tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76513512898123643702024-03-16T16:10:35.749-07:00Caitlin's Positively Honest BlogThis blog contains my honest, yet positive thoughts on issues largely pertaining to international development. My thoughts are developed through my work with an organization I co-founded called Project Esperanza (www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org). They are also influenced by growing up and living in Virginia through my college years, then being a resident of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for my adult life. I'm not trying to convince you, but dialogue with you. Leave comments with your thoughts! Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-78362184251512054082022-12-31T01:01:00.008-08:002022-12-31T10:23:12.883-08:00#FreeHaiti: This is How We Know What Love is... <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A little over a year ago, I wrote on the topic of #FreeHaiti, a post called </span><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/11/freehaiti-movement-there-is-no-fear-in.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">There is no Fear in Love</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which discussed something that had come up in the Christian Haitian community in response to kidnappings in Port-au-Prince, specifically in churches. It was my third reflection on the #FreeHaitiMovement, making this my fourth. Should a Christian come armed to church and prepare to fight? I leaned toward yes, and argued that this is the way to stop such ridiculousness - to stand up to it. Kidnappings, for example, can only take place if people who have knowledge about such things keep quiet. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I also argued that there is a literal, ongoing war, both spiritual and physical in Haiti. Although I'm a Christian, I don't believe that evangelizing in the traditional sense is what I am called to do. The evangelization I believe most strongly in is:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:35</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." - 1 Peter 3:15</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In summary, love actively and gently share your faith when questioned. The biggest way I have felt compelled to love Haitians is to live in solidarity and dedicate myself, through Project Esperanza, to providing education and opportunity. More on the faith that drives Project Esperanza here: </span></span><span style="color: #001320; font-size: large;"><a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/our-faith-2/">https://esperanzameanshope.org/our-faith-2/</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated" height="358" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tV42psWpBGYjG-cEY3e5wDtkONilO5iuv9GG-McFQqrIhUyvWyLMlOsHBhYNWDB6noG87lb_Qujd4RtHzZe7ANoQozQ1KcxBix9ql3ifQUqDa_-VLNKrwMiQWAQckKQBse3sAdIJxsKhBHCF6oNBG-mO_bbxwTKZgluvsXrtAuYpzWNp87CUFI3mgheZgPOQ18_tkXAGBg=w453-h358" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="453" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventures of Son Son - Part 2</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A lot has happened in the past year and unfortunately, the situation in Haiti has deteriorated even more. I get a lump in my throat every time I read about the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10112104631852593&set=gm.10160246789163718&idorvanity=199558963717" target="_blank">soaring numbers of Haitians being intercepted by U.S. Coast Guard and sent back to Haiti</a>. Can you imagine how desperate someone must be to get in one of those crowded boats and take to the sea, often being unable to swim?! Schools have not even opened for the 2022-2023 school year due to gang violence and chaos. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am encouraged by news such as a mayor in the town of Miragoane who led the people to take to the streets and refuse the entry of gangs, attempting to spread their territory (</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/199558963717/permalink/10159892632793718/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/199558963717/permalink/10159892632793718/</a>). I wish I had a way to empower such leaders and I hope they continue to hold strong. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you aren't aware, gang activity in Haiti is apparently funded by powerful elites who equip vulnerable young men to carry out their dirty work and bring them big bucks. Kidnapping is a large business and gang members are highly armed. The average citizen's best bet for defense is a machete. Meanwhile, here in the Dominican Republic, the easiest refuge for Haitians as the two countries share an island, <a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/2022/11/17/challenges-with-deportations/" target="_blank">deportations have drastically increased as well</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was one story shared earlier this month that exemplifies Jesus Christ in a powerful way. It shows the depth of the war at hand and the privilege that all of us who have not had to be in such a war have. I hope that sharing the account inspires action. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stories emerged of a gang burning people and houses in a town called Cabaret. I didn't dwell on them as such stories of terrorism, murders and displacements are unfortunately common. However, one American woman named Kimberly who works in this area shared some insight. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This young man named <span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeft</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">é</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> used to serve people who were displaced by gang activity. Here is a picture she sent of him preparing a pot of food for a group of victims of gang violence in his area. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EKGqjAXQTjG4elvptZqceHbpjBt8jlh4oTpszR-32j07YIzqumglw35ag4bBuWAUDr-khRMBrpfCvssaTAwGPwng0jbCponooKi6Iy31FxQNB-9rgMuafPJqnYMN8m8z0xZlandGojVqvgVq2p141l4X5RZnl5CXB1Ed4cK_p3LVdbE-174Sx-zLug/s960/321848028_2709484865855718_7988331567960677804_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EKGqjAXQTjG4elvptZqceHbpjBt8jlh4oTpszR-32j07YIzqumglw35ag4bBuWAUDr-khRMBrpfCvssaTAwGPwng0jbCponooKi6Iy31FxQNB-9rgMuafPJqnYMN8m8z0xZlandGojVqvgVq2p141l4X5RZnl5CXB1Ed4cK_p3LVdbE-174Sx-zLug/w300-h400/321848028_2709484865855718_7988331567960677804_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">She reports that one gang came to believe that he had snitched on them, telling the police of their whearabouts. As a result, this picture shows what they did to him. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rcr1fmJSV4QDVD0xpCoYriW6ISilSXOa_21TC_iBobQXkgZgA-i0nPC4ntrAcqyyVYqpd9Zbl1hFyfeRQbt6TisoIhfxdNgOXpFNeOkuK7uwMKoky_plxf7T35kmtQThJm-SOTswNMUI_ReBtkRAYoPWB4b-443-VB07FWvjeljC-fOyIXvLytt0Tg/s498/318183707_674569920864759_25104165336848167_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="498" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Rcr1fmJSV4QDVD0xpCoYriW6ISilSXOa_21TC_iBobQXkgZgA-i0nPC4ntrAcqyyVYqpd9Zbl1hFyfeRQbt6TisoIhfxdNgOXpFNeOkuK7uwMKoky_plxf7T35kmtQThJm-SOTswNMUI_ReBtkRAYoPWB4b-443-VB07FWvjeljC-fOyIXvLytt0Tg/w400-h344/318183707_674569920864759_25104165336848167_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">You may not be used to seeing gasoline in a jug like that, but it's often hauled around that way here, and that is what that is. The gang members burnt him alive, then went after others. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I apologize if sharing this causes you prolonged emotional distress. It did to me. I thought of trying to remove myself from such news. But can his wife and baby remove themselves? Can the mothers whose sons' throats were cut in front of them for not joining gangs remove themselves? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What struck me most about this photo, after I got over my initial sorrow, was that he is not in a state of panic. If I had to describe his expression, I would say stern and defiant. Did he not know what these gangs were capable of? Of course he did. Why didn't he lie low? It reminds me of this verse: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">"When they hurled their insults at him,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Instead, he entrusted himself</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to him who judges justly." - 1 Peter 2:23</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course Jesus had the power to retaliate, whereas this man did not, but I do believe that the Holy Spirit that moved him to serve the victims of gang violence and perhaps speak up about their whereabouts removed his fear and called him to entrust himself to God, who judges justly. It also reminds me of Stephen, a disciple who was stoned to death for speaking the truth, not long after Jesus' death. He too did not fear or panic, but entrusted himself to God. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">And so I come to one of my favorite verses in the Bible. We're told to love. In fact, Jesus says it's the Greatest Commandment. But the world has many definitions of love. What exactly is love? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">In 1st Corinthians we learn that love is patient, kind, does not boast, etc. In 1st John 3:16, it specifically says, "This is how we know what love is". Probably every churched person and even many of the unchurched know the verse John 3:16 which teaches us about our salvation, our ticket to heaven. But who knows 1st John 3:16, which teaches us the key to doing what we are called to do? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Verse 17 and beyond goes on to say more wonderful things, but I don't want to go on too long. Love is sacrifice. Jesus exemplified it for us. Disney movies have reiterated it time and time again throughout the decades. Every successful social movement has been rooted in the same concept of people putting their lives on the line in order to show society that something isn't right. This was embodied by Jesus. This is how we know what love is.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">So as we search for the solution for the problems that face Haiti and other parts of the world or our own households, the answer isn't actually a secret. Should I buy something I don't need at all or should I use a little money to help someone who is desperate? Should I ignore my child's cry for help or should I make a little more effort to listen and connect? Should I spend hours watching a dirty movie or should I spend that time educating myself on really important things? Love calls us to sacrifice our desires and possessions for the good of our brothers and sisters. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Well, it probably won't work anyway," you might be thinking. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let's go back to 1st Corinthians' definition of love. 1st Corinthians 13:8 says, "Love never fails." </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is that just cliche? Something people say to feel good? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-16" id="en-NIV-29870" style="background-color: white;">"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 2Tim-3-17" id="en-NIV-29871" style="background-color: white;">so that the servant of God</span><span class="text 2Tim-3-17" style="background-color: white;"> may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">-2 Timothy: 16, 17</span></span></p><p class="line1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As the rain and the snow</span></p><p class="line2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">come down from heaven,</span></p><p class="line1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and do not return to it</span></p><p class="line2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">without watering the earth</span></p><p class="line1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and making it bud and flourish,</span></p><p class="line2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,</span></p><p class="line1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">so is my word that goes out from my mouth:</span></p><p class="line2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It will not return to me empty,</span></p><p class="line1" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">but will accomplish what I desire</span></p><p class="line2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 25px 0px 50px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">-Isaiah 55:10, 11</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Happy New Year. May we learn to love more than ever in 2023. And if you want to learn more about Jesus in a super personal way, go to Angel.com and watch The Chosen! Season 3 is out!!! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPK-czK2c7VrbBVJGiekXSssR3-VwfmGXAXC7e2Uw5gOxEFMtir1_8VNwhhSTyI4lYOcM3fmljVm8JrqyR1ZlXN3Foa__lYcnC10Mz5QzlPq2Q9MX4iQOyBGcFpG_SXkoRjXQT-aVssol2nkpXuU94v5HrlhjqYqYS8NG42sj9ADca9mLMwpuK6MKdQ/s1406/321058798_1314324775990767_4799360172645011205_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="1406" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPK-czK2c7VrbBVJGiekXSssR3-VwfmGXAXC7e2Uw5gOxEFMtir1_8VNwhhSTyI4lYOcM3fmljVm8JrqyR1ZlXN3Foa__lYcnC10Mz5QzlPq2Q9MX4iQOyBGcFpG_SXkoRjXQT-aVssol2nkpXuU94v5HrlhjqYqYS8NG42sj9ADca9mLMwpuK6MKdQ/w400-h349/321058798_1314324775990767_4799360172645011205_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-91029506520513125712022-05-25T03:45:00.000-07:002022-05-25T03:45:28.456-07:00Gun Violence & God: Let's Make a Deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrlSHKdujZ3qfKm7qvzyXZ0sbtIHlp8rDTz_6VoeXLEJ5JfPtt7Aja__ZMIYq1dWanT0ih19P9HPb0GU98D3sU20dFuiOAQctP6mEr_run71hGdkBecBtJdkLaFS4d13o9Fq6OJIebg_qrtjSzb1aEN2IUtbYG0YJim5LYZ7JdvcnyJSa1WMgGvFFoQ/s636/Screenshot%202022-05-25%2006.09.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="636" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrlSHKdujZ3qfKm7qvzyXZ0sbtIHlp8rDTz_6VoeXLEJ5JfPtt7Aja__ZMIYq1dWanT0ih19P9HPb0GU98D3sU20dFuiOAQctP6mEr_run71hGdkBecBtJdkLaFS4d13o9Fq6OJIebg_qrtjSzb1aEN2IUtbYG0YJim5LYZ7JdvcnyJSa1WMgGvFFoQ/w467-h381/Screenshot%202022-05-25%2006.09.17.png" width="467" /></a></div><p> <span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday, we learned that Tuesday would be the last day for two students in the afternoon English program at my kids' school. Their paperwork is ready and their Dominican mom is taking them to live in the U.S., where their stepfather is from. I asked where in the U.S. they were headed and they told me Texas. Another student says he'll be moving to Queens this summer and not returning for the next school year. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My kids felt a bit sad at this news and pondered about how so many want to move to the U.S., unlike us. Yenilove said, "Sure, there's lots of pollution here and lots of things are better there, but there's also lots of <i>po po po </i>over there." She held her hand like a gun when she said <i>po po po</i>. I told her that was a good point. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On Tuesday, after English, we sat waiting for our van's tire to be fixed before we could go home from school. My friend Crystal sent me a whatsapp message, asking if I had seen the news of the shooting in Texas. I had not. I quickly did a search and learned that 14 students and a teacher had been killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. We were shocked to see that so quickly following Yenilove's comment, there was such an event in the very state the boys are moving to. As I read up, unable to sleep in the middle of the night, I see news sources now report 19 children and two adults have passed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I realize that sleep won't be possible for me tonight until I pour my thoughts out here. I've written about this topic many times in different posts and shared that I was on the Virginia Tech campus in 2007 when it made history in that horrible way. There's an idea I've been pondering quite a bit over the past year or year and a half that I'd like to share. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Observing U.S. politics from afar, it's obvious how polarized things are. As a Christian, I strongly believe that there are issues that the right supports that best align with the Christian faith and there are issues that the left supports that best align with the Christian faith. I feel the same is true in many ways for those who don't identify as Christian, but simply hold the Christian value that we should love one another. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And therefore, I think it's way past time that everyone gives in a little. I think it's time to make a political compromise. My suggestion is that the right submits to tighter gun laws, whereas the left submits to some public school curriculum changes concerning God. I truly believe that U.S. public schools currently represent an atheistic worldview and to truly comply with the First Amendment, should take an agnostic worldview. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I truly believe that executing such a compromise would be an active attempt to change the climate that breeds these tragedies. As far as gun laws are concerned, I don't know what to say about it, other than it's just flat out sick that people would be so unwilling to give in. Many good people defend this stubborrness and excuse it because it's coming from the political party they identify with. I think it's a prime example of groupthink and everyone who has ever found themselves justifying the unwillingness to make changes in gun laws in any way should do some deep reflection. We should take an honest and thorough look at policies in other countries around the world and take serious action, for Pete sake. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">About God in schools, I'll try to be concise as I've written some long-winded posts on this topic already. However, I think it demands more attention than gun laws as it's a more complicated topic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe if you really, objectively examine the theory of macroevolution as an explanation for the origin of man, you will see that it does not have enough value to justify the controversy it causes. We teach kids the scientific method, which requires observation, altering variables, and running an experiment several times before the experimenter's eyes before drawing conclusions. Yet in the same class we call science, we find it necessary to teach about a theory that can only rely on observations such as fossil records and radiocarbon dating, that are undubitably unreliable and unconclusive, to explain something as important as the origin of man, which no one can actually observe. I didn't used to feel so strongly about it, but the more I look into it, the more I am convincted that it's flat out wrong. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you really ponder the actual scientific benefits that the theory of macroevolution has brought us, you have to ask why it is deemed necessary to teach in K-12 science class. Has it saved any lives? Weren't people breeding animals for select traits long before Darwin observed those bird beaks and started making racist theories that black people were creatures evolving between apes and white people? Yes, if you read his original work, it's quite racist. Such issues should not be brushed under the rug when you look at ongoing white supremacy as portrayed in the Buffalo, NY shooting that was just 10 days before this one. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now look at the risks of teaching the theory of macroevolution in K-12. It flat out negates the existence of God, opposes the religious texts of the world's two largest religions, which make up over half of the world's population, and untruthfully claims to have scientific proof to do so. Maybe that would be something necessary for people to reckon with if it had more scientific basis itself, but the truth is, it doesn't. Do you see anyone arguing about gravity? About how reproduction works? About photosythesis? Cell structures? No. Why can't we stick to such certain and non-controversial things in science class? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll share a little story that causes our students and teachers to gasp when they hear it. In this country, most public and private school days are typically opened with prayer. God is referred to in a reverent way in everyday, common language. It's not considered church language, but it's society's language. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"See you tomorrow, God willing."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'm fine, thanks to God." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Go with God."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Stay with God."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The last two are ways of saying good-bye. Of course it's a much more homogenous country than the US, and I understand why there are certain practices in the US to protect everyone's freedom of religion, but again, I think the best way to protect everyone's freedom of religion is for public schools to take an agnostic approach, rather than an atheistic one. Agnosticism says, "we don't know". Atheism says, "we can prove that God does not exist, we have done this on our own, and we can do this on our own". In reality, as everyone who has gone through a 12 step program to fight addiction knows, we can't do this on our own. I don't think it's the best mental health strategy to suggest anything otherwise. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So here is my story. When I was in first grade, my teacher was calling on each student to share a word that had to do with Christmas. She wrote each word on the board. I listened to my classmates who talked about presents and Santa Claus, surprised that no one had mentioned that it was Jesus' birthday yet. I looked forward to sharing my thought, knowing it was the correct answer! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When it was my turn, I said, "Jesus' birthday". She stopped, paused for a moment, said nothing, wrote nothing on the board, and called on the next student. I remember my heart sunk as I knew I had the right answer, but the teacher didn't seem to like it. She didn't like it so much that she didn't include it on the board with the thoughts of all my classmates. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That was my first lesson in, "We don't talk about Jesus or God at school." Again, I understand the reason behind it. My teacher was a government agent doing her job as she was instructed to. But I think it's an irrational approach and we can do better. Christmas literally is to celebrate Jesus' birthday. If we can't talk about that at all in school, then we better exclude Christmas altogether. Do you know the history behind Valentine's Day? St. Patrick's Day? They have such beautiful stories, rooted in strong faith. The most academic thing we could do is to learn about them in school when we celebrate them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Why do we say we are in the year 2022? Why did time start 2022 years ago? Is that not an important topic to learn about? I don't think it goes much further in public school than explaining what the acronyms B.C. and A.D. stand for. We just exclude that whole topic that was important enough to mark the start of time as we know it, and find it important to put a picture of Charles Darwin and drawings of macroevolution in textbooks? That just doesn't make sense. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps I'm going on too long with this. Check out Michael Denton. He's an agnostic biochemist and Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture. He's a proponent of intelligent design and has been writing about the topic for decades. I think his work is a great start for anyone looking for an objective, non-religious, scientific discussion on the matter, should you think that macroevolution is accepted among all scientists, only challenged by those who feel it debunks their religion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Shouldn't we teach that in science, we admit what we don't know? I think presumptuous science is a dangerous thing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For a little gun humor, I'll close with something that happened tonight that had our whole family rolling in laughter. Let me preface by saying that we have a neighbor who shoots his gun into the air most nights to keep away thieves, he says. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Six of us sat on one bed. It's a queen sized bed and we all were squooshed in, hanging out and talking. Gabriel, who is five, raised his hands, lifted his head slightly, and called, "Everyone! Everyone!" Somehow he got us all to be quiet and attentive. He then commanded, "Hear my fart." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We all waited to see what he would produce. No sound came from him, but a gunshot sounded in the distance. We couldn't contain ourselves. Wevli, who has special needs, came running in from the other room to join in on the fun, laughing and hooting, but he didn't actually know what had happened. This made us laugh even harder. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It'll be interesting to see what happens after this second case of elementary school children have been killed at the hands of a gunman, 10 years after the first incident. Are we ready to make sacrifices? We can all probably give in a little. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw_brCqkRxlxrCrOKiOvhIX0jGL3Pz7z1cbqiC8_b0TPTTPjlBvAHcbbtbAGRAekaYPgPJebGVlWqw05iWQ-wQLrwC9UVmbSa_rnCAd8pmrdavNUhafFH6VopbkzYh3OiaOhjvVoCXHjsIbuT3fT3M2h7rhalQ-oMS06gjJdF4n85T9Rdrz32xLvi_A/s731/Screenshot%202022-05-25%2006.08.08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="731" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw_brCqkRxlxrCrOKiOvhIX0jGL3Pz7z1cbqiC8_b0TPTTPjlBvAHcbbtbAGRAekaYPgPJebGVlWqw05iWQ-wQLrwC9UVmbSa_rnCAd8pmrdavNUhafFH6VopbkzYh3OiaOhjvVoCXHjsIbuT3fT3M2h7rhalQ-oMS06gjJdF4n85T9Rdrz32xLvi_A/w351-h240/Screenshot%202022-05-25%2006.08.08.png" width="351" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-57519236916113656052022-02-04T02:36:00.001-08:002022-02-04T02:36:38.922-08:00Out of the Mouth of Babes<p>One morning during Christmas break, my 10-year-old Maraya
went with me on a sea glass experience. We have two experiences on AirBnB and a
sea glass hunt and jewelry making is one of them. I meet guests at the giant
Puerto Plata sign on the Malecon (boardwalk) and we go to a secluded spot that
has lots of sea glass. After they have found what they want, we go to the art
shop and make jewelry. We stop on the way for some juice. When the art shop is
fully set up, we’ll serve the juice there and have other treats for sale, but
that’s still in the works.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a special occasion that Maraya and I went together.
Normally going on outings with me includes watching her brother Gabriel, who is
4 years old, and she prefers to stay home if she has the option. But today, it
was just Maraya and I. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She knew that she had $50 of Christmas money from her
grandmother, (Gabby), and as we drove to the shop to get the baskets and clean
up a bit before meeting the guests, she pondered how she would spend it. She
had previously talked about buying clothes, but the first thing she said on the
topic that morning was, “How much does it cost to do one of those things for
your students?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Sponsor a student?” I asked. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah,” she replied. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I told her it cost $150. Did she want to sponsor a student? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, but I don’t have enough money.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My heart melted. I exclaimed, letting her know how nice that
was of her and how proud I was of her. We then continued chatting as I drove. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t contain the tears. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you crying?” she asked. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No!” I replied as if I didn’t know what she was talking about
and turned my head toward the window a bit. But I just couldn’t get it together
and hide the tears by the time we got to the shop. She caught me in my
blubbering. I’m a bit of a sap! I couldn’t get over the fact that this was the largest
amount of money she has ever had control over, and that was what she thought to
do with it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I spent years of frustration, not understanding why people
make the decisions they do, regarding how they manage their finances. I don’t
wish to toot my own horn, but I am highly convicted to live without much of
what others live with and invest my time and resources in service, benefitting
those less fortunate than myself. It’s not something that I do once a month, on
Sundays, or what have you, but it’s my life and I wouldn’t have it any other
way. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I see that this confuses and perhaps frightens some people.
At the least, it seems to make many uncomfortable. When I say people, I am
mostly referring to folks from the U.S. and the developed world. Many
appreciate the work of Project Esperanza and my dedication to it, but when they
see how deeply it is ingrained into my life and how I live in what they would
consider poverty, they often draw back. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took me years to let go of that frustration and perhaps
judgment and just accept that everyone has their own choice. My frustration
will not necessarily affect the choices of others. While there is extreme value
in sharing resources and I wish everyone had a generous attitude and could know
the joy of investing in the inherent untapped potential that is human beings that
are withheld opportunity, there is also value in building an organization from
the ground up with limited resources, and God’s hand has been over Project Esperanza
in that way since its beginning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In conclusion, I’ll quote myself from February 2011 when
Maraya was in my tummy. I wrote a blog post called <b><a href="https://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2011/02/consumerism-vs-practicality.html" target="_blank">Consumerism vs.Practicality</a></b> and ended by saying, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“While our future plans are not set in stone, I conclude
that I can bring better formal education to my kids here in the Dominican
Republic, but the consumerism… in the U.S. seems to pose a serious threat to
practical education, which, I think, holds just as much value as formal
education. So, while I am ever so grateful for the opportunities I have
received and continue to receive as a U.S. citizen and I tear up at the pledge
of allegiance and the singing of the national anthem, at this point, I have
little desire to go back to live full time in the U.S. I would rather use my
blessed life to bless others where blessings are much scarcer.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was using blessings and wealth interchangeably there, but those
are very dangerous waters, as wealth can bring about distractions that keep us
from enjoying the sweetest of blessings in life. However, I do think that the
power that comes from wealth is a huge blessing, and one that should be managed
with much consideration. As someone from Arizona who recently came on an
experience here with us said, “We [Americans] were all born on second base. We
need to give back.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I assure you,” he said, unless you become like children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Matthew 18:3 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To learn more about sponsoring a student, <b><a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/become-a-sponsor/" target="_blank">read here</a></b>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2BuVhPcgylnZIrazkrukD8l57MK33fQX99tW_sTJru3QDkYXheX8LtV1q8vqymHt2NOYrsbihQP9gWegSp_u0m1Kki87c9OxE6kcVpGm1sNQZSArfHsQMuXZ-OjWjIaTlUS4JSBl6RnCCIRnLwewD6acII8uh7vMbaNjj-HxBNodJvS1GORaDdTokrw=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2BuVhPcgylnZIrazkrukD8l57MK33fQX99tW_sTJru3QDkYXheX8LtV1q8vqymHt2NOYrsbihQP9gWegSp_u0m1Kki87c9OxE6kcVpGm1sNQZSArfHsQMuXZ-OjWjIaTlUS4JSBl6RnCCIRnLwewD6acII8uh7vMbaNjj-HxBNodJvS1GORaDdTokrw=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maraya's sea glass earrings she made that day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-4878670808400011422021-11-23T00:13:00.003-08:002022-01-09T10:22:11.043-08:00#FreeHaiti Movement - There is no Fear in Love<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-gjvaVXTq0Kpd_j0OXBuuYTOMg9Taz798aglV2Mv_b4Or_HIFSyfUxRTs39m-f7lA6A62ChmRGbbhW1Pr-k16lXc8C-uGdoclY582PJxGi_eOKTMCssXlls0w16KwEBOBik6Z7WHgo_6/s1091/159188344_290105669162270_1029136506706290542_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1091" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-gjvaVXTq0Kpd_j0OXBuuYTOMg9Taz798aglV2Mv_b4Or_HIFSyfUxRTs39m-f7lA6A62ChmRGbbhW1Pr-k16lXc8C-uGdoclY582PJxGi_eOKTMCssXlls0w16KwEBOBik6Z7WHgo_6/w378-h298/159188344_290105669162270_1029136506706290542_n.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Adventures of SonSon - Part 2</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been planning to write more about the idea of #FreeHaiti for months. My last post was in May. Around that time I started caring for a baby during the nights, started a new remote job, and in September, school went back to normal. That ended my blogging spree. But it’s time to post this. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5b8df4dc-7fff-d18e-d393-b9c99864298c" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>So much has happened in Haiti since I last posted. The president was assassinated in July, there was an earthquake in August which we felt all the way here, there was a heartbreaking immigration crisis with Haitians at the U.S.-Mexico border, and now the kidnapping crisis in Haiti has been brought to the world’s attention as 16 Americans and one Canadian are being held hostage after being kidnapped weeks ago. (Update: I have had this in draft for a bit and two hostages have now been released.)</span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>I want to address the current state of Haiti while touching on the remaining topics discussed in the #FreeHaiti group, which are believed to be holding Haiti down. I mentioned before that I appreciate many of the group members’ thoughts, but there does seem to be a pro-voodoo, anti-Christianity sentiment that I definitely don’t agree with. However, it has brought some things to my attention and I have entered into some good dialogue about it. </span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>The remaining topics from what I outlined in the original post include foreign interference in Haitian government, US/UN occupation, and corruption. Again, religion is also a topic that I have since observed mentioned a lot in the group. Let me start with religion. </span></span></p><span><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>The basic sentiment regarding religion that I’ve heard from the Free Haiti Movement Facebook group is that Christianity is the religion of Haiti’s oppressors. Ezili Danto is the person who coined the #FreeHaiti Movement and I think she’s actually a mambo, which is a voodoo priestess. I asked my friend and one of our employees about her thoughts on the notion that Christianity is the religion of Haiti’s oppressors, or t<i>heir</i> God is the God of their oppressors, and <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnaVYKlHQ-c&t=49s" target="_blank">here</a></b> is what she said:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztcLlmQGXSc5EH9ZR5SkwzxehFzSzX3H03Bh4d82wYv_BHW36nwLUHoPtp1lXVtqgyx7MQmKYjgH_iA4DEzA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">When I first moved here, I thought it would be cool to interview a voodoo priest. I was interested in learning more about it. The youth in our program warned strongly against that. They expressed unanimous fear and made it clear that they had a history of knowledge about the harm these people could inflict. I shared this in another post, but Willy’s interview provides a strong example. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XcgMjhjjGiM" width="320" youtube-src-id="XcgMjhjjGiM"></iframe></div><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I’ve had lots of experiences throughout my 15 years here and have many stories I could share. But my thoughts were even more solidified when I recently read a book about the infamous dictator of Haiti, Francois Duvalier. From what the book says, he seemed to start out as a smart young man and doctor who grew up witnessing rapid changes in government leadership, a U.S. occupation, and was a patriot who truly wanted the best for his country. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">However, voodoo was peppered throughout the story. Duvalier was committed to it. When he entered the presidential election, the book says that he sacrificed his good friend and driver in a voodoo ceremony in an attempt to secure the presidency!!! </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Before Duvalier was a candidate in a presidential election, he was highly involved in politics. He spent time in hiding as he was hunted by Magloire, the president before him in the 1950s. A neighboring family helped him while he was hiding. The man was a fellow politician named Clement Jumelle. After Duvalier became president, Jumelle went into hiding because Duvalier became suspicious of him, despite all Jumelle had done for Duvalier, believing that all other politicians would try to take him out. Jumelle eventually came out of hiding to seek medical treatment as he was very sick. He died shortly after. The book describes the funeral preceding and how it was interrupted by Duvalier’s men. As they led the casket down the street, his men intervened, took the body, and apparently went on to take Jumelle's heart for a voodoo ceremony!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Let it be known that the author seemed quite objective and was a Haitian resident, originally from New Zealand. He was the great uncle of one of my Creole students, whom I read the book with in Creole. Reading the book reminded me of the Star Wars movie where you painfully watch young Annikan Skywalker, with all the potential in the world, make decisions out of fear and follow evil influences until he turns into the horrible Darth Vader. Observing the transformation is difficult. You just want to take the young man aside and put him on the right track. It's truly a tragic transformation. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It was understandable that Duvalier was paranoid. He grew up in Port-au-Prince watching president after president overthrown. I even know some Haitians who think he was a good leader. There was much more order when he was president. But on the other hand, I have a friend whose father was an educated man and involved in politics. He was forced to flee Haiti during Duvalier’s regime. Unfortunately, rather than being able to work together with fellow leaders as he seemed to intend early on, he saw them all as enemies, which depleted the country of leadership. The key word is fear. The result is extreme self preservation and upliftment at the expense of others without any disregard. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Another part of the book I found disturbing was the fact that the U.S. supported Duvalier with huge sums of money even after they knew of the atrocities he was committing. I shared a few atrocities above, but the book became hard to stomach with all of the horrible stories. The U.S. supported him because he agreed to be their ally against Cuba and communism. I believe a key word here as well is fear. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">True Christianity, the teachings of Jesus Christ, replaces fear with love, even when it means sacrificing one’s self. The Bible commands us not to fear hundreds of times throughout it. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” - 1 John 4:18</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." -1 John 3:16</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I now arrive at a current situation some have been talking about, regarding how Christians in Port-au-Prince should react to the kidnappings that have plagued the capital of Haiti more than ever before, from what I understand. I wrote about some experiences I’ve had this past year with the matter </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://mailchi.mp/3ed3174552e7/are-you-busy-this-weekend?fbclid=IwAR167Ezn7tdIvscZu2igsGTQlMaNB6VMepN59xtjA_RoWOyf9BmndVRCEVk" target="_blank">here</a></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If you aren’t aware, churches and church leaders have been targeted by kidnappers. Kidnappings have taken place during church services, on camera, etc. This has gotten to the point that some churches have decided not to open. Others have told their congregation to bring weapons to church and to prepare to fight, should they be attacked. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I recently had a conversation with a Haitian Christian friend about the news that some churches in Port-au-Prince were instructing their church members to come to church with machetes, teaching them to not fear death, but to be ready to fight, and have faith in eternal life that is promised to them in the Bible. She seemed to think that that mindset was one of outliers and radicals. They were not her denomination of Christianity. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I felt strongly that in this situation, that is exactly how a Christian should behave. She shied away from the conversation when I started getting zealous so I let it go. But when I heard that some churches were preparing in this way, my first thoughts were, “Amen! Men and women of God stand up!” </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In <b><a href="https://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/11/lock-up-kyle-for-while.html" target="_blank">my last post</a></b>, I wrote about the recent U.S. court decision about Kyle Rittenhouse, the now 18-year-old who shot and killed two protestors a year ago, who was just found not guilty on November 19th. I also mention the death of Ahmaud Arbery who was killed by neighborhood men who decided to take the law into their own hands. Both are examples of arrogant vigilantism mingled with racism, where the killers were highly out of line and should be held accountable. I’m about to suggest the opposite in Haiti. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In Haiti, unlike the United States which is an extremely organized and controlled country in comparison, the government has been getting its butt kicked by criminals, some from within. At this point, the elected president has been assassinated and who knows when a fair election will be held. Kidnappings are all the norm and families of kidnapping victims scramble to find funds to pay ransoms, thus encouraging the business even more. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">But I know that there are many, many Haitians living in Haiti who are committed to doing the right thing. There are many families that raise their children with a necessary strictness that may be considered abusive in the U.S. but keeps children from falling into the wrong path in Haiti. Whenever we have stayed with my husband’s family in Grisongade, Haiti, I have been amazed by the church bell ringing at 5am in an area with no electricity. As it’s pitch black, people get up out of their beds to go to the church and pray. It’s a dedication that is hard to find in places of more comfort...which is everywhere else I’ve ever been. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>In the same community, the practice of voodoo </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> is near and widespread. It's true that voodoo is not all negative, as many will object, wanting to stay religiously neutral. It does involve</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> healings, but also involves a very large amount of killings, stealing, and trickery. It's hard to celebrate the small percentage of positives when the same person believed to be in charge of the healings is also in charge of inflicting sicknesses. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Some, or perhaps many Haitians, have their feet in both doors. If there’s one thing I have come away with from those visits to Haiti is a tangible feeling of spiritual warfare with very committed warriors on both sides. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I can’t help but to think that when a kidnapping occurs, others know where the person is being held hostage. Men and women of God stay crippled in fear, wanting to keep themselves and their families out of the line of fire. But by doing so, they've allowed the fire to linger and grow. Or they take their families and flee to the Dominican Republic which is not to blame either. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I’m certainly a fan of stricter gun control laws in the U.S. I am a fan of the Civil Rights Movement and non-violence. However, I do believe there are times to fight. I do believe there are times to put your life on the line, take a stance against people destroying the lives of others, and the only practical way to do that is to be armed and organized in some way. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Over and over I’ve seen things done in upside down ways because of fear amongst Haitians. Someone gets fired from their job for very good reasons, yet no one else wants to take the job, although they greatly need the opportunity, because they fear that the person who lost their job will inflict harm on them via voodoo out of jealousy. Grown men throw fits like children, only their fits are much more dangerous than those of children, and everyone decides that the best course of action is to give this man what he wants so that he calms down. These are just a few examples that often shape things in the wrong direction. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Some people hope and pray that the U.S. sends troops to Haiti. The #FreeHaitiMovement takes the stance that that would not be a good thing, and that Haitians can do this on their own. With that, I completely agree. Although it might not look like it right now, I know they can do it. This country has a history of heroism and victims overthrowing their abusers. Its story of independence dignifies humans of color and ancestors of slaves like no other true story that I know of. I strongly believe that if the infrastructure is put in place and the right people are empowered in the right way, the country will thrive. It will thrive and it will astound the world in the same way it has astounded those of us foreigners who have been captivated by it. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">With that being said, I think the only way for this to happen is for those warriors that have been on the battlefield for so long to practice a fearless love, based on faith, and stand up against criminals in whatever way necessary. I don’t know exactly what that looks like and it’s something that is led by the Holy Spirit, but preparing to fight back when under attack certainly makes sense to me! </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I pray that the spirit of fear is driven away from the country. I pray that a fearless love embeds itself deep in the minds and hearts of righteous men and women. I pray that when the time comes to act out of a fearless love, that there is no hesitation, but it’s automatic. May the Holy Spirit go before them. I know that deep down inside, those practicing evil through such things as kidnappings have an underlying need for a good whooping. They need someone to be stronger and more fearless than they are and to show them the way. They are fatherless and completely lost. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I don’t pray this as someone on the sidelines. I have practiced it. I have physically stepped into dangerous situations and stood my ground and fought on many occasions. I’ll admit I have no proximity with guns, nor have I had to, thankfully, but have experienced fists flying, rocks flying, machetes flying, etc. I do have such experience and a scar on my head to prove it. I don’t come across this mayhem often anymore, but it was quite the norm when things got started with a group of youth straight off the streets, young leadership trying to do what we can, and a pecking order not yet well established. I touch on this a bit <b><a href="https://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2010/10/morality-of-profit-diamonds-in-rough.html" target="_blank">here in this post</a></b> from 11 years ago. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. May your kingdom come. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-44583265093538640602021-11-20T16:25:00.004-08:002021-11-20T22:47:53.876-08:00Lock Up Kyle for A While<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPL8fzvXxfSoc18BCWvhN_jCI4mmnSP6b0kmiNSQqvKi_J_GTfAJ3_56ierbAFegiXufQaYINkC1c6DFxwcLdvov1aa_CTrnycFVLDhP6fAtBJI51KN957rV7U8KXgyBP-FR4T-dezMN9/s840/lock+up+kyle+for+awhile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="840" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPL8fzvXxfSoc18BCWvhN_jCI4mmnSP6b0kmiNSQqvKi_J_GTfAJ3_56ierbAFegiXufQaYINkC1c6DFxwcLdvov1aa_CTrnycFVLDhP6fAtBJI51KN957rV7U8KXgyBP-FR4T-dezMN9/w408-h229/lock+up+kyle+for+awhile.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I haven't written in several months. Life got busy again. My writing spree was allowed due to kids being home with virtual school, no volunteer groups coming, and not having steady remote work. All of that changed, and more, thankfully, although it was fun learning about current events and developing thoughts during that time. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Last night I learned about the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. I was quite surprised to hear that he was found not guilty on all charges. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised anymore, just continually disturbed. Last February, I wrote a post (<b><a href="https://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-eighteen-year-old-boys.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>) comparing Rittenhouse (the armed 17-year-old who killed two people at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August 2020), to Brandon Bernard. Brandon Bernard was an African American man who was executed almost a year ago for being affiliated with a killing over 30 years ago when he was 18 years old, despite jurors who convicted him pleading that the decision be reversed. At that point, Rittenhouse had merely been released on bond. Now that he has been acquitted altogether, the contradiction just looks that much bigger. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today was one of those days where I couldn't shake my disturbance. The only way to quench it was to read up, and now to write my thoughts. I read many articles on the verdict, watched some videos from the trials, and conversed online with some folks. Perhaps what struck me the hardest was a statement by Anthony Huber's parents. This statement can be found in <b><a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/kyle-rittenhouse-verdict-heartbroken-and-angry-anthony-hubers-parents-react/38304598#" target="_blank">this article</a></b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Huber was the second man shot and killed that night. He was unarmed, like the first. He reacted to Rittenhouse shooting the first man, Joseph Rosenbaum, and likely sought to apprehend him and disarm him. I specifically remember my criminal law instructor telling us that self-defense is a very hard defense to establish to justify a killing. We read several cases that proved what he said, with situations like pregnant woman going to jail for killing their abusive husbands while under attack. I see that in Wisconsin it's a bit easier to establish self defense because the burden lies on the prosecution to prove that the killer did not act in self defense, rather than the burden lying on the defense, which is the norm. But even so, the key word is <i>reasonable</i>. The jury has to believe that the defendant acted reasonably both in believing he was in imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury, and that the amount of force he used was what a reasonable person would use. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So the jury was instructed to view the situation as a 17-year-old boy like Rittenhouse would. They were asked to view the situation where he was approached and pulled the trigger from that point of view, but they must not have been instructed to view the reasonableness of the creation of the situation itself. Was it reasonable that a 17-year-old be walking around a town he does not live in during emotional protests with a large deadly weapon like that, basically with the intention of protecting property? The situation in itself is extremely unreasonable. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps they should've aimed for a lower charge with the killings. It's not that I want the young man locked up for his whole life, but the message this complete acquittal sends is disturbing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also read that the verdict for the Ahmaud Arbery case should be decided and announced this upcoming week. I have investigated that case too. Arbery was not jogging in jogging clothes as some make it seem, (he had cargo shorts on), but <i>was</i> walking and jogging around the neighborhood where his family says he often jogs. He was seen on camera looking briefly into a house under construction. The cameras showed several others peeking in throughout the weeks and months prior. There was no theft, other than some little neighbor boys who took some plywood. The property owner said on the witness stand that he never asked the defendants to protect his home and he barely knows them. Both of these cases are not even in the realm of police brutality, which is trickier because of qualified immunity. The defendants are civilians practicing vigilantism. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't have anything else to say and there's nothing I can do. When that is the case, the only option is to pray, (not that prayer should be a last resort, by any means). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lord, God, Jehovah, Yahweh, the Alpha and the Omega, the Begining and the End, please don't let them acquit those men, or at least the one that pulled the trigger. It pains me and I feel the pain of those who suffer from these injustices, this hate, this discrimination and devalution. I feel the pain of the Rittenhouse verdict and I fear the pain of an acquittal in the Arbery case. Please, may justice be served. May the jury's decision reflect your will. May there be healing. May the scales be balanced. May your kingdom come.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Amen. Below is my 4-year-old Gabriel's depiction of God. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess he sees God as a sun-shaped house-like creature with a smile.</span> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNa-oLAZgd9x8Ahf7iJ9iUUVy8bwaexv5aL9PVU7x1HLwoRZyUfCG7uNNh_Ck190u2ee2JbknRHvJoOWeZP-JxwzgyCmn-_TJpNEpCJ-NDf5bsYmTCBwtPtz0d6evkBiFQjZaD4OeelRr/s1440/gabe%2527s+depiction+of+God.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNa-oLAZgd9x8Ahf7iJ9iUUVy8bwaexv5aL9PVU7x1HLwoRZyUfCG7uNNh_Ck190u2ee2JbknRHvJoOWeZP-JxwzgyCmn-_TJpNEpCJ-NDf5bsYmTCBwtPtz0d6evkBiFQjZaD4OeelRr/w351-h264/gabe%2527s+depiction+of+God.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-11958641014939485432021-05-14T09:45:00.004-07:002021-05-18T05:27:35.107-07:00#FreeHaiti: NGO Dependency<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eraMtFAqdMmpcAjTMWnrS6Ljl9aIUhFI3y6Ar1LJHbndUASTynUOQ4kcStH6lbzAVBgFhxa1B57nF5hYvNzb5e4-5AcH9J8C3MJ4RtmtH5GixEPKMLsHmB0PAb_TXqSNjyn93_bdppSU/s1687/son+son+2+p.+11+and+12.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1687" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eraMtFAqdMmpcAjTMWnrS6Ljl9aIUhFI3y6Ar1LJHbndUASTynUOQ4kcStH6lbzAVBgFhxa1B57nF5hYvNzb5e4-5AcH9J8C3MJ4RtmtH5GixEPKMLsHmB0PAb_TXqSNjyn93_bdppSU/w371-h279/son+son+2+p.+11+and+12.jpeg" width="371" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adventures of SonSon - Part 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the second post about the #FreeHaiti movement that will be looking at how NGO dependency and the mentality of Haitians is a barrier to their freedom from chains that bind the country. To learn more about the #FreeHaiti movement, check out <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/04/freehaiti.html" target="_blank">the first post</a></b>. I am doing a series of posts to discuss the different problems the Free Haiti Movement has defined as holding Haiti down. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The other day, I noticed a Facebook post by a former Virginia Tech football player, who I know from tutoring and mentoring athletes throughout my time at VT, a job which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sergio often uses Facebook to speak out about issues. I asked him if I could share his thoughts from the other day in this post to make a comparison to the mentality of Haitians, although the situations are quite different. He agreed. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYHU1EoNpHtps_lCR95P44K2qhv8jE2IltaY4JMjKdgl-ybmUSU1TJ71yLSfsvvnQ7yPXFHQPiTWLvDGM3rBtq0_79oDZ3InfolIo2KdzPA_RW035EzrTmGZP-yTvUdUN1cjTcVgSq6H3/s798/171284214_142525461147569_3888452078123940816_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYHU1EoNpHtps_lCR95P44K2qhv8jE2IltaY4JMjKdgl-ybmUSU1TJ71yLSfsvvnQ7yPXFHQPiTWLvDGM3rBtq0_79oDZ3InfolIo2KdzPA_RW035EzrTmGZP-yTvUdUN1cjTcVgSq6H3/w426-h640/171284214_142525461147569_3888452078123940816_n.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">His friend Joshua commented below and said: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I am glad you're sick of it bro. We need to keep having these conversations so all people can understand. Yes other privileges are prevalent, but none in comparison to white privilege. The big thing is making people aware that it is not an attack on them, they can't help the privilege and no one is negating hard work. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, let's continue to work hard when doors are closed but let's also continue to have this conversation no matter how sick we are of it. Good post, though. Happy Friday bro." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, I'm not trying to claim that the advancement of African Americans to the country of Haiti are the same, as the situations are very different, but I do want to look at the mentalities that these comments represent. Sergio's words show a victor or fighter mentality. They show independence. He says that challenges only make him stronger and encourages others to have the same mentality. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">His friend Joshua applauds his mentality, but reminds him that even if you are sick of talking about injustice, you should talk about it until it's unnecessary to talk about. Sergio says that "those things will never change, sadly", but Joshua believes that they will if we keep talking about them. Misunderstandings will fade away and better solutions will be implemented. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I highly appreciate the mindset of both of these men. I believe that Sergio wants to forget that injustice exists or take away its power as a way to plow over it and get beyond it. Joshua wants to point out injustice so that it can't hide or be accepted and thus continue. I talked about this very topic in <a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/01/candace-owens-strength-denial.html" target="_blank"><b>this post</b></a> as well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So how does this apply to the Haitian mindset and NGO dependency? Ezili Danzo, the founder of the Free Haiti Movement, says "We are enough". This is the strong and independent mindset. This is the victor mindset. It means that they don't need to wait for a foreign country to provide aid and they don't need to automatically make plans to move to a foreign country as soon as the opportunity arises. I have noticed over and over again that our teachers who graduated from high school in Haiti have a strong pride over speaking foreign languages, but generally a lack of understanding in the natural sciences. It seems as though the very school system favors the idea of making foreign connections over problem solving and communicating amongst each other internally. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This leads me to the meaning behind our English camp called Change My Stars. The message we tell kids is that we are not teaching them English so that they try to go to the United States, Canada, or any other foreign country. We believe that English can give them job opportunity right here at home and that additionally, English can allow them to learn from visitors from English speaking countries who do not speak Spanish or Creole. It can also allow them to learn from resources in English. But we encourage them to use their education to create change at home. We oppose the brain drain where the majority of educated people leave their home country. Who, then, will develop the home country? Sure, they can send money back, but does money alone create development? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKCk0e6hOYd3emCFQePG0xuoGqg1swhLBXH2bau4op3xtOGMgSd-XVJDjiDHRfsPsHAmoIxK1JnilobMMvi1UB3aVuqkRvJyhbgaUN7sEqcDOPhBvJEypfhIjd_3g2vQlk7di816IgRnw/s666/thank+you+for+the+friends+we+meet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="666" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKCk0e6hOYd3emCFQePG0xuoGqg1swhLBXH2bau4op3xtOGMgSd-XVJDjiDHRfsPsHAmoIxK1JnilobMMvi1UB3aVuqkRvJyhbgaUN7sEqcDOPhBvJEypfhIjd_3g2vQlk7di816IgRnw/w411-h235/thank+you+for+the+friends+we+meet.jpg" width="411" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Change My Stars - Camp Prayer</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We NGOs can strongly influence this mindset by the way we interact with Haitians or members of any developing country. It's a dance between sharing and caring while also empowering beneficiaries to be independent. It takes an intentional team effort. There are entire books on this topic, but I'll share a few things we do. We ask that short term volunteers plan with us before giving out any gifts to students or community members. We try to plan it in a way that rewards school attendance, participation in a workshop, or something that promotes growth. We do it in a fair and non-political way, directly correlated to participation or performance. Sometimes aid is given to a family facing particular struggles, but this isn't usually something short term volunteers are engaged in, and they don't typically have that discresion. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I talk to volunteers about what to do if they are requested 10 pesos or something, I tell them just to say, "No puedo", which means "I can't" in Spanish or "M pa kapab" in Creole. When you say "I can't" you are also sending the message "You can". It doesn't mean that you don't want to help, but you are helping in a systemic way, teaching men to fish, rather than a momentary way of giving a man a fish, which might distract them from learning to fish.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have started following the #FreeHaiti Facebook group more than Twitter, now, and see mention of <i>dekolonizasyon mantal</i>, which means mental decolonization. Even if Haiti became independent in 1804, they argue that mentally, it's still a colony, and that needs to be broken. While I don't agree with many sentiments that are common in this group, I definitely love their focus on creating a healthy mental state among Haitians, and in seeing that as a needed element that will lead to their flourishing. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We also tell volunteers that because they come from a country where they have access to much more, (not that I personally think that is always a good thing or a sign of superiority), something that seems very small to them could have a large effect on the community here. One might think it's a small act to give their watch to their favorite child before they leave, but do they realize that doing so might encourage a large group of kids to come and request watches from the next volunteer that comes? Planning and working as a team to use such acts of generosity in a strategic way that promotes growth and development is best. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As some parts of the world enjoy more and more developed technology, comforts, and conveniences, the understanding of needs versus wants continues to alter. A friend once told me that the way my family and I live is basically what many Americans would consider camping. I remember another friend, when she saw we were moving into our small house on the mountain before it had electricity and running water said, "So you're really gonna Little House in the Prairie it here?" I personally couldn't feel more grateful. There are little things we would like to improve, but all in all, we lack nothing. We are blessed, while living below the poverty line by U.S. standards. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I recently saw a video of Ron and Johanna Melchiore. Ron says he moved from the city to build his own off-the-grid homestead in the 1970s during the Back-to-the-Land movement in the 1970s, which I had never heard of. He's been living as such, sometimes in remote places where the nearest human is a plane ride away, for forty years. I was amazed and excited to see this video as it confirmed something I had been thinking about. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As we become more dependent on technologies, comforts, and conveniences, are we getting stronger or weaker? Observing the psychology surrounding the coronavirus, I felt like I could see this conundrum first hand. I am in a country where minimum wage is the equivalent of $200 US per month for a 44 hour work week and people were saying things like, "We can make money later. What's important now is our health". On the other hand, social media posts I saw coming from the US regarding the economic challenges were much more dramatic. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With this perspective, do us expats have something to give in this sense when we go to countries like Haiti, or something to learn? And when we learn lessons or gain experiences from interacting with the severely impoverished, observing their lives, what does it leave <i>them</i> with? This is the ethical question. I am primarily referring to short term volunteer or mission teams here, but I suppose it could also apply to long term folk as well. Does our very presence leave children with a sense that they are lacking, whereas they may have never thought as much prior? And if it does, is that a step in the right direction? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course we have so much to give by means of education, organization, resources, and more. I in no means am trying to suggest that short term service teams are bad! I am only pointing out unwanted side effects if care is not taken, if sensitivity is not practiced, and if strategy and teamwork are not implemented. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtim8svDGp_0MES7CY2Oca-NfY25vrzGvetL-z57-nZwax0AVbUkhs92AblaLr_V1RlRIE2RZ6g-92aHdyU4uhP96u_Sig2bV9RMcUhNQSidNQMiU5dwN3avTOVQzdjrNPs7VYc6_SP8Z/s1363/sonson+2+p.+3+and+4.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1363" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtim8svDGp_0MES7CY2Oca-NfY25vrzGvetL-z57-nZwax0AVbUkhs92AblaLr_V1RlRIE2RZ6g-92aHdyU4uhP96u_Sig2bV9RMcUhNQSidNQMiU5dwN3avTOVQzdjrNPs7VYc6_SP8Z/w389-h250/sonson+2+p.+3+and+4.jpeg" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adventures of SonSon - Part 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>During law school, I was surprised to learn that if you try to help someone experiencing a problem but end up putting them in a worse position than they already were in before you intervened, you are liable for the position they are in. </span>For example, if you find someone stuck on a tree branch and in trying to help them, you push them further out on the branch, closer to their doom, you now have responsibility in their position and are liable. I was convicted by this. I first thought, well it's better to try to help than to not try at all. While that is true, it's important that when you try to help, you carefully consider the effects of what you do. So if the person you're trying to save gets pushed further out onto the branch, you cannot walk away at that point. You now have the responsibility to do whatever it takes to get him back to safety. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How many Americans go through places like Haiti and the biggest effect they may have is being the living embodiment of a place that seems better and has more? And how many, after having pushed people further out on their branch in that way, so to speak, leave and never look back?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dominicans sometimes told me early on, while helping teenage boys from the streets, that if you feed them, they won't want to work anymore. I didn't want to remove anyone's work ethics, <i>or</i> ignore their suffering, but there is truth in what they said. It doesn't mean that you should never provide meals, but any support should be in balance with the reality of their lives. It's a topic that should be highly considered, especially among short term groups. I'm not trying to deter people from going on short term trips, but I do think they should be viewed as a long term commitment to the people, even if you're only in the country for a short period. We do our best to build short term trips in such away that make them a contributing part of an ongoing effort that takes these issues seriously, but a lot still lies in the hands of the groups themselves. Some do an excellent job of taking all of this into account. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. I'm not claiming expertise by any means, but I've definitely not given up, and I don't plan to do so. Check out my commitment statement from 10 years ago in this post about a scene in the movie Finding Nemo: <a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2011/04/swim-down-together.html" target="_blank"><b>Swim Down Together</b></a>. The net has not broken yet. We still have brothers and sisters caught up in it. So I'm still in the net swimming down. Let's swim down together! #FreeHaiti</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-53862748495461267792021-04-22T13:03:00.004-07:002021-04-23T06:16:15.032-07:00The Space Between Us<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44NY047ZLLcu8Bx1AAbPi-jBA24V8P0lkji4HvGEW8aaiFEdlwqvmgRu6pgvetKtk6_RmVzrvFvVVWtE_yObO6ZzUT8kKHlMVaIb9CuYuCbbMgtvQA4txcO4qQEmSwfsksaPzRdZwatmI/s1440/space+between+us.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1440" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44NY047ZLLcu8Bx1AAbPi-jBA24V8P0lkji4HvGEW8aaiFEdlwqvmgRu6pgvetKtk6_RmVzrvFvVVWtE_yObO6ZzUT8kKHlMVaIb9CuYuCbbMgtvQA4txcO4qQEmSwfsksaPzRdZwatmI/w448-h213/space+between+us.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><span><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I mentioned in
my last post that I got onto Twitter in order to check out the #FreeHaiti
movement. I also have mentioned that I enjoy watching the Holy Post podcasts each
week. The hosts and all of the guests always mention Twitter so those were the
people and groups I started to follow. While I enjoy reading people’s thoughts,
I can only take so much of it, as there seems to be little call to action but
lots of philosophizing and book sales promoting. I enjoy it, but in small
doses.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Truthfully, the
main call to action I’ve been observing is the call of one organization for
Black Christian leaders that is encouraging Black Christians to leave churches
that are “white dominated” or multi-ethnic. They say that this is important to
protect their dignity. They seem to be encouraging Black Christians across the
country to stop taking the abuse that they assume they are enduring in these
“white dominated” churches by leaving. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Another call to
action came from Skye Jethani who assigned his followers to read a Christianity
Today article by Timothy Dalrymple that talked about the fragmented church. Although reading is a
passive action, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> a call to
action. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april-web-only/splintering-of-evangelical-soul.html" target="_blank">Here is that article</a></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">It talks about
the political divide in the evangelical church and contributing factors like
media sources that give completely different points of view and information,
causing there to be alternative realities. A few quotes had me strongly
agreeing as they articulated something that had been bothering me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“Rather than <span style="color: black;">withdrawing into communities of common loathing, the church
should be offering a community of common love, a sanctuary from the
fragmentation and polarization, from the loneliness and isolation of the
present moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">“Hatred
is a poor imitation of purpose, celebrity a poor replacement for wisdom, and
political tribes a poor comparison to authentic Christian community. “<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In
addition to the political divide, the call for action I presented above shows an apparently
continuing racial divide. It causes me pain. Perhaps what increased this pain
was the remembrance of the Virginia Tech shootings last Friday, which marked 14
years. Many of my friends and classmates shared their memories on Facebook of
where they were that day and what they remember. I joined in and shared the
following: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;">Today us Hokies remember the tragedy that happened on the Virginia Tech
campus 14 years ago. I myself was in lock down in the coliseum. As we reflect
on this today, the news is full of more senseless gun violence. Can we </span><span lang="EN-US">talk? Who would like to talk? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What about a political trade
off? God gets brought back into schools (not Christianity or the Bible but the
promotion of the intellectual possibility of a loving God) in exchange for
serious changes in gun laws. I personally think that would be a compromise and
also two big steps toward a solution. Much love to you all.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>I
also shared this sample site I created that embodies a movement that I think
would bring about serious, necessary change in the United States. </span><b><a href=" https://catalina272.wixsite.com/bringbackgod" target="_blank">Here it is</a></b><span>. I’m looking for a church or
group to adopt this project, as I certainly am not in a position to run with
it, but would love to see it take off. I would love to support it, advocate for
it, network, and do supportive research.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I am
doing remote work for an adult computer school in Indianapolis. I meet with
students online throughout the day. On Friday, April 16<sup>th</sup>, as we
remembered what happened 14 years earlier, I learned about what had happened in
Indianapolis the night before. Eight people were shot and killed at FedEx.
Others were injured. The news reported 45 mass shootings in the past month. I
couldn’t shake a feeling of depression and spiritual conviction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">I
feel as though I have always been a peacemaker. I am not afraid of conflict. I
embrace it and can be enriched by it. However, I feel very unsettled when it
lingers and no action steps are taken to resolve it. I feel unsettled when people
aren’t willing to compromise and come to a common understanding. I have felt
frustrated as I observe “communities of common loathing” forming or continuing,
mostly in regards to politics, and am refreshed by the truth that “hatred is
not a common purpose”. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">About the organization
for Black Christian leaders and their encouragement for Black Christians to
leave white led churches, I have many thoughts. First of all, I love their
mission of supporting, training, and funding Black Christian leaders, and I have
shared their website on different occasions. But it’s also concerning to see them
produce work like an article titled “Why Haven’t You Left yet?” which seems to be promoting church segregation. Is this a protection
of dignity or a situation where hatred is being masked as a common purpose? I
think on a case by case basis, this decision can surely be made as a protection
of dignity, which is so very important. However, is it wise to apply to all
Black Christians in the entire country? Is that honoring to the kingdom of God?
Is this call to maintain an “us versus them” mentality and promote church
segregation a good thing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Whatever it is,
it’s surely sad. I will not conclude that this organization is wrong in taking
this stance. I have very little insight into the topic. I don’t live in the
United States, although I grew up there, and have not had these conversations
pertaining to the segregated church in America. The history and topic of race
is viewed and treated very differently where I live, along with many other
differences that make it hard to compare. I have only become aware of this
particular issue through watching Holy Post podcasts. I can conclude that this
situation is not God’s will. However, I cannot necessarily blame this
particular organization for taking this stance either. Perhaps they could tweak
their approach some, but perhaps the white led churches they feel hurt by
should reflect seriously as well. I imagine that many are reflecting, or at least I hope so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">One main reason
I conclude that segregation is not a solution is because we know that the only
way to learn about each other and grow closer together is to listen to one
another and speak with one another. Obviously that is not going to happen if we
separate. We can separate to show the other that we are upset, in hopes that
they will try to reconcile, whether that be apologizing or explaining
misunderstandings. But if it doesn’t lead to reconciliation, then we are at a sad point. If
I were the hurt party who felt the need to leave, and reconciliation never came,
my competitive spirit might take over. I would want to impress the other
party by doing something better than them. That’s just me personally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">So what is the
solution? I suppose the solution is for white led churches to take this exile
seriously, first. Second, I suppose a solution is for white people who desire
reconciliation to go to Black led churches. I appreciate the idea of church
membership, but I also like being a church hopper in order to avoid any feeling of
division and embrace the body of Christ rather than a particular church. I do hope
that this organization stays on the correct side of a fine line they are
walking, where assumptions or prejudgments about people and churches because of
their racial composition still <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">does</i>
fall into the category of racism, regardless of patterns observed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">If you love to
discuss racism but shy away from the examination of the explicit racism in
Darwin’s foundational works and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/04/strategy-to-end-scientific-racism.html" target="_blank">how racist groups like the Alt-Right use his logic as their base</a></b>, I would
argue that you are not fully looking for a solution, but are being hindered by
politics. If you love to discuss the evils of racism but practice it yourself
then we know that that is hypocritical, not innovative or solution based. You
can’t eradicate something that you practice yourself, although I surely understand
the desire to fight back when one feels under attack. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">There’s so much
talk about white privilege, but I don’t hear any talk about American privilege.
There’s an unfortunate hierarchy in the U.S. and we want it to level out. We
want equality for all. But please don’t forget about the unfortunate global
hierarchy and work to level it out as well. Even if you find yourself low on
the U.S. hierarchy, you’re near the top of the global one. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes I listen
to class struggles in the U.S. with compassion as the history of race relations
was always something that brought about much compassion in me. H</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">owever, other
times I hear things that, to me, show how people are really looking at the glass
half empty and forgetting how much more level the playing fields have become,
despite there still being work to be done. I sometimes relate it to
fighting for the position of king of the world. Prince of the world just isn’t satisfying, it seems. Or does the prince not realize what he is? While it’s
admirable to want the best, who would feel very sorry for a prince? (Not that anyone is looking for pity, but in referring to a glass half empty mindset). Princes should
use their position to do good and know that they may become king one day. So
that’s just another perspective coming from outside of the U.S. of A. If you didn't get the analogy, I'm calling "white America" king of the world and "Black America" prince of the world.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The organization
on the matter of racial justice over this past year has been amazing. The fact
that incidences are taped and made public has allowed for much more
accountability. Change is hopeful with the April 20<sup>th</sup> verdict of the
Chauvin trial. However, it seems as though the public seeing these incidences also creates more
fear and rage. It’s important that we keep things in perspective and do not let
fear dominate. While we want police reform, just as us women can’t live in fear
of men because abuse to women happens, people of color should not live in fear
of police because these incidents happen. The United States is a huge country
and these things are comparably rare when you look at it that way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYIOf6fDXGe0yBB-d9wrgqT04Wyg1l1K6XaNuPCpSU90DeD9VSO8pgtTmCpScRhGZcrclmJSpaGKzOlxdCoIHG15uFnuD_2pAjEZflnX3k2hHKUYxgkwmRILPZ4xt5h9E87qL6Yg9vWw7/s474/cariol+horne.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYIOf6fDXGe0yBB-d9wrgqT04Wyg1l1K6XaNuPCpSU90DeD9VSO8pgtTmCpScRhGZcrclmJSpaGKzOlxdCoIHG15uFnuD_2pAjEZflnX3k2hHKUYxgkwmRILPZ4xt5h9E87qL6Yg9vWw7/w357-h201/cariol+horne.jpg" width="357" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cariol Horne</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">One way I
believe such incidents could be further reduced is if there were more minority
representation in the police force. I was so pleased to hear <b><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ex-cop-fired-for-stopping-2006-chokehold-kept-fighting-for-justice/ar-BB1fGu7d?ocid=uxbndlbing" target="_blank">the story of Cariol Horne</a></b> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">as it serves as proof of that claim. Minorities in the
police force create change. It also shows that this has been discouraged
historically. Why not make that part of the battle field as well?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Lastly, serving
others can be refreshing and empowering, while simultaneously humbling. I
invite anyone reading this to consider volunteering with us down here on the
island of Hispaniola. Spending time here would give you a different insight
into how race is perceived and experienced and also show how privileged you are
to be an American citizen! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Check out this interview with Ivenson, one of the young men who has spent years growing up in our group home. He shares a bit about the issues in Haiti and Cite Soleil, where he is from. I would love to see the Black Lives Matter movement include Haiti. The history of the Haitian Revolution <i>embodies</i> racial justice and dignity, yet so many innocent lives are still in bondage there. At the same time, in some ways, it is an absolutely magnificent paradise. I wish Black Lives Matter and everyone who is sensitive to the cause would help #FreeHaiti. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyPFU-mGnvQ" target="_blank"><b>Here's the link</b></a> to Ivenson's interview in case it's not showing up for you. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="292" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iyPFU-mGnvQ" width="351" youtube-src-id="iyPFU-mGnvQ"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Let’s keep
working at this. He has a solution. Iron sharpening iron does not feel
comfortable, but it does make us all better over time. Let’s not give up. Let’s
not go backwards. Let us not forget that we all have a common enemy and his work is easier when we are
divided. Have a blessed day. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-40782167895004231902021-04-21T02:34:00.003-07:002021-04-21T05:22:03.626-07:00Ken Ham vs. Bill Nye the Science Guy<h3 style="text-align: left;"> <br /><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">We have a problem with not knowing. Some
say that religion is something people believe because it makes them feel better,
basically. It gives them an answer. I would say the same exact thing about the
theory of evolution. I recently learned about Ken Ham, a creationist who has an
organization called Answers in Genesis. He actually built a life size Noah’s
ark in Kentucky, among other things!</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="320" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z6kgvhG3AkI" width="385" youtube-src-id="z6kgvhG3AkI"></iframe></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">One item that quickly popped up for Ken Ham
in a Google search was a debate he did with Bill Nye the Science Guy in 2014.
Bill Nye the Science Guy videos were shown to me throughout public schooling in
the U.S. I was very excited to discover and watch this debate! I also learned a
lot. So many of the thoughts and ideas that I had formed on the matter were
confirmed with the arguments that Ken Ham presented. The biggest point he
articulated over and over again was something I had fumbled to say in many more
words. He said that the word science has been hi-jacked to include both
observational science and historical science, lumping them together and calling
them science.</span></h3></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">Historical science isn’t <i>really</i>
science, or at least it's important to distinguish. When I think of science, I think of the scientific method with a
hypothesis, independent and dependent variables, where we can observe that if
you try to grow a plant in the dark, it does not work, thus concluding that it
needs sunlight to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can see it,
observe it, isolate the variables, and determine a truth about nature. That is
science.</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">In all of my reflections on the matter, I
have seen clearly that it is arrogant to make claims to things that happened
long ago while only dealing with very limited information and having no witness
accounts. To call such conclusions truth is to go completely against the way
our court processes work. I’ve also seen that evolution lacks contribution to the
scientific advancements we’ve made in medicine, engineering, technology, etc. I'm not claiming to be a young earth creationist. I'm not entirely concerned about the exact age of the earth, but I am surely a creationist. I also don't see that the young earth creation theory has been concluded impossible. </span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">What does the theory of evolution actually
do for us? In all honesty, it seems to primarily be a theory that contradicts
creation and the existence of God. It gives an alternative explanation and
serves as an option for people who don’t believe in God. That’s its main
purpose, not helping us to improve our living conditions, reduce physical or
mental disease, or improve efficiency in any way. It seems to have caused lots
of conflict during its 150 years and not much help. If anyone has a good
argument that goes against that, I would love to hear it. If we stop viewing
the world primarily through the lens of an evolutionist and open up the possibility
of intelligent design, will our scientific advancements stop? Will they be
affected? How so?</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">On the other hand, we can look at what the
Bible does. Christians are not the only religion that believes that the Bible
is the word of a living God and surely not the only religion that believes in
the supernatural. The Bible, whether you think it was stretched along the way
as Ken Ham claims in relating it to a tall tale, is a historical document and
witness account. The theory of evolution was simply formed from the thoughts of
Darwin after observing bird beak variations, and reported in two books that are
filled with white supremacy and the dehumanization of human beings, who I would
argue, alongside Ham, are image bearers of the living God. As Ham said, there
is much greater variety in dog breeds than there were in the finch beaks Darwin
observed, but we have yet to see one of those dog breeds convert into a
separate species.</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many will claim that religion has been the
cause of all sorts of horrors, and it is true that it has been a source of
conflict. However, I would invite those same people to take a look at the
country of Haiti. Millions of children have no access to schooling and
kidnappings are currently happening on a daily basis. </span><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/04/freehaiti.html" target="_blank">Check out the clips</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> in my
last post where I interviewed Jerry Floreal. He spoke about the school he went
to as a child and the surrounding schools in the area. All are Christian
schools supported by different churches. He also mentions support from World
Vision, a Christian organization. This is the truth in Haiti and I believe
other parts of the world as well. So the next time you hear someone talk about
the bad that religion has done, don’t forget about these teachers being paid
and kids being fed day after day, month after month, and what the motivation is
for this service. </span><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Toward the end of the debate, the moderator
read questions from the audience and they had a short amount of time to answer.
This section really showed to me a strong difference in the two mindsets of these
men. I saw Bill Nye display an insecurity in not knowing, a strong need to
know, and excitement as well to research and find out. For example, when asked
how matter gained consciousness, he said that no one knows! It’s one of the
great mysteries! The way he spoke was intense as if not being able to give a
scientific explanation was an urgent problem, one that must continue to be
addressed until an answer is present. As Ham spoke, especially during the last
part of the debate where they answered questions from the audience, Nye’s face
was a bit intense and almost angry or at least stressed.<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">Ken Ham’s face and stature, on the other
hand, was calm and cool. When he spoke of not knowing something, he didn’t seem
stressed. He spoke of what he did know, gave biblical explanations to match
scientific observations, and calmly admitted when there was not yet an answer
on a topic.</span></span></h3><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWe9iOdMZwEEoLrxc7Lf3REDxnn38QxGcQCiOpzYpPWkfO99TdGpZ5WL4Pzxz-OyWVKYhNTCG_3k2nYkp4Y4XKTtryMiNey-qkPSjV-H8YEe3RaY-0p_sd-R2nN5tPQS1p-Qa4tAGzw-t/s1080/bill+nye+stressed+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWe9iOdMZwEEoLrxc7Lf3REDxnn38QxGcQCiOpzYpPWkfO99TdGpZ5WL4Pzxz-OyWVKYhNTCG_3k2nYkp4Y4XKTtryMiNey-qkPSjV-H8YEe3RaY-0p_sd-R2nN5tPQS1p-Qa4tAGzw-t/w400-h200/bill+nye+stressed+face.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">At one point, they talked about the
observation that the stars are getting further and further apart. Bill Nye
excitedly explained to the audience that maybe if we knew the answer as to why
that is the case, then it would be helpful in figuring out other things! He
then went onto tell them that NASA does a lot of research in this area, paid
for by their tax dollars.<br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">And here is where I’ll rest my case. When I
see that Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, is investing his billions in developing a
rocket ship experience where people can fly into space like tourists, I see pure
heartlessness. Yes, it’s his money and he can do what he wants with it, but how
can someone invest in something so unnecessary like that when our planet is
full of urgent need still. I suppose it’s no worse than investing in expensive
cars, clothing, jewelry, etc. It’s all pretty heartless.</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">My biggest heart cry is that every child on
this island of Hispaniola where I live would have access to free, nurturing
education delivered in their mother tongue. I’m sure funding the new schools
that would be needed to do that wouldn’t be much for Jeff Bezos. It wouldn’t be
much for many other people or for groups of people. If all kids could attend a
nurturing school at least up to sixth grade, we know that Haiti would see the change
it longs for. And it’s more than just investing money; it’s a project that
takes smarts, planning, and dedication. But it’s apparently not as fun and
exciting as developing space tourism or sending robots to Mars, so why invest
in something like that?</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; mso-highlight: yellow;">Ev</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="background-color: white;">ol<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-highlight: yellow;">u</span>t<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-highlight: yellow;">io</span>n
</span>has been studied for 150 years now. What have we found? What has it done for
us? Ham gave an example of a rock and piece of wood found next to each other
under the earth’s surface and with radiocarbon dating, one dated 45,000 years
old while the other dated 45 million. Nye replied that the wood probably just
slid on top of the rock. That was literally his response. This is what we’re
calling science? Ham also argued several times that there are dozens of dating methods and most do not support the millions of years theory, which I did not hear Nye reply to throughout the entire debate. </span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">When do we stop with research for the sake
of hopefully finding out something important and instead dedicate time,
resources, and brains to proven solutions that just need to be implemented. It’s
okay not to know everything. It’s not okay to have the means to help others who
live in situations that no human should have to live in but waste your means on
sheer pleasure or a desire to know everything. I think we have it backwards. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">There are a few other observations about
the debate I’d like to make. Nye kept critiquing Ham, saying that his model
could not predict anything that would happen in the future. It seemed a bit
unreasonable that Nye doubted Ham’s Bible based theory, which does not seem to
contradict science other than inconclusive evidence such as the radiocarbon
dating example, which again is historical science, when he obviously had never
studied the Bible. If he did, he would see that the Bible is far from a simple tall
tale. It is so very intricate, diverse, wise, and I have many accounts of how
it has been alive in my life, as do many others. It is also full of prophecies
that were fulfilled, and to this day, people can share revelations that did let
them know something about the future. Don’t let the Trump prophets be your only
representation of prophecy! I talked about a video from Transformation Church
in </span><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/buzz-words.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. It is the second video in the post and if you watch it, it
shows proof of a small prophecy fulfilled right there.</span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US">Another point I’ll make is that Nye shared
images of skulls found under the earth that were not human nor monkey on a few
occasions. Ham did not address that. To be fair, they had limited time to speak
at each opportunity and he must not have found that that was the most important
point he wanted to use his time to make. I’m sure his organization has
published information on the matter. But I have many thoughts on the
matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main point is that it’s not
reasonable to draw conclusions with so little information.</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">Have we dug up the whole world in order to
study everything everywhere, or just some spots here and there around the
world? Do we really expect to be able to tell an accurate tale of history from
archaeology? We have a hard enough time telling an accurate tale of history
when it’s full of eye witnesses! Have we been able to observe what happens to
bone underground over long periods of time under all sorts of conditions? How
do we know that it doesn’t change shape? I’m not saying that I think it does,
but I am just saying that we have no idea of all the variables. What
explanation of dinosaur bones do we give when we realize that dinosaurs are not
present on earth now? We say they went extinct. So why do we not think that
perhaps some of these skulls were from creatures that are now extinct, if they
are no match to any living creature?</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">Did the Bible say that God made the earth
in a certain way? How do we know that he didn’t form the Grand Canyon? Why do
we assume that the earth was a certain way and then formed that way over
millions of years? So much of what Bill Nye argued was with the assumption that
God could not intervene. Does the Bible say that God created in six days, then
wiped a lot out with a flood and it grew back from there, but that all of his
creation was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">limited</i> to those six
days? Nye’s whole thought process is very limited by a disbelief in God and
then in any attempt he made to consider a creator, he put super limits on God.</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">The Bible has a consistent message
throughout, reiterated hundreds of times. “Fear not”. Now, that doesn’t mean to
ignore observations and neglect stewardship of the beautiful earth and its
creations. It doesn’t mean that God controls everything as he certainly does
not. He is powerful enough to but he did not create robots to control. And we
have work to do! So much work to do! But I would rather have a calm and steady
disposition like Ken Ham when it comes to where the ultimate control lies over
Bill Nye’s stressed out, insecure look any day. Nonetheless, it’s so awesome
that these two men came together to do this debate. I respect them both so much
for that.</span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I almost forgot one last point I wanted to
make. Throughout the debate, Bill Nye kept turning to the Kentucky audience,
feeling like he had to motivate them to become involved in the field of science
and warn them that if they didn’t, the U.S. could lose its stance as world
power. He said this several times and didn’t use those same words, but did say that
the U.S. will fall behind or that it will be harmed economically, etc. This
concern reminds me of Richard Spencer’s interview I shared</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> in a </span><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/04/strategy-to-end-scientific-racism.html" target="_blank">post about scientific racism</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. It’s fear, and this
fear makes us see our others as enemies. This fear and attitude does not come
from the Bible, but from an atheistic worldview. This doesn't mean that Christians don't adopt it sometimes too, but it does not come from the Bible. </span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-US">I would love to know what you think. Please
comment below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for reading. </span></span></h3>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-84600985842220300392021-04-06T12:29:00.005-07:002021-04-08T07:40:43.683-07:00#FreeHaiti<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis22TFqjQoBU3SdiHcdYWzdX5TIbN5zTsRVNKN4m11wzb5ZUOBLiKl-cdqAMySI96mtxEFaHdTJPMeT1CsiN4hHRvymerKR_9jXKfG-y68d01p2D3nC0R6zrAZNoYt-bX3avv3BkwJMii/s1449/sonson+2+p.+7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1449" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis22TFqjQoBU3SdiHcdYWzdX5TIbN5zTsRVNKN4m11wzb5ZUOBLiKl-cdqAMySI96mtxEFaHdTJPMeT1CsiN4hHRvymerKR_9jXKfG-y68d01p2D3nC0R6zrAZNoYt-bX3avv3BkwJMii/w400-h293/sonson+2+p.+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Illustration from Adventures of Son Son - Part 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The first time I traveled to Port-au-Prince was days after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. If it was just for the earthquake, we wouldn't have gone. On the same day as the earthquake, we received news that one of the boys from Project Esperanza, Anol, had passed away. He was diabetic and had gone to visit family in the north of Haiti. We just had to go. We also had a friend that had been sending daily updates from Port-au-Prince so we ended up bringing care packages. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We brought a Haitian friend who really wanted to serve with us. We stayed with his family in Gonaives the first night, then with Jeres' family in Canape Vert, Port-au-Prince. We ended up pitching a little house made out of wood and plantain leaves in the tent city set up on Plas Mozole. The plan was for our friend to stay there and use it to help set up a sort of government in the tent city that would organize distribution of any aid that came in and just organize life in general. Our efforts were super last minute, as no one knew the earthquake was coming, obviously. We planned on the drive over and stopped at a print shop to make letters in English and Creole, explaining our plan and purpose to any groups we ran into. We slept in the little house on Plas Mozole the last night in Port-au-Prince as an act of solidarity, and then headed up the crazy mountains to the north in the morning. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have gone through many bouts of insanity throughout my years and when I regain sanity later on, I can't believe that I did that. This was one. I'm not talking about sleeping in the little house in the tent city on Plas Mozole. I'm talking about going up those mountains with huge potholes, no guardrails, treacherous cliffs, with vehicles going way to fast around the corners! As for staying with the people in Plas Mozole, I wish I could do more of that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That night, a group of women talked to me. They were a women's organization fighting for women's rights. I explained to them what our plan was, and when I said our friend was staying in the house to serve, one of them asked, "A man?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yes."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"A <i>Haitian</i> man?" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Yes," I replied again. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"<i>Volo!" </i>A few of them yelled and repeated<i> volo, </i>which means thief in Haitian Creole<i>. </i>My heart sunk a little as they went on to criticize all Haitian men. I ended up asking what they were doing to change things. They replied that they treat their boy children and girl children as equals. If the girls haul water, the boys haul water too. The next day I would travel to my mother-in-law's house for the first time and see more of the gender inequality in how kids are raised in some households. As they spoke to me passionately about this, there was one twelve-year-old boy among them; the son of one of the women. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They were so passionate and strong. I was honored to be talking to them and honored that God had given me the opportunity and the ability to speak and understand their language. As they talked, there was a rumbling of noise coming from the road. We were in the middle of sea of tents and little scrap houses so we couldn't see the road, but could hear the noise getting closer. As I realized it was people marching and singing, it was time for the chorus of the song and they joined in, with one woman in the middle holding her arms out as if she was worshipping or submitting. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They sang, "Ayiti pa kapab soufri anko", which means, "Haiti cannot suffer anymore". </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As if it were planned, the singing continued and the woman who had had her arms out now looked directly at me and began preaching in a loud voice. She pointed her finger and declared that, "Ayiti <i>pa kapab</i> soufri anko. Haiti <i>cannot</i> suffer anymore. We have suffered <i>too much</i>. There was a child who died in Carrefour because he thirsted for <i>water</i>!" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was one of the most powerful moments for me that I can remember. I was in awe and grief. I wanted nothing more than to help these women. I had no resources beyond what we had spent. Their sons that they were working hard to raise to be responsible... were they able to go to school? Were they drawn into gangs despite their mother's efforts? Or draw in in what they felt was necessary to protect their mothers? I hope not. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I actually wrote about this short lived Port-au-Prince effort in the <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-10-30T23:55:00-07:00&max-results=7" target="_blank">first post of this blog</a> </b>in 2010. We tried, and hopefully we helped out some, but we were not equipped for the job. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In a post I wrote in January called <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/01/haiti-cheri-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Haiti Cheri Part II</a></b>, I shared that although there is still much political turmoil in Haiti, it is not at the state that it was in 2019 when schools could not even function. However, since writing that, there has been more conflict about President Jovenel Moise staying in office, saying he's violating the term set out in the constitution. I didn't understand that completely, but our cousin Jerry explained a bit more in the video below. You can see it's a bit ambiguous because the president's term is five years, which he has served four of, but a year was lost between the last president and him. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="319" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-vlJUiwzTI" width="384" youtube-src-id="C-vlJUiwzTI"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have seen news where the Biden Administration has <b><a href="https://www.voanews.com/americas/haiti-presidents-term-will-end-2022-biden-administration-says" target="_blank">taken a stance on the issue</a></b>, saying that Jovenel should not be thrown out immediately as some want, but arrangements for an election should be made. Others conclude that this is simply the power hungry opposition supplying vulnerable youth and men with guns and sending them to the streets to wreak havoc. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Whatever it is, it's sure sad. We have had boys in our program report that police (I believe it was) had given them guns to do harm with. One of these boys returned to Haiti several years ago when he was ill and ended up passing away. The second boy only came to the program a few times. It was the other boys who confessed this for him. Both boys were quite tiny. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On March 14th, I posted this in Project Esperanza's Facebook group. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww8z4BnzKgJrIXvq2_9yNX0B3GBT-RpGVNbG5s6jpL1_gUAjy0ovp9kU_Qiczdl7udPsS86Poa3wAy3rPYOOFMSBlX-Scvq9PCY_7zDAqbIGF6cZyTB4eXz0LbB_puqBRYONglPypEoB4/s750/Screenshot+2021-04-06+13.09.34.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww8z4BnzKgJrIXvq2_9yNX0B3GBT-RpGVNbG5s6jpL1_gUAjy0ovp9kU_Qiczdl7udPsS86Poa3wAy3rPYOOFMSBlX-Scvq9PCY_7zDAqbIGF6cZyTB4eXz0LbB_puqBRYONglPypEoB4/s16000/Screenshot+2021-04-06+13.09.34.png" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article249920548.html" target="_blank">Here is the article</a> </b><span>linked in that post</span><span>. You see it mentions that this sparked #FreeHaiti that is flying around on Twitter. I blew the dust off of my old Twitter account and checked it out. It seems to be started by Ezili Danto. Here is her </span><a href="http://ezilidanto.com/" target="_blank"><b>website</b></a><span>. From her tweets and her site, it looks like she sees the biggest issues that keep Haiti in bondage as foreign interference in Haitian politics, UN/US occupations, corruption among politicians, and the mindset of Haitians themselves, including NGO dependency. I do not see anywhere on the site where this is stated clearly, but I am gathering this from what is posted and from her tweets. She is all about mentally empowering Haitians to lead themselves. She says, "We are enough" meaning that Haitians shouldn't expect help from others, and they don't need it. They are enough. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I can agree with all of those issues being problematic for the most part and I highly respect her for organizing. And I don't have to agree 100% to be supportive. I am not Haitian, myself. Jerry and I talked about things for over two hours. He ended up concluding that he thinks foreign interference in Haitian politics is 100% bad, but he does appreciate NGO support by means of education. He said that lots of support is wasted. He sees money come in, people drive around in cars, and don't get a lot done. But he went to elementary school at a Methodist school in Grisongarde, Haiti, as did my husband, where their tuition was reduced by World Vision, from what he said. He appreciates that and knows that support is a big part of the solution. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwWXA_f2gAbLI-E_TkgzKb8evnpsMWi1V1fMyCLaSII8tZJd-7nE9aJKzkS53o8JfHrKiyWrqOHKdL83cbzfg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was glad that he concluded this and tried not to push him to do so, but let him talk and asked questions. I am glad because this is a solution that I believe with all of my heart. I'm not glad that education is not already provided by the Haitian government, but am glad to be a part of the solution in that way. I believe that a main focus must be providing nurturing education for all children in the country and that there are plenty of Haitians in the country who can teach. I hope we can be of support. As I said in Haiti Cheri Part II, <b><a href="https://projectesperanza.giv.sh/c13b" target="_blank">we are channeling funds</a></b> for Met Dev's school in Maroquee, which we mention in the above video. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Over a series of posts, I'd like to share more thoughts about the chains that bind Haiti that Ezili Danto proposes, as well as share a few additional ideas. We humans... we have figured out a lot. We have explored space, figured out how to clone, and even have self driving cars. Do you think we can collectively figure out how to free Haiti? Let's not give up. Let's work together as one. </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-14297153355709412332021-04-03T08:48:00.024-07:002021-04-23T08:16:04.392-07:00Strategy to End Scientific Racism <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vN_iDKW7jFbadh9bXSdzvCQ15b7fxQZV1FXYONb9mcJ7ndjTt-jjtTwIxeyp-bx1x2iX5M745Y17bISRzPnhnU20KHotWNJD8uhug2aJ_TjsSemntQ8LMDhUxhavLHREVkzfghaV0V__/s651/2021-04-03.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vN_iDKW7jFbadh9bXSdzvCQ15b7fxQZV1FXYONb9mcJ7ndjTt-jjtTwIxeyp-bx1x2iX5M745Y17bISRzPnhnU20KHotWNJD8uhug2aJ_TjsSemntQ8LMDhUxhavLHREVkzfghaV0V__/s320/2021-04-03.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's all say thanks to Percy Lavon Julian who, <br />together with others, invented/developed chemical birth control <br />and cortisone.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've read my past two posts, I've been pondering the subject of scientific racism, as well as a different U.S. public school model to combat scientific racism. I honestly believe that if done correctly, this would better follow the First Amendment than current practices. I'll try to get my remaining thoughts out in this post. While this post focuses strictly on scientific racism, I've shared many thoughts on systemic racism in the criminal justice system and in the hearts and minds of people who create and influence systems <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-eighteen-year-old-boys.html" target="_blank">here</a> </b>and <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2020/06/wonderfully-woven.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>. However, I now think that scientific racism may be the sneakiest form of all, from my understanding. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you haven't heard the term scientific racism before, it's using scientific findings or claims to support supposed superiority or inferiority among races. It is sometimes used to justify the mistreatment of one group of human beings by others due to the other group's said biological inferiority. Charles Darwin shows much evidence of this type of thinking. It's actually quite disturbing if you look at his racist text in his work <i>The</i> <i>Descent of Man, </i>as I did two posts back. This can also play out in medical interactions. <b><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213177918301938?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">This study</a></b> found that, in the U.S., African Americans are less likely to receive care by a cardiologist while admitted to the ICU for heart failure. There is much more evidence to such inequalities, which one can research. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Check out this <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/disturbing-resilience-scientific-racism-180972243/" target="_blank"><b>Smithsonian Magazine article</b></a> about scientific racism today. Here are the main points I want to highlight. The author claims that:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1. Results of research are influenced by the biases of people conducting the research. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Most scientists refrain from comparing races scientifically after seeing how it was used to fuel and justify hate, such as in Nazi Germany. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3. The genetic make up of all humans is extremely similar, no matter what racial differences are visible, leading to the saying that race is a social construct. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">4. Some scientists still do study and publish "race science", often used to reinforce white supremacy, which is frowned upon, but hard to contest, as proving something wrong scientifically takes time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">5. Scientific racial differences should not be ignored completely, but should be examined responsibly, and stereotypes should be avoided. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After much reflection, what I want to say about this subject is that the danger in viewing human beings through simply a scientific lens is that science is the study of the natural world and equality does not actually exist in nature. Months ago, my friend Martine sent me a video where Charles Barkley and a civil rights attorney Gerald Griggs interviewed Richard Spencer, who is the leader of the white supremist political group Alt-Right. You can see that Spencer is unashamed in his desire for white dominance and racial segregation. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJM12ZV2Dk-8sAVlyiyVIIHeqpBcLGxaTFNMSPjDxLycFH9BNBd8NrJwSvOB02en0zYmCcZslPlE-oAriYOw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When asked if he believes in equality, Spencer called the idea "bullsh#t" and went onto say, "There's no equality in nature. There's difference." If the video isn't working for you, <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgUCGo5kUXk" target="_blank">here is a clip</a></b> on YouTube, but it cuts off before he says that line. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've come to realize that everyone who views the world primarily through a scientific lens realizes this last part that he said. Most believe that no one should discriminate against another, but I don't know that they believe that everyone is created equal, because they realize that natural selection and evolution does not create equality. So applying this to human society is social Darwinism, which was Hitler's basis. This is what the Smithsonian Magazine article linked and outlined above explains is frowned upon. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whether it be white superiority, black superiority, brown superiority, or what have you, it is always a possibility when you look at humans through a scientific lens. We are taught to not look for hierarchies in that way when dealing with our fellow humans, but scientifically speaking, they are natural and possible. You may say that race is a social construct and studies such as the human genome project show that there is no biological superiority or inferiority among races, but to me, that seems like the whole "color blind" approach. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people psychologically deal with racial differences by saying they are color blind. They don't see race. But race difference is a quite visible thing so that hasn't turned out to be the best approach either. <b><a href=" https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/Racial%20Color%20Blindness_16f0f9c6-9a67-4125-ae30-5eb1ae1eff59.pdf" target="_blank">This study</a></b> from the Association of Psychological Science discusses that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"The allure of color blindness is that it seems to offer a relatively simple framework for managing issues of race in contemporary society: If people do not notice race, then race will
no longer matter. Yet as the research reviewed in this article
shows, color blindness is far from a panacea, sometimes representing more of an obstacle than an asset to facilitating constructive race relations and equitable race-related policies."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I especially appreciate this woman's call to be color brave, rather than color blind. <b><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/mellody_hobson_color_blind_or_color_brave?fbclid=IwAR3JcC7ZIIRZk3-OmMYH9996KskIvCL6e-pc-ud4LcX-QMms8MqgUU-UoIQ" target="_blank">Here is the link</a></b> to her TED talk, in case the video isn't popping up on your device. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oKtALHe3Y9Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="oKtALHe3Y9Q"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I mentioned that the claim that it has been scientifically determined that there is no inferiority or superiority among races compares to the color blindness approach. People can see right through it. As long as there is difference, there can potentially be inferiority or superiority. And there is not just difference in appearance, but other physical differences, such as sickle cell anemia and keloids, which affect some of my family members of African descent, as well as our students and their families, but I did not see them in my predominantly white circle in Virginia growing up. As the lone white person in my circle, I am physically affected by things that others around me are not, like skin infections in the summer months. I suppose you could argue that that may not be tied to my race, but the point is, there is difference correlated to race and it goes beyond physical appearance. <b><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/10/109521/whites-more-prone-certain-heart-condition-other-ethnic-groups" target="_blank">This article </a></b>shares a study which found whites are more prone to irregular heart rhythms. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So we could continue on as we are, knowing that there are scientific differences between races and ethnicities, but trying to influence everyone to not go down the path of inferiority and superiority. However, I think there is a much better solution. And in order to give this solution a shot, we'll have to use our imagination and put aside some things from the past. We'll have to also rethink the First Amendment. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My suggestion is that we bring God back into schools. Am I suggesting that we revert back to the Dark Ages, as one person said? No, not at all. I am suggesting that we include this very important topic into our public education because it is just that: a very important topic. I am also not claiming that this will be a cure for all, but if done correctly, a definite and necessary step in the right direction. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I understand that belief in God does not have to do with how educated or intelligent someone is. It has to do with what someone has experienced. Some are taught to look for and communicate with God from the time they are little and therefore have different experiences than others who are not taught that. Some who are brought up believing in God stop believing later in life because of their experiences, or lack of experiences. Others who were raised to not believe in God become strong believers and proponents of their belief because of experiences <i>they</i> had. Similar to those who experience racism, we should not judge someone else's experience because we have not experienced it ourselves. We should be open to listen and consider. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I think that harm has been done in trying to block God out of schools completely. I am sure that there is a way to include him that does not establish or inhibit any religion. True, atheism will be challenged more under this model, but atheism and the theory of evolution as an explanation for the origin of life as we know it actually challenges <i>all</i> supernatural activity. If supernatural activity is presented as false or not important enough to include in school in any way, shape, or form, one can surely argue that this practice inhibits all religions other than atheism, while simultaneously establishing a religion or world view. We have to keep in mind that kids spend the majority of their young lives at school, so removing a topic completely is making a big statement. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am not suggesting that we teach religion or even study religion in public schools. I am suggesting that we recognize a higher power or creator or the possibility of one and define him as love. We should teach or at least recognize the possibility that he created all men equal, as is written in the Declaration of Independence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That beautiful phrase which our country is founded on doesn't quite make sense if you replace creator with a scientific explanation, does it? Some will see that line and say that our forefathers did not intend it to include races other than their own, but it says what it says. It says <i>all</i> men. You can try to replacing creator with a scientific explanation, but our smart, critically thinking kids and adults will be able to see through it. Richard Spencer sure did. We have evolved into a species that recognizes that we all have certain unalienable Rights? It doesn't hold the same power, if you ask me. It seems like wishful thinking. We have evolved into a species where all individuals have evolved equally? Now, that's just contradictory through and through. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When you look at humans and different ethnicities through the lens of a creation, created by a loving God, you can see or argue that God created variety, just as siblings have variety among them, but all are of equal importance to loving parents. There is no inferiority or superiority, but different strengths, weaknesses, and combinations. Earthly parents may make mistakes and kids might not feel equally loved, but omnipitent, omnipresent, loving God does not. Inequality we see in the world is the result of the decisions of people, who have free will, not God. If people practiced more love, like God wants, the inequality would disappear. This would go beyond just fighting scientific racism, but injustice in general. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Not only would promoting this world view at school work to end scientific racism, but it would work against any faulty teachings at home or in places of worship that teach people that God cares about <i>their</i> cause to the point that they could harm another for it. As it is, perhaps <i>too much</i> is left in the hands of religion. Does the First Amendment mean that the government can give no teaching of God's character at all, but it <i>can</i> negate his existence? Are God and religion the same thing? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I shared in a previous post a prayer we say every morning at summer English camp. It was a compromise between camp counselors from the U.S. who grew up in and/or worked in public schools where prayer was not allowed, and students here, where prayer is the way each school day begins. Someone found it online and we all liked it. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for the food we eat</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for the friends we meet</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for the birds that sing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We give thanks for everything. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amen</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Regardless of anyone's religious beliefs, who can argue with giving thanks? It recognizes the possibility of a higher power, shows humility, and teaches gratitude. We all found it non-controversial, and I think U.S. public schools could too. Under this model, I believe teachers, when questioned, could be advised to take the optimistically agnostic approach, as opposed to atheistic. They can be taught to maintain certain limits and tell kids that the school does not provide answers beyond that. While they may personally hold further beliefs, they can't share them at school. Period. I don't think it's a huge change from current practices. The biggest thing is that it gives some power and authority to the idea of equality and the principles of sharing and caring, which we seek to teach kids. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When questioned in science class if the theory of evolution as an explanation for the origin of humans and all life forms contradicts the loving God they are simultaneously taught about, the answer would be that some things do contradict each other, and we can't actually prove, scientifically or historically, anything that happened from time periods before we have witnesses. To say that they do not contradict each other is a lie. To argue otherwise would be to argue the idea of absolute truth, which may not be beyond an infinite God, but is beyond our capacity as humans. We are wading into murky waters if we try to argue absolute truth, because we have to teach kids the difference between truth and lies. We should surely teach kids to consider different points of views and complex issues, but absolute truth cannot be compromised.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Therefore, it's important to be clear and humble that we cannot prove the answer there. We can only observe patterns in nature, read historical texts for as far back as possible, and create theories. However, I think we should seriously reconsider the way evolution is taught, knowing that the texts that first raised the idea were blatantly racist and dehumanizing to certain ethnicities, while simultaneously tempting to white supremists. It would be hypocritical to do anything but that during this time of awakening, where everything seems to be under deconstruction in order to be reconstructed in a better way. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am not suggesting that we forget the idea of natural selection and evolutionary biology altogether, but that we move away from Darwin as a person,<i> The Descent of Man</i>, and <i>The Origin of Species</i>. We must ask ourselves what Darwin has done for us, really? Has he taught us anything about open heart surgery? Depression? World poverty? Climate change? Vaccines? Environmental sustainability? Engineering? Technology? Has he actually taught us anything about Genetics? Scientists can feel free to enlighten me, and I know he made contributions, but my point is, I don't think we'll really be missing out without him. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do most people know who <b><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00509-3" target="_blank">Cecilia Payne</a></b> is, who apparently discovered the composition of stars? Male scientists apparently stole her fame. Or perhaps even more relevant, what do you know about the scientists who first synthesized and mass produced steroids from plant compounds? (Ex: birth control & cortisone). Check out <b><a href="https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/percy-lavon-julian" target="_blank">Percy Lavon Julian</a></b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So how will such change get implemented? My thought is that a charter school, or several charter schools, should be started as a trial. My previous post discusses thoughts about the legal arena there. I am rooting for a special person to act as a spokesperson for this change, but I don't know if he's reflecting on my several emails, or whether he has paid them any attention, although his administrative assistant is nice enough to reply and thank me for the attempts. He may think I'm simply getting dopamine surges from making connections, but I think this is something God would appreciate us acting on. This special person is Phil Vischer, who was able to bridge the gap between secular and religious education/entertainment through his creation of Veggie Tales, a cartoon that teaches about God's love without coming off as threatening to parents who hold varying beliefs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Although I'm rooting for Phil and the Holy Post podcast which he co-hosts, I would think many people would be interested in such an endeavor. But it should be done right, so as to not go down in the books as another unfavorable ruling by the courts for any mention of God in schools. I believe that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, as written in Matthew 9:39. Therefore, I am asking the Lord of the harvest to send out the workers so we can all enjoy the harvest together. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll finish by sharing a few videos of my daughter when she was four years old. She was chosen to say the school prayer in front of her entire school here in Puerto Plata, which goes up to 12th grade. Even this prayer, which is longer and more involved, could be seen as religiously neutral, yet socially awesome. "Teach us to work without rest in order to fight always in favor of justice". In case the videos aren't popping up for you, <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoZuGuGXTYQ" target="_blank">here she is</a></b> saying the prayer with English subtitles and <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqjhe_nwRmg" target="_blank">here she is</a></b> saying it in front of the whole school as they repeat. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IoZuGuGXTYQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="IoZuGuGXTYQ"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fqjhe_nwRmg" width="320" youtube-src-id="Fqjhe_nwRmg"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-56803339224220198032021-03-31T04:21:00.011-07:002021-04-01T08:01:04.542-07:00How Schools with God Can Better Comply with the 1st Amendment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLbCmhx0HMxVP_7-E_eLFE6wiqwKvFMRKwXDjL0LkBFBoEU4nz4119LeaLxEJyp4iusMce5WPeR1d1qyN74vp7jF-GcdlQQD8fTa8Klblob1dfJVWXDTPdWAtCfGlvACAcNfeP-b2TLTf/s1140/freedom+of+r.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="1140" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLbCmhx0HMxVP_7-E_eLFE6wiqwKvFMRKwXDjL0LkBFBoEU4nz4119LeaLxEJyp4iusMce5WPeR1d1qyN74vp7jF-GcdlQQD8fTa8Klblob1dfJVWXDTPdWAtCfGlvACAcNfeP-b2TLTf/w640-h248/freedom+of+r.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bonjou ou bonswa! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I want to write an extension to my last post where I shared a realization of inherent racism in the theory of evolution or Darwinism. I also proposed a different approach to U.S. public school education that perhaps even better follows the First Amendment than current practices. The First Amendment says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This means that the government cannot act in a way that promotes or inhibits any religion, which I argue that it currently does. We do not live in the U.S. so my opinions are not formed as a parent, but from my personal K-12 education as a student. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">First, let me say a few things about my <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/03/first-dr-seuss-now-onto-darwin.html" target="_blank">previous post</a></b>. After sharing it in a few public places and getting some feedback from a spectrum from creationists to evolutionary biologists, I maintain that there is absolutely no conclusive proof that humans came to be after millions of years of evolution from lower life forms. You would think if there was solid proof, someone who was annoyed at my claims, as some were, would have shared it in order to prove me wrong. No one did. You can't prove something that happened long before you have any witnesses. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people mocked me a bit after just reading the first paragraph of the post because I wasn't specific about the documentary I was watching when it dawned on me that Darwinism contains inherent racism. Does it really matter what exactly we were watching? The point was that I had not thought of the issue from a racial standpoint before, but now do. And my suspicions were correct because I was able to quickly find that Darwin's famous texts are full of white supremacy and dehumanization of people of color. Dehumanization is actually the literal and accurate word. Fine, if anyone really cares, it was a documentary on Curiosity Stream, but I still like my kids to watch them, I just teach them to think critically about factual claims to things that happened millions of years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I wasn't suggesting that we throw out natural selection altogether, but that we simply don't go beyond what we actually know, that we remove Darwin from his pedastool, and condenm him for his scientific racism, just as other racism is being examined and erradicated. In claiming to know more than we can actually prove and see, you exercise faith, which isn't different than creationism, is it? With creationism, you do have witness accounts that continue to be strengthened with things like finding more <b><a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-dead-sea-scrolls-israel-19844d3eb208190914182e78d9d79aac?fbclid=IwAR0aIs5LM8fyL5IGS9sDJYppDiygDHnZZ-ra5RRf5dt3qqEr9E39h8Om1bI" target="_blank">original bible texts</a></b>, <i>and</i> scientific evidence, such as the "fine-tuning" of the position and composition of the earth and atmosphere which allows it to support life, which I've also shared in a previous post. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To reiterate this again and provide even more proof to support this case, check out this <b><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/03/miracles-and-multiverses/618349/" target="_blank">article</a> </b>by a scientist at MIT. One point I especially appreciate in the article is the idea of falsifiability introduced by Karl Popper in 1934. It says that scientific theories, which can be proven false, do not lie within the realm of science, but fall into the realm of religion, philosophy, or mythology. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another reader asked if I thought that all religions, therefore, should be taught about in schools? In the <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/03/first-dr-seuss-now-onto-darwin.html" target="_blank">previous post</a></b>, I compared religious representation to cultural and linguistic representation which is important to engage multicultural kids in school, as I learned when I was working on my M.Ed. and already</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9A5G9nRjpFU0FWVnZTVceof7k35ky__eaqW8lhKq7BWS8Np_7egeDrGOZfaLKmBOEyXWDkr5Z84YBZQwxI_WuAm72H_hvcVVRw0_3S_26o_wBQbFaRxZHNc_p-gN_gsxcpbyL7ltuurY/s955/religion_equality.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="955" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9A5G9nRjpFU0FWVnZTVceof7k35ky__eaqW8lhKq7BWS8Np_7egeDrGOZfaLKmBOEyXWDkr5Z84YBZQwxI_WuAm72H_hvcVVRw0_3S_26o_wBQbFaRxZHNc_p-gN_gsxcpbyL7ltuurY/s320/religion_equality.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> observed through the work I do. I argued that God should not be a taboo topic at school and removed completely, as I felt it was growing up. I suggested a secular prayer we use at English camp and mentioned the view of God used in the Alcoholics Anonymous organization as suggestions of how to include God or a higher power in a way that doesn't establish or inhibit any religion, but serves the purpose of not establishing the religion of atheism and not inhibiting all religions that do believe in a higher power. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also suggested three extremes to avoid, which left us with the idea of a loving, just God/positive higher power. To whoever would argue that any inclusion of God in school establishes a religion, (violates the Establishment Clause), I argue that excluding God completely inhibits the free exercise of religion more than including him establishes a religion, if done correctly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Should religious texts be studied in school? I wasn't necessarily suggesting that religion be taught in K-12 school. I was simply saying that God be incorporated a bit so as to not negate his existence and give the impression that God and intellect are mutually exclusive. I suppose texts <i>could</i> be studied to an extent that would not be seen as establishing a religion. I suggest that if they are, they stay within the three extremes I mentioned. Of course along the lines of linguistic and cultural representation, it would make sense that the religious backgrounds of the kids at the school be represented in any such study of texts, while making them aware of other beliefs if the student body is religiously homogeneous. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, if religious texts are not studied, then students should simply feel free and encouraged to incorporate their beliefs into their work or creations in school, rather than to keep their religion completely separate from school. I told the person who asked this that it seems strange that the whole system we have to number our years, making this year 2021, is based on Jesus' existence, but he's not even mentioned in history class. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One person also mentioned the human genome project, saying that what was found there showed that there is no one race that is genetically superior or inferior. That is interesting and reflects the notion of all men created equal. It doesn't really support the theory of all men evolving equally, does it? Wouldn't that be a huge coincidence, sort of like the perfectly fine tuning of the earth to support life? The same friend who mentioned the human genome project in defense of the theory of evolution also agreed that scientific racism is an issue that needs addressing and provided <b><a href="https://www.aamc.org/news.../how-we-fail-black-patients-pain" target="_blank">this article</a></b> with proof. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Someone else also said that I'm anti-science. I don't see how. Are biologists like Michael Denton who writes books critiquing the theory of evolution anti-science? Not to brag, but I got an A in all of my pre-vet courses at Virginia Tech and I have the transcripts to prove it! I'm a dork who gets excited over math and science. I love bringing science alive to our students at our <a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/2020/08/02/summer-farm-field-trips/" target="_blank"><b>educational farm</b></a> here in Puerto Plata. The fact that people who say they are Christians are calling me anti-science for critiquing Darwin I think says something big about, well, overreach. Something seems to have gone a little too far. If I am missing some conclusive evidence as to how critiquing the theory of evolution as an explanation for the origin of man is anti-science, please feel free to enlighten me! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Does challenging evolution challenge Chemistry? Does it challenge Anatomy? Does it all the sudden take away our understanding of how bodily systems work or atoms form to produce molecules, cells, tissues, etc? Does it challenge the law of gravity? Does it challenge technology? No, no, and no. The fact that people think it does shows the pedastool Darwin has been put on over and over by choosing him over God. Some people argue it's not a show down between the two but, if you believe in absolute truth, it is. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So what could be done? How could these changes be carried out? <b><a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1058671.pdf" target="_blank">This link</a></b> gives a good history of the legal battle to keep the theory of evolution out of schools or teach creationism alongside it. It also mentions prayer a bit. I mentioned in my last post that things may be different than when I graduated high school in 2003, but it doesn't look like they are from a legal perspective. Again, correct me if I'm wrong. The last few pages of that link provide an appendix with a summary of all the key court cases. Perhaps it's just the author's bias showing through in this document, but after reading through it, I can see how Christians can claim a little persecution. I said that that was a delusional thought in a <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/01/groupthink-overload.html" target="_blank">previous post</a></b>, referring to conspiracy theories, but when it comes down to it, I <i>am</i> jealous for my God...or better said <i>our</i> God since he is equally accessible to everyone. I see a bias and a preference in the history of these cases that doesn't seem to be based on any proven truth. And it's not just Christians that lose here, but everyone who knows and has faith in our loving God. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On the other hand, I see why the courts are hesitant to budge on these cases as well, thinking that if people are given an inch, they'll take a mile. Again, I appreciate that hesitancy as well. I sat through two weeks of a volunteer group singing Christian songs loudly, warning repeatedly that I thought one or two of the group were not Christian, unable to calm their fevor and cringing the whole time at the thought of making another feel uncomfortable. After the trip, one member emailed me to say great things about the trip, but also mention that he is Muslim and all the Christian singing made him feel a bit out of place! First and foremost we are called to love. Love is sensitive and gentle to others. It is welcoming. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, I think the right way to manage all of this is not to call things that can't be proven science or to say that scientific evidence pointing toward creationism is not scientific. If the government is playing with the lines of what is and what is not science, you can see how some people struggle to trust the government to inject new concoctions into their body without having proof of long term effects. Go get vaccinated people! I'm not saying otherwise, just making a point. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This bias shows through especially when the government now asks schools to call kids names and pronouns according to their gender identity, allows transgender youth to use bathrooms according to their gender identity, and even play sports accordingly. I thought we were teaching science in school, not religious world views. Where is the science in that? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I, of course, condemn hate toward anyone, but why are these students favored in this way for a cognitive, unprovable issue? I popped out of a deep sleep when I was 14 years old after hearing an audible message that was important for my protection. This is a story I would love to share with anyone interested. But somehow that is different than someone experiencing gender dysphoria? Again, I express love for anyone struggling in this way and don't mean to say anything otherwise, but I am serious in making this comparison. It would've been cool to have been able to speak more freely about such things with others. It could've helped me to do so and maybe could've helped them too. Don't say that my parents should've home schooled me without saying the same about transgender kids. This experience I share wasn't something my parents taught me to do but something that happened to me, comparable to kids experiencing gender dysphoria. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps the right arguments haven't been made yet. In 1987, the Supreme Court (Edwards v. Aguillard) ruled that creationism cannot be taught in schools because it is religion, not science. But what about scientific evidence pointing toward intelligent design like the issue of fine tuning? I see two cases (Peloza v. Capistrano in 1994 and Wright v. Houston Independent School District in 1973) that ruled that teaching evolution does not constitute establishing religion. However, it doesn't look like either of these cases made it to the Supreme Court. And even if they did, why not keep pushing? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, what were the arguments made to convice the court that teaching evolution does violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment? Was an argument made that, in addition to evolution being taught, God and all things related are made taboo at school, and therefore, a strong message is communicated to students that God and intellect don't mix, thus promoting atheism or contradiction between intellect and faith? What about the benefits of saying a secular prayer every morning like the one we say at English camp? What about the purpose and hope some inclusion of God or a higher power could give to struggling adolescents? What about the scientific racism that Darwin promotes? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I wonder if a charter school could be started with this alternative approach. It could be a type of experiment or prototype. I recently watched a Holy Post podcast where an English professor and author named Karen Swallow Prior talked about how she believes the biggest problem facing Christianity today is an impoverished imagination. I highly agree. With some imagination, I think implementing changes here could work! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't understand Christians in general. We seem to see all these differences to critique and divide, but miss uniting on things we should unite on. I wish we would unite on this issue to show how much God matters just as people united in 2020 with BLM. The world saw how much black lives matter with that united effort. However, I don't think it would be necessary to take to the streets at all. Believers already have the majority. We just have to get smart, get organized, and put our differences aside. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Please, no one be scared off by the mention of BLM. I think we should use social media to spread articles and memes and have passion and unity like BLM, but simultaneously be smart and consistent in the court room, like Equal Justice Initiave. Someone also responded to my last post by saying that he noticed that lots of lawyers are creationists. Perhaps it's because law school trains us to present evidence for a case in order to lead a judge or jury to the truth without using coercion, such as hearsay information, and therefore don't fall for such coercion ourselves. If it's hard to convince adults trained in fair presentation of evidence that this theory is true, is it good to teach it to youth as fact? Is that not coercion? We'll have to examine the coercion test another time, but it's a test sometimes used to detect First Amendment violations. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was very excited when I saw the news about the new <b><a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-dead-sea-scrolls-israel-19844d3eb208190914182e78d9d79aac?fbclid=IwAR0aIs5LM8fyL5IGS9sDJYppDiygDHnZZ-ra5RRf5dt3qqEr9E39h8Om1bI" target="_blank">dead sea scrolls</a></b> found the other day, but no one else seemed to get excited about that! The latest political conflict will have everyone talking, but something like that that should go viral just gets looked over. I would love some more feedback. Please comment! God bless. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDkf59o1xeThUgb5Y_8M6EPtd508skunuj4RG1rYuDkjVoub8EGFMhDRZEm0bXh8rNFScuuh744UPDbO1EQSHNvjHKA5b21BPwrS7nWu8YtPlv9svvUydTK23SpGl03mXg9rCQvDMIYsX/s702/lady+liberty+1st+amendment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="702" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDkf59o1xeThUgb5Y_8M6EPtd508skunuj4RG1rYuDkjVoub8EGFMhDRZEm0bXh8rNFScuuh744UPDbO1EQSHNvjHKA5b21BPwrS7nWu8YtPlv9svvUydTK23SpGl03mXg9rCQvDMIYsX/w400-h191/lady+liberty+1st+amendment.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-36122217202919551632021-03-20T07:49:00.008-07:002021-03-31T05:36:55.670-07:00First Dr. Seuss, Now Onto Darwin! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99LxjlYxEM1ZDPr-KQzLxDJkf5y8fSo7jq8VYntjGvbr5SE12Kjb6HnF9vMveTqR2EBJYXZ6NbVV7sDkBQ7KvzEl1JOfaILvKgS-8-C3eacxhMg9Z6x3XPNsbIwA3iv5xtfGbkW1c4v_e/s864/darwin+hypocrites.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="864" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99LxjlYxEM1ZDPr-KQzLxDJkf5y8fSo7jq8VYntjGvbr5SE12Kjb6HnF9vMveTqR2EBJYXZ6NbVV7sDkBQ7KvzEl1JOfaILvKgS-8-C3eacxhMg9Z6x3XPNsbIwA3iv5xtfGbkW1c4v_e/w400-h231/darwin+hypocrites.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A New Realization (for me)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now that Dr. Seuss' estate has properly examined their works and made changes in order to refrain from influencing kids' minds with racist content, we should expect that other influencers do the same, right? As I was watching a documentary with my kids the other week, I felt uncomfortable with something that was explained. A scientist or an archeologist, I can't remember which, and it doesn't actually matter which, showed a picture of a skull that was apparently found on the continent of Africa. It was believed to be the skull of something like a Neanderthall, similar to a human skull, but a slightly different shape. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It rubbed me the wrong way because I knew where that observation led. I realized at that moment that the theory of evolution is inherently racist. It would attribute differences in human races to evolution and claim that certain races are therefore superior or "more evolved" than others. I did a quick Google search and what I found supported my intuition. If you search it yourself, you will see that there are endless articles on the topic, some pointing out Darwin's own words, mostly from his work <i>The Descent of Man,</i> that consistently speak of a white superior race and a black race of savages that he predicted would eventually become extinct. He says, "Savages are states between people and apes". <b><a href="https://sites.williams.edu/engl-209-fall16/uncategorized/the-dark-side-of-darwinism/" target="_blank">This article</a></b> does a great job of laying this all out there. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then there are other articles acknowledging this racism, while trying to defend it or brush it under the rug. Some say that regardless, his racist views don't affect his science. I'm not sure how not. His science completely supports notions that blame victims and remove responsibility from abusers, justifying claims such as African Americans are low on the household wealth scale and have high incarceration rates because of their own intrinsic inferiority, not because of systemic racism. This is apparently called scientific racism. Believing that a loving God created everyone uniquely with different strengths or gifts, in abundant variety that is reflected in individuals but also perhaps ethnic groups, and seeing people and people groups as reflecting the image of a loving God is a very different world view. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyz3J_ifGvFmWkuTlzojGRF6hRcR8bOSiThZa_8J_IMLkRYDN-AXk4B-Q3s2ekx4_4fSCNXYnInrq-_jEObRUlsidk01HPClbcNGA4PqMg3UCHYTONTZPN0EJ5W764cAB_yZKmf4WZCVg/s691/darwin+exterminate+savage+races.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyz3J_ifGvFmWkuTlzojGRF6hRcR8bOSiThZa_8J_IMLkRYDN-AXk4B-Q3s2ekx4_4fSCNXYnInrq-_jEObRUlsidk01HPClbcNGA4PqMg3UCHYTONTZPN0EJ5W764cAB_yZKmf4WZCVg/w464-h640/darwin+exterminate+savage+races.jpg" width="464" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2967206?seq=1" target="_blank">Check out this chart</a></b> which gives the racial breakdown of people in the U.S. practicing different religions. You can see that people who identify as black are underrepresented in the religion of atheism. 3% as compared to a national percentage of 12%. I have not conversed with any African Americans about this, but assume that this underrepresentation is not due to a lack of welcoming in the congregation or history of segregation as is probably the reason behind things we see in this chart such as the United Methodist Church being 94% white whereas the African Methodist Episcopal Church is 94% black. Atheism doesn't really have weekly gatherings as the majority of the rest of this list does, although all U.S. public school students are introduced to atheism. I would assume that this underrepresentation of African Americans as atheists stems from the fact that they know that they are not a less evolved race and that the theory of evolution (large scale evolution as an explanation for the origin of man, that is), is based on that argument. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2967206?seq=1" target="_blank">This article from The Journal of Negro Education</a>,</b> (a Howard University quarterly review), claims that this scientific racism that Darwinism promotes is a main factor in why people of the dominant group have found Darwinism so appealing, as opposed to actual scientific merit. This is serious stuff! "Science has often been used as a justification to propose, project, and enact racist social policies. The philisophical and political underpinnings of ideas associated with racial superiority and inferiority were first given scientific legitimacy and credence with the publication of Charles Darwin's (1859) revolutionary book, <i>The Origin of Species</i>." If society is to ignore this and continue to uphold Darwin and his teachings during this time where all of history is being examined, scrutinized, and cleaned out, then the hypocrisy will be too much to bear. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The theory of evolution as the origin of man directly contradicts the statement in the U.S. Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal", which is an important American doctrine. A few posts ago, <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/03/hell-and-evolution.html" target="_blank">I wrote about this topic</a></b>. I argued that in an attempt for U.S. government to keep religion out of the schools, they are actually promoting the religion of atheism. There is not enough scientific proof to teach evolution as any sort of explanation for the origin of man. That itself is a faith based idea, not a scientific one. What is scientifically proven about evolution? What has actually passed the scientific method? Whatever has actually passed is what should be included in science class. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFs750yuwAUErJL2cEDn1Vgy3dWnVG4ZqiQ9mBEW6tEoU4SpAnrUcNzXbErSaWlpZf4yMNJO3s1JJFNDtOqlTx9j6F-cHK07uH47GXTowfym1xhDO9LpT4h0yFvIZ0aYBLCe1ihTH0ujG/s685/scientific+racism.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFs750yuwAUErJL2cEDn1Vgy3dWnVG4ZqiQ9mBEW6tEoU4SpAnrUcNzXbErSaWlpZf4yMNJO3s1JJFNDtOqlTx9j6F-cHK07uH47GXTowfym1xhDO9LpT4h0yFvIZ0aYBLCe1ihTH0ujG/w469-h640/scientific+racism.jpg" width="469" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>More Doubts</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Furthermore, as I watch these interesting documentaries with my kids, I find that many claims highly contradict much of what I learned in law school. Scientists make claims to things that happened tens of thousands or even millions of years ago as if they are fact. However, if you look at how evidence is presented in the courtroom to protect the discovery of the truth, stating that anything happened before any eye witnesses were able to give testimony highly contradicts the way we seek to prove things in the courtroom. Even with modern day forensics, you do not rely on pieces of physical evidence alone to figure out the truth. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Someone might reply to that by saying that scientists know that such theories are not proven. Even if you hear them state something as if it's a fact, they recognize that there is a lot of guess involved. I would say that if they know it's a guess, then they should not ever speak of it as if it's a fact. Doing so hurts their accredibility altogether and may contribute to people not trusting highly important things that do have more proof, such as global warming. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another life experience that has caused me to have an even more critical view of such statements making claims to things that happened long ago is the fact that I've spent the past 13 years of my life immersed in the Haitian community in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. One of the biggest differences between this life I have experienced and the life I experienced in the U.S. has to do with space. In the U.S., we often have a large amount of personal space. Haitians often live and interact in much closer quarters. It has an effect on so many aspects of life. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the U.S., I often engaged in conversations where people told me things that happened between others, gossip basically, and I assumed it to be true. I found Haitians to generally be more careful about making such claims. Children are often taught to say they don't know when questioned. Sometimes this is bad because perhaps they do know something but are afraid of getting in trouble, but I would say that more often than not, it comes from a more humble point of view that has developed from gossip reaching the ears of the subject of the gossip in a more direct manner due to living in closer quarters. The lack of space and distance between people creates a higher level of accountability and awareness of "the other side of the story". As I observed this way of interacting, I realized that I had probably believed all sorts of gossip throughout my life that either wasn't true or was only partially true because I had never heard the other side of the story. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Therefore, after having gone through law school and learning in detail about the specific care taken by U.S. courts to protect the truth by objecting to things such as hearsay, and also becoming accustomed to a culture that is constantly reminded that there are two sides to every story, I react to these claims of things that happened millions of years ago with laughter. It seems ridiculous to me to even say such a thing as if it's proven. It also seems highly arrogant. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe49mHSdmiVVi-sgdMnwxv_c-1dZT5OF2fVfFCUqXaa9bPW4jWzm6DzW_4r83dT6e1GKZOzqCBwibRlbi0sPLTLElTjOCjiUJl4DNj_FqPd-R0aElPCgE5QVRQeYATp878sntnHPhBbVh/s500/darwin+and+hitler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe49mHSdmiVVi-sgdMnwxv_c-1dZT5OF2fVfFCUqXaa9bPW4jWzm6DzW_4r83dT6e1GKZOzqCBwibRlbi0sPLTLElTjOCjiUJl4DNj_FqPd-R0aElPCgE5QVRQeYATp878sntnHPhBbVh/s320/darwin+and+hitler.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Proposed Modifications in Schools</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My experience with K-12 U.S. public school from a child's point of view is that God was a taboo subject. I graduated from high school in 2003 so perhaps things have changed somewhat. Nonetheless, kids spend the majority of their time at school and the fact that God is "not allowed" is saying a lot. I appreciate the separation of church and state and the reason behind it. I honestly believe that God appreciates it too as he never wanted to force anyone to follow him but gave choice. But I do wonder if in an effort to honor the separation of church and state in order to refrain from pushing a state mandated religion, the opposite extreme hasn't been taken. Maybe it's time to balance out a bit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I like the Alcoholics Anonymous approach to the topic of God from a human development perspective. As one of the steps to recovery, people going through the process have to put faith in God as they understand him. This is the second step, after they have admitted that they are powerless over the hold that alcohol has on them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I find this to be a religiously open and universally healthy approach. Looking back at the list of religions practiced in the United States. most do believe in a higher power or admit to not knowing whether or not a higher power exists (agnostic). <b><a href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/" target="_blank">This link</a></b> gives the breakdown of percentages of Americans (regardless of race) that practice each religion. Looks like at least three quarters of the U.S. believe in a higher power. Why, then, would there be an agenda to reflect otherwise in U.S. public school curriculum? That doesn't seem to make sense. We run a summer English camp here called Change My Stars. During the school year, our students are used to praying each morning. However, camp volunteers come from different faiths, mainly from the U.S. and Canada. It was a non-Christian volunteer, if I remember correctly, who suggested we start each day with the following prayer which she found online: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for the food we eat</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for the friends we meet</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for the birds that sing</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We give thanks for everything</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amen.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I personally think that such an approach to spiritual life and child development makes more sense than removing all mention of spirituality altogether. I think engaging the intellect and spiritual life together is important. I myself sometimes felt like I was living a double life where my spiritual life was always a very real and important part of my life, but it was basically hidden at school, I felt. I can only assume that others experience or experienced a similar conflict and it could lead to a dichotomy where people feel like spiritual life and intellectual life are in opposition to one another. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember being delighted in college when my Sociology textbook included a snippet about a study where two groups of cancer patients were observed over the course of some constant period of time. The independent variable was that one group was being specifically prayed for while the other group was not. They had no idea they were being prayed for, but the recovery rate of those in the group receiving the experimental prayers was significantly higher. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXTxSsE6nG6z2bQGdXGB6pz8KZRLi2eRk3D5Vq7unXH0vqML1BKI-Fg41WRvHsoXFxKWjcYCNUXBlOMDit3DN1yHQBKgNq4sG6iFOsXKEX8MQmAdgvi0mm-7ITNUBa7NfKWtWnnXMzCnh/s850/we+can%2527t+let+god+do+it.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXTxSsE6nG6z2bQGdXGB6pz8KZRLi2eRk3D5Vq7unXH0vqML1BKI-Fg41WRvHsoXFxKWjcYCNUXBlOMDit3DN1yHQBKgNq4sG6iFOsXKEX8MQmAdgvi0mm-7ITNUBa7NfKWtWnnXMzCnh/w400-h189/we+can%2527t+let+god+do+it.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We now know that the healthiest way to educate a multi-cultural group of children is to try to have representation of each children's culture and their family's native language in the classroom. We now know that it is better for parents who speak another language to continue speaking that language with their children at home rather than only communicate to their children in English, often at a lower level than they would in their native language. It's healthiest to celebrate those differences kids bring, rather than try to exclude their varying cultures and languages to promote a culture that only reflects majority American culture. This changes students from being disengaged, feeling as though part of them is unwanted and unwelcome, to feeling comfortable and able to engage at school. It's directly correlated to their success at school. I think the issue of spirituality can be viewed similarly. Rather than an approach that attempts to remove it or block it out, an all inclusive engagement may be best. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here in the Dominican Republic, God is referred to as common practice in every day language, unlike in the United States. I was corrected many times for saying, "See you tomorrow" or stating any future plans as if I hold the future, before I finally got into the habit of saying "God willing" or as it's directly translated from both Creole and Spanish, "if God wants" or "if God allows". I love it. I absolutely love it. You also tell someone to "go with God" as they leave or "stay with God" if you are the one leaving. You say "sleep with God" as they head off to sleep. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As Albert Einstein said, "There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Which view gives people more purpose and hope? Growing up, I had peers who committed suicide and family members of peers who committed suicide. During a short visit over Christmas, my brother told us about multiple neighbors of his who committed suicide recently. I have lived here full time now for over 13 years. I spent a few years before that in transition between the U.S. and here. As I reflect, I can only think of two men I know of who have committed suicide, and both were European men. There is much more to say about that, but as I pondered the subject, I found that to be a point worth mentioning. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TOwI-F2_usSKPG3HTEqDW1BO-ceRwqwekznYugDiBT_5vHiOEvQkI4yxRfxA9qDg54oVUUqtxylwrcyluIyqLAMxgbrfqL7dJGMLbcO2TyiUxZilFNQfEqEtS1XFMrUgALUDk37mSyCJ/s756/albert+einstein+purpose+of+life.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TOwI-F2_usSKPG3HTEqDW1BO-ceRwqwekznYugDiBT_5vHiOEvQkI4yxRfxA9qDg54oVUUqtxylwrcyluIyqLAMxgbrfqL7dJGMLbcO2TyiUxZilFNQfEqEtS1XFMrUgALUDk37mSyCJ/w339-h400/albert+einstein+purpose+of+life.jpg" width="339" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>3 Extremes to Avoid</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I personally think there are three extremes on this topic that should be avoided. I find these three extremes to be harmful religious beliefs that exclude others and cause conflict. I hope I don't offend anyone in saying this and that even if someone reading falls into one of these extremes, they are open to reading a critique, knowing that even if their beliefs or religion is critiqued, it is not a critique on them personally. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One extreme is atheism. I think it is arrogant and closed minded to ignore the spiritual experiences of so many people simply because they haven't experienced them themselves. I've already explained the problems I have with the theory of evolution. I can fully appreciate those who admit to not knowing or not reaching a conclusion, agnosticism, but for those who have concluded that God does not exist altogether, I see that as a premature conclusion and wish they would keep their options open a bit more. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The second extreme is any belief or underlying notion that God is working for you or your people. Christian nationalism is a good example. I would say that I've seen the same attitude in what I would call church going Haitian Christian nationalists. God is seen as being there to defend their personal cause and it doesn't seem to be considered that God may want them to practice more patience or understanding. God is weaponized. Prosperity gospel could maybe fall into this category as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The third extreme is anything that uses spiritual forces to bring about harm. In 2006 I first came to Puerto Plata and ran a street census along with other volunteers. We collected information on 140 boys working in the streets of Puerto Plata, 95% of whom were from Haiti. We then began supporting a school for Haitian immigrant kids, started a program for those working on the streets, and began housing a dozen or so. My husband actually has this background and some of the boys in the program have become like family to us. You can see an interview I did with one of our closest friends here:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XcgMjhjjGiM" width="320" youtube-src-id="XcgMjhjjGiM"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These stories that Willy is sharing are what I have heard endlessly throughout the years from dozens of boys, although this exact topic was actually new to me during the interview. Some admitted to being raised to give food offerings to Satan. I have kept note of direct references to Satan as some who study world religions try to convince that Haitian voodoo does not involve Satan worship. This might not be what you read when you study an anthropology summary of voodoo, but these are the stories I have been told from those who have grown up in this religion. All boys sleep with the light on all night, at least until they get comfortable, and have an intense fear of evil spirits. Adoptive parents of Haitian children in the US and Canada have reported the same in a Facebook group I am a part of. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pretty much any time a Haitian dies, family, friends, and acquaintances have an explanation or theory that ties the death to a voodoo attack from someone who didn't like the person. This is true whether the person died of sickness or a motorcycle accident. It is always attributed, at least in part, to spiritual warfare. Of course not all Haitians practice voodoo. Many are devout Christians. But even if someone does't practice voodoo, it doesn't mean that they don't suspect others who practice it. Therefore, there is always this division; these accusations and suspicions. People are always watching their backs and also have their guard up against others using magic to steal from them. I have found very little, if anything I would call good in all of this. If you watch Willy's interview, you'll see the fear he embodies over the subject and the gratefulness he shows having come to know God, a loving father, who he learned wants us to love others as we love ourselves. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I realize that my testimony claiming that Haitians accuse acquaintances of murdering their loved ones through spiritual warfare on a regular basis may seem to directly contradict my previous claim that Haitians are generally more careful to spread gossip than compared to what I observed in the U.S., as the use of space creates a higher level of accountability. However, I maintain that they both are true observations. Haitians are a complex folk that cannot be understood easily. They are also incredibly intelligent and multiply and divide by five on a whim while doing money transactions in an imaginary money system. Read more about that <a href="https://blogs.iadb.org/caribbean-dev-trends/en/haitian-dollars-myth-reality/" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> or <b><a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.14318/hau6.1.005" target="_blank">here</a></b>. I've been intrigued watching children vendors do this. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, need I say more? I think we should stay away from those three extremes. Other than that, I would say that regardless of religious differences, we should be able to respect, appreciate, and unify. Separation of church and state means that no one religion is pushed by the state. It doesn't mean that most religions should be ignored or hidden by the state, because in doing so, the state is pushing atheism. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That is my positively honest opinion about the subject of religion, faith, and spirituality in U.S. public schools. Now to all of us who believe in a loving God or have hope that he exists, let's cancel Charles Darwin! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, did you hear that they recently found Dead Sea scrolls with texts from the books of Zacharias and Nahum? Pretty cool! <b><a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-dead-sea-scrolls-israel-19844d3eb208190914182e78d9d79aac?fbclid=IwAR0aIs5LM8fyL5IGS9sDJYppDiygDHnZZ-ra5RRf5dt3qqEr9E39h8Om1bI" target="_blank">Here's more info on that</a></b>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABrPaX_njWioMmW8CC7Ahpu6YRA5lCPYaBHshAeQBER5xkgKKn305t_v9x9JO94zqseQud_HmsgwwRvYASAq77X-X1JEhsQFPoK1R34gGFQU_-4HvzwttMF09FSzq8SNyWK0mW43FyXkd/s640/simple+answers%252C+albert+einstein.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABrPaX_njWioMmW8CC7Ahpu6YRA5lCPYaBHshAeQBER5xkgKKn305t_v9x9JO94zqseQud_HmsgwwRvYASAq77X-X1JEhsQFPoK1R34gGFQU_-4HvzwttMF09FSzq8SNyWK0mW43FyXkd/s320/simple+answers%252C+albert+einstein.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-35158368185016112252021-03-07T12:13:00.006-08:002021-03-08T07:03:30.001-08:00Dr. Seuss vs. Mr. Potato Head<p><span style="font-size: medium;">On Saturday, I wrote a little poem to share my take on the Dr. Seuss drama. I inserted it in a meme creator, and shared it on Facebook. In one group, I see it has been shared over 200 times and has about as many comments. Here it is. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUkGyH8uuEcoyuNXFAEXVUZbADgSdzFEWuC6uZuhb-Fr2gYRdVgf7OAE1IregUqwWk26RDubuhMtKixyxZP_WBjvZXdzwGqw0R38ds3AG5aXpWMc1fRb9uExXon8d4lDRoOsBOHHy_gMz/s995/Dr.+Seuss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="500" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUkGyH8uuEcoyuNXFAEXVUZbADgSdzFEWuC6uZuhb-Fr2gYRdVgf7OAE1IregUqwWk26RDubuhMtKixyxZP_WBjvZXdzwGqw0R38ds3AG5aXpWMc1fRb9uExXon8d4lDRoOsBOHHy_gMz/w317-h485/Dr.+Seuss.jpg" width="317" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you read my previous blog posts, you can see that I plea that everyone be sensitive to racial injustice and engage in humble dialogue on the subject. I do think that Dr. Seuss' family exemplified that by ceasing to print six of his sixty books that contain words and pictures that are likely to make some kids feel embarrassed or singled out because of their ethnicity. These words and pictures are also the very thing that reinforce norms that create and allow systemic racism. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Imagine a jury made up of a white majority deciding the fate of a young black man on trial. Or a young white man. Somehow the young black man gets the death penalty for destroying the evidence of a heinous crime one of his fellow gang members committed. The young white man is considered in a different light, though his crime more severe. He has a bright future ahead of him, etc. These biases are indoctrinated into the minds of children and it is wise for us to take them seriously. I recently wrote <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-eighteen-year-old-boys.html" target="_blank">a post about</a></b> just this. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was much discussion trying to portray Dr. Seuss as a victim being persecuted, as though his name would now go down in history as a dirty racist! Dramatic much? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, about a week before the Dr. Seuss memes started circulating, there was hype about a decision Mr. Potato Head made. The name is being changed from Mr. Potato Head to simply Potato Head and there is a new family pack coming out with two adult sized potatoes, a baby, and a variety of body parts to create your own family, basically. <b><a href="https://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/articles/create_your_potato_head_family_launching_this_fall" target="_blank">This announcement</a></b> has a little video presenting the changes and new product. You can see the video says, "There's no wrong way to play". </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So I just want to talk about these two situations in comparison since they are being grouped together as if they are the same thing. I see them as two completely different issues, despite the fact that they are so often lumped together in American politics, which I think does the issue of racial justice a disservice. While racial justice should be a no brainer for people with Christian beliefs or anyone who believes that everyone is created equally, the issue of sexual orientation is highly controversial when held up to the bible and to nature, actually. I don't wish to get into it all here, but to say a few things about content made for children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was outside of the U.S. during all of the Obama Administration and Trump Administration. Here in the Dominican Republic, I cannot say that I know a local same sex couple. As for my friends in the United States who are in same sex marriages or transgender, the last thing I want to do is to make them feel like I have anything but love for them as my friends from our youth, and also as people made in the image of God. I do, however, have concerns for where this is all going. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although I have been outside of the U.S. during a time when a lot of changes have been made in the area of sexual orientation, I have been able to observe changes in children's content. My personal view is that, out of respect for our loving God and his word given to us through the bible, which is a book that has proven to be alive to me on endless accounts of which I'm happy to share if inquired, I would prefer that same sex couples and transgenderism is not present in the content that my children watch. I see it as an attempt to indoctrinate them to normalize something that the bible teaches as outside of God's will. Maybe I don't fully understand God's stance on the issue, but there is enough language to make me quite cautious. Now, the bible also clearly condemns other things that are normalized at times, like pride, and I think we should push against them all. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course it is appalling to think of a parent that would reject or hurt their child if they came to them to say they were experiencing attraction to their same sense, gender dysphoria, or anything along those lines. But that doesn't mean that in avoiding exposure to your child at a young age, you are one of those parents. Even if I don't always understand why, trust and respect for God means that we don't always have to fully understand to obey. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course I have the choice to regulate what my children watch and what they don't. The issue is that parents don't normally have to screen content that is made for children. You normally assume that it would be void of adult content because it's made for children. But these days, it seems as though content creators want to include homosexuality into children's content, perhaps in an effort to teach kids to be more inclusive. And here is where the problem lies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have never been able to figure out how a real compromise can be reached on this issue. In fighting for the rights of a very small percentage, others rights are encroached upon. If boys who feel as though they are girls can play girls' sports, then girls are made to compete against biological boys. And these boys have a huge and unfair advantage. That doesn't seem to make any sense. Furthermore, by letting boys play girls' sports because of a cognitive measure rather than physical, you've defeated the whole purpose of even having gender organized sports. This is just what example of many. The point is that I find it to be a very controversial and difficult topic where I struggle to find a sensible solution. Where do we express sensitivity for the struggles of others, challenge gender norms which I agree deserve to be challenged at times, and where do we draw the line on catering to constructs that are cognitive and not physical? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sexuality is not a children's topic but a pre-teen and beyond topic. Therefore, it only makes sense to me that it not be brought up or portrayed in children's shows, movies, and books. Is that too much to ask? Yes, showing two women as a couple is not overtly sexual, but the explanation behind it is. Have you not realized that in so many studies, there is a stance taken on one extreme, then the opposite extreme, and the solution always seems to be blend? I'll throw an example out there. Everyone accepted that personality was a biological construct. Then, it is challenged, and the other extreme is taken. Everyone accepted that personality was a product of one's environment. Then some other smart guy comes along and says, "Hey! It's actually a blend of both." Have you noticed this pattern over and over again, especially in the social sciences? I suppose I feel as though we have gone to a bit of an extreme on this issue and may need to balance it out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No one should be targeted by hate. If anything has come out of these changes, I hope that that has been made more clear. But can we not accept some limits? Conservatives have been critiqued for not accepting science on certain matters such as global warming and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. But what the heck is going on with intervening medically with teenagers who report going through gender dysphoria? Where is the science that supports that that is a good idea? You wouldn't ask a teenager to commit to a college major at that point so why in the world would you engage in such a big decision like changing your sex medically? Anyone doing so is placing a lot of faith in a theory on transgenderism and a diagnosis they were given.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I recently heard Preston Sprinkles in a Holy Post podcast discuss this topic. He introduced <b><a href="https://womansplaceuk.org/2020/11/30/keira-bell-there-was-nothing-wrong-with-my-body/" target="_blank">Keira Bell</a> </b>who sued in the UK because she was medicalized in this way. He also discussed one doctor's argument that girls could always have breasts put back on later in life if they regretted having them removed at ages as young as 13!! Do they think people function just like Mr. Potato Head or the Potato Head family pack? Do they think that there's no wrong way to play this game of life, as the video introducing the new Potato Head family pack says? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK_Fv5Ip-1XfPSZf8-q7GMMM4PiLTGYhdHvGVNT7cgOm8Zp-JZbhTQ0O5Pi5jsZAflnC_yKH5nCrOXNWPGQscNCbogipzEtyDttxPXTHvDD8zIY_iuJpEkJXqWNdCKu1hr5ZMHnkVh60g/s774/no+wrong+way+to+play.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="774" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK_Fv5Ip-1XfPSZf8-q7GMMM4PiLTGYhdHvGVNT7cgOm8Zp-JZbhTQ0O5Pi5jsZAflnC_yKH5nCrOXNWPGQscNCbogipzEtyDttxPXTHvDD8zIY_iuJpEkJXqWNdCKu1hr5ZMHnkVh60g/w402-h232/no+wrong+way+to+play.png" width="402" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He said that many are concerned about this practice, yet it's going on. I hope we can see that this is not just a matter of accepting and celebrating people for what they are, which is what racial justice is about. The issue of transgenderism seems to be the opposite. It seems to influence people to feel empowered to <i>change</i> who they physically are. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Are we getting overconfident? </span><a href="https://womansplaceuk.org/2020/11/30/keira-bell-there-was-nothing-wrong-with-my-body/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank"><b>Keira Bell's interview</b></a><span style="font-size: large;"> testifies to the influence of media over youth in this way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/03/hell-and-evolution.html" target="_blank">my last blog post</a></b>, I examined the two topics of hell and evolution. I argued that much is taught on both issues that is not conclusive and that we should simply stick to what we know and admit what we don't know. While listing certainties we know in science, I said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">Natural is healthy but we can intervene if need be." When I wrote that, the topic of LBGTQ was far from my mind. I just realized, though, how much these modern practices are in contrast to that. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I'd also like to examine in a future post how the theory of evolution is inherently racist. I realized this while watching a documentary with my kids the other day. A quick Google search shows that many others already realized the same. Now that Dr. Seuss has been appropriately corrected, it's time to go after Darwin! And I don't see how Darwin will justifiably come out with just a small fraction of his work suspended when passed through the same test! Let's not be hypocritical. </span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-21665046296456411442021-03-02T18:56:00.002-08:002021-03-03T12:28:35.783-08:00Hell and Evolution<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> Hi. Here I am with thoughts swarming again that I need to share! So building </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">off of the</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/buzz-words.html" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;" target="_blank"><b>Buzz Words post</b></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I last shared, I have come to understand (remember, I've been out of the U.S. for quite awhile) that some Christians are worried about what is being called progressive Christianity and "wokeism". Others have been "deconstructing" their faith. What I understand this to mean is that people have grown up believing things that they thought were clear in the bible, come to find out they were more cultural teachings than biblical teachings. Or they were strong traditions but not necessarily strong biblical principles. Or they're not sure and are taking another look. So in order to weed those things out, you have to deconstruct what you know and reconstruct it again under a new lens. Others feel that questioning these teachings is a form of turning away from God. And if taken too far from scripture, it could be. But if scripture is held onto tightly, it should be a trusted practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">If you really are a truth seeker, you should not be afraid to question what is man made or man discerned. If something is true and good and biblical, then when you search, you will find it. I do think there is value in not jumping on political bandwagons or modern bandwagons too quickly, but you should also not necessarily be afraid of them. We should be discerning and not afraid to speak up if we see something that seems out of line, but we should also be able to defend why it's out of line. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This doesn't only apply to Christianity. In this post, I want to take a look at something taught in church and Western society, which is a hell that consists of eternal torment as punishment for not following God during one's lifetime, or as many believe, for not praying to accept Jesus. I also want to look at something that is taught in U.S. public schools, which is this: </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEom8JQJEeZSvNBgCHGiNz6K_o_d4VwR1HnHsL8zvNNKPNdnf1ZLtyPJw7G5DY-1sYh88X7eEue64L4NqHqjNDfoLkD0WAEsJet6_AUD4cI3FW-tzvHgxbN6dPDoKTFrK5PZE_nZHHOQrA/s1032/monkey+to+man+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="1032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEom8JQJEeZSvNBgCHGiNz6K_o_d4VwR1HnHsL8zvNNKPNdnf1ZLtyPJw7G5DY-1sYh88X7eEue64L4NqHqjNDfoLkD0WAEsJet6_AUD4cI3FW-tzvHgxbN6dPDoKTFrK5PZE_nZHHOQrA/s320/monkey+to+man+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So let's deconstruct some religion and also science!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I first heard about different biblical interpretations of hell from a few friends who are Jehovah's Witnesses about 10 years ago. I was very surprised as I assumed that the doctrine of a hell that is "eternal conscious torment" was very clear in the bible because it was so widely accepted. However, they argued that the word hell in the bible more likely means a final annihilation, as would literally happen if fire consumed something. They gave plenty of verses to support that theory. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nemKBJoCoKI" width="338" youtube-src-id="nemKBJoCoKI"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This theologian, Preston Sprinkles, does an excellent job of examining all scripture on the subject. I honestly hadn't come across anyone else who preached this same interpretation who is not a JW until I stumbled upon this youtube video this morning. I did not search for this topic but it literally just popped up. I was actually just introduced to this theologian this past week as he was a guest on Phil Vischer's Holy Post podcast. If the video isn't showing up on your device, <b><a href="https://youtu.be/nemKBJoCoKI" target="_blank">here is the link</a></b>. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">If you have time, I would highly suggest that you watch it. When I first heard this theory 10 years ago, I pretty much breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn´t actually pinpoint where and when I had learned about hell, which made me realize how highly accepted and woven into general Christian, or even American culture, that it is, or at least was when I was growing up. I had heard many non-Christian friends express disgust at a God that would punish people with eternal torture because they didn't know Jesus. I also was confused by it and couldn't comprehend it myself. It didn't add up. I never doubted God, his presence, his power, or his love, but the hell I understood didn't fit in with that. So to me, not only does the annihilation of people who choose evil make more sense than eternal torture for those who "grew up in the wrong religion", but it seems to have a LOT more biblical support. I can't argue that the interpretation of eternal torment is 100% incorrect, but I <i>can</i> argue 100% that it is not conclusive and should therefore be deconstructed. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I'm not saying this to make Christianity more pallatable to anyone. I'm not saying it because I have a problem with consequences or justice. I am saying it because I think it's sound. And I think examining this issue can make a really big difference in how we understand God and how we explain him to others. You can also tell from Preston's video that, one, he has studied this subject long and hard. He even wrote a book about it in 2011, which he is building upon in this video. He also says that this is a view that has been held throughout centuries, although the predominent view is "eternal conscious torment". But again, after seeing his examination of the scripture, I can't really understand why eternal torment is the predominent view, rather than it being presented as an alternative theory. Is it because we've found it easier to use fear tactics than to live by radical and sacrificial example as Jesus did? And what does the bible say about the subject of fear? Does it align with God´s character? That's a whole other topic! </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Okay, now let's deconstruct science. A dear friend recently said that Christianity is the religion that is most promoted culturally in American schools. I had a strong reaction on the contrary. Of course different youth probably have different experiences at different schools and in different states, but as a Christian who attended public school through high school graduation, I felt as though anything related to God or Jesus were basically taboo at school. They were avoided and intentionally cut out. I understand that it's done to separate church and state since public schools are government entities. I understand and respect that. However, I argued that a different religion was actually being pushed, and that religion is atheism. I believe this because with God being made a taboo subject and evolution being taught in the way that it is, atheism is highly promoted as the intellectual understanding of the history of the world. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Now, I know that many people share this view and homeschool their kids for this very reason, but have those who perhaps share similar thoughts as my friend deconstructed their understanding of evolution? Have they deconstructed cultural understandings of science and let the scientific facts speak for themselves, or do they follow notions and cultural acceptance of theories without really digging in for themselves? </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What has actually been proven in regards to evolution? Very little, actually. Yes, Darwin proved this:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuez7KLcbxvo6qCI_tEfKASvA6BbtgB5JV0tcGMHtaS9AiPz-rhxJSGR7-p6jo8MhLLVs6IZJ6Ee_V3wxVZ17_bmojDRH9fqT6yB4uFkaLGXRWDo670OdaSFNb0pcBNUZPgqe07N6xrUM/s2048/bird+beaks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuez7KLcbxvo6qCI_tEfKASvA6BbtgB5JV0tcGMHtaS9AiPz-rhxJSGR7-p6jo8MhLLVs6IZJ6Ee_V3wxVZ17_bmojDRH9fqT6yB4uFkaLGXRWDo670OdaSFNb0pcBNUZPgqe07N6xrUM/s320/bird+beaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Over time, birds with stronger beaks outlived birds with smaller beaks on an isolated island. The population naturally selected and converted into a species with stronger beaks. That is evolution. (Actually, I don't think that explanation was great but it gives the jist.). But how did we get from the bird beaks evolving within one species to the evolution of one species into another, from single cell to mutli cell, from water living to land living, flying, etc? What is the proof? Many people think, and I would argue that it is because of the way it is presented to them in school that they think that way, that the evolution of man from apes and less complex life forms before that is as trustworthy science as, say, the earth revolving around the sun. They understand or assume that it has passed the scientific method over and over again under different circumstances and has somehow been proven. And this is so far from the truth. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Let's look at biologist Michael Denton, Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute. In the year I was born (1985) he wrote a book called <i>Evolution: A Theory in Crisis. </i>In 2016 when the book and I turned 31, he wrote a second book called <i>Evolution: A Theory Still in Crisis</i>. Here is a quote from Amazon. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">He argues that there remains 'an irresistible consilience of evidence for rejecting Darwinian cumulative selection as the major driving force of evolution.' From the origin of life to the origin of human language, the great divisions in the natural order are still as profound as ever, and they are still unsupported by the series of adaptive transitional forms predicted by Darwin. In addition, Denton makes a provocative new argument about the pervasiveness of nonadaptive order throughout biology, order that cannot be explained by the Darwinian mechanism."</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Denton is not the only biologist to be fired up and outspoken about this topic. And he doesn't call himself a Christian but an agnostic. I think that if science and schools want to truly remove religion from the curriculum in an attempt to honor separation of church and state, they must take an agnostic approach, not an atheist one. An agnostic approach would more humbly admit "we don't know" from a scientific standpoint rather than connecting dots all over the place to pretend like we know. Images and ideas like this: </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdMh49ycH7BP_kQ60lOklVnccKlPAq5QTXJtvEVd4Dn55IqDPhpD7KGfTIGLB-_DdrMQdsM9eo8c9BiH-G9uXeH8Rvv8nrpltlEAKL6u6CuFht6HKQ11ecfjHwbzK5qy6Pwn6r8ppfeKr/s1329/evolution+of+species.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1137" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdMh49ycH7BP_kQ60lOklVnccKlPAq5QTXJtvEVd4Dn55IqDPhpD7KGfTIGLB-_DdrMQdsM9eo8c9BiH-G9uXeH8Rvv8nrpltlEAKL6u6CuFht6HKQ11ecfjHwbzK5qy6Pwn6r8ppfeKr/s320/evolution+of+species.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">are based on so much unproven theory, to the point that if shared in school, we're filling kids heads with something that is religion, not science. And in teaching kids that science has proven that they were not created by God, you may be teaching them something very wrong and bad. You may be guilty of kidnapping children from their loving father and creator. Will you listen to the testimony of someone who says they are trans-gender, a modern issue, but not listen to testimonies about the supernatural, an ageless issue? Why are all those testimonies that point to the supernatural disregarded? That doesn't sound scientifically sound. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Why do we teach something with so little proof in science class? Can you think of other theories that are so unproven but yet so highly relied upon? Maybe it's upheld because it appears scientific and attempts to explain a huge question, whereas supernatural activity cannot be contained in a natural science class. Supernatural activity cannot be explained through science, but evidence of it can. Anyway, just like history class is being <span style="font-family: inherit;">"deconstructed", largely influenced by recent racial tensions, we should consider the same in science as well. The topics you teach says something. The author of the content you teach says something. How much time you spend on topics conveys something. How you teach it conveys something. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's all indoctrination so in my positively honest opinion, you better be darn sure of the validity of the doctrine you are instilling, especially when the doctrine causes people to see that God regularly and mercilessly tortures outliers (eternal conscious torment) or is completely nonexistent (evolution). Church, culture, if you want to teach that God uses the protocol of eternal torture for anyone who doesn't pray the prayer to accept Jesus before they die, then you should really have some clear and consistent, undisputed evidence of that in scripture. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">That's a big claim! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does it say, "When you die, you either go to heaven or hell." Does it have a step by step handbook?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preston Sprinkles shows 50+ verses that say God destroys the wicked at the final judgment, but just three that seem to imply that he tortures them eternally. Then that concept is often tied into another verse that equates not praying the prayer to accept Jesus with wickedness, therefore sending someone straight to eternal torture upon death. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Schools, government, if you want to teach that man was not created in God's image but rather evolved from an amoeba, and if you want to continue putting that blasphemous image in kids' heads, you should be able to prove it like you can prove Newton's laws of motion. Francis Bacon, the father of the scientific method, believed that science and religion must be studied together. He wrote <i>The New Atlantis</i> where he mingled Christianity with the scientific method. Albert Einstein is quoted saying, "The more I study science, the more I believe in God". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In conclusion, let's be sure of what we teach, and if we're not sure, either don't teach them, or make sure uncertainties are highly evident when we teach and consider other uncertain explanations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." -James 3:1</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for him to have a large millstone tied around the neck and thrown into the sea." -Mark 9:42 (GNT)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I would argue that teaching that God is merciless or even sadistic or that God is a fictional fairy tale are contributing reasons that many little ones lose their faith. I'm not knocking teaching these topics to mature audiences, but teaching them accurately. Drown in the sea? Those are harsh words, Jesus. However, I don't see a conclusive hint at eternal torment. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What do we know for sure? Jesus said that the most important commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love others as you love yourself. The bible says that pure and perfect religion is caring for widows and orphans. We should make disciples of people all over the world and teach them to follow Jesus, who embodied sacrifical love for the greater good and reunited fallen man to God. Let's stick to that. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We know that the earth is round, it rotates on its axis, and evolves around the sun once every 365 days. Man's presence and actions has an effect on the health of the entire earth and all its inhabitants. Natural is healthy but we can intervene if need be. We know sooo much about the natural world: anatomy of every creature, physiology, chemistry, physics, ecology, math, etc. that we can travel the world and into space, transplant hearts, and communicate instantly across the globe. But we can't give or create life. We can manipulate living cells to an extent, but we can't give life to a cell or any creature. Let's also stick to that. </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-60515533194647803482021-02-12T15:49:00.006-08:002021-02-13T10:22:54.186-08:00Buzz Words<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I have always had a desire for people to get along. Perhaps it's the middle child in me. I remember in high school there being animosities between "jocks" and "stoners" and I felt a deep sadness at the notion that they couldn't get along, loving people from both groups and wishing they could love each other too. This sounds corny, but it's true! I feel very upset whenever someone is a neigh sayer on the issue of unity. I also feel very upset when people accuse others without having evidence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I am seeing is that there are certain buzz words that trigger so much more than just the word. Just as wearing a certain color can identify you with a certain gang, instantly creating friends and enemies, but more so enemies than friends, buzz words can do something similar. This is an extremely oversimplified way of thinking, and it promotes division instead of unity. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These buzz words are also often fear based. If the group you affiliate with can convince you that a certain buzz word is bad, just hearing someone else mention it can provoke a fear in you and an automatic judgment of the person or situation, placing him, her, or it in a box that you think you understand and have some control over. I am the type of person that sees opportunity and potential in everything and everyone. I guess that would make me an optimist. When I see people full of fear and caution, avoiding other people or situations because they've mentally put them in such a box, I see unmet potential and lost opportunity. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">God apparently will not allow such division in his kingdom. Galatians 5:19-21 includes enmity, strife, rivalries, dissensions, and divisions as works of the flesh and says they will not inherit the kingdom of God. The list also includes jealousy, fits of anger, and envy, which could perhaps be included in the category of division. In fact, I count 15 topics in the list of works of the flesh in this passage, five of which directly relate to division, plus three more that are affiliated. I think this says a lot! It looks like this is the English Standard Version that I randomly am examining here. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me give an example of how the same word is used by two different Christian voices to mean two different things. This first video I found after reading commentary under a Holy Post podcast (Phil Vischer). The guest that day was a pastor of a multi-ethnic church and he spoke about how he likes to address race, talk about race in his sermons, and such things are quite present in the bible. He finds that discussing it helps unify his church. In the comments under this podcast, it was clear that many people really appreciated the podcast, as did I, but some saw it as politically charged, when in reality, it was not at all. The simple topic of race is being overly politicized, which is sad. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One person suggested that everyone watch an Alisa Childers podcast, which I did. Afterwards, I came across another one of hers where she broke down signs that a church is becoming a progressive Christian church. I had not heard the exact term before. Here is that video. In case the video is not showing up in your device, <b><a href="https://youtu.be/JpA3kd07UEk" target="_blank">here is the link</a></b>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JpA3kd07UEk" width="320" youtube-src-id="JpA3kd07UEk"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am glad to have been introduced to Alisa and that she dedicates her time to sharing God's word. I watched the video to see not only how she defined progressive Christianity and what she was the warning signs were, but also to see where I stood on the issue. The five signs she outlines are: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1. Lowered view of the bible, such as people picking and choosing which parts of the bible to believe. I watched this shortly after I wrote <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/what-eric-metaxas-got-right.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a></b> where I declared my belief in the bible at face value, while I know some illustrations such as parables were examples, not to be taken literally, and that there is discussion over the actual amount of time that the Bible spans. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Feelings are emphasized over facts. She observes that progressive Christianity relies on people's feelings over topics, rather than facts. In <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-eighteen-year-old-boys.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a></b>, I shared verses that a charasmatic, self-declared prophet posted and applied to modern day politicians. No factual examples were used to support the claims. Many of these modern day prophets (or self-proclaimed prophets), several of whom believed that Trump would serve a second term, interpret dreams on a regular basis and seem to use those interpretations as equivalents to biblical truth. So I suppose this warning sign goes in all directions, but it <b><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/christian-prophets-predictions.html" target="_blank">seems to highly apply to charismatic Christians during this time</a></b>. I also made basically the same point she is making here <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/02/what-eric-metaxas-got-right.html" target="_blank">in this same post</a></b>, valuing an intellectual rather than emotional approach, but was referring to Eric Metaxas and Christianity along the lines of Pentecostal, which charismatic Christianity is. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3. Core essential doctrines are questioned. She brings up the question of an actual hell, saying that questioning that is questioning a core essential doctrine of Christianity. I would argue that this is not a progressive issue as Jehovah's Witnesses have taught against the doctrine of an actual hell for over a century. I also talked about this in <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2019/09/jworg.html" target="_blank">this post</a></b>. As someone who does believe the bible at face value as a the sacred word of God and will take any biblical verse into consideration in all things, I do not see how the existence of an actual hell where those who fail to repent are tortured for eternity is a definitive biblical doctrine. I see a more clearer illustration in the book of Revelation of those whose names are not in the book of life being thrown into the lake of fire, but no mention of torture, as we can conclude that a lake of fire would quickly destroy anything that enters it. Please feel free to share your thoughts on that! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">4. Historic terms are redefined. She didn't really use many examples on this one, except for the word love. I agree that a biblical definition of love is very important and that there is plenty of biblical evidence to follow, with Jesus' sacrifice being the prime example. I also shared <b><a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/our-faith-2/" target="_blank">this</a></b> in another post, saying it is my offering to God. These are the verses that guide me in my mission, starting with the greatest commandment to love God and love others, then verses that define love. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">5. The heart of the gospel shifts from sin and redemption to social justice. I agree that the gospel is about Jesus dying for our sins and reconciling us to God. That should not be compromised. But she says, "This is the message that will <i>truly</i> bring freedom to the oppressed." I agree that the gospel gives strength to overcome the impossible and that ultimate power comes from the Holy Spirit, which Jesus says he baptizes his followers in. But oppression wouldn't actually exist if it weren't for oppressors. So the gospel doesn't just magically free the oppressed. But it should, if applied sincerely, convict the oppressors in addition to empowering the oppressed. And in that way, it should bring about social justice. I don't see why this would be an either/or. The gospel and social justice should simply go hand in hand. A thirst for social justice is the perfect opportunity to remind of or share about the solution Jesus' sacrifice is.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Alisa ends by saying, "Identifying the signs are not always obvious. Sometimes they're subtle and mixed with the truth." She then says to watch out for false prophets. Well, we've seen a lot of them lately with this last election, haven't we?! But they didn't fall into the category of progressive Christians. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In conclusion, she gives some good points to watch out for. But the optimistic unifier in me says that if something is subtle and mixed wtih the truth, then let's focus on the truth and try to identify what is not of the truth, rather than fearful of what falls outside of the truth. Also, is it dangerous to look at some things through a different lens? Is it dangerous to ask whether there is really enough biblical evidence to confidently teach about eternal torture as a punishment? If someone or a group of people do seem to highly align the gospel with the issue of social justice, can you not run with that and reel it in? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My prayer for Alisa is that she would be careful and intentional with her witness, as she is, but additionally, be filled with fearless love (1 John 4:18). I also pray that she would continue to question and seek and consider, as perhaps not all historical doctrines or even notions and ideas linked to Christianity are as biblically sound as we may have thought, just as not all leaders are. What should we fear when we have the bible to compare them to? I see she attributes a lot of her adulthood learning to Ravi Zacharias, Ironically, I just read <b><a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/february/ravi-zacharias-rzim-investigation-sexual-abuse-sexting-rape.html?fbclid=IwAR2qJvxlhC_BOVQu0e9pECdKcFcRoeJMvOpe5hKA2jPUU4PIBBLTFPfU4iY" target="_blank">an article </a></b>about him that shows how human/flawed he was. I believe these confirmations of abuses he committed are just now coming out as this article was published yesterday. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next video. I came across this one by mistake, looking for the pastor who was the guest on Holy Post podcast who pastors a multi-ethnic church and likes to talk about race. It's called Transformation Church, but so is this other church whose video I stumbled upon. I didn't realize it was the wrong church until I got through the whole thing, although I did realize that this pastor wasn't the same one as I listened to on the podcast. I just assumed they were on the same team, and I believe they are, whether they know each other or not. (One is in OK and the other in SC). This second Transformation Church, led by Michael Todd, also identifies as a multi-ethnic church. In case it's not working on your device, <b><a href="https://youtu.be/3EF9tgG0DLU" target="_blank">here is the link</a></b>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3EF9tgG0DLU" width="320" youtube-src-id="3EF9tgG0DLU"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This sermon celebrates Todd's sixth year as lead pastor at the church. He is extremely energetic, honest, transparent, righteously confrontational, funny, welcoming... I was impressed! I also would say that he nicely displays a mix of intellect and emotion. The core of his sermon surrounds Jesus calling Peter to go out where it's deeper in Luke 5:4 and let down their nets to catch fish. They caught nothing the first night. Jesus said to do it again. "If you say so". He said that Peter's response is bathed in faith. "If you say so". And they were blessed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He said that the dynamic only happens in the deep. This is where development takes place. And it all comes from obedience. He talks about how although now he's now a successful pastor with quite a following, he struggled and remained obedient previously. I related to him so much when he said, "Y'all didn't wanna see me the 10 years before that when I was leading youth. I was saying all kindsa things you shouldn't say to young people". Even just looking at this blog, you can see where I sort of disappeared for around 10 years. Check out the sidebar on the right that shows the year and how many posts I wrote that year. I used to be addicted to writing, especially during my teenage years. But over the past 10 years plus, I've been literally getting my butt kicked in the deep. I didn't have much to say or time to say it. Finally I've seemed to come out on the other side with some words to share. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">God was developing Michael Todd and Todd himself was preparing his net. Jesus didn't give Peter the nets. Peter was already prepared. When you don't have a big catch, you just keep preparing your nets. He said he continued to work on his communication skills, his leadership skills, etc. until God started using him in big ways. He was preparing his nets. He goes onto say that their church had so much financial overflow recently that they were able to gift $100,000 US to 20 different churches!!! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> The reason I share this in this post is because he speaks about when he gave his life to Christ. He confessed that he previously was a liar who was addicted to pornography, and that committing his life to Christ didn't make him a perfect man, but it made him a progressive man. In the same sermon, he exclaims that he will never be politically correct but will always be biblically correct. Therefore, he did not mean progressive in a biblical way. He meant that his life was always progressing to reflect Christ, to reflect the image of God in which he was uniquely created. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So there we have Alisa Childs using the buzz word progressive in a scary and dangerous way. Michael Todd uses it in a much different way. Over the past several months I've seen an argument surrounding diversity training at the elementary, middle, and high school level. Some see this as liberal indoctrination in children, while others see it as necessary to avoid social injustice and civil unrest that could easily be prevented by deeper understanding on the topic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I won't get into it too much, but my prayer is that the fear of the buzz words and the placing of ideas in boxes that we think we understand and can control would subside. I don't think Jesus would want himself forced upon anyone, but is pleased when his heart be shared with everyone. We know that social justice is of utmost important to him, so why don't we use the opportunity to celebrate all image bearers and figure out how we can coexist. Starting in elementary school is a great way to do that. May all fear and buzz be removed from the topic and may the opportunity be seized. May it not be a discussion as to whether or not diversity training is necessary, but simply an argument of how it should be presented. Christians should have no opposition to the topic in general, and certainly no fear or disdain towards it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm going to share one more video that hits the nail on the head regarding diversity. A friend shared this eloquent TEDx talk the other day by Chandra Arthur. She tells about how she learned to code switch being bussed from her neighborhood to a school of different demographics in the next town over, as part of a gifted program. In case the video isn't showing up on your device, <b><a href="https://youtu.be/Bo3hRq2RnNI" target="_blank">here is the link</a></b>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bo3hRq2RnNI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Bo3hRq2RnNI"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some highlights from the video. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"The expectation of code switching threatens true diversity."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"I learned to behave and speak in a way that made me a non-threatening person of color." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"There have been countless incidences in recent history where a person's ability or inability to code switch has been the difference between life and death." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"For the person who is expected to code switch, to exist almost simultaneously in two or three different worlds constantly presenting a slightly edited version of self, the pressure can be immense." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"What about a truer diversity where people are praised for their uniqueness and the cultural capital they bring to places and situations as opposed to being disciplined or shamed for it?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Most of us understand that by exposure to people and places and ideas that are different from us, we actually end up being better, smarter, more compassionate people." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"The cost of code-switching on society is huge because it means that those of us that belong to minority groups spend a lot more time learning the language of cultural compatibility and less time doing the things that matter to all of us."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"As the tides of acceptance change in our nation and cultures continue to shift, I challenge all of us to really give every person, regardless of who they are, the space to really be and exist as their true selves. Because it's only when each of us can really live in our truth that we all gain the incredible benefits of true diversity." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So let's be careful with those buzz words. As Jennifer Eivaz said, a prophet quoted in the New York Times article I linked previously in this post and <b><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/christian-prophets-predictions.html" target="_blank">here again</a></b>, "social media rewards buzz and sensationalism" over wisdom. Those image bearers that mention those buzz words that cause you to put them in a box probably have more to them than you think. Let's give each other credit and dig deeper! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFMwWCkuv1PPNVNwBhYT05ID457bHgosJdnSEaXOsPPyjzYyjO1ekyZ3Iz4odkuzeyCkIM7NKix_SAuLIwxKyyokvnQt6k3Peh1UMrBK5Mz6C8W_V4nRS0ROzDGH_PSMdCWiMt7DAFdI-/s960/Simplicity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="960" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFMwWCkuv1PPNVNwBhYT05ID457bHgosJdnSEaXOsPPyjzYyjO1ekyZ3Iz4odkuzeyCkIM7NKix_SAuLIwxKyyokvnQt6k3Peh1UMrBK5Mz6C8W_V4nRS0ROzDGH_PSMdCWiMt7DAFdI-/w561-h313/Simplicity.jpg" width="561" /></span></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-13421987821158603162021-02-07T10:53:00.005-08:002021-04-04T02:03:02.542-07:00Two Eighteen Year Old Boys<p> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I have recently seen an argument stating that you can tell if a leader is a God given authority when he or she punishes what is bad and praises what is good. Romans 13:3 was referenced, which says, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad." 1 Peter 2:14 was also referenced, which says, "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good". These verses were used to argue that Donald Trump has God given authority and Joe Biden does not. It was stated that during his first few weeks as president, Joe Biden has praised those who do wrong and punished those who do good. Donald Trump did the opposite, this person argued, praising what is good and punishing what is bad. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">No specific examples were given so I don't actually know what exact acts were being referred to, but I thought that this person was very bold to speak with confident discernment on all presidential decisions, classifying them as either good or bad without even an inside position for further insight. I also thought that to claim that one president discerned good and bad 100% of the time, whereas the other did the opposite 100% of the time seemed extremely oversimplified and biased. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Anyway, I don't want to continue in a discussion about Donald Trump forever, but I do want to share rebuttals when I think the Bible is being applied in a flawed way. The Bible shouldn't be anyone's tool to use politically. I believe that if it is applied accurately to all situations we face in life, then all will have the chance to see the true character of God, and his kingdom will reign. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I shared two articles in response to this claim. The first was about how Trump reinstated the death penalty at the federal level during his last months of his presidency. <a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/dpic-analysis-federal-execution-spree-out-of-step-with-u-s-death-penalty-trends-and-attitudes" target="_blank"><b>This article</b></a> from DeathPenaltyInfo.org explains how beginning July 14, 2020, Trump pushed for more executions than had been completed at the federal level during the past 50 years to take place during his last six months as president. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In addition to that, I shared an article about the death row prisoner who people most rallied to save, from what I saw. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18sDzoVjZcJD9icRC73FVTbxPrYD5q2AFB7HIlH_JV0l05RyLxY9iQf5YXa-bGZVAXPgBCjhJWslL8a8F9JGpxIPHTN6gIaJww_xwNL0IIMHAMPuj4GFQb8nEcLi5EhKPb7PV0ZAZjSGo/s828/brandon+bernard.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18sDzoVjZcJD9icRC73FVTbxPrYD5q2AFB7HIlH_JV0l05RyLxY9iQf5YXa-bGZVAXPgBCjhJWslL8a8F9JGpxIPHTN6gIaJww_xwNL0IIMHAMPuj4GFQb8nEcLi5EhKPb7PV0ZAZjSGo/s320/brandon+bernard.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Brandon Bernard was executed by lethal injection on December 10, 2020 at 40 years of age. He was sentenced to the death penalty when he was 18 years old for destroying the evidence of a murder that a fellow gang member committed. He apparently did not take part in the abduction or murder but was tried beside the 19 year old who did. The young man who committed the murder was executed previously.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/12/10218619/save-brandon-bernard-death-penalty-execution-case?fbclid=IwAR2C3z5X_NEyynDxpoZWttpi-rilGCSbGWJBVwDhkf1ftGlR2TPUw39_Su8" target="_blank">This article</a></b> and others tell about how Brandon had not had one complaint filed about him while in prison, but showed deep remorse. Five of the nine living jurors who convicted him also asked that he be spared. Brandon's legal team tried to delay the decision, but were not given any grace. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">On the other hand, we see situations like Kyle Rittenhouse who shot and killed two protestors and wounded another at a racial protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin was released on $2 million bail that people fundraised for. Now 18 years old, <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/prosecutors-kyle-rittenhouse-violated-conditions-of-release/35410096?fbclid=IwAR1XCMqrncSg4q6sKLEv4vGamHdlzcY5UeA6-6n70SRdOjauXwYCmSNVYG0" target="_blank"><b>he is on tape</b></a> drinking at a bar and posing with white supremist symbols. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">So at the end of 2020, we saw that one reformed man, despite the guilty consciences of the jurors that convicted him, was rushed to the death sentence for the crime of destroying the evidence of a murder he did not commit at age 18. On the otherhand, another 18 year old boy that shot and killed two people is supported with enough money to run 100 schools in Haiti for a year, or do a ton of other important things, so that he be free, at least for awhile. You call that punishing what is bad and praising what is good? </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Perhaps it wasn't Donald Trump who got Rittenhouse out on bail, but his stance on this subject is no secret. In fact, I first learned about the hand guesture that represents white supremacy when I read about a man Trump pardoned, who was, like Rittenhouse, pictured celebrating with friends, posing with that hand guesture right after being pardoned. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Around May 2020, I read an article about one of the men Trump pardoned who was in prison for committing war crimes. The article shared interviews of the officers under his lead, reporting that he ordered them to kill innocent civilians in Afghanistan and then celebrated, saying how awesome it was. They had done the right thing, turned him in, testified against him at trial, and now he was released, despite them doing what they knew was right and having him convicted via a fair trial. <b><a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-continues-to-pardon-war-criminals-in-iraq-afghanistan/2088191" target="_blank">This article</a></b> claims that this was a pattern Trump engaged in, using his power to pardon war crimes, and it caused controversy. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #050505; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is what I am seeing. To me, it does not look like Donald Trump was a God appointed leader by those standards stated in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2. Using these examples, it looks like he does not honor the claim that everyone is made in God's image and used his power to pardon people who are members of his gang only, regardless of their crime, while displaying a desire to judge and show no mercy for those he did not relate to. I wonder what the Christian leader who first shared these thoughts sees and how, when held up to the Word, we can come to see eye to eye. </span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-20736077936518084802021-02-05T09:56:00.003-08:002021-02-06T07:52:52.804-08:00What Eric Metaxas Got Right <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtE_bGk2uUJudRn86n2SruULWaWuH-AzOtxbyvXOu1RCGzKK5z8rTKH5ydl9NrzkxfYtt7DmltzvQUfK516pkPdeS6tanE1kyGX9vScICvzTp2tziLkNBrb5u8XYkOYg8f6kwLbgepKaC/s1058/talking+donkey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1058" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtE_bGk2uUJudRn86n2SruULWaWuH-AzOtxbyvXOu1RCGzKK5z8rTKH5ydl9NrzkxfYtt7DmltzvQUfK516pkPdeS6tanE1kyGX9vScICvzTp2tziLkNBrb5u8XYkOYg8f6kwLbgepKaC/w346-h263/talking+donkey.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have seen a lot of talk these days questioning how people can believe conspiracy theories that are going around, like QAnon type stuff. I see comments like, "Well they even believe that donkeys can talk", referring to Numbers 22 where Balaam's donkey actually talks, asking what he has done to deserve being struck three times. I even see Christians saying similar things, making it sound silly to believe the Bible at face value. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And then there is the discussion revolving around science vs. faith. Especially during the first few months of the coronavirus, some people seemed to feel as though quarantining because of the virus or wearing a mask were fear-filled, faithless actions. However, others reminded that such protocols are just based on an understanding for the natural world and how viruses spread, just as other practices no one questions are based on science, and not challenged by fearlessness or faith. Examples include brushing our teeth, wearing seat belts, using birth control, and refrigerating meat. Why would this be any different? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I am 100% confident in claiming that science actually proves the existence of God the creator as described in the Bible more than it disproves him. I love the study of science and find it at no way interferes with my faith. At the same time, I believe the Bible at face value, although some parts are to be considered in context, such as parables where Jesus exaggerates to make a point, or uses an illustration to portray an idea. I guess there is also a question as to how many years the Bible actually spans. But do I believe that Balaam's donkey talked and that God literally split the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through? Yes, I do! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Before you think I'm gullible, I should maybe mention that I'm a pretty educated person. I was an interview away from entering Virginia Tech vet school before I followed my heart and dedicated my life to serving Haitian immigrant youth in the Dominican Republic. I got my Bachelor's degree before moving here, having received just one B throughout my years at Virginia Tech. While I took that path and moved to another country, I went onto get my J.D. from Concord Law School and my M.Ed. from Regent University. If you doubt the quality of the law degree I completed through an online program, (Purdue Global), in order to move through the program, students are required to travel to California to take the baby bar exam, which I passed on my first try. I also became fluent in Spanish and Haitian Creole along the way. I did this while raising more than a handful of children, three of which I birthed, and living in challenging conditions, one could say. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I say none of this to brag. I only say it to give glory to God and value to my claims. So how could I believe in miracles such as the Red Sea splitting when they go against the laws of science? If you've read my other recent posts, you've probably seen me refer to Phil Vischer and his children's program Mr. Phil TV. I'm kind of a fan. Well, Mr. Phil explained to my kids recently in one of his programs that miracles are supernatural acts, which means they are beyond the laws of science, and science cannot explain them. Science only explains what is natural. The tools we use to understand the supernatural are revelation and testimony. The Bible is a book full of this. But after the Bible times ended, the testimony and revelations have continued. We can hold modern day testimonies and revelations up to the Bible as a reference to see if they align. As far as these recent conspiracy theories floating around and the divine favor over Donald Trump, I've tried to apply the Bible to these in <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2020/01/they-want-to-take-your-religion-and.html" target="_blank">this post</a></b> and <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/01/groupthink-overload.html" target="_blank">this one</a></b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhatALK1p8g8egIKNMaiN7jWsx1eyDGhzjqgdzQTBU_tfeZ0rF4pqpzEfHfdbJM9TiA58KrUhUXnm4i67ovgaPMhyphenhyphenG2JR073e_Wdy5QI7ma7tcPpGzO5az20CGvGAoEgUE3oQN7h5u48A/s1110/dr+schniffenhousen.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1110" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhatALK1p8g8egIKNMaiN7jWsx1eyDGhzjqgdzQTBU_tfeZ0rF4pqpzEfHfdbJM9TiA58KrUhUXnm4i67ovgaPMhyphenhyphenG2JR073e_Wdy5QI7ma7tcPpGzO5az20CGvGAoEgUE3oQN7h5u48A/w356-h203/dr+schniffenhousen.png" width="356" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Phil TV bible and science lessons together</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I wrote in a post several years ago that I disagree with humanitarians who tell Haitians that magic does not exist in an effort to get them to accept a scientific explanation for their ailments. I <i>definitely</i> agree that magic (voodoo) is given credit for way more than it probably should be in the Haitian culture, but I would not tell someone that it flat out doesn't exist. I have had plenty of supernatural experiences that I will never forget and no one will ever convince me that they did not happen. So why would I flat out negate someone else's experiences? I would try to give them a better understanding of science, but not try to convince them that the supernatural does not exist. <b><a href="https://tilimyesa.blogspot.com/2020/02/manna.html" target="_blank">This post</a></b> is a small testimony on my part as to why I will never doubt, but there is much more where that came from. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was a student at Virginia Tech, I listened to a speaker named Lee Strobel who wrote a book called <i>A Case for a Creator</i>. He was an atheist journalist who set out on an investigation to disprove Christianity, but was converted in the process, and published a few books as a result. Then when I graduated from Regent University just eight months ago in May, 2020, the graduation speaker was Eric Metaxas. He impressed me as he excitedly spoke about how the more science develops, the more we see how specifically created the earth was to be able to support life. You can read a Wall Street Journal article he wrote about this <b><a href="https://ericmetaxas.com/media/articles/science-increasingly-makes-case-god/" target="_blank">here</a></b>, but I'll also share this quote:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life - every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart... Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn't assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Eric Metaxas is a graduate from Yale University and has made the New York Times bestseller list several times. The article that I just shared is said to be the most shared Wall Street Journal article of all times. I highly appreciate his faith and his intellect. However, if you Google search his name, you'll see that his reputation has taken a blow lately because he displayed unwavering amounts of belief in God's favor over Donald Trump and confidently stated that God would intervene. Trump would remain president for another four years. Obviously that didn't happen. I know some Christian voices who now are saying that their timing was off and believe that Trump will serve a second term in 2024. Nonetheless, let this not speak anything about the existence of God or the gift of Jesus, but about the validity of the revelations of these Chrisitian voices. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://religionnews.com/2020/12/03/metaxas-jesus-trump-stolen-election-christian-nationalism-rod-dreher-sidney-powell/" target="_blank"><b>This article</b></a> provides more details, but Metaxas is quoted saying, "We have enough evidence in our hearts" referring to proof of voting fraud during the 2020 election. After saying something like that and being incorrect, I think we can rightfully conclude that the person's heart was not actually in alignment with God's heart on that issue. I am not saying that my heart perfectly reflects God's heart by any means. I pray that he is always protecting it and cleansing it so that it does to the best of its ability, no matter what it takes to do that. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."</span><span class="text Prov-4-23" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If there is one thing I have learned from my Jehovah's Witness friends, it is the value of studying the Bible with an intellectual approach, as opposed to an emotional one. I would say that they have an opposite approach when compared to Pentecostal or charismatic Christian churches. They believe the Bible at face value, but are very reserved about even praying and worshiping, as they feel they are often used for show and perhaps monetary gain. I studied with my friends for years, per their invitation, but remain non-denominational. I feel as though they have many interesting, bible-based theories, but I am not going to bet on any of them because I don't know the right answer. I am also not going to judge other denominations or keep a distance from them, as they feel is necessary. What I do know clearly is what Jesus responded when he was asked what the greatest commandment is. This is what I offer to God through Project Esperanza: to love him and love others. And<a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/our-faith-2/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> these are the verses </a>that help me to understand what that means and how to do that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In conclusion, faith and science are not enemies. God is for everyone. We are all lovingly created in his image. He can spread the Red Sea if he wants, when he wants. But even if he doesn't, miracles happen every day. As Eric Metaxas got right, our existence and ability to discuss this is proof of that. May his kingdom come. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-64147527655016768202021-02-02T17:02:00.011-08:002021-04-20T05:44:15.238-07:00Nobel Peace Prize? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22J_dyan6JuHkXMDnQ_jBPtBEG4WozOPA8N2v7b8CWxGhYagh-ppRwmUw3q6z7wRNK7aUvVjGIwFS0bJ9L777pfzyTSb7KRdgb2ttpSdZVavYKqIyD8y8xVeDaU-wh-DPbN74GohrlwTV/s650/nobel+peace+prize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22J_dyan6JuHkXMDnQ_jBPtBEG4WozOPA8N2v7b8CWxGhYagh-ppRwmUw3q6z7wRNK7aUvVjGIwFS0bJ9L777pfzyTSb7KRdgb2ttpSdZVavYKqIyD8y8xVeDaU-wh-DPbN74GohrlwTV/s320/nobel+peace+prize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I see many are discussing the nomination of Black Lives Matter for the Nobel Peace Prize. Of course some are saying that BLM is a national terrorist group. This stirs up some thoughts in my mind. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I first found out about George Floyd, it was via scrolling through Facebook. I didn't talk to my husband or kids about it for a few days, although it quite consumed me when I wasn't busy doing anything else. I was watching closely to see if arrests were made and what was going on. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My kids found out from my husband's cousin, which led to a great conversation and series of conversations that I shared <b><a href="https://tilimyesa.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-kids-asked-about-george-floyd.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>. I figured my husband had seen news about it, but I guess I just didn't know how to bring it up, and he hadn't either. He broke the ice by standing behind me as I was sitting behind my computer a few days following Floyd's death and saying in Creole, "Did you hear about the black guy the police killed in the U.S.?" (My husband is black and is Haitian. He has never yet traveled off this island. I'm primarily of European/Irish descent and am originally from Virginia, but have been here in the Dominican Republic for thirteen years, since college). I replied with a simple, "Yeah". I won't quote him verbatim here, but in few words, he let me know in a joking way that he'd heard it communicated as an act of war with brewings of something similar to the Haitian revolution in 1804. I laughed slightly at his joke and he walked away. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I felt relieved that he broke the ice, and also was slightly startled, yet amused by his half-hearted comment. All my family are white people in the U.S. so of course there was a bit of sting to the joke, but I got over it quickly, knowing that it was nothing more than that. He did not actually have access to secret intel. It's not funny, but neither is history. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">True, we didn't have an in depth conversation at that time, but my brain started spinning. I mentioned in <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/01/candace-owens-strength-denial.html" target="_blank">another post</a></b> that my husband doesn't really talk about racism and is one of those people who doesn't let it get to him. He in no way made that statement from a place of personal anger or hate. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you aren't familiar with Haitian history, Haiti was a French colony that employed a very brutal slave system, compared to the U.S., for example, where there was a 10:1 slave to slaveholder ratio. It is said that extra measures were taken by the French to be able to control the slaves, as they were so outnumbered. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, in summary, they lost control, militias were formed, and the slaves led a genocide against all the French that didn't manage to flee. This happened in 1804, 28 years after the U.S. declared independence from Great Britain, and made Haiti the second colony in the New World to gain independence. This is also said to have made Haiti the first free black republic in the world, although I have to admit I don't</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2GP00sep7NeTO_2zocchmVtCUthfNiSyG9EUMdgUAJLZDPTVIrxvwH_v9qPscx327mJQGNOaTXLLLQ4hazjaYM_0gw_mgIC6aFJmzBB1KodN3a26YvL07eI9BuSAJHwCmmZSEw2dYPC_/s285/toussaint+louverture.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2GP00sep7NeTO_2zocchmVtCUthfNiSyG9EUMdgUAJLZDPTVIrxvwH_v9qPscx327mJQGNOaTXLLLQ4hazjaYM_0gw_mgIC6aFJmzBB1KodN3a26YvL07eI9BuSAJHwCmmZSEw2dYPC_/s0/toussaint+louverture.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Toussaint Louverture, <br />Haitian Revolution leader</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">understand the details to that and the situation of other black republics around the world. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I talked in my last post about how in the years following independence, France then continued to threaten to attack and overtake Haiti again, extorting enormous amounts of money from the young republic. Other countries were reported to have done similar types of bullying. Anyway, this history is what floated around in my mind following his comment. I then posted these thoughts on May 29. </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"Here's some food for thought. America gained independence in a bloody revolution against England, right? And we celebrate and honor that. It is honorable to die while defending the freedom of your people, even if you're not in the bondage of slavery, but your freedom is even threatened somehow.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What if descendants of slaves in the United States, facing unjust treatment still, God forbid, put those same principles into action? With the extreme availability of guns, what if secret militias were already forming? I'm not saying this to encourage any such thing, but to invite reflection about potential consequences of actions. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hoping and praying that those in power listen to Jesus by treating others as they would want to be treated. Since when does cold blooded murder caught on tape require an investigation before arrest?"</span></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; white-space: normal;">Some friends and family chimed in and I appreciated the dialogue. Again, I was in no way trying to condone violence by posting that, but to ask "what if" questions to make us think of best ways to avoid violence in our reaction to situations, but also in what we teach and celebrate. I also poured my thoughts into </span><b style="color: black; white-space: normal;"><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2020/05/black-lives-matter-from-emotion-to.html" target="_blank">this post</a></b><span style="color: black; white-space: normal;"> during those first few days, which shares a plea for people to take a knee and listen. </span></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">And then what happened? <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_United_States_racial_unrest" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></b> provides a wealth of information that seems reliable. The numbers at least match up with what I've read in other sources. Protests in all fifty states, plus D.C., (plus other countries, but these stats apply to the U.S.). 93% of protests were considered to have no violence or destruction involved and therefore were deemed peaceful. 25 people dead, over a billion dollars in property damage, tens of thousands of people arrested, tens of millions of participants.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: medium;">The article also says, "it is partially initiated by the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement". These stats cover the racial unrest, but not events or protests specifically organized by the organization Black Lives Matter. Pick a war that the U.S. was involved in and do a Google search. You'll find that the casualties were hundreds of thousands, some into the millions. And what have the causes of war been? Does the video of George Floyd being suffocated by a police officer for eight minutes while handcuffed and motionless, and what that represents to the African American community rank among such motivations? </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size: medium;">We should mourn the lives of those 25 (and more if there are) people whose lives were lost. It's surely sad that businesses were damaged, and I hope that they were or will be able to recover with insurance, and other means, such as community support. <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2020/06/wonderfully-woven.html" target="_blank">I used my voice to urge peace throughout</a></b>. But when you put it in this perspective, these protests look pretty peaceful by comparison, don't they? A different approach could have been taken. Violent acts could have been planned and executed, as that is what is taught as the heroic response to violations of freedom. In fact, it might just be a successful example to the world of how to communicate and work through problems without using violence toward other humans. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The name Black Lives Matter surely is a humble and peaceful one, although people still somehow found ways to find it offensive. Their website displays no aggression or hate. And when have you ever seen a cause so unified and widely spread? Black Lives Matter may or may not win the Nobel Peace Prize, but they should at the very least, earn the respect of anyone who has ever tried to motivate, organize, lead, or motivate literally anything, from a large conferences to group assignments. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;">With that being said, let me also say that I think BLM's role in their cause is an easy one compared to groups like Equal Justice Initiative who has been fighting for criminal justice reform and educating the public about their work for over thirty years. And then there are groups like Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Teach for America, which give basically anyone the pathway to mentor directly into the lives of vulnerable youth. I volunteered with BBBS throughout college and still keep in touch with my little sister and her family. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;">If BLM would use their audience (and maybe they do and I'm unaware) to not only drive change through petitions and protests, but also convince people to give their resources to groups like Equal Justice Initiative, and to give their time to directly investing in the life of a vulnerable young person through groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters, then I think this chapter of history could truly come to a close, and racial statistics in the U.S. could become a thing of the past. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;">I am in no way trying to display insensitivity to people who were innocent victims of violence or property damage that did take place during these protests. I am putting the effects of it all into perspective, considering the alternative methods of warfare that have been used throughout history when groups of people are unable to come to an agreement. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;">As for the argument that BLM is a domestic terrorist group, we actually have the insurrection on the Capitol on January 6th to compare it to. Five people were killed during a four hour attack in one location. Compare that to 25 deaths from several months of protesting all over the country. Again, not trying to support violence or destruction in any way, but to simply put things into perspective. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and please leave your thoughts in the comments! </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;"><i>Edited March 31, 2021.</i></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-10545035006978831872021-01-30T13:49:00.010-08:002021-02-02T10:56:13.709-08:00Haiti Cheri Part II<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Over a year ago, I wrote about the state of Haiti and the biggest effort I believe that, if executed completely, would create dramatic change, which is free, high quality, nurturing elementary school education for 100% of the Haitian population. I am happy to say that although there are currently high rates of kidnappings in Port-au-Prince and some political chaos, things have drastically improved from 2019-2020 where the violence and disruption of life was so drastic that schools could not operate. I am also happy to say that the coronavirus has not had a noticeable effect on Haiti and they opened schools early this year to make up for lost time. Schools in Haiti opened on August 4th. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We have been able to send some financial support to <b><a href="https://esperanzameanshope.org/grassroots-schools-global-affiliates/" target="_blank">Maroquee Community School</a></b> in Maroquee, Haiti, which is outside of Cap Haitian. This school is run by the family of one of our grassroots' school's founders. We have sent students to this school to take a national </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJf-QB2evyd_MIE63uaSNUDLz_Au4vK2UfLma5p_-ZFgMuUuo2t28TNdEkJvFxtD3k8NcDxc_tYq8b_b6t2XQq_f-Csvz6SgBbMWC9eMim0DrExqOyIzkWYSVKvpp1T_vg4OAjyQmQFR7/s640/maroquee+photo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="640" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJf-QB2evyd_MIE63uaSNUDLz_Au4vK2UfLma5p_-ZFgMuUuo2t28TNdEkJvFxtD3k8NcDxc_tYq8b_b6t2XQq_f-Csvz6SgBbMWC9eMim0DrExqOyIzkWYSVKvpp1T_vg4OAjyQmQFR7/w400-h263/maroquee+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">sixth grade exam and I personally have visited twice. The director sends me messages and pictures at least weekly. We also have dozens of families involved in one of our schools here in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic that come from this area of Haiti. My husband's family is from the next town over. So although I am not physically in the same location, I feel like I have a fair amount of insight while being far away. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It warms my heart to be able to provide funds to this school as it is extremely impressive how they are able to get their students through the national 6th grade exam each year, while functioning with so very little. School takes place in the church building. Students do not sit in individual desks or have access to many materials at all. In Haitian culture, clean uniforms, neat hair (short for boys), and proper shoes are of high importance. You can see in pictures that the students look beautiful in that aspect, but that it would be extremely difficult to run school in that setting. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, when I say that these educators get their students through the national sixth grade exam, I don't mean all of their students, or at least not on their first try. The statistics that were shared with me a few years back (can't find an online resource right now) was that nationally, there is a 40% pass rate for this exam. We sent seven students over the course of two years in 2012 and 2013 I believe, and three passed. This was quite a big deal for these students as we got them passports and paid for their transportation, where they had to stay overnight. The test is also in French, which our students have less exposure to. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After having observed different educational projects that we have funded, I feel certain that the best thing to do is to support already functioning schools who have a proven track record, but have financial need, such as the Maroquee Community School. The administration already knows how to make a <i>goud</i> go as far as it possibly can. They have already proven their dedication to education. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In <a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2019/11/haiti-cheri.html" target="_blank"><b>my first Haiti Cheri post</b></a>, I shared an article that explained how other countries, including the U.S., refused to recognize Haiti after gaining independence, and made</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdsb9j2FUP9SK1Uh-qsOkMmWpv1AJqKeaTADHrkS0aIY5W0udiSB-K8U4W4qjMmwlb9RrOARA9-G-FysnC7OgJX5j1gF2uNrD2zKDPFcdEXKQzcf_VgZWurBfAQ0ltAJp7X_Wcz02alcV/s499/papa+doc+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdsb9j2FUP9SK1Uh-qsOkMmWpv1AJqKeaTADHrkS0aIY5W0udiSB-K8U4W4qjMmwlb9RrOARA9-G-FysnC7OgJX5j1gF2uNrD2zKDPFcdEXKQzcf_VgZWurBfAQ0ltAJp7X_Wcz02alcV/s320/papa+doc+2.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">progress very difficult for them. I am now reading a book about Papa Doc, whose real name is Francois Duvalier, who was a Haitian dictator from 1957 to 1971. I am reading the book in Haitian Creole with a student who I teach online, but also with the motivation of including chapters and questions in our 7th and 8th grade textbooks. The book is written by <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Diederich" target="_blank">a man from New Zealand</a></b> who sailed to Haiti in 1949 and ended up staying there. It also gives accounts of the U.S., France, Germany, the UK, and Italy showing up and abusing Haiti for money. However, the book also gives numerous accounts of successful aid that came from the U.S. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The article also mentioned the reparations that France made Haiti pay after Haiti gained independence. Ironically, France threatened to attack if Haiti did not agree to pay 150 million francs, which is ten times what the United States paid for Louisiana. Of course logically, France should have paid Haiti for the slave labor and abuse, but they apparently had a very warped sense of justice. <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-france-extorted-haiti-the-greatest-heist-in-history-137949?fbclid=IwAR1Avm4zV9JNRVec7paENYmLhBmLpA0STsN_k_j2a-vuXEeQMBW_AAQQvEM" target="_blank"><b>This article</b></a> explains the history of the reparations in detail and puts the amount into perspective, saying that that amount of money was several times France's annual budget, let alone Haiti's. The author also wisely states that, "Haiti should be at the center of the global movement for reparations". </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">First of all, let me say that I feel strongly that an international effort should be made to push for justice to be served here and for payback from France to go directly into providing what I have previously stated: free, high quality, nurturing elementary school for 100% of the Haitian population. Yes, high school, college, trade school, and much more is important. Please read <b><a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2019/11/haiti-cheri.html" target="_blank">my first post</a></b> for why I feel like elementary school is THE MOST important, if a top priority must be chosen. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">An important question is, if such an international law suit were to be successful, is the trustworthy infrastructure in place to carry out what should be carried out with the funds? This is always an extreme concern among Haitians regarding their leadership, unfortunately. This issue is brought up in the Papa Doc book as well. With the high amount of NGO presence in Haiti, perhaps what would be ideal would be a team composed of government officials, local representatives and educators, and NGO leaders in the area of education, with a strong system of accountability and a game plan. I would think this would be extremely powering to the Haitian people. Rather than being given aid, or charity, being given what is rightfully theirs and invested into their children, their future. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Second of all, I have often observed what I find to be a very strange practice among Haitians, or should I say Haitian criminals, which is demanding and pressuring for money from someone who absolutely does not have the means. Haitian friends have commented on the same phenomenon. They do not seem to care whether or not the person they are pressuring has the means to the money, but they demand that the money appear. This is what happens with kidnappings. An outrageous amount of money is demanded as ransom, and it always seems to be in USD. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perhaps this practice somehow trickled in through the huge act of extortion France imposed on Haiti, as it was not paid all at once, but there was a consistent practice of France demanding and pressuring for their outrageous pay. Again, there are also accounts of other countries who did the same, though to a lesser extent, of course. If you think about it, that is exactly what France did. They did a mass kidnapping and then extorted unrealistic amounts of money in exchange for giving people their lives back. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me finish this post by saying that when I wrote the first post and said I would post again with ideas, it was the idea of a serious movement to hold France accountable, requesting that reparations be repaid and that money be invested directly in education. However, for some reason, a year has gone by and I never wrote that follow-up post. I suppose it's because I was finishing up with my M.Ed., of which I obtained in May 2020. After that, the race issues came to the forefront of my newsfeed, along with American politics in general, and I just didn't feel ready to write about this yet. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But something else happened in November 2019 when I wrote that last post. A woman from Canada volunteered with us for a few days. She taught art and physical education in our school in Padre Granero, accompanied by a translator. We have well over one hundred volunteers come each year, except for 2020, and a small percentage turn into student sponsors. However, this woman contacted me shortly after and decided to sponsor 14 of our students at level 3, which is our highest committment at $50 per month. She became our most generous monthly sponsor ever, by far. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Once everything began to shut down in March 2020 due to the coronavirus, she started sending extra funds to help with food distributions. In June 2020, we started fundraising to pay a downpayment on a building to serve as the permanent location for Colegio Costambar</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXNxwa6pbIYAJASnb_ea8bVjN0zei0CTO_yLsVJkvFCQa0U2n1_t5_IeIoiWksMMkcuo4cXA_AdqLtPxcc6IBCRPs1yHkCPbev6Ig2TFVSrQsrz3a04UOnbLi2lLKXr0sgqP_wCCZV8ne/s970/PG+roof+repairs.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="613" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXNxwa6pbIYAJASnb_ea8bVjN0zei0CTO_yLsVJkvFCQa0U2n1_t5_IeIoiWksMMkcuo4cXA_AdqLtPxcc6IBCRPs1yHkCPbev6Ig2TFVSrQsrz3a04UOnbLi2lLKXr0sgqP_wCCZV8ne/s320/PG+roof+repairs.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">where we send our top students to high school. This woman was responsible for almost half of the $38,000 raised, plus she chipped in to help redo the rotted roof in the school in Padre Granero! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few months later we caught up over the phone. She was wanting to do more!! I mentioned that we should not invest too much in the structure of the Padre Granero building as we still owe a mortgage on it. She asked how much we owe. I said $40,000 US. She asked what I thought if she would pay that off!!! By the year's end, she sent that amount and even more to help pay off our debt for our other school in Muñoz!! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is part of what I wrote in a letter that went out with our 2020 giving reports: </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"42% of our 2020 income came from a series of donations from one person who first got involved with Project Esperanza volunteering in late 2019!! She is a Canadian woman who wishes to remain anonymous. She gave at this level without even the absolute security of a tax deduction, as we are still in the process of registering as a charity in Canada. Although she wishes that her name remain anonymous, she does want one name to be celebrated and receive the honor for this wonderful news. That name is Jesus Christ."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lastly, our wonder donor's husband is from Paris, France. Thanks for reading. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdnSH1-IhuRZ7eUq3t6YzOQ9Hyph0cCiYmlTq0JuTsuJIMkZPl2osKPAsMP-5dIEOBNDKlR3KW2yxYgrNrUOTGx2M54T5px7c2cXgR-J4EGiT_OI0K_pzpjvsvm9MQ_F5qsbsnkkqCqDs/s768/what+just+is+isn%2527t+always+justice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdnSH1-IhuRZ7eUq3t6YzOQ9Hyph0cCiYmlTq0JuTsuJIMkZPl2osKPAsMP-5dIEOBNDKlR3KW2yxYgrNrUOTGx2M54T5px7c2cXgR-J4EGiT_OI0K_pzpjvsvm9MQ_F5qsbsnkkqCqDs/w640-h360/what+just+is+isn%2527t+always+justice.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-38619160247091883762021-01-27T10:28:00.031-08:002022-01-06T23:03:28.826-08:00Candace Owens' Strength & Denial: an Analysis of her Stance on Racism<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Candace Owens is a political commentator. It seems as though many learned her name when a video she made went viral after George Floyd's death, which is the first time I ever heard of her. In her video, she criticized the African American community, basically, for bringing glory to George Floyd, as he had a criminal record. She read his criminal record that she had researched in what seemed to be an attempt to influence people to stop celebrating/mourning/bringing attention to him. The video was well received and circulated by many members of the white community who perhaps felt accused by the whole situation. Her voice basically said that change was not necessary, racism was not at play, and everyone should stop making a hype out of it. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JtPfoEvNJ74" width="320" youtube-src-id="JtPfoEvNJ74"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On the other hand, she was criticized by many in the African American community and beyond for supporting and encouraging racism deniers, and was assumed by some to be monetarily motivated or seeking attention. I know when I first saw the video, I was angry and did not watch it in its entirety. However, I think there is powerful insight in this analysis that may help bridge the gap between those who deny that racism is a problem that should be addressed, and those who know that it must be addressed until it is no longer a problem. Let's put aside the idea that Candace was simply paid off for a minute in order to consider some other points. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Among other things, Candace misused the word martyr in this video. She said she would not hold Floyd up as a martyr. I saw another video critiquing her video, which read the definition of a martyr, as someone who voluntarily gives their life for a cause. The man corrected her in saying that George Floyd was a catalyst, but in no way a martyr, as he did not voluntarily give his life. She also, although I don't think it was her main intention, encouraged the mentality that police brutality is excusable if the victim was "a bad person", which misses the fact that the police officer often doesn't know the victim's criminal record and these things also happen to people with no record at all. It is overreach and it is dangerous. Candace has apparently also criticized or blamed victims of police brutality who did not have criminal records. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I later came across another video where Candace Owens adamantly opposed the mention of white supremacy in some sort of political conversation where she represented the Republican party. She did not see it as a pressing issue at all and felt as though bringing it up was an attempt to create division. Many also shared a video where Morgan Freeman stated that the way to stop racism was to stop talking about it. (While that video was shared a lot after George Floyd's death, <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm6Iszm31qI" target="_blank">here's one</a></b> that shows that despite what he said in that video, Morgan Freeman <i>does</i> feel the need to talk about racism. Took about two seconds to find as I was actually looking for the one where he said that people should <i>stop</i> talking about it). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have to say, I understand the point being made. I understand why some people of all races are annoyed at the topic and may not want to discuss it. Sometimes we humans can overanalyze things. Sometimes we make too much hype over things and the hype can create problems of its own. I also understand wanting to empower groups who have been victimized and that having a "pick yourself up and keep going" attitude rather than a defeated one may be more productive. (At the same time, there's much more to say about that, as I strongly believe that thorough healing is the only way for an individual or group to really pick up and reach full potential). People also tend to have a habit of forgetting progress that has been made (in all things, not just this topic), and can lose perspective, not realizing their own privileges, especially from a global perspective. All of these are points to keep in mind. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, I agree with what I heard Phil Vischer say in one of his podcasts. If something is indeed present and is problematic, since when was not talking about it a solution? Is it productive to simply not talk about a drug problem? Is it wise to not talk about a water shortage? Just as "not talking about it" wouldn't be real solutions to those problems, it isn't fully with this one either. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My real motivation for this post is that I watched a very interesting TED talk that Candace Owens did in 2016 before Donald Trump became president and before she even supported him, I believe. I recently saw a Facebook post where someone refused to celebrate Kamala Harris as the first female V.P., criticized her, (<a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2021/01/groupthink-overload.html" target="_blank"><b>which I touched on in my last blog post</b></a>), and mentioned that Candace Owens was a better role model. My initial thought was that those two people are not comparable because Candace Owens is simply a political commentator, whereas Kamala Harris served as the attorney general of California and on the Senate before becoming V.P. But anywho, in investigating Candace Owens a little more, I came across this TED talk. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BP_MN-q46f4" width="320" youtube-src-id="BP_MN-q46f4"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">This TED talk is about how technology and media has allowed for the rapid spread of information, and how that can lead to a false/oversimplified and trendy sort of activism. It also touches on how people say certain things they wouldn't normally say when they are not speaking to someone face to face. Candace shares a story about when she was in high school, she received a series of voice mails from four different male voices threatening to torture and kill her and her family, calling her mean names, and also mentioning heroes from the African American community like Rosa Parks and Dr. King, saying that they are dead. Her school called the police and it turns out that one of the voices was the governor of Connecticut's son. Her face was all over newspapers around the state, and it was quite traumatizing for her. Arrests were eventually made. Afterwards, she struggled through five years of anorexia which she says was directly caused by the events during her senior year in high school. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My thoughts were, how could someone who went through that say that racism is not a problem? What happened to her is a prime example of the existence and harms of racism. It's interesting if you pay attention. She refers to her attackers, who were eventually arrested, as children, and basically says that the problem was not racism, but that so many others made such a big deal out of it. I found that very interesting, and similar to her attitude toward Donald Trump. She's forgiving of his meanness, but unforgiving of the reaction to it. So with that being said, I think she's missing the mark, although I still appreciate some of what I think is behind her evaluation of these people and situations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Again, putting accusations of alterior motives aside, I think behind her denial of racism are thoughts such as, "This is not how things should be. I should not be seen by some as different or less valuable. I am just as smart and beautiful and worthy of a human being as anyone else. I will not even entertain these ideas and don't want anyone else to either. They are merely words." </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Just as this insight into a pre-Trump supporting Candace shows that she was a victim of undeniable and harmful racism, it also shows that she has some sort of a denial or illogical interpretation of it all. How could she have struggled with anorexia for five years as a result of the attack, but not see that the primary culprits are the attackers and their hateful mindset? That is faulty logic. Or perhaps she had not finished processing the whole thing when she did this talk, or even now. I think she could have a powerful voice for the black community, rather than the white community, or could even help to bridge the gap of misunderstanding there, if she at least addressed the realities of racism, rather than trying to deny them completely or brush them under the rug. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have seen her address the black community as "emotional" and again, while I appreciate the notion of "toughen up" as a means of rising above, I simultaneously don't believe that the hardening of hearts to compromise with hardened hearts is the ideal direction we should go in. She has also been accused of taking advantage of the NAACP who <a href="https://newsone.com/3893288/candace-owens-race-issues-naacp/" target="_blank"><b>this article</b></a> claims backed her in reaching a settlement in the situation she explains in her TED talk. Along with her refusal to face racism for what it is, she has been found to display an insensitive thought pattern, with unthoughtful comments about Hitler, also shown in the linked article. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In reference to the idea of not giving racism much attention as a strategy, I would say that I've observed a somewhat similar attitude from my husband, being a Haitian immigrant living in the Dominican Republic where racism and nationalism have also been issues. He does not deny racism, but he has never dwelled on the issue or given it much weight at all. I have seen other acquaintances of color in the U.S. say or post things in response to the events of 2020 such as, "I haven't ever experienced racism. I have chosen not to see it." With this, they don't negate that it exists, but admit that they have ignored it. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I respect this and think it shows a confidence and strength. However, I don't think it's realistic or productive to negate the existence of something like this completely, especially when not everyone has as much mental strength and confidence as others, (or perhaps privilege). I know I for one enjoy a physical challenge, but turn into butter under emotional attack! It is also impossible to ignore when the effects of the problem are built into systems such as the criminal justice system. Reform demands attention. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Details are important. History is important. Treating others as we want to be treated is important. Realizing our privileges is important. Using our privileges to serve and share blessings is important. I have come to enjoy the work of Jemar Tisby, an African American author who is also president of an organization called The Witness: A Black Christian Collective that aims to train and raise up the next generation of Black Christian leaders. They have a <b><a href="https://thewitnessfoundation.co/fellowship" target="_blank">two year fellowship available</a></b> for five individuals, providing $50,000 anually. He has written a New York best-seller called The Color of Compromise and just published a new book called How to Fight Racism. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-yun74BJEc" width="320" youtube-src-id="u-yun74BJEc"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And of course, even quicker than ordering and reading a whole book, I really like this Phil Vischer video that goes deeper into his first video about Race in America. It answers questions about statistics regarding the black family, the welfare system, mentions communal sin and repentance, ("but <i>I</i> didn't personally do anything"), and gives an example of how his mom used her privilege to help another family out. "Not a savior, but an ally". </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgollX5y4-GHmV-zRhSQYDiy5ZcQALxYbOOlGLLwBipjr6sIWgliAMfbGkKM1Rnx6uo57OoF-dZS6Qx1x0JyGxxpisiTgvskV_wdTPCvigc83vOfx3Hf2fguH2Gteyue7JewaANt3Wberap/s480/2021-01-27.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgollX5y4-GHmV-zRhSQYDiy5ZcQALxYbOOlGLLwBipjr6sIWgliAMfbGkKM1Rnx6uo57OoF-dZS6Qx1x0JyGxxpisiTgvskV_wdTPCvigc83vOfx3Hf2fguH2Gteyue7JewaANt3Wberap/s320/2021-01-27.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blackout book reviews</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Candace Owens has also published a book which talks about the black family and the welfare system. Again, I think she is missing the mark a bit, and lacks some necessary sensitivity, but perhaps her point of view shouldn't be thrown out completely. You can tell that just as her George Floyd video had drastically different reactions, largely correlated to the viewers' skin color, her book reviews show the same, drastic split. While this bar graph doesn't report the demographics of the reviewers and political party probably comes into play as the book clearly favors one party, the majority of the 571 people who wrote Amazon reviews gave it either 5 stars or 1 star.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you appreciate Candace Owens and what she has to say, I hope you will consider her apparent denial of an overt act of racism that caused her years of serious struggle, as she herself shared. Thanks for reading and please share thoughts in the comments! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Lh8Fi7AnM8" width="320" youtube-src-id="2Lh8Fi7AnM8"></iframe></div><br /><span>Comedian Ryan Davis responded to Candace's infamous George Floyd video. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>"Talk to your brothers and sisters in this country and ask them what they've been through, and if what they go through makes you uncomfortable, then stand with them to change that. Don't deny their experiences just because you don't know what it's like to go through that. You're not helping anybody by finding every reason not to help people."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TzB2NJKJ9lE" width="320" youtube-src-id="TzB2NJKJ9lE"></iframe></div><br /><div>In the above video from 2019, Candace and Black Lives Matter NY chairman Hawk Newsome debate/discuss their views of what challenges the black community faces and what the best solutions are. I found this extremely insightful and interesting. I really appreciate Hawk Newsome, and Candace sure is well spoken, though she continues to negate the experiences of many. It seems as though she didn't really respect what Hawk had to say and what he stood for as she went onto make the George Floyd video and also publish insensitive comments after Ahmaud Arbery's death. </div><div><br /></div><div>Candace: If your issue is police brutality, why not make it a movement about the things that go wrong in the police? </div><div><br /></div><div>Hawk: Here's the thing, when black people get their rights, everybody gets rights. You know history. When we got the right to vote, everybody got the right to vote. When we got the right to sit at the front of the bus, everybody got it. When we got to go to college, everybody got to go. We are the trailblazers. Not only do we set trends in culture, in music, in fashion, but also in law. Like, this is what we do, so let us kick this door in.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-33004860815256831442021-01-26T14:11:00.004-08:002021-01-28T02:56:03.086-08:00Groupthink Overload<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="http://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2020/06/wonderfully-woven.html" target="_blank"><b>A few blog posts ago</b></a>, I said that some comments I was hearing in response to George Floyd's death, seeming to justify it in some way or lessen the implications of it, seemed like groupthink to me, which is dangerous. If you disagree, then the point that needs to be made is that police officers are not judges or executionists and you wouldn't want them to be if you or your loved one were in that position. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I first learned about groupthink, I suppose it was in psychology class, as it is a psychology term that refers to the phenomenon when people feel as though an idea is a good idea, although it may not be, simply because the majority of their group believes it is a good idea. The example given in the class where I first learned the term was the Bay of Pigs Invasion where the U.S. funded and supported Cuban exiles to attack Cuba in an attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro. It is viewed as a failure in U.S. foreign policy, but it seemed like a good idea to decision makers at the time. Poor decisions were made as a result of groupthink. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSpjgebk9ZuXMRVTUJ6sA2mjxqKlrvcRRBlZgMIMAr7Y_k-FFufdgrEZnEJViHLbgvV62UlVrgFk5TV-jFUcUlDW4samJSxstHCkg6CncGW5l8zAtN2gPMLGNE45mpiIprr_5avk6F4lK/s800/avoid+groupthink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSpjgebk9ZuXMRVTUJ6sA2mjxqKlrvcRRBlZgMIMAr7Y_k-FFufdgrEZnEJViHLbgvV62UlVrgFk5TV-jFUcUlDW4samJSxstHCkg6CncGW5l8zAtN2gPMLGNE45mpiIprr_5avk6F4lK/s320/avoid+groupthink.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In my blog post, I mentioned groupthink in reference to a society that produces juries that convict people of crimes they are innocent of and condemn them to death or decades in prison, largely influenced by the color of their skin. Just Mercy is a movie about the Equal Justice Initiative and its first cases. Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is an organization that combats such injustices through providing legal representatives for victims of marginalization in the criminal justice system. If you want to learn more, I highly suggest watching Just Mercy and checking out EJI. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the past few weeks leading up to the inauguration of Joe Biden, and surrounding the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol that was incited by President Trump's refusal to accept his loss at the election, I have been seeing groupthink overload. It was surely already there, but I think it is exposing itself even more now. Before I get into what I am seeing largely among a group I suppose can be called Christian nationalists, who seem to be primarily white folk, let me share quickly a story of how I was a victim of groupthink a few years ago. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV-RyscT5Jbt_rDA28PZmDbP-hh0oFk4xBAH6nfGqVBz34_drWn762gF5f8NLVVkF7drnTwpzUNMSqQTK88K_ZJnjGw_UAJBQ4W4azzAa9m8h7bhCIzMWakTfdE38StMonULHPeMOyqWZ/s380/follow+me+groupthink.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV-RyscT5Jbt_rDA28PZmDbP-hh0oFk4xBAH6nfGqVBz34_drWn762gF5f8NLVVkF7drnTwpzUNMSqQTK88K_ZJnjGw_UAJBQ4W4azzAa9m8h7bhCIzMWakTfdE38StMonULHPeMOyqWZ/s320/follow+me+groupthink.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Project Esperanza receives several volunteer groups each year (with the exception of 2020, of course). Many of these groups are college students traveling together during spring, summer, or winter break. The groups are usually accompanied by a professor, T.A., or sometimes student leaders. Volunteer groups are normally about 80% female and 20% male. The exception to that last stat is that we have a partnership with Morehouse Bonner Scholars from Morehouse College, led by the amazing Dr. Whitney. They are an all male group, and Morehouse is a historically black college (HBCU). They have come and served with us every year since 2015 (again, 2020 excluded, but they came twice in 2016). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years ago, we had a group come for our English summer camp registration which was held on a Sunday evening, then the first three days of summer camp. The group had already served in the capital for a week, faced some challenges, and by the time they got to us, they were not so fresh anymore. This group was also majorly composed of females of color, which is important to note as I share the perspective that was present. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Project Esperanza had a new volunteer coordinator working just during that summer. This was her first group. We also had a mother and teenage son volunteering, who are also from the U.S. Other than that, some of our local teachers were present at camp and our students. The volunteer coordinator, other volunteer, and I perceived negative feelings coming from this group after the first day of camp, which were out of the norm. This friction built over the next few days of camp, although many of the group members got into the groove of camp, connected with the campers, and executed planned activities. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There wasn't time to address this friction as the group was not staying with us at our volunteer house, and was actually paired with us through an agency that took care of the logistics of their trip. So after saying good-bye on their third day of camp, we had no more contact with the group. However, the agency shared a blog post with me a few days later, written by one of the group members as a reflection assignment. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Reading the words of this volunteer who had spent a few days in our school with us was shocking. The post displayed this student's extreme misconceptions and assumptions based on her life in the U.S. She was basically comparing our school run off of donations of foreign donors to U.S. institutions that are perhaps government funded. She basically claimed that our free education provided to them was a problem because it's imperfect. She unfortunately didn't see the education as a way to combat the alternative life for these kids in the streets, but looked at both with disdain. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">It was an angry, biased, and flat out untruthful account in many ways. I don't say untruthful to defend myself or the organization, but because she criticized the camp for things like not having drinking water, whereas there was literally a jug of water with cups in the hallway during the three days she was at camp, and the kids drank during break time. Upon learning that I personally read the post, it was removed from the internet, and dialogue and apologies followed from the group leader, who was not actually present during their time with us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the perspective gained helped us to sharpen our volunteer orientation pre-trip package and to provide a better quick orientation for groups that came in throughout the summer, especially those who did not stay at our volunteer house. But in summary, it was a very offensive experience. It was also unfortunate, as I felt as though if there was more time to talk with these students and they could've felt comfortable raising questions, as well as were open minded to listen to answers, then their experience could've been completely different. And not all students felt the same way as this student, but the positive voices were apparently silenced by the negative ones, from what I was told. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I share this in no way to complain about this group or to say that Project Esperanza and me personally are above any sort of criticism, but to examine the issue of groupthink. When I replied with my rebuttal to many of the claims made in this blog post, the writer likely realized that she was ignorant and should not have been so sure of her assumptions. But why was she so sure of her assumptions? She hadn't formed them alone. Surely they were grown and strengthened and encouraged by some of her group members who she dialogued with after camp, during the evenings, on the bus to and from, etc. Perhaps some of the world views she had formed in her home community or in her studies in the U.S. also inlcluded assumptions that hadn't been challenged yet by experiencing more outside of her bubble up until that point. But the point is that she felt confident enough about her comprehension of what she saw that she boldly posted a quite derragotory account on the internet. After more than a decade of leading volunteer groups, this was a first. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I surely have been involved in groupthink myself. I can remember taking part in mischief, especially in 8th grade, that I highly regretted afterwards. I am reminded of some words from James 3. Here are verses 5-9.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">During my adulthood here in the Dominican Republic, I feel like I have been such an outsider most of the time that I have barely had the opportunity to participate in groupthink. I often oppose trends that I see in my kids' school or in our neighborhood and critique them with my kids, basically, teaching them to think a different way. For example, I will not become accustomed to the idea that on certain days, kids have to pay 10 pesos to enter school, a school where their parents pay monthly tuition, as a fundraiser for the senior class. I will not become accustomed to the idea that entire days of school will be dedicated to rehearsals for the Christmas dance that will be shown on TV. Had I grown up here, maybe I would, but it's too late for that. Okay, maybe those are not examples of groupthink but simply customs I don't like, but the influence goes down the same path. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Had I stayed in my hometown in Virginia, maybe I would be more susceptible to being influenced by some of these conspiracy theories floating around because many others around me would be sharing them and repeating them. Or maybe I would be opposed to them and feel as though I was surrounded by them all the time, wanting to escape. Maybe I would've been susceptible to other kinds of groupthink. But I see great value in embracing diversity and considering all points of view. I see it as a Christian practice. I believe many may see bathing themselves in their tribe, referring to their community, comfort zone, family, and church, as a way of staying true to their faith and to God. However, I think it could potentially influence you to do just the opposite if you are not careful. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I have scrolled through Facebook, (which I prefer to Instagram as I like to read articles, not just look at pictures, and I don't use Twitter), I see church leaders posting prophetic dreams which portray things like Donald Trump speaking to a burning bush as Moses did, then climbing back down to find his people dancing around a pagan fire, as Moses also did. But the dream goes onto show that faces of people like Kamala Harris and George Soros appear in the fire!!! These sorts of things really pain me. </span></p><p><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6pUmWDWBUSBw19ylETRPtrDehzMG-N4rM0LNxS_keygB8SeCJkrMYaixCCcHZKyE_20zbB1R4cUnV6GHdGXQmjAWnRLzj85jEnEOhJF9MCdNHu9eBjKAp-06BNYX2n7QSa4c8pIDqHJL/s320/CMS+shirt.jpg" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">George Soros, for example, is someone I learned about from following Foundation Database and </span><span style="font-size: medium;">looking for grants that could be applicable to Project Esperanza. I see his philanthropic work and the generosity he has displayed. He himself was a Jew who faced persecution growing up in Hungary, and went onto "change his stars" and use his position to make the world a better place. This is actually the type of thing we preach at our English camp, which is called Change My Stars. It's about using your education to change your position in life and serve your hometown and country. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But because he has, in addition to financially supporting projects all over the world, financially supported the Democratic political party in the U.S., he apparently deserves to be portrayed as a Satanic figure. Shame on that. Unless someone has some hard facts of abusive activity coming from him, we must realize that we are the evil ones in sharing such slander. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have also been disappointed at posts made by Christians stating why they will not celebrate Kamala Harris as the first female VP in the U.S. and they mention that she "slept her way to the top". I could go on and on, but again, how could you possibly have reliable knowledge on that subject to feel confident in repeating it? And there is not time to even get into the hypocrisy of forgiving or ignoring dozens of such allegations against Donald Trump, yet repeating that one about Kamala Harris. <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/kamala-harris-affair-willie-brown/" target="_blank"><b>Here is a fact check on that allegation.</b></a> </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do people even know the roots of the slander they receive? Someone recently brought a name to my attention, and that name is Alex Jones. Wikipedia shares sources naming him "America's leading conspiracy theorist". His words are responsible for horrific acts like the stalking of parents who lost their kindergartners in the Sandy Hook shooting. He also apparently spoke at the rally that incited the insurrection and comes up with and spreads a lot of these conspiracy theories that people share so effortlessly. Is this the type of "work" we want to be supporting? </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50tHBxVywTj4nhDv-a3Nf0s0mLB-cz1k25t_mPFMBiAUw2iFRWVWxZU6xnGkElpUR74ot3_vAExUSdjI1v4RDmfGoRcTLxuQpiGCrmGkD9YH4fE5LuHHrH1Krs47C1rU3bDcrdtb5DiVn/s320/groupthink-lemmings-resize.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me share another verse to examine the notion that the Democratic party is aligned with evil and the Republican party is aligned with good. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">- 1 Corinthians 6:9</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">- Galatians 5:19-21</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You see the word homosexuality in there? Yes, we see that word. Okay, what else? Enmity, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and what does revilers mean? A quick Google search says "to assail with scornful or abusive language". Wow, that's a great word to describe Donald Trump, who is still being prophesized as an anointed leader by God. I don't see any levels in those verses. I don't see it said that God will have more grace for those who promote enmity, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and are revilers more than he will for homosexuals. I do see there is quite a focus on division as all those words I just mentioned go hand in hand. God seems to extremely dislike division. It seems to have been quite the theme to brush off the "scornful and abusive language" of Donald Trump, as if it doesn't affect someone's spiritual status. I have felt convicted to speak out about it, not because I want to stir up conflict, but because I feel it is wrong. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Brothers and sisters, those who call themselves Christians and those who don't yet personally know the son of God who sacrificed so deeply for us, let's get excited about Luke 10:2. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. "</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We don't have time to waste on all of this junk. We have work to do. And you know who has the biggest responsibility? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">-Luke 12:48</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm talking to you America, land that I love. From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam. God didn't give us all these blessings so that we could hoard them! And he didn't bless us so that we could go on and on about our rights and liberties, feeling as though they are always under attack. I hope and pray to see no more posts or comments comparing modern day Christians to Babylonians in captivity! I find it to be a delusion and a display of ungratefulness. Sorry, not sorry. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">¡</span>Vamanos! <span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">¡</span>Manos a la obra!</i> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mIk6G9IBe-v51BHbQihYiXsVOoheEE_ZXLYdLVwOqyzWgWALJxrM4qVLF8vhDvhso8BpfU0Tn5nOKfbbCXQWAJIyf3PdkTSQStRkIxxmCdKPapjU-IPx3zL5pLArGQhicry9WuQ1_CZC/s960/us+1.26.21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mIk6G9IBe-v51BHbQihYiXsVOoheEE_ZXLYdLVwOqyzWgWALJxrM4qVLF8vhDvhso8BpfU0Tn5nOKfbbCXQWAJIyf3PdkTSQStRkIxxmCdKPapjU-IPx3zL5pLArGQhicry9WuQ1_CZC/s320/us+1.26.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplnhEx_uu62HH2k744PE188P1rA6gJ8igbIN2-WwvIKShlKbD7eUuxLwGuNEKjHLndWkleRx1mcaPXhjXVaP1Qc8RcAaiqwXmwdMkQg4PRthIdPXZt82S8IVok_iXTFFDgf02AwOM7KQM/s960/our+feet+1.26.2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplnhEx_uu62HH2k744PE188P1rA6gJ8igbIN2-WwvIKShlKbD7eUuxLwGuNEKjHLndWkleRx1mcaPXhjXVaP1Qc8RcAaiqwXmwdMkQg4PRthIdPXZt82S8IVok_iXTFFDgf02AwOM7KQM/s320/our+feet+1.26.2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our crew</div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-9401110414363534502020-11-21T14:47:00.005-08:002020-11-21T14:58:12.197-08:00The Descendants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuNti3JZDYISDBVI27GpZeNPrinV0LpmckkE6rtE2XhEg1nTrUk2g6Q7GR-IFHxjRT7R5_gy_9LOCZuY5Rxyi0WwpGipN0RPR1pWCdsGGHBtneJJiW4MSqdADEn4GL8Vyzh5O36cXgKP0/s620/descendants+photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="620" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuNti3JZDYISDBVI27GpZeNPrinV0LpmckkE6rtE2XhEg1nTrUk2g6Q7GR-IFHxjRT7R5_gy_9LOCZuY5Rxyi0WwpGipN0RPR1pWCdsGGHBtneJJiW4MSqdADEn4GL8Vyzh5O36cXgKP0/w400-h271/descendants+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am writing this post to applaud the Disney trilogy called Descendants. Over the years, I have watched all three movies with my kids. We recently watched the third one and I am excited about the themes that the films bring up. It questions current criminal justice systems that condenm people for life, as well as their families in some ways, ignoring Jesus' teaching of forgiveness. It questions immigration policies and attitudes of priviledged citizens toward immigrants. It also promotes the effort and dream of rescuing youth from the cycle of poverty and all that comes with it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The setting is a fairy tale land called Auradon, which is inhabited by all of the good characters in fairy tales and their offspring. The king and queen are Beaty and the Beast. They have one son named Ben. Ben becomes king upon turning 18 and makes his first decision as king to bring four youth from "The Isle" to their boarding school at Auredon. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Isle is where all the villains from fairy tales are kept with a magical barrier around the island that keeps them from leaving and keeps the island magic free. Ben chooses the children of Malificent, the Evil Queen from Snow White, Cruela Devil, and Jafar from Aladdin to come to Auredon in an attempt to forgive and give them a chance. He is an idealist who never gives up hope. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">These kids, especially Mal, the daughter of Malificent, are under the order of their parents to steal the Fairy Godmother's wand in an attempt to free them from the island and give them back their powers. Mal, therefore, puts Ben, the new young king, under a love spell. She later feels bad as her heart is beginning to soften as she develops true feelings for him. She tries to reverse the spell, but he confesses that he knew all along as the spell had already worn off when he swam in the enchanted lake. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, the meaning of the first movie is that she and the other three kids choose to go against their parents' will and be good. They choose good over evil and in doing so, overcome the evil that crept into Auradon. The movie also reveals the fear that the residents of Auradon have of the villain kids and their superior attitude some have towards them. Ben breaks through this notion, and Mal and the others don't disappoint him. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hIKhoEIBSxU" width="320" youtube-src-id="hIKhoEIBSxU"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the second movie, Mal attempts to self destruct, thinking she's not good enough for Ben and Auradon. She goes back to The Isle, and Ben goes after her. Despite the mistreatment he faced while there, he never stopped seeing the good in his abusers and encouraging peace. By the end of the movie, he agreed to allow Evie, the daughter of the Evil Queen and Mal's best friend, to come up with a list of kids from the Isle who she thought would thrive at Auradon Prep. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">During the third movie, which is quite musical, four more kids from The Isle are taken to Auradon. However, Hades almost escaped while the barrier was open, causing a scare. A decision is made to shut the barrier forever. Then an Auradon resident goes crazy and takes a crown and scepter from the museum of magic. She uses them to wreak havoc on Auradon. Who saved the day? Villains from The Isle. This puts a twist in plans and the trilogy ends when the barrier is taken down forever, giving villains a second chance, and their children a first chance. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I generally raise a concerned eyebrown when my kids are watching shows with magic, including My Little Ponies, because I take seriously what the Bible says about such practices where powers come from something other than God. Also, we live in a place where magic is practiced in a deliberate attachment to Satan from what I understand from testimonies of people who have grown up in households where this was practiced. So I have learned to not take it lightly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nonetheless, in movies where there is good use of magic and bad use of magic, as well as minimal demon possession type imagery, I often equate the good magic to God's power. I wouldn't want to keep them from learning such powerful lessons in an entertaining way out of excessive fear. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leading up to the recent election, I have heard points of view that I don't understand. I have heard a perhaps excessive fear of socialism and even sentiments that seem to equate global peace, communication, and collaboration through efforts such as the United Nations with something that comes from a dark place. I understand that The Descedants is a Disney movie. It is extremely simplified. However, I think it captures a glimpse of what God does intend for his creations. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-Philippians 2:3</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I see you</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You see me</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Imperfect</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Perfectly</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Face to face we can see clearly</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6PiM60us7bQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="6PiM60us7bQ"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-29113905314858589062020-10-18T22:19:00.001-07:002020-10-18T22:23:18.182-07:00Vischer 2020 - Veggie Tales' Creator Has Captured My Heart & Mind<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU9iSEF2qcyjwk8AZ2PBxIDZTVYY-3jQQGNRZj6iwCTE_qD4JDFgJ8wfZcpMWAtut6p_wnyxw8V70C-1jnQy7TcFFvHJ8FfYLmYvWiRcyb6XllPyGfzEvT3ShT8i1w6QLE0ZuzgdK1ZMT/s1920/phil+vischer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU9iSEF2qcyjwk8AZ2PBxIDZTVYY-3jQQGNRZj6iwCTE_qD4JDFgJ8wfZcpMWAtut6p_wnyxw8V70C-1jnQy7TcFFvHJ8FfYLmYvWiRcyb6XllPyGfzEvT3ShT8i1w6QLE0ZuzgdK1ZMT/w400-h225/phil+vischer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">When I was
14 years old, I had a huge crush on Sam Combs. Sam was so smart and witty. He was a
skinny guy with glasses and taught himself to play the guitar. I was just
amazed by him. I was friends with many boys throughout my youth/young adulthood, but had very few actual crushes or boyfriends, (I would say 3, counting my husband). Sam was basically nothing like the man that God gave me
as my husband, who is quiet, Haitian, and into body building. However, he represents
a special place in my heart you could say – a smart, talented, guitar playing
white boy.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shortly
after George Floyd, I saw a video shared by one of my friends on Facebook
called Race in America. It was by Phil Vischer. It was brilliant. It put my
heart on the issue into intelligent words and provided historical stats with
simple graphs and images to back it up. I was so impressed and grateful.
Someone shortly after shared the same video in a group I am in called Mommas
Against Racism. But she introduced it by saying that Phil Vischer was the
creator of Veggie Tales. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wow! I had
watched Veggie Tales since I was a kid and shown it to my kids as well. What a
creative program that taught about God in a completely loving way. And its
creator is a smart, sensible anti-racist? Who knew? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I ended up
researching Phil Vischer and learning how Veggie Tales came to an end when he
was sued by someone he did business with, causing him to lose all that he had built. He had dreamed of being the
Christian Walt Disney. But after Veggie Tales ended, he continued to serve
God through cartoons for kids and podcasts geared toward adults. All of his cartoons,
songs, and family based Bible studies are available at <a href="https://mrphil.tv/" target="_blank"><b>Mr. Phil TV</b></a>, which someone
can subscribe to for a small fee. I did, and this has basically replaced our
children’s church, which closed permanently due to the pandemic. (It was run by
missionaries who went back to the U.S. for good, which is why it was a
permanent close). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I highly
enjoy watching the children’s programs with my kids, but I am very intrigued
by the podcasts. It used to be called Phil Vischer Podcast, but now is <a href="https://www.holypost.com/" target="_blank"><b>Holy Post</b></a>. He has some sidekicks who are with him often, who share his views and
have valuable input. He does silly things like a great Irish accent when reading the
Irish constitution in a discussion about how Ireland legalized gay marriage, and
an impressive deep South southern accent when reading a politician’s quote from the Southern states
in the mid-1900s. He writes songs to summarize topics that are discussed during
the podcasts and sings them, while playing his little ukulele.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just love it!!! As you may have guessed, he reminds me a bit of my old crush Sam! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhZ5Oo9GVkhf7RtisvvohyphenhyphenE8f4Em9VqHSyUoQRn4HzlWBpoxFtQNgEvXoNn4z_NG8av1cvp243TO2AhLRQTJPwArd9oof5KHIDtrkVroF3eHIa8Bh0gn6gdxXAf7p8PTMQl_l-oE_95mg/s854/2020-10-19+%25282%2529.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="854" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhZ5Oo9GVkhf7RtisvvohyphenhyphenE8f4Em9VqHSyUoQRn4HzlWBpoxFtQNgEvXoNn4z_NG8av1cvp243TO2AhLRQTJPwArd9oof5KHIDtrkVroF3eHIa8Bh0gn6gdxXAf7p8PTMQl_l-oE_95mg/w640-h520/2020-10-19+%25282%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Today alone I shared two of Phil Vischer’s Holy
Posts on my Facebook page. I have been waiting for the right moment to share
his Race in America 2 post which dives deeper into misunderstandings about and fact checks of the welfare
system, black families in America, divorce trends, unemployment, solutions,
etc. But I saw two other videos today that friends had shared on Facebook and just
had to re-share. The first was explaining why white Christians majorly vote Republican
and black Christians mostly vote Democrat. The second was about whether or not Christians
should vote based solely on the issue of abortion. Again, he (actually it was
mostly his friend Skye) captured what I already thought in his overall message,
but explained it so brilliantly with historical information to put it into
context and provide a strong base.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After
reading so many posts and memes that seem to be based on misunderstandings, I
wish there was a way to require American citizens to watch these posts and
podcasts as part of a course or something. I have no power to do that, but I
can share them on social media and promote them in conversations and in this
blog post. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
conclusion, I would suggest that we vote Vischer 2020, but in reality, I think his
presidential duties would take up important time that he spends creatively teaching about
Christian living. I know not everyone is a Christian, but honestly, he showed
us in Veggie Tales how applying Jesus’ teachings are good for everyone. Veggie
Tales was a Christian show that I don’t think any parents felt threatened by,
no matter their religious affiliation. So perhaps he could be an advisor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, if you haven’t checked him out yet,
please wait no longer!! Prepare to be enlightened! </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-64493290409939595092020-06-11T21:23:00.002-07:002020-06-21T09:10:44.507-07:00Wonderfully Woven<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Misunderstood don't gotta be explained</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">But you don't understand me, so let me explain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">- Lil Wayne, Misunderstood</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lil Wayne is a potty mouth, but he also has some beautiful songs and lyrics. He has emerged as an African American man who says he has not experienced racism and asks others to question situations without jumping to conclusions that race was an issue. While I appreciate his advice that no one should be too quick to jump to conclusions about conflict being rooted in racism, there are plenty of voices from the black community sharing different experiences, like <a href="https://www.whsv.com/content/news/5-charged-with-hate-crimes-in-Shenandoah-County-attack-on-pastor-571220461.html?fbclid=IwAR2QrDJRg0BAwmjGrxsMimP0oZ1o-1uoatKAqLOqZpjnMPnCgD9jErY5Z0w" target="_blank">THIS ONE</a> that recently happened close to my hometown in Virginia. (Capital letters used to show that there is a link.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Out of all of the signs and memes I have seen regarding race issues over these past two weeks, this one may explain a situation that seems to be misunderstood the best. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgQsAYRPCXNdxH8p1jEVs3vQ-Z9eEHIQtjCbA-rWaSQgxEwQMhA9ZLA-NN3wLr5zOLxnTnpfQvZd8HpdO3YXNUlI7MC1YskN_vmERdP4ZjnRQ_uDk2fcDdqvMJUTp5WhTZ5RnmrCXGTsa/s1600/103196903_1577374895754190_3614986772322189312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgQsAYRPCXNdxH8p1jEVs3vQ-Z9eEHIQtjCbA-rWaSQgxEwQMhA9ZLA-NN3wLr5zOLxnTnpfQvZd8HpdO3YXNUlI7MC1YskN_vmERdP4ZjnRQ_uDk2fcDdqvMJUTp5WhTZ5RnmrCXGTsa/s640/103196903_1577374895754190_3614986772322189312_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">The confusion on this is something I have never understood. I used to hear people complain about affirmative action. Some are now defensive when they see Black Lives Matter. This little girl breaks it down so clearly. She says, "We just need <b>your help</b> with </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">#blacklivesmatter for black lives are in danger!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Vandalism isn't pleasant. Looting and violence are horrible. Disrespect to undeserving police officers doesn't help. Let's all listen to this sweet little girl rather than continuing in a war with those things. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Many people would say that black lives are not in danger. That is a thing of the past. While they would agree that the death of George Floyd was clearly horrible and the officer should be charged with a crime, they may still say things like, "that could've easily been a white man that the police killed" or "I can't judge any situation when I didn't see all of the circumstances leading up to it". "He had a criminal record." "He was high".</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To that, I would say you are missing the point. There is <i>no reason</i> for police forces not to practice tactics that have been proven to reduce these situations. <a href="http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/" target="_blank">THIS SITE</a> shows what these best practices are, and where they have and have not been adopted. Additionally, there is <i>no reason</i> for the country to not strongly and seriously consider diverting resources from policing vulnerable neighborhoods, setting expectations for the presence of criminals, to other efforts such as mentoring vulnerable neighborhoods, setting standards for growth and excellence. The latter is what is being pleaded for when "defunding the police" is mentioned. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I would also say that some of those comments listed two paragraphs above could create groupthink, which is when people feel a certain amount of certainty over an idea because they hear many people in their groups saying it and supporting it. Groupthink causes groups to make poor decisions. What we don't want is for a jury to judge these cases with bias, making the statement that the killings are excusable. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The history of white men and sometimes women, both police and civilians, being excused or given very light punishments after killing a black person is what has caused all of this. I hope everyone will consider that. You may not agree with the extent of the problem, or feel as though it is being exaggerated, but no one can close their eyes to the fact that all of this emotion did not come from nowhere. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Therefore, everyone must be careful to keep from contributing to those unjust rulings on these present cases, as well as on anything that could happen in the future. We must realize that when we are too forgiving of those who happen to look like us, we are actually condemning other groups, and that only adds to the problem. If you don't think that I am right in saying that, just look at Ahmaud Arbery's case. Months after he was killed while innocently jogging by people who were not even police and no arrests were made until a video made it to the public. When I first found out, I upheld faith in the system and blamed the lack of arrests on the coronavirus chaos. However, many factors and conversations made me conclude otherwise. If the coronavirus wasn't too chaotic for an arrest of George Floyd to be made for allegedly counterfeit money, it surely wasn't too chaotic for the arrest of Arbery's murderers. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Some are just bothered by the conflict. They don't want to deal with the situation. They would rather just say it doesn't exist. That, unfortunately, doesn't work either. The sooner we collectively face it, the closer we are to making it less of an issue. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The changes proposed by the reasonable protestors (recognizing that not all protestors are reasonable) don't necessarily have to be a drastic change. This does not mean that police presence would be </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">immediately and completely removed and anarchy would exist. That claim is polarized and creates unnecessary division. Pilot projects can be executed, and already have been. <a href="https://www.tapinto.net/towns/camden/sections/law-and-justice/articles/camden-sees-crime-drop-over-past-decade" target="_blank">Camden, NJ, FOR EXAMPLE, made some of these changes and saw a 42% decrease in crime.</a> Whether or not this is a perfect example, can we examine it, learn from it, and try new things? Change can be implemented with caution, gradually. But this is simply what Black Lives Matter is asking for. I see absolutely no harm that moving in this direction would have on anyone. In fact, if executed responsibly, it would surely be positive for everyone. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So if you have been complaining about this movement that has been embraced all over the United States and even many parts of the world, it is time to give in to this cute little girl, whose name I wish I knew. She, like all of us, was fearfully and wonderfully made, woven together in her mother's womb by the Creator. (Psalms 139:13-14) You don't have to donate to the cause or go out and protest, but just understand what she is saying and be sensitive to it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We know that this is a cause that is not going to be forgotten. It must be respected and given proper attention. This isn't about political party. It's time for everyone to give in, compromise, and unite again. Only then can the true delinquents that are looting and using violence be efficiently recognized and dealt with. And when they are, they will stop taking advantage. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YrbSvmFFJx9cSsRc8MtMiJDai7Kt7gCQwhW6E2_kt3MMYCW4uKPelu4VjRY_9IwrdFeAP4Srl0hbrpmv4377vbTqo1o3rCZs_nJY03oREpglR5Mo8pOYWIw5tldn9g5nCWiu0MePMA7W/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-07+at+2.52.01+PM+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YrbSvmFFJx9cSsRc8MtMiJDai7Kt7gCQwhW6E2_kt3MMYCW4uKPelu4VjRY_9IwrdFeAP4Srl0hbrpmv4377vbTqo1o3rCZs_nJY03oREpglR5Mo8pOYWIw5tldn9g5nCWiu0MePMA7W/s640/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-07+at+2.52.01+PM+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwjGG-a5Jz0wp7Tr-i0keEw3ppwIlN2LDVmy25zB0gtWb1XX1j5Js7A6BYjElp0izNRDkd2bGO2Sh5IAQLUOpV0DiPbqQ_w1vlcQ1t_W5HiqGs8Etcu4untK3g_Z5_mzC7rmdxQsviE0W/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-07+at+2.51.23+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwjGG-a5Jz0wp7Tr-i0keEw3ppwIlN2LDVmy25zB0gtWb1XX1j5Js7A6BYjElp0izNRDkd2bGO2Sh5IAQLUOpV0DiPbqQ_w1vlcQ1t_W5HiqGs8Etcu4untK3g_Z5_mzC7rmdxQsviE0W/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-07+at+2.51.23+PM.jpeg" width="180" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Check out these wonderfully woven dolls, representing an array of racial beauty. These<br />dolls are designed by my good friend Nicole Plata, made with the help of local girls here in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Nicole designed them, realizing that there were barely any dolls in this country that accurately represent the children here with varying skin tones. We are selling these dolls as a fundraiser for a school here that is in danger of closing its doors. This is the school that Project Esperanza has come to grow a trusting relationship with, and is where we send our top students for high school, as it is within walking distance of our school.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">After 35 years of excellent academic performance and dedication to small, manageable classrooms, the school is down on its luck because of a greedy landlord and the difficulties brought on by the covid lockdown. Your <a href="https://www.goodfruitdesigns.com/product-page/wonderfully-woven-crocheted-dolls" target="_blank">PURCHASE OF A DOLL</a> can help <a href="https://projectesperanza.giv.sh/7c92" target="_blank">SAVE THIS SCHOOL</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thank you for your help by either chipping in, sharing, or both. At the very least, let's work together to resolve these problems at hand. If I can look past Lil Wayne's incredibly dirty and offensive words and find his flashes of brilliance, his touching, truthful language, then I think everyone can do that in some way in order to work together toward a common cause for humanity. As it says on the Haitian flag, "L'Union fait la force" which means "Unity is strength". </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">And I just want you to know</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">That you deserve the best</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">You're beautifuuul</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">You're beautiful</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yeah, and I want you to know</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">You're far from the usual</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">-Lil Wayne, How to Love</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XS1Zs9xjxWoDjf4zi8IsmY2kMYpUH7IqYOIVVjyV7tCfFJ8RMDwM7vQq82owEkT5NNtP_XDJa4o7Y5aqXjJdDr-LlS0_yj_r113l5nVigpqy5Kv-Mcs5VL-ggffRilXt5CWX1aiEKi8P/s1600/no+one+can+ignore+a+black+woman+on+a+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="960" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XS1Zs9xjxWoDjf4zi8IsmY2kMYpUH7IqYOIVVjyV7tCfFJ8RMDwM7vQq82owEkT5NNtP_XDJa4o7Y5aqXjJdDr-LlS0_yj_r113l5nVigpqy5Kv-Mcs5VL-ggffRilXt5CWX1aiEKi8P/s640/no+one+can+ignore+a+black+woman+on+a+horse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">Oakland, CA</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;">Photo taken by Beth Laberge<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7651351289812364370.post-22511397341112127602020-05-31T21:33:00.001-07:002021-02-05T16:30:59.276-08:00Black Lives Matter: From Emotion to Strategy and Solutions<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Opened my
history book to take a better look <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">At where we
came from and where we’re going<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Without a
sense of time<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You’ve got
no ears or eyes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I see a
broken rhyme called human learning<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You know
this is serious<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We’re
repeating things we’ve done<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Do ya wanna
be a part of the solution? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">-Solution by Paul Colman Trio</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I spent
many years finding out about world events long after they happened. I have
lived in the Dominican Republic for 12.5 years. I am busy and removed with a large family, work, and studies. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">However,
we’ve been on lockdown here since March 18</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: large;"> and I have been paying
more attention to the news due to the coronavirus. It is amazing and
interesting how the topics that spread through my social media feed change
daily.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am very
glad that I have been so attentive to world events; especially U.S. events
because so many of my family, friends, and contacts on social media are in the
U.S. I was shocked and heartbroken by the announcement of the murder of Amaud
Arbery while innocently jogging, especially since his murderers were not yet
arrested at the time of the announcement. I was in disbelief when I learned of
the horrific murder of George Floyd so soon after the arrests of the Amaud’s
murderers were finally made. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">The events
that took place the days following George Floyd’s death were very revealing. I
am specifically referring to the fact that the four officers, while they were
fired, were not arrested right away </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wbUeS0LbVR6KNMv7I6op_yhYReEc9J0SJdzRZHZAOyiG_Vf-BdGaKtfFO7MAafbO9eCnuJG-HM5vocviUA09zLbT_G8F__AGJpoEWXyBDc0hoDfIcDmJwWsfYMF_tyH-iZV1pbNrvzco/s1600/FB_IMG_1590962326641.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wbUeS0LbVR6KNMv7I6op_yhYReEc9J0SJdzRZHZAOyiG_Vf-BdGaKtfFO7MAafbO9eCnuJG-HM5vocviUA09zLbT_G8F__AGJpoEWXyBDc0hoDfIcDmJwWsfYMF_tyH-iZV1pbNrvzco/s320/FB_IMG_1590962326641.jpg" width="214" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">after such a brutal murder was caught on
film. A CNN reporter who happened to be black <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> arrested while reporting the protests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words spoken by the president in
reference to the riots, especially when compared to words he spoke about white
armed protestors in Michigan during the coronavirus lockdown exposed
incredible bias.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s safe to say that many who were
not convinced that racism is still an issue in the United States and that the
police brutality used specifically toward black and brown people deserves
serious attention now see differently. I feel hopeful for future change that
will be taking place, but there is work to be done to bring it about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">First of
all, let me address something that will probably be important for many to
consider my thoughts on this issue. I am a white woman. I was born and raised
in Virginia. I moved to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic permanently when I was
22 years old, having recently graduated from Virginia Tech. My husband is a
black man from Haiti. We have three biological children and two adopted
children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I
mentioned, I have lived in the Dominican Republic for 12.5 years now. I have
not lived in the U.S., and have honestly not spent many days there at all,
throughout all of Obama’s terms and Trump’s. My race causes me to be a <b><a href="http://tilimyesa.blogspot.com/2021/02/how-to-react.html" target="_blank">minority here</a></b> in the Dominican Republic. To racially describe the Dominican Republic in
a nutshell, it was the first place Columbus landed in the New World and was
settled by Spain. They kidnapped people from Africa and enslaved them, but when
slavery ended, the races became very mixed. The population that would be
considered white in this country is very small. The population displays a
beautiful array of skin color shades and there is no shame in calling someone
by their skin color (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">indio, moreno, rubio, negro</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kle, wouj</i>, etc.)
The race of the neighboring country Haiti is primarily what we would call
black. If you haven’t studied Haitian history, I highly suggest that you do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have met
many white friends here through Project Esperanza. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLNpNWKkCp7oxNXHrUeXb5eo1fS7W603t05WG7Aw6U-XrnYagN4X7NBPfsyfocI1fNCRyv5hZMfXSJu9goiLlGFS7B1-rYHqnvF-QHy8Y-vy-RZfcDgEvpYulK5c9UP4fXs2rUqAwfUzY/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.24.41+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLNpNWKkCp7oxNXHrUeXb5eo1fS7W603t05WG7Aw6U-XrnYagN4X7NBPfsyfocI1fNCRyv5hZMfXSJu9goiLlGFS7B1-rYHqnvF-QHy8Y-vy-RZfcDgEvpYulK5c9UP4fXs2rUqAwfUzY/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.24.41+AM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Line of white protestors stand between police <br />
and non-white protestors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However, they don’t live
here. They visit. So on a daily basis, I am the odd one out in that way. I
don’t usually even see someone that America would refer to as white, other than
perhaps tourists in passing. My kids used to point and say “Look! Volunteers!”
whenever they saw white people. I may be referred to as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gringa</i> in Spanish or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blan</i>
in Creole. I have had to correct people many times and let them know how I feel
when they talk about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blan</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gringos</i>. I think about things I say and
am held accountable if I say something that offends someone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">This isn’t
to say that I have walked in the shoes of an African </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz5W1div3ktnNRru0ZaCmFlA6z5HXEMx-i1DZGYjPZMrstNmbIm5A992qmpjHrujXa6z6CtzXaM1aolGGBQjZTFJ6K6tIFpjj8jB8-dkUChSftMmGd898e54a3SDUpO1Gj-pOgkG_SCK0/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-31+at+11.56.42+PM.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMz5W1div3ktnNRru0ZaCmFlA6z5HXEMx-i1DZGYjPZMrstNmbIm5A992qmpjHrujXa6z6CtzXaM1aolGGBQjZTFJ6K6tIFpjj8jB8-dkUChSftMmGd898e54a3SDUpO1Gj-pOgkG_SCK0/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-05-31+at+11.56.42+PM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">American woman who grew up
in the United States. I have surely not. I realized that I was unfairly privileged for many reasons in addition to race while I was growing up and felt guilt over the issue. This is largely why I wanted to use my privilege to serve situations that broke my heart. Nonetheless, I do think I have some insight
that I would like to share and engage in dialogue about. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As I said, I’ve noticed that social media themes
change daily. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday and today I see that many are questioning rioting and how effective
it is or was in this case. People are comparing Civil Rights Movement protests
that were peaceful, strategically planned, and completely respectable, to the chaos
of looting and burning. Perhaps only God knows if the rioting hadn’t taken pace, whether the
killer would’ve even been arrested, and whether other factors would’ve changed
in addition. Yes, it’s sad that rioting took place and is still taking place. However, war is always
sad, isn’t it? War is a result of groups of people that were not able to
effectively communicate and reach an agreeable compromise. Additionally, many people are just taking advantage of anarchy, which wasn't the intent of most protestors and isn't their fault. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">What are you going to
do to protect your city from these problems that could lead to rioting, if it hasn't already? The ONLY humane
solution is to effectively communicate and reach agreeable compromises on a consistent basis. The
responsibility here is on </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PxtZJU1h3U0ERwO_ocm_nbEzCoFuNb9tlfp0fjh7ya6ZgHt144OeGR4GVFXr3_aMPmlTmVACU5PQjvE66mQN2SbmtH3XoWaQPL_6PqBr34D2d9aP2p1cQ1kvHWnEMx-2WTXz8ukrFGRq/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.00.07+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PxtZJU1h3U0ERwO_ocm_nbEzCoFuNb9tlfp0fjh7ya6ZgHt144OeGR4GVFXr3_aMPmlTmVACU5PQjvE66mQN2SbmtH3XoWaQPL_6PqBr34D2d9aP2p1cQ1kvHWnEMx-2WTXz8ukrFGRq/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.00.07+AM.jpeg" width="314" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">each city’s leadership to initiate this process. Take a knee and engage the people rather than shooting tear gas and rubber bullets, (both literally and figuratively). However, where this doesn’t happen, churches, schools, and organizations exist and can initiate such communication. The bottom line is that
this is not the responsibility of the black community to make themselves heard.
There have been plenty of cries. I particularly teach my kids that whenever they hear someone cry, they should ask what's wrong. It doesn't matter if that person cries a lot and you are used to hearing him or her cry. It doesn't matter if the person even hurt themself. You cannot hear someone cry without asking what is wrong. Every single time they cry. It’s each community’s job as a whole to reach
out to the black community and listen with opened minds and hearts. The insight
provided will show the direction in which each community needs to go to create
needed change. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">This site (<a href="http://www.mappingpoliceviolence.org/">www.mappingpoliceviolence.org</a>) provides
statistics about police violence in the U.S. Simple practices such as requiring
the reporting of any use of force, ban of chokeholds or strongholds, and
requiring other officers to intervene if another officer uses excessive force
drastically change statistics. A Canadian friend recently informed me that in
Canada, a report must be filed </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYtTburlgvvmDlTnnguLnteN2dXXRpBdF3VEIlXwEO-wVUgmiT6ultuRDQc_xvBFh92H81EO7tbI499hGNeGZ29hJGEqoWRo-yDLCGQ1m6ePeux3LcMMMZYAXaI_Kfvr425NzMlc4lvZ6/s1600/proven+solutions+to+police+killings.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="750" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYtTburlgvvmDlTnnguLnteN2dXXRpBdF3VEIlXwEO-wVUgmiT6ultuRDQc_xvBFh92H81EO7tbI499hGNeGZ29hJGEqoWRo-yDLCGQ1m6ePeux3LcMMMZYAXaI_Kfvr425NzMlc4lvZ6/s400/proven+solutions+to+police+killings.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">whenever a police takes his or her gun out of
their holster. This practice puts weight on the very act of taking out a gun,
AS IT SHOULD. There are things that can be done. Sources say that progress was being made in this area during the Obama administration, but went in the opposite direction under Trump's direction. <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/nation-world/2020/06/10/politifact-fact-checking-kamala-harris-claim-about-donald-trump-and-investigations-of-police-misconduct/" target="_blank">READ ONE SOURCE HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then
there are cases such as George Floyd’s where the gun was not the lethal weapon.
However, the killer and an accomplice had quite poor records with many red flags
raised. I have to agree with my brother Matthew McHale who posted:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We have a
system designed to protect police at all costs whether they behave correctly or
not. It gives them a sense of being above </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvviwh7Ro2YToM_GMJMIy3omKgqr5adLN8-XttW_1Ses1HjmPe_RljdU-PSK9z782_ZuJIRJjkwwyB1HK_ICbzvHciYrt4Z8RIfL4ND-J7CM3monL0p-e4NbfdBP2FEQeKZCN3PZ5sFr_/s1600/FB_IMG_1590934737993.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="800" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvviwh7Ro2YToM_GMJMIy3omKgqr5adLN8-XttW_1Ses1HjmPe_RljdU-PSK9z782_ZuJIRJjkwwyB1HK_ICbzvHciYrt4Z8RIfL4ND-J7CM3monL0p-e4NbfdBP2FEQeKZCN3PZ5sFr_/s320/FB_IMG_1590934737993.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">the law. It should be the opposite.
They should be held to a higher standard than the public given the power they
are wielding. Any abuse of power should be harshly punished and not tolerated.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My friend
Maryann Glascock stated, “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit , serif; line-height: 115%;">I think it’s just far too easy to get a badge and a
gun with all the authority in the world. Police officers are public servants
and we pay their salaries through our taxes. I think we need to increase police
officer salaries to hire more qualified peopl</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">e or use the money to provide more training to the people they are hiring.
I’d be happy to see my tax dollars going towards that</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZvr26twBkSxB-h5w9yHEJ0Y7izCsFgF0bKib0vIx9Rz0ADtkBTPCOrYq2iuNn5uEtXgX9UQYAW6_tG1-VIxrJ9PQG4Nru3lSuvSEoPpOadQyzsjcSUFHuHGpa-luWNPSXSm3yZAMaCbx/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.12.09+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="706" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZvr26twBkSxB-h5w9yHEJ0Y7izCsFgF0bKib0vIx9Rz0ADtkBTPCOrYq2iuNn5uEtXgX9UQYAW6_tG1-VIxrJ9PQG4Nru3lSuvSEoPpOadQyzsjcSUFHuHGpa-luWNPSXSm3yZAMaCbx/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.12.09+AM.jpeg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When one examines how funding toward law enforcement is allocated, it probably wouldn't be necessary to ask taxpayers to increase anything in order to pay police more in order to recruit higher qualified individuals. It would simply be a matter of diverting money spent on weapons and potentially excessive police presence toward salaries. The Black Lives Matter campaign is leading a petition for police defunding. If you <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/31/the-answer-to-police-violence-is-not-reform-its-defunding-heres-why" target="_blank">READ HERE</a>, what that really means is a diversion of funds from investments such as "military hardware" and allocating those funds toward after-school programs, mentoring, and other preventative efforts. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I agree
with all of those points. I also feel strongly that there should be a
campaign to recruit minorities into the police force. I understand that those
who feel targeted by the police are reluctant to become police officers
themselves. Black police officers are criticized by other people of color for
choosing that profession. However, this is creating more of a problem than a
solution. If there was a black police officer on the team that set out to
arrest George Floyd, do you think things would’ve gone down the same way? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZVVTIjIOYFltzBgEEjPjuIzMO8iksVKeka6TftbowHpR6EAM7FLQu64ZF_ZtkCWGtRwNIolzHy0eHb7jPDqm4Rp21waH_B9moM002haHP8iD5jLqKLpsIawApzu1Rb2uKwHLt12fDxZE/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.05.18+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZVVTIjIOYFltzBgEEjPjuIzMO8iksVKeka6TftbowHpR6EAM7FLQu64ZF_ZtkCWGtRwNIolzHy0eHb7jPDqm4Rp21waH_B9moM002haHP8iD5jLqKLpsIawApzu1Rb2uKwHLt12fDxZE/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.05.18+AM.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rather than
criticizing black or brown police officers, the black community and the
community as a whole should celebrate them, thank them, and let them know that
they are heroic in many ways. After all, police officers do risk their lives. We know that not
only do police officers kill people sometimes, but they sometimes get killed as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I imagine
images flying around of black or brown police officers and black or brown children
dreaming of becoming police officers. “This is my community. I will uphold and
protect it.” There should<br />be a sense of ownership and pride over the community.
This should be a point of dialogue. If there is not that sense of community,
then why not? What can be done to change that? Incentives should be developed
as have been developed for the army where special scholarships or other
benefits should be granted for people of color who will serve as a police
officer for a certain number of years, and other such incentives. Priority
should be placed on this! Of course white police officers would be jealous as
with any affirmative <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneJA9P28ahMJhxbYAMYHYrDczZoBFnBYi8kSvxebfyPqbXQOREKs2x67xBAOqOR3Nx9zj70X9k2fzWs4-2mVMk2xiOllya8DF87ivcLKO-GUysmT2kuIdy5w3qmic05RL6PhGKMT94eCB/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.12.58+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneJA9P28ahMJhxbYAMYHYrDczZoBFnBYi8kSvxebfyPqbXQOREKs2x67xBAOqOR3Nx9zj70X9k2fzWs4-2mVMk2xiOllya8DF87ivcLKO-GUysmT2kuIdy5w3qmic05RL6PhGKMT94eCB/s400/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.12.58+AM.jpeg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Protestors protect a cop who <br />
got lost from the others. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
action but that shouldn’t be a reason not to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me now
say that anyone in the black or brown community feeling discouraged, exhausted,
fearful, etc. should know this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may
not benefit from white privilege, but you are so very privileged. I say this not to belittle anyone's feelings or to ask them to stop complaining or protesting. Share and protest (peacefully) all you want! I support you! I say this to share a truth that I can see from a different perspective as someone outside of the U.S. which some people may forget or not be fully aware of.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am very
sympathetic to and heartbroken by these recent cases. I have lost lots of sleep this past week thinking, reading, and talking about it. However, the truth is that I often brush
off issues in the United States as “first world issues”. You think your public
schools are bad? You think your minimum wage is low? You think your low income
communities have it rough?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being an
American citizen, no matter where you are on the unfair spectrum, is a HUGE
privilege. Nowhere else in the world attracts immigrants like the United
States, and many cannot get in, even illegally. As a citizen, you have access
to so many benefits, including student loans, loan forgiveness programs,
welfare if needed, public education through high school absolutely accessible
to all, and the list goes on! To put this into perspective, many of the youth I work with have </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFlPGfe6VAasC2ourcaiB1dUjMnkEe5Q2hYLusLZndydSwBPuqU5y-5tRQblcQ20iCbZk9qSjJMjhYP6oGoukEC1iVdPDnpUvlI0D-saXB1lejgb7dSEx0QLprRNxBOwuv6eWkWRkftnl/s1600/FB_IMG_1590944396643.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFlPGfe6VAasC2ourcaiB1dUjMnkEe5Q2hYLusLZndydSwBPuqU5y-5tRQblcQ20iCbZk9qSjJMjhYP6oGoukEC1iVdPDnpUvlI0D-saXB1lejgb7dSEx0QLprRNxBOwuv6eWkWRkftnl/s320/FB_IMG_1590944396643.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">missed years
of school because no public education was available to them and their family
couldn’t afford private education. <a href="https://caitlinmchale.blogspot.com/2019/11/haiti-cheri.html" target="_blank">READ MORE HERE</a>. In 2013, the highest court here ruled that
Haitian immigrants that had been in the country for up to four generations
would potentially have their citizenships removed, depending on the migration
status of their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Minimum wage in
this country is $200 per month for someone working 44 hour work weeks. These
are just a few examples. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Additionally,
having English as your native language is a privilege. I have a strong
advantage with many online work opportunities I have done and looked into
because of this privilege. However, I fully understand that just as a
child who grows up in a loving, united lower class family may turn out more
well-rounded and have a happier life than a rich kid who has a lot of toys and
gadgets, but a cold family life, the effects of feeling like the underdog or
whipping boy in society can be emotionally debilitating, keeping groups of
people from reaching their potential despite available opportunities. Some
would even say they feel as though society hates them. It’s a complex issue. And please don't think that by mentioning these benefits available to American citizens that I don't acknowledge all that has been denied to black American citizens throughout history since the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle it has been. The recent events are just a sample of proof that was made visible to the world, representing centuries of the same cold heartedness. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLHbD8nGHFBnMw55hVIT-KlU4R1HBXOpSydceDj4uJIIF4p1FNMfvr8CCwgZeValFlhF7anpioUFB7EQ1Pdasu2MIcTiY4o5AZ4tlOyyY_jCnDsHkRbUZ3paK6cyKPLIaGlzpyKRnbuHr/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.12.36+AM.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLHbD8nGHFBnMw55hVIT-KlU4R1HBXOpSydceDj4uJIIF4p1FNMfvr8CCwgZeValFlhF7anpioUFB7EQ1Pdasu2MIcTiY4o5AZ4tlOyyY_jCnDsHkRbUZ3paK6cyKPLIaGlzpyKRnbuHr/s320/WhatsApp+Image+2020-06-01+at+12.12.36+AM.jpeg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although the oppression still goes on, as has been witnessed so clearly lately, we shouldn't lose sight of the progress that has been made through the Civil Rights Movement. There are many amazingly successful
African Americans in the United States. Two of my personal favorites who
I’ve watched and loved since I was little are Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith. How many black Americans have become millionares through professional sports? Do we realize what a small percentage of the world has such an opportunity? While there is still work to be done before we can say that true equality is being practiced in the U.S., no
one should let the horrific stories like George Floyd’s take away from the
countless successes. And as they say, we're not going backwards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Therefore,
in reference to black and brown readers, if you can keep a global perspective,
you may feel more encouraged by remembering that despite what it may look like
in your home town, you are actually on top of the world! You also could
consider spending time in or even relocating to a country like the Dominican
Republic where your race would not make you a minority. Project Esperanza would love to have you as a short term volunteer, or even serve as a year or two as volunteer coordinator. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">In response to the George Floyd case, black Americans who have relocated here
were posting about how grateful they are that they had done so as they don’t
face the same fears of police brutality </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yTJG7B1oBWcM0YECPVamahEaABEt_da6qDZdwfuCEvQB6WPVo_Ev0cSfqOx7Qx9sqMWyClRL0Fr14vf35FXhRlYNBs-0VCrdeocE8RUlsdim20qBKi4cQ_FFIAac3T42P2tGp3J8Ha0l/s1600/brown+and+beautiful+grandchildren.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yTJG7B1oBWcM0YECPVamahEaABEt_da6qDZdwfuCEvQB6WPVo_Ev0cSfqOx7Qx9sqMWyClRL0Fr14vf35FXhRlYNBs-0VCrdeocE8RUlsdim20qBKi4cQ_FFIAac3T42P2tGp3J8Ha0l/s320/brown+and+beautiful+grandchildren.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">here. And for any white Americans that
would like to remain in the majority with these changing times where whites will likely no longer be the majority within the next few decades, you could
consider going somewhere like Australia. I suggest this (and don't actually expect anyone to even take it seriously but you never know) because it's an English speaking country that is not too cold and there is a strong white majority. The point is, there is surely no changing the direction
that the U.S. is going. The only choice is to embrace it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone who is offended by the light suggestion of relocating should realize their American privilege right there. Do we deserve to stay in this promised land we call the U.S.A. generation after generation? Did we ourselves build it? Rather than fighting to keep others out and maintain it a certain way, why don't we explore other parts of the world and share our best practices? <a href="https://youtu.be/V8--dtq2FDs" target="_blank">CHECK OUT MY TEDx TALK</a> for more thoughts on this. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
anyone at all wanting to teach their kids about race issues, I highly suggest
watching the Netflix series Family Reunion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few episodes that deal with police
brutality, reporting the officer, and consequences for the officer, starting on
Episode 10. However, the whole series is great. <a href="http://tilimyesa.blogspot.com/2020/06/when-kids-asked-about-george-floyd.html" target="_blank">MORE ON THAT TOPIC HERE.</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
encouraging that so many are taking a stand and showing they<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxC7lVHWJ4hv3BRHB9BwrKFLJ0ycsyLiR872bcinVp0JVsCdcFZ4rnyoQRtxubjPS-pjYxE7Wg6lEd3HcFbozHwNRp4wQpNgWhayZ_nu9gNUcebdVaWlNDV_aGvOvZv27bSZlWleJI9sc0/s1600/MLK+tomb+site+6.3.2020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="701" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxC7lVHWJ4hv3BRHB9BwrKFLJ0ycsyLiR872bcinVp0JVsCdcFZ4rnyoQRtxubjPS-pjYxE7Wg6lEd3HcFbozHwNRp4wQpNgWhayZ_nu9gNUcebdVaWlNDV_aGvOvZv27bSZlWleJI9sc0/s320/MLK+tomb+site+6.3.2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MLK's tomb site during a protest taken<br />
by Project Esperanza <br />
board member Edna May Hermosillo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
care by at least
speaking up on social media. I hope and pray that the follow-up remains strong
and these cases are seen through. If the murderers of Ahmaud Arbery and George
Floyd don’t get a just punishment, then a lot of the efforts put forth so far
will have been in vain. Also, we have to continue to share insightful
information with others. Racism isn’t something
we recognize when it’s never challenged and those who are in very homogenous
groups can benefit from these insights that they might not be exposed to
otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw some
posts about “policing the police” where people who see what seems like potentially
an unnecessary amount of police officers around a car or individual stop and
watch the situation to make sure there’s no foul play. I also saw, “stay with my son”
which means that you stay with the black male being questioned by police until
it is over to also make sure there is no foul play. These both seem like great
efforts and ideas. Let’s keep it up!</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am dying for raw, honest, tranparent dialogue on this issue. Please share your thoughts in the comments. Let's work through this together! Thanks! </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">2,000 years
ago the greatest radical walked the earth and said we are forgiven souls<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Have we
forgotten him and made religion king? Love and grace is what we should be
offering<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">You know
this is serious<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We’re
repeating things we’ve done<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We must be
delirious thinking it’s new under the sun<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Do ya wanna
be a part of the solution? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">To be one,
to be one, to be one is the solution, yeah, yeah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5qYof5RHeCParwWEsZiRfU_QM-mC7IO0HEmS5ae9fsNMY35QjfOL-HAUfS9ia9xBZ3UOb1pDaaJKfRZdjkraVipoFNrNRFetrTDk8ATkxiwQYwans98ElHzLQFtMjZRNiv-bdMhxavhS/s1600/unity+t-shirts+on+junior.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1423" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5qYof5RHeCParwWEsZiRfU_QM-mC7IO0HEmS5ae9fsNMY35QjfOL-HAUfS9ia9xBZ3UOb1pDaaJKfRZdjkraVipoFNrNRFetrTDk8ATkxiwQYwans98ElHzLQFtMjZRNiv-bdMhxavhS/s320/unity+t-shirts+on+junior.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior Jean<br />
Unity is Strength (taken from Haitian Flag)<br />
A cord of three strands is not easily broken.<br />
www.GoodFruitDesigns.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">To learn more about Project Esperanza, check out www.EsperanzaMeansHope.org. Check out Caitlin's published books at https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/camchale/. </div>Caitlin McHale Floreal J.D., M.Ed.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04543289242599505790noreply@blogger.com1