Desmond Tutu: Palabras de Sabiduría

El pasado 4 de Junio, el periódico El Universal publico la opinión del Premio Nobel de la Paz sobre el hambre. En estos tiempos de ignorar el dolor ajeno por la sobre-ocupación de nuestras mentes y el uso constante de teléfonos celulares y otros gadgets (me incluyo entre este grupo de personas), es importante no solo leer este articulo pero también reflexionar sobre el impacto individual. Es muy fácil decir que el gobierno necesita hacer algo para las personas necesitadas. Es muy fácil decir que las empresas deben de pagar mejores salarios a su mano de obra. Es muy fácil decir que el gobierno y el sector privado tiene que invertir mas para ayudar a los campesinos y a los productos locales. Pero es aun mas fácil seguir nuestras vidas esperando que los demás resuelvan estos problemas. Lo que resulta difícil es hacer algo para ayudar a esta situación tan difícil y tan importante.

Estoy consciente que una persona no puede cambiar la distribución de los fondos del gobierno y tampoco puede obligar a todas las empresas a ofrecer mejores salarios y prestaciones justas. Lo que si podemos hacer es tomar decisiones educadas y no consumir productos de una empresa que no ayude. El dueño de una empresa pequeña puede asegurarse que sus empleados reciban las prestaciones que le otorga la ley y de pagar salarios justos. Un alumno de la prepa puede negarse a pagar las respuestas de un examen. Un consumidor puede comprar productos de empresas Mexicanas que sean responsables. Un propietario puede comprar productos ecológicos y de tiendas establecidas. Un conductor puede asegurarse de tener la tenencia, verificación, etc. en orden para que esos fondos puedan usarse para mejorar su ciudad. Ese mismo conductor puede elegir no sobornar a un policía por una infracción. El vendedor de una tienda de auto servicio puede seguir la ley y no vender alcohol ni cigarros a menores de edad. Un maestro puede tratar a sus alumnos con el respeto que se merece igual que el alumno debe tratar a sus profesores con el respeto que se merece.

En fin, podría escribir por horas de todo lo que una persona puede hacer para ayudar. Desmond Tutu se enfoca en el hambre que sufre todo el mundo. Cuantas veces hemos visto a personas en la calle que se les ve en los ojos que no han comido? Yo no soy de la idea de dar dinero a las personas de la calle. Soy generosa pero prefiero tomar decisiones que ayudan a la generosidad y no a la trata de personas. Por eso, es importante sabe a quien ayudamos y como. Tomar decisiones informadas es para todo tipo de decisiones: productos, comida, restaurantes, trabajo, y la votación de líderes para nuestro país.

Nadie es perfecto pero es importante saber que a pesar de nuestra imperfección y el deseo de consumir y de vivir nuestras vidas sin siempre preocuparnos por el sufrimiento de los demás, podemos tomar buenas decisiones en nuestras vidas para ayudar.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/editoriales/53113.html

Family and Food: Two F's Forever Connected

I am fascinated by how much food unites families and friends. I had previously written about my grandma's cooking which to me represents family, closeness, and long talks sitting on the table. Many families use breakfast, lunch or dinner as the time to reunite and spend some time together. The time I cherished the most before working was breakfast with my mom or grandma (or sometimes both). My mom would prepare breakfast (a treat on its own given she is a working mom), I would prepare the coffee and we would sit and talk about classes, work, the news or anything else that came to mind. When my grandma prepares pozole, enchiladas or even some basic chicken tacos, we not only enjoy our food. My uncles, aunts and cousin come over and we talk about our lives, books we've read and movies we've seen.

I was just at a neighbor's house eating some delicious tamales and celebrating a family friend's birthday. This family celebrates every birthday. In a small apartment they are able to seat their family and everyone has a great time. I am used to hearing laughter from my apartment late at night when they are celebrating. Everyone was complementing the hostess because she had mastered the grandma's recipe. Shortly after the compliment, discussion began on how the granddaughters had to learn this recipe in order to continue the family tradition. This family treasures its traditions and celebrates birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and any other important days with the whole family. The apartment is always filled and the parties last hours. The food is always delicious because the grandmas have made sure to set high standard. These aren't the "lets buy a tray of ______________" for the party tonight. Everyone helps to prepare the dishes and the drinks.

I hope my grandma is able to pass on her delicious dishes and cooking secrets so that we continue to get together and celebrate with the excuse of making special dishes. Perhaps my children or grandchildren will know a whole lot more about their great grandma when I make them certain food than they would otherwise do.

And another war...

Last week, I was discussing the significance of a famous photograph with a group of students. The famous photograph, whose titles include "The Kiss," "The War is Over," or "V-Day Kiss" is a wonderful portrayal of the wonderful feeling of a war ending. After having lived the second world war, people were happy to be free from the fear that had kept them going. Japan and Germany had surrendered and the Allies were happy to be done with the job. The kiss on Time Square is a reflection of the blissful happiness everyone felt after years of terror, fear and uncertainty.

And after all this reflection, I became envious of such happiness. I cannot say my life has been constantly plagued with a war like WWI or II but since September 11th, 2001, war seems to be part of every year, of every continent, of every religion, of every nation. I can still remember what I was doing the morning of the attacks in New York and what I was doing the night the U.S. began bombing Iraq. I remember wondering what a war so far away would mean in my life. So many things changed, most of which were not directly related to the war. With the Iraq bombings came the full invasion in both Iraq and Afghanistan and eight years later, the U.S. is still in war in those two countries.

This week another attack began with the promise of yet another war. France, the United States and England began an air attack against Libya to ensure Gadhafi does not harm the citizens that had been protesting against his dictatorship. Perhaps this attack will be short term; perhaps the Allied forces will attack only to scare or will see the repercussions behind a full attack against Libya. The truth is there is another war.

And for those of us that live in Mexico, we have the war against drug traffickers that President Felipe Calderon began. Although I see both positive and negative aspects of this war, the truth is that thousands of people have died, thousands of families have been plagued with fear, thousands have fled their homes, towns, and even the country to ensure their freedom and to end their fear. Will we be able to celebrate the end of a war the way thousands of people did after World War II? Will we feel the innocence they felt thinking the world would be peaceful again? Will we be able to tell our children and grandchildren about the hardships of war as a problem of the past and not of the present and future?

Will a kiss between strangers once again express so much shared bliss?