HOPE

I'm sitting at work and feeling a bit bored so I just wrote this poem in the last 5 minutes. Its basically about hope- what is being hoped for is for the reader to fill in, whether peace in times of war, love in times of loneliness etc etc. I don't share much poetry so hope you like it (no pun intended).

HOPE

Hope is being in a desert,

Not lost but not sure

exactly where you are.

Clothes are tattered,

eyes are sandy,

mouth is dry,

all is yellow.

You feel hazy,

with limbs weak and fragile.

You push forward with all your energy

to take one step forward,

but its futile.

Its as if you move backwards

making no progress.

All energy has long faded away.

You become frustrated

and grab at your hair,

curse the ground

and hope to die.

Soon.

Your eyes are closed,

it feels easy to leave them shut

and you think there is no use

to expend such energy

when nothing lies ahead.

Losing hope with every failed step.

Suddenly a breeze pushes by you,

slightly cool, inspiring, alive.

And you remember why you're pushing forward.

An oasis lies just ahead,

lush with greens and deep blue water.
Water.

You can already taste it cooling your dry mouth

just from hope,
based in belief.

Your head rises up

and you force your eyes open.

Squinting, you outstretch your right leg

taking one step closer.
Still unsure where it leads
but knowing there is something better.

Closer to fulfillment and the future.

Closer to life.

Thinking Critically

A friend of mine is doing a PhD with a concentration in critical theory. This morning we spoke on the phone and she began telling me all about what she's studying. I'd never been exposed to critical theory until she defined it for me. She said critical theory is essentially the critical study and deconstruction of accepted ideas and beliefs in a society. Looking at where basic beliefs like religion, secularism, tolerance etc stem from, one can better understand how firm these ideas truly are. As it turns out, many concepts that we hold dearly can be challenged by a critical assessment. Tolerance, for example, seems like a valuable concept in pluralistic societies; we all want to get along no matter our differences. A critical theorist, however, could look at tolerance more critically as a mechanism to maintain an unequal power balance through superficial acceptance of a status quo. Why shouldn't a minority group be given equal rights and opportunities as the majority group, rather than just be tolerated?

I find tremendous value in critical theory. The problem is that there is no beginning or end to the project. In any assessment by a critical theorist, their assessment itself can be deconstructed with numerous arguments against their basic premises. Nevertheless there is value and learning gained from the process.

Some might think, when looking at the case of Somalia, it is a luxury to be analyzing critically the foundations on which much of our premises lie. I for one find it essential. For example- why are we trying so hard to establish a central government? Is it really the case that this is the best political route for the country? And even if this is the case, are the Somali people willing to accept that? Somalia hasn't moved forward in years as a rushed game of politicking has been taking place. Perhaps what is best now is for the players, domestic and international, to critically assess why it is they believe in the current process.