by Firy

Created on: October 19, 2008   Last Updated: April 10, 2011

How Azizam Changed my Political Views

Have you ever worried about how you spend money on purchases,  any purchases? Does it ever occur to you what happens to every penny you put into a transaction? Well, I am not the one to buy like a maniac. You know what I mean? I have to think about many things before I buy something. Color:Is color the earthy tone that complements my environment at home? Agreement:Is the product something that complements my personality? You know how it goes. But, no, my boyfriend, Azizam, asks one more question, "Are you supporting war or certain political views by making this purchase?"

No one other statement has been more profound (except of course him reminding me to pray for guidance) in my life.

I have to admit that I disagreed with him on this matter because in my view, all of us are intertwined. There is no way to avoid being affected by any one person's actions. So this to me meant I would be stressing out over every purchase I make or don't make because I affect others by what I buy or don't buy. When I raised this issue, he said to me. "We can think about the world, the entire world at a later stage, but now I am talking about the world around you. This is the world within your reach. I am talking about you fueling your car. You pay for gas first, right? And then fuel your car. Where is your gas coming from? Think about these things!"At the time my mind was shifting back to Nigeria to answer his question. Peoples homes were demolished in some cases without notice so that Shell could dig in for oil. There had been little or no compensation to property owners. More vivid was the experience that had occurred right on my doorstep back in Lesotho.

My daughter was almost shot in war. At the time she was only three feet tall and she came running back in the house squealing, "Mother, swift air just went past my air...swift air mother...here! here!" She said rolling on my bed pointing toward the ear canal. She looked so terrified you'd think she was chased after by a dog with rabies! I lifted her up and carried her on my back in her shawl. I drew the curtains to see what was happening outside where she had been playing.Neighbors children who were also at the playground were running back into their homes. Adults from the neighboring bus stops were running madly as if caught in the middle of a hungry cyclone, hands wrapped around heads. The next morning we collected numerous empty shells on the village paths and roads.

When you

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