Random thoughts and Stories

Oh Lucy

2007-07-31T08:28:00.001-07:00

OH Lucy Put a smile on everyones face
Lucy, so brilliant, funny, and brave
Loved to learn, and earned straight A's
OH, Lucy, Lucy, she made made my day.

It was 7:42 in the morning, she was almost late

As she ran to school, a bullet went through her chest

Oh lucy Lucy fell to the floor
Lucy couldn't breath anymore
My one and only lucy, never ever came back home
Now who and why am I living for?

Oh Lucy, Lucy, my only friend
ALways put a smile on my face
OH Lucy, Lucy my only friend
Whenever I'm with you, will make my day.

The Homeless

2007-07-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

Low income, tough choices, violence at home, day after day.

Millions of questions in my head about people who do not have a home. Where do they come from? What exactly lead them to not live under a roof? Who are homeless people?

There is never a day I don't run into someone asking for money. I see them in downtown Los Angeles, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and other places. I think about how I live. I always have something to eat, I have a place to sleep, and many places to study.

There are a variety of reasons on why people choose to give up in life. Being unable to pay rent, child care, health care, child support, mental illness, drugs, are some reasons that cause people to turn to the streets. There is no such thing as a perfect life, we all struggle at some point.

If I had the power to fix all the problems in this world, I would do it. =(

Domestic Violence workshop

2007-07-03T16:12:00.001-07:00

No one deserves to be abused, and you'll be amazed with how many people you know have been abused. Today I attended a "Dating and Domestic violence" workshop led by Maeve O'Leary, a student at UCLA and a local performing artist who has done peer health eductaion since she was in High School. This powerful topic made me look back at many problems my friends, other people, and I have gone through. There are seven types of abuse.....

Physical: slapping, pushing, hitting, kicking, biting, etc.
Emotional: name-calling, putting down, insults, etc.
Sexual: being forced into sexual contact
Threats: "If you...I'll kill you!"
Intimidation: gestures, looks, smashing things
Isolation: being kept from seeing or talking to others, not allowed to go out.
Economic: being given an allowance, not allowed to have a job, etc.

What exactly is domestic violence? Domestic violence or abuse often refers to violence between spouses, but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners. It occurs when a family member, an ex partner tries to physically or phsycologicaly control another. I have witnessed emotional, economic, and intimidation.

For example, imagine a Dad who insults his children and wife on an almost everyday basis. He doesnt let his daughters go out, talk to boys, have boyfriends put make up and ext. When the girls go out with out permission, he assumes they went out to have sex or do drugs. Who does he blame? He blames his wife for not "raising them properly." Mommy feels extremely guilty and is forced to give dad money. Here is where economic and psychological abuse take place. This is absolutely not a healthy relationship. The mother and her children are extremely initimidated by this guy.

Teenagers are victims of such violence as well. Here is where Dating abuse takes place. Dating abuse is violence between teenagers.

Unfortunately many teenagers are not aware that they are in abusive relationships. Now picture a 16 year old boy treating his girlfriend almost as if she had no feelings. "You will never become a rockstar, just kidding," Kevin tells his girlfriend Matilda. Kevin accusd Matilda of cheating. He spent most of his days prank calling. She felt as if she had no space.

Matilda was completely drenched in fear yet felt that she was in love with this person. She felt isolated from friends, and to catch up with her social life, she made a smart choice of getting involved in school. She joined many clubs like Youth for Positive Change, and MECHA.

When Matilda tried breaking up with him, he would beg her not to. He promised her that he would change, and she beleived him. Who knows how he's doing right now. She broke up with him and is currently working hard to achieve her goals.

People often jump into conclusions. Some say that people like the abuse, but no one likes the abuse. Fear, children, love, guilt, and faith are the factors that do not allow the victims to walk away.

A healthy relationship consists of communication, trust, space, fairness, and most importantly respect. No one deserves an abusive relationship. Being abusive is not genetic or an illness. It is learned behavior. However, they need help just like the victims of violence need.

http://www.endabuse.org/resources/facts/
http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/surveyresults_teens2006.htm

July 3, First Blog

2007-07-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Well I finally created an account. I'm looking forward in organizing my blog page as time goes by. I will use my blogs to share my experiences and point of view on a variety of topics. Clare, who helps me edit my stories for youth radio, encouraged me to start blogging.

I'm here at NPR west studio waiting for an interesting workshop to begin. I believe I will be learning alot on Domestic Violence. I hope the workshop goes well. I will write another blog regarding the workshop later on.