Patriotic means voicing opinions

By Maryann Dakkak

In my freshman year, I was one of 19 students arrested at a protest to reopen a homeless shelter. During the next two years I went to Tijuana to build houses five times, Arizona to build once, Africa for two months and Chile for one month. I've become an immersion trip addict and have along the way broadened my perspective every time.

I don't only work away from home. I've volunteered at Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM) every week since my freshman year. All of this has culminated in my becoming a fairly strong activist. More importantly, a non-violent, active pacifist.

Over the years I've harbored some great anger at our country for its oppression of others - such as the sweatshops just across the Mexican border in which most of the families I've built for have worked, earning wages that don't even provide enough for a cement floor or food every day. And I've felt sad to have all the privileges I've had, almost guilty.

But in the end, I feel that this gives me more responsibility. I've been given a stronger voice with my privilege, if only to speak for those without a voice.

Many a time in classes I've heard comments such as, "How can you speak badly of this nation that defends your right to speak?" or "How can you speak of these things when you enjoy the privileges?"

Well, my first angry response would be, "Why be so defensive about ugliness in our country?" Every country has ugliness. Every country has beauty. But most of all, why should this nation defend my right to speak if I don't take advantage of that very right? I've been blessed to live in a country where I can take control of my life and use my privilege to help people take control of their's.

I don't feel that I need to apologize for being privileged. In Africa, I met people who taught me that they would take advantage of those privileges, too. But again, with it comes responsibility. Yes, I own clothing from Gap, Nike, Old Navy, even some Banana Republic. But I don't value them anymore. They mean as much to me as the worn clothes the people I work with in CHAM wear. They're just a cover for our bodies. But we have choices. I no longer support these companies because I can't help but think of the people I've met who've had to live hand to mouth making these clothes.

Then people argue that at least this creates jobs. Temporarily, yes, this is true. But take Mexico as an example. Now that their economy is rising (which was part of why sweatshops opened there) the sweatshops are moving out to find lower labor costs. So in the end, after a few years of growth, many people are losing their jobs. Since their government has been so involved in boosting the economy through these factories, they are left with little to rely on economically. So now they're struggling, but hey, at least they had those jobs for a little while. Still their children were getting sick with parasites every winter. I've played with a boy who was in and out of consiousness for a month because he was so sick. I've gone back to visit him four more times since I built his house.

Don't tell me not to be active or speak my mind. I don't limit anyone else from speaking of their passions. I love this country, maybe even more because I've learned about the beauty and ugliness of other countries. I am a patriot, just by having hope and using my voice.