This is why I voted for Obama

Please read the following articles in my post!

"Obama repeals funding ban"

And this is exactly why I voted for Obama, to repeal very bad decisions by a closed-minded and obviously Christian-based Bush Administration. The NGO I work for does not allow us to talk about safe sex, condoms, STIs, or birth control options. The teachers are only allowed to give classes on the rhythm method and abstinence, because why?...a major donor is a Catholic organization. These people have traveled and worked in the same poor communities as I do daily, yet they do not understand that even though they send food, clothes, and supplies, they are blocking this children from receiving a sex-education that is desperately needed to help the community rise from poverty. All they do is put a band-aid on the problem until the kids reach puberty and then we see 3 out of 4 girls in Cusmapa pregnant by age 15. Now, I see this system continue to cycle this problem, yet they keep teaching abstinence because if the teachers refuse, funding gets cut.

Now imagine a government giving aid only to foreign programs who teach abstinence only to poverty and AIDS stricken nations! That's exactly what the Bush Administration did for 8 years! What I see happening in the mountains of Nicaragua was happening all over Africa and Latin America, and yet were there any improvements to the communities...my guess is NOPE! Thank you Obama for cutting off this horrible ban that my tax dollars were supporting for almost a decade.

An article about Nicaragua's recent change (in 2006) in law to inact a blanket ban on abortion.

Also in the news last week, which made Callie and I scream with delight, was the Presidential Order to close Guantanamo Bay. After all the

Here is another great article by Human Rights Watch, I would recommend that everyone become familiar with this NGO's website and news briefs as well:
U.S. Makes Steps to End Torture

Maybe next in the news we'll see ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) or the Kyoto Protocol, since no administration has had the "cojenes" to sign either of them (in the case of the ICESCR, every administration since Carter has refused to take the issue to Congress). If you need a reminder on any of these International agreements, google search or wikipedia it for quick reference.

So, these among other things, were reasons why I voted for Obama. I knew he would make drastic changes like these and he is following through! Last week I got to watch the concert for Obama, as well as the inauguration, on our crappy cable network we have. The concert was luckily not dubbed too bad, and when Garth Brooks came on and sang "We Shall Be Free" I started to cry. Not only has the song's message ALWAYS had an impact on me, but it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. I was sad no one else was home to watch the big inauguration day with me, but it was probably better they didn't have to watch me cry again. I was just so happy that there was hope that things would change in the U.S. and that that change would diffuse to the entire world. My favorite two quotes were:

"This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

"And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more."

Ok, sorry Mom that was my political announcement for the day, I know you want to hear more about what I'm doing. Next post will be filled with pictures from Dayana's 15th birthday (Quincinera) and my trip to San Juan del Sur this weekend!

Thank you Jan and Mamow for sending me mail!