"The Dwindling Middle Class" (Occupy)

As of now, with the current economic turmoil, the middle class is wondering “We did everything right. How could this have happened to us? We work hard, paid our mortgage, and paid our loans on time. How are we now struggling?” To even begin understanding these problems we need to back track just a bit, well a couple decades that is to the New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

These programs laid the groundwork for the greatest expansion of the middle class with large economic growth after WWII and into the 1960s. The New Deal programs such as the 1944 GI Bill, enabled millions of servicemen and veterans to go to college, open businesses, and afford homes for the first time. While in the early 1980s, under the presidential leadership of Ronald Reagan, these programs were pretty much dismantled and the government tax policy shifted money from the middle class to the wealthy creating a growing gap between the rich and poor that we see today. It seems that wealthy individuals and corporations got their very own New Deal programs.

The Occupy Movement, although lacking in strategy and clear goals, has brought up important issues that the majority of Americans have not thought about on a collective level and that is corporate greed. The mentality that the poor or the unemployed are simply just lazy and not willing to work is being challenged because we see that the middle class (“the working class”) is struggling, losing their jobs, and falling into poverty. Just like how the word: liar has become synonymous with politicians; greed has become the same for corporations. 

            Don’t get me wrong, I am not bashing the rich for being rich; I’m bashing them for getting rich over the backs of everyone else. What the American Dream meant to people was that they could “prosper” and “have the chance to acquire a good life” for their family. As we have seen, the American Dream doesn’t necessarily come true for many, but this dream creates an American optimism that can’t be challenged…except by the cyclical and redundant dream that tax cuts will create a trickle down effect making everyone prosperous. We are at a stage in America where manufacturing has ended, and our investments in companies and corporations are being majorly invested abroad. The American Dream is supposedly achieved through hard work only, but the people are becoming restless; this sense of hopelessness among the “comfortable poor” will not be felt by those of the middle class who have prospered before.

            No one wants a history lesson, but if you want the truth then it’s time to start looking at what brought us to our current situation. Just because the people are advocating for economic justice doesn’t mean they want to overthrow the whole economic system. Those who start labeling the poor as socialists for wanting a living wage, fairness, and representation should first try to understand the intent of real democracy..

             

I went to Syria, and YES, I came back "ALIVE"

When the word Middle East (Syria) is mention, the American psyche (and more than likely most of Europe) thinks of suicide bombers, 'Jihadists', Islamic extremists, oppressive regime, hijab, etc. Certainly this is not a good view of the Middle East in general, but I went to the Middle East and I survived, and came back alive with a purpose.

In fact, I went to Syria, one of countries that my country, the US, has sanctioned and put on a list labeled "rogue countries". It is illegal to fly directly to Damascus, Syria, so we had to take a connecting flight in London. A sanction on a country from the US is meant to punish it. A sanction is a restriction on international trade and finance that one country imposes on another for political reasons. I have to admit, I was a  bit nervous about going to Syria for this fact that my country has imposed such a sanction on them. I was also bothered that the US has allied itsef with countries with less gender equality (Saudi Arabia for one example) while being adversarial with coutnries in the Middle East with the most gender equality.

The government is not the people. People are fluid; they are able to admit say and do things governments aren't, so people, though symbols of their country, are not politicians who represent the interest of the government. We constantly meet and hear about the actions of governments, but we never hear and meet the people of that government, so it has been hard to seperate the human from the machine.

Through my personal experience in Syria, I have to say that Syrians are some of the nicest and hospitable people I have ever met. It is not fake or superficial, but that this idea of hospitality and kindness is built into their national identity as Syrians.  It is these personal accounts that lay the foundation of relationships and bring among the change of ignorant mindsets. Individual accounts like this which countinue to be told and listened by others will start a positive "stereotype" that challenges the ingrained and negative stereotypes.
Here are some things that I found to be thoughtful, amusing, interesting, funny, and amazing about the people I met in Syria:

1. Everywhere you go, whether it is to a historical site or to a shop or wherever, be expected to drink tons of tea or coffee. People are very nice and hospitable, so they will always ask you to sit with them, have a conversation, and a cup of tea. So far, my favorite is flower tea. ;)

2. Just like Mexican time, Hmong time, etc, they have Arab time as well. LOL

3. There is a strong national identity in Syria. No matter who you ask, when you ask what their religion or ethnicity is, they will always follow up with: "But we are all Syrian!" I am envious of such a strong collective identity.

4. When I met people, even for just one minute, they instantly remembered my name and remembered me. The next day I'd walk out into the streets, and the shop owners I saw yesterday, would say "Tiffany! How are you doing? Come in for tea."

5. Gifts are very important. It is a sign of gratitude and just hospitality. No matter what kind of gift it is or if it has no use at all, it is a sign of gratitude. We always think of gifts as what they person wants, but they give gifts in order to be giving and to show generosity. I got many things from necklaces to magazines to snacks to even post cards and stickers.

6. Chicken is a special item when looking at the menu. They don't really eat chicken, they prefer lamb which is really good!

7. When I saw little children selling post cards and stickers, I felt very sad for them, but you also have to realize that they are not "children." They are salesmen who are trying to make a living, and don't live like children in the US.

8. I can see it in the personalities that I met in Syria, that many of them have a strong sense of social justice in their commnity and counry. Religion plays a large role in infuencing life in Syria and social programs are very important.

9. I realise how much I love the "call to prayer" in Syria. At certain times during the day, the call to prayer would come on, and I think it just sounds amazing to see a whole city embracing their very own beliefs openly.

10. The one thing that inspired me the most was seeing the diversity in Syria. Diversity is not an achievemet, although it is heralded as an accomplisment even at my college. Pluralism is the accomplishment that every society should strive for. Syria is, within itself, a pluralistic community.

If you ever get the chance, you all should go visit Syria. It is a beautiful country with interesting people. I went to Syria, and YES, I came back ALIVE. I came back more awakened in truth and the real. This was a trip of self realization and discovery, like a wake up call. A call to tell everyone that the Middle East is not all what we label it to be.

"Why Syria? Actually, Where the Hell is That?"

 

Prior to my trip to Syria people constantly asked me "Why Syria? Are you crazy?" or "Syria? Where the hell is that?"

Well I am going to answer the second question first.Syria is located in the Middle East. It is below Turkey and West of Iran. It shares a border with Iraq, Jordan, Israel,  and Lebanon. And it is home to some of the oldest civilizations, religions, and culture in the world. Plus, you better invest in a very good map if you don't know much about geography! ;)

"Why Syria?"

I understand the complete hysteria, and cautionary tales of America for the Middle East, so I expected this reaction. I had high hopes that Syria will prove this standard and perversed view of the Middle East wrong, and it did. (More about this in my next blog)

Besides the fact that I am completely clueless of my personal purpose in Syria, I knew Syria to be a part of the religious history that took place there thousands of years ago. I think religion is fascinating and inriguing. I grew up in a Hmong family who held indigenous beliefs and buddhist traditions. Honestly,  I have always lacked a connection to my indgenous beliefs. I felt like shamanism was more of a tradition than a religious experience. I don't think it's meant to be such an experience, but one where you are inherently still connected to your past and influenced by it today. I really wanted to find answers to my questions of faith, and also better understand religion.

I've always questioned faith, but that's probably why I have so much faith in the first place. If It wasn't real to me than why bother caring or being angry at It. It's not that I am looking to practice a certain religion, but just asking to understand and have a better connection with God. There has been so much taken away from me, but so much more I have received. I don't think it's just pure luck or coincidence anymore, there has to be a something more.

Last summer, I worked as a janitor cleaning offices, bathrooms, the occasional spills,and (oh god) washing windows. One day, half way through my fun summer, I had just finish my shift for that day and was heading towards my apartment. I felt horrible that day, and not like myself. I was working hard, waking up at 5:00 in the morning until 2:30, and having no time for myself, family, or friends. Everything was so routine, and I hated "needing" the money. Nothing hits your dignity harder than people looking down at you because you are a janitor.

 As I rode my bike pass the cemetery near the Main building, I saw that there was a new statue at the shrine of the Virgin Mary, so I stopped to take a look. I sat down and just looked at the statue. I thought a lot to myself about many things, and as I walked away, for some reason, I decided to go closer to the small pond. I saw a plastic cover gold pendant and picked it up. In the back it had some sort of letters that looked like TM, but it was put together in that it formed my initials TV. I looked at it, and out of all people, it was me who found it and felt the way I did that day. I picked it up and put it in my purse, and felt much happier and hopeful.

On my first day in Damascus, I felt very lonely just because everyone was a lot older than me, and were more experienced. I went up to my bedroom and opened my luggage to put away some things I bought away, and there it was, the pendant I found during the summer. It was just in my luggage. I remember how I felt when I first found this pendant and how it made my day a little better. I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but it made me remember that through even the hardest times, I needed to have faith.

I guess the underlying personal reason for going to Syria is: I don't know. But what I do know is that coming back, I am more motivated to go to greater places and also to continue my journey and question my faith in order to learn. My experience of Syria may affect me later in life in some way, but only God knows, and when he lets me in on the secret, I'll know too.