Most people have A Cause. Some issue that is close to their heart. Causes can be anything from charities to animals to political activism to groups. Sometimes we know why it is the Cause. Sometimes we don't. Some people devote their lives to it. Some people don't. And yet most people have A Cause. Now, since you can probably tell what's coming next, don't worry if you don't feel as if you're an activist. Very few of us are. Think about it this way, if you had $1000 you had to give to one cause, what would it be? That's your Cause. So...
Question: What's your Cause? Why?
Pobble Answer: I have many, many issues I care about. That $1000 I mentioned ... only giving it to one thing would be very difficult. My Cause, however, is domestic violence. For most of my adult life, I was a domestic violence counselor. While I enjoy public speaking in general, the speak I am most passionate about is domestic violence education. As a young woman, I watched two of the most important people in my life go through domestic violence relationships. To this day, as strong as they are now, they both carry the scars (emotional ones) and even occasionally the behaviors left over from those relationships. My own boundaries are particularly strict around this issue. I once refused to move in with a man because, within days of the lease being signed, he got angry enough that he swept everything off the bed in his anger. All that was on the bed was a box of tissues, a shirt and my bear. It didn't matter to me. Now, I'm not saying my boundaries are too strict or just strict enough or anything like that. They simply are what they are, no more, no less. They are as strict as they are, however, based on watching these women go through what they went through when I was younger. Domestic violence is one of those complicated and convoluted situations. It is layered and nuanced and ugly. It is also my Cause. I speak out for individual freedoms and animal rights and the Constitution because I am passionate about those things. I speak out against domestic violence because I have to.
Your answer...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
19 comments:
My cause will be gay rights. I just learned five days ago that my 18 year old son is gay. Although I suspected it for awhile and I am liberal in my viewpoint concerning homosexuality, it was still a blow to me. But over these past five days, I have noticed the demeaning comments conerning gays in tv and movies. Oh, they mask it in humor, but I did not find myself laughing. I don't know if I will ever become an activist, but it will be a subject very near and dear to my heart. My son's sexual orientationn does not diminish my love for him one bit. But I do have concern over the bias and prejudice he will encounter during his lifetime.
Anonymous ~ Congratulations on loving your son so unconditionally. Gay rights is also one of my hot button topics (as you either know because you have read the blog for a while or you will learn if you return with any regularity.) A father who can recognize the cruelty behind the humor, especially in only five days, is the greatest gift a child can have. Be sure to check out my links to Don and Michael in Norfolk. They too take on the anti-gay agenda in truly brilliant ways.
2 things, both are self-explanatory and are in no particular order.
1. Advocating for parental rights in special education
2. Promoting arts in schools.
I'm assuming no further details are necessary.
PS:
Anonymous, just love your son as wholly and freely as you always have. Others' opinions will matter less when the ones who matter most show nothing but unconditional love.
It's so hard to choose between an environmental or animal cause, two things very dear to my heart and that I feel particularly strong about. I think I'd choose greyhound rescue mostly for the fact that I would have greater chance of knowing my money was going directly to the dogs.
Jaded ~ Nope. No further explanation necessary. After Katrina, I knew I had about $10 to donate. $5 went to saving pets abandoned and $5 went to replacing instruments of school kids.
Graziella ~ I can't say I'm surprised! And read my response to Jaded, as well. ;)
My number one cause in life:
Keeping children safe from physical and sexual abuse.
Number two:
Domestic violence.
As a survivor of both, I don't think there's any other explanation needed eh?
My answer is your answer Pobble. Been there, done that, have the scars, wanna help others.
Traci ~ Good causes. And congratulations. ;)
Tai ~ Glad it's all past tense!
Good cause. No causes are bad causes (well, probably a few), but anyway, I would go with an adoption agency as my father-in-law has run one for the past 25 years or so.
I give money, when I have it, to a local organization called A Woman's Place, that provides emergency safehouses for women and children on the run from maniacal spouses/boyfriends. I too, was once busted in the face to the tune of having my glasses broken in 3 places...and later coerced into believing how sorry he was.
Never again.
This is an interesting question for me, now running a little movement to send toys and care packages to our troops. Complete strangers have slipped $20 bills into my hands. Checks come in the mail, with notes reading "I hope I have the right address...", and even a small "inheritance" turned over to our cause. I am dumbstruck by people's generosity, feel like a schmuck for not doing more the rest of my life.
$$ ~ Your cause made me smile. I'm not sure what I expected but it wasn't adoption. That's very cool.
GNG ~ It never ceases to amaze me how many women have stories like that. I'm glad you're out. I'm glad you're safe. As for doing more with your life...have you noticed your son, recently? What an amazing man he is? Have you read your own blogs? And have you asked the people who staff The Women's Place how much your money "when you have it" has allowed them to provide their clients? At the end of the day, no one's going to think "you know, she could've done more." And I can give no higher praise than that.
Only one cause? It would have to be something environmental, preferably relating to pollution or global warming. If our weather is unstable and our air and water are polluted, what good is anything else, really?
Cracker Lilo ~ The "only one" was tough on me, too. Considering I ask the questions, one would think I wouldn't stump myself so often.
Housing, particularly Habitat for Humanity (on the local affiliate level). Been working at it more than twenty years, built houses with four different affiliates, given them more than the $ 1k, and will give again as I can. Swinging a hammer beside a coming homeowner who has been paying too much for overcrowded, below code housing is a great experience.
Appsrus ~ I had no idea. Just when you think you know someone... Very cool, dear friend.
I was heavily involved in two volunteer projects in Vancouver -- teaching ESL and adult literacy in the Downtown Eastside, and assisting social programs for people with severe cerebral palsy. Just because someone is disabled and can not speak does not mean they aren't intelligent, thoughtful people, and I've known quite a few individuals who used to be parked in the corner, staring at the wall for eight hours, because their 'care' workers thought that would be okay.
Well, in my books, goddamnit, it isn't.
Friends and social interaction is an integral part of a healthy, happy life. Being treated with dignity is a basic human right. And no one deserved to be parked in front of a wall, day in and day out. I am honoured to help out, whenever I can, by organizing social groups and helping to enrich lives through music, art and play.
Ahem. I get so so so angry at how the public treats people with severe disabilites. I'll try and calm down a bit....
Now that I'm not in the city, I still help with these projects when I can, but my current crusade is living small. Growing food, harvesting fruit, being a vegetarian, having a little house, and trying to decrease my environmental footprint. I want the world to remember me when I'm gone, but certainly not for the destruction I've left in my wake.
well, since it's monday... can i still answer your sunday poll?
ending AIDS in africa (and around the world) is still my cause.
unbelievable how many posted about domestic violence here
and anonymous... GOOD FOR YOU!!!
Wolfgrrrl ~ Let Me Hear You Testify! Don't ever feel like you have to calm down in the comments of my blog. Rant and rave away. If you needed to do it for yourself, that's another issue. Just don't feel stifled here!
Lovely Cats ~ I'd wondered if yours had changed. And remember, the stats are 1 in 3. Scary, ain't it.
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