BE A GIVER NOT A TAKER


I recently read an article on why African women tend to marry much older African men.  The answers really didn't shock me, the most common reseason being for financial stability, and then that older men have already sowed their wild outs so to speak and should be more mature.  I don't know if I totally agree with these reasons but I guess statistics don't lie. Here is a link to help identify the reasons why this might be happening.  Why Young Women in South Africa are going for Older and Riskier Men.  

In this article it discusses the risks involved with the practice.  One of the biggest being the young woman's chances of being infected with HIV goes sky high.  I am annoyed theat there is not enough education and information for women in Africa to rise above this social stigma.  It states that younger women are encouraged to find older men to marry.  It is advised to have a "sugar daddy" to take care of meeting their needs and wants.  I think that women need to learn to stand on their own two feet, regardless of their social status.  Maybe there needs to be more preaching of gender equality and women gaining some self esteem and self worth, and then all this being exposed to STDs and HIV will eventually come under some kind of control. 

Don't say Bomb!

Okay with the recent bombing here on American soil and the media hayday, and outpour of support across our country now go across the great seas to a nation that have countries that seems to always have turmoil, chaos, and yes bombs.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/06/world/africa/egypt-clashes/index.html  This is just one insistance of a common occurance in this conflicting nation.  I have learned over the years depending on the group of people you keep company with there are two things you should never bring to the table.  One is politics, and the other is religion.  It seems to be the norm when searching around the internet for material to use in my blog, to find pictures of burned out buildings, cars, and lives taken in these violent attacks.  This particular story has to do with the clash of the Muslims and the Christians, apparently Christianity is the minority in Egypt(not a big surprise there) and there is constant tension between the groups. Why is it that one group is passive, and the other is so extreme or radical? Why is it things have been this way for thousands of years, and nothing ever seems to change?  Why is there such hatred amongst people for believing what they believe?  There will always be conflict and different points of view!!

I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended."  --Nelson Mandela




Nelson Mandela

I must admit I never really paid attention to international news stories in the local newspaper.  I would skim over the headlines, and if it didn't catch my interest I would just move on to the next.  Last week while I was skimming the Courier, looking for an interesting read I stumbled upon an article talking about Nelson Mandela being hospitalized for pnuemonia.  I paused, and thought about this cultural class, and South Africa, and how I really should start to pay attention more to the world around me.  The former South African president whose name I have heard from time to time, but never really learned what it is that he is so famous for....I googled, and I briefed myself on Nelson Mandela(feel free to click on the link above to familiarize yourself as well).  After 2 weeks in a Johannesburg hospital last Saturday he was released.  He is 94 years old.   I discovered that this elderly gentleman born ,Rolihlahla Mandela, on July 18, 1918,  is very popular with his people although his given name means troublemaker, he is in deed a peacemaker as he was the first black president afrer apartheid ended in 1994.  He had a very interesting childhood and was the first in his family to attend school.  His teacher actually gave him the name Nelson.  It was while in school that he became interested in civil rights.  His father passed away, and later he would be groomed for a high ranking office, he took his education endevors very seriously.  It was while he was in college that he became very involved in the anti-apartheid movement.  He preached peace and nonviolence.  He can honestly say he has lived his life to the fullest and should be proud of his accomplishments.