So after the exciting weekend of Thatcher's visit (including a party in our basement - mildew included - , wine-tasting, and authentic Mexican cuisine), Sarah Kinsel, our area director - aka advisor, 'supervisor', mentor, etc. came to Yakima for another week-long visit. Last time she came her visit was interrupted by her husband's pneumonia and her own oncoming sickness.
When Sarah is here, it is a time for us to re-evaluate our priorities, habits, and lifestyles. When she comes we adhere more strictly to the four values, reminding ourselves in what areas we slack after she leaves. Well on her second night here we had a "social justice night" where we began to discuss various social justice issues in Yakima, how our perception of these injustices is colored/developed by our own history and background, root causes, and ways of working to change the patterns of injustice. We sat down to make the list and it quickly grew too long to fit on a single page: obesity, meth, gangs, domestic abuse, lack of education, racial separation, rape, murder, immigration, and on and on. Each problem seems prevalent in groups in every city in the country, but are magnified in this small city in Central Washington. All of these problems I have thought and discussed before with housemates and coworkers, except for one (thanks to Jaime): COMPLACENCY.
The problem of complacency in Yakima seems to prevent this city from improving in any way, and the complacency is a root of all the other problems as well. Take for example, the 8 YEAR OLD GIRL I mentor at the YMCA. Already, she has no plan of going to college, no plan of traveling, no desire for anything more. She wants to be married and have a child by the age of 18, There is a pervasive attitude in this city that "it is what it is" and will take too much effort to change. This includes the huge Hispanic population in town who do not try to learn English. The list could continue for pages, but it boils down to the city being stuck in one place without the inertia or proper catalyst to bring it anywhere.
On another note...there are some amazing people in this city, including Chris Cassidy, Patrick's uncle, who gives us free skiing passes, free ski equipment (brand new, and to keep!!!), rides to the mountain, après-ski beers (always Kokanee), and SO MUCH MORE. There is also a HUGE support group who we are going to visit tonight!!! Once a month they throw the JVs a potluck with wonderful food and wine and company, and so much support and love. The last time one of us mentioned at the potluck that we only had 7 bicycles at home, and within a week we had about 8 more show up on our doorstep. It is mind-blowing the love and gratitude people show to us, while in my opinion we should be the ones eternally grateful for them for opening their arms and hearts to 8 strangers who are only here for a year.
Either wayyyy. back to work! Can't wait for the potluck and for another great weekend of skiing, crab feeds, adventures, movies, and JVCing.
PS- I just finished all my grad school apps last Friday, keep your fingers crossed that one of them likes me!
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I had someone tell me once this, and although it speaks in a general way, I think that it is true.
ReplyDeleteThe wealthy look towards the future, the middle class to the present and the poor to the past.
It is simple, but highlights the ways in which the direction we look can shape our goals and desires. The girl you mentioned does not really consider her future as a place of possibility because she is being dragged down by a family whose concern is on the past. Past transgressions against them, their people, their home, by their own families. They do not save for anything because they do not look forward.
Again, very general, but I think hits on a few things that may start the discussion on the subject. There are too many things in both directions that have put that girl where she is today.