Economy Mess

We’ve heard it many times- we’re in a recession. We have to be thrifty, and we cannot afford to spend so much time spending! But is that the solution that will get us out of this crisis? In fact, many economists think otherwise- they say that we should be spending; it’s the way to get the economy thriving and working again.

EVERYONE IS FEELING THE PINCH:

Retail stores have not seen such a big loss since decades ago. Restaurants are also feeling the pinch of the recession- not only are there less restaurant goers now, but people are ordering less- customers do not indulge as much as they used to; for many appetizers have become their entrees.


ROBBERIES



There have been more robberies since the recession. Jobs are scarce, and people are finding it difficult to survive. My cousin went to California recently, and his father is house sitting while my cousin is away. Although robberies are terrible, gun sales have been at a record high. Home owners and business/store owners are purchasing guns to feel more secure and protected. Gun store owners were expecting a decline in sales since a Democrat was elected to Office. To their surprise, they have been making revenue more so than before.


EDUCATION

Students who have worked hard for 18 years are at a crossroad when it comes to their academic future. Many can’t afford to go to college. They now have to take a different route than what they had expected a few years ago. Are dreams and opportunities at stake?

Education is on the back burner, and it is something that should not be taken lightly. Schools are getting more off days and after school programs are being taken away because of school budgets.

Positive news:



I guess you can say that this recession can be taken as a learning experience. There is one positive aspect that comes out of this horrible recession that has left many homeless and others jobless; Americans are learning to be more conscious of their savings. Americans work hard, but they also party hard. We spend a lot on just about anything- from entertainment to fashion, and saving is something that we do not really consider.


Families are also spending more quality time and they’re cooking at home! People may be out of jobs, but many are finding more time to do the things that they’ve always wanted to do instead of following a rigid structure of their usual corporate business world. Although some have lost their gym membership, many more are exercising more than before- at their own pace- in the comfort of their home( according to a statistic done by Glamour magazine).


Although we hear horrible news time after time, there is always that hope that gets us through. Just remember, life goes on…

Ko Pyisone

I blog about things that I’m most bothered by or things that I find most controversial in the news, and I’ve been contemplating whether I should blog about something as personal as this…

My Cousin, Danny P. Myint, at 28, recently passed away due to cancer- Adedonocarcinoma of an unknown primary.

Ko PyiSone- as I call him, ( PyiSone in Burmese means complete or just perfect, and Ko means older brother) had a blog, www.dannymyint.com which he kept his friends and family up to date with his treatments, his daily struggles and his feelings. He wrote with so much passion to fight the disease, and he also wrote with compassion- letting others like him know that they weren’t alone. His blog transcended boundaries – not only were his close friends able to check in on his days or on his trips to the hospitals, but cancer patients, like my father viewed the blog with admiration.

Ko Pyi Sone’s Legacy:

He fought a difficult battle, but he was so hopeful that he’ll beat it despite the negativity that came his way. Doctors reluctantly gave him bad news after bad news, as his cancer was rare, but Ko Pyi Sone/Ko Danny held a great fight. He’s accomplished so many things in life; beating cancer was just another achievement he would write on his resume.

Ko Lwin, his brother, gave a speech about Ko Danny’s accomplishments within his 28 years. He told us how his brother had worked for many great companies- Reuters and ESPN -just to name a few. Ko Danny traveled the world and made great friends along the way.

Ko Danny’s bestfriend Nick spoke about the laughs they shared and the bond they had- most of all he talked about Ko Danny’s big heart, his generosity and…again his humor. ( My aunt and I wonder just how funny he was because many have said that- we always pictured him as this tall, kind, shy guy.)

Ko Pyisone was also a philanthropist. He was generous and he loved to give; he had been advocating for the research of cancer and for its care. Here is one he truly supported:

Dan, You Can!

It’s set up by his girlfriend and sister in law! Let his legacy live on.



“Pyisone”

My mom said, “ Everything in Ko Danny’s life was “ pyisone”/complete. Now he’s at peace and perfectly complete.

I’ve heard that death is bittersweet. Bitter as we’re not able to physically feel the presence of our loved ones anymore, but ironically sweet because they’re free from suffering in this world and off to a better world. We all go the same path eventually; I guess some just lead the way for others to follow.

www.dannymyint.com
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To Wear a Scarf or To Not Wear One...

Which relates more to feminism ? To cover your body from head to toe or to flaunt your body freely?

The answer really is up to one’s culture. In Western society, we say that it is freeing for women to “ burn their bras” and wear clothing that exposes more for the eyes. We see billboards of women in underwear, and we all tune in to watch a fashion show of women parading in lingerie. Victoria’s Secret shows beautiful women advertising “ how skin is in ”; to be sexy, one must be in lacey underwear. Check. Got it.

But does exposure of the body really mean exposure to free society? Are women again left with nothing but their bodies to define themselves?

Many from the East, ( from Asia to the Middle East) think otherwise. My mother, for example, vehemently disagrees that a woman should show skin. She says the more a woman covers herself, the more self-respect she has for herself. I had a class mate at school who wore saris, and she used to say how empowered she felt wearing it. Not only because it made her unique from her peers, but saris represented her culture and it was something that she wouldn’t want to eliminate. She also did not see why women were so eager to show off their bodies just to be glared, snarled, and stared at- while all along feeling uncomfortable. She did not think prancing around in short shorts was a great way to define a woman… I saw her point, and it was one that I truly respected, but not one that I could whole heartedly believe. I think there are limits to everything, and women today are more modern than ever – getting the respect they deserve while staying on top of their fashion game. ( Read my previous blog on Michelle Obama and fashion )

You can wear anything and still respect a culture, a religion, a gender..etc. Although there are some glitches in the media, many ladies play it off very well. Beyonce, for example, is the Queen Bee because she is dominant and knows what she wants. She can wear racy clothing that shows off her best assets, yet also glow in a long beautiful gown which portrays her as a pretty princess. Either in a long gown or in a bikini, Beyonce makes sure she is still herself. She is the pop diva with a lot of fans and a lot of morals.

Do the sayings “ Show off your curves!” and “ If you got it, flaunt it!” still remain today?
I suppose it does. Just check out this "diva". ( Beyonce Knowles should pay me for advertising her new song on this blog.)

Columbine High School Massacre- 10th year Anniversary

We all remember what happened on the tragic day of the Columbine High School Massacre- where two students in “ trench coats” embarked on one of the deadliest killings in an American Highschool . The two highschool students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were always described to be in ” trenchcoats”; many said they were “different”. The media depicted Harris and Klebold as goths and social outcasts.

The aftermath of Columbine raised awareness on the issues of bullying and cliques in high school. There were other societal debates as well- about gun culture, violent video games and the usage of anti depressants among teenagers- but I think it reaches more than just that; the Columbine shootings represented the emptiness and the exclusion these 2 students felt from highschool and its social institution.

8 years later, a college student from Virginia Tech led a shooting very much like Columbine. He was also described to be different and was outcasted by his college peers. Seung-Hui Cho, the shooter of the Virgina Tech Massacre, in his note wrote that Harris and Klebold were martyrs.


The aftermath of Columbine High School emphasized on the culture of cliques and bullying.


What Schools Are Doing Now...

In order for the entire student body to interact, many schools are now participating in what is known as Challenge Day. Lots of students actually like the idea of Challenge Day and school administrators have actually seen changes made. What a great way to make an impact on people’s lives.


See for Yourself what Challenge Day has done:

Is Obama doing too much?

The List

1.) Economy
2.) Climate Change
3.) Education
4.) Health Care
5.) Peace in the Middle East
a.) Ending war in Iraq
6.) Immigration

Critics are saying that Obama is tackling too many things at once, but the one thing that people cannot say is that Obama is dragging his feet. He has been doing everything under the sun to get America moving in the right direction, but will he be successful? Do you think he can accomplish most of the things on the list? Which is the most important to you?

Is there such a thing as disinvested genorosity?

I was talking to my friend about “ generosity”. He asks, “ Is there such a thing as disinvested generosity?” My answer initially was, “ Yes. ” As I thought harder about it, I got more confused.


In Buddhism, the most cherished generosity is to give freely without wishing for anything in return. However, Buddhists believe in Karma, and the definition of karma means that every action has consequences. We do good things hoping that it has a good effect on our future. So do Buddhists believe in a truly disinvested generosity?


Christmas is all about giving, but it can later translate to desire and what you hope to receive in exchange for the gift you had given. Then there are people who say they do not want any gift or present for their act of giving; thus these people build a good reputation. That reputation in itself is the substitute of the gift they may have received- the person becomes respected and venerated in his/her community. Then no longer is he/ she contributing in disinvested generosity.


Suze Orman, a financial advisor, motivational speaker and author, says the true meaning of generosity is to not expect anything in return. It doesn’t matter how much you donate or give as long as your generosity is pure and real. Then the karma will just work itself out.






So…I do not know whether there is such a thing as disinvested generosity, but just know that what you give is equivalent to what you get. The universe is relentless; it hears and sees your harmful or dutiful acts. Your actions alone do not dictate the cause and effect of your destiny or luck; your thoughts ( good and bad) play a major role too. Your generosity is not just about the money you give, but the ( good and pure) thoughts that come along with it.


What do you think? Is there such a thing as disinvested generosity? What’s the logic of a gift?

A short clip on Burmese music, art and culture.

Hope you like what you see...and hear!