I know there has been a lot of discussion in class surrounding the issue of the residents mistrusting us at Abbey Court. I realize that we all have great intentions when giving our time and energy to the residents and that it is difficult when we do not receive a lot of participation with soccer and other activities at Abbey Court, due in part because we haven’t completely gained their trust. However, we must take a step back and look through the lenses of the residents in order to realize where they are coming from, how many things they have been through, and the persecution they receive daily from society. I believe French essayist Joseph Joubert said it best when he stated, “We must respect the past, and mistrust the present, if we wish to provide for the safety of the future.” After all the deceit some of these residents have experienced, they have reason to trust our intentions are of merit, especially not in the few months that center has been there. They are simply looking out for what is best for themselves and their families. I believe the best we can do is to continue to respect the residents of Abbey Court and give them all the time they need to warm up to us. In time, and through time only, is trust built.
-Terrence Bogans
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Youth Theatre Complete
Hello Fellow Classmates,
I wanted to inform all of you that we have completed our youth project idea. DJ Berry, Terrance Bogans and I came up with 15 stories and play developments to be used by local theater groups. They are free to enhance the stories as the wish, but they must stick to the basic premise, they all have to deal with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These plays are designed for all ages and demographics and may be a very humanizing approach to the Declaration. The interactive youth theater and UNC-CH could easily enhance these plays and make them audience interactive. Nonetheless, we also performed one of the plays for the class in order to give them an idea of how these plays could revolutionize the way we conceptualize socioeconomic justice. The play was successfully carried out and most of the students were in awe at how well this play turned out. Hopefully, these stories will be put to good use during the following year.
-Abbas Rattani
I wanted to inform all of you that we have completed our youth project idea. DJ Berry, Terrance Bogans and I came up with 15 stories and play developments to be used by local theater groups. They are free to enhance the stories as the wish, but they must stick to the basic premise, they all have to deal with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These plays are designed for all ages and demographics and may be a very humanizing approach to the Declaration. The interactive youth theater and UNC-CH could easily enhance these plays and make them audience interactive. Nonetheless, we also performed one of the plays for the class in order to give them an idea of how these plays could revolutionize the way we conceptualize socioeconomic justice. The play was successfully carried out and most of the students were in awe at how well this play turned out. Hopefully, these stories will be put to good use during the following year.
-Abbas Rattani
Soccer Part II
Hello Fellow Classmates,
Last Sunday, I visited Abbey court once again to play some fun soccer with the local community members. This game was extremely entertaining because we saw a multi-generational involvement. Whether it was from people playing the game with us, or on lookers, to those who started a game of their own. This community development and building helped us all see the impact we had as individuals, even if it was just from our presence. More individuals were happy to try to things and challenge themselves because other individuals were investing their time and energy in somebody else's life. As one of the fellow players mentioned, the 12 year old girl, upon the end of the game mentioned she had more confidence to join her school's soccer team. This was something she was not comfortable joining, but with our 1 hour presence, it brightened her prospects. Who knows where she may be in the future, but if we can plant a seed in someone's heart and encourage them to look after it, we have just cultivated a flower, one extra, much needed flower in society.
-Abbas Rattani
Last Sunday, I visited Abbey court once again to play some fun soccer with the local community members. This game was extremely entertaining because we saw a multi-generational involvement. Whether it was from people playing the game with us, or on lookers, to those who started a game of their own. This community development and building helped us all see the impact we had as individuals, even if it was just from our presence. More individuals were happy to try to things and challenge themselves because other individuals were investing their time and energy in somebody else's life. As one of the fellow players mentioned, the 12 year old girl, upon the end of the game mentioned she had more confidence to join her school's soccer team. This was something she was not comfortable joining, but with our 1 hour presence, it brightened her prospects. Who knows where she may be in the future, but if we can plant a seed in someone's heart and encourage them to look after it, we have just cultivated a flower, one extra, much needed flower in society.
-Abbas Rattani
287(g)
This week the New Yorker has a great profile on “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since 1993 he has been a controversial figure in Arizona, repeatedly accused of depriving prisoners of their rights and allowing abuse within his jails. The writer follows Arpaio as he visits one of his jail tent camps, draws up press releases, and even makes an appearance on the Colbert Report. Arpaio oversees the enforcement of immigration law in Maricopa County under 287(g). His department conducts raids on Latino towns and communities and has created a general atmosphere of fear in the county. The mayor of Phoenix, Phil Gordon, has called Arpaio’s relentless pursuit of undocumented immigrants a “reign of terror” and publicly denounced his practices. An interesting read if you have a few minutes. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/07/20/090720fa_fact_finnegan
A little closer to home, the Independent Weekly has an article about 287(g) and its effects on Durham and Wake Counties.
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A398284
A little closer to home, the Independent Weekly has an article about 287(g) and its effects on Durham and Wake Counties.
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A398284
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Breaking Barriers
As we've all learned this semester breaking barriers is all about taking the first step. We all had the luxury of using soccer as a medium and saw immediate results. The residents of Abby Ct. proved that making an effort provides immediate reward and that you can have a good time in the process. A simple soccer game creates trust that carries over well beyond the field. Today it's a high five and tomorrow it's full trust in the work environment and healthy dialogue that continues to promote good values.
-Abdul Salem-
-Abdul Salem-
Class Experience
My experience in this classs was definitely worth wild. The fact that the entire class was focused on making a differenve in one community ( the Carrboro community) was quite intriguing and unexpected. It was definitely rewarding and satisfying to get the chance to view how our influence can have a positive influence in the community. The discussion of a "Decent Society" was one of the most interesting discussions that we had in class. The amount of ideas that students came up with was amazing. However, the most engaging discussion was when we talked about our personal experiences with human rights violations. I described my own experience in Tanzania when my rights were clearly being violated. I was discriminated because I was Black in a Black country. This was contrary to conversations that highlighted how certain races discriminated against other races. All in all, I intend to take the lessons I've learnt in this class and apply it to the real world.
Gay Rights
I feel like this class covered what should be the rights of everyone yet mainly looked at the rights of illegal immigrants in our community. I believe it is easier to examine what rights are not being given to illegal aliens because the discrimination and prejudice is much more obvious.
Gay rights were briefly mentioned in class but they too are not being recognized in the United States.
One of the prominent reasons that gay rights remain unrecognized is that its group members have had difficulty joining forces to rally their cause. What's different is that unlike with Blacks, Native Americans, or Hispanics, gays (for the most part) come from the opposing party. Therefore, with homophobic, heterosexual parents enforcing a hierarchy of shame in which homosexuals rank at the bottom, these individuals are mentally assaulted at every stage in their life. If they are capable of staying closeted they remain so as to not make their live's "difficult". With African-Americans, parents can teacher their children to be proud of who they are from the very beginning of their lives. It is solely up to the individual to stand up for who they are. It is solely up tot he individual to be proud of who they are. In many cases the consequences are losing their families and the one's they love most.
The rights I speak of were addressed by bills such as ENDA which were not passed. This means businesses are allowed to fire an individual just because they are gay. This discrimination is tolerated because homophobia can clearly be seen throughout laws that our government has passed.
More GAYS were arrested during the Red Scares than were SUSPECTED COMMUNISTS. This is insane if you consider the amount of press and anger that the country has for cases such as Ethel Rosenberg.
Discrimination towards gays is everywhere. Next time you pass the salvation army bucket with a Santa ringing his/her bell at you, don't feel guilty when you don't donate - the Salvation Army uses donated funds to actively prevent the recognition of gay rights such as contributing to Prop. 8 as well as other things.
Everyone knows the publicized debate of gay marriage - let's forget the name or how it refelcts that America clearly can't get "seperation of church and state". The federal benefits clearly favor heterosexual couples. And before you bring up the children argument, make sure to incorporate how their are sterile couples, straight couple who do not want children, gay couples who've adopted, lesbian couples in which one of the mother's has kids or artificially inseminates herself.
Gay rights need to be recognized.
Gay rights were briefly mentioned in class but they too are not being recognized in the United States.
One of the prominent reasons that gay rights remain unrecognized is that its group members have had difficulty joining forces to rally their cause. What's different is that unlike with Blacks, Native Americans, or Hispanics, gays (for the most part) come from the opposing party. Therefore, with homophobic, heterosexual parents enforcing a hierarchy of shame in which homosexuals rank at the bottom, these individuals are mentally assaulted at every stage in their life. If they are capable of staying closeted they remain so as to not make their live's "difficult". With African-Americans, parents can teacher their children to be proud of who they are from the very beginning of their lives. It is solely up to the individual to stand up for who they are. It is solely up tot he individual to be proud of who they are. In many cases the consequences are losing their families and the one's they love most.
The rights I speak of were addressed by bills such as ENDA which were not passed. This means businesses are allowed to fire an individual just because they are gay. This discrimination is tolerated because homophobia can clearly be seen throughout laws that our government has passed.
More GAYS were arrested during the Red Scares than were SUSPECTED COMMUNISTS. This is insane if you consider the amount of press and anger that the country has for cases such as Ethel Rosenberg.
Discrimination towards gays is everywhere. Next time you pass the salvation army bucket with a Santa ringing his/her bell at you, don't feel guilty when you don't donate - the Salvation Army uses donated funds to actively prevent the recognition of gay rights such as contributing to Prop. 8 as well as other things.
Everyone knows the publicized debate of gay marriage - let's forget the name or how it refelcts that America clearly can't get "seperation of church and state". The federal benefits clearly favor heterosexual couples. And before you bring up the children argument, make sure to incorporate how their are sterile couples, straight couple who do not want children, gay couples who've adopted, lesbian couples in which one of the mother's has kids or artificially inseminates herself.
Gay rights need to be recognized.
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