Intershiping equates to life searching

Published in The Circle some time in September, enjoy:


Imagine you just landed a great job, but then they tell you that you must commute everyday for an hour and a half by train and they won’t pay for your commuter pass. In fact, they don’t pay you at all. That’s the reality for many Marist students – including myself – who become interns on that dreaded slice of isle known as Manhattan.

I had a summer internship with a side project of a major political party. At first I thought this was great news. I’m a political science student and I got an internship with a political party; that makes perfect sense! But then I started thinking about what I was really going to be doing, and that really trounced my mood.

Interns for political parties do two things. They either call constituents to ascertain support or information or they talk to constituents to ascertain support or information. The first point means sitting at a table all day with a list of phone numbers to call where about 90% of those on the other end are either not home or refusing to answer their phone. The second point means standing in a square or park in the hot New York sun asking passerby’s for their support. It truly is a lose – lose.

I was stuck in the unfortunate situation where I had to be knowledgeable and excited for a policy that I was not too fond of. This was the one thing that truly crossed me morally about this past internship. The busy work that I had to do never fazed me, I simply input the information into the computer. What truly got to me was the fact that my job was to convince people that a policy that I believe will be ineffective is the way to go.

I began to have a very hard time collecting signatures and calling voters because of this dilemma. What made the whole situation even worse was seeing my friends out advocating for the policy I’m in favor of while I was stuck with my job. Fortunately enough for me, I was able to finish my internship early before things came to a peak.

My internship made me think about my career options. There was one good thing about this summer; it convinced me that working for a political party isn’t the right thing for me. I could never have a job where I am forced to advocate, sell, contribute to, or create something I am morally and ethically against. Fortunately enough for me, there are many different career options within the realm of politics where I could find something that suits me.

It may take a long time for me to discover what I truly want to do, but I know I won’t be content with something I can’t support. I think that is something everyone should consider, whether or not they are truly content with their career path. We are all in college for a reason, to learn and discover what makes us tick.

Unfortunately for us though, we will have to be interns and do things that we will look back upon and laugh. But for now, we just have to suck it up and try the world out.

-mike

New Fall: New School Year

Hello All!

As we have just experienced the academic lull of the summer, I am pleased to say that the new academic year has just kicked off so there should be new material floating onto the Praxivism blog.

The Praxivists who will be at Marist this fall have informed me that they are planning to keep things up. So I will be pushing them (mostly Sam) to keep the blog flowing.

I myself will be spending the semester in Firenze, Italia. So I will be publishing things about my trip such as interesting stories, pictures, or poems. I also plan on continuing to write op-ed pieces for Marist's newspaper so I will publish them here as well when I write them.

Ci vediamo!
-mike

Reflection: Mother Africa Mending

It has been an entire year and more since I visited South Africa. In the last week or so, I have been reading up on the current Marist group's experience in South Africa. Just today I read an entry they posted about their first day of community service. I was reading on some updates about the location I served at, a shelter for battered women and children named the Dusk to Dawn Haven. It really pulled my heart strings in the wrong direction reading about how little has changed over the course of a year.

When my group and I first encountered the shelter last May, we found a house in disrepair, and a yard that resembled a garbage dump at best. The shelter was horribly overcrowded. There was about 21 children there in total, about 15 women as well. I only know these statistics because Rob and I had reviewed our video footage extensively in the creation of our documentary (which is completed and will be distributed in the next 6 months).



What we encountered...

Our primary focus ended up being on the yard as it was littered with trash, glass, and assorted rotting piles. We tried our best to clean up the place as best we could but it seemed like every time we solved a problem another larger problem would come about. We cleared out a structure as well, but there was so much unused materials, bed linens, cloth, and other house hold items, it was hard for us to believe they were ever short handed of anything.


What we were able to accomplish...

This is simply a rash retelling of my service and you can read more about the first day here and the last day of our service here.


The whole thought behind this entry is that I assumed within in a year, things could change for the better. What I have learned through hours of documentary production, essay writing, reflecting, and talking is that it is not easy for people in the developing world to change the situation they are in, and it occasionally takes the intervention of a positive helping hand to give them the push needed to foster change.

A part of my heart will always reside at the haven because so much of my emotions - empathy, love, hope - is still residing there. I will never forget what I experienced and I felt like I left the shelter in a better place than I found it, and I can confidently say that. I hope that the group working there now feels the same way when their service is over.

My heart and thoughts are with the children there and the praxivists working to better their situation.

Peace and Love in the spirit of Praxis,
-mike

Thank Yous and Goodbyes

Today is the last day of finals week which means it is the offical end of the Spring 2009 semester. This semester was one of the best for the Marist Praxis Project in recent memory. Together we were able to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. For that, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the project this year for making it such a great year. I would also like to give our departing seniors a special spot light, because each one of them left something special behind that we will continue on with.



Anthony

This past year, Anthony served as the Assistant to the Public Praxis Project. During this year, Anth became the spiritual leader of the Praxivists. From his many meditiations he gave to the class and to the group to the countless conversations he has had with everyone, Anth's influence and spirit will always be with us. He was a calming spirit, a rallying spirit, he is my very good friend. Under his guidance, the Praxis Project reached heights that will not be soon met. As a parting gift, Dr. Mar gave Anth a walking stick with his name carved into the side, so that he could move on his path of life in style. As noted by Carola, "He looks like a Tibetan monk [with the stick]."

We will all miss Anthony and I wish him the best with the road ahead of him. Hopefully soon our paths will cross again.


Colleen


Colleen is one of our most veteran Praxivists. She would frequently collaborate with others and her involvement would almost guarantee the project would be successful. Most recently, Colleen helped run the Coffee House for Peace and Justice and has been advocating and informing students about alternative post-graduation options. She also worked with some other students on the Forum on Homelessness earlier in the month.

Colleen will truly be missed and the Praxis Project and the Praxivists is losing not only a great person but also a good friend. Thanks for everything you've done for the project.


Lauren


Although Lauren only discovered the Praxivists at the beginning of this past semester, she contributed with the passion and frequency of a veteran Praxivist. As a Vegan, Lauren took up projects relating to ending animal cruelty and alternative food options. She worked with organizations such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Veggie Fund which provides money for vegans to buy food for vegan events.

Thanks to Lauren, we all need to think twice about what we eat, and I'm sure she wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks so much for working with us Lauren, you are our Vegan Goddess.



Thanks to everyone
Peace and Love
-mike

Alanna and Mar in Kolkata

Today, Dr. Mar and Alanna left for Kolkata to work further with the children at the Sree Durga Dump. I urge everyone to read updates on their blog here


I hope you read about one of The Beloved Community's global outreach projects.
-mike

Poem: Meta-morph-praxis

I am ignorance
un-aware.
I do not care because
there is they and
here is me,
false-self, self, self,
and on
you I’ll pee.

Stratified divided,
un-united,
inside the closet’s where
I reside in.

Bright bright light consumes
me in my darkroom
this is expoooosuuuure
to perceived others
suuuufferrrrrs,
so I
can’t live ignorant
Annny lonnnnnnnger.

Inside a fire
begins to start, in-
side my heart it
is compassion. Now,
love in action is
what is hapnin.’

Monies, countries, and enemies…
illusions
are you separations!
The truth indeed is
self as we so
o-bese e-go
has, got to go!
Adios!
You are killer
as Killer coke
Killer cola!



And hola
Righteous Selflessness.
I exper-i-ence
mystical
unity
one-ness.

One heart.
One Love.
Solidarity.

For getting together-ness
and
feeling alright-ness,

for the increasing of happiness
and the lessening of suffering,

for brotherhood,
for sisterhood,
and all that is good,

lets search for alternatives
so that
life can live, with
co-existent co-operation.

For the healing of the nations,

Come on and, lets
liberate liberation

Let her free
Let her see
Let her be

-Anthony

A First Hand Account Of Disability- An unnecessary Struggle

For much too long people with disabilities have been misunderstood. We are perceived, perhaps by some reading this, as bitter or weak or foreign or strange. I’ve seen all of them, and our push for equality has been hurt by these misconceptions. All too often handicapped parking spaces are taken by people who don’t need them and public buildings, including those here at Marist are difficult for those with disabilities to access let alone feel safe and secure inside of. I believe these sorts of things happen because people don’t fully understand those with disabilities. I believe this can only happen when somebody who lives with a disability speaks up and makes their voice heard by telling their story. I hope as you continue reading, you come to better understand those with disabilities and our cause.

I was born with Cerebral Palsy. A hemorrhage on my brain left me unable to walk without assistance. I was told by many as a young child that I wouldn’t amount to anything. At times the difficult of simple tasks, made me believe that they were correct. I was often very bitter about not be able to play like other kids or do things as quickly as other kids. Then at age 8, a doctor told me that I would never be anything more than a vegetable. My bitterness was soon overcome by a motivation I can barely put into words. That doctor quitting on me helped me realize one thing, the only person who decides what I am capable of is me.

That mindset has put me here on the road to a second college degree. I am not alone there are many others with disabilities just like me. On a mission to accomplish what others say we cannot. We overcome pain and doubt everyday because we have no other choice. We are not bitter individuals who are content wasting away but rather an unstoppable example of the human spirit, driven by an incredible desire to do the impossible.

This is why impediments such as taken parking spots and an unsafe campus are such travesties. People with disabilities overcome obstacles just by waking up in the morning, and having to constantly navigate curbs missing a cut or open a heavy door because there is no handicap button or worry about our safety in a second floor classroom because of absent security is part of an unnecessary struggle. Other students don’t have to worry about their safety and security the way those with disabilities do.

All I ask for is understanding. Remember that the greatest exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up. If you agree with this letter, park a little further away next time you go to the store. And help me make my voice heard, tell Marist’s administration and security that changes must be made and that safety is not too much to ask for. For those of you who have taken the time to read all of this you have my deepest gratitude

If you’d like a copy of this to distribute to your friends email me at- tribe716@aol.com
- Corey

Recap: Praxis Forum

This past Thursday, April 30, the Marist Public Praxis Project held our annual forum. Featured at the forum were students who presented their projects from this semester, original poetry, songs, and spiritual meditations. This year has been particularly productive for the praxivists as we truly had an amazing collection of people who had one common objective, to make a difference. As Dr. Mar put it, “you were Awesome yesterday, today, and throughout the term with all your projects, and writing, editing, blogging, researching, critiquing, reflecting, journaling, singing, dancing, creating poetry, drawing, mentoring, instructing, fundraising, photographing, videotaping, sharing clips, offering meditations.” Attached are some pictures of the Praxis forum, I only hope in the coming years we can come near what we’ve accomplished this year. -mike



Anthony giving opening remarks.


Dr. Bruce Luske giving a short lecture about spirituality and praxis.


Cara singing and playing her guitar.


Alanna talking about her involvement in the Kolkata Children's Project.


Emily presenting about the ESL program she and Cass Rosado run for Marist's Hispanic employees.


Carola reading her poem about the effects of taking down trees.


Lauren talking about her experiences as a vegan.


Andy reciting some original poetry.


Mike speaking about the Nobel Peace Prize booklet and his refugee project which also took place on April 30.


Sam describing her project where she measured the importance of hugs.


Kasey, Joe, and Nicole presenting their project at the forum. They are doing fundraisers for the Kolkata Children's Fund as Mar and Alanna are traveling there soon.


Dr. Mar giving closing remarks at the forum.

Happy May Day

As an individual who has a mistrust for business, I believe that the consumer and the worker have to be protected. I don't believe that in the unchecked, capitalist market that we live that there must be safe guards put in place to protect the workers from being taken advantage of by their employers. So, to that regard I wish you all a happy May Day, a day designated by many to be the symbol of the worker's rights and as a celebration for their freedom. This is, of course, an oversimplification, but I wish you all a happy May Day, especially if you are celebrating it today.

Unidad, paz, y justica.
-mike

What is Praxis?

What is praxis? asks the masses. In the words of Bruce Luske praxis is “heads, hearts, and hands” “spreading like wild mushrooms” conscience and consciousness. How so? Through the universal flow. Through the unity, of critical theory with love in action. Like “Yab-yum” in Tibetan, it is in, essence, a union-ed representation, of female wisdom, locked in embrace with, male compassion.

Praxis is about, transformation. Praxis is about integration, of we the students in our study, purpose-ful-ly, into the en-viron-ment, and in so-cie-ty.

Praxis opens one, to hear the cries of the world, to feel the pains of other, genuinely, which is compassionate, deep empathy. When praxis exposure opens us, and has us, feeling that suffering, it vibrates within, and responsibility, organically arises. We begin to care, and we become eager to help. And this is why theory needs action, to allow us to walk the walk, after thinking the think, and talking the talk. Praxis is…to experience, to reflect, and to gain insight. To give meaning to the teachings, and to give…mean-ing to our be-ings.




Peace. Namaste blessings. and One Love, -Anthony