Getting involved in a cause or movement might take a personal experience or knowing someone that has experienced something. When issues become personal, it seems that it is easier for a person to give of their time to a cause that benefits them or others in need, and maybe a movement that opposes the opposition.
A simple and maybe silly example would be a person that happened to be walking outside a baseball park and player hits either a foul ball or homerun, and the ball unintentionally strikes that person in the head causing them injury. This person that got hit in the head could go two ways with this scenario. One direction to take would be to forgive the baseball player and realize that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and not paying attention to the game. The other direction would be to realize that there is a danger of getting hit with a baseball while walking outside a baseball park and try to stop what happened to you from happening to others. Maybe they would raise money to put up nets or higher fences around the baseball fields in their community, or Maybe they would go as far as trying to have a law passed banning baseball in public areas.
A great example of getting involved is that of the Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico. The people involved were the descendants of the indigenous people of the Sierra Madre mountains in the state of Chiapas. Their leader sparked a rebellion in the mid and late 1990's that requested that their rights as indigenous dwellers be restored. They were and still are fighting to protect their rights to their land and the right to live as free human beings. According to Harper and Leicht peasant revolts, "are common in traditional agrarian societies, yet they are usually short-lived. Rural revolts are rarely caused by frustrated rising expectations, but rather to defend or restore their customary rights from the pressure of increasing rents and taxation (which enrich landlords or raise revenues for state projects). Peasant revolts are more about local issues than broad ideological concerns, and they dissipate when traditional rights and privileges are restored. Whether peasants can sustain continued rebellion depends on (1) whether they have communal traditions of solidarity and self-government, (2) whether they have the economic or organizations resources to do so, and (3) whether landlords have the coercive power to control their behavior or suppress uprisings" (Harper & Leicht, 2007, p. 195). The people of Chiapas obviously joined the Zapatista movement because they were affected by the repercussions of the NAFTA treaty and the negligence of their own government. The people of Chiapas became involved because it was the only chance they had at making a difference in the way that they lived their lives in Chiapas. Marcos and the Zapatista fighters were the only ones trying to make a difference, and that push and motivation was all they needed to hop on the bandwagon.
I was asked to become a missionary for my church in 2000, I accepted and was called to serve in La Paz, Bolivia for two years. I chose to join this cause because I believe what the church teaches to be true. As far as there being barriers to my participation in this religious movement there were many. I had to adhere to the churches moral standards, I had to go through language and gospel training, I had to raise money to support myself during my two year stay, I had to get immunization shots, I had to adhere to specific rules that the mission had in effect. There were numerous barriers to my participation, but none of them were large enough to discourage me from going to and serving the people of Bolivia.
According to Kathryn Kish Sclar and Thomas Dublin, "Movements are something that people create to press for social change. They are spaces that are made by people to allow relationships between them that can challenge power". They go on to say that "American sociologists in the early- to mid-twentieth century characterized movements as being on a continuum of innovative collective behavior" (Kish Sclar & Dublin, p. 1) No matter what the cause, a movement has the power to instill change in societies. The right movement connected with the right people and behaviors, will certainly make a little change, if not great change. Being involved in a cause gives us something to work for, it gives us something to live for. Without causes or passions, what would life be like? I know that without my passion to be successful, I would be one sorry excuse for a human being. Giving of our time and money to causes may be seen as a waste to some people, but personally it could mean the world to someone, and sometimes all we need is a push from somebody or a small personal experience to light the fire underneath us.
References
Dublin, Kish Sclar. Women and social movements in the United States. What are social movements and what is gendered about women's participation in social movements? Retrieved April 19, 2010, from http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/socm/intro.htm
Harper, C.L. & Leicht, K.L. (2007). Exploring social change: America and the world (5th ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
My Support are Loving Crutches
In January I started my Master's program online through Ashford University. After carefully studying around 30 different programs, I finally chose Ashford's Organizational Management program with a specialization in Supply Chain Management. I will be finished in April of next year, and the funny thing is, is that the thought of ever obtaining a Bachelor's Degree never even crossed my mind.
I have an amazing support system that has encouraged me throughout my entire academic career. In high school, my parents were always catechizing about what I was going to do after I graduated, and my answer was always “I don’t know”. It took me almost ten years to figure out what I really wanted to do, but I think if my parents hadn’t have taken an interest in my studies, I may have never even pursued college. With six kids in my family, I am the only one that completed a Bachelor’s Degree, or even started one for that matter. I believe that my Dad always asking “when are you going to finish?”, although very annoying, helped motivate me to finish my undergraduate degree. I suppose that was his way of supporting me in my efforts.
I think that many people have a hard time finishing degrees due to conflict of schedule, which makes it hard to balance your time. In a study done by Wlodkowski, Mauldin, and Gahn in 2001, they concluded that; “Lack of time was the dominant theme for leaving both colleges. The adult students repeatedly and emphatically mentioned competing priorities and not having enough time to meet the demands of family, work, and school” (Wlodkowski, 2003) As we can see from their study, family plays a big part in the completion of degrees. If a wife has the support of her husband, he will take care of the kids when it is time for her to do her studies, and vice-versa. If spouses play no role in the support system, there is always a friend or family member close by.
In my case, I have a very loving wife that has supported me since day one. As I struggle for motivation to go into the computer room and study, she is always there to give me a swift kick in the butt . . . literally . . . not really. After watching our child all day long, she steps up without a peep and occupies him while I spend time here at the computer. When she needs a break, I take time out to watch the kids and let her relax for a bit. By helping and serving each other’s needs, we are both always wanting and willing to do favors for each other. We both understand the end goal of this education and are willing to support each other in any way possible.
I also believe that random people can be a support to us. As conversation arises about education, I mention that I have started a Master’s Program and the response is always positive and is enough reinforcement for me to keep chipping away. Support is very crucial for someone to accomplish things, it motivates and inspires people to do great things, and the people closest to us should be that inspiration.
I have an amazing support system that has encouraged me throughout my entire academic career. In high school, my parents were always catechizing about what I was going to do after I graduated, and my answer was always “I don’t know”. It took me almost ten years to figure out what I really wanted to do, but I think if my parents hadn’t have taken an interest in my studies, I may have never even pursued college. With six kids in my family, I am the only one that completed a Bachelor’s Degree, or even started one for that matter. I believe that my Dad always asking “when are you going to finish?”, although very annoying, helped motivate me to finish my undergraduate degree. I suppose that was his way of supporting me in my efforts.
I think that many people have a hard time finishing degrees due to conflict of schedule, which makes it hard to balance your time. In a study done by Wlodkowski, Mauldin, and Gahn in 2001, they concluded that; “Lack of time was the dominant theme for leaving both colleges. The adult students repeatedly and emphatically mentioned competing priorities and not having enough time to meet the demands of family, work, and school” (Wlodkowski, 2003) As we can see from their study, family plays a big part in the completion of degrees. If a wife has the support of her husband, he will take care of the kids when it is time for her to do her studies, and vice-versa. If spouses play no role in the support system, there is always a friend or family member close by.
In my case, I have a very loving wife that has supported me since day one. As I struggle for motivation to go into the computer room and study, she is always there to give me a swift kick in the butt . . . literally . . . not really. After watching our child all day long, she steps up without a peep and occupies him while I spend time here at the computer. When she needs a break, I take time out to watch the kids and let her relax for a bit. By helping and serving each other’s needs, we are both always wanting and willing to do favors for each other. We both understand the end goal of this education and are willing to support each other in any way possible.
I also believe that random people can be a support to us. As conversation arises about education, I mention that I have started a Master’s Program and the response is always positive and is enough reinforcement for me to keep chipping away. Support is very crucial for someone to accomplish things, it motivates and inspires people to do great things, and the people closest to us should be that inspiration.
So Stereotypical
Stereotypes have for centuries lined the minds of humans, and have caused many many problems between different races, cultures and countries. Stereotypes I believe have even been known to cause wars, even in modern history.
In the United States we have been stereotyped by the Muslim world as infidels or non-believers, but we have stereotyped all Muslims as terrorists even though a select minority group in the Middle East and elsewhere are the sole cause of all Islamic religious attacks.
Words fired at certain groups of people seem to travel fast and stick to them like crazy glue, which in turn affects the opinions of those that observe them. Whether or not the stereotyping of certain people is true or false, it will happen, and it is up to the viewer to determine what is myth and fact. Stereotypes create rifts, and buffers between different cultures and countries, and with this distance in place it makes it insanely difficult or awkward to near your neighbor and fellowship them. Instead of getting to know the people for who they are, we rely on preconceived ideas and stereotypes and indulge them as fact, really not knowing if they are myth or fact.
Sifting out the valuable information from stereotypes seems to be difficult for the world. Being able to and having the courage to get to know and study people gives one the chance to analyze and determine what is true about the stereotype and what is not. When Garcilaso was traveling through the Basque country of Spain I’m sure he entered with many preconceived notions of the people because of all the writings before his time, but when he arrived and spent time with the people, he realized that they were very happy. He wrote “joy begins there and only ends with death”. When he realized this, his stereotypical thought process had shed itself of all negativity.
Using our God given common sense, courage, and friendship are ways one can sift through and filter the hordes of stereotypes and find value in a culture, race or country.
In the United States we have been stereotyped by the Muslim world as infidels or non-believers, but we have stereotyped all Muslims as terrorists even though a select minority group in the Middle East and elsewhere are the sole cause of all Islamic religious attacks.
Words fired at certain groups of people seem to travel fast and stick to them like crazy glue, which in turn affects the opinions of those that observe them. Whether or not the stereotyping of certain people is true or false, it will happen, and it is up to the viewer to determine what is myth and fact. Stereotypes create rifts, and buffers between different cultures and countries, and with this distance in place it makes it insanely difficult or awkward to near your neighbor and fellowship them. Instead of getting to know the people for who they are, we rely on preconceived ideas and stereotypes and indulge them as fact, really not knowing if they are myth or fact.
Sifting out the valuable information from stereotypes seems to be difficult for the world. Being able to and having the courage to get to know and study people gives one the chance to analyze and determine what is true about the stereotype and what is not. When Garcilaso was traveling through the Basque country of Spain I’m sure he entered with many preconceived notions of the people because of all the writings before his time, but when he arrived and spent time with the people, he realized that they were very happy. He wrote “joy begins there and only ends with death”. When he realized this, his stereotypical thought process had shed itself of all negativity.
Using our God given common sense, courage, and friendship are ways one can sift through and filter the hordes of stereotypes and find value in a culture, race or country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)