Concerned!

I'm concerned about the protests happening in America. Most recently and thus far the most disturbing is the "I'm a Muslim" movement.

This nomenclature that is irresponsibly being disseminated through social media, written on protest signs, in the papers, voiced by influential celebrities and political figures is contemptible.

Muslims and other immigrants came to this great country, America to find freedom, some came to escape poverty others seeking political asylum and various other reasons. In other words they sought independence from a bondage that repressed them.

Yet we as Americans speak back to them, "we are you?" No! We are supposed to be exercising our rights as citizens to be individuals and lovers of freedom.

The Statue of Liberty was, and in many cases still is, the first glimpse of anonymity, justice and freedom many immigrants see when they enter our country. This isn't to say all Muslims are immigrants, many are already proud Americans.

Lady liberty says "give me your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." This itself, The Statue of Liberty, was built to symbolize the freedom of American slaves and the hopes of the French wanting to emancipate themselves from oppression.

Are we as Americans so arrogant to think Muslims, foreign or native, need our help or empathy! We are individuals with our own identities in the United States of America. Let FREEDOM ring!

*The New Colossus, by Emma Lazarus (written on the Statue of Liberty)
*picture credit Pixabay

Teachers

I am currently enrolled in "Puttin' it In" University. My favorite teachers are Jay Z, Drake, Bill Gates and Noam Chomsky. My favorite subjects are economics, literature and philosophy.

My current GPA is very low. I'm getting a 'D' in every class because I'm so far behind with the required reading, and the professors won't slow down and let me catch up. They are on a mission.

I respect their decision to progress and continue reading at a steady pace, as the end date for each class isn't yet determined.

I appreciate their insights along the way and constant motivation towards the emancipation of self.

*photo credit pixabay 

Puzzle

As I examine various parts or pieces of my life, I often wonder how they all fit together.

A puzzle, unlike life, has a picture to follow. If you look at the pieces, separate the colors, put together the corners, create a frame and fill in the center, keep building upon your work, eventually you complete or put the puzzle together.

I was looking at life and putting the pieces of it together based on a picture I don't understand. In other words, how did I get here? And really, as I think about it, is the picture I've been using even correct?

The picture I've been using is my life as it looks now. If I complete my puzzle based on this, it falls short of the ultimate destination. I can only complete a chapter of my life this way.

I think I'm going to choose a different strategy. I think I will put the pieces of my life together with the picture of me smiling, beautiful and glorious.

This way, each piece, good, bad or indifferent, makes me smile because it's me, Donna!

New Discoveries

I've been introduced to some really marvelous things these past few days. The amazing thing about each one of them, I didn't have to leave my living room chair to find them.

Which leads me to my first discovery...

1. In addition to phone service for low income people and families, there's also Internet services. This demonstrates how essential the World Wide Wed is to communication and our place in the world.
2. It is actually possible to print human body parts! This has astonishing potential and will impact many lives in incredible ways.
3. Gates Notes! Book reviews, the most current information about the world's events and rich, intellectual insights from Bill Gates, himself.
4. A morsel of understanding about monetary policy.

Understanding

I used to think that reading for understanding was a slow process, as opposed to reading for enjoyment, which seemed much quicker.

However, I now realize, that I was mistaken. Reading for understanding isn't slower, it's simply a different process, that sometimes takes a little bit more time.

It's the details that can't be overlooked that make the difference.