Above: Malala Yousafz, Pakistani refugee who stood up to the Taliban in order to support a woman's right to an education. She won the Nobel Peace Prize. When looking back on history, it's always easy to say what we should've done. It's easy to separate who was innocent from who was guilty. It's easy to say, "I would have supported the Jewish people trying to flee the horrors. I would have stood up to the majority and done the right thing."
However, at this time in history, we are again faced with the exact same scenario. Millions of refugees, who are fleeing because they don't support ISIS, not because they are ISIS, are trying to find a place, any place, where they can live beyond the ravages of war and terror. Banning refugees is detrimental to all seeking refuge, but even more so to women and children. In 1938 (one year before WW2 started), 67% of American people supported keeping out all refugees. In case you can't read the text below in the graphic, I've written it out. This poll was published in Fortune magazine in July 1938:
If you'd like to read a bit more on this, with a follow up poll that occurred a year later, here's an article from the Washington Post: What Americans thought of Jewish refugees on the eve of World War II
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"World peace can only be based on inner peace. If we ask what destroys our inner peace, it’s not weapons and external threats, but our own inner flaws like anger. This is one of the reasons why love and compassion are important, because they strengthen us. This is a source of hope."
- The Dalai Lama via Facebook Follow the Dalai Lama on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people - women as well as men. Biography from Susanbanthonyhouse.org Susan B. Anthony was born February 15, 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts. She was brought up in a Quaker family with long activist traditions. Early in her life she developed a sense of justice and moral zeal. After teaching for fifteen years, she became active in temperance. Because she was a woman, she was not allowed to speak at temperance rallies. This experience, and her acquaintance with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, led her to join the women's rights movement in 1852. Soon after, she dedicated her life to woman suffrage. Ignoring opposition and abuse, Anthony traveled, lectured, and canvassed across the nation for the vote. She also campaigned for the abolition of slavery, the right for women to own their own property and retain their earnings, and she advocated for women's labor organizations. In 1900, Anthony persuaded the University of Rochester to admit women. Anthony, who never married, was aggressive and compassionate by nature. She had a keen mind and a great ability to inspire. She remained active until her death on March 13, 1906.
On Saturday, I was honored to be a part of a the worldwide demonstrations that happened in the name of love, unity and human rights. There was no denying that this was a historic day. To have millions of people around the world, at the same time, gather together for a positive cause created an astounding and momentous day.
The feeling within the crowd at the Oakland Women's March was empowering, energizing and at the same time peaceful and respectful. There was no feeling that what was happening was going to get out of control. There was truly a feeling of solidarity and a communal desire to support peace and love and reject hatred and violence. The Women's Marches were marches for all who feel alienated, scared and alone during this turbulent time. If you ever feel that you alone can do nothing, that you are powerless, never forget that you are at all times a part of something bigger. You matter, and when we as individuals assemble to stand for what we believe in, we return the power to the people.
Below is my favorite piece of rally art. All around the hat were photos of generations of women who came before her. Thinking about what they did for us, and what we could potentially do for future generations, really moved me. Much love to this woman!
That's me (pink hat)! Getting onto BART to get to the march was pretty crazy! Like most cities, the turnout was far higher than expected. When we arrived at the location it took an hour just to get to where the march officially started. There were thousands of people in front of us, and as we moved forward, thousands more joined behind us. All of these people went to the march. It was awe inspiring.
This year I have made physical fitness one of my top priorities. I am reminding myself that my body is my living soul. It is my creation, my connection to this world, and the most intimate thing I know. There is nothing more personal than the breaths I take into my body, which become one with me, living inside of me for a brief but life giving moment.
Although I deepened my commitment to exercise and yoga with the start of the new year, I really started moving this way last summer. I have always found this is the best way to create lasting results, whether it be in exercise, work or spiritual goals. I start where I am, ease in, and once I have a solid foundation, then I build from there. I have never been one to set big, lofty goals such as lose x amount of pounds or run x amounts of miles. I find that to be counter productive as the gap between where I am starting and where I want to go can be so big it can be overwhelming. Instead, I continually focus on the mantra of one step after another. E.g. today I can run .5 miles. Next week I will run .6 miles. Through this system I build habits and a foundation. Small but consistent steps are the most powerful ally to making change. When I started runnning I got winded and died after half a mile. At this point I am up to 2.5 miles, with the aim of running at least one mile twice per week. Whatever it is you're aiming for, and no matter how long you've been after it, keep going. Progress is rarely instantaneous, but when you look back you can always see how important each step was. Sometimes it's even the smallest step, the one you took when you thought about quitting, that mattered most of all. Yin yoga is one of my favorite yoga practices. It is a restorative practice that involves deep stretching and poses that restore alignment and balance to the body.
Physically, it's the easiest yoga you can do. Mentally, it can be more challenging, particularly if you feel nervous or unsettled by pausing and letting go. There can be something reassuring in keeping busy. It keeps our minds occupied and, even if it's only an illusion, the doing and moving and hustling can feel like we're in control of something. So when it comes to pausing and tuning into non-doing there can be that mental struggle. That thing that says, 'this is a waste of time! You have so much to do!' However, the more I practice yin yoga the more I discover the power in relaxing, releasing and allowing. It's the deep, inner power you can only access in those quiet moments when you tune into your deepest resources of prana and infinity. It's the power that says I am that I am. It's the power that says I am so taken care of, so sure of myself as a physical being in this world, that I love sitting back and letting life unfold. If if you have not yet incorporated yin yoga into your practice, I hope you give it a try. It's truly meditation for the mind and body. |