Why don't people Care?

Hello!

So today, I came to the realization that people don't care about what is going on in the world. It hit me so hard and actually brought me to tears. So, I wrote a poem about it. Oddly enough, this poem is like an Ariel-rant and not the same as my other ones.

Written by: Ariel Anib
March 29, 2011

Apathetic

Trouble in Paradise
I love my house. My family. My friends. I am blessed.
I live in the land of opportunity. The USA.
But you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
One day you have everything, the next day, Nothing.
I trusted one man. And now look.
I am living on the streets.
No family. No friends. Everything I once knew, gone.
I live in the land of the free. The USA.
But I am in bondage.
That isn’t worst of my problems.
My situation has rendered me invisible.
Hundreds of people walk past me daily.
How do you look, but not really see?
My hurts. My bruises. My pain. My scars.
Can’t you see that I have lost my power.
Actions speak louder than words.
Well, to me they say the same thing. Nothing.
You say nothing. You do nothing.
While you sit in your comfortable place. Elevated on your own accord.
I continue to fight. I continue to scream.
Hoping that one day, you will hear me.

Some Institution
Knowledge is power.
13 years of school. But you pay to do more.
College. Class. Homework. Tests.
But there is more to this life.
So you commit. To everything.
Your identity lies in how much you do.
You do everything. Almost.
Organizations . Intramurals. Volunteer.
You climb the ladder. Member to President.
Now you’re somebody. You sit on committees.
124 hours of classes and you still are not satisfied.
After four. Five. Six years. You still can’t see me.
Consumed by your desire to do one thing.
Help yourself. Climbing the ladder.
Has allowed you to use my suffering as a rung.
I am still screaming. I am still fighting.
But your success has a megaphone.

Pharisees
When all doors closed. I saw one open.
They call you holy rollers. Bible thumpers.
But I know the truth. I know your doctrine.
I see your hearts. I see your passion.
But life in a one way street is dangerous.
You know what I need. You have the answers.
You fight for hope. Justice. Peace.
Bible studies. Sermons. Fellowship.
When does talking become more?
Division will conquer.
You walk looking at your feet.
With thoughts that they are not doing right.
Can’t you see that they are a part of your body.
Walk the talk. Practice what you preach.
Faith and deeds are interlocked.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is not just a story.
It is my testimony.
Listen. Turn an ear. To hear. My screams.
Fight with me. Fight for me.

Radical Jesus
I believe in God. Yahweh. Adonai.
The God I believe in Loves. Justice.
Mercy is his middle name.
I believe in Jesus. But my Jesus looks different. Than yours.
My Jesus was Radical.
The Jesus that I know was born in a manger.
A King. Lived as a carpenter.
He did not get Stuck in Christian circles.
He ate with tax collectors.
He healed lepers.
Society wrote them off. But my Jesus.
He wrote them a love letter.
Jezebel. Magdalene. Woman at the Well.
Time and time again. They were cursed.
Threatened. Abused. Despised.
My Jesus loved them. His love for them.
Was Real. When they screamed.
He heard them. He stopped in his tracks.
He told them to finally stop fighting.
So that he could do it for them.

Wake up
Listen to me. My voice hurts from screaming.
My strength has drained. I can’t fight anymore.
I need you. To hear me.
You have been daydreaming too long.
See my reality. Understand my life.
Stop blaming me.
Justice is bipartisan. And so is pain.
Call it what you want. Civic responsibility.
Religion. I don’t care.
Do whatever it takes for you to realize.
You are the plan. There is no plan B.
Wake up. Let my voice be your alarm clock.
There is suffering in this world.
People go hungry. Children get AIDS.
Women are forced to have sex.
My situation is not the exception.
I am among the masses.
Take off your Machiavelli face.
And do something.
Apathy is laziness. With consequence.


**Peace

Kansas Hunger Dialogue

I'm baaack...
So, I have decided to start using my blog again. I feel as though, this is one of the few ways that I can get all my thoughts off my chest and keep you all updated with what is going on in the world.

Kansas is back on the map!
Yesterday and today, Erin, Nate, Shawna, and I all had the opportunity to go to the Hunger Dialogue. This dialogue was sponsored by an organization called Numana. Shawna and I got our first exposure to Numana through a packaging event where we were able to help package 100,000 meals to send to kids in schools in Haiti. Now at this Hunger Dialogue, the four of us were representing K-State in order to discuss University initiatives to end World Hunger.

This event allowed us to make a ton of connections with not only other universities, but important players in solving hunger both domestically, and locally.

My Action Plan
1. Share my notes from the dialogue
2. Arrange meeting with key players at K-State
3. Work on a new curriculum that allows K-State students to engage in advocacy in social justice issues.
4. Numana Packaging event during Homecoming week.
5. Civic Leadership retreat at the end of Week of Welcome.

Awesome Quotes from Conference

A wise man doesn't have all the answers, but he surrounds himself with people that do

An empty sack can't stand

Hunger isn't the problem, it is the result of the problem (Poverty is the foundation that these problems stem from)

MLK never talked about the problems facing blacks, he talked about the Dream

Trying to change the world without any demonstrable proof of our success--Dr. Walter Wink

God's Call
For those of you that consider yourself children of God. He calls us to fight for those that are poor, oppressed, widowed, hurting. As Gary Haugen (IJM) said, we are the plan. There is no plan B. Proverbs 19:17- "If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!"

With that, I commission you all to join me in the fight for justice.

Ariel

Follow me on Twitter: @auanib