Author Archives: Alexander Perez

The Judgment of the Nations

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Due to politics and war, the words “immigrant” and “refugee” have been uttered numerous times in the past couple of months. In this Becker/Rose Cafe series, Professor Holly Case talked about the refugee crisis in Europe, specifically in Hungary. I came into the talk with a modest understanding of the current situation. I must admit that I was a little puzzled when Professor Case first mentioned the “Two Tailed Dog Party.” Based on her initial description of it, I thought that Professor Case was just joking around. The name of the party itself also made me believe that Professor Case was being facetious. It turns out, of course, that the Two Tailed Dog Party actually exists. Its objective is to speak out against the Hungarian government’s position on refugees, sometimes using satirical posters and billboards to convey its message.

The recent terrorist attacks in Paris and other parts of the world have placed the eyes of the global community on Syrian refugees. The United States has agreed to take in thousands of refugees. Some states, however, including my home state of Florida, have refused to accept these refugees due to concerns of national security (possible terrorist threats). Are these concerns valid or does the United States have a moral obligation to welcome those who flee persecution and war? Where do we draw the line between liberty and security? Does our sense of humanity have boundaries?

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ -Matthew 25:35-40

Spoiled

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Being that I am directly impacted by Cornell Dining every day, I was very eager to attend a Becker/Rose Cafe series on, well, Cornell Dining. Paul Muscente, Associate Director of Cornell Dining, pointed out the myriad of accolades that Cornell Dining has received over the years. There were several facts that stood out to me. For example, I was always curious as to why some food items were rationed (e.g., chicken wings). Perhaps, I thought, this was done to deter an individual from taking 20 wings at a time, which could potentially starve everyone else in the dining hall. Interestingly, however, this is also done to limit one’s intake of protein. This knowledge has even made me a little more health-conscious when it comes to selecting food items. I was also fascinated to learn that Chef Daniel spends a lot of time near the dish belt in order to assess what students throw away.

There was one particular thought I had in mind throughout the talk. I was interested in having the issue of food waste addressed. Although I am sometimes guilty of this myself, it truly upsets me to see perfectly good food (even if one doesn’t think it tastes good) thrown away. Certain guidelines may prevent Cornell Dining from preserving and distributing food because it can be “contaminated.” Nevertheless, I believe there is no reason for massive amounts of food to end up on the dish belt. It is up to us as individuals to finish whatever we put in our plates. One should not simply grab as much as food as they can, eat what they can, and then throw away the rest. One should grab what they can eat. I understand that there can sometimes be exceptions/valid excuses (e.g., feeling sick, shortage of time, etc.), but these excuses should be relatively rare occurrences. I’ve heard that the United States could feed the world with the amount of food that it throws away. How should that make one feel?

It is evident that Cornell Dining takes the ideas of students into consideration. One of the students in the audience, a former high school peer of mine, suggested that fruit and dessert items should be separated. Some time after the talk, I noticed that Rose Dining Hall had actually implemented this idea. I openly admit that I sometimes complain about Cornell’s food options, especially on West Campus. I also admit, however, that I take it for granted. Cornell’s food isn’t spoiled: I am.

 

 

Laudato Si’

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Despite the overwhelming evidence and general consensus of the scientific community, the issue of climate change continues to be a major source of controversy for some skeptics. One can argue that this very skepticism is preventing the implementation of public policies and measures that would challenge climate change. For example, if one adamantly denies climate change, he or she is probably more likely to support the process of fracking because he or she is ignorant of its consequences to the environment.

One of the professors mentioned that a carbon tax could be effective in deterring pollution and fossil fuel use. Professor Shanjun Li also commented on levels of air pollution in China. My roommate, an international student from China, has told me that one must sometimes wear a mask when going outside in Beijing because of high levels of air pollutants, especially during the Winter. I find this to be quite disturbing and upsetting. It was also very interesting to hear that Cornell utilizes lake-source cooling (thanks for cooling my room Cayuga Lake).

On May 24, 2015, Pope Francis released his encyclical, “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.” In this powerful document, the leader of over 1 billion Catholics around the world addressed the consequences of climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality. The Earth is our common home. According to Pope Francis, we, therefore, have a moral obligation to protect it. The effort to protect it, however, is going to require a united effort. In order to unite, we must first all be on the same page. In other words, we must all recognize the truth about climate change and the impact it will have on future generations. I believe our home is a very precious and beautiful gift. To echo the words of Pope Francis: “Laudato Si, mi Signore.” Or, to translate, “Praise be to you, my Lord!”

 

The Righteous Sin?

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On October 3rd, the United States unleashed an airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan. Dozens of innocent civilians were either killed or injured. Professor Ohlin posed the question, “Was this a war crime?” The answer, according to international criminal law, would depend on several factors. Was this a blatant attack on unarmed civilians? Was there a military target involved? If there was a military target, what was its value?

The concept of “collateral damage” is one of the most salient tragedies of war. This is why I can come to agree with the statement, “In war, no one ever truly wins.” I am puzzled as to how one assigns value to a military target. Would it not always be in the best interest of the assailant to simply label their military target as one with high value? Are other parties involved in this decision? This issue seems to be far from just black and white. I can not definitively answer Professor Ohlin’s original question, as I would require further information from the investigations at hand. In any case, the United States must be held accountable for any wrongdoing. The U.S should not escape punishment just because we see ourselves as the “force for good in the world.”

Behind the Scenes

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I openly admit that I usually don’t think about the origin of my food. I’m not referring to supermarkets, restaurants, or other food vendors. Mostly everything that is eaten can probably be traced back to a farm. In New York, 25% of the land is considered farmland. At Cornell, I am constantly reminded of the influence and presence of agriculture. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is one of Cornell’s most popular colleges. Even Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell University, was considered a farmer.

Mary Jo Dudley spoke to us about the migrant worker. It was greatly troubling to hear some of the obstacles and challenges one has to face if he or she is an undocumented worker. A fascinating hypothetical scenario was proposed. What would happen if all undocumented individuals were deported? Besides moral concerns (e.g. separation of families), one could also speculate that the agricultural industry would be severely affected. This is because the majority of farm workers are actually undocumented immigrants. If this is the case, it would probably be wise to develop alternative solutions to the issue of immigration.

Being a farmer is not the most sought out profession in the United States. Why is this? Perhaps, it is due to a certain stigma of being “uneducated” or “dirty.” Perhaps, it is due to the fact that farm work is incredibly labor intensive and demanding. Regardless of the answer(s), the inevitable truth is that most Americans do not plan to work on a farm. It is, therefore, critical to not underestimate the influence of the migrant worker. The next time I eat a meal, I will make sure to appreciate the work that goes on behind the scenes.

The Forgotten People

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The issue of immigration has recently taken the spotlight in American politics. The major question, essentially, is, “How should we, as a nation, deal with illegal immigrants?” A common response I have heard reciprocates with a question of its own: “Who was here first?” A look at history reveals that it was the Native American people. From the perspective of a Native American, therefore, we (non-Indians) are all immigrants. I, personally, can sympathize with this view.

I was not expecting this Becker/Rose cafe series to be as informative and powerful as it was. Professor Cheyfitz made sure to let us know that we were on Cayuga land. The United States has never been keen in acknowledging the tragedy of the Native American people. Their very essence has been shrouded in darkness. Genocide, I learned, goes beyond the deliberate killing of a large group of people. It also includes the elimination of a people’s culture.

Did you know that 1 in 3 Native American women have been or are going to be sexually assaulted in their lifetime (most likely by someone of a non-Indian background)? Did you know that the vast majority of Native Americans live in extreme poverty? These are just some of the alarming facts that were presented. At one point, Professor Cheyfizt told the story of how a Native American treated his wife’s eye from some type of infection/impediment. His emotions were transparent, and I could tell that he truly felt gratitude. Professor Cheyfitz is one of the voices of the forgotten people. He is one of the candles in the darkness. Hopefully, we can all illuminate that darkness.

 

 

The Beginning of the End

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I sometimes find it hard to believe that I’m already a senior at Cornell. Perhaps, this is due to the fact that I transferred from a former community college back home in South Florida. By the time I graduate, I will have spent 2 years and an extra semester at Cornell. So, being that I’m entering the “home stretch” of my college journey, I decided that it wouldn’t hurt to hear some words of advice from a professor that is regarded highly in the realm of college advice.

Professor Dan Schwarz had advice for each year of one’s time in college. Most of the students that were present were either sophomores or juniors. As a senior, I thought, “Great, I get to hear about the things that I should’ve done but never did.” Professor Schwarz, however, spent a fair amount of time on each year and I didn’t feel like I missed out on too much. When he got to senior year, however, I felt like I couldn’t relate as much.

It is no surprise to many, perhaps, that senior year is the year one prepares to enter the professional world (aka the “real world”). One, for example, should hand out his or her resume to potential employers and strengthen his or her interview skills. The problem I had with this advice was that it didn’t seem to apply to me immediately after graduation. As a human development major, I have plans to pursue clinical psychology in graduate school. So, I don’t necessarily plan to work in my field of interest right away. The deeper problem, however, is that I’m not completely sure if I even want to go to graduate school! I’ll be looking to attend the next career fair, as I now realize that there just might be an employer that I gravitate towards. I must take full advantage of the resources and opportunities that present themselves while I start my final chapter in college.