Ariah's thoughts

TAKE ACTION NOW!

So, I've learned a lot about international debt relief and the stuff is just shocking. It's probably the thing that has gotten me more political then anything else. I'd explain more, but that will be for another time (actually I post a speech I wrote on it for my summer school class). For now though I thought I'd start by helping everyone take one (maybe two) small steps towards getting politically active. The first is this link:
http://www.debtireland.org/
I won't explain much it's pretty in depth, but the idea is basically to send an e-card to the World Bank and IMF (you'll learn) and let them know that the debt they are holding over poor countries is wrong and bad.

Number two, is this: There is this thing called the Millenium challenge. The rich countries got together (the US is a big one) and decided that in the new millenium we should help the poorest countries (not with oppressive debt like we did the last few decades- See the documentary Life + Debt if you want to learn a little). So the US had commited to giving 2.5 Billion, then it got cut to 1.25, not it might be 1.1 billion. So we are telling folks to call the white house and let them know we should give at least 1.25 billion. Here is the full email below:

We need your help! Lifesaving effort to fight global poverty in danger!

America’s Millennium Challenge to fight global poverty and corruption is in danger. Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to cut requested funding by more than 50%.

YOU can help to save the Millennium Challenge!

America’s Millennium Challenge is an historic initiative to help the poorest countries fight poverty and corruption. It rewards democratic countries that use their own resources to fight poverty, and demonstrate a commitment to fighting corruption. Support for anti poverty programs such as this also helps the fight against AIDS because AIDS thrives in conditions of extreme poverty.

Unfortunately, two years after announcing this initiative, the Bush Administration has failed to get it fully up and running and fight for full funding. Because of this inaction, the House of Representatives cut Millennium Challenge funding in half. Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee cut even further.

Announcing the Millennium Challenge in 2002, President Bush said there are no second-class citizens in the human race, and he "carries this commitment in my soul."

Now it’s up to you to tell President Bush to live up to his commitment and save the Millennium Challenge.

Call 1-877-HOPE-USA (1-877-467-3872)

to be connected directly to the White House.

Tell President Bush you support the lifesaving Millennium Challenge.

For more information about the Millennium Challenge and what to say when you call, please click here.

Act now and lend your voice to the fight against global AIDS and poverty.

This message brought to you by DATA, a member of the ONE campaign

Okay, I know people have all kinds of opinions about the war in Iraq, and I'm not going to go into mine right now. I did want to say this though, as we remembered recently the death of the 1000th US soldier in Iraq.

Thousands have died in that war that were not soldiers of either side, they were civilians, women, children, the elderly. You might still support the war, but we must face the realities that War in this day is also a war against civilians. I'll find the facts and post them here later (Check out Howard Zinn's A People's History of The United States of America, that book will knock your socks off).

For now though I wanted to point folks to a website called www.iraqbodycount.org I guess people think the numbers aren't accurate, or are at least skewed. And others argue that this needs to be seen in the light of the hundreds that were dying at the hand of Saddam Hussein. I realize all that and I'm very glad you do as well. I want to say this though: those facts in no way take away from the fact that many more then the 1000 US soldiers have lost their lives, and that is something we need to take more seriously.

I'd really appreciate feedback on this one. I'm getting into soapbox mode so I think it's time to stop. Just remember people are dying in the world, what are you doing about it?

So I was bored the other day and thought I'd check out wheatonforum.com
If you don't know what that is (or was) it is a online website for Wheaton College students to talk about all kinds of things. One cool feature was where you could rate professors, which was helpful in deciding who to take for classes. Anyways, to my disappoitment, the website is no longer there!
Well, I quickly stepped into action and you can now find http://www.wheatonlist.info as the new source for all your wheaton posting needs.

Hopefully people see it, so tell your friends.

I can write from Anywhere!
This is very cool. I'm in the library, just finished some Greek homework and now on to some other stuff (It's called hermeneutics, you think they could find an easier word). Mindy's at class and loving it, I hope.
She's got her big GRE test this week so she's a little stressed trying to study for that and a bunch of other exams this week. Don't they know about the GRE!!! Somebody should tell them. Okay, they probably do.
Well, nuff here I just wanted to enjoy they versatility of a website like this.
Oh and by the way our really cool cousin (all the other cousins are cool too, we haven't forgotten you!) is going to the Dominican Republic! She wanted a place to update people to so here is her new blog: http://izzyandmandy.blogspot.com and she is raising support so if you feel lead to donate let me know and I'll tell you how.

later!

This is my beautiful wife mindy. 

In an effort to start making this more thought provoking I thought I'd write about another thing on my mind. I'm trying to decide what to write for our school newspaper again and I've only got one major idea in mind and it has to do with politics. I want to know why people want to vote for George Bush. Christians, I know he says he's a Christian but besides that fact alone I just have a hard time with it. I did the survey's on these two sites:

http://www.selectsmart.com/president/
http://www.presidentmatch.com/Guide.jsp2 (thanks Zach!)

Turns out I'm closest in line with Cobb (green party) then Nader then Kerry, and Bush is like a 21% match. Why? I guess I'm not in favor of outlawing homosexuals like so many Christians seem to want to do. And though I think abortion is wrong, seeing as the past couple Republican presidents haven't done much about it, I'd rather see things done to support the women who are facing those tough decisions. I know I probably exaggerated things there or simplified them or something. That's just the two things I hear Christians give for voting Bush. Oh, and I'm definitly against the war.

nuff said for now.

peace.

I made this little site to tell Wheaton Students about free stuff. It's called http://www.freewheatonipod.info

just a simple site kind of a spoof on the actual wheaton college website.
Let me know what you think of it.

Sorry the freewheatonbooks.com site isn't working yet

Just so you know: That last blog Remembering 9/10 was an article I wrote for last weeks Wheaton Record (Wheaton College school Newspaper). Thought you might like to see it. I'll post a few more up here later.

Remembering 9/10

This date will go down in history as a tragic one for our world. The cold heartedness that could bring such atrocity to mankind makes ones heart tremble. We pause in remembrance of the tragedy that has occurred. We look forward, gaining strength from those who have been an example of heroism in the past.

The evil of hunger claimed the lives of 40,000 children on 9/10 that did not need to die. They were little ones to whom belongs the kingdom. Their death was not due to the overt hatred and action of ones they would call their enemies. These children died because of the passive complacency of people they might even call friends. There is no monument built at which to lay flowers or say prayers on behalf of these victims. Their names are not remembered on this campus, for we did not know them personally.

Try as we may, we cannot point the finger and say with conviction, "let justice be served." If there is injustice it is our own doing. If we seek to point the finger we can only look to our own apathy and lack of concern for addressing this tragedy. This catastrophic event that we faced and continue to face is real and it is happening everyday. This is an issue that requires, even demands, our action. History will repeat it self. History IS repeating itself.

We do not mourn this tragedy without hope, we have hope. We have an example and a hope to look to because there are heroes who came before us. Jesus was that example and he IS that hope. He told us to give to the least of these, to love our neighbors; He feed, healed, shared. Like the parable of Lazarus we stand as the rich man with the resources God has given to us and we are not sharing with the poor beggar who is within our reach.

Let me be clear, the events remembered on 9/11 are tragic, and we are right to remember and mourn. For those who experienced the loss of friends or family, I and this community grieve with you. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to witness first hand the loss of a loved one, and collectively with so many in our nation. 9/10 should not be any less remembered. The loss of life that occurred this day was tragic and was within our means to stop. And each day from then until now the same tragedy occurs, and we either never cared in the first place, or have become so desensitized that our heart is numb.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” These children that are dying are our neighbors, many are our brothers and sisters in Christ. In past centuries we could say we lacked the means and resources to address these issues. Today we do not have that option. If we continue to live in the gross abundance that we have as our brothers and sisters daily die of starvation and disease that we can combat, we are without excuse.

Grieve 9/11 and pray the Lord keep your heart tender and open to His love. Grieve 9/10 and each day, and pray the Lord would turn your heart to a fervent life changing love for those in need. Pray he teaches you his truth, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."