While reading the chapter in Downs about the romanticizing of the Civil War, I was struck with the thought that throughout many wars many people have the feeling of solidarity and unity when we are in war. I completely disagree with this and I know that I am not alone in this sentiment. I see war as division and separation of the human race with one group pitted against another for reasons that are dressed up as "fighting terrorrism", "democracy", or another highly regarded ideal, but are usually really being fought over control, money, and/or resources. It is a dangerous thing to regard "us" as more superior or more righteous than "them" and vice versa.

I have noticed that television and movies in recent years have had a rise in war related fiction and work to glorify and idealize war and the soldiers involved and to portray the men and women at battle as heroes. Though I do not mean to disrespect or disregard those that serve in the military, as they probably have very strong and honorable vision of protecting their country, the same could be said about the so-called "enemy" who also has a mother, father, children, friends, lovers, and close ones he or she wishes to defend.

Ask anyone who has been in the middle of war how glorious and romantic it really is.

Seeds of Change

I am a bit disheartened that I am having such a difficult time finding an agency or organization that is involved with my area of interest in Humboldt or southern Oregon. There is a woman named Catherine Steed in San Francisco who is a social worker working with prison inmates and parolees helping them work in gardens and learn new job skills and develop a connection with the land. I wholeheartedly believe in the healing power of digging one's hands in the earth and creating life and food from the earth and believe this model can work for inmates, troubled youth, domestic and sexual abuse survivors, those suffering from PTSD, and the list goes on. Another organization in Sebastopol is doing something similar in their community while also growing into a seed bank that can create jobs and income that can make the program self-sustaining and not completely reliant on government funding, donations, and grants.

The organizations I have contacted so far in Hum County and southern Oregon do not seem particularly interested in hosting a social work intern with such ambitions, nor are they doing anything similar at the moment. It is possible I may have to spear head a project like this myself, but then who would be the one to "supervise" me under the direction of an internship for this? Still hoping for another idea or direction so I do not have to take an internship that does not interest me as much or stoke my fire for the sake of finishing a degree.