[lilyrose]

I hope this is the right place to post this, but since we have a body of 20+ year olds, I am hoping that many of you will take some time to join institutions that will allow you give back to your community. I am not trying to preach or talk down to you. I just know that there are more and more people joining the ranks of community organizations, and it is a beautiful thing.

I will post two of the places I am involved with. Please share your experiences with civil rights at home and around the world.

First place you can consider looking for information and to get involved is the American Civil Liberties Union: http://www.aclu.org/
This organization get a bad rep from Republicans (but then who doesn't get a back rap from them). This organization is AMAZING, with lawyers working solely on behalf of constitutional civil rights as a citizen. All help is much appreciated.

The second place is Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/
This is one of the most hands-on and one of the most brave and powerful organizations out there. When there are wars and press is not allowed in, brave people of HRW are there with hidden cameras bringing us information. If nothing else, you can learn a lot from the site, and about conflicts around the world.

I will love to hear about your attempts at or desire for community service. We need you. The world needs you.

[7thprincess]

Oh I heard about the Human Rights Watch. Good stuff. (For a moment I thought you were an ad...lol)
Well as of right now, I'm part of an student activist group. We don't get much funding, sadly. So we really can't do much, but I have some really big ideas.
But I really want to intern for a non-profit organization, heck maybe even Amnesty International. After that gonna join the Peace Corps. Spend some years in Thailand/Laos.

[Prot]

I personally work on the environment and community I live in. Everyone loves to strive for a global change and global assistance, but what about the problems at home in your own community? There are a lot more than you think. (Well especially since I live in the city) If our foundations aren't even strong, how are we to really reach others? I especially find it ironic when people don't even give their parents the proper care they deserve for raising you and would rather dedicate all their time to some strangers and not even cut some for their own parents.

[melimoocow]

i agree with Prot--local first

so many people (including myself) feel overwhelmed when confronted with complicated world matters, and sometimes that can damage any motivation to contribute/help. for example, when i think about the israel/palestine conflict, it just blows my mind because it's so complicated and i am just some middle class college student sitting in front of my computer etc etc, so what could i possibly do to help. many people view these problems as so far removed, that it can turn into a twisted spectator effect. not to say it is an excuse not to get involved or even informed about these issues, but putting the focus back on local problems is more conducive to inspiring people to help...especially if it's an issue that directly affects them. ya know what i mean?

o, and the human rights watch is an amazing organization

[7thprincess]

Yeah I agree with you two. And that is why I kinda itsy bitsy really don't fancy Oprah. I mean she is a great lady, and she does wonderful things. I won't deny or ignore the fact that she has helped many children in Africa. I would like to see her to do something for America's students. If she can create a school in Africa, I would like to see her build a school in the slums of Chicago. Its really sad and disappointing to know that in America, in the "Land of the Free," our own children, our own students, our own citizens cannot get a decent education.