Preaching Foolishness

“We’ll Always Have Paris”

2011-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

As one takes a relaxing promenade through Paris, a pattern begins to emerge while navigating the streets of this bustling city. Unlike cities such as DC or New York where streets are often organized in a system way, alphabetically in DC and numerically in New York, Parisian métros and streets take on events and names of the past. Through the systematic naming of métros and streets, as well as the integration of monuments into normal Parisian life, the entire city is thus transformed from a normal big city to a space of memory and commemoration.

The first reason Paris can be called a city of memory and commemoration is based on the sheer number of commemorative sites throughout the city. Going down the list of the city’s most popular sites yields a plethora of commemorative locales. On my bike ride home from church this morning, I was guided by many of these commemorative sites, beginning in Montparnasse and ending in the 17th arrondisment. Sans carte I rode my velib’ across town, with Les Invalides, La Tour Eiffel, Les Champs-Elysées, and Sacre Coeur as my guides. As I was guided by these sites, I was struck by the significant role each of these sites has played in the memory and commemoration of French history and culture. Although they have become normal for me to see, they represent so much more than guideposts for finding one’s way home. Some might see the normalization of these sites as a sign that they have lost their commemorative value and are now just tourist sites; however, I see their integration into normal Parisian life as a sign that they are of great value to the collective memory and consciousness of the French. For example, while to a tourist, Les Champs-Elysées is the hub for a French shopping spree, to the French it represents so much more. It represents the hub of pride for la Patrie, a place where the Nazi’s arrived to occupy and De Gaulle arrived to liberate. Similarly, locations of cultural interest for tourists like Place de La Concorde and Le Palais du Louvre represent to the French the rich history of France’s shift from monarchy to republic, the former being the site of purging the past, the later a nation’s reminder of the tyranny of that past. To note that these sites serve different purposes for Parisians and tourists is not to say one purpose is better than the other. Instead it is conversely to show their true importance as sites which while sometimes cliché have affirmed importance through their appeal to tourists and Parisians alike.

The second way in which Paris represents a space of memory and commemoration is through the naming of rues and places. While the naming of streets and squares after famous people is nothing new in urban planning, the manner in which these spaces are marked in Paris sets them apart from other eponymous spaces in cities worldwide. Take the name of a street I often frequented last semester, Avenue Émile Zola. The street is marked as AVENUE ÉMILE ZOLA along with a short note about who Zola was underneath. This short description is interesting to note, but for those who have an understanding of French history and Zola’s role as both an author and intellectual mind, the intersection of Zola’s avenue with Place Alfred Dreyfus is much more than a coincidence. Ingeniously placed to intersect, La Place and L’Avenue show the intersection of an intellectual (Zola) who came to the defense of a wrongly accused French officer (Dreyfus). In this sense, the street signs serve to commemorate a part of French history in a nuanced way. In other cases, street signs overtly recognize the contributions of many people to French society. Boulevard Haussmann is tightly linked with the revolution in city planning which occurred under the direction of Haussmann. In addition to streets named after famous Frenchmen, some streets recognize those whose contributions to society may have otherwise been lost. For example, there are nearly 100 Parisian streets, squares, or boulevards named after mathematicians. ("JOC/EFR" 1-5) By including common and famous names alike as well as making references to nuanced events in French history such as the Dreyfus Affair, the city becomes a treasure chest of history and information at every corner.

The final way in which Paris serves as a space of memory and commemoration is through métro stations. Choose any métro line, and you will be transported across French history. For example, on line 1, you can hit some of the highlights of French history, from Le Palais du Louvre, Bastille and ending at Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. And viola, you have just made it all the way from the Monarchy to the Revolution to the end of World War II! While these are three obvious examples of historical naming, there are also references to less famous historical events and people throughout the system. Several metro stops refer to Napoleon’s conquests—Austerlitz, Place d’Italie, and Pyramides to name a few. Other stations are named after artists, intellectuals, and military figures such as Picasso, Avenue Émile Zola, Denfert-Rochereau. In addition to referring to these events and people, the Paris métro system goes a step further by placing signs with historical points of interest regarding the name of the métro station or neighborhood where it is located. Therefore, it may be possible to learn quite a bit about French history simply by riding the métro and stopping to look at these historical reference points along the way. In conjunction with understanding the historical significance of the current métro names, it is also interesting to note how station names have changed over the last century. The most interesting examples are the changes of Berlin to Liège and Allemagne to Jaurès following World War I as well as the change of Marboeuf to Franklin D. Roosevelt following World War II. ("Histoire en ligne" 1-15) These changes not only hold significance in their names like the other station names, but also indicate the historical and political circumstances under which they were changed. Given the complexity and diversity of métro station names as well as the concerted effort made to publicly catalog the history of many stations, the Paris métro can be described as a primary source of memory and commemoration for the French.

The city of Paris is to many a charming location because of its café culture, beautiful parks, and the clichéd baguette and beret wearing locals. Add to this the many world famous monuments like La Tour Eiffel and La Musée du Louvre, and the city becomes irresistible to tourists worldwide. However, the city represents much more than what one finds on a postcard. Instead, the city, through the integration of memory and commemoration with day to day living is a space which honors the past of the French people, while continuing to give it present value. By choosing to make history part of not only official monuments but also through city planning, the French have been able to ensure the survival of events and names which may have otherwise been lost.

"Pardonner, mais ne jamais oublier"- Forgive, but never forget.

2011-02-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

On a Thursday afternoon with gray skies, rain drops, and a brisk February wind, traversing the crowds of tourists past Notre Dame, I found a lovely garden with a sign indicating that I had indeed made it to my final destination, the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation. A woman, who seemed more like a retiree turned volunteer than a guard, informed me of the respect which must be shown upon entering—“Les portables doit-etre discrets…Allez-y.” Cell phone off, proceeding ahead, down the steps I went into a concrete grotto decorated with a triangular black installment. Initially the set up of the memorial lead to disorientation; however, as I turned around prison bars caught my eye. Not knowing what to expect before arriving at the memorial, for a second I thought that the black installment was all the memorial had to offer and voila the prison gates were an alternate sortie, but I was sorely mistaken.

Popping my head in the doorway I was pleasantly (or should I say, unpleasantly) surprised to find myself in what can best be described as a gateway to another world, the world of a deportee. The beauty of the other Parisian memorials and monuments which I have become so accustomed to had met its match, being replaced by a dark, drab and claustrophobic space which rivals the Catacombs for eeriness. The writings on the walls, in sharp form and intensity of message, further mentally dragged me into the world of the deportee. The inscriptions told the story which the rest of the memorial could not do through its physical structure alone—200,000, deportees, swallowed, never to return. The words of poet and deportee Robert Desnos and intellectual lines from Sartre bring the memorial full-circle in setting a mood of despair.

After feeling as if the memorial had sucked all of my Parisian joie de vivre for the day, I was able to have a cathartic moment upon looking at the corridor of 200,000 carefully placed crystals which are lit in commemoration of the deported. And at the end, the famous flame which so often burns at tombs of the Unknown Soldier worldwide has taken on a remarkably new role, burning brightly as the flame of the Unknown Deportee, the flame of those innocent men, women, and children who never returned. And so perfectly planned by its architect and designer, my last impression from inside the memorial was of the caption so popular amongst Holocaust (in this case deportation) memorials, but this time en français—“Pardonner, mais ne jamais oublier.”

Bienvenue à Hillsong Paris

2011-02-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

I really loved the Bridge, the church I attended last semester, but I was really struggling to get to church regularly because of the 45 minutes to an hour distance I traveled to get there. So, I decided to attend a new church in Paris which I had heard about. It is a church connected to the Christian group Hillsong United—it is called Hillsong Paris. It was an experience unlike any I have had in Paris. The service is bilingual so there is live translation on stage. Worship songs were half in French, half in English. I think the most bizarre part to me was seeing so many French people with their hands raised in worship in the exact same way I am accustomed to people doing at home worship services. Additionally, the church was packed, filled with young and middle aged French people. It has been said that Europe is the “dark continent” which has turned its back on the church over the past century. From my experiences last semester I really felt that way about many of the people I encountered in Europe and specifically in France. So, it was shocking and exciting to see so many French people excited to praise God. At times I felt like I was back at Crescent Lake Bible Camp, as I could see the high school students jumping and clapping during some of the songs. It is really amazing how the message of the Gospel can transcend boundaries, even cultural boundaries which have been built up over generations. Seeing over 300 people praising God in two languages in the heart of the city where beauty means everything was moving. For a part of the service I forgot where I was, but I was quickly reminded that I am still in France when it came time to leave. “Pardons” and “Excusez-mois” could be heard all around, everyone’s outfits perfectly were styled, and of course goodbye cheek kisses were given rather than American hugs.

Evacuation Day

2011-02-04T05:10:00.001-08:00

Things have quickly escalated since I last wrote. Two nights of loud gunshots and civil unrest. The military came into our neighborhood yesterday even as our neighbors were protecting the streets with large sticks and machetes. Thankfully they kept looters from stealing anything; however, just a few blocks away in the guys’ neighborhood, the military had to set off fire grenades and the boy students were locked in their apartments scared as the building security locked down their building using mattresses and Molotov cocktails. At our apartment we could only sit and wait as we heard pops of gunfire in the distance. We went to sleep more at ease than the night before with our program director staying the night with us. Today we were woken up—evacuation day. It was a surprise because it happened so suddenly; however, at the same time we knew that it was a possibility. We were told to start packing, we would be evacuated shortly. There was no time to worry about anything except fitting all of our things into the suitcases we stuffed in order to get into Egypt. We packed hastily and waited for the boys to hurry. If someone were to watch our group together waiting to evacuate, they would have laughed as we posed for photos on our “magic carpet” and rapped in the lobby of our building. Stress levels escalated when the “evacuation vehicles” arrived. Well, I should really say it was one vehicle, not the plural. One microbus, as in a van, for how many people? For 14 people—didn’t happen. However, they did manage to stack 14 suitcases on the roof of the van and after negotiations and Egyptians chatting back and forth for about one hour. We rolled through the city, roadblock by roadblock; we finally made it to the main road just to be stopped by military roadblocks. The roads were filled with garbage. We finally made it to the airport. Just when we were about to be done with our crazy ride, I was mistaken for an Egyptian woman and asked to open the bus window. Thankfully our resident director assured the military that I was just an American student. Hopefully that was the last time I will be mistaken for an Egyptian. I am sitting in the airport now. We bought the rest of the food here, galaxy chocolate bars and mars candy bars. Happy evacuation day!

Life in an Authoritarian State

2011-02-04T04:53:00.001-08:00

Woke up this morning without internet or cell phone service. The ability to communicate within the country and to people outside of the country has been completely cut off all day. It has left us with a feeling of anxiety and paralysis as we wanted to be in contact with at minimum family in the US as well as each other in case of an emergency. Our grocery shopping plans were canceled and we were asked to return to our neighborhood by the police. The city of Alexandria was eerily calm this morning before noon prayers. The riot police trucks were lined up ready for protests to begin; however, there were hardly any people on the streets. We returned to our neighborhood and grabbed some lunch. News came from the resident director that protests had begun and teargas was fired at the protesters. We went back to our apartments and began watching the news. After being in Cairo for over two weeks, it was shocking to see the never-ending barrage of teargas and fires being set every minute. Watching the live shots of protesters attacking the riot police on the 6th of October bridge gave me the feeling that I was watching a sporting event with the commentator giving a play by play description in the background. At one point, my roommates and I clapped when the protesters took over a riot police truck. After resting for about an hour and a half, I woke up to my roommates saying things had gotten crazy. In fact, the city of Cairo looked as if it was closer to Baghdad than to the cosmopolitan city it is. The jewel and gateway to the Middle East had changed overnight. Soon our resident assistant came over to make sure that we were all ok; however, the guy students were missing—caught in the protests. Thankfully we all were able to be reunited at the girls’ apartment. It was nice to be together as a group and watch the overview of the events that had so quickly unfolded during the day. News came that the President would be addressing the nation; however, the protests continued to escalate, and the ruling party’s building was set ablaze in Cairo. Watching the news has been very surreal. Even as our relatives and friends have been worrying about our safety here, so have we been on high security alert. The feelings we have vary so much from excitement for the people of Egypt to feeling that we have lost so much freedom while here—no internet, cell phone service, limited freedom of movement. However, this feeling of lost freedom does not compare to anything that the people of Egypt have experienced and continue to experience. As an American, I cannot explain how valuable my freedom has become to me after living here. Even as America has its problems, we are possibly the freest people in the world. I cannot say that it is America’s responsibility to do anything to bring about the freedom of the Egyptian people; however, it is our responsibility to support people worldwide in their quest to attain freedom. The Egyptians are sick of being slaves to an oppressive system, and today they have showed us that they will no longer be slaves to the system. Buildings are burning, but the Egyptians are standing strong. They remain solidified in their quest to bring change to Egypt, but at the same time are solidified under their pride as Egyptians. The final shot of Cairo I have seen tonight is of the Egyptian people protecting the precious antiquities at the Egyptian Museum from fire and looters—Egyptians hold on to the parts of the past they hold dear as the parts of the past they abhor burn to the ground.

Welcom to Mesr (Egypt)!

2011-01-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

Week one of orientation has been colorful to say the least. Biggest protests in years in Egypt have been happening the past two days in the aftermath of the success of the Tunisian protests. I have had a general feeling of uneasiness since being here; however, I would attribute that to general culture shock. The past two days, I have felt much more uneasy because of the level of high alert as a result of the protests. There is energy in the air. The Egyptian people have taken to the streets. They are asking, begging for change. Fathers and mothers are on the streets with their young children. Businessmen are heading out to protest during their lunch break; however, no change has happened. From the perspective of a non-Egyptian, it doesn’t seem like much more will happen. The energy is there, but as the government noted the protesters have not made their demands “clear.” This is a huge barrier to making a difference; however, who could really blame them for not making their demands clear. In a country with over 40% illiteracy and a high percentage of people under the poverty line, I can imagine why it is difficult to express their demands. Just take a tour bus to the pyramids and you will see poverty firsthand. You will see children picking cabbage in polluted fields and selling postcards barefoot to tourists from around the world. Further, the level of corruption is so high and so common that overthrowing the current government will not be enough to make a difference. In order to make a long term change, the Egyptian people must work to address these fundamental problems. While the protests are an amazing start to change, an equally important step would be for Egyptians to change their society day by day. They must refuse to accept corruption, educational inequity, and the appalling level of poverty in the city and countryside. By refusing to accept these things the people will undermine the government’s power and garner support from nations and people around the world. Yalla, ya Mesr!

Child Soldiers in Northern Uganda

2010-06-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

Since the Civil War between the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) began in Northern Uganda in 1986, the humanitarian situation in the region has become dire. Though the citizens of Northern Uganda have all experienced the effects of the Civil War, children have been the most affected, as thousands have been abducted and forced into a life as child soldiers in the LRA. As the conflict continues, the human rights of children in the region are constantly in danger.

Civil War

Since 1986, the GoU has been involved in a Civil War with the LRA movement, which can be traced back to a woman named Alice Lakwena who believed the Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to overthrow the GoU. (Invisible Children) When Lakwena was exiled, Joseph Kony, who claimed to be her cousin, took control. Because he lacked support, Kony and the LRA resorted to abducting children and indoctrinating them into their ranks beginning in the late 1980s and continuing today.

Recent Peace Process

The Juba Peace Talks between the GoU and the LRA commenced in 2006 and concluded in March 2008 with the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) which secured a cease-fire agreement and facilitated valuable discussion about the need to address political and economic problems in the region. (World Vision) They were conducted with EU, UN, and US support in addition to Southern Sudanese government mediation; however, they failed because Joseph Kony refused to sign, as signing would cause him to lose power and face arrest for human rights and war crimes.

Child Soldiers

The LRA attacks villages and displacement camps to abduct children for their ranks. The children are forced to commit acts of violence including cutting off hands, ears, or lips of individuals alleged to be allied with the GoU. (World Vision) The children are as young as eight, and include boys and girls, used to work as child soldiers, or to serve as “wives” of rebels. (United Nations) Since the start of the Civil War, it is estimated that 30,000 to 66,000 children have been kidnapped. (World Vision) Joseph Kony’s waning legitimacy and support from the citizens of Northern Uganda have caused him to resort to the abductions. Since over 90% of the LRA are abducted children, it is evident that the movement is dependent on child soldiers.

Individual v. Collective Rights and State Sovereignty

Understanding the debate between individual and collective rights as well as state sovereignty are key to realizing an end to the conflict. For those who value individual rights, there is motivation to take steps to protecting and restoring the rights of the children in Northern Uganda, child soldiers or otherwise. For those, like the GoU, who value collective rights, there is little motivation to take steps to protecting the rights of children when that might mean compromising political and economic stability, security, and funding available to the rest of Uganda. State sovereignty is important to consider when determining the amount of international presence and pressure in Uganda. Though there is genuine international interest in protecting the human rights of Ugandan children, there is also interest in protecting the sovereignty of the GoU to make decisions about its own country. This presents challenges in the distribution of international aid and peacekeeping.

Past and Current International Responses

The EU, US, and Canada have responded to the crisis in Northern Uganda through domestic legislation, diplomatic support, and humanitarian aid. (Invisible Children) In 2005, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Joseph Kony. The UN has coordinated aid and support for the 2006 Peace Talks; however, peacekeeping forces have not been provided. (World Vision)

Non-Governmental Organizations The most active NGOs in Northern Uganda are Invisible Children, Resolve Uganda, and World Vision. Invisible Children is committed to seeking sustainable solutions to foster an environment that encourages peace, including educational and economic development. (Invisible Children) Resolve Uganda is concerned with political collective action to end the war. (Resolve Uganda) World Vision began working in Uganda in 1986 and has secured sponsorship for more than 112,000 Ugandan children to ensure their welfare and futures. (World Vision)

Government of Uganda’s Actions In 2008 the GoU, DRC, South Sudan and the Central African Republic launched an attack on LRA strongholds within DRC. (Invisible Children) The GoU has not actively given priority to protecting, rescuing, or rehabilitating children from the LRA, despite national and international laws guaranteeing their basic rights. (World Vision) Police and judicial infrastructures, crippled during the war, are unable to address high rates of sexual violence and other crimes. (World Vision) Though the GoU has created a framework for redeveloping conflict-affected areas, the continued lack of implementation has prevented educational and economic development from occurring. (World Vision)

Future Response I would advocate for a 5 pronged attack: (1)International Engagement and Peace Process, (2)Prevention, (3)Rescue and Rehabilitation, (4)Reconciliation, (5)Economic Development.

The first step towards bringing an end to the issue of child soldiers in Northern Uganda, is bringing an end to the Civil War. Engagement from world leaders could lead to the end of LRA violence and prevent additional children from being used as soldiers. Increased political pressure from citizens of the free world will be required for government and UN action. (Resolve Uganda) Americans have succeeded in lobbying Congress and the US Department of State; however, ensuring that the government follows through on promised actions is necessary. Grassroots advocacy and information sharing worldwide about the situation in Northern Uganda and other LRA-affected areas will garner support and consensus for the peace process. It is only through peace that the abducted children of the LRA will have a chance to lead lives with productive rather than violent opportunities. Even as international engagement is important, ultimately, the responsibility for future stability and the protection of human rights in Northern Uganda falls on the GoU. Following the examples of the Rwandan end to genocide and Sierra Leonean post-conflict rehabilitation of child soldiers should be referred to in order to obtain lasting and meaningful peace.

Conclusion It is critical to bring an end to the human rights violations of children in Northern Uganda. A result of the Civil War, child soldiering will end when the war ends. The GoU has taken limited steps to bringing an end to the conflict and towards protecting and restoring the rights of Ugandan children. Similarly, the UN has not taken a satisfactory role in the peace process. Increased UN presence and assistance will bring hope for swift and sustainable peace.

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

Women's Rights in Afghanistan

2010-05-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Some argue that focusing on women's rights should not be a priority; however, it will be impossible to end the insurgency without improving the role of women in a society which sees “two women…as equal to one man.” (A Woman Among Warlords) At one time, women experienced great freedom in Afghan society, including economically, domestically, and politically. In “Kabul and some other cities, some girls are now able to go to school, and certain jobs are available to women, but this is the situation of a fortunate minority.” (A Woman Among Warlords) However, as a result of decades of war, the role of women in society has been greatly damaged.

First and foremost, the rights of women must be improved in their homes. Laws such as the one passed in 2009 which allows for marital rape and food deprivation, do not show support for the rights of women in marriage. Why would individual husbands and communities show respect for women’s rights when their own government does not? Such legislation is reinforcing the adage that “killing a woman is like killing a bird.” (A Woman Among Warlords) Officials like President Karzai and his wife Zeenat must set a positive example for Afghan society by showing how a husband should treat his wife with proper respect. Zeenat should consider traveling to villages and speaking to communities about the importance of education for young girls as well as against domestic violence and rape.

Since the early 20th century, “women in Afghanistan were encouraged to work in many professions”; therefore, tapping into the talents of those women who already have experience working in business, education, or medicine will establish a foundational workforce that will lead the way for future generations. For those who do not possess such skills, the first step should be ending the perils of “many Afghan girls…who know only work and subservience from a very young age." (A Woman Among Warlords) The role of microfinance could be very beneficial in empowering women who have been found better able to manage money than their male counterparts. Sarah Chayes’ current endeavors as a soap maker are a good example of a project that Afghan women are capable of doing.

Politically, women need to be granted protections in voting and running for office. Though, as Malalai Joya points out, a “person’s ideas and character matter” more than gender, “seeing women in leadership positions can give young girls hope.” (A Woman Among Warlords) Elevating the rights of women in political positions has been beneficial in other post-conflict nations, including in Rwanda where women make up over 50% of the government. The current political structure in Afghanistan leaves out a multitude of potentially successful groups including women.

For more information on this topic, please read "A Woman Among Warlords" written by Malalai Joya, an Afghan woman who refuses to settle for failure in Afghanistan.

The "war on terror"

2010-05-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

In the name of the “war on terror,” a bomb was dropped in Waziristan this morning, May, 8, 2010, killing three and wounding many more. One must ask how this attack has impacted the war on terror. Has an attack which may have killed an individual terrorist along with civilians garnered support for the war, or is it creating enemies? Will those affected by the attack praise the actions of the US and its allies or turn to the side of the Taliban and extremist forces at work in the region?

Honestly answering such questions brings to light the need for alternative offensives in the war on terror. Alternative “offensives” could include improving education, democratic institutions, and women’s rights, as well as combating corruption and encouraging transitional justice. Focusing on such efforts would give the people of Afghanistan alternatives to joining the Taliban and would lead to long lasting, meaningful development and change in the region. Additionally, focusing efforts on curbing the power and meddling behaviors of the Pakistani government and ISI will go a long way in proving to Afghanistan that the world is willing to give them a chance to stand on their own two feet.

Future US Diplomatic and Intelligence Actions in Fighting the Worldwide Jihadist Threat

2010-02-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Diplomatic Relations

President Obama’s speech to the Muslim community in Cairo during 2009 set the stage for improved diplomatic relations with Muslims worldwide. While we have increased diplomatic presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is still a great need to improve upon diplomatic relations with other Muslim nations. Most notably, the Department of State must more publicly hold Muslim nations such as Sudan and Saudi Arabia accountable for their human rights violations and their willingness to harbor jihadists and extremist clerics. Similarly, the US must begin to listen to the cries of jihadists and Muslims worldwide who view the atrocities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an extension of the United States. While it may not be politically beneficial to hold Israel accountable for its violation of UN sanctions and poor treatment of Palestinians, in the long run, making a clear distinction between the US and Israel will go a long way in winning the hearts and minds of Muslims worldwide. Focusing our foreign aid and efforts on developing areas of the Middle East other than Israel will signal the rise of a more balanced US foreign policy.

As the US government has expressed concern over Iran’s growing nuclear capabilities, it may be time to reconsider the choice to completely sever diplomatic relations with the country. Though controversial, initiating diplomatic relations with Iran will allow for greater political influence and recognition of the growing discontent and call for democracy by Iranians. Similarly, increasing diplomatic relations through what Secretary Hillary Clinton calls “21st Century Statecraft” will expand US influence on groups which are not as accessible through traditional channels of diplomacy. By focusing on gaining the support of the current and future leaders of the Middle East, the US will experience better relations in the short and long term. Utilizing technology and the worldwide web will counter the spread of jihadist ideology and recruitment through these mediums.

Human Intelligence

As seen by the recent “Christmas Day Bombing” attempt and a suicide bombing of a U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan which killed 8 CIA employees, there is a need to improve the human intelligence aspect of our fight against jihadists. There have been significant failures since even before September 11th in the ability of the US intelligence agencies to share and coordinate information concerning terror plots. Appropriately combining the efforts of the CIA, DHS, DoJ, DoS Bureau of Diplomatic Security, FBI, and NSA will go a long way in protecting the American people.

While we have avoided an attack on US soil since 2001, we must continue to be vigilant, making prevention of an attack of the utmost importance. We must also prepare ourselves and the American public for the fact that a terrorist attack in the US is imminent—a question of “when” rather than “if.” The CIA had virtually unlimited autonomy in its activities during the Cold War and conversely extremely limited autonomy during the Clinton administration. The relationship between the US government and the Agency must take a more balanced approach to funding and oversight in order for it to be effective while avoiding “blowback.” By improving the ability of intelligence agencies to conduct their human intelligence activities, we will better be able to analyze and prevent future attacks. Though the political tides in Washington may change, consistent support for the intelligence community both financially and politically is imperative
Continuing strategic relationships with foreign intelligence agencies including the Jordanian Intelligence Agency and the British MI-5 and MI-6 will be beneficial to intercepting and thwarting threats. Conversely, greater discretion needs to be taken with the Pakistani ISI and the Saudi GIP. Using discretion will prevent Pakistani and Saudi government and military officials who are sympathetic to the Bin Laden and the Taliban from foiling US intelligence and military actions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Don't let anything steal your JOY

2009-07-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

MY MOM AND I IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE 4TH!

4^th of July in the nation’s capitol was so memorable. I was blessed with the presence of my mom, aunts, and family friend Sally. The fireworks on the national mall illuminating the Washington monument was unbelievable. Our weekend was filled with fun laughs and new adventures, including our double-decker bus tour that put us in danger of being knocked out by low branches and OF COURSE, a trip to Georgetown Cupcake :). Our most unusual activities included the Georgetown dog parade and going to the White House Visitor Center’s CHILDREN’S activity during which we wore patriot hats and pretended to be part of the Continental Congress that ratified the Declaration of Independence. After having guests I realized how I have truly become well acclimated in a new city!

JULIA AND I AT THE GEORGETOWN DOG PARADE

MY FAMILY AND I AT LA TASCA IN CHINATOWN

This past weekend I realized that I have moved past the tourist stage as I ran into people around DC whom I had met since arriving here. A friend from Pittsburgh came to visit me last weekend. He and several other of us in DC met two years ago in Philadelphia through the Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship Program. It was fun to reunite for a fun filled weekend. We had a full weekend with dinner, karaoke, salsa dancing, a 4.5 mile hike in the Shenandoah Mountains, a rooftop party and a short trip to the farmer’s market all between 5pm on Friday and Sunday at noon! I have had very eventful weekends (and weeks) including a trip to the movie theater for the midnight showing of Bruno—highly inappropriate yet hilarious moments.

FELLOW WASHINGTON CROSSING SCHOLARS

ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL WATERFALLS WE SAW ON OUR MOUNTAIN HIKE

I continue getting closer with my roommates which has been great! Out of all of my experiences here, I have most consistently enjoyed them! We had our biggest setback last week when a mouse popped out from behind the stove. It freaked me out as I stood on the couch and screamed. Julia told me to stop screaming followed by her short panic. We came to the conclusion that we couldn’t kill the mouse because we are vegetarians and mouse traps are animal cruelty. So…we just scrubbed the kitchen and have been sanitizing things more frequently, cohabitating with who Katie calls “Stewart”.

Work has been pretty slow, but I have had some cool opportunities that I am thankful for. First, I have been able to attend an Arabic language table during lunch. People who speak Arabic have very interesting backgrounds and having a sign at our lunch table that says “Arabic Table” in Arabic attracts some interesting people from future translators to missionaries to a man born and raised in the Gaza Strip! I was also given the opportunity to go to the Saudi Arabian Embassy to learn about the culture and the people of Saudi Arabia. It was a beautiful embassy, and I got to ask some “politically charged” questions of the PR person, all of which he answered skillfully. A highlight of my time at the State Department came when I was able to see Secretary Clinton speak at the employee Town Hall meeting last Friday. I admired many of her remarks and her great interest and interactions with employees and interns who had questions and comments.

My time here has brought me so many happy moments. However, for some odd reason I have been thinking almost daily about the Bible verse that says “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of any kind because we know that the testing of our faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2) Now I know that I was thinking of this verse because I was about to face an emotional trial… I had a bit of a setback yesterday which was really unexpected. Today my attitude was seriously impacted and consumed by the issue, but when I left work that verse kept scrolling through my head. I decided to work out to a different playlist (Bob Marley). Listening to a song called “Positive Vibrations” actually relaxed me. I had been thinking all day that I need to be positive but didn’t know how to pick my mood up. The workout helped! When I walked out of the gym, I felt an amazing peace and then…got half off at Qdoba! Today is significant to me because I feel that I have matured so much since last year. It was through the trials I had last year that I learned to deal with unexpected trials. Today I felt the verse is true…I have developed “perseverance.”

Be encouraged when you read this and know that whatever trials you are facing are for a reason. Remember, a trial today might be just what you need to face a trial tomorrow!

LIFE IS GOOD

2009-06-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted, life has continued to get more and more exciting. I have been enjoying life in DC so much! I continue to make new friends each week and have finally established a consistent routine with work.

Last weekend I went to dinner with my Bible Study group to a wonderful little restaurant in Chinatown. Afterwards, I went out with some other interns from work which was an absolute blast! I really hit it off with some fellow interns I met through orientation which is nice because I don’t have to tag along with my roommates and their friends. I also got to see a good family friend last week who was here for work. It was a nice way to ease any homesickness!

Bible Study out to Dinner in Chinatown

Getting around the city has become easier each day. I now know how to efficiently use the metro bus and train systems! However, Friday I decided to walk home from the gym and there was a huge thunderstorm! The wind started blowing me over so I had to hide under a porch while it was hailing and pouring rain! I emerged to find fallen trees blocking the street and smashing into cars. Thankfully I made it out without a scrath...Just a little WET! I am becoming more of an actual adult every day...my first grocery shopping trip alone was last weekend Saturday and did an amazing job of staying within my budget. Budgeting is a new challenge for me, but I think I am doing a really good job thus far! Furthermore, my roommate told me I am going to be a good mom because I cook so well...that may be the FIRST and LAST time anyone ever tells me that!

I know I jokingly told some of you I was looking for love while in DC, and I want you all to know, I have had several dating “opportunities”, one of which happened on my way home from the grocery store. I was waiting at the bus stop and a bus (which I didn’t need) stopped. I waved the bus driver on only to have the driver stop the bus (while the light was red) and ask me for my phone number. Imagine my and the many people on the crowded bus shock! I politely declined...On my way to work last week one of the garbage men pretended to ask me for directions and instead gave me his phone number…Bernard’s number is still being proudly displayed on our refrigerator. I also have had one successful dating experience with someone who is a college student and does not work for any department of the city of DC service sector :)

My roommates are absolutely amazing. I enjoy being with each of them. Recently, we have all gotten into watching “Jon and Kate Plus 8” and “The Bachelorette”. Even though each of us is different, we all get along and are open to getting to know each other better every day. My roommate Julia and I went to the Caribbean Festival/Parade by Howard University on Saturday. It was a great experience to see everyone in the neighborhood out to celebrate Caribbean culture. I even met a guy with a pet boa constrictor who let me take a picture with his snake! On Saturday evening I had a bunch of interns from work over to our apartment. It was great to relax (more like act wild) and bond with everyone—we had guests until 3:30 AM!

The CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL

The BOA CONSTRICTOR!

My roomate JULIA and I at the Caribbean Festival

This Sunday I played the piano for worship at church, and my roommate Russell played guitar. I enjoy being a part of a church body that is so welcoming to people using their gifts and talents. My faith has really been impacted by my time here. I feel that I am struggling with old temptations, but I also feel that I am growing closer to God in my quite times and fellowship with fellow believers. I have been able to mix my faith well in DC. I went to the Invisible Children “HOW IT ENDS” rally in front of the White House last week which was part of Invisible Children’s campaign to help rescue child soldiers from Northern Uganda. It is an amazing organization and hearing women from Uganda speak about the situation there was inspirational. More than anything, hearing the way their faith impacted their work gave me a renewed hope. My daily devotions have been coming out of the book “Wired for a life of Worship” by Louie Giglio. I have been so struck by what it means to worship and very convicted in my own life of where I direct my worship. My weekly Bible Study has convinced me that small groups are important in your faith. It is refreshing to support and be supported by a group of young Christians.

At the INVISIBLE CHILDREN Rally

Besides all of these wonderful experiences, I have had the opportunity to go to events at the State Department which are quite enriching. I will be going to some amazing places in the next week so keep checking for updates.

Although my time here has been very positive, I have been very saddened by two events that occurred in DC in the last couple weeks. First, the shooting at the Holocaust Museum which killed one security guard and second, the metro accident that killed 9. Both impacted me more than I thought they would. I think it is because I can see myself in their shoes. I ride the metro and have gone to the Holocaust Museum. Given there are many people who do and have done those things, but I think it mainly showed me how precious and unpredictable life really is. How one second you can be texting a friend or reading a book on the metro and the next dead in a freak accident. In everything, I have been inspired to live my life to the fullest while I am here. I want to soak in new experiences and be thankful for the blessings I have. Even if I have a long day, I remind myself at least once a day “LIFE IS GOOD.” I think no matter how horrible life may seem, it is possible to be thankful for even the most basic of things. This may not pull me out of a bad mood but at the very least it can bring me back to the reality that each person who is still living is blessed to have each breath we breathe. This weekend my mom, her friend Sally and my two aunts are coming to visit. The Fourth of July in DC ought to be an amazing time! Enjoy the pictures that I post…there will be many more to come :)

Welcome to the District!

2009-06-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe I have only been in DC for 10 days. It already feels like I have been here for a while. Life here is off to a great start, and God has been doing some awesome things.

I have been making friends here and there, but the friends I have made are really great! I didn’t know any of my roommates before I came to DC but I really enjoy them. We got a free TV from the guys downstairs so that is our nightly activity after we get home from work and the gym. We are all fairly new at cooking, but we have gotten pretty creative with our meals. One of my roommates Russell was actually a Bible camp counselor last summer, so we went to church together and Bible study together as well! (The church I am attending is called 3 strands community church. It is much like my church, Damascus Road in Madison! There are tons of interns, and everyone is really relaxed and friendly. I may be playing the piano for worship in the near future.) Katie and I are TV addicts and watch the show Snapped and anything we can possibly think of to DVR every night. Julia is the resident “mom” who is always checking in with us to make sure everyone had a good day at work. At work, I met an intern named Laura who was also a Bible camp counselor before this summer, and she is in a sorority like me! I do not know how it’s possible that 2 of my 6 friends so far are camp counselors, but that just shows God is at work! We eat lunch together every day, workout together, and spent a good chunk of the weekend together exploring DC. For only knowing one another for a week, we have had a lot of great memories already. We went down to the waterfront last weekend where people dock their boats. Some guys waved us to come on their boat, so we joined the festivities and hung out there all day! It was a blast. I met another intern who I hung out with Laura and I over the weekend. His best friend from school in New York is from Wisconsin and he went to high school with a my friend from school. (SMALL WORLD) I was out and about in this area called Adams Morgan on Saturday night and saw a girl who I work with in the Information and Tour Guide office…we were very surprised to run into each other as you can imagine!

Work so far is good! I have learned a lot of interesting things and enjoy chatting with all of the interesting people I work with. There is actually a UW alumnus in my office and when my boss was in the Foreign Service, his best friend was from Wisconsin as well!

TONS OF WISCONSIN (and random) connections, and I am sure there will be more random ones to come!

I am reading a really great book called “Wired for a Life of Worship” by Louie Giglio. It is an amazing encouragement to worship God with every opportunity we receive.

Shoot me an email/call if you want to catch up more!

Love,
Antoinette

Money Can Solve Africa's Development Problems if...the West Wakes Up!

2009-04-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

There are two general areas that both the “no” and “yes” camps focus on in discussing this topic—empowerment and entrepreneurship. The empowerment group invokes the idea of “Africans for Africa.” First, young Africans must focus on turning their problems into opportunities. Many site Uganda as an excellent case in point. The president of Uganda worked to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS through using methods that empowered individuals in a way that was culturally relevant and thus more effective than Western programs. I think the example of Uganda is an important case study in the power of Africans to rise up and take action to solve their own problems. After examining aid programs in African countries, it is clear that “Western arrogance” is not limited to “cookie cutter” problem solving in the Middle East. Western countries and citizens believe that they have the superior solutions to Africa’s problems. In reality, Western countries and citizens are unaware of the cultural and political differences in Africa and have no reason to believe that their money can change the continent. Rather than “throwing money” at Africa, Westerners should follow the advice of one development pioneer Edward Green, and “go to Africa with humility, open minds, and the ability to learn and discern what works in different cultural settings.” By understanding other cultures, development organizations and Western citizens will be able to understand how to really help the citizens of poor countries. One organization that has done a particularly good job in helping empower local groups is Kiva, which allows you to lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world—empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. The World Bank and other development organizations should take a hint from Kiva and start empowering citizens rather than corrupt governments.

Encouraging entrepreneurship is also an excellent way to increase quality of life, economic growth, and market competition. The idea of “seed loans” of $10,000-$20,000 to small entrepreneurs is a good starting point. When people have control of their own economic future, they will be more likely to sustain growth because they will be interested and motivated to make their own ideas succeed. Some might feel such arguments are purely normative; however, their foundations represent free enterprise, a goal which all major economies and economic organizations claim to support. China (though I'm not a huge fan) is a great example in showing that free enterprise is not only possible in Western, democratic countries, but can be achieved when entrepreneurs in any country take responsibility for their own well being. The recent rise in competition between private and public education in Africa is case in point of the positive changes that can happen when people take initiative to help themselves.

Overall, the prospects for development in Africa look bleak. As idealistic as I am, I do not see Western culture moving away from viewing money as the main solution to solving Africa’s problems. Each year, the number of organizations and people collecting money to help Africa continues to grow yielding only short term results that do not help solve long term problems. If Western citizens and governments are actually serious about investing in the future of Africans, they need to promote more engaging and personal development strategies that will lead to a better understanding of cultural differences and involvement of Africans in solving their own problems.

"Never Again?"

2009-03-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

With the great news of the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Al-Bashir a few days ago, I thought I would post a couple comments about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

First, I think it is really amazing how time after time, we say "never again". After the Holocaust, we said "never again" but a few years later we saw ethnic and religious "cleansing" in what is now Pakistan, then more recently in Rwanda, Bosnia, and now in Sudan. This is of course a shortened list to which many incidents could be added. After each of these incidents (other than Darfur) we said "never again." Obviously the international community forgot about to "never say never" in claiming that change would follow such catastrophic events.

Second, I wish there was more journalism dedicated to informing the public on how serious this situation actually is. We believe that our news is not censored by our government, which is true, so who is censoring our country from learning the real truth behind the causes and complexities in Darfur? I would argue that we are censoring ourselves from knowing what is actually happening in Darfur and what is stopping our government from entering Darfur. In the end, our lack of serious pressure on the Sudanese government is a result of our complex relationship of economic codependency on China for cheap imports and financial exports. China wishes to capitalize on the Darfur conflict by purchasing cheap oil taken from the people of Sudan by the genocidal government. We do not want to make China unhappy because they could make all of our consumer "MADE IN CHINA" items more expensive.

Finally, I wanted to note that this genocide has serious implications for the future of Sudan. The children of Darfur are targeted as heavily as adults. In fact a CNN article discusses how perpetrators are taught to target children through sexual violence. These children are not only losing their friends, homes, and families, but they are also losing their right to life in that they are psychologically and emotionally damaged beyond belief.

Please check out World Vision's website for some ways YOU can help!

http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/pr.nsf/stable/eNews_sudan_082504?Open&lid=sudan_relief&lpos=today1_5

All of these reasons lead me to partner with our on campus group Action In Sudan by submitting some of my thoughts on why Darfur is important to me by relating my own identity to the conflict. These were some of my points:

"Darfur matters to me as a political science major because I believe as the Declaration of Independence says, 'all men are created equal' ."
-Antoinette Pick-Jones, Political Science and Economics '11

"Darfur matters to me as a Christian because my faith reminds me to treat others how I would want to be treated"
-Antoinette Pick-Jones, Campus Crusade Member

"Darfur matters to me as an economics major because I see that by buying Chinese products we are indirectly allowing the Sudanese government to continue the genocide."
-Antoinette Pick-Jones, Economics Major '11

"Darfur matters to me as a former camp counselor because childhood should mean carefree living, not living in constant fear."
-Antoinette Pick-Jones, Former camp counselor, Crescent Lake Bible Camp

"Darfur matters to me as a runner because I believe running should be for fitness not to save your life."
-Antoinette Pick-Jones, Running Coach for Elementary school girls

"Darfur matters to me as an African dancer because African culture is lost during genocide."
-Antoinette Pick-Jones, African Student Association

First Thoughts

2009-03-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

I am starting this blog to jot down random thoughts about what's going on in my life. I don't get a chance to call people who I want to talk to as often as I wish, so I thought a blog would allow me to share what has been happening in my life without spending hours chatting on the phone or facebook chat! I was also thinking that this would be a great way to share my spiritual thoughts with everyone who has had an impact on my life over the years. I named the blog preaching foolishness because I think that phrase sums up a lot of who I am. First the passage in 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 is humbling to me, and it had a huge impact on the way I look at evangelism especially after the life-changing summer I had at Crescent Lake Bible Camp. In other aspects of life, I think I preach foolishness often. I am usually the one person who plays the devil's advocate or has the most extreme opinions on issues as serious as human rights to being a vegetarian to issues as pointless as the printing machines at the library! So anyway, I will try to post once a week or so! I hope everyone enjoys!

With love,

Antoinette