year-old community — the largest such community in the Muslim Middle East.

• At Palestine Square, opposite a mosque called Al-Aqsa, is a synagogue.  Over the entrance is a banner saying: “Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution from the Jewish community of Esfahan.”

• Death to Isarel — “Let them say it,” one merchant said.  “I’ve been in this store 43 years and never had a problem. I’ve visited my relatives in Israel, but when I see something like the attack on Gaza, I demonstrate, too, as an Iranian.”

I (Cohen) am a Jew and have seldom been treated with such consistent warmth as in Iran. Or perhaps I was impressed that the fury over Gaza, trumpeted on posters and Iranian TV, never spilled over into insults or violence toward Jews … the reality of Iranian civility toward Jews tells us more about Iran — its sophistication and culture — than all the inflammatory rhetoric.

******

Fifteen years ago, a then “emotionally disabled” first-grade student wrote a rap to Aesop’s Fable, Tortoise and the Hare.  The boy insisted the hare was framed.  All the other animals were jealous of hare’s ability to run quickly and wanted to stop him from winning the race.  Here’s the rap:

When you hear a story, you may be hearing lies.  Try to keep an open mind and listen to both sides.  Both sides, uh huh.  Both sides, uh huh.  Please listen to both sides.

Full Story

Microfinance Ends Poverty

Why is it so difficult, if not impossible, for the world’s working-poor to break through poverty?  They’re intelligent and hard-working; trying to realize their dreams for better lives.

Former-President Bill Clinton states, “The missing links are opportunities, investments, and infrastructure.”

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Grameen Bank’s Managing Director agrees — “Given the World Bank’s mission is to alleviate poverty, the Bank should provide increased funds for microfinance and make sure that half of those funds go to families living below $1 a day. If the Bank doesn’t do it, who else will? It’s the right thing to do.”

Both President Clinton and Dr. Yunus advocate microfinance; a proven and cost-effective tool to help the very poor lift themselves out of poverty and improve the lives of their families.

Here’s how the loan works:

1. Empower the working-poor — In many (developing) countries, the self-employed comprise more than 50 percent of the labor force.
2. Credits with affordable interest rates — small amounts of credit (averaging $130 U.S.) with reasonable interest rates allow the working-poor to move from small income-generating activities to small micro-enterprises.
3. End poverty with dignity — In most cases, microcredit programs offer a combination of services and resources to their clients including savings facilities, training, networking, and peer support.
4. Accountability — Repayment rates are often higher than conventional borrowers        (in Benin City, Nigeria, 97 percent of 20,000 loan recipients repaid their loans).

Full Story

Asian Women and Stuff White People Like

Short while ago, I came across a blog called “Stuff White People Like.” I was drawn by the site’s catchy title and its 50+ million hits since Jan. 2008 (wow — talk about a successful blog)!

“What’s this all about?!”

Humorous, satirical, insightful (depending on who you ask), highly opinionated, and controversial, “Stuff White People Like” stirred range of emotions — laughter, question, anger, disgust, and indifference — on a Sunday morning!

The blog on “Asian Women” really got me going.

Take for instance the fact that Asian women well into their 30s and 40s retain teen / college girl looks without the help of Botox, yoga or a trendy diet.

I’m Asian, 43-years-old, married, and a mother of two boys.  A few days ago, someone thought I was 35, but I haven’t been mistaken for a teenager in decades.  I do yoga few times a week, mostly out of necessity.  I’d love to lose 10 pounds yesterday (solely for health reasons, not looks — yeah right)!

Asian women also avoid key white women characteristics such as having a mid-life crisis, divorce, and hobbies that don’t involve taking care of the children.

Say what?!

I experienced mid-life crisis in my mid-thirties.  Life taught me some important, valuable lessons — live life while I’m alive — invest in people and relationships, not status and stuff.

I know plenty of divorced AND happily married white AND Asian women.  I also know several in both categories whose lives revolve around their children; others around their careers  (who cares … what works for you works for me).

For the most part, Stuff White People Like is interesting.

But to men who truly believe we make great cooks, mops, and sex machines … BEWARE!  Save time and agony.  Get castrated.

Never underestimate the power of Asian women!

Chinese Hip Hop

Hip hop continues to provide emotional and creative outlet among the Chinese students and the working class Chinese.

Many who feel suffocated by the Chinese tradition of conformity look to hip hop for freedom of expression — to be who they want to be.

Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research once said, “Ultimately, happiness is determined by the extent in which people exercise free will and choice over their lives.“

Free will ignites passion.  Passion fuels purpose.  Free will gives hope to the disenfranchised and the oppressed.

Free will and freedom of expression is, perhaps, every individual’s birthright.

Full Story

Beat the Pink Slip!

A single mother of five children loses her job.  Thousands are issued pink slips. Opportunities are scarce.  Reality is bleak — or is it?

The answer depends on who you ask.

Cambodia’s working poor would disagree.

The poorest Cambodians reside inside the dump.  The stench is intolerable, but for many, this is their home.

Families scavenge for plastic and metal which then are sold for five cents per pound.  Toxic burn the eyes.  Glass cut through feet.  No child protective labor laws or government oversight.  Injuries and deaths are common occurrence.

Aren’t there options?

Sure, modern day slavery — construction and prostitution.  How can a human being possibly earn a living without employers’ regards for their safety and well-being?

In Cambodia, factory work — sweat shops — is a dream job.  Workers say they will be in the shade … If they only had the opportunity to learn how to sew.

We live in a great nation. We have so much to be thankful for.

Full Story

Become the Change You Want to See in the World

“How?” you might ask — a fair question, indeed.

Charisma — love, strength, and the heart-to-heart connection — my friends.

John F. Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther king Jr., Steve Jobs, Mary Kay Ash, and Barack Obama to name a few — are charismatic!

According to The Truth About Managing People, such leaders:

• are confident
• possess a strong vision that proposes and instills hope for a better future
• radiate strong convictions in the vision
• are willing to enact radical change

Some are born charismatic, but most (like me) are not.  The good news is, charisma can be learned!  Here’s how!

• Convey confidence — Project a powerful, confident, and dynamic presence.  Talk directly to people, maintain eye contact, stand tall.
• Articulate an overarching goal — Specify unconventional ways of achieving your vision to others.  Get people to buy into your ideas.
• Communicate high expectations and confidence in others’ ability to meet these expectations.  Expect goals to be met.

Maintain optimism!  Use passion to generate enthusiasm!  Communicate with your whole being, your whole body — not just words!  Create a bond that will inspire others to follow.  Tap into people’s emotions — establish emotional bond and connection!

President Obama has inspired many.

Our president’s ability to lead + our effort to become the change we want to see in our world = the degree of change we’ll experience in the next four years.

All things are possible when we all work together.

I am hopeful.  I feel change.

I see great things to come!

Risky Business

World-wide recession doesn’t discriminate; pimps and madams included.

Sex sells.  Prostitution sells.  Money talks.

Less money, less prostitution.

Morality may not mean much to brothel owners but they too will feel the pain when ends can’t be met.

Sexual slavery is like any other business: raise the operating costs, create a risk of jail, and the human traffickers will quite sensibly shift to some other trade … push many to quit in disgust and [perhaps] switch to stealing motorcycles instead.

Full Story