Coffee and Cheese; two of the small delights in life.

I was chatting with a friend today. Amongst the discussion was her utter disappointment in mankind. I have to admit I agree with her. With the mass amounts of hate and sheer disregard for our fellow human beings that exist it is hard not to become disenfranchised from wanting to be a part of the world. It is hard enough to reconcile the fact that people actually believe and think some of the things they do. It is out right shocking at times that people have the audacity to say and act on those things and are not embarrassed by their disregard for their fellow human being. Yes, I say human being specifically leaving out “American”. The United States so often put itself on a pedestal of moral superiority, however rarely exhibits any of the traits in which I would deem as moral or even decent. It seems that we forget that we are a human race, not an American race. Even within the “American” context, we divide ourselves from each other using our moral complex as justification. Ultimately we are going to destroy ourselves however. Not in the milieu that is often thrown about (due to our straying from morals and traditional beliefs). No, it will be in our lack of respect for each other. It will ultimately end in blowing each other up over some fairy tale stated in the bible, Koran, or any other book.

I find it hard to understand or even relate to thinking it is ok or somehow right to treat people with so much contempt. As a kid I always clung to treating people well and loving them because they are a person. Walking past someone that is homeless and thinking “that bum should get a job” never even crossed my mind. Being able to reach out and help someone in need was just what you did. Having respect for the life and rights of someone else was expected. I take a look at the world around me now, some people I know, things being published in the media and it brings a great sadness to me. When did people become so mean and hurtful towards each other? I guess people have always been this way, I just chose to stay in my oblivious bubble that people are generally good. I find it an absolutely offending concept that people excuse their actions though “god” or religion. I refuse to live a life of excuses.

With that being said, I refuse to believe that the human race as completely disappeared. I believe there is good in the world if only for my own selfish reasons of having a purpose to get up in the morning. A friend of mine once said something to me that struck a chord in my being. She had eluded to the fact that for a long time she was trying to figure me out because there was no way anyone would be so nice with out having some ulterior motive. This was a person that had lived a fairly dismal existence in drugs. Her surroundings were drug users and people that always wanted something. She said it dawned on her that maybe there were people out there that just cared and were actually good people. I have thought about that conversation a lot, especially recently with the mass amounts of disheartening things that seem to be coming to a forefront. My conclusion is that yes, there are good people and good things. The media has a tendency to throw about all of the bad things going on in the world, and the good things and people are often overlooked and overpowered by the bad. With that being said, a few of the things I am going to list are what I see as being good and give me hope.

1.) Recently I have been involved in protests urging for marriage equality for our fellow human beings. Shortly after the disappointing passage of proposition 8 in California there was a rally in SLC. I was not expecting many people to show up. When I arrived there were over 3,000 people at the rally fighting for humanity. It was an amazing thing to be apart of.

2.) When I was in Uganda there were so many sights of sad things. The people there however, were happy, friendly, welcoming, and surprisingly uplifting. There were people from all over the world giving their time to help whether it is volunteering in an orphanage, teaching school children, or giving money. There are people all over the world sacrificing to help others.

3.) I worked in drug and alcohol treatment and foster care for a while. While there were a lot of hard things to see, I found there to be even more inspirational things than bad. There were people accomplishing things (being clean, caring for their kids, graduating high school, coming to terms with abuse) that they never thought they would, and frankly not many people believed they would either. I saw amazing strength in kids whom had experienced things no adult should and not only survive, but thrive.

4.) Aside from witnessing some amazing things, there are also amazing little things in life that many of us take for granted. Things that I love doing or seeing that often times seem trivial. Coffee, cheese, fall leaves, warm fires, good friends and good conversation, guitar, reading, having a job, red wine, the ability to travel, and generally good times.

Rather than focus entirely on the bad, I am going to try my best and focus on the good. This is not to say that I will not be furious and disappointed with many of my fellow human beings. It is saying rather that I will continue to look for the inevitable good in people and things that I truly believe exist. I will continue to fight for a world in which I am not disheartened and that I can be proud to call my neighbor my friend and not foe. I will ultimately cling to my childish/naïve belief that the world is indeed a hopeful bright place and continue to turn over the rocks that seem to be burying much of its beauty.

F.Y.I

In 1967 the Supreme Court ruled on Love v. Virginia overturning a law prohibiting marriage of different races. The following is an excerpt from the ruling. This excerpt is why I believe that Proposition 8 should be overturned and that it is unconstitutional to prohibit anyone from marrying.

"Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discrimination. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."

The Equal protection clause under the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits discrimination by state government institutions. The clause grants all people equal protection of the laws, which means that states must apply the law equally and cannot give preference to one class of persons over another.

With this being said I find it odd that proposition 8 does this exactly. It is applying laws to only one class of persons and refusing to apply the same laws to another (gay and lesbians). Regardless of how one feels about the "morality" of homosexuality the constitution states that these basic rights cannot be taken away. How is it that 52% of Californian's (in the most recent election) and many other states have chosen to ignore this factor? Even more disturbing, how is it that it has been allowed?

Does Ideology belong in our Justice System?

In response to some of the feedback I received after posting my last blog, I have written a few more things on the subject matter. One response in particular sited sources of people or institutions being sued due to their choices in association or rather choosing not to associate with individuals that are gay and lesbian


Adoption services: Catholic Charities in Massachusetts refused to place children with same-sex couples as required by Massachusetts law. After a legislative struggle — during which the Senate president said he could not support a bill "condoning discrimination" — Catholic Charities pulled out of the adoption business in 2006.

Housing: In New York City, Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, a school under Orthodox Jewish auspices, banned same-sex couples from its married dormitory. New York does not recognize same-sex marriage, but in 2001, the state's highest court ruled Yeshiva violated New York City's ban on sexual orientation discrimination. Yeshiva now allows all couples in the dorm.

Parochial schools: California Lutheran High School, a Protestant school in Wildomar, holds that homosexuality is a sin. After the school suspended two girls who were allegedly in a lesbian relationship, the girls' parents sued, saying the school was violating the state's civil rights act protecting gay men and lesbians from discrimination. The case is before a state judge.

Medical services: A Christian gynecologist at North Coast Women's Care Medical Group in Vista, Calif., refused to give his patient in vitro fertilization treatment because she is in a lesbian relationship, and he claimed that doing so would violate his religious beliefs. (The doctor referred the patient to his partner, who agreed to do the treatment.) The woman sued under the state's civil rights act. The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments in May 2008, and legal experts believe that the woman's right to medical treatment will trump the doctor's religious beliefs. One justice suggested that the doctors take up a different line of business.

Psychological services: A mental health counselor at North Mississippi Health Services refused therapy for a woman who wanted help in improving her lesbian relationship. The counselor said doing so would violate her religious beliefs. The counselor was fired. In March 2001, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit sided with the employer, ruling that the employee's religious beliefs could not be accommodated without causing undue hardship to the company.

Civil servants: A clerk in Vermont refused to perform a civil union ceremony after the state legalized them. In 2001, in a decision that side-stepped the religious liberties issue, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that he did not need to perform the ceremony because there were other civil servants who would. However, the court did indicate that religious beliefs do not allow employees to discriminate against same-sex couples.

The examples listed above are just a few that were cited but reflect the general purpose of the point. Other points brought up were freedom of association, the role of government, and imposing values. My reaction to these points brought up is as follows.


First off, I would like to address the myriad of examples cited as being unintended consequences stemming from this matter. I would argue that these “consequences” are actually intended. These consequences stem not from the proposition but rather laws already on the book. The avenues in which all of the subjects in the examples were allowed to sue were not due to proposition 8, rather anti-discriminatory laws in one form or another. These laws have been in place for a long time and are not set for the sheer purpose of gay and lesbian people. Rather they are set to protect discrimination in all faucets (sex, race, religion, and yes sexual orientation). Whether or not these people win is a different story and reflects the justice system but not the actual law that allows them to sue. I would argue to remove that law would be detrimental to society as a whole.

I would ask you to consider why these laws were placed in the first place and whether you think it a good idea to remove them? If this be the case, think of the unintended consequences here. The intended I imagine would be to allow personal freedom in “association.” The unintended would be the blatant discrimination of people in all walks of life. I would certainly like to think that we have moved pass discrimination in our society but the truth of the matter is we have not. Whether it is race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, people face discrimination everyday and I would ask what your solution would be to the matter if these laws were not on the book? I would also ask you to consider the event that you were turned down for a position because of your Religious leaning. Should you have the right to sue the company? If so, how does this differ from the subjects in the examples right to sue?

Second is the matter of ideology and whether ideology should have a place in our laws and constitution. Laws are meant to be objective and neutral and when specific ideologies (values) are placed in the construction of laws they swiftly become un-objective. Our entire justice system is based on the concept of ruling on not opinions rather evidence of the effect on society as a whole. Regardless of a personal value, our laws and regulations should be based on what is best for society. Unfortunately everyone’s ideas based on their own morals and values differ, thus decisions should be based on not personal ideology and antidotal evidence but rather carfully studied facts and statistics.

I would ask everyone to consider what are the ramifications to our government, justice system, and foundation of this country if we are to begin making judgments based on our own ideologies? I would argue that passing proposition 8 is a terrifying step based what it begins to say on the role of government and people’s basic assess to fundamental rights. My last question is, if we do not protect fundamental rights of people, whom will protect mine or yours when it is attacked? If we begin to erode making sound logical decisions based on facts and statistics for decisions based on “morals and values” then none of us are really protected are we?

Marriage...is it really religious anyway?

In light of the upcoming initiative to make marriage defined as a man and a woman in California, I felt it my duty and obligation to post the following. Although I did not write it I believe it to be completely true. My friend Casandra posted this on facebook and I could not have expressed my own sentiment about the issue any better. So rather that write my own I have posted hers. I encourage all those who read this to take it in to consideration and welcome any comments as it is an important issue that will likely effect society any way that it turns out this upcoming election.



I think it is an important question to ask whether this means that marriage is an open institution. First of all, I'd like to say that I believe that "civil unions" (the legal unions of people) should be a government contract and that "marriage" should be a religious contract. I think that would really solve much of the problem. But my ideas are neither here nor there 'cause nobody is ever going to get rid of marriage as a government institution. I think that regardless of how we try as a society to keep things the same, marriage will continue to change. It was only 40 years ago that interracial marriage was illegal (see Love v. Commonwealth of Virginia), and I would argue that very few people today consider interracial marriages a problem. Furthermore, I would argue that interfaith marriages are a pretty recent phenomenon. So, does opening marriage to same-sex couples open a can of worms? I would argue that it is the worm of a previous can.

Unfortunately, I think there's little anybody can do about being called a homophobe or a bigot if they support Proposition 8. Again, I refer back to the civil rights plight of African-Americans. It was commonplace only a few decades ago to view blacks as inferior in every way, but that idea is now shunned and those who support it are ostracized as racists. Less than 40 years ago, it was uncommon to see women in "the workplace" and they were not welcome there, but people who feel that way today are considered sexists. So, I would say that there isn't really anything anyone can do. Society changes (for better or worse) and those who don't change with it are rejected.

I would argue that the "institution of marriage" has already lost all of it's reverence. I think that the divorce rate is a clear indicator that our society's reverence for marriage has been lost. I would argue that gay couples are no less fit to be married and raise families. I think about my family (and the large number of degenerates within it), and then I consider my gay friends, which makes me realize that my degenerate family is far less qualified to (or deserving of) being married and raising a family. If there are going to be qualifications on who can be married, I think there are better benchmarks than gender. This, of course, segues into a much larger discussion about the change in the nuclear family and whether it's been better or worse for society =D.

For those that support Proposition 8, I would invite you to consider how much (or how little) your concerns about gay marriage mirror concerns about interracial marriage. I would invite you to consider the implications of the similarities and whether the concerns are something with which the government should intervene. And I would invite you to consider the role the religion in marriage versus the role of the state in marriage and whether the state can allow something that a religion does not. Please consider where "the church" stands on interracial marriage:

As evidenced by the ever-increasing divorce rate, marriage is simply a difficult process in the best of circumstances. When the complexities and stresses of race differences are added to the situation, it is far more likely that divorce will occur. Therefore, interracial marriages are discouraged by [the Church]. -Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.527) and contemplate how similar or different it is from same-sex marriage.

I would also invite you to consider the implications of not legally protecting same-sex families. For example, what happens to the children if the biological parent dies—is it really fair to not allow their other "parent" to raise them. Or, if a same-sex couple splits, it is really fair to not protect the visitation rights of one of the "parents." If a same-sex couple is raising a family where one "parent" is a home-maker, is it fair that because they are making the sacrifice to care for their family, they should be denied health insurance coverage through their "spouse." The government has placed so much on the marriage contract, that the legal protections and economic benefits are huge. Is is really fair to deny those benefits based on gender?

To those who say, "I believe in equal rights. Just don't call it marriage," I would ask if you would say the same thing in reference to race. Would you feel okay allowing black people to marry, but classify it as "black marriage?" My guess is that most people would find this notion offensive, if not just a little bit silly. I contend that to make this distinction for gay people is no less silly or offensive.

Sailing the Tides of Life

I suppose it is time to update those few readers I have on my life as of late. In my last entry I mentioned that I had just gotten a job. I started working at Fidelity in May and it has been a roller coaster of events since. One of the requirements of the job is to get licensed. I have spent the last several months studying and taking exams. It was a bit of a challenge for me being that I have no industry experience. It was an exhausting and exhilarating experience studying and passing. Yes, I did pass both the series 7 and 63. It was interesting studying for it because I don’t think in my entire college career I ever put as much effort in to something as I did this. It was not difficult material per say but an extreme amount of learning new things. I am pleased to announce though that I did pass and am very much relieved.

Currently I am also studying for the GRE (Graduate School Examination). It has been a goal of mine for a long time to go to grad school. I fully expect this experience to also be an uphill battle but am looking forward to the challenge. I take the test in a little over a week. Depending on how I do I will either re-take the exam or begin applying for graduate school. I am looking at a few International Affairs programs in Seattle, Portland, and Boulder. I will let everyone know how this goes when I have some news.

I recently took a road trip to Boulder to visit my good pal Shirin. Boulder was a beautiful area. Even more spectacular were the things that we did and the people I met. Shirin just started law school thus I had the privilege of meeting most of her law school pals through a party that she and her roommates hosted and going camping with the same bunch of people. Along side those people I also met a few other friends from the past and was able to spend some time with them also.

Within this jumble of events my parents finally sold their house. They are in the process of moving this week to Canon City Colorado which I understand is near Pueblo. It seems my family is swiftly migrating to Colorado. I say this because my younger sister Sabrina recently moved to Grand Junction for school and my grandparents are also attempting to sale their home with the prospects of moving to Colorado also. Who knows, depending on how things go I may move to Boulder in the near future. When I say near future I mean a year or so. It will definitely be Boulder, Portland, or Seattle. Any how, these are a few of the events as of the last couple of months. I am also planning a trip to Costa Rica this upcoming December with my friend Casandra and expect there will be pictures and stories from that adventure also.

A Different Spin

I have been back from Uganda a little over one month now, and well as busy as I have been the things I have been doing have been drastically less exciting then my prior six months in Uganda. For those of you who are mysteriously interested in my not so interesting life as of current, this is for you!

When I arrived in Salt Lake City, my good friend Taralee and Brendan were kind enough to let me stay with them in their recently purchased house. I am currently still residing here probably for another month of so until I start my job and can find my own place. Being the great friend Taralee is she also recommended that I work with her at Fidelity. At first I was a little put off by the idea being that I hate math and finance has never been my forte. After some though however, I decided that it would be a good challenge for me. On a personal level I am pretty stoked to learn about investments and finance and the company seems to be a really great place to work. Needless to say I start my new job on Monday as a financial advisor. The first four months however will be training to learn the ins and outs of a completely foreign field.

The second week I was back in Utah I decided to drive to Vernal to visit the family. On the way back I hit an elk totaling my car. It was sad being that 1.) I killed the elk, and 2.) My ever so dandy car is gone. On the upside I did get a new car. Although it is not my dream car (hybrid) it is a very nice car that I hope will last me a few years until I have the finances to buy my hybrid. The car I currently has is a green Saturn Ion. Although I have not finished a full tank of gas yet, it is appearing that it is getting at least 35 miles to the gallon and possibly a bit over.

Another busy thing I have been doing is dental work. When I was in Uganda one of my tooth implants came out!!! I had it temporarily fixed in by which I mean glued to my other teeth. When I came back I found out that it was not as easy of a fix as I had hoped. I had to have surgery because the screw had broken off of the cap and part of it was stuck in my implant. After going under the “knife” so to speak it was found that not only was the screw stuck in there it was not possible to remove. This left me with the option of having to replace the entire implant!!!!

I am still in the midst of figuring this situation out being that it is a very expensive procedure that really should not have happened in the first place. We will be negotiating with our dentist whom I believe was negligent in placing the crown causing the tooth to come out. Although he is a very nice man I don’t believe I should be responsible in paying for a mistake he made. When he originally screwed the crown in it was loose. He never took it out. At the time he said he was worried it would ruin the entire implant so he thought we should wait for it to come off by itself. Little did he know that by leaving the tooth loose it would break the screw causing much more damage than he thought. In retrospect and speaking with a couple of specialists, he should have actually taken it out in the fist place.

On top of trying to replace my tooth, getting a new car, and starting a new job I have mostly been wondering around visiting friends and family. Although I have had nothing to do I have stayed very busy doing “nothing.” I am, however, looking forward to starting my new job and will hopefully be moving in to a new apartment shortly. For those of you who don’t care about these things (which I imagine is most) sorry its not more interesting. For those of you who do care I will try and write more another day!

Washington D.C.

While in Uganda my good pal Josh and I e-mailed frequently. Amongst our conversations of politics, world events, and random banter we decided it was past due for a visit. When I booked my flight home I decided to stop in DC for a week for the purpose of seeing Josh. It was a spectacular time of pure laziness and relaxation.

My flight from Uganda to Washington DC was surprisingly very pleasant. While waiting in the Entebbe airport I noticed that the girl sleeping across the way was indeed one of the acquaintances I had met on my river rafting trip three days prior. When she woke we did a bit of seat swapping and sat next to each other on the way to London. It was a lot of fun. In the meantime I met one of her acquaintances whom were stopping in London for a couple of days. Lorinne was also stopping in London for a day. Both of them tried to talk me in to changing my ticket and spending at least a day touring with them. Although I was tempted, I opted out wishing them both the best of luck.

When I arrived in DC Josh was there waiting. I spent the next week catching up with him and getting to know his wonderful girlfriend and friends. They were all very welcoming and a blast to be around. Most of the trip consisted of playing Wii, Guitar Heroes, Sing star, and general bantering. We went on a hike which was also a lot of fun. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and can not wait for Josh and Abby to come visit SLC in which I hope I will be as great a hostess.

Lake Bunyoni

Murchison Falls

Murchison Falls Safari and Nile Boat Ride

Videos

Thankyou Mr. Boda Man

Generally speaking taking Taxi's and especially Boda's in Uganda require the skill of bartering. It goes a little like the following:

Boda/Taxi Man: “Hullo Madam, we go?”
Jessica: “ I need to go to….how much?”
Boda/Taxi Man: “4,000”
Jessica “No no, what is your lowest price?”
Boda/Taxi Man “Madam you give 3500.”
Jessica “I’ll give you 2500”
Boda/Taxi Man “3000”
Jessica “I want the non-Mazungu (white) price. I know.”
Boda/Taxi Man “But madam gas prices.”
Jessica “Gas prices haven’t gone up. I can go find another boda.”
Boda/Taxi Man “Ok Madam, we go.”

Bartering is a skill that I use daily. Generally speaking the taxi’s and boda men will stop at nothing to get me to pay higher because I am white. They assume that I have money due to this fact. The prices they quote are generally double! The other day I was taking a taxi from a place that I frequent. The taxi drivers were new to that area and had not seen me before. They quoted me a price almost double the real price. I laughed and said I have been here a while, I know the price. They laughed and said oh, so you know the real price. I guess one can’t blame them. When the average income of a Ugandan is less then $1.00 a day it is not surprising that they try and ring money any where they can. Whites are an easy target because generally we actually do have much more money than any one of these boda drivers will ever begin to imagine.

Secondly, in order to get to your destination safely you must tell the boda man to drive safely and slow down. Frequently I will make a deal on a price and then offer them more if they drive safely. They usually laugh and agree. Bodas can be dangerous due to the mass amounts of traffic and no traffic rules to boot.

Today I approached a boda man and told him where I was going. I expected him to quote me around the 3500 shillings range. I generally end up paying 2500 after bartering. He looks at me and quotes me 1000. One can imagine my shock when he quoted a lower price then what was actually fair for him. I looked at him and said, no I will give you 2000. He laughed. Granted, I believe that he didn’t know the place I was asking him to take me. He said, “Ok, madam” with a smirk on his face. I was especially surprised when I got on. I didn’t even have to ask the boda man to slow down or drive safely. He did it all by himself!!!! I couldn’t believe it; an honest safe boda man. What are the odds in Uganda?

As I descended the boda I thanked the boda man for his honesty and safety. He again laughed thinking that I was a crazy Mazungo. I could easily have accepted his original offer of 1000 shillings for the ride and got away with cheating him. Over all I had to write a blog thanking the Mr. Boda man for my likely one honest experience with a boda man.

Don't Over Speed

While driving down a highway on Sunday I saw a billboard that read, “Don’t Over Speed.” Does the term speed not denote going over a limit already? Why then would anyone throw the term over in if speed is already there? Don't speed should be sufficiant. It sounds a little like “its ok to speed as long as you don’t over do it." What does over speed mean if one is already speeding? Where is the cap?

The sign made me chuckle a little being that I have never really even seen a speed limit sign in Uganda. I wondered to myself whom was the advertising company placing this billboard? I would have taken a picture of it but did not have my camera with me.

I realize this is not a blog of great substance or length, but I had to write it. I’m no grammar guru by any means as evident from this blog. I do know however, that two words placed together signifying the same thing (that of which I’m pretty sure over speed does) is not correct. I would expect an advertising company to realize that before placing the billboard. Just so everyone remembers though, “Don’t Over Speed!”

Do Family Values Equal Intolerance?

I thought that I would write a follow up to my previous blog. Not necessarily on the thievery act but on the term moral. I recently watched an episode of Boston Legal in which one of the characters said something rather profound. In a discussion between himself and a colleague they were talking about things they wish they could rid the world of. He said that he wished he could get rid the world of people who use the term family values as a veil for intolerance. For instance, “I am upholding family values by not allowing homosexuals to marry.” I won’t go off on my diatribe about that; however I think the same concept applies to morality.

Often time’s people use the term moral as a justification or excuse for bad behavior (intolerance, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness). I hate it when people say that (anything) is immoral. Why is it immoral? Most of the time there is not a valid logical argument for it being immoral. Moral is not so easily defined. The term itself is a shroud of ambiguity. One’s views on morality and values stem’s from where they sit in life and there is no set rule of what is moral and what is not. What might be considered immoral in Utah may be perfectly acceptable in New York or some other part of the world.

People should not cower behind terms such as morals and values to justify their belief. If they truly believe it then why do they place a veil on their opinion? Could it be because they know that without such terms their opinions would seem rather petty and illogical? If their opinions and beliefs are not petty then they would not need such terms to prove their arguments. Thus the term morality in my mind should be used with precaution as to not fall into the realms of shadowing justification for ones actions and thoughts. If you believe something to be true then just say it and don't use an excuse!

Excessively Moral?

I took my friend Tabitha downtown to not such a nice area last week. If I were reading this I would be wondering why Jessica would do such a thing. She recently came to Uganda to attend a study abroad program. In route her baggage was lost and she was in need of some cheap items to hold her over until her baggage could be claimed. I took her to an area that is more crowded than a can of sardines!!! This area however, has anything(clothes, shoes, batteries, toys, food, hair supplies)anyone could ever want for a very cheap price. Before going we discussed the importance of carrying your bag very close to you due to the high amounts of petty theft.

While we were walking I saw a man following very close to a random girl of which I had no relation. He seemed very suspicious and jumpy. I, being the curious type, followed them for a bit. I then saw him reach his hand in to her purse. Without thinking and just reacting I slapped his hand as if I was scolding a young child for doing something wrong (not that I would ever really slap a child’s hand)! We looked each other in the eyes for a moment. Both of us were as shocked as the other. My shock was derived from my action where as his shock was derived from the fact that a Muzungo (white) had caught him in the act of theft and then assaulted him! He then said sorry in an attempt to not seem suspicious to others standing around us and ran away.

In Uganda if a thief is caught they perform what is called “mob justice.” I have yet to have witnessed such an event being that most thieves are very skilled in what they do. I have been told however, that if one is caught stealing people here do not wait for the police rather they strip the thief (male of female) of all of their clothes and then beat them. I can only presume that the aforementioned thief that I slapped ran quickly to avoid such an occurrence.

When reading this one might think, “good for you Jessica.” In some ways I agree. I stood up for what I believed to be morally wrong. Thinking about it logically however I realize that this man/thief could have easily had a weapon on him and pulled it on me in retaliation. A saying that I often use/hear is that alcohol is liquid courage or stupidity depending on how one looks at it. This is also true to my act; sober mind you. Was it courage or stupidity??? It wasn’t really courage because I didn’t think about it, however it was stupid being that the results could have been detrimental to my safety.

As for the next time such an occurrence happens, I hope I will think before I act, although it is unlikely being my nature. Cheers to being excessively "moral"

Jinja

Boda Boda ride through Jinja




Guy Jumping in to the falls!

A Day at the Beach!

Hey Everyone,

Below are a few photos from Sunday. I went to the beach with some friends and we played soccer and just hung out. It was a wonderful day barring my knee deciding to move in and out. I learned how to ride a motorcycle (that of which I have had a desire to do for sometime) and generally had a good time!

Lake Victoria at Dusk


Tabitha and Derrick


Derrick and I


Uncle Charles and I


Lake Victoria


I learned how to ride a motorcycle (boda boda) along the boardwalk of Lake Victoria!


Florence (not the woman I'm staying with), Aunt Sarah, Tabitha, Derrick, and I'm not sure :)


Tabitha, JaJa (Grandma), and Me.

The "Smoking Gun"

What began as an election dispute in Kenya has rapidly turned in to a crisis with up to 1,000 dead and on the fast track to if not already a humanitarian catastrophe. Was it really ever an election dispute or was the election rig just the smoking gun to the already mounting pressure of tribal and ethnic clashes reaching hundreds of years back? Just recently there was an article in the leading newspaper in Uganda about the attempts to poison Kenyan refugees whom fled the violence of the riots to Uganda. The refugees were staying in a camp on the Ugandan side of the border. Two people from the opposing side (tribe) snuck in and put poison in the food. Luckily it was caught before the food was distributed to hundreds of people. Before this, a bus was burned of people again trying to flee the violence. The bus was burned by the opposing tribe as a retaliation tactic for people in another tribe having been injured and killed.







Kenyan tribal clashes are not the only clashes however. What about Darfur, Rwanda, Israel, Palestine, Hitler, Stalin, the war on terror? Any of these ring a bell? All of these have something to do with different tribes, ethnicities, and beliefs. What is it about people’s differences that create such havoc in the world? I suppose that it is not the first time this question has been asked nor will it be the last. Nor is there any one answer, otherwise the Middle East would not be such the hot bed it always has been. Everywhere in sight there is visible intolerance, hatred, and ignorance sparking the eruption of violence and planting the seeds to sprout future generations of fighting until we do the inevitable and exterminate ourselves.

One might ask what has sparked such animosity in my thinking. I am a generally overly optimistic person. I still am and believe that the world and people’s hearts can change, however the seemingly approach of the “end of the world” can not be ignored. Maybe it won’t even be the “end of the world” in a literal sense but one of a decreased quality of life. A while back a read a book titled “Stupid White Man” by the infamous Michael Moore.



One of the chapters focused on a future of the world running out of resources and a place once known as the “super power i.e. America” in where people are forced to use candles because there is no electricity left. A world in which vehicles are one of the past because there is no oil left. The chapter was trying to make a point that the world is on a path of decreased quality of living if something does not change.

The aforementioned clashes between people are not just based across the globe apart from the United States however, there is a war engulfing America as well. Democrats vs. Republicans, Atheists vs. Evangelicals, Creationists vs. Evolutionists, Black vs. White, Oil Companies vs. Environmentalists, Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life, and so on. We talk as if we are united as Nationalists of America but there is an inflaming war between Americans that have always existed. United as one is of the past and a divided nation is looming nearer especially here in Uganda.

The thought of Ugandan civil war erupting was a recent contemplation. In a conversation involving Kenya between me and a friend of mine, he brought up the realities of a looming war in Uganda. He told me that he foresaw civil war breaking out in Uganda within the next couple of years. Uganda has 56 different tribes and of those tribes one primarily owns and runs the country. Currently there is a battle between one tribe and another over land. Everywhere I go people ask each other what tribe they are. The Africans and the Indians don’t get along. All in all it seems inevitable that eventually there will be a “smoking gun” like the Kenyan election to incite Uganda in to a catastrophe as well. Having been recovering from the catastrophe of Indi Amin’s rule only twenty years ago it is soon to delve into another one. Whether the smoking Gun is Museveni's attempt at rigging his re-election or land being taken away it is an inevitable truth. Over all however I invite anyone to show me a place that is not at war somehow. I am unable to think of one.