Vicious Cycle

We point fingers at China for ignoring the human rights abuses in Sudan in order to get its oil--but we are contributing to the problem. I just read today that a significant percentage of our goods come from factories in China. And while we blame China for its apparent immoral actions as it supplies Sudan with money for its oil which the government uses to murder its southern population--we forget one key factor...China wouldnt need all that oil if we didnt rely on them for cheap labor for iPods. So, in a way, we are responsible too. Ill admit, I benefit from cheap labor like everyone else and I'd rather pay $250 for an iPod than $450 for an American laborer to do it--but does that make me part of the problem? By buying a new iPod and I contributing to the death of a woman and her child in Darfur? Did that toaster I bought aid in displacing the Lost Boys? In this "shrinking" world, it is good that we are interconnected, but that also means that our actions can negatively impact someone on the other side of the world. I know that people need jobs, and even if they are low paid by American standards, they are still making some income, but what happens to my conscience? Although this might be terrible to admit, I am a little more concerned with dollars aiding the genocidal slaughter of people whose only crime is to be alive in southern Sudan than I am with underpaid workers in China. However, whenever I buy an item and discover on the bottom the little words "Made in China" will I see a picture of a 14 year old boy covered in grime bringing pennies home to his family because I bought something I didnt need in the first place? Was I helping or hurting him? And because I bought that toaster oven, and the money filtered its way upwards through the bureaucracy of socialism into the government's hands, will it make its way into the hands of the Sudanese government and janjaweed? Will the toaster oven, iPod, shirt, or dog toy I buy eventually pay for a machine gun put in the hands of a ten year old boy who has been brain-washed into killing his whole village? How do we live with our materialistic selves?!?!

Shades of Gray

Oh thin silver strand,
how you torment me.
Will you go away?
Or tomorrow will I find three?
Are you the product
of my stress and anxiety?
Or is early aging,
to be my destiny?
MCAT, boobs flat,
new job?, puppy pee,
gaining weight,
now Im late...
What will become of me?

Thoughts from inside the wheel 2

The hamster continues to run furiously, trying to get somewhere. But running in place never gets you far. I had an interview this week and it looks promising. I feel almost naughty, as if Im a double agent. When I was asked why I was leaving, I squirmed a little, but then I remembered that I saw a fellow coworker get fired to give someone who quit his job (and I can't stand her). I've seen a managing partner that is on vacation or at a board meeting (for something completely irrelevant to the practice) more than he is at work. I've had piles of busywork heaped on my already teetering pile so that someone else doesn't have to do it (even though it would take him five minutes). I did my boss's Christmas cards even though his wife doesn't work and their kids are in school. Do your own damn cards! I didn't get an A in all my English and writing classes at the university to write your holiday cards to your extended family. When someone suggested bonuses or raises, no eye contact was made and something about offering better health insurance was offered as an explanation. Of course they dont care! They, with their 800,000.00 houses and brand new SUVs. Their kids in private schools and family vacations every two months. Its the typical Republican sentiment: keep the little guys down so you can get richer. I'm sick of working for these people. I quit.

The Naked Truth

Why is it that women can be seen naked (or almost) in movies, but you hardly ever see a man naked (well, the interesting parts anyway)? I think its just another example of how in this still patriarchal society the degrading of women continues. What a better way to keep us as second class citizens than to expose us in front of millions? Fine, dont make us wear veils and dress in long robes, but to go the completely opposite direction and expose our woman-ness for the world to see and for men to salivate after is not what feminism is about. Its about respect. It is as equally degrading to bare our breasts to the world as it is to claim that women should be seen and not heard.