Indifference: absence of love

A while ago, I came across a quote on Troy Anderson's blog, Seek Justice, that really resonated with me. I'd like to pass it along here:

In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony, one does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor -- never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees -- not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity we betray our own.

-Elie Wiesel (b. 1928), from his Millenium Lecture series speech at the White House, April 12, 1999

I'm going to be a daddy!

Well folks, it's official... the stork should be paying us a visit next spring. Tara is currently around 8.5 weeks along, which makes the baby due around May 1st (a seemingly popular time of year among our family). We had our first doctor's appointment last Monday where they performed an ultra-sound, and baby Bam decided to make a cameo appearance for us, playing the nebulous-yet-articulate role of "blob with a heartbeat":)

Needless to say, we're beyond excited! Although now, no matter what I cook for dinner, Tara holes-up in the bedroom with the door closed to keep away from the smell (which isn't that different than before the pregnancy, actually!).

Laying the Foundation

Many months ago, I began reading Jeffrey Sachs's latest book, The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time. In the mix of grad school and work, it has taken me much longer to get through this book than I would have liked, but I've gained some amazing insights from the experiences of Sachs nonetheless. After I read the intro to the book (last year...geez), I wrote a proclamation of sorts that I'll post below. These words are mostly directed at myself as I attempt to stay focused on the issues that truly matter to me, and re-reading this has often times drawn me back to the basics.

The goal is simple: emanate love in action. The task is monumentally complicated: eradicate extreme poverty around the globe by 2025. As we begin this journey, I often feel the strength of the disease in my stomach; the evil that has dragged cultures, countries, and continents by their hair to these wastelands of despair. This evil is manifested in the corrupt developing-world governments, in the child sex-slave owners, in the AIDS pandemic…but perhaps this evil is most horrifically displayed in the developed world, where we look deep in the eyes of a suffering child and, in good conscience, look away with indifference.

I am resolved to not look away anymore. I want to be used for the greater-good. I want to learn how to be commandingly effective for love & justice. It is my prayer that no matter how impossible future situations may feel, that somehow we will be able to lean back on the simple truth that the Creator is more than able to accomplish His design. I understand that His will may not look exactly like our goal, but I am certain that it does not look like the world does today. Soli Deo Gloria.

interesting, Smithers....

I came across this earlier today and found it to be interestingly funny. I'm not sure about the scientific truth involved or the study at Cambridge, but I could definitely read it without much problem...how 'bout you?


Cna yuo raed tihs?

*i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Europe is nice.

Hey hey...props to all my [1.5] readers (love you, honey)!

I've been home from my trip to Switzerland for over a week now, but I'm still trying to get back in the groove with school, work, life, etc. Anyhow, enjoy the photos on my Flickr.

...it doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident!

True to form, I really don't have much to post about...so...I might as well introduce you to our dog.

This is Charlie...sleeping...




This is Charlie helping me install a new diswasher...while sleeping...
[yes I have enormous feet, thanks]



This is Charlie about to go clubbin'.
[word.]