Sentiments about Slumdog

The movie Slumdog Millionaire portrays a poor, orphaned boy from the slums of India somehow winning on a game show that Doctors, Lawyers, and other professionals cannot succeed at! The authorities believe that he is a cheat and attempt to torture him into confessing, in the movie's beginning. As the movie progresses, Jamal gives account of where he learned of each answer to the questions he was asked. The movie then begins to transforms into a journey of Jamal and his brother. This journey includes their trials with both each other and the world, their adventures as the "Three Musketeers" with Jamal's friend Latika, and how Jamal comes to win around 10 billion dollars, becoming a national hero. This narrative, set in India, includes romance, angst, suspense, and a captivating coming-of-age story.

I found myself engrossed completely in this film. The story was entertaining, sometimes humorous and sometimes suspenseful. I thought that the actors did a wonderful job, especially the lead Dev Patel. I also absolutely loved that the movie was drenched in the Indian culture. I think it is important for people from Western countries, like the United States, to learn about foreign places. It is an enriching experience to aid us in understanding our brothers and sisters of other regions. Sometimes it reminds us how well off we are to be living in such a wonderful country. Either way, cultural experiences broaden horizons and help us understand the wonderful world God has given us.

Another interesting aspect of this film was that the extreme poverty of the country was was captured by this film's cinematography. India has some of the largest slums in this world and has the most people, besides China. I believe that the Chinese government was probably delighted at the fact that they had an opportunity to display the slums of India to their citizens. I think this movie could aid in reinforcing the message of Communist China's superiority over other nations of this world.

Through this movie's portrayal of Indian slums, God reminded me that I need to help and be there for others, both here and abroad. Although I would love to go to India to do mission work, It isn't guaranteed that I will. What is guaranteed is that God has prepared God works in advanced for me to do even here, in Seward, Nebraska to show the love of Jesus to others around me. And that's where I'll start.

A Not-So-Springy Break

Spring break should be a time for fun in the sun and flip-flops. Mine did not include either. However, I did have a lot of fun indoors.  My travels brought me to the chilly, wintry land of Minnesota, where there were negative degree windchill temperatures for many of the days I was there.  

Although my break was not the glorious vacation many spring breakers got on the beaches of Florida, it was a blast! I got to spend some time with my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.  Even though I didn't get to see my immediate family, I did enjoy some down time from classes.  I went to coffee shops, baby sat my cousins, shadowed a teacher for my Ed 101 class, went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (which is closed on Mondays, just so you know), and spent time at my Cousin's house in St. Paul.  

Overall it was a great break to spend more time with my wonderful family I am so blessed to have!

As Africa Ails

Africa brings to my mind a variety of mental pictures.  Some are of lions and giraffes and safaris, but most are of poor people in small villages.  Although my thoughts are probably a bit skewed from the truth by suppositional stereotypes, there is a lot of validity in this as well.  Almost all news headlines about Africa in recent years have accounted the extreme poverty of the people and their inauspicious governments. 

America has continued to grow to become the greatest nation in the world, since its more recent birth in 1776, while the ancient civilizations of Africa have struggled just to maintain existence in the past several decades.  According to an article published by the Cato Institute on foreign aid to Africa, both the United States and Great Britain have pumped billions of dollars into the UN and Africa to try to ameliorate the problems which plague the continent.  Instead this money has barely even palliated the struggles of the African nations. 

It is hardly surprising that countries like Ghana and Uganda have escaped development and continue to endure the same arduous, economic problems when their budgets are more than 50% aid dependent.  What kind of motivation do these people have for developing their countries when rich nations seek pity on them year after year?  What the United States is doing in Africa can be compared to merely covering up a festering wound with a band-aid.  There is not progress. 

My heart breaks for the African people who just can't seem to catch a break.  I pray that their countries will grow and develop local infrastructure, industry, and trade.  However, there is no way that this will happen while they can easily use the USA as a crutch to escape the inevitability that they must overcome their struggles.  

I love the fact that there are organizations, both humanitarian and religious, which are working in Africa to help the poor, the refugees, and the sick.  I think that this aid is not only a boon for the people, but also a necessary part in the development of their social programs.  Governmental involvement in this kind of aid is where we should draw the line.  There is not much incentive to develop when richer countries are just sending ample amounts of funds into the countries.  Local industry is hurt and therefore economy suffers.  Instead governments, if they want to help, should offer aid to the industry of these countries and foster trade as well. 

A HUGE problem remains which I have not addressed thus yet.  Many of the governments in Africa currently are very corrupt and erroneous in nature.  My true feelings are that nothing good can  truly happen in this continent until these kinds of villainous charlatans are taken out of office and leaders for free trade markets, individual liberties and justice are instated. 

That is when Africa will truly be a wonderful place again, God willing.

The Peak of Human Development

The United Nations, an organization that works around the world, deals with anything and everything international.  Although their program's efficacy remains somewhat controversial, they have done a lot of work categorizing countries based on a variety of calculations.  One such example is the United Nations Development Program's Human Development Index.  

If all the world's countries competed in a challenge to see who was the over-all "best," this index would aid in judging the grand competition.   What would countries have to pay attention to in order to win? Well, the three main areas are health, knowledge, and the level of standard of living in each country.  The level of health is based on life expectancy, knowledge is inferred from literacy rates of adults, and the standard of living is calculated from GDP per capita.  All in all, these three categories tell a lot about a country's developmental status.  

Let the Competition begin!

According to statistics gathered in 2008, 75 countries have been classified as "High Human Development" countries, 79 as "Medium Human Development," and 25 as "Low Human Development" countries.  The number one country, earning an HDI score of .968, on the list is the European country of Iceland. Looking at these standings from a geographical standpoint, it is interesting to note almost all of the Western nations from our world are on the "High" list, including the United States and many European countries. This shouldn't surprise anyone who remembers that the West has used "germs, guns, and steel" to their advantage, just ask Jarred Diamond.  The "Medium" countries vary from region to region, many countries are from Eastern Europe and Asia.  And, alas, as there must be a "Low Human Development" category, you might wonder where these 25 countries lie in our vast world. Well, all of these 25 countries, thats 100%, each and every one of them, is located in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

Included on this list is Rwanda, with literacy rating about 38% and life expectancy only around 45. Further more, Rwanda's GDP per capita is a minute $819 (The GDP for the United States is over $43,000). With the recent violent in Rwanda in the 90's, it isn't very surprising that the country's development has been so poor, earning it the HDI score of .435.

The overall country with the lowest human development is the African country of Sierra Leon. 

Its GDP is only about $600, its probability of not surviving to age of forty is above 45%, and about 40% of its citizens do not even have access to improved water.  Sierra Leon's overall HDI score is a meager .329. The United State's score is .951.

It is strange to categorize how developed a country really is because of how different each of them are from each other. The customs and culture of Sierra Leon are dramatically different from that of the United States.  Could that affect each country's attitude toward "development"? I think that it very well could, especially dealing with the tribal countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, many of whom do not hold literacy rates in high regard.  This could affect the extremely low score of this region as a whole, but even the tribes of Africa value a high life expectancy and clean water.  

The main reason that this region probably ranks so low on this HDI is because of government.  Although I remain somewhat naive on this subject, I do know that the corruption of many Sub-Saharan governments exceeds that of other region's governments quite a bit.  A corrupt government does not reap benefits for its people, usually just havoc and despair. 

I do not pretend to believe that this Index judges the overall "happiness" of each country, that would be preposterous.  Of course, there certainly is a lot of angst in the Sub-Saharan African region caused by tribal boundaries contrasting with the transitional borders of nations and vernacular regions set up from colonization.  However, the Sub-Saharan Africans must remember the words of Isaiah: "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail" (chapter 58 verse 11).  

God's promise of love, manifesting in Jesus' sacrifice, is to all the nations, no matter what color they are, what language they speak, or where their people live.  He is the one comfort that all humans can run to when there is hardship.  When the people of our wonderful word look for strength in Him, they become "developed" to the fullest extent.  In our Savior Jesus Christ's love, the human race can truly cross over from death to life, which is a development higher standards of living can never bring. 

Jesus won the competition for us all!

Shenanigans Abroad

What is better than spending the day with your best friend in an unforgettable city? Maybe throw in a break for espresso, of course! These photos I have selected from the National Geographic site are from the Rome.   Italy is an enthralling place--its history, architecture, art, cuisine, and people!

I think that this first scene is the epitome of the quintessential Roman experience.  I looked at this photo and decided that these two were probably Italian, out in the hustle and bustle of their home city Rome.  There is something interesting about looking at a photo strangers, but from it you can learn a lot.

An Italian, urban lifestyle, displayed in this photo, is so different from the life I’ve lived in the United States.  These girls are obviously comfortable navigating around their beloved city of Rome.  I like that the photographer

 selected a black and white finish for these chic ladies, though I’m sure they and the trendy shops behind them are flooded with color.  I can’t wait until I get to go to Italy and see all of this in person!

And, I just had to include this second picture because it is also taken in Rome.  An Italian sips her espresso in a outdoor cafe.  Just as the girls from the motorbike, this kind of special Roman experience is something that makes our world wonderful!  I rejoice that God has given us these different ways to just relax, be with friends, and experience the city around us--even in Rome.  

"So Near And Yet So Foreign"

The United States has had less than friendly ties with the Communist country Cuba for sometime now.  The last time I  heard of United States citizens traveling to Cuba as tourists was on an old I Love Lucy TV show, probably about the same era of this travel poster I have included.  

There is not only a travel ban between America and Cuba, but also a trade embargo.  The United States ended trade with Cuba back when it became under the communist dominion of Fidel Castro, in 1959.  There were not only anxious relations between the USA and Cuba, but also the Soviet Union, which was also Communist in the days of the Cold War.   Unlike the USSR, Cuba has survived as a communist nation into the twenty-first century.  

Today, with so many Hispanic immigrants, tolerance, and globalization, some think it seems silly to keep things with Cuba tied off.  (Come on, USA, just loosen up and be nice to your neighbors to the south!) That's what our new President, Barack Obama, thinks.  A new Bill introduced to the Senate, which he supports, would do just that.  

I think that the United States much stand on the principles which our founding fathers should on as well.  We are a nation of free people, Lady Liberty stands tall from our shore.  A Democratic nation, like the United States of America, should not acknowledge a extreme left, Communist country as they should not give their heart-felt support to terrorist groups.  Each group hinders the people of their country, causing more damage, instead of building a brighter future.  The relations with Cuba should change when the people have the freedom to change their government.  

I am so excited for the day when the Cuban people can praise God for the disbandment of their Communist Government.  I think that our world is wonderful in the fact that it is ever changing and that there are always people around the world trying to make it better.  I pray to God that the activities and diplomacy of United States and Cuba will reflect His glorious desires for this world.

Las Problemas de Nuestro Vecino: Mexico

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,491964,00.html

There has been more and more violence occurring with our Neighbors to the South.  According to this Fox News article, written by Joshua Rett Miller, the deaths due to drug violence last year was over 5,000.  These deaths occur mostly near the US/Mexico border, along the Rio Grande, where there are many Maquiladores and cities like Juarez.  These cities are the paths by which the drugs flow across the border into the United States.  

The violence is beginning to escalate because according to Miller "the Felipe Caleron administration is doing the right thing by cracking down on powerful drug cartels...who are fighting back."  Mexico is facing a possible economic collapse, incurring following turmoil akin to what Somalia is going through at this time.  This would be the worst case senario.  But if it did happen, then the US would see even more migrants pour across the Rio Grande, to escape violence.  US Governmental officials are getting ready for anything at this point, according to the article. 

It is difficult for me to express how God is good and the world is wonderful as I read this article about our Hispanic brothers and sisters going through tough times.  This article especially makes me sad because I have been planning on going to Juarez on a Mission Trip to build houses for people living in the Squatter Settlements near the Maquiladores...but that is looking like it will not be able to happen.  It also is terrible that the people have been affected by the dangers of drug trafficking and violence and bribery and hate.  Where is God during all of this?

He is in Mexico, in the people who are planning on helping possible refugees, in the people who are praying. God is in Mexico, even if it seems like the Devil's side is winning.  The wonderful thing about this situation, is that the LORD Jesus Christ has already conquered all the forces working evil in Mexico.  I am still praying that this will be calmed so that I will be able to work for Jesus down in Juarez...but more importantly so that the people in Mexico will have peace in their lives, peace in their surroundings and in their hearts from God.