I am nearing the end of my time in the states. I am excited to get back, ready to hit the ground running and get back to "normal life."
I have spent the last 3 days in the car. My brother and I drove from Greenville SC, to Los Angeles. It took us a few days but we both had a great time. Was able to visit with friends at every stop. He is coming out here for college and my friend is getting married so I bummed a ride with him. Planning to spend a few days here, before traveling back.
It looks like I will be able to hit the ground running. We have conferences, and classes planned through december- cant wait!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010
'merica
This last week I spent some time at a local High School discussing what it means to be a Dalit. My goal was just to widen their perspective a bit and show them what people their age are facing. I was hardly 16 when I left America for the first time and spent a month working in the slums in India, so I think they have a greater capacity for change than they are sometimes given credit.
I spoke to 6 different classes 1 hour each. I had a lot of fun, but in all honesty by the end the last thing I wanted to talk about was India (I had just spent 6 hours doing it). During my last class a boy on the front row asked a question.
I will never forget one of my first encounters with the best professor I had in College. First day of class he said something along the lines of "you were always told there are no stupid questions. Thats not true. there are many stupid questions so think before you ask." Mr. front row asked me a stupid question last week.
While I was talking his hand shot up in the air while his forehead wrinkled with irritation. His predicament was "If we are Americans shouldn't we just focus on making America a better place? There are many needs here." The first time, like a good teacher, I somewhat blew him off and moved on. However, to my disappointment, he was more intelligent than that and did exactly what I would have done if I was him- keep asking over and over. Eventually I calmly smiled and said some of us would rather help those in need instead of making sure we have enough gas for our huge SUV's and entire aisles full of different types of bread."
It is interesting what you notice returning and those were 2 of mine. It was a pretty stupid response, but oh well. I realized though that his question must be answered. I also realized that it is most likely his parents that taught him that.
First of all those of us that are Christians are not first Americans. We do not pledge our allegiance to a flag, a nation or a president but a to a king and a kingdom. His kingdom is much greater (in every sense of the word) than the 50 states.
Second we are humans. Regardless of your nationality or religion everyone holds to some form of understanding as to what it means to be human. For example if I were to be found having a slave in my home town of Greenville everyone would be appalled. Why? Because it is inhumane. They would be upset because that person deserves to be treated better. I take it one step further and say if that is happening 10,000 miles away you should be equally appalled because they are people (regardless of the culture they are in).
In short my heart breaks for that kid. His parents have taught him things about us as a nation and his role in it that have led him to a selfish ethnocentrism and he is the one that is going to suffer because of it.
I spoke to 6 different classes 1 hour each. I had a lot of fun, but in all honesty by the end the last thing I wanted to talk about was India (I had just spent 6 hours doing it). During my last class a boy on the front row asked a question.
I will never forget one of my first encounters with the best professor I had in College. First day of class he said something along the lines of "you were always told there are no stupid questions. Thats not true. there are many stupid questions so think before you ask." Mr. front row asked me a stupid question last week.
While I was talking his hand shot up in the air while his forehead wrinkled with irritation. His predicament was "If we are Americans shouldn't we just focus on making America a better place? There are many needs here." The first time, like a good teacher, I somewhat blew him off and moved on. However, to my disappointment, he was more intelligent than that and did exactly what I would have done if I was him- keep asking over and over. Eventually I calmly smiled and said some of us would rather help those in need instead of making sure we have enough gas for our huge SUV's and entire aisles full of different types of bread."
It is interesting what you notice returning and those were 2 of mine. It was a pretty stupid response, but oh well. I realized though that his question must be answered. I also realized that it is most likely his parents that taught him that.
First of all those of us that are Christians are not first Americans. We do not pledge our allegiance to a flag, a nation or a president but a to a king and a kingdom. His kingdom is much greater (in every sense of the word) than the 50 states.
Second we are humans. Regardless of your nationality or religion everyone holds to some form of understanding as to what it means to be human. For example if I were to be found having a slave in my home town of Greenville everyone would be appalled. Why? Because it is inhumane. They would be upset because that person deserves to be treated better. I take it one step further and say if that is happening 10,000 miles away you should be equally appalled because they are people (regardless of the culture they are in).
In short my heart breaks for that kid. His parents have taught him things about us as a nation and his role in it that have led him to a selfish ethnocentrism and he is the one that is going to suffer because of it.
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