the holiday

Merry Christmas...Happy Canadian Boxing Day...Happy Hanukkah...Happy Holidays...(__fill in the blank with the festive event you celebrate at this time of year___)

empowerment

I'm Gonna Do It All - Karine Polwart

What ARE you going to do someday? How are you going to change the world??

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. For most on my campus, it is just another day. But for those with HIV/AIDS or those who have been orphaned, it's not just another day. They are most likely grateful for another day of living. For those of us who are educated, it is a day of awareness. It is a day for those of us who know and care to defeat the stigmas fear has created. On Thursday, three of us traveled to Notre Dame for their film festival. There was a little boy named Gao Jun (China) who broke my heart. He was not only orphaned because his parents died from AIDS but he also has the disease. His uncles wouldn't take him because of the stigma and not being able to find spouses. So the little boy was given to another family until he became too sick for them to bear to care for him. AND he is one of the lucky ones. Something in my heart wanted to go over to China and vow to care for that little boy and the hundreds, perhaps thousands, like him. My heart goes out to Gao Jun and the millions like him. You are in my thoughts today.