Religion by God

by Mameneh

As I mentioned in other posts, I was going to talk a little about religion in the coming weeks. My experiences as a Christian has been eventful in the least. With this thought, I have been researching religion and its’ relations to people. I have asked questions of different individuals and drew from their views and experiences to write this article. The focus is on Christianity, but could align with other religions.

This is a touchy subject, so bear with me.

On a recent volunteer mission to an African Church, I was humiliated when the guest Pastor for this church ordered me to “get out” of the service in the middle of prayer for not kneeling. In all my life as a Christian, I had not been forced to do anything in church, that includes taking Communion, closing my eyes during prayer, standing for the reading of the gospel, etc. I had simply been asked. So, like some members that day, I chose to sit. Later, the Pastor condemned me and said that I could die stepping out of the church. I was a little taken aback by the proclamation, but proceeded to bow in prayer. That is when I was literally thrown out, escorted by a church member out the door.  I felt punished for not kneeling.

The fools of Religion?

by Mameneh

I have a couple of Chapters on religion that I will blog about in the next few weeks. In trying to make sense of religion and how we interpret our faiths, I have been asking different individuals and lot of questions about Christianity and their take on the whole process. Interestingly enough, I came upon this interview on bbc.com

The whole thing is posted for all to read:

Misunderstanding & Misinterpreting Africa

by Mameneh

As I was browsing online today, I came upon an article by Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome. She was talking about how through the ages since Europeans started to come to Africa, they have misunderstood and misinterpreted the culture and the continent. She talked about their preconceived notions and ideals of superiority to Africans and how that has affected how they interpret and represent Africa and Africans.

One noted topic in this discussion was female genital mutilation in Africa and around the world and circumcision in the western world. Her argument is that if an African woman accepted female mutilation as a cultural thing, it was viewed by western women as barbaric and dark, yet when a woman has a son in the western world, she is automatically asked if he should be circumcised. It is not viewed by the majority as cruel or inhumane. Why then shouldn’t an African woman agree to do whatever she wants with her body, including female genital mutilation? It is only that western women should have the right to their own body? Why isn’t an African woman seen as someone who is not silent or confused? Why is she the one who is constantly powerless? She also talked about how it is viewed automatically as something that the men want, but not the women.

African Career, Educational & Resource Fair

by Mameneh

Saturday, March 20, 2009 is the first African Career, Educational & Resource (ACER Fair). This fair will be the first of its’ kind to cater specifically to the African Immigrant community in Minnesota.

At the event, members of the community will be able to meet and network with representatives from the school district, colleges & universities, social service organizations, and fortune 500 companies.

The Fair will provide a culturally sensitive venue for the immigrant community in Minnesota. It will also provide various resources and services for attendees.

The event will take place at Northview Junior High at 5869 69th Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55429 from 10am – 3pm. Admission is FREE to all.

For more information, visit ACER Website at www.acerfair.org

Right America Feeling Wronged

by Mamaneh

This is the name of the documentary. I may be late and election is definitely over, but this just premier on HBO and it is one for the ages. It was done by Alexandra Pelosi, the daughter of Nancy Pelosi. If you have not seen it, please try and take a look.

Technology & My kid

There is so much going on out there this weekend, but the only thing I want to talk about is my 5 year old daughter.

My daughter is a real techno kid. She is efficient on a Mac and a PC. What’s funny is that she just started Pre-school last year and they do not have any computers for their class. How did she learn? I’m not sure. She likes to go online with her cousins and play these Disney games and such. When I’m relaxing, I let her get on my laptop and click away. I usually monitor her every move and this is what I was doing when I learned that she could Google.

Black History Month

By Mamaneh
While watching the History Channel today, there was an hour of programing dedicated to George Washington Carver, the man who invented peanut butter. At first, I wondered why there was an hour dedicated to peanut butter. I thought it had something to do with the Salmonella problem we have had recently, then it dawn on me, it was BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

A Liberian’s Letter to the US government

by Mameneh

I am a Liberian. I love Liberia. I am an immigrant. I am a legal resident.

Lately, there has been lots of talk on the TPS/DED status of Liberians in MN. I am deeply affected by it because it is my community and my people. After years of living in the U.S. and contributing to the communities in which they live, many Liberians on TPS/DED should be given permanent residence status. They are legal, they pay taxes, they work like every American. They have investments (homes, children, etc). We came here fleeing war and prosecution. America gave us protection. For that, we are grateful. Thank you.

Not to sound ungrateful, but Liberians on TPS/DED need your help again. It is an inconvenience to send these people home at this time. Our nation is fragile and under equipped to take such a burden. With 80% unemployment and a poor infrastructure, country cannot accommodate us. Please understand. Liberians in the U.S. are the bread wieners. Without support from families and friends here, our children cannot receive basic necessities, like education, health care and food. Our love ones cannot prosper, and our country cannot rise up.

Please gave all Liberians on TPS/DED permanenet residence status.

Alarming Statistics we really should pay attention to….

Currently, I am involve in launching the “Taking Control Program” with African Health Action. So, as a rule, I have been reading every article I can find on STDs, HIV/AIDS, and the statistics out there in the black community. African Americans have a high rate of HIV/AIDS infection, but Africans in America are climbing up there at an alarming rate as well. On all levels, I read a new statistic  on yahoo today that the rate of HIV infection has slowed and that the amount of people on treatment all over the world has increase in the past few years, that’s including children. This is good news, and great improvement, but lots still need to be done.

This has brought up another unique topic. We need to talk about the importance of safe sex amongst our youths and the need to test. It is very essential that we know our status. The sooner an infection is known, the better the treatment and the health of the individual. We need to stress monogamy in adult relationships and abstinence in the youth. But, as we know, that has not always worked, so we also need to enforce the need for testing and protection. It is vital to our survival.

Building education and awareness is one of the main strategies that AHA (African Health Action) is taking. We (Africans) are not having more sex than any other group of people around the world, so why are we the most infected? We are because we are not educated and many of us (in Africa mostly), do not have access to information or education on these diseases.

We are already battling HIV/AIDS. Now, we are beginning to battle Syphilis for the second time in less than a century. Back in the early 1920s and 1930s, African Americans were the highest group of people with Syphilis infection. Now, we are seeing a reemergence. Why? This is the question we have to ask ourselves. We also have to find out the root causes affecting our community in terms of sexually transmitted disease. There are many factors, so we have to come up with solutions to stop the rate of infection, even if that means changing our beliefs, our traditions, and our way of thinking.

View this link on the most recent statistic in the black community on Syphilis infection:

http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/news/articles/notso_safe_sex

The Reality of Racism

When I came across this on yahoo, I thought it was more accurate. What do you think?

WASHINGTON – Think you wouldn’t tolerate a racist act? Think again, says a surprising experiment that exposed some college students to one and found indifference at best.