Me, With A Vague Plot Idea, 1 (one) Character Name, And An Outline That Consists Of Mostly Question Marks:

The Power of Fear

In his inauguration speech, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. He followed this with gratitude, that the fears that were plaguing the nation at the time was not a disease, but financial constraint and that we as a nation could overcome if we worked together.  

Fear, is not all bad. In moments of danger, fear can kick start your reflexes allowing us a greater advantage and even in non-immediate danger fear can bring about clarity and a different way of thinking. But fear can also be blinding, and when left unchecked it can grow until it becomes all-consuming. It is important when dealing with one’s fear that you truly think about what you are fearing and where that fear comes from—choosing only to work with the fear of an actual threat.

Franklin D. Roosevelt explained in his speech that the fear people were feeling could paralyze them and make things worse if they let it, in these current times it is important to understand how these small fears can grow and manipulate and take over. There are the fears of many Americans are based in the unknown, fears of potential violence and financial loss. But those who are coming to this country have true fear, fear that powers them through hundreds of miles of desert, and starvation. Fear of starvation and violence, death and disease. They show how fear can produce action over insurmountable odds.

What we also must remember is again how this fear can grow and how it can be stopped. The United States entered World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but by then, fear of the unknown and fear of an uncertain future had killed hundreds, thousands and millions throughout the world due to famine, panic and genocide. While we all have our fears, we must also think about how we can act when that fear is small, easier to conquer and what it may mean for others who are living in more present danger than ourselves.  

 My family and I are alive today thanks to the countries that rose above their fear of the unknown to help those who were running for their lives, and the members of my family who were able to use that fear of death and persecution to empower them to walk at least 2,000 miles to start to a sanctuary, Tehran. We must not let our fear blind us to our potential and the true victims of hate and violence and the unknown.

17 minutes

Today at 10 am local time across the US, students, teachers, staff will be walking out for of their schools. 17 minutes, one minute for each of the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting that occurred four weeks ago. These 17 minutes are not a distraction or disruption of their day. More time is lost to these students every year for the drills hoping to prevent these tragedies and the news outbreaks when they occur

It has been four weeks since the MSD shooting and two weeks since they returned to school where on their first day back news broke out that a teacher in Georgia brought a gun to his school, locked himself in his classroom and contemplated suicide. So today they walk out, today they march, not just as symbolism or a performance or as a statement. They are showing the adults how big this problem is, how far it spreads, all of those whom it impacts. It doesn’t just affect the students who survived the shooting, had to sit in their classrooms wondering if this was it; or the family members who lost their children, cousins, sisters, brothers, their parents and those who lost their friends. The intense gun drills that aim to sacrifice themselves for others when a shooter has entered their classroom and how to be quiet in your greatest, hour-long moments of fear has become part of their lives, part of their school prep like fire drills and the bomb drills of World War II

This affects everyone, and that’s part of why today they walk out, they March; because this is so important to them and so vital to them and their lives. We can’t say that children are too young to understand when they are the ones literally taking the hits for it. We cannot say their opinions are invalid or that they don’t know, that we know better and are taking care of them and are handling things for them while passing over a true epidemic that is killing and terrorizing them.

These 17 minutes are a request for thoughts and prayers; thoughts of those that lost their lives, prayers that they are at peace, both to be followed by real action. This isn’t about concert tickets, clothes, or youtube stars. You could see the bodies they had to pass on their way out when it was finally over, their classmates, their friends; because when it was finally over, it had just begun. And they are saying that enough is enough.

So this is a statement, they cannot vote but are supposed to be protected by us and we should be voting with them in mind. If we say their opinions are not valid or misinformed than we should be working with them, but we’re not because their opinions are not wrong or invalid and we are failing them by letting this continue. They are reminding us that we have the power to protect them and we need to step it up.

In the most three weeks since the shooting (February 21st until now) some of the tags that pop under Florida related to the MSD shooting have disappeared, but Parkland and Gun Control are still up there. It will not leave and this will not leave them. 

The Office (US)

It is the end of the year and the end of an era. The Office (US) series is about to leave Netflix, and along with spending time with our families during this global pandemic in the US this is also the time of more “traditional” family time. 

Whether to get through spending this time with your family or celebrating with them, you still have time to rewatch the series without too much strain. Watching just two to three hours a night you can relive all 201 episodes and nine fabulous years of The Office by the end of the year.

Today, with only a six-episode long Season 1 you’d jump into Season 2 tomorrow, get to Pam and Jim’s first kiss this Sunday night, cheer up the middle of your week with Season’s 3 Christmas party battle, see Ryan’s promotion with the beginning of Season 4 on Friday December 4th, meet Holly Sunday December 6th with the start of Season 5, visit Niagra that Friday in the beginning of Season 6, see Michael off the following week towards the end of Season 7 and seeing Andy as new manager for the beginning of Season 8 starting December 19th. As you continue with this routine the last chunk of special, longer episode you can watch all Christmas Day or spread out them out for the remainder of the year. 

Whether this will just be another journey into The Office (US) or a long-embraced farewell you can still enjoy all the camera looks, romantic couple moments, friendship moments, awkward moments, parties, pranks, one-liners, office-colleague and coworker moments, advice, interviews, conference room meetings, “that’s what she said” jokes, introduction sequences, ending sequences, and lingering questions of Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, Holly, Jan, Andy, Stanley, Phyllis, Kevin, Meredith, Creed, Oscar, Angela, Ryan, Kelly, Toby, Gabe, Darryl, Erin, David Wallace, Charles Miner, Nellie Bertram, Robert California, Roy, Karen, Pete, Clark, Val and Todd Packer

Thank you, and Cherrio!

Luna Lovegood

There are many, many, many reasons to love Luna Lovegood as well as lessons about how we should be:

she’s honest

she’s conscientious, and not the center of the universe

she’s confident in herself

she’s brave for herself and others

she’s supportive and understanding of her friends and others

she's not prejudiced and address’ it in others

this list can go on for pages and pages of a tumblr article. 

Along with all Luna (and Evanna Lynch) taught us, and was a role model for those who didn’t feel like they belonged or were considered less than, she taught us a lot with the unexpected relationships she had with two characters: Hermione and Harry

Hermione, seen as a brilliant, kind and caring Witch, was cruel to Luna at first as she was opposite, but not opposite, of Hermione. Luna showed us with her relationship with Hermione a few flaws of Hermione along with growth and with Luna, what it meant to be truly open and accepting. Both intelligent, heroic and compassionate, their core similarities ended there. While important, Hermione let the values of acceptance and appearance overshadow curiosity and open-mindedness; which are both very important and defining characteristics of any person. It is so, so, so important to not only be open-minded and interested in the world around you, people’s beliefs, but also people in general. Even the villains in Harry Potter weren’t all evil or heroes all good.

Harry, this is one of my biggest umphs, Luna was the best character we knew for Harry romantically, because of how natural they were together. Sure, like all relationships Luna had there was a bit of a warming up period, but once they met and interacted, she just got him. When he wanted to hide after the battle, she could recognize him even when disguised with Polyjoice Potion, how it felt to not know one’s parent(s), she just got him. It’s rare, and doesn’t have to be romantic, but is such a beautiful relationship and connection that some people have. That without words or  

Happy Birthday Harry

Harry Potter…..eh. No, I do love Harry, I do and there is a lot we can learn from him and a lot we can appreciate, it’s just odd as the central character of the story one of his best and most important qualities—is that he’s like everybody else. But that’s also so crucial, that he’s not special. Yes he’s got magic (but so does everyone), he’s skilled at Quidditch (but Voldemort could actually fly), he wasn’t particularly smart (Hermione) or charming (Cedric), but he also wasn’t a complete lost boy (Neville), he was average—and yet he changed and saved the world in ways big and small. So he’s a bit underwhelming, which made him so powerful.

While some of the biggest aspects of his life were not his choice, others were. One of the biggest and most crucial choices he made was his being kind and in his friendships with others. He didn’t like Draco early on, and liked Ron; he maintained a friendship with Hagrid once he was more settled into his Hogwarts life and while not particularly close, would hang out with Neville and didn’t lash out at Ginny or Colin (Colin!!) or Dobby, even competing against Fleur, Krum and Cedric (who he had a personal, one-sided rivalry against), he still was kind and friendly and always tried to do the right thing.

Harry was never perfect. He didn’t always listen, let his emotions get to him more times than there are pages in the series, he didn’t think things thru and he could be very close-minded. While he did not mature in all these accounts by the end of the series, overall he did mature and learn to see the world outside himself; being there for Hermione when Ron was with Lavender, sacrificing himself to save a world he would never get to be in. Over the series Harry grew and learned from (most of) his mistakes. This is crucial as it is important for us to know that one instance won’t ruin your life, and that people are always making mistakes and how to own up to them.

PS My favourite thing about Harry, and one of the things I love the most about the series, is how throughout it, even in his fifth year (as I remember it), every once in a while Harry would pause and meditate a bit on the world around him, how great and beautiful magic is. I love that so much

So Happy Birthday Harry Potter and Happy Birthday JK Rowling

Scooby-Doo where are you, and where did you come from?

Scooby Doo’s all-white cast would in no way be considered diverse in today’s demographics; however, 50 years ago and today it is important to note the diversity and confidence each character had. Shaggy and Daphne may have been considered less intelligent than the others, but they were not “stupid” or held the group back. Fred and Daphne were always a bit more superficial, pushed into romance and look-conscience but they were never shallow or consistently self-absorbed. Velma was within some episodes self-conscious about her looks compared to Daphne, but it never became a battle between them and Velma didn’t lose confidence in using her brain or intelligence and showed how being intelligent can be a superpower. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, and the rest of the gang promoted healthy male and female friendships where even those who are different can get along.

There will never be a show so random to enter into my life, all because I was bored and could channel surf. Thank you to one of the original “squad goals” and all those meddling kids

19 Years Later, not everything has changed for the better

19 Years ago a school shooting shocked the US, our families, our friends, strangers, the world. It was everywhere, 13 people were murdered in a public school. People around the world watched the news, spoke about the tragedy, felt guilt, confusion, compassion, pain, everything. We felt everything

 In these 19 years, things have changed by getting worse. I have become numb, for all of us it has become par-for-the-course. These students were taught how it’s part of their lives and to be prepared as 75 years ago they were prepared to hide under desks from nuclear bombs. These children here, they weren’t even born 19 years ago.That’s why they want change; this should have never been their issue to deal with but the generation of gun violence they are rightfully pissed off and are going to make it so those after them don’t have to. 

Gutted, Gentrified and Gone

Libraries are great community spaces that should be free so local residents can learn, explore and expand their minds and creativity. But libraries like our schools, are generally paid for by the income of the local residents, therefore, poorer communities get less funding and therefore poorer quality libraries. Similar to the recent “Aunt Becky” college situation, this goes against the ideals behind libraries and in the US, our equality, and how knowledge, perseverance, education and will is supposed to allow us all to flourish.

A prime example of the differences in communities is nestled within San Francisco. Known for massive hills and hipsters, San Francisco’s Pacific Heights Presidio Branch Library is just six miles away from the Bayview Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library in Bayview-Hunters Point. There is nothing wrong with the Bayview Library; its open frequently, it’s clean and the local neighborhood seems to enjoy it but with comparison you can see a difference to the Presidio Branch Library. First, the Bayview Library is in an semi-industrial area and has classes geared to computer classes for Adults & Seniors including sales meetings and tax classes. The Presidio library is surrounded by open grass where you can comfortably read outside, has information available about it’s environmental LEED Green Report Card, highlights inter-library loan, foreign language staff and diverse classes of baby and toddler interaction, writing classes and Tai Chi. The Presidio Branch Library has the resources and access residents need to want to visit the library and develop new interests. This is not surprising as Pacific Heights is noted as a rich and thriving community (1) and Bayview has been graded one of the worst based on income and education opportunities (2) and has a history of gentrification and marginalization (3). Libraries don’t have to be pretty and I can understand how they’re not always the most updated but we cannot forget that “a rising tide lifts all boats” and that we are all equal.

(1)   https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-pacific-heights-san-francisco-billionaires-row-2014-3

(2)   https://www.roadsnacks.net/worst-neighborhoods-in-san-francisco-ca/

(3)   https://www.mccalman.co/portfolio/i-am-bayview/

Practicality with Poise and Purpose

Libraries are becoming one of the only true public spaces in community, and not all communities have them. As we become more developed and cramped for space, parks are dwindling and most other places to explore and learn also cost money: museums, gallerys, etc. Libraries are also unique as they not only provide education access to books, movies, or night classes sometimes they also are public spaces that hold discussions and talks where those who are not as connected to the community or have a unique or newly peaked interest can explore and connect.

Growing up in a wealthier neighborhood, my local library expanded to introduce scientific talks with epidemiologists, chemists, pharmaceutical companies where these guest lectures would visit and speak, but then give us the ability to ask questions, and have discussion among ourselves. Overtime, similar topics brought similar people together and you got to meet those in your community that you became more attached to that you otherwise wouldn’t have known. Similar to more common library activities such as Mahjong, these events allowed that connectivity in diverse groups, with diverse ages and unique topics. It is important to remember that libraries as public spaces are not just for education or history knowledge, but future growth and exploration, discussion, a diverse community engagement and equality.

World Refugee Day, من از زندگی تو سپاسگزارم ( I thank you for my life--google) 

صلح (Peace)