Tracy Sillato's Blog
October 17, 2017
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech! Being a journalist, a writer, a blogger, a normal citizen..it is a fundamental right! In Malta, yesterday a journalist, also known as the WikiLeak woman, was assassinated with a car bomb. There are countries that are still fighting to get their freedom of speech and we are fighting those who are using it because they can. We might not agree but we have the option to analyse and think about what we read and then discuss it. That is the democracy! Hate speech should NEVER be used because it will backfire cause violence and diminish our freedom of expression! There should be no fear to speak our mind! There should always be healthy discussions on hot topics but NEVER VIOLENCE. Words should be used without fear, wisely, with passion and with responsibility.
October 9, 2017
Change through times
In my book My Maasai Experience: Reflections, I dedicate a whole chapter to experience of being part of a minoriy but at the same time feeling lucky of being welcomed and accepted as if there was no racial, cultural or linguistic differences. I discuss and give suggestions on how these differences should be tackled. Obviously it is something that not everyone agrees about and reasons why are many. These issues have been discussed and fought for years and still we are not yet ready to accept each other as one human race. Some might rate poorly the book just because they do not agree with what my opinion, however I always believed that the job of a writer is that to speak one's own mind and hopefuly spread a word of love and hope.
As every writer, I enjoy reading. This months' readings were the amazing To Kill a Mockingbird and Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and Ingenuity Can Change the World. It is amazing that an author, Harper Lee in the 1960's, was raising a message against issues that most of us have not yet understood and are still finding hard to accept. Atticus, a lawyer in this book, is trying to defend an innocent black man from an accusation of raping a white young woman. Although, all the proof was in favour of the black man, the lawyer knew how hard it was to make the jury see reality and forget about norms and prejudice.
The biggest challenge in life, is CHANGE. People suffer to bring change, from protests to the extrems of dieing or jail. When some do not live in their comfort zone knowing that their society and culture is bringing pain to others, they would want to make sure that the society for the future generation is better than the one they currently have. Various actions that brought change are found in the book 'Act of a Resistance'. A collection of true stories around the world. Some might be found in our history books, others not. Some stories, prefer to be forgotten by some and other stories are still being questioned and some even try to revert back what was done in the past. How many people have protested to achieve democracy, equality and civil rights?
Something that really struck me is the story about Milgred and Richard Loving. During the fifties, it was illegal for people of different races to get married. This couple was arrested in their hometown just because they were in love and decided to get married in another state where it was permissable. As soon as they tried to return back home, they got arrested. They had to move again to Washington, were they got married in the first place but never return together as couple to their loved ones in Virginia their hometown. Why? They were told “as long as you live you will be known as a felon.” During their case, religion was used as well to convince the jury that they were guilty. Their argument was
"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And, but for the interference with his arrangement, there would be no cause for such marriage. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
Thought of the day:
Let's take food as an example. Food has an aim which is that to feed people and reduce starving. If a vegetable ends up making people sick, we make sure to block that vegetable from the market until we understand how to improve the situation. The aim of it was to provide vitamins and nutrients and not to "poison" people.
Religion, is supposed to unite people. Religion is meant to guide people to live a life in peace and serentiy. If a messenger or a message, is causing hate and division, something is wrong. Back then it was interracial relationship, nowadays it is used against LGBT and extended families (divorced or unmarried couples). Some things seem to never change. CHANGE brings with it unknowns and fear but that does not mean that it should not be discussed and accepted.
As every writer, I enjoy reading. This months' readings were the amazing To Kill a Mockingbird and Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and Ingenuity Can Change the World. It is amazing that an author, Harper Lee in the 1960's, was raising a message against issues that most of us have not yet understood and are still finding hard to accept. Atticus, a lawyer in this book, is trying to defend an innocent black man from an accusation of raping a white young woman. Although, all the proof was in favour of the black man, the lawyer knew how hard it was to make the jury see reality and forget about norms and prejudice.
The biggest challenge in life, is CHANGE. People suffer to bring change, from protests to the extrems of dieing or jail. When some do not live in their comfort zone knowing that their society and culture is bringing pain to others, they would want to make sure that the society for the future generation is better than the one they currently have. Various actions that brought change are found in the book 'Act of a Resistance'. A collection of true stories around the world. Some might be found in our history books, others not. Some stories, prefer to be forgotten by some and other stories are still being questioned and some even try to revert back what was done in the past. How many people have protested to achieve democracy, equality and civil rights?
Something that really struck me is the story about Milgred and Richard Loving. During the fifties, it was illegal for people of different races to get married. This couple was arrested in their hometown just because they were in love and decided to get married in another state where it was permissable. As soon as they tried to return back home, they got arrested. They had to move again to Washington, were they got married in the first place but never return together as couple to their loved ones in Virginia their hometown. Why? They were told “as long as you live you will be known as a felon.” During their case, religion was used as well to convince the jury that they were guilty. Their argument was
"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And, but for the interference with his arrangement, there would be no cause for such marriage. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
Thought of the day:
Let's take food as an example. Food has an aim which is that to feed people and reduce starving. If a vegetable ends up making people sick, we make sure to block that vegetable from the market until we understand how to improve the situation. The aim of it was to provide vitamins and nutrients and not to "poison" people.
Religion, is supposed to unite people. Religion is meant to guide people to live a life in peace and serentiy. If a messenger or a message, is causing hate and division, something is wrong. Back then it was interracial relationship, nowadays it is used against LGBT and extended families (divorced or unmarried couples). Some things seem to never change. CHANGE brings with it unknowns and fear but that does not mean that it should not be discussed and accepted.
