Month: November 2020

Does the U.S. Have a Duty to Help Developing Countries? You Decide.

Three years ago on spring break, I sat in the U.S. Senate viewing gallery as Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky argued why Montenegro should not be admitted into the United Nations. The Senate floor was half empty, and no one seemed to be taking interest in his speech. Despite his efforts, Montenegro was admitted by a vote of 98-2. In a country where politics is increasingly becoming red versus blue, how was the vote such a landslide? How could Senators be so sure? 

I was taken aback by how little the Senators cared about the decision they were making, merely popping their heads in through the chamber doors to cast their vote. For sake of discussion, I am not going to take a stance on the issue, but rather just present both sides and let you, the reader, decide. 

The first side I will examine is that the U.S. should not admit countries to global alliances without considering the consequences of doing so. Senator Paul cited two main reasons to not admit Montenegro in his speech: the economic and military consequences, as they relate to what the U.S. would gain from the alliance. Paul stated that a developing country such as Montenegro could do little to help the U.S. economically or militarily, while the U.S. would be expected to do this regardless. Maybe this is selfish thinking, or maybe he has a point. How far should the U.S. expand its aid for nothing in return? Is it this country’s civic responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves, or are we unnecessarily risking the lives of soldiers for a country that cannot help us in a time of an attack? He said in his speech, and these words still stuck with me to this day, “Should the U.S. fight other countries’ wars?” Senator Paul believes that it’s not worth the consequence of losing a mother or father’s sons and daughters. The same could be said for economic aid. Senator Paul argued that our country has enough problems that require financial assistance at home, and billions of dollars should not be spent in some other country where we would get nothing but a thumbs-up and a nice “thank you” for assisting. 

On the other hand, many believe that the U.S. has a duty to help developing nations such as Montenegro. Each and every one of us has won the lottery by being born here. Whether you love or hate this country, we are extremely privileged to be here. With that being said, many believe that it is our duty to help foreign nations in need, whether economically, or whether militarily. A country that is under persecution from a ruler or another foreign body deserves the same chance at freedom as us. Just as the French played a crucial role in the freedom of Americans during the Revolutionary War, we too could play a similar role for a developing country. Imagine if the French, a global superpower at the time, did not help the U.S. Would we be the country that we are today? Would we even be a country at all? This attitude can be applied across the globe, but rather this time, we are the ones pushing these nations to freedom and prosperity. Furthermore, along similar lines, our country spends billions of dollars on our defense budget that could potentially be allocated to other developing countries that need this assistance to survive. U.S. aid could be the difference between life and death for thousands of citizens, and it appears selfish to not economically contribute to an ally who needs it the most. 

The reason I chose to not argue on one side of this issue is because, quite frankly, I cannot decide which side I am in agreement with. I see Senator Paul’s argument about saving the lives of American soldiers and saving dollars for U.S. programs that need it, but at the same time I feel we have a duty to help other countries across the world. I really like my analogy about the French in the revolutionary war: would you and I even be here today without their help? We have the power to help in a similar manner. Regardless of what you believe, I believe this was a great experience to discuss and share with you all. Thank you for reading.

Día de los Muertos in Pilsen, Chicago

When my Urban History class tasked me with researching a neighborhood of Chicago, there was no doubt in my mind that I would choose Pilsen. Rather than pursuing a famous neighborhood like Wrigleyville, or a ritzy one like the Gold Coast, Pilsen was the perfect blend of culture and history.

Pilsen is a predominantly Latin American neighborhood in Chicago, and I was lucky enough to visit it on November 2nd, or Día de los Muertos. For those of you who are unaware, Día de los Muertos is a Latin American celebration of one’s deceased ancestors. Rather than grieving on this day, it is seen as a celebration of life. Being able to witness this celebration in person was an amazing experience, and here is the run down of my day in the town.

 

Arriving around eleven, my first stop was Cantón Regio, a one of Pilsen’s most famous resturants. Here, known for their meat skewers (“brochetas,” as they are listed on the menu), we were lucky enough to be seated at one of three indoor tables, socially distanced from the rest. The restaurant is small in stature, but makes up for the tight space with tall ceilings and countless decorations. I ordered the steak skewers, which came with peppers, onions, and beans. In case you consider visiting Cantón Regio, note that it is a cash only restaurant!

To begin part of the Día de los Muertos celebration, we went to a local bakery, “Panaderia del Refugio.” Here, we bought two loafs of “Dead Bread,” or sugary bread that is a tradition to make around Día de los Muertos. After briefly conversing with the cashier in Spanish, we learned of another special location that we had to visit: an Ofrenda.

Ofrendas are the Día de los Muertos altars that celebrate one’s passed ancestors. Here, photographs, flowers, or other mementos of their life are placed to be honored and celebrated. The kind lady at the bakery told us of a local Ofrenda, viewable through a store window. We quickly went here next. It was beautiful to see the celebration of life through a different culture, especially through a tradition that I had little encounter with until that day.

To conclude the trip to Pilsen, we made sure to stop at the neighborhood’s most unique offering: its murals. Pilsen is home to hundreds of murals, with purposes ranging from comedy to activism. However, we found a common trend with a majority of them being about social justice and immigration, an issue that is widely known when it comes to Latin Americans. One of the most famous murals, and consequently the most impactful to me upon viewing, was the image on the right. Take a second to read the words on this mural. It is a spin off of our country’s all too famous Declaration of Independence, but it instead is the Declaration of Immigration. When you read the mural, these statements seem like basic knowledge or rights, such as “No human being is illegal.” However, as nearly all of us know, these are battles that many, specifically those in the Latin American community, face everyday. It was extremely empowering to view murals that combine artistic beauty with a push for social justice.

Overall, my trip to Pilsen was the perfect way to end my Halloween weekend. By visiting during a sacred celebration and experiencing all aspects of a culture, ranging from food to tradition to art, it was surely a day I will not forget for a long time. I highly recommend you take a similar trip to experience the culture that makes the neighborhood of Pilsen so magnificent.