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I was asked by Mocha Club to write about the concept of why ‘I need Africa more than Africa needs me.’ Mocha Club [www.mochaclub.org] is a community-based website where members can start a team and invite friends to join them in giving $7 a month – the cost of 2 mochas – to support a project in Africa. Mocha Club's vision is to provide a way for people who don't have hundreds or thousands of dollars to make a difference in Africa

I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

I remember growing up sitting around with my family watching concerts put together by the best musicians in the world to help aid people in Africa. I was always oblivious to what was going on. I never really knew how big of an issue it was. I remember however seeing those images of the kids, who were sick or who had nothing. They wouldn't have been any older than I was at the time and I always thought to myself that it was like something out of a movie and that it could not be real. How could these people live in these places when I lived in a house, how come they had to walk miles for water when all had to do was walk to the kitchen and turn on the tap. I seen kids that had no clothes when I had a closet full of stuff I hardly ever wore. I remember just seeing the sadness and innocence on their faces.

This is something I have never forgotten. It makes me take for granted everything did I have. It makes me humble, It makes me not worry about the little things, I make me thankful. It makes me need Africa more than Africa needs me.

Share your thoughts in my comments, and even blog about it yourself. Join in the worthwhile cause!! Come back Dec 1st to see what Mocha Club is doing about reforming that image

Patriot Act - Midterm

This semester, for the first time, I have had the chance to study American history and the history of American politics. From my last blog you are probably aware that I do not have a huge interested in politics but I am frustrated at the level of some people's ignorance and stupidity.

Although I do not care too much about the current political race I have been very intrigued about the past leaders and the founding fathers of this country. And it was very interesting to see how this country has evolved over what it is a short time compared to their European counterparts. It is crazy to think about how the country was gone from slavery, segregation, the civil rights movement to a possible black President.

It really is astonishing, If someone had of told Thomas Jefferson (a slave owner) that there was going to a black president he probably would have laughed. I just think it is great that a country can learn and grow and evolve with the times. But anyway… In class we were discussing the Patriot Act. A lot of the class knew a lot about this and I just kind of stopped listening and was daydreaming a little. We are then asked to do questions for a homework assignment. So I thought it best to do some research and find out the bones of it. It was quiet shocking and highly interesting what I found out. It might not be as interesting for you, as most of you probably know a lot more about it.


In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the day that shocked the world and had huge traumatic effect on the whole of America… Off the point, but it is weird living in America now as I can remember sitting in my house when it happened, I had just got home from school and was watching the news. It was unreal, like a movie. But I remember in school the next day and how everybody said that they would never live in America, and I was the same, but here I am now...weird. But anyway back to what I was saying.


I was shocked to learn On October 26, 2001 President George W. Bush signed a bill designed to combat terrorism. The bill passed hardly a week after the terrorist attacks and was passed with little debate. The bill was the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, also known as The Patriot Act.


I also learned the Act increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial and other records, and also eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States.

I thought this was crazy. My view of America was a country of independence, a place that prides itself on personal freedom. I just can't see how this Bill passed with little or no opposition. And how long would this last? I figured American's, due to being upset, angry and wanting protection did little to question this Bill. But as the grievance settled and emotions were replaced by rational thought a lot of American have come to realize that this Bill is not all that it was cracked up to be. Or is it?

Yes the large scale of the 9/11 attacks exposed some obvious and laughable security flaws in the American system. Terrorists easily slipped through immigration and airport checks, and even managed to live, train, and plan in the U.S. for several years. This undoubtedly has added an extra element to people’s fears. For all people know a terrorist could be living next door and this has put the nation at a great state of unease.

But where to you draw the line between personal freedom and national safety? The conclusion that I have come to is that if people want to live without fear, or a less degree of fear, then their personal liberties are going to have to take a step back from the forefront and make way for an Act that has been put their to protect them. I do not mean that they must give up their independence entirely but instead just embrace and try work side by side with a system put in place to help. And yes there are flaws in the system and in what system aren’t there flaws? That’s way America must try to work together to figure it out. And in the mean time if a diminutive part of peoples personal freedom is at stake then that is a small price to pay for the potential loss of millions of innocent people.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/terrorism.html
www.aclu.org
www.Wikipedia.com

Presidential Election- midterm

Just like the rest of America and the rest of the world I cannot do anything to avoid hearing, speaking or debating the upcoming election. I have turned off the television, flipped through the pages of the newspaper, skipped the emails and even walked out of rooms but no matter what I still end up getting involved in some sort of debate.

The reason for this is, put simply, is peoples stupidity. Some off the things I have heard coming out of the mouths of people is ridiculous. I just wish these people would learn to have an opinion before they spoke and not just regurgitate some tripe that they heard on the radio or heard from their friend - who just happens to be a political expert due to that one political science class they took one semester, or the one whole debate they watched! (Which was for extra credit, not because they wanted to be there.)

To me it just seems like a big popularity contest. I know it is in a lot of ways, but for that one person to become the most popular and eventual winner, I would like to think that they were put on that pedestal for the right reason. Not just because they had a better ad campaign, were a better public speaker, were black or white, man or women, or whatever it may be. I would hope that they are in that position because it is the right decision. That the views and aspirations of the elected reflect what the people need and what the country needs in this time of crisis.

This is the most powerful country in the world and it is not an easy job to run it. It just seems moronic that the a decision so difficult to make is going to be decided by a lot of people who do not have a notion of what is actually going on.

The one thing that really gets me is that I am not even from this country nor able to vote but still have more of a clue of what is going on with the political 'leaders' that a lot of people I have overheard and got involved in conversations with. I check the news daily, flick through the papers, listen to the radio but I don't study the political form guides.

To be honest I don't even have a huge interest in politics, whether it is Irish politics or American. I always felt that i didn't know enough about it or the parties to make a fair decision, and was never interested enough to research it. I lost count of the number of times I heard, "its your future." And I thought to myself, you know what they are right! and for that reason I definitely did not vote. I figured it best to leave it in the hands of the voters who knew what they were doing.

REAL voters don't disagree with someone just for the sake of it, they disagree because they do their homework and come to the conclusion that one parties' views and policies best reflect what is best for the country. And yes you are going to have people with different views. But there is confidence in knowing that the majority vote went to a worthy candidate. And that that candidates views are decided by people how know what they are doing, not just a bunch of people who think it is cool to vote for a person, or voting because the color of the opponents skin.

To be continued!!

soccer in America

howdy all

I am a huge soccer fan (well i should really be calling it football but oh well!! you americans and your throwball stealing our fine name:)) but anyway. I have been playing and watching soccer as far back as i can remember. In Ireland, the rest of Europe and everywhere else in the world soccer is the biggest and most followed sport in the world. The passion for the game is unbelievable.

But for the life of me i just cannot figure out why it has not caught on over here in America. I now there has been a little increase over the past ten years, but it still does not get the respect and following that it most definitely deserves. 

And to be honest i'm not a huge fan of Beckham, yes, he's  a good player, and i use the word good accordingly, there is no way he is one of, or has ever, been one of the worlds greatest. He was always a good player surrounded by great players or a great team. yes he does have great ability on dead balls but when was the last time he was consistent with assists and goals from free kicks..not since his manchester united days. He is a good looking guy, with a good personality, and not to mention a pop star wife, combined all this has provided him with great marketing opportunities, and therefore becoming the highest paid athlete in the world. He definitely wouldn't be where he is for his soccer skills alone.

So give me your opinions on why you think soccer is struggling badly!