Springs of Peace

Yesterday, June 24, was the birthday of one of my sisters.  She's brilliant and beautiful and one of the most strong and generous people in this world.  I admire her so much I'm too awestruck to say it to her.

So I think she would appreciate me posting this honor of her, and in memory of Sylvia Gift Nabukeera.   Sylvia--"Sylvie" or "Gift"--was a student who graduated from Mahindra United World College of India (the international high school where I worked from 2003 - 2006).  Sylvia left on a journey last year on June 24 to go back home to Uganda.  She stopped off in Nairobi and was killed, her body found on the streets almost a month later.

Sylvia, too, was brilliant and beautiful and funny and strong.  She was always singing, and could laugh off almost anything, including a snake bite on campus and the trip to the hospital an hour away.

I was reminded of this anniversary yesterday by Sylvia's friends from MUWCI, who have started an NGO to fulfill her goal:  providing drinkable water for her village in Uganda.   They wrote a much more moving tribute to Sylvie than this one.  I was reminded that Springs of Peace http://springsofpeace.wordpress.com/about/ has raised $5,000 toward their goal of $20,000, a great accomplishment in one year.  

I was reminded to contribute (which I hadn't yet done, to my chagrin).   Sylvia's description of her project is moving.  If anyone could have done something about it, Sylvia could.   She was a ball of poised energy and passion.  Let's hope we can help her project succeed.

Those who've started this project--Barbara, Julianne, Rachel, Shane, and Pravina--are smart ladies who know what they're doing.  (Hell, they knew what they were doing much better than I did, even as seventeen-year-olds).  You can trust them with your money!  Please give whatever you can to help the people Sylvia cared about, to Springs of Peace http://springsofpeace.wordpress.com/about/

I didn't know I would have two anniversaries to mark yesterday, one happy and one sad.  I'm grateful for my sister's happy day.  Let's turn the sad one into as much happiness for others as we can, for Sylvia's sake.

I had a thought-provoking conversation with a good friend recently about dual citizenship.

Him:  What a strange notion, having two citizenships.  How can you have allegiance to two (or even more) countries?   What if they are countries in conflict with each other, each making demands on you, such as mandatory military service or civic service?

Me:  I get your point, but I think the majority of people with dual citizenship are born into it; they don't acquire it.   I know people with dual citizenship who are thoroughly bi-cultural and bilingual:  they've lived in both countries, have a parent from each country; speak both languages.  This is who they are.   What can you do about that?

Him:  True . . . You've had more experience with that than I have.   It's complicated:  There are people with only US citizenship, for example, who have never lived in this country.   Are they as American as someone who immigrated here and became a citizen?  (And by the way, the requirement that you have to be born in the US to become president is archaic . . .)

Me:  Yes, it's complicated.    Are you saying that countries shouldn't allow dual citizenship?

Him:   Well . . .

I don't have any answers.   I'm not sure there are answers, but it's a fascinating topic in this world where people are more mobile than ever.    What do you think?