Brothels and cameras

The seed of hope was a 35mm camera. The tree that grew -- an education.

Zana Briski, a professional photographer, started a photography class to children who lived in Calcutta's Red Light district. The class, not only produced talented child photographers, but provoked Briski to find an education for the lowest of India's low.

"I used to want to be a doctor," said one of Briski's students, after his mother was burned to death by her pimp. "Then I wanted to be an artist. There is nothing called hope in my future."

But fortunately for Avijit, 11, Briski found a way to give him an education, amidst the hierarchy of political red tape.

Watch the eight children go to the beach for the first time in their lives ... and more stories on the DVD. Check out the nonprofit Kids with Cameras
http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/home/
and possibly even buy some of their prints at
http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/kidsgallery/

Wal-Mart and crime stats

Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 19 of this year, there were 627
incidents at Wal-Mart reported to police — an average of 2.28 a day —
with the majority being larcenies, but also complaints of shoplifting,
fraud, harassment and vandalism.

City wants Wal-Mart
to get tough on crime

Gena Smith
Staff writer
LUMBERTON — Wal-Mart, the nation's No. 1 retailer, is known for its
low prices and variety of items, which range from HD televisions, to
DVDs, to Budweiser and rib-eye steaks.
But the store in Lumberton is gaining another reputation — one that
could keep shoppers away, or at least make them wary. Since 2002,
there have been about 3,000 calls for help because of incidents at
Wal-Mart.
Bruce Davis, on the brink of leaving the City Council after 20 years
of serving as the Precinct 1 councilman, investigated when a Lumberton
woman who had been assaulted in broad daylight complained. He ended up
with an inch-thick collection of police reports on incidents from both
inside the Wal-Mart and outside, in its parking lot, that were filed
between Jan. 1 and Oct. 19 of this year. There were 627 incidents
reported during that time — an average of 2.28 a day — with the
majority being larcenies, but also complaints of shoplifting, fraud,
harassment and vandalism.
"What prompted this effort on my part is a friend of mine's wife was
mugged at Wal-Mart 3:30 on a Sunday afternoon," Davis said. "She
parked three spaces from the front door in the handicap section, and
that's what got me involved ... I had no idea — and I suspect the
public does not — that there are this many incidents at Wal-Mart."
Davis suggested that incidents are increasing as Christmas approaches,
saying he was told by a police officer that there were seven reported
recently during a single day.
Davis' bundle didn't include Kathy Boudreau's reported incident, which
happened on Nov. 19. The mother of five said her purse, which
contained her wallet, checkbook and cell phone, was taken by force as
she walked in the parking lot.
Boudreau is frustrated by police and Wal-Mart. She said the store's
security camera did not adequately identify the assailant's vehicle.
"I feel like something is just not right there," said Boudreau, who
lives in St. Pauls. "I just don't get it ... I just feel like (the
police) really didn't do their job because they weren't wanting to
deal with it ... people are being deceived."
Boudreau said police did nothing even after her service provider gave
them phone numbers made from her cell phone.
She also complained about inadequate security.
"Never do I ever see security people in the parking lot at Wal-Mart,"
Boudreau said. "I don't even want to go there anymore ... ."

Wal-Mart's plea

In April, John Hendren, the manager at Wal-Mart, acknowledged a
problem publicly when he asked the City Council to allow off-duty
police officers to provide weekend security, from 7 p.m. Friday to 7
a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. Hendren proposed
that Wal-Mart pay the officers, but wanted the city to cover health
insurance, disability compensation and liability insurance.
The City Council said no, citing liability concerns related to putting
a police officer on private property.
Lumberton police do patrol the parking lot, but Chief Police Mike
McNeill could not give specifics on how often an officer drives
through the parking lot.
According to the 911 records, from June 2002 to June 2007, there were
2,935 calls made from Wal-Mart.
"We were concerned with it, but not until a lawsuit came up did we
start generating the report — we didn't realize there were this many,"
Communications Chief Mitchell Pate said.
The number of incidents is expected to increase as Christmas shoppers
seek bargains at the store. They will be carrying cash and gifts.
"We are going to beef up patrol a little bit more during the holiday
season," said McNeill, who seemed reluctant to classify Wal-Mart as a
high-crime area.
"It's just like all over the city — it's not just one place that's a
real high crime area," he said. "You would think that with as many
people are going in and out of Wal-Mart it wouldn't be an easy prey
for targeting people there."
McNeill said he has recommended that Wal-Mart increase the lighting in
the parking lot and hire security officers to patrol the parking lot.
Local Wal-Mart officials referred questions to their corporate office
in Bentonville, Ark. A corporate spokesperson there, Jami Lamontagne,
asked that The Robesonian provide a list of questions and she e-mailed
the responses.
The questions were specific, including the number of security cameras
and security guards, but Lamontagne's response was vague: "We've
recently added additional cameras throughout the store. Also, we're in
the process of installing additional lighting in the parking lot. We
have full-time security associates employed by Wal-Mart. Also, we have
a third party security group that works in the store on a regular
basis."
Davis is adamant that the problem is Wal-Mart's to fix, not the city's.
"We've had a number of businesses approach the city about providing
security for them," Davis said. "The city does not provide security
for private businesses ... because you would be operating on private
property which creates a lot of legal issues for the city and it also
puts us in a situation of immense liability."
City officials worry about the snowball effect of helping one private
business and not others.
"If you look around town, you'll see businesses with security and they
provide that by hiring part-time police officers off duty ..., Davis
said. "I should think that Wal-Mart would provide some parking lot
security as grocery stores do."
Davis believes broadcasting the problem could force Wal-Mart's hand.
"I think that the only action I can take is to bring it to The
Robesonian and let the public know," he said. "If the public
understands, there will be more action taken."

The Zahir

"God knows that we are all artists of life. One day, he gives us a hammer with which to make sculptures, another day he gives us brushes and paints with which to make a picture, or paper and a pencil to write with. But you cannot make a painting with a hammer, or a sculpture with a paintbrush. Therefore, however difficult it may be, I must accept today's small blessings, even if they seem like curses because I am suffering and it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and the children are singing in the street. This is the only way I will manage to leave my pain behind and rebuild my life."

I have been a faithful fan of Paulo Coehlo since first being introduced to The Alchemist in Honduras. This book doesn't always turn the page on its own like the Alchemist. Poor Coehlo, every other book he writes will always be compared to it. Regardless, I have to say I admire his honesty. Anytime a writer more than loosely bases a character on himself, he risks showing the bad side of himself that no one wants to admit exists. The pride the main character has as a famous author is fascinating.

"I explain that our human condition makes us tend to share only the best of ourselves, because we are always searching for love and approval," he says to a crowd of listeners while dealing with this exact problem in his personal life.

The storyline follows a man who has everything he wants or needs as a well-known published author. His wife, a foreign correspondent, decides to leave him without telling him where she is going or that she is leaving. After a long journey of finding himself, he finds her.

At first he feels free. But that quickly changes as his desire to find his wife becomes his ZAHIR.

"I had lunch with a friend who just got divorced. 'Now I can enjoy the freedom I've always dreamed of having.' But that's a lie. No one wants that kind of freedom: we all want commitment, we all want someone to be beside us to enjoy the beauties..."

There is a great section near the end of the book where the author talks about what he must do when he goes to a famous-people dinner. The questions he has to ask, the annoyances he must sit through.

The first part moves slowly, but the end turns its own pages.

The War Within

A must see movie for anyone desiring to better understand the truth behind why any extremist does what he does. This movie has great cinematography and a compelling story line written and produced by the main actor.

"The life you live is born by our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Your government takes actions of which its people are unaware. But ignorance is not innocence," says the protagonist to the Pakistani family he temporarily lives with while working out his mission in the United States.

In the midst of a social gathering, the topic of American and Pakistani politics arise. Two men start arguing about whether or not America is a good place to live. The main character silences them, "Back home our blood has not yet turned to water. Poverty is real. Dying is real. Not some discussion to be had at dinner."

The whole movie is based around the struggle this man has to re-enter "normal" life. He never feels peace about his conflicting desires.

He quotes the Koran:

Prescribed for you is fighting though it be hateful for you yet it may happen that you hate the thing which is better for you and it may happen that you will love the thing which is worse for you. Allah knows and you know not.

a repeat of Kite Runner

Two boys, Amir and Hassan. Amir is of the higher class and Hassan is his servant. Both very close in age. Fed from the same breast. Hassan often fights Amir’s battles. He’s the stronger one. He has no fear and a lot of skill both with kites and sling shots. He was incapable of lying, and would do anything Amir said. At one point in the story, Hassan is trapped by the bullies of the neighborhood without Amir around. Amir comes searching for him and sees them surrounding Hassan. However, Amir decides not to make his presence known, even though he knew that Hassan would without hesitation. The main bully takes out his brass knuckles and punches away. Then he does worse….
Redemption is real. And we are all living in the midst of our own stories of redemption. I don’t know if people like Hassan really exist. I have a feeling they do. People who are so pure, so serving, so devout to one person or one cause – it’s possible. His love for the Amir is, to me, a very close to perfect picture of God’s unconditional love for us.
There is a scene in the book after the incident where the two boys go up to the hill behind their house after a long time of not talking to each other. This used to be the place they’d go every afternoon where Amir would read to Hassan. Amir takes a pomegranate and throws it hard at Hassan. Hassan does nothing. Amir does it again. And again. And again. Hassan is dripping in pomegranate juice. His shirt is stained red. Finally, Hassan picks up a pomegranate, walks over to Amir and squashes it on his own head. “Is this what you want?” he says and walks away.
Maybe love like that only exists in books on this earth. Maybe it doesn’t. I look at this kite runner and it only makes me think of how selfish I am. There is a woman who works at my school. She is the janitor. I swear that woman is one of those people. She cleans all day long. She runs to the store when any of the teachers ask her to. I’ve never seen her say “No, you do it.” I’ve never seen her get angry. She just smiles and serves.
I don’t know what thoughts go on inside her mind. I wonder if she ever thinks, “Damn, you have legs too.” Maybe God creates certain people with more quantities of servitude than he did me. Or maybe it was my choice.
But even in his own love, he serves. Jesus living on this earth. Jesus healing and serving and preaching. Jesus being accused. Jesus not yelping about the injustices done to him. Jesus not pleading his innocence. Jesus dying on a cross. Dying for sins he never committed. Pomegranate after pomegranate being thrown at him. And I’m still throwing them, taking my anger out on him (and on others) though he does not deserve it. The anger that I will never be as pure as a Hassan. The knowledge that very often I don’t have the guts to stand up to the bully that comes along. To know I can never deserve redemption. But that despite what I do or do not deserve, I have been given it as a gift. A pure gift. A gift that provokes me to serve, that provokes me to give, that proves to me I am not a lost cause altogether.

A year with clive

This is a dated book with a one page read for each day. Therefore, it is an odd book to review. So I have picked out a few quotes from different writings of his. Of all the Christian writers in fiction and nonfiction, he is by far, my favorite author. Every piece of fiction points to some spiritual truth and every piece of nonfiction portrays just how often this man struggled with seeking God and finding the truth. Anything in italics is his. The rest is me.

Impulses:
It is a mistake to think that some of our impulses—say mother love or patriotism—are good, and others, like sex or the fighting instinct, are bad. All we mean is that the occasions on which the fighting instinct or the sexual desire need to be restrained are rather more frequent than those for restraining mother love or patriotism...The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. There is not one of them which will not make us into devils if we set it up as an absolute guide. You might think love of humanity in general was safe, but it is not. If you leave out justice you will find yourself breaking agreements and faking evidence in trials, ‘for the sake of humanity’, and become in the end a cruel and treacherous man.

Happiness:
The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily untied to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free.

Imperfect world:
We find ourselves in a world of transporting pleasures, ravishing beauties, and tantalizing possibilities, but all constantly being destroyed, all coming to nothing.

On Pride:
When a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less.
Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.
The point is that each person’s pride is in competition with every one else’s pride. Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.

Difference in religions:
And that, by the way, is perhaps the most important difference between Christianity and all other religions: that in Christianity God is not a static thing—not even a person—but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance.Maybe this is not just the difference between Christianity and all other religions, but even within the “Christian religion” I think too often churches portray Christ as a list of rules and that is all. I certainly find that all too true at the church I attend here in Honduras. The sad thing is, those who grow up in that type of teaching and never take the opportunity to explore otherwise will always know Christ as someone or something rigid, square and routine-like. To me, the most beautiful thing about Christ is that he is so the opposite. He transforms into many things: deep discussions with all kinds of people, a jump off a waterfall, a daily routine, a dream, a time-consuming project that we lose sleep over, a journey to a foreign place, a smile, and even, to borrow Lewis’ term, a dance. Oh what a dance he is!

The Bean Trees

by Barbara Kingsolver

“Moonlight was pouring in through the bedroom window like a watery version of my mother’s potato soup. Moon soup, I thought, hugging myself under the covers.”
There is, within all of us, a desire for our home. (And by home, I mean the place where you felt the most secure or the people with whom you felt the most loved) Yet, simultaneously, we long for adventure.
This is the story of Taylor. This felt very similar to my story. Taylor takes off on a road trip intending to find work and a new life away from her home state. What she finds along the way is a child dropped off in her hands as if it was a pet lizard that the owner no longer wanted.
Certain things are constant no matter where we are: Moonlight. Sunlight. Problems. Desires. Questions. Taylor becomes good friends with her boss, Mattie, at a car repair shop. When Taylor questions whether or not she can take care of the child, Mattie tells Taylor she’s asking the wrong question...
“You’re asking yourself, Can I give this child the best possible upbringing and keep her out of harm’s way her whole life long? The answer is no, you can’t. But nobody else can either. Not a state home, that’s for sure...Nobody can protect a child from the world. That’s why it’s the wrong thing to ask, if you’re really trying to make a decision.”

“So what’s the right thing to ask?”

“Do I want to try? Do I think it would be interesting, maybe even enjoyable in the long run, to share my life with this kid and give her my best effort and maybe, when all’s said and done, end up with a good friend.”

Taylor also meets two of Mattie’s “housemates,” Estevan and his wife Esperanza, who are running from immigration laws and a rough life in Guatemala. Estevan, who, in another life was an English teacher gives Taylor his own advice:
“Mi’ija, in a world as wrong as this one, all we can do is to make things as right as we can.”

When I wake up from one of my various life-like dreams I have here, I grab the covers and remind myself where I am and what life I’m living. Sometimes it takes a while to realize that my dreams are not my life and that my life is not a dream. Moon soup is a weekly delicacy for me.

The Start

I’m a big nerd and it’s not my fault.
Without a TV, I find myself reading a lot.
So I will write about it.

Things to see soon,
notes about the following books:

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

La Quinta Montana by Paulo Coehlo

El Alquimista by Paulo Coehlo

A year with C.S. Lewis

Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

100 Love Poems by Pablo Neruda

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Che Guevara by David Sandison

and more...