Saturday, November 20, 2010

The Reason For A Blog.

I have been writing this blog for three years. First it was me blathering about loss and longing. Recently it has become me blathering about loss and having. I am 'having' a lot these days. So. Much.

My chairs are full.


I have two special someones tugging on my apron strings. I have become something that I didn't ever imagine myself being.

I have become a happy person.

There have been several guest bloggers on this blog. One of them wrote this:

Here is something I think about which falls a bit outside the usual discussion: whether adoptive families will in time become engaged advocates for Ethiopia. It isn’t sexy, the long term business of pushing for a democratic government or good US foreign policy in the Horn or advocating for infrastructure or the development of good farming practices. It isn’t nearly as clear-cut or gratifying as responding to a heart-breaking famine or loving a beautiful child. But Ethiopia desperately needs such advocates. I don’t mean to say that adoptive families have a special obligation – I know that decisions about what causes to support and how are personal ones informed by many factors. But if such families do help raise awareness about Ethiopia, or if they do become involved with these issues, then that, I think, would be a significant and very welcome consequence of adoption.

I think about this a lot. I have absolutely no idea how to help bring democracy to Ethiopia. I recently read an article about Obama putting pressure on Zenawi to clean up his human rights policies in Ethiopia. Zenawi basically told Obama to suck it. I'm paraphrasing here, but the gist of the article was that Zenawi is perfectly comfortable getting anything he may ever need from China, and really doesn't need the good U.S. of A to help him with anything. If Obama has no influence, how on earth would someone like me attempt to change anything? Someone whose concerns lie more in the mundane challenges like, "How do I get M&m to ingest one green vegetable this month?" Not bloody likely that I'll be able to do anything to help Ethiopia become more democratic.

Nine months ago I wrote an e-mail to another guest blogger, Jane Kurtz. I asked her if Ethiopia Reads would ever consider building a library in M&m's hometown. Fast Forward.

She said yes.

She said yes!

Ethiopia Reads will build a library in my son and daughter's hometown. I just need to raise the money.

If every person who hit this blog yesterday sent 50 bucks, it would be done. Just like that. Now I know that a lot of those hits were people Googling things like, "What kind of family picture should I absolutely NOT include in my homestudy?" and "What do you do if you accidentally feed your child spoiled sweet potatoes?" and that about sixteen of those hits were most likely my mom looking at these pics over and over, but nonetheless, it is worth giving it a go don't you agree? I know that folks are tapped out, and this is a terrible time economically. I know that everyone has their own cause too. That's why I don't imagine we will raise all of the money here on the eyes of my eyes site, but maybe we will raise some of it.


Last summer Meazi turned to me and said, "Mom, can you believe in Ethiopia I never even had one book?"

If you would like to make a donation to the Ethiopia Reads Library in Mudula, Ethiopia

Go HERE.

Scroll down to 'one time donation', pick an amount, and in the 'in honor of' field type- 'Mudula'.

And so we begin. The Reason for a Blog, Part I- A Library.

21 comments:

  1. I have a lot to say about this...big surprise, right? But, first - would you please put a fundraising meter on your blog so we can follow your progress? And, would you also provide more details about how much needs to be raised to build a library? And, can we all post a little link love from our FB's and blogs? Finally, i lovE Ethiopia Reads! 3 years ago my students collected 10 boxes of books and we shipped them to a container as part of another friends' effort to build a library. IT was so rewarding!!!! We have a certificate in our classroom that thanks us. I love it. yeah!

    We're in. We're in for change.

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  2. Done and Done! Can't wait to visit and read to my little ones in Mudula's new library!

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  3. This is great and powerful. ONe thing off topic (sort of).. I love it when you Write. Anything. Love IT! And yes. READ!!!

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  4. Julie, how extraordinary! I will light a candle, and make a lil' donation.

    Very happy to read this.

    (Incidentally, in my eternally naive optimism (read stupidity) I still think its possible to do the little bit that has a chance of helping to change the foreign policy of the US as it pertains to ET. Though its so profoundly sucky that Feingold, sponsor of such wonderful US-ET legislation has gone by the way of the unseated. Plus, sigh, I read today an interview by Noam Chomsky and I quote from it his deflating words (in which he quoted someone else he agreed with), "...the United States supports democracy if and only if it conforms to social and economic objectives." And well, sigh.

    But anyway, not to reek of debbie-downer 'cause this is a most happy occasion.

    I'll be back while O.A. eats.

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  5. I am excited to see things move! I also love starting a discussion about the state of government in Ethiopia.

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  6. Soon as we get paid money will beo n the way ! Almaz was born in Mudula as well and was friends with Meazi in the care center, so she says she wants to help her friends get books.

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  7. Done! You are doing a great thing and I'm so happy we could be a small part of it.

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  8. Love Ethiopia Reads. I’m most happy to direct my donation this year to Mudula. My employer will match it, too!

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  9. Donation made, in honor of Mudula. In honor of your M&m and my M...thank you for doing this, it's not something I've found the energy for, but should have.

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  10. wonderful! I do believe we can change the course of history. yup, i really do. libraries. oh, and water. those are big. will the Ethiopian gov't mind if we slowly but surely put a book in the hand of every child and slowly but surely provide clean drinking water? probably not. I think those two things could change their world and we don't even need to have our own gov'ts support. although it would be nice, wouldn't it?

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  11. I don't have much to add... just... HOORAY!
    Cheers to you!

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  12. Julie, we would love to talk to you more about your library in detail. Lots of questions, could you please respond back to this email address with a phone number to reach you at:

    contact@giftingwater.com

    We too are an adoptive family from the Mudula area and would love to help. Our blog is www.chillyethiopian.blogspot.com
    Thank you,
    Tony and Julie

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  13. Julie, thank you for opening your heart to so many who care about you and your family.
    I am truly touched by what you write, and pictures of your incredibly beautiful family. And I am happy to play a small part in helping to get books to Mudula.
    Thank you for your sweet energy.

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  14. I share the same sentiments on adoption which turns into a continuous desire to do something more. I guess I was naive when I began this journey. I set out to build a family and now constantly have an internal dialogue with myself of how to make a bigger difference, a greater lasting impact. Love that you're putting thoughts into action and making it happen. Meazi will be so proud.

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  15. I have to wait to donate, but it's coming!

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  16. Hello! I LOVE Ethiopia Reads! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Jane Kurtz recently visited us and I have TONS of ideas for fundraising for your library. Good luck!

    Nicole

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  17. This is so exciting! Those books will be well loved and appreciated!

    I agree with you that once we have adopted from Ethiopia, we leave part of our hearts there and it becomes almost impossible to come back and not continue to be involved in Ethiopia in some way.

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  18. Just an fyi, I had some troubles with the Ethiopia Reads website and donating money--it kept giving me and error signal everytime I tried to donate. It took like 7 tries and finally it accepted it but if you talk to the folks who manage the site or if anyone else has experienced troubles, keep trying cuz eventually it will work.

    I think this is awesome!

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  19. Why of course. Big puffy heart love this.

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