Back to the basics

It doesn't surprise me that a U.S. company is prototyping an anti-rape underwear for women, in the same way that it doesn't surprise me when a rape survivor's clothes and reason for being where she was is questioned more than the rapist's identity and the horrific act of violence itself. It is one of the dumbest things I've read (for reasons correctly elucidated in this Think Progress article) but that isn't saying much given the volume of ridiculous comments, arguments, and suggestions that constantly emerge around the topic.

As always, while it doesn't surprise me, it does make me angry. When did we as a species so completely (and seemingly irreversibly) lose the plot? I realize that that's a stupid question in a world where actions that breed hatred and aggression continue at an alarming scale and intensity but it frustrates me no end that somewhere in this complex mess of orthodox beliefs, baseless convictions, and misappropriated superiority we've become accustomed to a complete disregard for what is fundamentally right and wrong. The problem at hand is not complicated. The root causes, manifestations, and systems are, yes, but the problem itself is not. Force, aggression, and a violation of human dignity is wrong regardless of the context and situation and it is always the fault of the perpetrator. Dig deeper and it's the fault of the society, upbringing, and conditioning. Similarities emerge across all these, but never across those who have been raped. Defense classes, pepper sprays, rape whistles, and anti-rape underwear are all band-aid solutions which, despite good intentions, shift focus from interventions that have proven far more effective and long-lasting. I don't have a problem with the products themselves but with the shortsightedness with which their connotations and inevitable harm on social fabrics and mindsets are ignored.

This post isn't to delve into theories of rape-culture. It is to point out that unless we begin diagnosing the issue correctly and seeing it squarely for what it is, we are not going to get any closer to solving it.

A few weeks after I wrote the above post, an article was published titled 'Why selling anti-rape wear perpetuates victim-blaming' that echoed my thoughts and articulated the problem perfectly. It has some interesting examples and captures the issue well.

Fighting Guns with Books

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

A standing ovation and thunderous applause welcomed Malala Yousafzai on stage at the Social Good Summit in New York on Sept 23. The energy in the room was palpable and unlike any other panel yet. What followed were twenty minutes of sheer inspiration and even a few emotional moments.

Malala was accompanied by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai and friend and CEO of the Malala Fund, Shiza Shahid, and the three were joined on stage by Elizabeth Gore of the United Nations Foundation. This panel was special to me not because of the uniqueness of the topic but because of the uniqueness with which the topic was approached. This time, the simplicity not complexity of words, concepts, and ideas is what made the audience reflect. Here was a girl who had been fighting for her right to study for years, speaking out against a system that no one else dared to provoke, and who understood the far-reaching positive impact of education better than most others in her region of the world. Here was a girl who paid a heavy and unfair price for her bravery but instead of nursing feelings of revenge and anger, only grew more resolute and committed. She believes that a book and a pen are much more powerful than guns and tanks. And she is right. I was left wondering why things that are so obvious to this 16 year old girl are incomprehensible to so many individuals around the world.

What stayed with me most afterward was something Malala’s father Ziauddin said. On being asked about the role he has played in his daughter’s life, he said, “Too many young girls have their wings clipped – they aren’t allowed to live or be free. The only thing I did was accept her as an individual and let her be free.” There was something so simple and yet profound about this. While it seems like the most basic thing and was dismissed by him as the “only thing” he did, it is actually the most important. It is often the missing link. Too many parents around the world fail to look at their daughters as deserving the same independence, opportunities, and support as their sons. Malala’s father is an example for parents around the world who need to learn to look at their daughters as individuals, to respect and encourage them to be who they are. If more people followed Ziauddin’s lead, they would unleash the potential of a million Malalas.

Ziauddin also insisted that terrorists are against everything that stands for civilization and culture. They thrive in the darkness caused by illiteracy. Ziauddin’s faith in the power of education to spread light and opportunities was clearly passed on to his daughter. Malala concluded by saying, “Every thing that is a reality now, was once a dream. And so I dream that every girl around the world will be educated, and if we all work toward it, this too will become a reality.”. It was unreal standing so close to her and her conviction, passion, and commitment were evident and contagious. This is a girl who the Taliban couldn't silence. This is a girl who will help children around the world have a brighter future.

This blog was originally published here on the Plus Social Good website.

Tell Us What You Think: #2030Now

Tell Us What You Think: #2030Now

  Throughout the Social Good Summit, we'll be asking you for your opinion on some key questions. Take our survey now, and we'll report back on what we hear.

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Shared from +SocialGood

Violence Against Women: Let's Talk Solutions

Several weeks ago, like many others around the world, I too read RoseChasm's account of her experience in India. I felt a range of emotions as I read what she had to say. Anger, shame, frustration, familiarity, disgust. It was saddening, but not shocking. I knew it would take the internet by storm (at least for a few weeks), but for me, it was one more sour story in an ever-growing pile. A poignant echo, reminiscent of too many others.

When I discussed it with a friend that evening, my mind immediately went to my past eight months in the US. I've had my share of concerns here but none of them have revolved around whether or not my outfit is appropriate for a walk to the grocery store, or a ride on the local bus. It is a relief to not have men look at your bare legs like something to devour, or in a way that would leave you feeling dirty, disgusted, and disturbed. I have to admit, it is strangely liberating to not have to worry about those things, and even as I type this, I realize that it's a feeling that too many women in India (and around the world for that matter) will spend their lives not knowing.

As my friend, who is an American, listened to my animated rant about the status quo, he asked me simply, "What is the reason for this? Why does it happen?" I began to tell him, but I grew more and more frustrated as I struggled to piece it all together. His question stayed with me for a long time.

Why are Indian men ogling, molesting, eve-teasing, and raping women? Why is something that is so obviously abhorrent to everyone else, second nature to the shameless and arrogant Indian man?

We know the reasons. We've hashed them out over the years, through innumerable blogs and articles, and we've talked about them at protests and round table discussions. We know that, very broadly, patriarchy, illiteracy, poor parenting and upbringing, an absence of good role models, an untrustworthy police force, judicial loopholes, bad governance, lack of accountability, and several other such factors have contributed to the state of affairs. These aren't 'current' state of affairs - they've existed for decades, but they're finally being laid out bare. Now there's a desire for change and a clearer understanding of root causes by a larger portion of the population than ever before. This group can come together to transform a society that mutely accepts and reproduces miscreants to one that is able to stand up and defend the dignity of its people. All of its people.

So how do we go about solving something so massive, interconnected, and deep-rooted, that it often seems hard to fathom and impossible to navigate? Before I share my thoughts, I want to highlight a few of the responses that followed RoseChasm's account. There have been a spate of "pro-India" articles advising against stereotyping and generalizing, as well as many comments from Indians apologizing, sympathizing, and sharing their own personal stories. I respect and agree with a lot that has been written and so, as an Indian who is both proud and patriotic, as well as fed up and angry, I feel the need to state my position.

While I agree that painting all of India with one broad 'anti-women' stroke is unfair and incorrect, I choose to generalize 'Indian men' in this piece for the sake of making connections between behavior, culture, and socialization. I was groped by a stranger inside a subway in New York a few months ago, for the first and only time in my life, and I understand that sexual harassment is (unfortunately) a global phenomenon. Despite that, for the sake of highlighting the sheer volume and range of attacks in India and the various manifestations of gender inequality, as well as finding solutions that are India-specific, I am approaching this as an 'India problem'. I have met hundreds of wonderful, honorable, "non-stereotypical" Indian men who condemn misogyny and patriarchy. I know they exist, but my focus is on the millions who need to join the movement to shame deviants and oppose uncivilized behavior - those who are still silent.

India is diverse, conservative, extreme, stubborn, and skeptical. It is also young, energized, hopeful, ambitious, modern, and passionate. It's tricky to find a balance between these two Indias, but that is where the solution lies. India's rich culture and heritage should be celebrated and respected, but no longer in its entirety. There are aspects of our culture that need to be weeded and replaced, and this can only be done by a younger India that can see beyond hierarchies of caste, class, and gender.

The following list is in no way exhaustive, but it is a start. These aren't even solutions necessarily, but topics that I believe can spark conversations that result in solutions for a new India.

1. You're never too young to start learning respect - Unhealthy relationships between a boy and girl, and corresponding superior/inferior attitudes begin at a very young age. This is one of the most fundamental reasons for sexual violence. For generations, children have been conditioned to discriminate. Boys and girls emulate conventional gender roles that they see in their own households, and this behavior is prompted and reinforced by constant verbal cues. It is magnified when a boy's violent or condescending behavior toward a girl is ignored at his school or dismissed as playful banter. If he's growing up thinking it's okay to treat girls disrespectfully, then it's a failure of the entire system. We all know parents, and we all know teachers. We could start there. One person at a time.
2. Replace sexual entitlement with sexual autonomy - In a recent survey conducted by the UN, 70-80% of the rapists interviewed cited sexual entitlement as their reason for doing it. These respondents were not from India but it is no secret that universally, rape is usually an act of exerting power and dominance. In an earlier blog post, I mentioned how archaic traditions and beliefs have led to sexual autonomy for women (and as a result the right to say no) becoming an alien concept for most Indian men. This too needs to be addressed during the formative years. The entire socialization process needs to be transformed so that parents are not only good role models for children by dispelling gender stereotypes, but are also actively talking to their children (especially boys) about healthy sexual behavior that does not include objectification of women. Finn Wightman excellently articulates what every boy needs to hear growing up. Indian parents would not be comfortable having this exact conversation with their children, but there are several other ways to go about it while still getting the same message across.
3. Our understanding of violence and protection - I overheard two things at the protests in December last year that need to be pointed out. The first was someone saying "Rape hua, haan, par jis bhayanak tarah hua, woh bohot dukh ki baat hai" (The rape happened, yes, but the brutal manner in which it happened is very upsetting). We have to stop being a society whose degree of tolerance is proportionate to its perceived degree of severity/brutality of the crime. Rape is rape. It is as much a violation of human dignity in a closed room as it is on a moving train. There are several forms of violence, and there is nothing innocent about 'eve-teasing' even if it doesn't result in rape. It is important to speak up against even the so-called "harmless" forms of harassment like ogling and "accidental groping". It is not okay for half the population to live in constant fear in the presence of the opposite sex. The second thing I heard was a group of men saying the slogan "Save our daughters, save our sisters!" While it was well-intended, the approach is completely wrong since viewing a woman only in relation to her father, brother, or son only propagates patriarchy. We've failed to look at a woman as an individual in this country, detached from traditional roles, for centuries. That's fundamental to respect. Recently, India criminalized voyeurism, stalking, and acid attacks. While it is a significant step forward, there is still a lot to be done. Marital rape is still not a crime, and security forces have legal immunity for sexual assault. Both are grossly under reported.
4. The other half - Notice how the focus of most discussions related to sexual violence, including patronizing or outright condescending remarks, has always been women? It is possibly the only crime in which we spend more time talking about the survivor than the culprit. Why? Because of the lack of gender ambiguity. Since most rape cases are committed by men, the upholders of our flawed patriarchal social fabric take it upon themselves to string together as many illogical reasons as they can to defend them, almost as if its a personal attack. When Eve Ensler was in Delhi last year, a man on the panel with her said something that was simultaneously simple and profound. He said "for every woman that has been raped, there is a man (or men) who is a rapist. Let's focus on him." If we just turn the whole thing around, if we talk to all the men we know, who talk to all the men that they know, who talk to all the men they know, eventually you're reaching those who are likely to act violently. You're separated from them by fewer degrees than you think. It is SO important to involve men in this fight. Even those that would never commit the crime themselves. So instead of saying that "25,000 cases of rape were reported in India in 2012", let's say it the way it really is - At least 25,000 men in India used violence to force a woman to have sex with them without her consent.
5. Reclaim public spaces - In an interview, Flavia Agnes said "The answer is not to keep women inside, but to have more women on the streets and to have a more open environment." And of course, she's right. A recent report "Invisible Women" by Shilpa Phadke, Shilpa Ranade and Sameera Khan argues that women will not be safe until we have infrastructural changes in everything from public transport to public toilets. Countries like Vienna have successfully incorporated gender mainstreaming into city planning and India has a lot to learn and do in this regard. Things as simple as well-lit roads go a long way in making a city safer for women (as one of, and not the only initiative, of course). Gender mainstreaming in social policy or urban planning is still a distant reality for us but we can start small. It's easier for some of us to reclaim public spaces than for others. Let's think about ways in which we can do this while empowering other women to do the same.
6. Openly condemn the hypocrisy - Be aware of it, expose it, and lead by example. Whether it's the hypocrisy of citizens who identify themselves as middle and upper class/caste and dismiss sexual violence as a lower class/caste problem, or the exasperating hypocrisy (and irrationality) of moral policing and honor killings. I wrote about it in a previous blog post. It's mindless, it's ingrained, and it's conveniently tweaked and used by perpetrators who are experts in misinterpretation (read: politicians, police officers, panchayat heads, etc). It stares us in the face everyday and it won't go away overnight but we have to point it out and be very very careful that we aren't perpetuating it in any way.
7. We are the system - We demand systemic change all the time without realizing that we are what makes the system. One of the biggest tragedies in India is that the current political and judicial system do far more to repulse young Indians than to attract them. If these systems worked ethically, it would change the face of the country. It is up to us to persevere, to dissect, and overturn every single thing we see going wrong in this bureaucratic mess, from bribery to sexism. It's far from easy but it needs to be done because while attitudes and kyriarchy form one half of this puzzle, law and order, and governance form the other.
8. Everyone can be a part of the solution - With more and more people from all works of life realizing that creating a new and equal India is their responsibility too, the movement is growing every day. Some incredible projects have caught my attention over the past few months that serve as an inspiration to all those who want to get involved or start their own initiative. The Red Brigade and Jagaran India are two such initiatives.
9. Persevere - Let's face it. It'll be a long time till there's substantial change in attitudes but there's no denying that it will happen. It has to. And when it does, we won't be telling our daughters that they can't walk/drive alone after 8 p.m. or that they need an escort to help them do their job. 

Women have been consistently ill-treated in the name of tradition in our country, through practices like sati, child marriage, dowry, and female foeticide and infanticide to honor killings and moral policing. There is no denying that it is a complex and sensitive issue and there are always a ton of people to hurl abuses at or blame for the way things are. But it's time we get together to realize that things will change when we make them. This country and its women deserve better. Enough is enough.

Justice Verma Committee and the Anti-Rape Law in India

A friend who is interning at the Center for Civil Society recently carried out a survey to garner people's opinions on some of the controversial recommendations made by the Justice Verma Committee. The recommendations, questions, and my responses are below.

Voluntary Chemical Castration (Chapter 9 - Sentencing and Punishment)

Background:

The report points out that in the 'UK, sex offender treatment programs sometimes offer chemical castration... to convicted sex offenders as a form of psychiatric treatment. This is done in consultation with doctors and psychiatrists with the consent of the sex offender.' (Pg no: 252, Para no: 41)

'It is important to understand that unlike surgical castration, the effects of chemical castration are temporary and therefore repeated monitored doses at regular intervals is a necessary prerequisite' (Pg no: 251, para no: 39)

Q: Is this a valid punitive suggestion for Sexual Assault (Rape) Cases in India?

A: A few years ago, I would've said yes to this question but I've thought about it a lot and I don't think it's valid in the Indian context. I don't know how these decisions are made for sure, but what I do know is that the Indian judicial system is plagued by corruption and loopholes. Castration will be offered in return for reducing the jail term (something that has been seen in many countries). Since it is something that requires regular doses, it is going to be very easy for sex offenders to bribe their way out of their next dose. Ultimately, the person will get away with both a strict jail term and castration. Secondly, chemical castration uses drugs to reduce sex drive. To me, that is like saying "You raping someone didn't have to do with your inability to control your urges, your lack of respect for another human being or your inability to differentiate between right and wrong. It occurred because of something purely biological - which we will now treat." This falls under the same category as victim blaming for me. The sex offender needs to learn that he isn't entitled to instant sexual gratification, not have his life made easier by removing the urges altogether. That's an easy way out. Lastly, when decisions regarding punishments for the Delhi rapists were being made, there were ridiculous talks about the severity and brutality of the rape and how that should determine the punishment. Of course the Delhi rape was horrific, but does that imply that there's a less scarring, less disgusting form of rape and in those cases the culprit can get away with milder punishment? I fear that our highly incompetent and flawed system (for the most part) will never be able to decide who should and should not be castrated, and it will delay justice for many many months/years.

Medical Examination (Chapter 11 Medico-Legal Examination)

Background:

'Medical examination of a rape/sexual assault victim must necessarily take place under the supervision of a senior female obstetrician/gynecologist.' (Pg.no: 278, Para no: 15)

Q: Is it feasible to propose that ‘in order to ensure that there is a consensus of opinion on the medical examination, a board of three doctors must examine a rape/sexual assault victim.'?

A: The rape victim has just undergone a major trauma and has probably had to muster a lot of courage to speak out. Increasing the number of doctors will just make it more intimidating and traumatizing. I know the current system isn't working very well, so instead can't we work on making the process better, more effective and less invasive? The focus should also be on training doctors really well so that they are mindful, considerate and do everything they can to make the victim comfortable and safe. The two-finger test has been in the news a lot over the past few months. I'm not sure if it was finally banned 100% so if it wasn't then that should be done.

Community Policing (Chapter 12 Police Reforms)
Background: 'To augment the police force, there is need to develop community policing by involving the local population.' (Pg No: 338, Para no: J)

Q: Do you think it is feasible to appoint a 'Respectable persons in each locality as a Special Executive Magistrates (under Section 21, Cr.P.C.) and invested power to deal with the traffic offenses and other minor offenses including eve-teasing.'

A: I'm not at all sure of what this entails but I'm saying yes because I think there's a definite need to empower and sensitize the local population to speak up. The ignorance, apathy, and unwillingness to oppose some of the most common offenses is shocking. I don't know if the best way to do that is to "appoint" someone because once it's systematized, chances of misusing power and corruption increase. Plus, "Special Executive Magistrates" is an awful, bureaucratic title which makes very little sense to a common citizen. I also have a problem with the phrase "to augment the police force". The issue will not be resolved by increasing the number but by increasing the quality of training and level of commitment to the job. Our police force has continually let us down. The existing force NEEDS to be better trained so they understand that they are responsible for people's safety and need to speak to people with respect; not be on a power trip and unapproachable like they currently are.

Curriculum Change (Chapter 7 Child Sexual Abuse)
Background:

'The ideas of gender roles which is firmly embedded in the psyche of the Indian male needs to be now psychologically reconstructed on rational lines in the context of relationship with society and with women and particularly respect and equality towards women.' (Pg no: 214, Para no: 30)

Q. Should there be 'a improvisation in the school curriculum which must involve the subject of what are called as “Social science- Practical Applications'?

A: Definitely. Again, I'm not sure what the report is proposing specifically but I completely agree that the current curriculum propagates conventional gender stereotypes and roles and that must change. In addition to adding a subject, I think teachers also need to be trained so that 1) they don't say or do things which are discriminatory, and 2) they make sure that children develop healthy relationships and opinions about the opposite gender in all spheres and activities, not only during the one hour of 'Social Science: Practical Applications'. Specifically, books for elementary school children currently show women sitting by the stove, cooking, and men leaving for office. This needs to be updated!

For more information on the Justice Verma Committee Report -

http://www.thehindu.com/news/resources/full-text-of-justice-vermas-report-pdf/article4339457.ece

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/recommendations-of-the-justice-verma-committee-10-point-cheat-sheet-321734

Comfort is Overrated

Growing up, children are often told they should study hard so they can get a good job and "lead a comfortable life." Here's what I've discovered over the past few years though: Comfort is overrated. Don't get me wrong; I have nothing against studying hard or getting a good job, but my problem lies in the fact that unfortunately and often unconsciously, comfort becomes interchangeable with monotony. And the prospect of finding comfort in knowing exactly how the next few months (or years or decades) of my life will look is something that not only bores me, it actually scares me.

A few years ago, during my first solo travel abroad, across Turkey, the above discovery led to a subsequent one: the perfect antidote to a monotonous life is acknowledging that there is a vast, unknown world out there, and setting out to explore it. If you have ever danced with locals on the streets of a country that is not your own, or have prepared a traditional meal for a foreigner using your grandmother's secret recipe, then you know that nothing can compare to the thrill and excitement of that moment when a stranger becomes a friend. Geographical boundaries often define the confines of our mind and transcending them to embrace the unknown is liberating. By stepping out of your comfort zone in this way, you can unleash unlimited possibilities and discover the most fundamental joys.

Four months ago, my love for traveling, my desire to grow as a nonprofit professional and my belief in the value of stepping out of my comfort zone led me to pack my bags and move to the United States. I arrived with two suitcases, a year's worth of Indian spices and an open mind, nervous but excited to make a new place my home for a year, and new friends for a lifetime. I had been a citizen diplomat long before I knew it was called that, and I was about to spend a year discovering and sharing the joys of being one.

Every day as the Membership and Outreach Coordinator at the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, I learn about new ways in which organizations and individuals are facilitating intercultural dialogue and understanding. These powerful stories of cooperation and friendship inspire me in a world where stories of war, intolerance and conflict are so common. My own personal journey has been enriching and exciting. Each conversation and interaction has taught me a little more about the world and myself. It has led me to realize that citizen diplomacy is about wondering, learning and understanding. It is about challenging our opinions and overcoming our prejudices. It is about realizing that we exist in an interdependent world and that participating in an exchange of ideas and experiences is the only way to move forward as a global community. More than anything, it is about having a whole lot of fun and making new friends.

Insightful conversations with new friends (from over 30 countries!), St. Patty's day in the American Midwest, salsa dancing with my colleagues, enjoying Spanish Sangria and Dutch Stroopwafels at the EU Embassies with other fellows and cooking a big fat Mughlai meal for American friends are just few highlights from the past four months.

One event in particular best exemplifies the life of a citizen diplomat. On a beautiful weekend in March, I played Holi, the Indian festival of colors, at a Hindu temple with American friends, and the next day I ate a traditional Easter lunch and went on a scavenger hunt with a Christian family. The simple exchange of ideas and cultures over these two days was wonderful and truly special.

I know the remaining months will bring many more such amazing experiences, each unfamiliar and refreshing in its own way. I closely relate to USCCD’s mission and truly believe in the importance of what we're trying to accomplish.

Talking to someone from another country or culture will make you uncomfortable. I can tell you from experience that means it's going to be great! So go ahead. Get out today and say Hola… Namaste… Bonjour… Ni hao… Shalom… Hello… to the world!


*This blog was originally written for, and posted on, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy's website, along with this video from the first few days of my fellowship.

If men could menstruate...

"Whatever a "superior" group has will be used to justify its superiority, and whatever an "inferior" group has will be used to justify its plight."

http://www.haverford.edu/psych/ddavis/p109g/steinem.menstruate.html

The flawed collective socialization of men

...excellently articulated by Tony Porter in this Ted talk.

Women's Rights

This is a great video but we need to do two things:

1. Allow ourselves to be weighed down by the knowledge that behind these statistics are actual people

2. Realize that empowering women is not a means to an end but an end in itself. We don't need to empower women because we want to eradicate poverty (though that's great and it will happen) but because women's rights are human rights and stifling women's potential is reprehensible and shameful.

http://vimeo.com/66475816

I mentioned the second point very briefly in my submission for Amplify Your Voice on International Women's Day, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gor31weixNo&feature=youtu.be

The Power of Us

I was determined to document my experiences as a Fellow but this has been more challenging than I imagined. It has been over three months since I moved to the US and already, I have incredible stories to share. For the first time though, living each experience to the fullest and reflecting on it has taken precedence over merely reproducing it on paper. Blogging has been and remains my outlet of choice, but in the face of discovering a new place and myself, my subconscious replaced chronicling with truly 'experiencing'.

Today, after a while, I feel the familiar tug to write. I'm brimming with thoughts and harbor the irrational fear that if I don't process them, I'll lose them forever. So, I dig through a web of memories from the past few months to highlight one that I felt was extremely powerful; one that I knew I'd write about eventually.

Less than a month into my fellowship, on Feb 27, I had the pleasure of cooking an Indian meal for Yusuke Miki, a Japanese fellow at the USCCD. Well, technically, it was more heating than cooking, but I was excited about sharing my culture nonetheless (#butterchickenFTW). It had only been a few days since he began his fellowship and I loved hearing about his country, family and plans for the future. At one point, I found myself answering questions about Des Moines and Iowa like I'd been living here for years. Information about Walgreens, Rootdowns, Crab Rangoon, Downtown DSM and Walnut Street poured out of my mouth with ease, mixed with a tinge of pride and belonging. I realized in that moment that the unknown world I had plunged headfirst into was starting to become my own. (Anyone with a traveler's soul can relate to and appreciate this feeling).

Coincidentally, a documentary on the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was airing that night and we both sat down to watch it. Seeing the series of events unfold and learning about the massive destruction they left in their wake was an intense experience. But perhaps if I had been watching it alone it might not have impacted me as strongly as it did watching it with someone who'd experienced the tragedy firsthand. Yusuke's reactions and comments made the images I was watching on TV real. Tangible. It put into perspective how such disasters, both man-made and natural, are perceived and understood. Often, statistics are just numbers and we forget that actual people endure unimaginable pain and misfortune because of something that is out of their control. Often, we don't realize the role we play in extending moral, financial or emotional support. Not stemming from guilt, but from the realization that we're all human and by virtue of that, equally susceptible and accountable to one another.

These thoughts were reiterated when, post the tragic Boston bombing, the images below went viral on the internet. Granted, they don't change the situation or undo the damage but they do acknowledge that we're all in it together; that messages of love will always outweigh, undermine and overpower messages of hatred.

Celebrating Diversity

“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

In the course of a hurried life, amid unfortunate ignorance and preconceived notions, airports provide a unique vantage point from which to view diversity. Looking around you, knowing that in that moment you’re surrounded by thousands of people with millions of different thoughts, ideas, beliefs, religions and ways of life, you gain a perspective that is unparalleled.

As I sat in the Istanbul airport on Jan 18, 2013 waiting for my connecting flight to Washington DC, my mind was filled with thoughts. I was excited about embarking on a new journey, happy about returning to Turkey after two years (if only for three hours) and drinking my favorite Turkish çay, but most of all, I felt an odd mixture of calm and unease that can only be attributed to a bustling international airport.

A Muslim family of six sat across from me. The mother and daughter wore a hijab. One son cried while another looked bored and another took photos. The daughter, not more than twelve years old, attempted to calm the wailing infant. The father flipped through a magazine, unperturbed. On the next table, an African woman appeared to have given up on her four year old son who was convinced that running at full speed and, as a result, blocking people’s way was in fact the best airport activity.

Aside from our glaring differences, what struck me most as I watched the two families was the choice I had in interpreting these differences. I could compartmentalize them as right or wrong based on my own biased judgement, or I could marvel at the fact that for each thing that set us apart, there was something that we all had in common. We were all going about our lives the way we knew how, and our appearances and beliefs were inconsequential in this regard. It got me thinking about all the people in this world who shun the unfamiliar and propagate animosity; those who resort to violence to bring about uniformity in a world that is meant to be diverse. Those who condemn what they should celebrate.

Over the past month, meeting and learning from fellows from around the globe and serving at an organization* that promotes the indispensable value of citizen involvement in international relations has reaffirmed my belief in the importance of changing perspectives to change the world. And considering that this is the Atlas Corps motto, it appears I’m the right place!

*U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy

Featured here - http://www.atlascorps.org/blog/?p=1837

New Iowans: A Forum on Immigrants and Refugees

On February 11, Iowa International Center and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines organized an event called ‘New Iowans: A Forum on Immigrants and Refugees’. Diane, Matt and I from the USCCD were among many others who arrived at the Des Moines Botanical Center to learn more about this diverse group and the challenges that they face.

Tom Urban, Board of Directors, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and Dr. Judith A. Conlin, ED, Iowa International Center welcomed the audience and introduced the speakers for the day. They mentioned that the forum was organized as a result of the growing interest and curiosity among a wide range of people, who may or may be directly involved in working with migrants and refugees, and that there would be several more such events in the future to ensure a continued dialogue.

Dr. Mark Grey, University of Northern Iowa and Director, Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration presented an overview of the immigrant and refugee issues in Iowa. He was followed by Lori Chesser, Attorney and co-founder, Iowa Immigration Education Coalition who explained the path that immigrants and refugees follow to gain citizenship and the issues that they face during that process. The last of the individual speakers was John Wilken, Director, Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services who took the audience through the history of refugee settlement in Iowa.

The forum concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Tom Urban. Below is a list of panelists, each of whom shared their unique personal experiences as immigrants or refugees, highlighting the challenges that they faced and the lessons that they learned along the way.

1. Zeljka Krvavica, Specialist at the Bureau of Refugee Services
2. Vinh Nguyen, ELL Coordinator, Des Moines Public Schools
3. Sandra Sanchez, AFSC Immigrants Voice Program Director
4. Ying Sa, CEO, Community CPA and founder, Immigrant Entrepreneurial Summit

Aside from the more systemic and procedural challenges that were highlighted, what stayed with me after the event were the personal stories of the panelists. The unfortunate mental and emotional turmoil that they endured as a result of their migrant or refugee status reminded everyone why there was a need to look more closely at malfunctioning systems. It reminded everyone that while it’s easy to view statistics and figures as mere numbers, it was important to recognize that each number represents a person who made, is making, and will continue to make a contribution to the American society and economy. It is therefore imperative to acknowledge and respect their contributions and support them fully during their challenging personal transitions.

Another thing that lingered in my mind was the extent of cultural assimilation that these groups undergo and its impact on them. While immigrants and refugees inevitably acquire new languages, ideologies and practices to adapt to their new environments, what are some of the conscious efforts being made to help them retain their own cultural identities? I know that diversity is regarded as a strength, but I’m curious to learn about specific initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting this diversity, especially generations later.

This forum was not only my first real introduction to issues faced by migrants and refugees; it was also a great lesson in Iowa’s history and settlement patterns. Being relatively new to the U.S., making connections between immigration, diversity and heritage greatly aided my understanding of the American culture.