What is Keeping us from Peace

What is Keeping us from PEACE from Itzel Figueroa on Vimeo.

Making Peace

This has not been just another English class; it has been more than that. During this semester I have learned so much about Peacemakers, organizations, what is happening in our neighborhood, and at the same time I was able to improve my English skills, and how to express myself and what I think through blogs and assignments. I learned that there are so many people out in the world making a change for peace. And I know that I am contributing with little things such as helping my community. At the moment I’m working with the local foster organization called Lutheran Social Services in gathering donations such as toys for their Christmas Party, and in a couple of weeks I will helping out with the ‘Secret Santa’ held by the Salvation Army and America’s National Technical Honor Society.
As for the future I cannot really say how it will turn out to be, but one thing that will continue to be in me is HOPE. Hope that, one day, things will change for good; hope that people will change their mentality and open up their hearts to a better world. I will continue putting my effort in all I can do to help out in one way or another. I have always enjoyed helping my community through organizations and on my own. I may not be the greatest peacemaker, but I know I can start making a change with little steps.

Crime in Juarez

 A couple of months ago there was a well known masacre in Cd. Juarez, where around fourteen people were killed, and several others severly injured. It was at a teenage boy's birthday party and a group of men showed up with AK-47's looking for for someone. When they found out that no one new anything about this person, they decided to shoot. There was a lady among the innocent people that were killed,  the mother of the bithday boy, who was carrying a little like inside of her. These men did not care a bit for who was there or if they had nothing to do with the peson that they were looking for.
This is what shocks me the most, how there are some people out there committing crimes just to get money, people without a heart. How can they sleep? Everything has changed over the years, unfortunately not for the best. I have not lost hope that one day, there will be a change that will make things better.

The Salvation Army

Poverty can be found in every city of every country. Some cities have a higher percentage than others. El Paso is not the exception; of course it is not as extreme as what we have seen on videos of Pakistan, Afghanistan, or third world countries, but the need still exists. It is very poignant to see people on the streets begging, suffering from hunger and health, and without a house to live in. Many people live in low conditions due to different circumstances in their lives such as unemployment, lack of low income housing, personal problems, among others. One of the biggest drawbacks for these people is the deficiency of knowledge, not intelligence nor education, but knowledge of all the help and advantages that the government, community, and non-profit organizations can assist them with and provide to them.

“Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination,” this is the mission of The Salvation Army, founded in 1865 by William Booth as an “evangelical organization,” meaning the fighting force to embrace the salvation. Booth began by preaching the gospel during the hard times of Europe during the late 1800’s, and giving comfort to those in need. Little by little more people followed his word and joined his army of salvation increasing the number of gospel preachers, also known as ‘disciples.’ The army for salvation was set, and spread throughout Europe, and America. Today, this is an international non-profit organization which has helped countless number of people around the world. The Salvation Army has been rebuilding lives by providing comfort and support to the poor, homeless, hungry, needy, and those who have been affected by natural disasters. The Salvation Army’s officers (‘soldiers’) and volunteers (‘the army behind the army’) are found in over 118 countries ready to fight against misfortunes such as those recent ones in Indonesia’s volcanic eruption, Pakistan’s floods, New Zealand’s earthquake, and in the past most of its support went to the United States when the hurricane Katrina.

The Salvation Army does not only concentrate on major, international disasters, but also in helping local communities. El Paso is very fortunate to have this army established, because it has helped many people in need. Here, in El Paso, there are families of low income, people begging on the streets without shelter that need help either financially or by being provided with goods. How the Salvation Army reaches out to the community and what it does for these families and individuals is amazing. There is a program initiated by the First Lady as a way to give back to the community by ‘Feed the Homeless’ they offer lunch to the homeless, this is offered also at the Salvation Army centers. One of their main projects in El Paso, where they get all the community involved and gives to a large number of families, is the Christmas Charity also known as ‘Secret Santa’. As a non-profit organization they prepare with several months in advance by collecting donations. The idea is to put together food goods to help these needy families when it comes to sitting down at the dinner table with a nice warm meal to celebrate the holidays. Everything helps; people donate everything from can goods, pastas, and stuffing, to cereal, cookies, and juice, among other foods. Companies also donate products such as the turkeys, hams, and gallons of milk. The Salvation Army is aware of the low income of these families and knows that parents are not able to buy gifts for their children, so they also provide them with toys to the little ones. Another project that they do during the holidays is the Christmas Tree at the malls, children’s names are written on papers that hang from the tree, and people get those papers and buy clothing or toys so that this kids receive a gift from ‘Santa.’

Going back to talking about the deficiency about knowledge, many people are not aware of this event or any other, because they are not well informed. For such event mentioned above, people have to register around August-September. Maybe the problem is that The Salvation Army is not advertising itself properly, although a large number of families get registered, it might be that people do not pay attention or look for help. Some people might not have access to the internet, but there are at least six Salvation Army centers located in El Paso, where people can go get information and help. This organization is supported by financial, goods, vehicles, and planned growing donations. It also works with some of the school districts; one of them is the Socorro ISD. Schools participate in a friendly competition to collect donations, or volunteer at the Secrete Santa and the collection of monetary donations at the Cielo Vista mall.

This international, non-profit organization gives out to the poor, homeless, hungry, and needy, but it would not be able to do so without the support of its community (the army behind the army), together they meet human needs, which is exactly what Booth had envisioned. Some people help support it, others receive from it, and unfortunately many still do not know about the great faith that The Salvation Army can offer to them. Sadly, there are some families that know about this organization, but take too much advantage of it when they really do not need that help as much as others do. The Salvation Army is there for those who want it, for those who are looking for salvation, not only physically but also spiritually.

“An enemy is a person whose story we have not heard”

Quote by: Quaker Peace Activist
Gene knudson Hoffman

It is true when they say, 'you should not judge a book by its cover'. We are afraid of those who we don’t know, of those who are strangers to us, because we think they are different and we might not have a connection with them. We do not know how a person might be until we get to know them, their personality, and maybe even some of their past. In the long run we could find out that they are similar to us, have same problems or anecdotes to share that we might actually enjoy listening to. Everyone disserves a chance and the opportunity to be listened.

What would it be if we just walk down the hall, if we do not talk to people and we believe that they are enemies just because we do not know them? It is really hard to talk to people we do not know, but we have to break the ice somehow; when we give the first step we break it, and cross the enemy line to where we do not see that stranger or enemy anymore.

A good example would be our parents, we usually judge them and say that they are our enemies because they set rules, tell us what to do, what is bad for us and/or give us their advice when we do not want it. We should stop for a minute and reflect on why is it that they say no, or actually ask them for their reasons to do so. By this we will be breaking the ice, and we might find some interesting things. They will open and tell us about their experiences, they do not want us to make the same mistakes they did when they were young, and that their advice is for us to take and apply. This will take to a closer relationship with our parents, where we will not see them as our enemies anymore.

Looking at it in a funny nice way, we like stories and those who tell them have this magical thing that attracts other’s attention and make us focus on what they are saying. A person will never look at the enemy, but, like little kids, we will sit down and listen to the storyteller.

Building Peace

It is amazing how people in other places in the world have completely different lifestyles than ours. This video tells us a little about the conditions of living in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A failing circumstance led Greg Mortenson to one of these cities, where he was nourished and taken care of by the people. While he was here he noticed that people specially children lacked education and knowledge. He would tell the children stories and give them lectures; he noticed that these children would be writing down on the dirt with a stick. When he felt better he promised to come back and provide them with an institution for learning. As promised, he returned and established the Central Asia Institute for boys and girls.

His focus is on education and health, especially for girls. It is believed that if women are taught up to fifth grade, they will have a better condition in life; teaching them how to sow will create a way for them to sustain their families and at the same time help the economy. The people reacted really well to Mortenson, welcoming them to their family after “Three Cups of Coffee” (book written by Mortenson). This video gives us the oportunity to see people in other conditions, and compare and be thankful for what we have and how we live.

I am not saying that they are poor and suffer, and we are rich. But what I am really trying to say is that sometimes, if not most of the time we take things for granted without knowing what others have to go through in order to have a fourth of what we have. It is great that people like Mortenson try to improve cities like these. One person cannot change the world, but one peorson can start a change.