Life After Undergraduate School

Today I had a rather interesting conversation with my little brother, Trinton 21, who is on winter break from university. Although I have four other brothers that I love dearly, my little brother and I share added common interest when it comes to social issues, literature, current events and other matters of life.

It is nothing like having a thought-provoking conversation with someone who respects the unwritten rules of dialogue. I say that to say, as Trint and I played catch-up and exchanged ideas, I couldn’t help but to notice how grounded, accurate, and self-assured he has become in asserting his viewpoints.  It is probably fair to presume being a theater major (grad spring 2011) has developed him into the young man that debated for three hours with me today. 

As we continued discussing various topics, he apprehensively mentions his plans for after graduation (travel, working, & school). Of course, me being big sis suggested graduate school. After all, he revealed to me on Thanksgiving that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is offering him a free ride to attend their graduate drama program. While I gave him countless reasons why graduate school would be a good choice, nevertheless I could tell from his demeanor that he has his heart set on New York. 

In my heart of hearts I know why NYC is so appealing to Trint…..because I remember not so long ago the Big Apple held promising possibilities for me.

Life in the city that never sleeps.

In the words of Alicia Keys,
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets hear it for New York, New York, New York!

Shine on Trint, life’s what you make it!

L. Miguel

I think we all wish we could erase some dark times in our lives. But all of life's experiences, bad and good, make you who you are. Erasing any of life's experiences would be a great mistake.
-Luis M.

Operation Enduring Freedom

War is a poor chisel for carving out peace -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Like most American people I do not spend a great deal of time keeping up with the on goings of the war against Al-Qaeda nor with the efforts to eradicate the Afghan Taliban. Until now, sorry to say this war has hit home. Last Thanksgivings (2009), my 23 year old cousin made the announcement that he had decided to join the U.S. Army and was due to report to basic training the first week in December. As you can imagine it was a total shocker to the entire family. Devon’s bubbly, unconventional, and animated lifestyle didn’t exactly fit the sketch of a military person, if there is such a being. It was evident that he was committed to his decision to join the U.S. Army. Not wanting to appear unsupportive the family gathered around Devon to wish him well and of course, to ask him a million questions about his decision. He jokingly answered, “Well, I ain’t doing nothing else, so I might as well go see the world.”

Little did we know, that would be last Thanksgivings we would spend with Devon. Devon was killed in Afghanistan November 27, 2010, two days after Thanksgiving. It is reported that he suffered from wounds when insurgents attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade. He was assigned to Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Ft. Polk, La.

 http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/112910-Dallas-Soldier-Devon-Harris-Killed-in-Action
There are so many unanswered questions going through my mind. Realizing nothing can ever bring Devon back to us, I can only hold on to last the Thanksgivings that we spent together; and resolve to find comfort in knowing that God does not make mistakes.

The United States of America invaded Afghanistan in 2001 (Devon 15 yrs. old) with intentions to dislodge the Taliban regime and to capture Al-Qaeda terrorists. Since that invasion, it is my observation that this has been a costly war both financially and in innocent young lives—“There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.” Moreover, this war does not appear to be ending anytime soon.

I am convinced the brutality and grounds for war run in both directions. Just as Americans are adamant about protecting its citizens and interests, the Afghan people are devoted to protecting and providing ways to secure futures for their people. Yes, we have American people who are struggling to live above American poverty line, as the Afghan people are facing economic hardships that are probably more severe than the poorest American. Through various research articles, it is my understanding that many Afghan and Pakistan people join the Taliban to gain access to money, food, shelter and protection as a means to survive. I can only imagine what the Afghan people are led to believe about America, just as the American people were manipulated into believing Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

So who’s right in this war?

Who’s winning this war?

Does the Taliban have a right to assemble as a militia to protect their beliefs/interests?

Do they have the right to torpedo U.S and other military forces that invade their territory?

Should the U.S military pull out of Afghanistan at the risk of appearing weak (defeated)?

Will the Afghan people ever be able to handle its affairs?

Questions…..

Something to think about, the life we live in.