The Achievement Gap

Have I told you about my Multicultural Education class? Well, it is one that has got me thinking, and thinking about what it is that I should do, thinking about what I can do, thinking about what I am going to do to fix/improve/accept the many discrepancies that exist in our world. I've read lots in the class already, and am still reading more. Anyways, with that background I went to a play with Katie and my parents called "Miss Saigon." It is set in the closing days of the Vietnam War and is about these two individuals who fall in love, one from Vietnam, the other an American soldier.... they get separated and he thinks she is dead and moves on with his life and gets married (again?), but she can't move on, she bears his son, and tries to exist until he finds her. The very last scene they meet together one last time after the war ended, but.... well, it was a hard play to take in. It was a powerful play containing many of the emotions that were connected to that time period (so my parents tell me - as that they lived through it). Anyways, it too got me thinking down the same lines of "what is our responsibility towards mankind?" This time instead of thinking about just our little communities, and maybe even extending it to the rest of the nation, but instead pushing it out to the world. It is a hard question, and I don't have an answer, but I don't think that we are just to sit here and do nothing. I thought about how selfish we are, and how each of us want the best for ourselves and those we love, but is it enough to just offer it to them? I thought about sending off a husband or a son to war, and I did not like that thought at all, but maybe that is what is necessary. I can't claim that fighting for the right is not acceptable, in our church, think about the stripling warriors, they were in WAR, and yet are some of the biggest heroes of the Book of Mormon. But is it required that I have to give those that are closest to me? I don't know. I don't want to.
About that class I am in, it has certainly opened my eyes to the hurt that is present around us in our own country. There are so many people who don't have a chance at success despite that they are Americans, and work hard. It reminds me of that movie that I had to watch in America Heritage (I can't remember what it is called right now, the one with Will Smith... urg, oh well). And, what are we doing about it? Are we ignoring it? But we can't/aren't required to put ourselves into danger to combat it... the Smart family comes to mind as well (Elizabeth Smart, and her parents and what they went through, all because he was trying to give work to a man who was in need). And that wasn't necessarily what is required of us either. I don't know. They are hard questions.

Anyways, I went to church praying, asking for at least some direction as to what we can do, and it was very interesting what I got out of church. The lessons taught I don't think that they really were focused at all on this topic, but for me, that is all I could see and got out of the lesson, really, it was all that I saw from the lesson... the teacher/members either 'getting' the same point as me, or missing it all together.... interesting how that works.... Anyways, one lesson was on the law of tithing and fasting/fast offerings. And well, it confirmed to me, that I am grateful to be a member of this church, who looks out for its members with fast offerings, and feeds/clothes/shelters those who are in need within the ward, and worldwide too. In small and simple ways, the church is doing what they can to improve the lot of others. I still wonder what more I can do, how I can close the gap between where I am and where so many others are. This whole thinking process has certainly helped me to see the many, many, many, many blessings that I have. Anyways... Church also helped me to remember the place of the Savior and the Godhead in our lives. I am ever so grateful for the atonement. I am grateful for the knowledge that all will be treated fairly in the next life. Every time I take a class like this, think of World Religions, the Atonement becomes more real, and takes a bigger place in my life. I am so appreciative for the sacrifice that our Lord and Savior made for us. I am grateful for the truth this gospel provides me with. I am grateful for the truth that I receive so that I can start to wrap my mind around such complex issues, and find peace with/through the Lord.