Why...

There's a conversation during the Blood Diamond hollywood movie (2006) between Archer and Solomon that still sticks in my mind:

Archer: So you think because your intentions are good, they’ll spare you, huh?

Kapanay: My heart always told me that people are inherently good. My experience suggests otherwise. But what about you, Mr. Archer? In your long career as a journalist, would you say that people are mostly good?

Archer: No. I’d say they’re just people.

Kapanay: Exactly. It is what they do that makes them good or bad. A moment of love, even in a bad man, can give meaning to a life. None of us knows whose path will lead us to God.

As we all know by now, the movie introduced the issues of conflict diamonds, mine slavery, the civil war, child soldiers, the brutality of the RUF, smuggling, illegal arms trade, supply and demand by diamond industry, etc. The hollywood movie only touched on these things. The documentary really helped me view the civil in a different light. I know that even that was just a glimpse of what really happened. It was just another example of human greed, lust for power and human nature. In the movie, Kapanay was the man who made a safe house for victims of the war especially children. He believed that there was good in everyone and to not lose hope in the children. Unfortunatly later in the movie, he was shot by two child soldiers.

Solmon was also in disbelief of the whole situation, "How can my own people do this to each other?" I believe that quote can apply to everyone in the world. This is can be a shit world. Just watching the news you hear horror stories of what people have done to one another, to complete strangers and you wonder, "what on earth? How could someone do that? Why did that happen?" Shit is happening in our own neighborhoods as well as other cultures all around the world. "Will God forgive us for what we've done to each other?" -Archer

I read another article about child soldiers where they would bet on the sex of a baby, then cut it out of the dead mother to find out. It makes me wonder is the goodness of humanity decreasing? Sometimes i wonder, what's going to happen in this world with so much hate and greed? My best friend's husband is a marine in Iraq right now so the war is really close to home for me. Their daughter is my Godchild and at three she doesn't understand why her daddy is over there. Last semester i put a quote from Ghandi up on the creative boards in the studio. I first saw it in an ad in the mail but i loved it and put it away for another day. So, in jewelry I i thought it would be perfect for the inspiration wall. It really connects with me now...

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Also, what is going on with Darfur? war for water? I want to know more. I personally haven't heard anything about it on the news but my dad mentioned something about it. I'm going to continue reading about it.

Everyone needs to do what they can to help! Read the news of the world. I'm trying so hard to become more aware of what's going on. I feel like i've lived in this protected bubble my whole life but now it's my obligation to learn more. Open your eyes and stop worrying over stupid little things. It drives me crazy when friends at home spread rumors or get wrapped up in their drama. What would happen if they had to deal with a tragedy or a death in the family? I don't know how they would handle it. It disgusts when they have a fit when their boyfriends didn't buy them the latest thing or whatever. There are bigger problems out there!... worse than we can ever imagine. The sad thing is that i don't think that they will ever care or even try to learn more (there's a lot of people out there like that). Ignoring is no excuse or thinking that issues in Africa, China, etc doesn't affect us. Let's all be more aware of what's happening in this world... we live here too.