"Letter to Senator."

EDUCATION FOR ALL ACT 2007
(S. 1259 / H.R. 2092
JUBILEE ACT FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING AND EXPANDED DEBT CANCELATION
(HR 2634)

U.S. COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL CHILD SURVIVAL ACT


After studying the work of Dr. Jeffery Sachs, my once firm belief in taking care of "yours and yours alone," has been broken into pieces as I see the great work that has been done by the U.N. Millinieum Project. Truly everyone in our world deserves the right to life. After reading through several breakdowns on the U.S Commitment to Global Child Survival Act and the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancelation (HR 2634), I now see that action is needed and needed fast. The debts of countries who can barely stand on two feet should be no concern to those who countries who can run. Their need is far greater then our own. However, this doesn't go to say that their future debts will all be forgiven. I just think that a new start is a reasonable request. Once these debts are forgiven and revenue beings to build up the Global Child Survival Act will be in full swing and the young of this generation will be in full health and adults. This will then lead a generation of adults who understand the importance of health care and life. Soon the money saved from the cruched debts will be put into a national system of health for the once impovrished nations.

The right to live is the greatest right we hold as humans, however, the right to be educated is suprisingly probably our second greatest right, or at least in my mind. Through education we are able to put our own thoughts together and expand our mind to more then we can see. Education is responsible for everything we see around us in our world today. So who's to say that everyone shouldn't at least have a shot. Growing up and around Richmond California, I have seen a great number of people who had their lives changed simply because of a book. To these individuals, realizing that there is more out there then just what they see, is the biggest step in their lives. The being to stray away from their hardships like gang violence and fights and move towards a life of promise and potential. This is just one example of many.
After studying the current situtation Africa and talking to those who have seen it first hand, it too has become clear that education has not only changed their lives but improved them drastically. Many farming techniques and helpful adivice weren't just thrown at the people, they were learned. A teacher I talked to recently about this topic also told me how much the impovrished of the Sub-Saharian thrist for knowlodge and truly want to have an opportunity in life.

All in all these topics come down to nothing more then morals and integirty. It is only by looking in your heart that you can see the value in helping the world.

"The Mustard Weed."

The mustard seed tells us that the Kingdom of God is not something thats pretty and glamorous, rather it's something we often don't necessarily want anything to do with, i.e. helping that beaten man on the side of the road (good samaritan). However, the beauty of the parable comes this form; as we are exposed to the mustard seed, we become immersed in it and are then almost forced to make good of it, which comes in the form of the great taste and spice that is made from the "horrible" seed. This directly paralles life by showing how something we see as a pest, helping the homeless, Africa,and other so called "pests", are truly rewarding if we choose to harvest that weed or pest.

Digital Portfolio: Executive Summary on Africa

The world's issues don't need to be met head on all at once, the key to ending the strife and suffering of the world is to take one step at a time. In the word's of "What aboout Bob?" baby steps...baby steps.
Dr. Jeffry Sachs, leader on Extreme Poverty and Ambassador to the U.N., has developed what seems to be the grand-solution of extrmeme povertty in Africa. Dr. Sachs has devoted his life to the study of extreme poverty. In his studies, it hasd become clear that the impovrished African people are only dollars away from a healthy and prosperous life. Although the large scale Africa seems to have no resolution, the pieces of Africa; villages and tribes, need only a few measures of protection: seed,nets, and a few shots, to have their problems washed away. Dr. Sach's plan of action calls for a $200 billion grant that would be desperesed to the villages of Africa, to pay for some simmples. This "rigorious" call to action calls for only a few essentails: $110/year/person for basic needs such as fertilizer, high yield seeds, clean water, rudimentary health care, basic education, mosqutio nets, and some form of communication link to the rest of the world. These items are easily can be easily obtained, ensuring that millions of lives are saved. Test villages, called "Millenium Villages" have been monitored and maintained for over a year. Their results show not only an increase in crop, but also a 2/3 drop in cases of Malaria, and an a huge climb in attendence of children at school. This shows that with courage and determination, the end to Extreme Poverty is in sight.
After watching and reading about Dr. Sach's work, its become clear that "sacrafice" is needed to help those in need. The work of Dr.Sachs ties hand in hand with the idea of the Good Samaritan, by showing the true vaule of human life. It is not enough to say that only your life matters in this world, because believe it or nothing, without the people around you and the people in the world, you don't exist. Life has no meaning if you have nobody to share it with. In the case of the Good Samaritan, he valued the life of that naked and beaten body. Dr. Sachs sees the true value of life in the people of Africa. It is here that we see a Good Samaritan doing what he can to make sure the person next to him has just as much a chance in life as he does.
As far as our immediate class community is concerned, I'm not going to lie, it's tough to give up something that we are used to. However, if you can look deep enough, their is always something you can do away with to help not only your on personal greed but also save money for a cause above all others, human life. If you can manage to do away with just one off campus lunch a month, that's $5-10 dollars you can put towards a greater good. Even if you don't want to give up that lunch, you can take your pocket change from that lunch, throw it in a jar everyday, and watch it grow as it becomes substansial. I think we should start a collection at school for change or any type of donation. At the end of the year, we should write a letter to Dr. Sachs, explain our learning of him and send whatever we can round up and put it towards the Millenium Project.
The key in all of this, is to understand that this isn't about how much money you give, it's about seeing others outside of your immediate surroundings. It's about realizing whatb being a neighbor truly is. It's about appreciating the true value of human life.

"Portfolio 2: Singer on Poverty."

1. How much should I give to others? 2. Are we obligated to give to others? 3. Is it my job as a middle class american to provide for others? 4. Should I give money to someone I've never met? 5. Why not help our immediate surroundings first? 6. Equality on everything? 7. Does greed and wealth have a fixed place in our society/economy? 8. How much inequaltiy do we tolereate, assuming it is necessary? 9. Should I be ashamed of my country? 10. What makes someone more deserving then someone else?

"Portfolio 2: Good Samaritan Interpretation,"

After reading and studying the Parable of the Good Samaritan for more years then i can remember it becomes clear that Jesus final word usually comes as question. In the case of the Good Samaritan he basically tells the laywer that since your the expert tell me what you know. When Jesus says he is right, Jesus then assumes the seat of being the expert on Law. This shows the power of Jesus' word. Anyways back to the topis of the timelessness of the parable, what makes this parable meaning so powerful is that it shows how fear and greed can grip us and sail us away from being a true neighbor. The Levite and Priest were overcome with fear of possible robbery/diease, and the pride that told them they were better. Jesus is telling us that to truly inheirt a full life, we must overcome our fear and our greed "cockyness". Just yesterday in Berkeley, i found myself referring to this class topic, there was a homeless dude laying in the middle of the sidewalk, passed out and asking for water,I was just going to pass him, but i looked past the fear and greed I have lived with, I physically picked him up, stood him on the stairs and gave him water. He smiled and passed out again. I dont care that he didnt say anything or that people gave me dirty looks, I was just happy that the dude wasnt in the middle of the sidewalk getting steped on. I realized then that the man was my neighbor, even though we came from different places.

"Portfolio 1: John the Baptist

John is a preacher man in the deserts of Galilee. He calls to a mass of people to follow him into the waters so that he can wash away their sins. This doesn't mean that he is literally washing sins off, it is rather a recognition of the wrongs the people had committed, and their new life to make good. John was seen as a man with a mission, crazy by some, inspirational to others. The way John speaks shows how he is not claiming himself to be the Messiah, rather he is preparing the people for Jesus. When the people being to question him and call him the Messiah, he speaks how a greater and mightier one will come, to finish their recognition of their wrongs and truly bring the to new life. The first story of John gives how he is almost one step underneath Jesus. His birth was indeed blessed by God, however he was a truly mortal man, blessed beyond doubt, but mortal. Jesus was the man of God, his own seed brought to the Earth. Both stories set up for the next best thing. When I say this I mean that John is the introduction of Jesus. John is pre-heating the oven for the people. He is showing them what is coming and how they can prepare themselves for it. So, it becomes clear that Jesus' teaching are going to be an extended and almost more advanced version of John's cries from the desert. The teachings havent necessarly been committed to one social class over another. The reading shows how the soliders, the poor, and even the tax collectors, all gathered to hear John's messgae. This forshadows the possibilty that Jesus will touch more then just the poor communtiy he came from.

"Portfolio 1: Refugee Jesus"

After discussing Jesus' life of being a fefugee, it makes me wonder about the motivation of his ministry. His overall mission was to help those poor and opressed people he lived with. No doubt he was pissed off as hell at the system that kept him and his people down for so long. He didnt want to fight, but he wanted to make the people aware of what was going on. The times of Jesus were times of almost drones who were ruled by an iron fist. So, pissed off Jesus, with his rags and broken sandles, said screw this, its time to change. He knew the life of the poor, he knew the life that was feard by the top. It became this man's mission to spread word to everyone that they deserved the fancy robes, just as much as the fat man sitting on his chair being fed grapes. By knowing the lowly, even bring the lowly, it was clear that he had to make the moves necessary. His mind had to have been filled with the struggles of his people, the deaths of his people, just his people. This was more then enough motivation for the son of MAN!!

Portfolio 1: Who’s Your Momma?”

To me, society has made Mary the ideal of purity and human faith. Moving through Catholic schools I have been taught to view Mary as the perfect and loving mother everyone has known for so long. Through all my experiences I have never really been shown any different, besides Milhay's Scripture class. It's wasnt until then that Mary became more of a real person; one who goes through the headache and heartache. The other aspect that has been stamped on me time and time again is the idea that Mary was this perfect subtle figure with fair skin, emotionless face, who always seemed reverent and clamn. It also seems that she always has some type of religious relic on her person at all times. Like I find it hard to believe that she would go party with scripture in her pocket. 2.) Mary is a women of strong faith who procliams tells her story openly to a husband who by Jewish law is to shame her and put her to death. This shows just how much strong faith Mary had. Mary belongs to the lower class of Judea. Women are treated as personal property that belongs to one man, and one man alone. The community would undoubtly find her pregenancy an unfaithful act that deserves severe isolation and most likey death. 3.) I believe that God chose Mary for a number of reasons. First because of her willing and open faith in God. It's not everyday that someone excepts their calling from God, especially one with such great magnitude. Also the fact that this act showed just how un-selfish Mary was. She didnt think of her own needs, rather she knew that she would be doing a great service to the world. Another imprtant aspect is Mary's background and family. She wasn't a rich spolied girl, rather she was an poor and humble women of Judea. This is important because it meant she would take good care of her mission and not go blabbing her mouth to anyone and everyone that she has the child of God chilling in her uterus. Undoubtly it was Mary's faith and purity that made her the top choice for God.