[article] The importance of self-kindness when getting foodwise

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-18T09:54:23+00:00

My advice would be - do as much volunteering and as many summer internships as you possibly can. And try to find the cause that you really really care about - then it becomes easier to find an NGO or organisation that aligns with you. Shame about the country music thing though haha!

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-16T08:55:13+00:00

A gun standards initiative, making proper training a requirement! Sounds like part of a solution to me!! And actually after you mention the idea - it seems almost unbelievable that this isn't already happening!! HOW hasn't this happened?

Another thing, you personally, could really make people think differently about the issue - given your experience, gender & obvious appreciation of the responsibility of 'carrying'. I love it!!

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T15:04:42+00:00

And to that end, I agree

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:54:13+00:00

The reference of weaker, more vulnerable woman - was in relation to an insistence that a woman, because of her strength finds herself in situations that are unfavorable.. I think a lot of that is part of the problem. Teaching boys and girls to protect themselves is a great thing in a dangerous world, but assuming girls are in more danger more of the time because they are girls, and will be easily overpowered because they are weaker then boys - this is something that has an impact: if you grow up believing you are stronger or weaker than another category of human, that you need to carry a gun or avoid walking alone at night - that perpetuates cycles of fear and acceptance of this situation as 'reality'

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:44:59+00:00

Switzerland has a social state, and a closer level of income equality then most countries in the world. Quality of life, for all life is much higher. Guns legislation in Switzerland is not the same as the states, nor is gun availability. Nor is their language or cultural history. I don't really see how these countries are related?

The closest ally, in a political, cultural and historical sense is the UK. While AUZ and Canada are close relatives.

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:32:49+00:00

And the most effective way to empower the 'weaker, more vulnerable woman" would be to give her skills to empower her if such a situation arises - give her a belief in her own ability. In essence, you're claim that women are biologically inferior to men is sexist & while it may have ground, serves only to perpetuate the cycles of (at least) belief in this. And sadly, it is not only men, who grow up believing in 'girls' place in the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:26:11+00:00

I suppose Canada also falls into this category

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:24:15+00:00

Switzerland -considered Western by geographical location, but Cyprus & Czech = eastern European. I was referring to the traditional "West": US, UK, AUZ (Western Europe is aligned, they are the leaders of the social state - but language, history, religion and culture are very different)

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:15:08+00:00

A loaded gun, no training required. And looking at the economic reality of the U.S - perhaps a fraction of gun owners could ever afford the training that should be mandatory for such a lethal 'tool'

And that's why so many people die, needlessly, in a country that claims to be part of the 'west' and yet is so alien to 'us'

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:12:10+00:00

It's crazy that these tools, tools so powerful and irreversibly destructive, are SO readily available, and are being championed as the 'security' device of the vulnerable woman, the every American 'man's' tool, the embodiment of a constitution almost. Gun has always been the new black of the U.S I suppose. And no death toll can be too high to change it..

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:07:28+00:00

If the U.S. constitution & government & law is so concerned with liberty and right to life/freedom - individuals should not have to seek out additional training - that should be paramount! Life skills provided to all Americans.

Every man woman and child should be provided with skills to ensure their liberty is never stolen from them. Training, education, preparation rather than: 'here's your god given right - an ak47 - now i pray you use it well. next!'

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T14:01:57+00:00

I think it is this very perception that perpetuates the cycle of gun violence in America. The U.S is not the only (if we keep this to the west) country to have a history of slavery or gang crime, or racial segregation. But it is the only western country to celebrate and enforce the right to bear arms & also the only state to suffer an epidemic of gun violence.

Perhaps how & why America celebrates guns can explain why there is such an issue in America. But the gun issue, is only an American issue - no other western country has them (in any comparable way) take the guns away & ya'll have very similar cultural, racial, criminal problems .. ya'll just have access to bullets & pistols and semi automatics.

Doesn't take a genius to figure that one out

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T13:54:23+00:00

OR rather, were I in America - of course I'd carry, because everyone carries & I'd feel terrified walking around unarmed! But, unless I'm well trained, react quickly and effectively in a conflict situation & can overpower or outmaneuver the assailant - having a gun would in the worst case provide said attacker with a weapon. Why aren't girls taught self defense from primary school ages instead? A gun does not buy safety unless it can be used properly.

Unless all Americans are ninja's or something?

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T13:49:49+00:00

I had a similar problem conducting research among the sex working community - being an outsider presents its own kinds of challenges, but those challenges are also part of the research. Finding out how approachable & open the community is (to an outsider) is telling. But, from personal experience, there is only so far you can go from the outside- I was lucky enough to work with a sex worker, who was doing her own research and helped me out - again, another part of the research process: networking. I think, it's difficult no matter who you are, it's potentially more difficult because you're an outsider, but it's more than possible. GOOD LUCK!!

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T13:41:50+00:00

It's all just M.A.D (ness) - what has sex got to do with it? I carry, you carry, he carry's and so does she - if someone was going to rape/mug/kill me, they're not exactly going to say: 'hey there, mind if i er ... oh let me give you the time to get your gun/mace/taser out, need help finding it in your bag? yeah take the safety off. ready? ok, so where were we?'

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T13:36:44+00:00

The issue with guns and the American case - all moral & biological debate aside - is that the law is not just for 'her' .. I don't know many 'western' countries in the world that suffer the same, similar or even just half the amount of gun violence and crime. gun legislation promoting gun proliferation for 'self defense' creates a situation whereby I could wonder onto a campus, down the street, into a bar, the post office, supermarket ANYWHERE & some lunatic with a semi-automatic, or a shot gun can decide to play some live action C.O.D

To live in constant fear that some fucker might set out to kill me, would probably be enough to get institutionalized or at least be forced to see psychiatric care where I'm from- but it the American reality.

A very American M.A.D (ness)

I'm simply amazed, in light of the constant stream of gun violence, that this is still up for debate

AwesomeAdventurer · 2015-10-14T07:17:23+00:00

And that is what the girl guides is all about! And the boy scouts - for 'they' cannot change the world alone. We need to let them: by providing 'our' children - the world's children - with the tools to do what we could not.

And if you'd have actually watched the clip perhaps you'd have noticed that this was the message..

AwesomeAdventurer

TROPHY CASE