Socialized American Materialism

In light of a particularly interesting conversation that sprung up in my Global Eco-politics class this afternoon, I want to share some thoughts about our society, the norms we have acquired through socialization, and the implications of these norms.  I'm also going to use this opportunity to plug Mike Beevers' GVPT 306 class again.  Rarely have I been in a class that encourages the level of thoughtful debate, "outside the box" thinking, and genuinely interesting material that Mike's class seems to combine so well.  Anyway, take GVPT 306 if you can find a gap in your schedule for it, and if you don't like it you can tell Mike to blame me personally, hah. 

I'm going to use the semi-comedic example of my cell phone to illustrate some of my thoughts here.  For the people who know me, my cell phone is an occassional source of teasing.  While it may not resemble Zack Morris' gigantic black brick of a phone (for those of you who are still "Saved by the Bell" junkies), it is at the very least slightly outdated, and it features an awkward looking, oversized bugeye speaker inconveniently located on the front.  Needless to say, I've been toying around with the idea of getting a new cell phone for quite some time.  Unfortunately, my luck with cell phones isn't the best...I've destroyed several phones in several interesting ways, so maybe this adds to my procrastination with getting a new one. 

Okay, so what's the point of this?  Today in class we spoke a lot about the major influences that cause us to want to buy tons of new stuff all the time.  Within the context of my cell phone example, I found myself thinking a lot about the forces that make me want to go out and buy a new one.  Is it because my phone is no longer able to serve its purpose?  Most likely not.  Could it be more of a social pressure to appear up-to-date with technology and new consumer innovations?  Maybe.  Is it some learned behavior that we have internalized due to the materialism of American society?   Think about it...we are encouraged to buy, buy, buy every day in so many different ways.  In America today it almost seems like  excessive consumption is part of our civic duty.  Current research estimates that the average American sees about 2,000 advertisements each day.  Traditionally, expensive cars, big houses, and nice things are associated with success here in the U.S.  What about living peacefully, being kind, and serving others?  Do these things really factor into how we have come to define a successful lifetime?

In the way our consumerist society works today we can see so many examples of "planned obsolescence."  This is the process by which corporations create "new" products that emerge to replace "old" ones.  For example, how many people do you see walking around campus with the old style iPod's anymore?  Most people have nano's or newer models.  In the context of sustainability, the practice of buying these "new" things to replace "old" ones is very counter-productive.  Its very common for us to just throw out or replace things that we consider to be old and out-dated even when they may have tons of productive life left in them.  I think we need to seriously change our perspective on materialism, a change that certainly isn't easy.  Food for thought: the average ecological footprint (that is, a measure of an individual's consumption represented in hectares of land) of someone living in America is 24, whereas that of a person living in Bangladesh is only 0.6.  Obviously, there are lots of reasons behind this, but I'm betting that American materialism has quite a bit to do with it.

In conclusion, I came to the realization today that I do not, in fact, need a new cell phone.  I'm content with the fact that I can make calls and do some texting...that's good enough for me.  I'm going to wear this one out until it finds itself in a pool, gets a 45 pound weight dropped on it, or gets run over (add in here any number of additional ways I have destroyed my phones).

Think about it....

Peace, 

Pat 

Self-Care AND Community-Care

Alright, let's be a little more truthful here, and admit that college isn't always "the best time of your life" as the universe would have you believe prior to getting here. From an abundance of school work, to transitional lifestyles, to the impermanence of every single semester, to the challenge of trying to understand your self, purpose, and what you want to do after college--these years can be the cause of much stress, anxiety, and even depression for many. In fact, often times the overwhelming reality of college life hits so hard that many students resort to the unfortunate path of suicide. While many other students have an incredibly transformative and positive experience, suicide still remains the second leading cause of death for college-aged students, and in turn, affects college communities on a very large scale. Do you know a friend or acquaintance who has taken their life during college? Sadly, I could name many.

So here we have a tremendous challenge: How do we recognize suicide as not just the final act of an individual struggle, but a tragedy felt by an entire community? And then, how do we work towards suicide prevention in a similar way?--through a community effort. I wish the people who came to mind were still here today to fulfil there potential and somehow find happiness. Unfortunately, this is not possible.

What is possible? A group effort of heightened compassion, patience, and resourcefulness. Whether you yourself are suffering emotionally and mentally, or you know someone who is--we must all work together to decrease the pain of suicide that eventually touches us all in one way or another.

I might wish friends who are gone were still here today, but I don't need to wish there was something I could do--because there are things I could do. There are multiple resources available through the university for those who are struggling in any way. Even if you are not feeling suicidal--your mental health is an important priority, and we still encourage you to take some time for self-care and personal growth. If you are a friend of someone who is struggling or feeling suicidal, please help to encourage them to seek further help through one of many resources:

*** Counseling Center, Shoemaker Building, 301.314.7651.
9:00 am - 9:00 pm, Monday-Thursday and 9:00 am-5:00 pm on Fridays.
Counselors are on call for emergencies during the weekend hours.

*** Mental Health Service, University Health Center, 301.314.8106.
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday and 11:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturdays.
A 24-hour Nurse line is available at 301.314.9386

*** HELP Center, South Campus Dining Hall
a 24-hour student-peer hotline is available at (301) 314-HELP.
Walk-in hours vary based on volunteer availability--call ahead.

*** University Chaplains, Memorial Chapel, 301.405.8448 or 301.405.8450

*** Resident Life staff. Contact your RA, the RA on duty, or your community office, 301.314.7343.

*** Suicide Awareness Health Education and Training Kick-Off Event
Wednesday, November 14 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Stamp Student Union--Prince George's Room
A panel of students and mental health experts will discuss depression and suicide and the efforts
being taken to prevent suicide and raise awareness within our campus community.
There will be a free raffle and refreshments.
Speakers include: Dr. Marta Hopkinson, Dr. Michael Torres, Dr. Akira Otani,Amy Tannenbaum and AJ Arrese.
www.health.umd.edu

Let us not forget the strength of a smile or kind words, or the comfort of another listening with full attention and care. Let us look to manifest these qualities in ourselves, and to offer them to others.

Let the word spread...

With Hope and Peace,
Rachael

12,000 Homeless in D.C.

This number is astounding to me.  Washington, D.C. is not, by any means, a large city.  You see homeless people every time you go to the district; it's almost a desensitizing experience.  I think somewhere along the way I've internalized an image of homeless people as just those living in horrible conditions on the street.  This is not in any way truly representative of the homeless culture in our capital.  In actuality, only about 13% of the region's homeless are living on the streets.  Over a third of the homeless population is employed, and more than 40% have families which generally live in shelters or transitional housing.  According to the Diamondback, we actually have several homeless students going to school here at the university.  The exponential increase in housing costs in the district has forced many families into more marginalized housing situations.  Here at Maryland, rising housing costs may be a predicament that we can relate to, however, for most of us these increases don't mean the difference between having a roof over our heads and being out on the street. 

You can help.  Saturday, November 17th is the Fannie Mae Foundation's annual Help the Homeless Walkathon.  Come down to the National Mall, enjoy some (hopefully) good weather and a lot of good company.  The Walkathon begins at 9:00AM, but be sure to get there a little bit early to complete the registration.  Registration begins at 7:00AM at the intersection of 12th and Jefferson Drive, NW, right on the front lawn of the Department of Agriculture.  Let's make sure UMD is well represented this year...the more people we get out, the more money will be raised.  Check out the massive list of beneficiaries that will receive contributions from the Walkathon at:

http://www.helpthehomelessdc.org/site/c.plI4IcNWJyE/b.2699653/k.C202/2007_Beneficiary_Organization_Directory.htm

See you there!

Peace,

Pat 

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle

November is a great month to take just 30 days and start living a greener, greater lifestyle!  This calendar is a great way to start today!  Today's message is to save water.  Ever thought about how much water you're wasting when you leave the faucet on while brushing your teeth or while you take your long, high-pressure showers?  If you cut back on those simple daily activities, you can save money and live a more ecofriendly lisfestyle!

Check out the calendar at

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calendar_2007-11.pdf

Top 10 Taiwan Lessons

It's one thing to be a tourist in a foreign country where disconnect from the people is fairly easy to do, so long as you have some basic language survival skills (How much does this cost?) and a good map! But it's a completely different story to be taken care of day and night by the people of that culture for 4 consecutive days. I loved the Taiwanese--their spirit, positive attitude, and willingness to engage in as much learning as possible. Their drive for knowledge inspired me on so many levels, and in my short time in Taiwan, I learned so many life lessons. Here's my top 10:

1. Patience is a virtue
Most of what we did was in groups, and if one of the 15 people wanted to stop at a store, everyone waited patiently without complaints of irritation (so it seemed). I kept thinking that in America at least SOMEONE would be complaining or wondering why they had to wait, and why they couldn't just go off by themselves. But they had such a collectivist community, that it was expected to wait and make the best of the group. And that's what ended up happening--we got to know each other better and we enjoyed the moment we were in.
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2. Reflect often--appreciate your view*
On the way to the top of the mountain, every time we turned around, the view got just a little bit more spectacular, with more of the city line in sight. It was such a metaphoric way to end our trip and realize how important reflection is... otherwise, you could go on and on forever only seeing an uphill struggle without recognizing what's been accomplished.

3. Share what you have--especially food!
For one, it's healthier! Every meal was shared which went along with the collectivist mindset, but also made the experience more relaxing and let us enjoy and appreciate our meal, rather than rush through it.

4. Ask questions and listen fully
What a wonderful feeling when you can tell you're being listened to fully, and you're not just the side bar to some other distraction like a cell phone or the Internet. I learned so much by asking questions, and by being asked questions, too. When I asked questions of life and personal experience with respect that each individual would have a valuable answer, I learned so much about their humanity and culture, while still recognizing that it was only their personal experience. I think sometimes we get so caught up on thinking we already know the way things are, that we don't need to stop and listen to each other's personal stories. But the most meaningful and impactful things I've ever learned in life were through the stories of people who were willing to share them. I am so thankful that these people were willing beyond belief to share what they could with me.

5. Respect thy elders
I was constantly amazed at how instantly a young Taiwanese person would stand up if an elderly person stepped onto public transportation and there were no seats left. The reaction was as reflexive as a funny bone. I just thought that most Americans could learn a lot about the value of family, and especially elders from the Taiwanese culture.

6. Positive attitude is key--smile more often
Simply said, sometimes a positive attitude is enough to make amazing things happen... even when you're eating food you don't like or waiting for someone as they shop. Positivity is key and can change an experience you usually wouldn't enjoy into one of such simplicity and fun.

7. Global awareness makes for better conversation
People were so awake to what was happening in the world. It was a great opportunity to hear opinions about every issue under the sun, and refreshing that people stood for important ideas and actions towards social change.

8. Set a good example, America--every one's watching
America's like the popular kid in school who everyone knows and is affected by in some way or another--sometimes large, sometimes small. But America most definitely doesn't know everyone, OR the effect it has on everyone. We must be more aware of this. American culture is infiltrated into mostly every country in the world... in some ways good and in others bad. We have to be aware of the influence we're having, and try to ensure that it's the influence we want to be having.
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9. When you split the load, the weight is lighter*
How beautifully these people knew how to make a lighter load. Because the culture is so collectivist, there was tons of effective and productive teamwork at play, and SO MUCH got accomplished, seemingly effortlessly. (I'm sure it wasn't actually effortless. They were also very hard workers!) But even in terms of leading us for tourism... each day of the week was in the hands of a few different people, and it was really evident how much shared responsibility was put into their efforts. A lesson I definitely want to take home, as many of you might also feel like an overworked, over-achiever, in it for the long haul on your own...This is not the only way of living! We could trust each other and hold each other accountable to accomplishing a team effort!

10. Say Yes! You never know what you're passing up if you don't give it a shot
We almost didn't climb the mountain on our last morning in Taiwan because we hadn't slept and we were kind of tired. And if we hadn't taken our opportunity while we were there, we would have never known the incredible view we would have missed. Same thing about applying for this opportunity in the first place...If I had decided that it wasn't worth it to miss a week of class, then I would have never learned all of these amazing lessons--and sadly, I wouldn't have even known what I was missing.

This trip was full of "yes moments". I hope that all of you, in your busy and incredible lives, find a little more time to say "yes" to the experiences that make life more full of meaning and excitement. Right now I have papers, exams, and all kinds of work to make up for after missing a week of school... but those things are trivial, everyday matters that will never stop asking for my attention. This experience, however, was one that changed me, made me see things through a different lens, and helped me regain an energy for exploration and knowledge. The rewards already outweigh the cost of missing out on the daily routine, and in fact, motivates me to keep moving forward.

What can YOU do to spice up your daily grind? There are so many opportunities calling... Sometimes, we just need to realize that it's okay, it's possible, and it's the best thing we could ever do--to go out and make the opportunities ours.

Let the word spread to action!

Peace,
Rachael