ignorant, no more.

it's over for me. i can't just sit around and ignore this war. i can't read the newspapers and not let them have an effect on me. i can't become numb to the feeling i had tonight. it's over for me: i've been informed.

jordan, diana and i attended a lecture titled "Nightmare Beyond Borders: The Iraqi Displacement Crisis and What Can Be Done to Stop It." before the lecture my thoughts were: displacement crisis? what the hell does that even mean? me, stop the war? right. refugees? who? what? where? i plead ignorant.

here's the thing... you all know that writing isn't my forté and what you get here is blunt, passionate, and pessimistic opinions. but i'm begging you, give me a chance. don't write me off as a flaming liberal who hates capital punishment, just turned vegetarian and is now anti-war. i've always been against this war, but have never known enough to voice my thoughts. now i understand a little bit more and know enough where i need to write it down. i need to give my money. my time. i can't not care. i'm sick of believing things because that's what the christian-right believes. i am officially not a christian if i am going to be associated with this group of people; these are not the people i know and love who follow jesus.

here's an ignorant test for you*:
can you name the countries that border iraq? how about just the one up north? do you know what IDP stands for? can you name the two countries that accept the most iraqi refugees? do you know how much money we spend a minute on the iraq war? (and i mean "we", because WE do pay taxes and WE do elect our officials) do you know what a G-series passport is? bonus question: what country is the us about to do a TWENTY BILLION DOLLAR arms deal with? *previously, i could not answer ANY of these questions. [that's embarrassing.]

but, emily, this problem is not mine: it's so far away. well, i say to you: if you live in this country and you read the headlines and don't feel anything, then this is your problem. if you don't know the basic facts, then this is your problem. if you pay taxes in this country and you aren't sure what the war is even about, then this is your problem. [and no, it is NOT about weapons of mass destruction.] if you claim to be a follower of jesus, and you give the 'bible says to follow my government and obey the laws of the land' excuse, then this too, is your problem. you have a social and moral obligation to know... i'm not asking you to care. i'm not asking you to give money. i'm not asking you to go. i'm just asking you to learn. inform yourself. research this catastrophe that is bigger than you, your school work, your job, your family, your friends. we are in the fourth year of war, and i'm just now starting to learn. i'm so embarrassed.