Facebooking Television

Each summer I have the goal, or maybe tradition is the right word, of watching a classic television series. This summer I picked "Cheers" and as the voices of Sam, Fraiser, Woody and Carla filled my apartment, I metaphorically pulled a bar stool up and joined the community.

One particular episode, "Get Your Kicks On Route 666," got me thinking about how with today's communication standards, that particular episode would have left the audience unfulfilled. Norm, Cliff, and Sam set out on the highway for a weekend trip and find themselves stuck on the side of the road due automotive issues. The episode continues as the men try to discover the issue with the car. After hours of searching for the problem, the men sulk into a midnight somber. They awake the next morning and only moments later find Norm coming over the sand dunes, on a golf cart to ask if they would like to go get breakfast from the resort where Norm slept after sneaking away from the guys as they slept at the car campsite.

The episode ended there. Simply, the end.

Did you just find yourself wondering how the rest of the trip went? What they had for breakfast? How the resort looked?

Do not pretend you did not wonder or find yourself curious, maybe even guessing or begging for more details. I will be the first to admit, I wondered how the rest of the trip went. In it engrained  in our mind, this is how we think now. Our instant gratification, need to know everything society has resulted in ruining an American classic and one of the few episodes that does not take place in the bar of "Cheers." Instead of enjoying the irony as the men walk back towards Boston and their beloved bar, I found myself questioning everything.

Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that if "Cheers" were a show in today's reality, we would have a show where we followed Rebecca on each of her dates with Robin Colcord, her millionaire turned simple living boyfriend for three seasons; or were forced to watch Sam on his countless chases; or follow Cliff on his route.

As much as the Rebecca and Robin romance and then declining love kept the viewer captivated, viewers would have no need to go on each date and there is certainly no need to follow Cliff as he follows the Postmaster's Code of Conduct. If we were faced with the reality of being the third wheel , Cheers would have peaked in it's third season, as so many of our favorite modern shows have done; instead of running it's 11 beautiful seasons.  

What being an FJV means to me - an FJV?

Following my undergraduate career at Spring Hill College, I spent a year in service with Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), where I was a Case Manager / Food Pantry Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator at Catholic Charities of Central Texas. Usually when I start to tell people about my position it takes a few minutes for them to process my title, let alone formulate questions about JVC and my job.

JVC: Austin 2010 - 2011 Community at Orientation in

August 2010, just outside Houston, Texas.

Simply put, JVC is an experience I would not trade for anything. Living with my four housemates, while we tackled social services in Austin is absolutely invaluable. And I am proud to say, that we are still all about serving others. Two of us are working on masters degrees in social work, another in
finance and the last two are working for city planning or non-profits.

But what I've recently discovered, is that there is something to being an FJV (former Jesuit Volunteer). Fortunately, for me, I have a dear friend, Emily, who is currently doing her second Jesuit Volunteer year in Portland, Oregon. So this weekend, I headed off to Portland to see her, her community and a college friend of ours, who also, happened to be in town. But what my trip helped to really discover was that part of my life philosophy, isn't being properly acknowledged.

Life is, at its most basic level, about being happy by giving yourself whole to helping others.

After having a mere panic attack believing that I was not making a difference in the world, I remembered my dear friends that missed this morning. Twice a week, I roll of my bed, find the floor and stumble to run group. 5:45 in the morning I begin my warmup and start walking. But I do not just walk with anyone, we have a Boston Marathon runner, a paralegal and a showroom manger at the Dallas World Trade Center. Wait a minute - overall, we sound like a regular run group; but we're better!

It does, indeed sound like I have runner's group pride; but it is more than that. I run with Back on My Feet (BoMF), "a national for-purpose 501(c)3 organization that uses running to help those experiencing homelessness change the way they see themselves so they can make real change in their lives that results in employment and independent living," according to the BoMF Website. Sounds easy enough, you volunteer doing what you do already - go for a daily walk or run. But there is so much more to Back on My Feet that that! 

On Veterans Day 2013, the four running teams that make up

the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of Back on My Feet gathered

together to acknowledge our veterans. The above individuals

are all veterans, who now live in Dallas area homeless shelters.

We run with people from all walks of life, we have veterans, former bus drivers, a former resident of
Louisiana; all with the drive, the desire and the sense of humor to change that can easily change how the world views it's homeless population. And they are doing just that, as more people hear about Back on My Feet, more people are learning how our homeless populations are not to viewed in worry, but as you would view any other person you meet.

But what may come as a surprise is that Back on my Feet also helps me. During my twice a week walk, I remember what "JV me" would do, believe and voice. Back on My Feet is my weekly retreat into my JV life; but, sadly, this took me over 10 months and a trip to Portland to realize.

In many ways, BoMF is my Dallas community and my space to remind me what's important in life - being someone else's community! I have a feeling that I will view each 5:45 morning just a little differently! 

School of the Americas 2012

This past weekend may have seemed stereotypical to those who know me, but I was reflecting a little bit more than usual. In 2009 & 2010, I had the absolute once-in-a-lifetime chance to go the Ignatian Family Teach-In and the School of the Americas (SOA) Vigil. Sadly this year, marks the second time I have been unable to make it to George. But for those able to make it, this weekend marks the 22nd time that people gathered outside the gates of Ft. Benning, Georgia to bring to light the actions of the SOA.

The following is an e-mail sent out from the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) on this weekend. If you would like additional information on the SOA and the watch group, please check out the SOAW website.

THOUSANDS GATHERED AT THE GATES OF U.S. MILITARY BASE IN GEORGIA TO CLOSE THE SOA/WHINSEC

3-DAY MOBILIZATION CULMINATES WITH MASS DIE-IN AND FUNERAL PROCESSION TO COMMEMORATE THE VICTIMS OF SOA/ WHINSEC VIOLENCE AND U.S. MILITARIZATION

NASHUA CHANTAL, 60 OF AMERICUS, GEORGIA CROSSES OVER THE FENCE TO CARRY THE PROTEST ONTO THE MILITARY BASE, FACES SIX MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Columbus, Georgia - The largest annual anti-militarization gathering in North America took place in Columbus, Georgia, from November 16-18, 2012.

Nashua Chantal of Americus, Georgia, who stood in silence with the message 'Study war no more' painted across his face during the symbolic funeral march, crossed the line onto the military base. The base is home to the US Army School of the Americas, renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC) in 2001, a training facility that has turned out some of Latin America's most notorious killers and continues to be implicated in human rights abuses today. Nashua Chantal was arrested after he crossed over the barb-wired, and is currently in the custody of the military police. He will be arraigned in federal court and is facing up to six months in federal prison for his courageous act of civil disobedience.

The weekend included a massive rally on Saturday, where thousands came together at the gates of the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC), now named the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, and culminated on Sunday, November 18 with a mass die-in and funeral procession to commemorate the victims of SOA/ WHINSEC violence and U.S. militarization.

The weekend featured musicians like emma's revolution and Rebel Diaz, and international speakers like Francia Marquez from Colombia, Martin Almada from Paraguay, and Ismael Moreno from Honduras.

Francia Marquez, a leader from the Afro-Colombian gold-mining community of La Toma in southwestern Colombia, talked about how her community has struggled against political, economic and armed forces looking to control their hands and resources.

Martin Almada, a Paraguayan educator, talked about his experience as a political prisoner under the regime of Alfredo Stroessner. His wife died of a heart attack after being forced to hear through a telephone her husband's cries as he was tortured.

Ismael Moreno (known in Honduras as Father Melo), a Jesuit priest, radio host and contributor to Envio magazine, had his radio station occupied by the military following the SOA led military coup and he began receiving death threats.

Moreno's story shows how, even though the school changed its name in 2001 to WHINSEC, the graduates of this U.S. taxpayer-funded military school are still key players in human rights abuses throughout Latin America. 

Last week, on November 14, an SOA Watch delegation met with Denis McDonough, the National Deputy Security Advisor to President Obama in the White House, to ask that the SOA/WHINSEC be shut down by Executive Order. In January, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) will introduced legislation to suspend operations at the school and investigate human rights abuses in Latin America.

The SOA/WHINSEC is a U.S. taxpayer-funded military training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. The school made headlines in 1996 when the Pentagon released training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Despite this, no independent investigation into the training facility has ever taken place. 

SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works to close the School of the Americas and change U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America. For more information, visit www.SOAW.org.

DMN Sounding Off Quote

For several months now I have attempted to answer the Sounding Off question for the NeighborsGo section of the Dallas Morning News. Below is this week's question and my answer. 

Question:
Some school districts, including Dallas ISD, have increased the number of magnet campuses, preparatory academies and special programs in recent years. What is your opinion on this trend? Should more schools consider these programs, or is a “traditional” school format the way to go?

Answer: For many students, the traditional public school structure works well and graduates of many DISD schools are able to become functioning members of society and in many cases successful individuals.

On the other hand, there are a portion of students that traditional school structure does not fit them best. It is for these students that magnet, prepartory academies and special programs need to exist. I work with students from the local magnet programs and I am continully impressed by their knowledge and ability to use their education.  

One day without shoes

This is the first year in several that I will not be able to fully participate in One Day Without Shoes, an international day in order to try to understand what millions of children encounter daily - a life without shoes.

Started by TOMS, a footwear and eyewear movement, people are asked to live their normal day, but without shoes. Not only is the day completely humbling, but for me it helps to put my life in perspective.

Imagine going through life without shoes - no matter where you are, there is dirt, rocks and not always the soft reprieve of grass, just imagine encountering all that without shoes. Each year I am able to challenge myself a little further and enjoy the day from a different perspective.

My first One Day Without Shoes I was on Spring Hill's campus. By that point in my college career I was vary familiar with the campus and knew what places what to avoid when I adventured barefoot. My lesson for that year was not only the pain that came through my body via my feet, but how many people who do not have shoes find themselves having to take circuitous routes in order to not injure themselves or worse become ill from the exposure their feet have endured.

My second time I was living in Austin, although familiar with the route I took to work - I decided to further challenge myself and only take public transportation that day. My roommate Pamela joined me for my second half of my day - where we walked from my work to the University of Texas to the Texas State Capitol and then took the city bus home.

Let's just say I know the secrets to crossing busy streets without shoes, I know that grass no matter how small the patch is an absolute gift and that I am very lucky to have my shoes - no matter which pair I am referencing.

I honestly encourage anyone and everyone who can to participate in One Day Without Shoes. If you can only participate for only one hour that is wonderful or if your life allows you to participate for the whole 24 hours I encourage you go that route. Do what you can and challenge yourself in new ways.

Starting last year, TOMS placed a portion of their website which is dedicated to helping organize people in different cities to walk together and advocate for people without shoes - the list of events can be found via the Day Without Shoes website.

Think you might be the only one with a desire to go sans shoes? According to the TOMS website and the 2012 One Day Without Shoes trailer people from over 25 countries and over 1,000 events were planed worldwide to bring about awareness.

But what I learned most about my Day(s) Without Shoes is that there is always a different perspective. For Americans we have grown-up with shoes, we put them on and go into the world, go to work, school or the store. For a majority of children in development nations, they go into the world without shoes, many denied access to schooling because of no shoes - now that's a different perspective.

So what will you do on April 10 this year? An adventure sans shoes might be a step in the right direction towards understanding what it is like to be in someone else's shoes. 

Who is there to follow?

Lead by example, a philosophy taught to many generations - watch your elders, for they know your pains and can help you. These are traditions that run deep in a variety of cultures, but is slowing seeping out of American culture.

Earlier this month, I spent the weekend among friends. As most of them are in academia full time, we discussed the decreasing rate of new professor hires. One lady in the group has been turned down from positions which she is more than qualified for, so that universities can hire the Ph.D. professors that were let go because of the economic downturn. As a result, many smaller colleges and universities are hiring only people who have been teaching for a while with PhDs. 

A further example of this can be seen in age discrimination. I have heard several stories where applicants have had to die their hair in order to appear younger and therefore a valid candidate for a position, in which they are clearly the best choice - except for the age limitation put on by current day society or by the company to which they are applying. One particular individual has since let their hair return back to its natural color and has experienced discrimination at work because of age. But what is truly bizarre is the previously mentioned individual is frequently contacted by his boss, a man in his late 20s / early 30s to answer questions - because the young boss is not prepared for his position.

Here is my question - If companies only hire young, fresh out of school employees and over qualified individuals, who will leave the company as soon as something better opens up - who will lead the examples for employees trying to learn and expand their knowledge?

An interesting point was brought to my attention this past weekend, that humility is no longer frequently found today, I made an immediate link that this is because young employees lack a leader, a mentor and someone to listen when they admit they have a question or are in need of help.

If companies continue to hire to over qualified and the too young employees, the competitive culture found in business environments will manifest itself into our everyday culture. There will no longer be people to mentor young employees, but instead society will create an even more 'dog eat dog' world, which ultimately could lead to a larger gap between high class and lower class members.

We all just want change

After a month of taking off from writing for my blog, a decision which left me searching for my creative juices, I was talking to a friend of mine about what my next blog should be about. Jokingly, my very modest friend said, “me.” Which was quickly followed by my questioning if the true subject should be her desire to change the world. It is at this point that she pointed out that change is everyone’s goal.

I told that anecdote for a reason, which I hope will be relieved later. Earlier today, I came across a Huffington Post article, which stated Barbara Bush’s very blunt opinion of American politics. During her recent visit to Southern Methodist University, the Former First Lady Bush said: "I hate the fact that people think 'compromise' is a dirty word."

In many ways she is right and it is that simple. Politics today are as messy, hurtful and broken as they are because politicians are trying to see our very colorful world in black and white, wrong or right - and it’s just not that simple.

There is no absolute right or absolute wrong, but instead one  should vote for which candidate most fits the dream and the goals you see for America. Politics got complicated way too fast, it is no longer about making changing or creating change.

Instead it has evolved into being the change. Are we that egotistical of a society? That only one person can create change?  Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

I still believe, probably naively, that everyone person who get into politics does it in hopes of creating change, even if that means with the assistance of others. So at what point does it become - Only I can change the world.

Once politics regresses into “we can change the world,” then and only then can change truly come and that dreadful would “we” can only come with the use of the bad word “compromise.”

Faith in a time of protest

It seems to me that religion is not the right word for faith any more. I had an odd experience this weekend where I felt like the church service was attending was for lack of better words frowned upon by the traditionalists at the church I was attending.

So let me back up a bit, I am fortunate that I to go a church that is large enough it can offer a both contemporary services and various traditional services. In the very beginning, the contemporary service was held across the street and was seen more as a service project than a service recognized by the church. Eventually, the contemporary service moved into the smaller chapel on church grounds and took over the time slot once devoted to the children's service. Quickly outgrowing the small chapel, the one of the contemporary services was then placed down the hall in a room that used serve as the mass gathering place for health fairs, church wide meetings and the church program fair.

Sounds great right? I service that outgrows it's assigned home. That is so successful that the population of the church is growing? Wrong. As someone who is semi-involved in the church community, I cannot help but feel shunned by the 'traditional' church goers. Honestly, you would think that people would be excited that the church community is growing? That more 'young people' are attending; but sadly it does not appear that way.

Today, the contemporary service was delayed because our worship space was being used for the town hall meeting. A fellow usher informed me that he did not understand why the main chapel was not used for such meeting as it had more room. I shrugged and said the church probably wanted to allow for a transition between meetings and church services. And that's when it hit me, why is the collective contemporary service not standing up for itself. In an age of individualism and freedom, why are we constantly being treated like the step-child of our church.

So here's my question, is the religious affiliated 20 and 30-year-olds a group decreasing in its activity in the church? When asked a fair majority of individuals in this age rangs say they are spiritual, but not religious; they believe in God, but do not have a church home. Is this a phase or this age group finally looking for something more like our generation? Something they can relate to?

Feeling a bit like we could change the minds of those 'traditional' church goers, I was ready to stand up to any doubter when we first moved to our current location. I allowed people to just peak in and cut through on the way to their service; but now I just find the 'traditional' church goers are unwilling to change and open up. Unfortunately, I fell like the administration of the church is very similar, which is resulting is quite a deterrent. Resulting in two different sides being brought out within me - to either fight back and move on.

I think a lot of people are having the same debate and choosing to make a stance by moving on. The search to find your church, no matter why the change, can be long and challenging. However, I am wondering if in this age of protesting and expression, more people are not choosing to protest and stay at home. Choosing to find their faith and spirituality in other places. I know I find God when I meditating and running, neither of which are entirely possible or considered reverent for a church setting. There are many weeks where I find God in those places more than I do in Church. Is this a generational transition or a transition in a time of protest?

Is the greater congregation choosing to listening and question everything, leading to those who leave when they don't agree? It's about time to recognize that religion or the lack thereof is something you should connect with, not oblige yourself to attend.
  

Define journalism

This past week The New York Times' editor Arthur S. Brisbane asked his readers if truth was necessary in journalism. Let me sum up my response Mr. Brisbane: CBS and the Bush National Guard Story. Still not convinced? Stephen Glass of The New Republic.

Journalism at its most basic level is designed to keep an eye on society, politics and government to make certain that there is an unbiased view of every vote, situation and decision being presented to the American people. How are your readers supposed to believe in your company and in the news you are presenting them if they know it is fake, not research and just published? If they wanted news with no evidence or proof they would venture to the tabloid section of their grocery store. The New York Times, I believed, has better standards to uphold.

In Sept. 2008, the Wednesday edition of 60 Minutes, known as 60 Minutes II released a news story about President George W. Bush's time with the National Guard. Within hours of the story airing, the American public watched as one of the nation's major news companies was questioned in the most serious fashion.

George W. Bush was up for reelection and his military service history was coming to surface. CBS news received documentation that lead producers and news journalists to believe that Bush had defied direct orders from his superior while stationed in Texas with the National Guard. Additionally, other documents lead CBS to believe that one point Bush was in Alabama instead of serving time with the Texas National Guard. The days following the story airing, many of the sources CBS worked with in order to present a truthful story were suddenly changing their stories, some to the extreme of telling CBS executives and members of the unbiased committee formed to look at the story, that they never shared information about President Bush with members of the CBS 60 Minutes II teams.

Following the findings of the unbiased committee, which including members of the Associated Press, CBS asked four of the its executives to resign and the story producer was terminated. In November, Dan Rather announced that he was stepping down as anchor of 60 Minutes II. The organization under went suggestions from the unbiased committee that reviewed the story, leading to many changes within CBS in order to develop past this point in its history.

Another company that grew passed its once momental problems is the political magazine, The New Republic. Turned upside down by Stephen Glass, the magazine had one of its best writers caught red handed by Forbes Digital Tool for fabricating a story about a teenage computer server hacker, according to Vanity Fair.

Beginning with gracefully woven stories of truth and fiction, Glass found himself the "protege" of The New Republic, but with each new story Glass found a need to upstage himself. As his time at the political magazine continued he worked with three different editors, it was the last Charles Lane, known as "Chuck," who would finally place together all the pieces that lead to the discovery that Glass completely fabricated "Hack Heaven," a story about a teenage hacker who was being paid by a California company to not hack into their servers, according to Vanity Fair.

When Glass roped his younger brother into playing the part of one of his fabricated executives, Lane found himself with no choice but to fire Glass and publish an apology to the dedicated readers of The New Republic, notifying them that Glass had fabricated 27 of the 41 stories he had written for the paper, according to "Shattered Glass" and Vanity Fair. Hoping that the magazine would be able to continue functioning in the wake of lies.


All this Mr. Brisbane to say that the truth is the foundation of journalism. Report the truth, the hidden answers and the sought after stories - even if it might contribute to the collapse of your network; this action is simply the ethically right route to take.

Although I do not necessary agree with how these companies handled their situations, they owned up to the situations they discovered. They owned up to what could have potentially ruined their companies; I think you, the writers of The New York Times and journalists all over can do the American public the same courtesy of reporting the truth, really finding the truth on all aspects of American life, rather it is political races, government choices, protests or any other event. We, the readers and citizens of America deserve that much.

Education sucks in Dallas

Sometime during my high school career, I found myself at a wedding shower in Albuquerque, N.M. A friend of my mother's asked me where I attended high school, I mentioned my small college prep school with no thought to how snobby I could sound. My answer was quickly followed up by, "oh, is that private?" 

The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has been failing our school children for over two decades. One example of the issues surrounding DISD can be found during my middle school years, DISD went through 3 superintendents in less than 18 months. Our most recent superintendent left the position in May and departed Dallas for another job over the summer. A semester later, the DISD board is just now defining what they would like in their next superintendent.  

Growing up, I did not have much say in private vs. public because there was no option - if you could find the money, your children went to private school; if you had no problem finding the money, your children went really good private schools. 

It is still this way.  DISD is working to improve it's self, a just retired gentleman, named Mike Morath has giving himself 10 years to turn around DISD. He wants to reinforce with parents the importance of their presence by starting a program in the 2nd grade to show parents the positive influence they can instill in their children. This is absolutely wonderful, I wish Dallas had enough good public schools for our children; but until then - what? 

Growing up, I had in my head, the Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD) offered one of the best educations a student could ask for, while having an administration who was attentive to the needs of each student, family and community member. As I've matured, my opinion has changed. For many years I questioned if it was because I knew more about other schools or if it was because the school was failing its students.

Towards the end of 2011, ESD began to crumble among the mix of rumors, allegations and unmistakable lack of regard for its community. ESD found itself in the middle of a sex scandal and with it the drop of the focus from education. "Following nine weeks of testimony, on September 21, 2011, the Episcopal School of Dallas was found grossly negligent in how it handled a sexual relationship between a teacher and a 16-year-old student, and has been ordered to pay the girl's family an amount of $8.6 million in compensatory damages and another $700,000 in punitive damages," according to WFAA, ABC affilate in Dallas. In addition, it was recently announced that the Assistant Headmaster of ESD is resigning effective immediately and the Headmaster is stepping down. A committee has been formed to find his replacement.

So now the private schools are crumbling from the top and the public schools are crumbling from the bottom, before long the middle will be left. What does that say? 

We have left our children with a large challenge, in fact a challenge larger than some students are when standing tall. The challenge - how to succeed in school when your school is fighting against you. What happened to school board members who were no longer going for the world record of "longest serving school board member," but instead fighting for a better school, a better education and better teachers? What happened to a school board that didn't hide behind the pillars of its buildings, but owned up to its mistakes and tried to change the world? What happened that we now leave our children with schools that no longer lead by example, but instead lead with a checkbook?

Without a good education, a good support system and a good set of leaders, students are less likely to succeed, less likely to challenge themselves and more likely to wonder why they are at school. So here's my idea: start over. 

Currently the ESD school board has a member who has served well over 10 years? I personally find it short of insane that this person has been on the board that amount of time. Due to his length in service, I think this person should resign their position. If only due to the philosophy that the only constant is change. 

So let's change, it's start our school boards over and get a fresh look on how to save our children from failing school systems. For it is the educated, kind of heart and those willing to admit fault that can create change. We need to instill these traits in our children, and how can we do that without a quality education system.

During my Jesuit Volunteer year, a Jesuit priest reminded a room full of eager volunteers that we cannot change the world; but instead we can create the foundation for change and lead the way for real change. As depressing as it sounds it is true - Martin Luther King, Jr. died before he saw all 50 states allow someone of African American origin vote in an election; Abraham Lincoln died before all 50 states freed their slaves and changes will continue to come long after we die.

But we must believe in change, set the foundation for change and do nothing but demand change - our children deserve the best, so why is even the best education staring to fail our children?

Responsibilities for the Freedom of Expression in a digital world

In my junior year of college, I was introduced to PostSecret while helping a friend clean their room. The only book placed on my friend's bookshelf with any form of grace was the first PostSecret book. Beautiful in it's brown paper cover, I was welcomed by a collection of postcards that released people from their buried secrets.

When I first discovered this secret sharing, judgement free zone, PostSecret allowed for people to share secrets via Facebook. However after several less than ideal posts, the PostSecret team remembered a foundational idea in the community - a space for individuals to share their secrets, their thoughts and their fears free of judgement and anonymously.  Fortunately six years later, the PostSecret team figured out a way for people to share their secrets immediately and whenever they wished while being anonymous - an iPhone application.

Through the use of the iPhone application people were able to release their secret when they had the courage, versus holding on to the courage for sometimes years at a time. However, sadly many people abused the PostSecret application. Which resulted in a tough decision by it's founder, Frank Warren and other members of the PostSecret team. The letter announcing the change states:

The PostSecret iPhone App is Now Closed

It pains me to announce that the PostSecret App is now closed. In some ways, this is because of its success. It reached the top-selling spot in the App Store and users shared over 2 million creative secrets.

99% of the secrets created were in the spirit of PostSecret. Unfortunately, the scale of secrets was so large that even 1% of bad content was overwhelming for our dedicated team of volunteer moderators who worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week removing content that was not just pornographic but also gruesome and at times threatening.

Like the PostSecret Blog, the App was designed so each secret was absolutely anonymous. Unfortunately, that absolute anonymity made it very challenging to permanently remove determined users with malicious intent.

Bad content caused users to complain to me, Apple and the FBI. I was contacted by law enforcement about bad content on the App. Threats were made against users, moderators and my family. (Two specific threats were made that I am unable to talk about). As much as we tried, we were unable to maintain a bully-free environment. Weeks ago I had to remove the App from my daughter's phone.

Like many of you, I feel a great sense of loss from this decision but please know that we fought hard behind the scenes to find a permanent solution. We even tried prescreening 30,000 secrets a day. Deciding to remove the App from the App Store last week and holding back the release of the Android version cost us money but we feel it was the right thing to do.

To the vast majority of people who shared their earnest secrets and compassionate replies on the App, you inspired us with your honesty, humor and humanity. Even though this good faith experiment has come to an end what you shared lives on.

While the PostSecret App is now closed, PostSecret, and the PostSecret blog, are still very much open. Thanks for helping to keep the true spirit of PostSecret alive by mailing your secrets in 2012.

Sincerely,

-Frank Warren

I found myself saddened by the news that yet again another communication outlet was stopped in its tracks by people abusing it. Another you may ask?

Facebook is full of people sharing information that quite frankly I do not want to know; and I am not just talking about the "dyed my hair" or "painting my nails with my BFF" posts, but instead the posts about someone's dating life, political views (which are always right) or the infamous drunk and completely inappropriate post. Thanks to Facebook, I can set my News Feed to not update me about the individuals who choose to only post opinions and activities to which I do no have the patience to read. However, many people choose to complain instead of editing their hearing, their reading or their opinions.

It is a basic human right to have an opinion and to share it without fear of repercussions; however, the idea of "without fear" is becoming less and less likely. Occupy: Berkley found itself protesting the Chancellor's actions when she supported the police silencing the protesters. But the point of this column is to focus on our right (and responsibilities) surrounding the idea of the freedom of speech.

The American Civil Liberties Union states that,

"Freedom of speech, of the press, of association, of assembly and petition -- this set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression. The Supreme Court has written that this freedom is "the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom." Without it, other fundamental rights, like the right to vote, would wither and die."

I believe in all that is represented by the Freedom of Expression and because of that belief, I find myself believing in the attached, but seldom mentioned, responsibilities. Responsibility one: You have the right to ignore someone's expression that you disagree with just as much as you have the right to state your opinion. Responsibility two: You will not agree with everything that everyone ever says - just learn that now. In this day and age where you can have selective hearing, recognize that this is your responsibility if you cannot listen to other's opinions without freaking out.

All that being said, I could not agree with the PostSecret team more - it saddens me to see the PostSecret application close especially with it being the number one selling iPhone application, according to Warren's letter. It just shows how much people are hiding - funny since we have the Freedom of Expression. Nonetheless, we as a society are not mature enough to handle the freedom to share our thoughts, secrets and actions right as it is all happening. The ironic part - Facebook is making it easier to share all of these and PostSecret is back to the good old days of postcards and the United States Postal Service.

Defense of the Hippie

As much as Lady Gaga can grate on my nervous, she certainly had something right - "Born This Way." Everyone is born a little different, or as we are told growing up, "you are special and no one is like you."

As I have adventured through life, I am fairly certain people assumed I am crazy or at the very least weird. I know I went through the awkward teenage years, especially when I tried to mix the comfy, hippie look with the classic clothes in my closet. For the most part, I hit the normal phases in life - moving to college, getting my first car, first job, etc.

But recently, I have been hitting some phases a little early or late, depending on how you want to look at it. I'm dealing with the second peak of my bizarre phobias, as I am dealing with the stress of a new job, while in the wake of completing a half marathon. And all this got me thinking.

Growing up is stressful; but what I've discovered is that it is much more stressful when one tries to conform to society and what other people want for them. I am a pretty happy person who loves life, but I love it even more when people don't tell me what to do, how to live my life or try to fix me.

This week, I was told I would be shunned by society if I kept my phobias up. Sorry, let me go dig around in my brain for the "phobia switch." If only I could get in the back corner.

Society has such a cookie cutter idea of what each person should be like. All blondes should be ditzy and stupid. If I wear glasses people will think I am smarter, but if I wear them all the time then I will be thought of as a nerd. The list goes on and on; but all the cookie cutter idea accomplishes is depriving creativity.

In fact creativity is thought of as weird, that is unless you make money being creative. What kind of society is that? You can only be creative if you dress certain way, think that way and act within the guidelines.

I encourage the promotion of self. I am the last one to promote self esteem; but I am certainly someone who can encourage searching for yourself. If you want to continue following the cookie cutter way, feel free to do so; but don't harp on those who express themselves differently. Who are you to judge?

As long as the job gets done on time, as long as the "weirdos" are still healthy and functioning - who cares are we get there. I know I don't.

Occupy: [Any space In Reality]

Crosses at the gates of Ft. Benning. 

Memorializing those who have 

passed at the hands of SOA graduates.

The passed two years I have adventured to the beautiful state of Georgia to voice my opinion and to let people know, that I will stand against the existence of the School of the Americas. In the last several months, other people among my generation have stood up and said, “We won’t support... We won’t stand for...”

The freedom of speech growth has quite frankly scared some of us off. Last year’s close encounter with the Columbus (Georgia) police for what most perceived as crossing the street will forever be ingrained in my head. Believing in human rights enough to know not to stand still and run a risk of arrest.

As this year’s Fort Benning protest grew closer and closer, a friend of mine and I decided not to adventure to the annual School of the Americas (SOA) protest. The SOA is a program that is run by the U.S. government and military which has been directly linked to the death of hundreds of individuals in Latin America, including Archbishop Oscar Romero, the 6 Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador and countless other men, women and children.

A part of me is sad, that I too have been silenced. With my to-do list overwhelming me, I find myself not reaching out to local churches to get the word out, to get the prayers flowing or to get the knowledge out about the SOA.

But why have I been silenced? Why is my friend who has attended the last three years, choosing this year to stay home and pray silently? The fear of federal lock-up for minimum six months? The fear of learning what the inside of the Columbus, Georgia jail really looks like? The fear of being confused as a threatening protester?

With the Occupy protests going on, many peaceful protesters are finding themselves in a place they never thought they would be - in the hands of a police officer forced along with zip ties around their wrists.

Protesters at the gates of Fort Benning, November 2010.

We had finally become a people comfortable saying “enough is enough.” We finally found the spirit that founded America, that brings countless individuals to these United States each year and this is how we are greeted - with arrests?

In no way did I expect open arms, listening ears and love; but I did expect to know what is truthful and honest. Most arrests are made because officers truly believe they are protecting the masses by arresting this individual; however I am saddened by the reality that fear is suppressing the people.

However, what does not help is that many organizations are jumping on the Occupy bandwagon and renaming their annual protest Occupy: [space where protest is held]. There are many issues with this marketing technique. Foremost, if a protest is linked in any way to the Occupy movement, the police force to protect and counter the protest will double if not triple. The environment around the protest will be completely different, resulting in more hostility than usual.

Secondly, Occupy Protests are asking for a change in the financial situation for Americans, in financial policies and in the way our government is involved in our daily lives. If a protest not focusing on these areas of American life, puts Occupy as part of their annual activities, they are participating in false advertising.

Most importantly, when organizations use the Occupy slogan as part of their protest they loose the real meaning in why they are fighting for change, where they want to see the changes and how they see a different future.

As this weekend continues, please pray for those who feel called to be the voice for the voiceless, who feel trapped by our developing nation and by those effected in the past, present and future by the graduates of the School of Americas.

For more information on the School of the Americas please check out, www.soawatch.org.

 

United Under Facebook

This past month, Facebook introduced its users to its whole new look - new friend lists, larger pictures on the News Feed page and the beginning of the Timeline concept.

As the new formatting began creeping into our lives, so did the upset Facebook patrons, wondering where to readjust their privacy settings, what "subscribing" means and stating their opinions on the larger pictures.

As we have all learned with any time of uproar or protest, get a few unhappy people started and few more will follow. But with outlets like Facebook a few hundred more will following. The complaints, confusion and frustrations piled onto my news feed like a line of Starbucks patrons from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. waiting for their coffee and not afraid to voice their opinion.

What I found most interesting among Facebook users is the unity to stand up and give their opinion, out in the open for all to read. I wonder if half of the vocal Facebook patrons are half as willing to share their opinions on politics, war and other controversial issues. And if so; is Facebook the match that starts the fire? Does take it Facebook and layout changes to unite our generation to voice its opinion. I certainly hope not.

Following the Facebook layout changes, several issues came to national limelight - which were completely unrelated to the change in the most popular social network. Would Americans had been as vocal about these issues if Facebook had not changed days before? Were we united with a previous national event - the changes in Facebook; really? I certainly hope not.

So what I am really asking is if our generation can only be united through Facebook; and if so, is it flame for change caused by some Facebook activity that leads to the Facebook users to make a stand against other issues in our society.

Do we only unite together because of a website like Facebook; is it that influencing? If so, Facebook should have a new change each week, so we begin our weeks with a Facebook rant and then begin to tell people how we feel about current, political and social issues, such as education, taxes and the economy.

We should be a generation who care about more than where our pictures are, where our friends can be "found" or what music someone is listening to; but instead work to change the issues we really care about - we all have something to be passionate about. So go find your passions and enjoy changing your life.

I'm not a runner

As I reflected over my last blog post, I was constantly reminded of something in the later added image. The image of an individual holding up a poster where the last line reads, "Live your dream and share your passion." What really resonated with me was "share your passion." So here it goes, I want to share with you my love of running.

I have never considered myself a runner. My high school physical education teacher spent several months asking me to consider joining the track team, I said "I'll think about" every time. I could tell he thought I had potential and I just did not have it in me to tell him "no."

Flash forward about four years later to my junior year of college, when I started interval running. I quickly learned it was the best way to figure out what was going on in my life. Running became my way of thinking, running outdoors gave me the room to think.

I've always considered myself a thinker. I over analyze everything, from what clothes I wear to how I send a text message. It's ridiculous, but running gives me the room to think and somehow the room to realize there is much more to life than thinking.

After years of not having new year's resolutions, I woke up at the beginning of January one morning and announced that I would like to run a half marathon this year. Well September has rolled around, it is still 90 degrees outside and I find the end of the year fast approaching without a half marathon completed.

But fear not, I have paid my registration fee for one in December and I'm still running. So how I am still running, loving it more than I have in a long time and ready for so much more?

So much of my training is figuring out where my limits are, how to expand them and to use the resources I have closest to me. I contacted a friend of mine who runs marathons to see how he trains, he directed me towards a website and from there I found the training program that fits me best. Texas summers came and I switched to treadmills and began training as if I was running a full marathon, in order to make for the difference between treadmill and outdoor running.

September 13 rolled around - my ultimatum date, start running outside no matter what. I got up about an hour earlier, ate my breakfast, tied my shoes and went out to pound some pavement for 3 miles. Okay, the pounding was not for all three miles, it was more of half a mile I pounded and the rest I sped  walked. Finishing right at my goal time, it appeared as though running on the treadmill had not hurt me as much as I thought it might.

Today, marks the beginning of my second week outside, there was a bit of rain as I began running, but before long, the sun was out and the trail of full of runners, bikers and strollers. Four miles down today and I'm ready for some more.

But there is more to running than just running. I am beginning to learn the value of cross training and stretching. I have always had trouble with the whole stretching routine, but seems to be getting better. During my Jesuit Volunteer year, I began practicing yoga about once a week and have a carried my practice back to Dallas. Beginning my Saturdays with yoga, is a wonderful way to have a relaxing weekend, but also to stretch in preparation for my long run.  

Yoga also helps me to learn to focus on my breathing and just how much pressure my body can handle. So much of one's yoga practice is listening to what your body needs to feel better, to challenge itself and to enjoy life. This is accomplished through deep breathing and by paying attention to your muscles and joints. I take this philosophy to my running and it makes for a much more enjoyable expierence.

Following my yoga class, I bike, either stationary or on the Katy Trail for about half an hour. So much of working towards any athletic goal is working all the muscles in your body so they are there to support the muscles that experience the brunt of the force.

I find because running provides me with thinking time, I prefer to run by myself - at least for now. However I make certain to remind myself, that without the presence of others I would not be able to do run nearly as well as I am. This lesson is a wonderful way to start out each day, remembering that even though we are each our own individual people it is within groups that we make the most change.

Badger Call for Change

There is a part of growing up that is sad; the part where you realize what you remember as once was, is no longer that way. As an alum, who will openly admit my fond memories of Spring Hill are probably sugar coated, I love Spring Hill with my whole heart and hold it dear to me. The memories that flood my mind are of wonderful people, who stood tall with pride, with hope and with respect for their friends, for themselves and for their fellow Badgers.

But where my respect is lost is when I walked down my dorm hallway to find chairs thrown everywhere, fire extinguishers extinguished and holes in walls. I know this is not some badger right of passage and therefore not all students are taking part in the fun. I am not asking for hall monitors to bring back flashbacks of Middle School or episodes of Even Stevens (for those of us whose schools was too small for hall monitors); but what flame I am trying to ignite is one of change.

I could go on for hours with Gandhi’s, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” or Martin Luther King quotes about how change must begin within before you can demand it from others; but that would be boring and less than helpful. What I am most tempted to do, is go into a “back when I was badger” story; but maybe that will help explain my frustrations.

I used to leave my door to my dorm wide open, not a problem in the world. I would walk around campus at 3 a.m. due to insomnia and be fine, no fear of attacks by visitors or by students. Honestly, it was some what normal to see sober students walking around at 3 a.m. enjoying all that is Spring Hill. There was a mentality that nothing could happen to you on campus and sleeping through the night was not abnormal because the music would stop playing, the fire alarm did not sound and students respected each other. But it appears as though that maybe changing.

I picked Spring Hill as my home of four years for many reasons; but I graduated loving it for many more reasons. I graduated from a small high school and loved knowing who my teachers were, I desperately wanted that same feel in college. Stumbling upon Spring Hill, I knew I found home after a weekend visit to the Hill. I love that feel, I knew everyone and everyone at least pretended to know me.

But Spring Hill is also a funny place because as a student, it is hard to fully appreciate it until the status of Alum is gained. During a student’s time at Spring Hill, their heart is usually torn in two, half loving the Hill and the other half frustrated by parking tickets, homework piles and mass e-mails; but there is a turning point. For some it is the moment of the looming real world, the walk down the Avenue of Oaks or the visit months after graduation when you begin to truly love Spring Hill.

The respect you once had for your fellow classmates and badgers finds its place again, you realize Spring Hill will always have a special place in your heart, you realize what it means to be Jesuit educated, to live with Service for Others and to fight for what is right.

I did a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) and so much of that year was focused on respect, service, social justice and belief; so I hope the ways I have grown and matured are not just because of JVC, but also because of Spring Hill.

I hope it does not take an other drastic event on campus to make Spring Hill students aware that  change can be created. Certainly there are times when it feels like no one is on your side, shoot I’ve been there; but I survived and I made change for the people behind me. There is something to Gahdi’s quote and to my new rule in life - Don’t complain if you aren’t willing to consider the other options or changes.

When St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order bid his Jesuits farewell before they left on their mission work, he told them, “Go, set the world on fire and in flame.” I tell you this, so you know there comes a time when change is necessary, that time maybe now and that change has to come from within yourself, it must be within reason and it must begin and take off.

Life is terribly complicated, but only because we insist on making it that way, so let’s simplify it - Do what you love and change what you do not. So if you are no longer happy with how things are at Spring Hill - stand up and do something about it. Don’t blame the administration; but instead recognize their jobs; make changes when you see something you do not think is right, whether that is messy common areas, a drink spilt in the hallway or something bigger. This is your campus and your life.

How bad is the summer drought?

This passed Fourth of July, Central Texans had to come to the harsh reality that Fireworks were not going to a part of this year's festivities. As the summer progressed, IH 35 started being covered in signs reminding drivers and residents to conserve on water. Rumor has it, this harsh reality is no where near ending.

To put things a little more in perspective, Hill Country Conservatory (HCC), based in Austin, Texas sent out a few interesting statistics on just how bad the drought has gotten. In a very creative way, HCC linked the statistics to donation suggestions - I give them props for this. Here is what HCC says:

We are asking for donations based on some of the recent records we have been breaking - every little bit counts!

$11 - Total amount of rain (in inches) in Central Texas since October 2010 (20 inches below average)

$27 - Number of Consecutive Days above 100 in July and August 2011

$63 - Total Number of Days in 2011 with Temperatures in excess of 100 degrees

$79 - Predicted Low Temperature on Tuesday (8/16)

$105 - Predicted High Temperature for Tuesday (8/16)

If you are interested in donating, click here.