Dave Matthews Band

LOVE IT.

The "explanation"

I felt the need to step away, if only for a couple of days. I need to abstractly find my way back to me, to you, to faith in us- "us" as in you and me, but also "us" as in people in general. People like you and me, and yet also people very unlike you and me.

This is one tough world to digest.

I need to step away and recover force. I need to leave blame far behind and learn to be morally selfish. I am aware of just how lucky I am, in so many and different ways...but I still belong to this world. I desperately need balance. There's only one person who can give it to me: myself.

I thought this poem was perfect for you.

A Special World

A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb.

Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
Gently nestling us to the fold
Like silken thread it holds us fast
Bonds like this are meant to last.

And though at times a thread may break
A new one forms in its wake
To bind us closer and keep us strong
In a special world, where we belong.

- Sheelagh Lennon -

how ethical is it to give money to people on the streets?

My whole life I've been asked for money by people on the streets. It has never ceased to upset me.

It's a very effective -and unnecessary- reminder of my country's reality. Not only does it make me sad, but it also puts me in a very uncomfortable position: weather I'm walking around or driving in my car, there's something sort of abusive about someone tapping on my shoulder or knocking on my car's window demanding for something I'm supposed to have and obliged to give. Beggars, weather they're young or old, male or female, always have this look; this look: not precisely a sad one, more like a blaming one. While it always makes me feel responsible somehow, it still delivers a clear message of full resignation.

I try to have coins near by, I always carry candy (for children) and in the mornings I usually have one or two extra bananas. But---is that better than nothing? when can it ever be enough?

Money- how much is enough? how much is too little?
Food- is that polite?
Candy- how can a piece of candy help children that should be in school but instead are forced to collect a certain amount of money by the end of the day?

There's this blind woman and her son (I suppose) that come to my window every single morning, and it is really getting me down. I feel so responsible I sometimes try to avoid the street where they usually are, just so that I don't have to be in that so very unfair position. Unfair for both parties, I guess. Whose fault is it? Should they stop asking, should I stop giving, should this go on, is this natural?

Beggars have existed ever since history can tell. That doesn't make it right. It certainly doesn't help me know how to act.

I feel so trapped in this very depressing human reality, frustateddddddddddddddd

17

17 is just a number, a number I don't really dislike. Well, I can't really think of any number i dislike...what really scares me is what this number, 17, represents to me as a Guatemalan.

17 is the number of people that get killed everyday in my country. 17 is the number of mothers that are going to have their hearts broken everyday. 17 is the number of families that are going to be victims of what appears to be unstoppable violence- everyday, in this country, my country, my Guatemala.

17 is much more than a number to me. it keeps multiplying. it hurts me.

Kosovo and Fidel

OK I know you read the press and don't need me to tell you about this two amazing events that took place just yesterday. It's all so complicated I can barely even express an opinion, but from my very limited comprehension of this two situations I must say I am glad.

Kosovo- this region deserves its independence. The countries that are against it, apart from Serbia (whose reasons are evident), are obviously trying to stop this event from becoming a trend. Russia is still an extremely large country, whose government has very limited real control over its population and territory; China is concerned about Taiwan; Spain is troubled with the Basque Country situation...but all those situations are completely different to Kosovo's. This independence had to have happened sooner, but I am really glad it happened at all, and support it.

Fidel- it's no secret he's old and ill, and those are not the conditions a leader of any country should be ruling on. What will happen to the "Cuban Revolution" now it's uncertain, but I am positive that it was time for Fidel to step down.

stop

sometimes i wish i could be more ignorant of my human condition and my world's nature. i am human, of course, but sometimes i really regret it. don't get me wrong: i love life, of course i do. being alive, experiencing the world is absolutely fantastic...! but very often i get so amazed and ashamed of the kind of thoughts and feelings that us humans can have and act on. how can we be so incredibly beautiful and such monsters at the same time? "it's all about making the right choices", but what about the choices that others make for you? arghhhh i better go to sleep now

no más violencia! URL 14.02.08

it all started as a joke. me and a couple of friends trying, as we so often do, to mock our country's violent reality, so that we can forget that we're a part of it. at least for a minute.

in guatemala we celebrate valentine's day, on february 14th (US influence, as random as that is, haha). but it is somewhat hard to get in the mood when all you hear about and read about in the papers is violence: killings, thefts, carjacks, kidnappings, extortion...it's not pretty.

well, we said: "let's do something about it". but what can 3 girls do? well...now i know: A LOT. we knew that we couldn't do much just the three of us, we needed more people to join us. so...

on the 14th most people dress in red. it's almost weird, haha. well, we summoned every student of our university through facebook (oh...soon i have to write a post about how i love fb!!! haha) to dress in red as a protest against violence inside and off campus. that was easy, we got a lot os support, and probably half the people weren't even aware of the fact that they we're supporting us- it was great. we also asked for 15 minutes of their time, to lie, under a tree, as dead bodies. that isn't a lot to ask for is it??? well, a lot of people didn't think it was 'cause a lot came. it was truly fantastic.

now we have a list of names and e-mail addresses of people willing to commit to this cause and participate in formulating ideas on how to address the problem of violence inside and off campus.

the university responded too! a few hours later every uni student received a letter from the Dean telling us she supported the cause and that the university was willing to take measures to make us feel more safe, at least in campus.

this might not seem like a lot to people from other countries, developed countries, where students pull stuff like this all the time. the reason why this is such an accomplishment to us is because this isn't a common thing among uni students in guatemala. this kind of manifestation is a breakthrough, a breakthrough violent protests, a breakthrough fear of participating, a breakthrough silence...

this is not the end of this movement. we're just getting started!