First Nations

Marilyn James presented an informative and provocative look at the current issues around the Sinixt Nation and the federal government's insistence that for the purpose of The Indian Act, they are extinct.  She spoke passionately, and it was clear that there was a great deal of pain and frustration behind her words.  How would you sound if Rosslanders were declared extinct and thus had no claim to their property in Rossland, to any government funds ( no schools, social institutions, etc), access to cemeteries, or sense of belonging?  What would you do?  What would you want to happen?  How would you feel?

Climate Change

Now that you've watched the video on climate change (http://grist.org/climate-energy/my-tedx-talk-on-climate-pimped-out/), I invite one of you to open discussion on the film itself or the content.

God Grew Tired of Us

This was a very impactful film about three of the 'Lost Boys of Sudan' who fled war in Sudan and recount their experiences as they re-settle in the United States.  The challenges they were forced to face in Sudan, then Ethiopia, and then Kenya were almost beyond belief.  I have read two books on this subject - tens of thousands of boys as young as babies having to travel hundreds of miles, often without food and water, because their Muslim northern government decided to kill all male children from the Christian south end of the country.  I am again trying to understand how people can treat others so horribly, and why they think they can do it in the name of religion or tribe or color, or any other reason that seems so insignificant and yet has resulted in such loss of humanity.

The film also focussed on the difficulty of three of these boys in adjusting to life in the US, as aspect I hadn't really appreciated before.  A good thing for us to keep in mind when Rossland welcomes its two Burmese families next year.  Some of you may want to become active in that process as part of your 'taking action' portion of the course.

If any of you would like to see the film, I will borrow it for you.  I do recommend it.

The Power of Hope

Hope

 

Spiritual melody
Crystallized and creative force
To dispel my terrors
To blend my fears
To dispel my hatred
To see the light

 

They pushed me in to the swamp of terror
They pushed me in to the abyss of hatred
I was cracked by impotence
I could not see the horizon
But now I see the light

 

 

 

It is hope
The teacher of my heart
Who taught to me the virtues of truth

 

 

 

The hope
Throws away my fear of the history of injustice
It releases me 
It is hope
that has rebuilt my being
It is hope
that has given me a home again

 

It is hope 
that has taught me to believe again

 

There were many fears
There was much dread 
There were many pains
That hope
Helped me to overcome

 

Hope is the spiritual melody
That saved a slave of hate
as I

 

I was wandering
In the sloughs of fear
In the darkness of hatred
But now I see the glowing horizon
Now I can see the light again.

Julio Cochoy June 2012 “Year of Hope”

 

This is a poem written and shared with us by the speaker on Monday evening.  He shared a tragic tale of civil war in his community in Guatemala and the effect it had on the victims, their families, and the community at large in a widespread manner.  For example, we may not think about this, but he told of one girl who, because her father had been killed, had to stay at home and work and not attend school. Her dream of becoming a secretary was quashed.  We heard of the journey from hate to hope, and I think that is such a powerful element to consider:  What does hope mean?  How important is it?  What happens when hope is taken from us?  Can hope overcome huge obstacles, or is it simply a diversion?

I am reminded of stories of the Holocaust, in which victims declared that they survived because no matter what the Nazis did to their bodies, they could not control their minds.