Make A Rafiki
by veronicue13 | April 13, 2012 at 8:43 PM
The first thing that really intrigued me on World Pulse was a group called The Rafiki Club (Rafiki meaning friend in Swahili). The Rafiki Club is a group where people are connected with women in Kenya through snail mail. These people do not have access to the internet and reject many of the books offered to them because they don't have material that interests them. I have always wanted to write an anonymous person in hopes of learning something new and finally feeling free to say whatever the hell I feel instead of constantly trying to watch my tongue. The unique quality about this network is that both parties are wanting – dreaming – aching to learn something new, something important. I feel as if I have had the wool pulled over my eyes my entire life and I am ready to wake the hell up. I hate shying away from the truth in the world because it is too damn hard to face. I hate being oblivious for the reason of feeling safe or detached from the negative forces in the world. And, being in America, I feel sometimes ashamed to be apart of this country because of our nosey, sneaky and malicious government that doesn't seem to care about the people, but more about capital. About reputation. I don't even have to understand the details of how it has become this way in America to understand that it isn't right. This is not exactly the right attitude to have about my country, when I know that living here has made me very fortunate. But also, it has made millions very unfortunate, if there's sense in that. I realize now that I am just as much involved in the world as any activist, politician or expert of something or other. I'm human, and we're all supposed to be in this together. I am forced to cooperate with laws, taxes and social order, but I am doing nothing to change the things that irritate me, or supporting those who are pushing for my rights. However, I don't feel like I'm educated enough about what's going on in the world to make such decisions or such opinions. I feel like I am entering this vast world of knowledge during a chaotic period where there are so many – too many – important issues, movements and people to know about. I know nothing. But I really want to learn. So, in an attempt to learn something, I am going to connect with a woman from Kenya. I'm nervous and excited both at the same time. I hope she doesn't find me disappointing.
