Unidos – A great Experience

Last Saturday, I went to Unidos in order to do social service from 10am to 2 o’ clock. When I arrived at Pitic’s park, I was quite stressed and I had this feeling of anxiety because I have never interact with special needs people before, so I didn’t know what was going to be my reaction towards these kids. I was scared because what would happen if I made them a rude gesture or if I make them feel bad… I wouldn’t like to make them feel bad. It wouldn’t be my intention.

It was the time to meet our new friends; they came and the organizers assigned us kids. That was the moment when I met Carolina, she is 12 years old and she has this Down’s syndrome. I presented myself and I asked her several questions. The bus arrived and took us to 300 (Bowling place). Here everyone played and I made a lot of new friends.

I loved this experience because they showed me something that is important to society. We, as society, have to reach equality and support ourselves, not everything has to be: me, me & me; We have to think for others, support them, help them or at least don’t make them feel less and not only with Down’s syndrome but also with women, eldest people, and so on. We (Mexicans) have this weird culture that doesn’t support these kinds of kids, so we have to make a change because they are important to our society. Why? Because they are people! That think; that have feelings! I think that society has to make a drastic change to avoid those problems. The good thing here is that there are several groups, as Unidos, that’s making a change in society.

P.s. I wanted to make this blog post about this because this was a totally new experience to me :)

LABORAL DISCRIMINATION

WORK IS A RIGHT FOR EVERYONE NO MATTER HOW YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU HAVE!!!

Since December my borther went and take some exams to make an application for a job opportunity. Weeks later some on of the office called him and told him that if he passed the exam que will have to go to an interview at Monterrey, so he started gathering information of the thing the people of Monterrey will asked him. The thing is that almost 9 of 10 people fail de exam, and almost 9.5 of 10 did not what to answer in the interview. A week passed it was almost February and my brother received a call in which they told him that he have passed the exam an that in a week he will have an appointment in Monterrey for the interview. Almost a week ago he received the call in which they told him that he was accepted that the only thing that was missing was a medical checkup in CEMEX Hermosillo. So in Thursday morning he went there with all the tests and analyses they asked him. The Laboral Doctor that attend him just open his x-rays of his column and told him sorry we can not give you work because in the future yo will have a discapacity because of your column. My borther really sad arrived home almost crying telling that they did not accept him that he will never find a job because of what they told them. My mom histerically started trying, and the first thing she told him was get inside the car we are going to the hospital. It was 4 p.m and until 9 p.m we were still without knowing what my bother have. Until 9 30 he came out and we have to call a doctor with emergency. The doctor told us that he had a perfect column that the image the take him was not definitive to prove he was wrong, so imagine how many people suffer from the same discrimination. Imagine people who like my brother they told them the same, but they do not have the way to get another opinion of a doctor because they do not have money. And know imagine people with cancer, aids, people that can not walk! do not discriminate them they can do the same that us because we are equal in every aspect!

UNIDOS =)

I am extremely excited and happy with the social service that was assigned to me this semester! It is really cool. Even though I have just attended UNIDOS two times, I feel different about myself. Hanging out with this people who are different to us make me feel lucky about myself. The UNIDOS kids are very nice to us. This kind of activities helps us also to see that regardless of the disabilities, we can all be the same in many ways. We have the same interests and dislikes. We can learn to have fun together without discriminating. We need to learn to love our neighbors!
It is very comfortable to do something for someone and as gratitude you receive a big smile full of happiness and love. What this UNIDOS association does is very noble and kind. To give affection to this people has no name. I really enjoy being with this kids. They make me laugh a lot! I hope that more people could have the opportunity to coexist with disabled people, so that they can appreciate life from another perspective.
WE ARE ALL THE SAME JUST FOR BEING HUMAN!

Man arrested for posting gay rights posters

As the title says, Malawian police arrested a man putting posters supporting homosexuality, which is illegal in this nation. Peter Sawali was charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace, his posters said, "Gay rights are human rights." Past December, a couple was arrested for public indecency after they become engaged in that country.


These countries have to be more open-minded to these situations because this things are seen common for almost all the world. Human rights organizations are trying to help these 3 arrested inocents. Laws have to change, people's way of thinking have to change, and morals have to change if necessary. Gays are humans, just like you me and everyone around us. They only have different attraction, conduct and way of life.

Human Rights Watch

Children, gay and lesbian, women, Asians, Latin, black people, elders, people with disabilities. ALL of them are the vulnerable groups of society, the ones who are often left behind because 'they cannot handle everyday's life'or 'they are diferent from us'. All these fallacies are making people treat them unfairly and these groups are moving away from all the opportunities that you and I have.
But the worst part, is that there are people who treat them truly badly. People who feels superior than them, and they think they are all right. But, how can we stop this?
First of all, we must promote tolerance. At home, at school, at church, at the streets. Everywhere. Teach our children that everyone is equal. That skin color, age, sex, preferences, nationalities, disabilities,and others are not a barrier. We ourselves create those barriers that do not allow us see and make us judge before.

Then, we can create a human right watch culture. What does this mean? Human rights means looking after others. If we know of someone who is being maltreated or someone who maltreats, we must report it. We can help many people.

And finally, change our mind. We live in a very diverse world. We are all different, but that does not mean we have different right. We all have the same right and must respect that.

SHOUT FOR EQUALITY!

2010 is here and we are still facing problems with equality between men and women. Many statistics show that inequality is something that it is learned at home and by our culture. But 2010 is time to shout for equality we can not continue living in a community having inequialities between humans(men and women) that have the same capacity to make things possible. Things can not continue this way beacuse everyone is the same no matter what gender you are, what you wear, or where you live. Inequality has to be a lot with discrimination. The term discrimination that refers to the treatment taken against to a certain people or group. Inequality between men and women is like a kind os discrimination because they think women like things. The thing is that women are EQUAL to men only with different physical characteristics. In my thursday exam I read something about inequal payment of 21% less to women even if they have more studies than men. This are the kind of thing we need to change for our future and for our kids future. The kind of thing that our parents lived we do not have the necessity to face them because they are not fair. So it is your decision the type of life you want for you and for your kids. We need to shout for equality now!

Integration Is The Way

In one of our French classes we began to talk about how culture affects the society. The class was about how the "Burqa" was banned in France, and the effects it brings. The Burqa is a Islamic robe that covers both body and face. President Nicolas Sarkozy already make an statement and took a side: "Burqa isn't welcomed in France". He said that the burqa affects women's equality, identity, lack of a social life and made them prisioners behind a screen. He also said that they should adapt to the French culture in order to get opportunities to became part of the country.

I think that these is an issue that have both good and bad sides. Let's start with the good news, positive all the way. I think that what France is trying to do is to tear apart barriers that could affect the integration of immigrants to their country. The best way is for them to start a new life and share their culture. Also, the burqa automatically isolates the woman that are inside of it. Communication can't be completely accomplished since you can't even see who is behind it. I think that this will also be a good new start for any woman who wants equality and not to be beated by a man who has 5 more wives.

However, these decision can also bring negative effects. These new rules of France can create tensions with the Muslim world. Also, discrimination for these woman that can't leave their traditions, since they were born in that culture. It's hard to change those kind of ideas that were part of all your life, but not impossible. The french community need to also put effort on their part and give a chance to these people to show what they are capable of.

In conclusion, I think that these ideas the French government has adopted can lead to an integration of all the ethnic groups.