Your character is not determined by what happens to you. It is determined by how you react to what happens.

Constantly trying to be aware of this. So much shit has been going on that isn’t to my liking. I can’t sulk and deny it all, so I gotta take it head on.

My work situation has improved for the time being. My head pharmacist knows I’m a great asset to the pharmacy and it’s nice that it is known. One of the new workers was fired and the other new one has stepped up her game. Thank god!

My classes start on my bday. Not the school situation I wanted or planned for, but I’ll make it a good and fun semester. Nursing stuff is coming head on, I can’t wait!

24 August 5 Permalink

Bin Laden Bites the Dust….What Does This Mean for US?

On Sunday night, May 1st 2011, the world was informed that a small group of U.S. Navy SEALS had killed Osama Bin Laden and obtained his body in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 

When the news hit my twitter feed showed that people were feeling every emotion. 

• joy - for getting the leader of Al Qaeda, the guy known to be the reason we are at war. etc. 
• disgust - by people cheering for the death of someone.
• bisbelief - same as the above AND/OR that we actually got him. 
• offence - Pakistans offended by what people are assuming of their county. 
• pride - to be an American and living in a country of “justice” who got the guy on the most wanted list in the world. 
• annoyance - the people who are not familiar with who Bin Laden is. 
• etc. 

All of these emotions are justifiable; we’re allowed to have our own opinions here. That’s what we’re taught (for the most part). Bin Laden taught his followers that there is only one right way, the Sharia law (a skewed misinterpretation of it.) After Saudi Arabia invited U.S. troops for help when Saddam Hussein invaded them is when Bin Laden turned his attention to the West. He was outraged that Saudi Arabia wanted non-Muslim help and that they invited them onto their sacred soil. Bin Laden wanted to get back at America for interfering within the Muslim countries. He was angered by Saudi Arabia’s picking USA’s help instead of his. In a letter to America he states: 

(c) Under your supervision, consent and orders, the governments of our countries which act as your agents, attack us on a daily basis;

(i) These governments prevent our people from establishing the Islamic Shariah, using violence and lies to do so.

(ii) These governments give us a taste of humiliation, and places us in a large prison of fear and subdual.

(iii) These governments steal our Ummah’s wealth and sell them to you at a paltry price.

(there is more to this section.) 

(3) You may then dispute that all the above does not justify aggression against civilians, for crimes they did not commit and offenses in which they did not partake:

(a) This argument contradicts your continuous repetition that America is the land of freedom, and its leaders in this world. Therefore, the American people are the ones who choose their government by way of their own free will; a choice which stems from their agreement to its policies. Thus the American people have chosen, consented to, and affirmed their support for the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians, the occupation and usurpation of their land, and its continuous killing, torture, punishment and expulsion of the Palestinians. The American people have the ability and choice to refuse the policies of their Government and even to change it if they want.

Yes, we have the ability to change and we have. No, maybe America hasn’t done everything right, but no country has and neither has any human-Being. America for the most part may be a greedy country, but that doesn’t mean its people as a whole are. We may not agree with everything that goes on. We may even hold protests, but no riots that lead to violence. The majority of Americans don’t act out in violence. Violent acts occur, but nothing close to the extent of the acts performed by bin Laden or terrorists groups. Bin Laden believed fully of the story of his religion. There is no fault in that, but there is fault in killing people for being different especially doing so in the name of religion. Not only did he kill non-Muslims; he also killed Muslim faith followers. Even though he claimed that these killings were justified in the name of Allah it gives people of the Muslim faith a bad reputation, one that they do not deserve. 

Many of the things he said in the letter to America were true, but instead of trying to negotiate he acted out in violence. Some people think that violence is the only way to win, but look at Gandhi, MLK Jr., Anna Hazare, etc. They are people who got and are getting things done without any violence. However, the actions made by bin Laden and his terrorists organizations resulted in war. 

Our country may not experience the war first hand because it isn’t on our soil, but we have been affected by it. From high security laws at airports to color-coded terrorists threats we’ve had a little taste of what Bin Laden has done to this country. The war started because we were told that we need to find the terrorist organizations and stop them. (Of course I don’t think that is the only reason we went to war.) This man was known for the start of it all. 

“‎”I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

—someone said marthin luther king said it…then someone said he didnt say it… either way, im glad someone said it, i like it. 

Violence will never bring peace, but if the people who keep practicing violence are gone then we have a better chance of getting closer to peace. We are at war; one that many of us wish wasn’t going on. The fact that we can’t change this (this second) is something we must be aware of. So, by one of the main men who started the terrorists organizations being deceased, we have a greater chance at attaining world peace. Not only was America harmed by his terrorists organizations, but many other countries were and still are. 

The celebration should not be for the demise of Osama bin Laden, but for the hopeful death to terrorists organizations, evil beliefs he instilled in his terrorists groups, and the death to fear. When the Navy SEALS went into the mansion to kill bin Laden they also got all his hard-drives and thumb-drives. This could bring us knowledge on what the terrorists organizations have planned and give us a better chance at stopping them. Talks about negotiations are going on right now.

“How are we going to get there? We can get there by continuing to fight them. I don’t think that’s actually a strategy that is successful. Or we can get there by negotiating with them in such a way to allow a political settlement where they’re part of the government,” Anne-Marie Slaughter.

-http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/with-bin-ladens-death-us-sees-a-chance-to-hasten-the-end-of-the-afghan-war/2011/05/03/AF3TlNjF_story_1.html

With the end of this man-hunt hopefully we can focus on bringing peace within nations. As well as not spending more money on war, but on education, environmental issues, and things that can benefit not only us but the Earth as well. We may not be a country without corruption, but we are better off than most other countries. We don’t have to see wars fought on our land, we aren’t detained for speaking out against the government, we aren’t completely brain washed into thinking our way is the only way, etc. 

This wasn’t written to entertain you or change your view, but to only inform you. You have the freedom to make your own opinions, something that bin Laden was trying to take away. The freedom is yours and never take that for granted. 

(If anything seems biased I apologize. I tried my best not to voice all of my opinions on this matter.)

4 May 3 Permalink

You never know what someone is fully going through. You never will. Judgment just makes you ignorant. Compassion opens you to awareness. 

15 April Permalink