Blog 8 - The Children Will Keep Coming

In the article, "The Children Will Keep Coming" published in The Nation, the author, Oscar Martinez, discusses the horrific dangers in Central America. The beginning of this article starts off straight to the point - a young boy being murdered by gang members all because he refused to join the gang. The only option to avoid gang members in countries in Central America such as, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, young children must escape to the United States. These young children are not just murdered, but they are tortured or cut into pieces. It is very horrific. In 2013, the United Nations ranked Honduras as the most violent country in the world. The majority of these young children who were being murdered by gang members were at very young ages, from 14-25 years old. Gang controlled neighbors, business and even schools. If there is a school in the area of where the gang members are, they will not allow the children go to school. Gang members recruit young children because it is easier for them to evade detection by police, since most children are used as messengers or drug runners. There is a story from a young man name Auner, who told his story on why he decided to flea his town. Auner, along with his two brothers made the move to try to reach the United States because their mother had witnessed a murder outside of their very own home and was then murdered a couple days after. They knew that they might've been next, so they made the decision to run away. In America, 5,000 visas are offered to low skilled workers every year. Many of the parents who had left their children behind to venture off to the United States, wants and needs their children with them in the states for safety. Some will reach to desperate measures and will hire a coyote, which is someone who will help people in the U.S bring their children to the States. The number of migrant parents wanting to bring their children up north has increased as they want their children out and away from the trouble that the gang members cause.

After reading this article, I felt very uneasy about the topic. The fact that young children are not only being murdered, but also tortured for a decision that they had made for not joining a gang is very upsetting. I honestly didn't realize how bad these gangs were before reading this article, and now it has definitely opened my eyes on how life is for children in Central America. If I were an migrant parent who made the journey to the States, I will do whatever it takes to help get my children with me. Even if the children were my nieces or nephews. To see how bad the children have it in Central America is nothing compared to how bad some people have it here in the United States.

Blog 7 - Rwanda's Carnage

Link to article - Rwanda's Carnage

In the article, "Rwanda's Carnage" published in Christianity Today, the author, Gary Haugen tells the horrific scenes of the Rwanda's genocide that took place in 1994. Hundreds and thousands of men, women and even children were murdered in a small country in Central Africa called Rwanda. It is mentioned in the article that mostly people of the Tutsi ethnic group were the main targets of the genocide. Most of them were beaten and butchered by machetes and clubs. Back in 1854, when the Europeans first arrived, the Tutsi feudal elite had ruled the majority of the Hutu people. The death of the president at the time, Juvenal Habyarimana, was the reason why the Hutu's decided to fight back against the Tutsi which led to the horrific genocide. Haugen describes that what he saw was the most difficult part of his job when he visited Rwanda. He saw the skulls of many men, women and young children which was hard for him to see. He was able to talk to a few survivors and they told their story on what they did to survive during the genocide. A women told him that she hid for two and a half days next to corpses and severed limps after the massacre. Another survive mentioned that how he crawled among the dead in a cathedral for three days, starving and thirsty. Many of the Tutsi were dragged out of their homes, they turned to churches in order to survive but in the end, going to a church was just a trap for them to get killed. It is told in the article that many of these Hutu people who were doing the killings, were just regular, people. A neighbor, teacher, friend, etc. who did the killings.

I cannot fathom that genocide is even a thing. I wonder why it happens, and why people do it. In my opinion, most genocides happens for no reason or because of hate. In my family's home country in Laos, during the 1970's many of the Hmong people were killed because they helped the U.S with the war against Vietnam. After the war ended, the Vietnamese invaded our home country of Laos and killed everyone that they saw because in some way, they felt betrayed. Hearing the story of how different countries causes a genocide over things that are out of their control or because of hate, in my eyes, is disgusting. I can't imagine what is would be like to ever experience the horrific massacre, and even seeing how things are after in a country who had just experienced a genocide. Knowing that your family and friends be can killed for something who they are or what they've done is something I don't think anyone would want to see happen. I understand that most genocides happens in different countries, small countries to say the least. I can definitely say that I am blessed to live in a country and generation where it is less likely to happen in the United States.

Blog 6 - A Civil Education

Link to article - A Civil Education

In the article, "A Civil Education" published in Humanities, the author, Igor Torgeson, provides us information about the first boarding school for Native Americans. A U.S. Army Captain named Richard Pratt opened the first federal government Indian boarding school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Indian boarding schools were believe to be a manifestation of the federal governments approach to dealing with the Indian tribes. We learn that the regimen of the school was tough for the students. When the children arrived at school, their clothes would be removed and destroyed. The students would also have their hair cut, and sometimes even shaved off completely. The students were taken out of their cultural clothing and put into uniforms, basically starting a new life. Many former students have said in interviews that they had a horrible experience at the boarding schools and compared it to boot camp. One former student had said, "it was the worst experience that has ever happened to me." The curriculum destroyed the culture of the Natives, families and traumatized by the forced separation of their family members going to boarding school. Also, many children had passed away because the health conditions at the school were so poor. Not only did the affect the children, but the families as well. Indian parents were told that the schools their children would be going to would provide healthier environments for their children. It was the opposite. The schools were aided with a rapid spread of sickness and diseases. Tuberculosis caused many children to have pass away. There were so many students that passed away, the cemetery they were buried in became a regular school ground. Margaret Archuleta, curator of fine art at the Heard Museum stated, "Just as the non-Indian population doesn't know about the schools, neither do we." He estimates that between 1880 and 1910, as many as 80 percent of all Indian children were enrolled in boarding schools.

In my opinion, I believe that this is a sad way for children to have an education. I am glad that today, there aren't as many schools like this who would traumatize young kids while trying to get an education. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have experience what these kids had to go through. I feel very grateful that growing up, my schools were great to me. From elementary school, even to college, I have had great memories and amazing teachers who had helped me with my education. It saddens me that it was not that way back then. For the Indian students to have been treated in such a horrible way, and were basically forced to forget about their culture, are strong survivors. The fact that the children at the boarding schools were so young, and that some of them had their lives taken due to bad health conditions, had a huge affect on their family. I would not want my family to experience the pain while I am away at school.

Blog 5 - My Marriage Was Arranged

Link to article - My Marriage Was Arranged  

In the article "My Marriage Was Arranged" published in Good Housekeeping, the author Jyothi Sampat, discussed the process of arranged marriages in India. Sampat starts off with her time during high school how she had never gone on a date. After finishing school in Quebec, she came back to India and was ready for her parents to arrange her marriage. There are many criteria that a man or woman seeks when their parents are looking for someone to marry their child. Some examples of certain criteria that a person should meet are: looks, education, jobs, family background and weight or height. In Sampat's case, her criteria were: he would be tall, not eat meat, does not drink alcohol or smoke. Sampat mentioned that after a couple of weeks after her ad was posted, they received their first response. She began talking to this stranger, and after the fourth phone call, Sampat decided that she wanted to marry him. Most couples don't meet at all until their wedding day, or a couple days before their wedding. It wasn't until after Sampat had married her husband, Praveen Sampat, where they began to get to know each other and learned each other’s interests. After their marriage, they moved to the United States and settled down in Phoenix, Arizona. Although Jyothi Sampat and Praveen Sampat's marriage was arranged, Jyothi still had a hard time explaining to people how she met her husband. People would judge and say things such as, "Wow" or "I didn't know such things still existed." Even though their marriage was arranged, Jyothi was happy and believed in what her mother had told her when she was younger, "love comes after marriage." Because that is when you get to know someone and have all of the fun. 

In my opinion, I would never allow to have an arranged marriage for myself. I don't think I will be able to marry someone who I do not know, even though my parents have picked out the "perfect" man for me to marry. I believe that love comes from the heart, not by choice. I understand that arranged marriages are still happening until this day in different countries, but I'm very glad that I grew up with a choice of who I can date and who I can marry. People who have arranged marriages enjoy the time of getting to know their spouse after marriage, but I would prefer to get to know someone before marrying them. Because you may never know, sometimes, that person may not turn out to be whom they claim to be. I don't have any bad intentions on arranged marriages, but it is something that I would have to refuse to do, even if my parents told me so. I would be a lot happier marrying someone that I have met before and know, than to marry a stranger.

Blog 4 - Is Losing Weight Worth Your Life?

Link to article - Is Losing Weight Worth Your Life?

 In the article "Is Losing Weight Worth Your Life" published in Redbook, the author, Laura Beil, discusses the problems and side effects of weight loss supplements. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, roughly one in five people in the United States of America have tried a weight loss supplement. These medications to help lose weight can put well-intentioned women at risk. Dietary supplements can only contain ingredients that are already found in the FDA. Instead of these weight loss medications helping people lose weight,  it is actually shrinking their wallet. Consumers pay the price. These medications can cause liver problems and patients will face symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and extreme fatigue. Melinda Manore, published a review in 2012 of how dangerous these medications are. She stated, "When you look at the evidence, there isn't any support." Tim Blood, a San Diego also mentioned, "You don't know what's in them." The FDA has attempted to ensure that supplements that have hit the market will have random spot checks of shipments to distributors.

                                  http://www.poison.org/articles/2013-jul/are-weight-loss-supplements-safe

After reading the article about the weight loss supplement, I would not recommend anyone to use the product. I am strongly against these kind of medications because there are many other ways to stay healthy and lose weight. I feel that these kinds of supplements are for people who are lazy, in my honest opinion. There is the gym that people can go to, even going for a little jog or walk outside of the neighborhood to lose weight or stay consistent with their health. In the photo shown above, a woman is eating nothing but diet pills to lose weight. This is a strong photo to show how these pills are not healthy and not good for you. Most times, that is the only thing people eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or sometimes, eating it along with their meals. I believe that people should do some research before taking such actions using a supplement they have never tried before. I have known someone before who is a friend of a family member that has passed away due to these kinds of weight loss medications. It caused her many liver problems to the point where she ended up in the hospital and had passed away. Although there are many recalls on these types of medications, I still do not think that they are safe. I will never take these medications and I hope that none of my family and friends will take them either.

Blog 3 - Side by Side

In the article, "Side by Side" published in Hispanic Magazine, the author, Melinda Marchado, discusses the gender war between Latino men and Latina women in the work industry. In the traditional Hispanic families, while women are relegated to more domestic rules, the Hispanic men voice is often considered law. Some men in the corporate world make remarks about their wives saying how they exempt them to take care of the children and stay home. Hispanic males in corporate America look at their Latina colleagues as a threat if they were to get a promotion or move on up from the ladder. The Hispanic men will hold a lot of resentment towards the women if they get the higher position. Edmundo Gonzales, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Office of Labor Management Standards in the Department of Labor says, "Hispanic males tend to traditionally characterize women as subservient and generally not equal -- especially Hispanic women." That can cause a lot of controversy between the male and female in the corporate world as women are starting to make a climb. At the beginning of a man's work in a workplace, they will view women as a a subordinate. But once after working with the female for a while, they begin to view each other as partners. Women these days are working a lot harder and it has become important for both men and women to work together and put aside their differences.

After reading the article, I have come to realize that although time has changed and women are now moving on up within the work world in general, some men are still viewing women lower than them. I was not surprised that in the article, it was mentioned how women are viewed as subordinate. For example, even Hilary Clinton was viewed down on by some people when she was running for president of the United States just because she was a women. I strongly believe that there will always be some men who looks down on women, but as the generation continues on, women are only making a stronger view of themselves.

Blog 2 - Haircuts or Turbans

                                             
In the article, "Haircuts or Turbans" published in The New York Times, the author, Amelia Gentleman discusses the new generation of Sikh men choosing style over tradition by cutting their hair and abandoning their turbans. Sikhism is based on the belief in one God and the rejection of the Hindu caste system which was founded in northern India during the 15th century. As of today there are eighteen million Sikhs in India and about twenty-three million worldwide. It is mentioned in the article that long hair is a symbol and representation of their Sikh pride, and Sikh leaders have prohibited their members from cutting their hair. It's a problem today because young Sikh men want to stand out by cutting their hair. Today, about half of the Sikh men in India are now letting go of their turban. There are some who are upset about the new trend that is going on. Jaswinder Singh, a lawyer and leader of the turban pride movement stated, "We are going to have to battle hard to turn back the tide. India won't have anymore Sikhs in turbans." A pop star in India, Pammi Bai, strongly agrees that getting rid of the turban is not a good idea. He wears a bright yellow turban and released a single as a part of the turban pride. He sings about the glory of wearing a turban.
                                                                                          

After reading the article by Amelia Gentleman, I began to realize how important it is to respect your beliefs in some culture. I was a bit surprised due to the fact that more and more men are getting rid of their turban because Sikhism is a really strong belief to some people. It was also mentioned in the article that some working mothers are feeling "too rushed" to teach their son's how to use a turban and allowed their child to cut their hair. That also surprised me because I would had thought that the mother's would be more strict on abandoning the Sikh pride. In the photo shown below, a Sikh man shows the process of putting his long hair into the turban. As a child of a different culture, there are many similarities that we share. I am Hmong, where our people are located in Laos. When the Hmong came to America in the late 1970's, early 1980's, we carried on our traditions to the States. Hmong mother's prefer their daughters to keep their hair long and black, as a sign of natural beauty. For the new generation, many Hmong daughters are now coloring their hair different colors to follow the trend. Some Hmong mother's don't allow their daughters to color their hair until they are of an older age. Some don't allow their daughters to color their hair at all. I can relate to the men in India who are getting rid of their turbans, as I am a Hmong daughter who did not keep my long, black hair to embrace my beauty in my culture as they wished.

Photo credit - http://imgarcade.com/1/sikh-man-without-turban/