ella and her fellas
I'm different.
And things are different. Or seem different - what I'm saying is, I'm seeing things and people differently. In general. I can't quite put my finger on what triggered this, but I really don't care.
Why is Ella's cover of "Mack the Knife" so crazy and amazing.
Anyway.
My first UN seminar was absolutely mindblowing and I was beyond inspired by my professor. After 30 years of working at the UN and going through everything that she has, she still hasn't let the cynicism get to her. And this determination, coming from someone who has been to Somalia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone....seen war, camps for mutilated refugees...I mean she was lecturing from this viewpoint to a classroom full of "jaded" college students who are already overly negative and cynical of the United Nations and the notion of peacekeeping - the notion of peace itself...and who the fuck are we to be the authority on the UN.
Listening to her recall all of those experiences was humbling, and empowering at the same time - to have the living proof in front of you of someone affecting these changes purely because she believes in them.
That seems to be the problem - no one wants to believe anymore, because it's so much easier to be weighed down by the "science" and burdensome protocol of politics...it's so much easier to be cynical. (trust me, cynicism is an old friend of mine. And I know it blankets most of my music, but I won't let it completely suffocate me.)
The course focuses mostly on peacekeeping operations in Africa - I'm super anxious, I've been wanting to learn more about Africa because I know nothing, basically.
Must run to bookstore and most likely wait in line for ages and ages. Sweet.
And things are different. Or seem different - what I'm saying is, I'm seeing things and people differently. In general. I can't quite put my finger on what triggered this, but I really don't care.
Why is Ella's cover of "Mack the Knife" so crazy and amazing.
Anyway.
My first UN seminar was absolutely mindblowing and I was beyond inspired by my professor. After 30 years of working at the UN and going through everything that she has, she still hasn't let the cynicism get to her. And this determination, coming from someone who has been to Somalia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone....seen war, camps for mutilated refugees...I mean she was lecturing from this viewpoint to a classroom full of "jaded" college students who are already overly negative and cynical of the United Nations and the notion of peacekeeping - the notion of peace itself...and who the fuck are we to be the authority on the UN.
Listening to her recall all of those experiences was humbling, and empowering at the same time - to have the living proof in front of you of someone affecting these changes purely because she believes in them.
That seems to be the problem - no one wants to believe anymore, because it's so much easier to be weighed down by the "science" and burdensome protocol of politics...it's so much easier to be cynical. (trust me, cynicism is an old friend of mine. And I know it blankets most of my music, but I won't let it completely suffocate me.)
The course focuses mostly on peacekeeping operations in Africa - I'm super anxious, I've been wanting to learn more about Africa because I know nothing, basically.
Must run to bookstore and most likely wait in line for ages and ages. Sweet.
posted by Deb Oh at 12:24 PM
1 Comments:
i understand what it's like to be cynical. and also to be blown away by ppl who give their lives to the pursuit of justice. more and more it's what i want to do with my life. but i'm not sure how. this is your manajer btw. who loves you. i'm in hibernation. no worries. i will seek you out very soon. lots of love.
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