Home

Dorothy said it best, there really is no place like home.  I have been away now for about three months.  It is weird, scary, and exciting, to start on a new life path all by myself.  But we are all doing it together here at SMU; we are starting our own lives.  And if I do say so myself, we are doing a pretty good job. 

 

Being home will be a good rest from the stresses we deal with daily.  Hard classes, worrying about GPA, and that next test we have.  I am personally excited to get away from it all.  Family and friends, and turkey dinner await me at home and I just can’t wait.

 

But the fact is, I know soon enough, I will miss being at SMU.  It is a weird feeling, not wanting to be at “home.”  But then again where is my “home.”  I suppose, that now I have two.   I live at SMU for most of the year, I eat here, all my belongings are here, all my friends are here, so what is it missing that makes it not my “home.”  And I guess the answer to that is nothing.  I guess, that SMU has become a second home. 

 

I am almost positive my mother would be upset to hear me call SMU my home.  But it is not as though SMU has replaced my first home; it is somewhat of an additional, or second home. 

 

I however, find this comforting.  I remember being terrified to leave home.  To find a place that I am so comfortable at that I am willing to consider it my home away from home, well I consider that amazing. 

 

So, I can’t wait to return to my home for a short week, but I am not afraid to come back to my second home, SMU.

What Will they Trade Next for Money?

          The economic struggle in the United States is clearly visible and other strong Western countries are also struggling financially.  What worries me about this is not only the internal issues that could arise from this but the external affairs that could be affected.

 

            It is a scary feeling, having economic strains within a household.  But an Op-Ed article I read in the New York Times, brought a more frightening possibility to mind: that economic struggles could greatly affect a countries standing on moral issues.  This specific article, Did Britain Just Sell Tibet? written by Robert Barnett, describes Great Britain’s change in opinion about the freedom of Tibet based on economic issues.

 

            The troubles in Tibet have been greatly publicized, and Britain has always sided with and supported the idea that Tibet is independent of China.  Due to economic struggles, Britain, along with many strong Western countries, has turned to China for money.  In return for this help, Britain has announced their change in opinion concerning Tibet’s independence, they now believe Tibet is part of China.

 

            This change in opinion is very disheartening.  The idea that opinions can be bought or sold scares me very much.  I am upset that Britain has changed their brave, public stance on Tibet to receive money from China.  I can’t help but wonder what else can be bought, sold, or traded between countries.  I just can’t believe Britain would go so far as to trade freedom.