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WASHINGTON -- The Defense of Marriage Act, the law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages legalized by the states, is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday by a 5-4 vote. "The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion.

Spread Your Knowledge

Over the past week, I have visited my little sister's A.P. English class twice to talk to them about Social Awareness. I jumped on this opportunity. It was such a wonderful way to learn about myself and to review what I have learned in the past few years. Going into the class, I felt utterly unprepared to teach for 70 minutes about social awareness. Sure, there were a lot of things I could say- but I only wanted to talk about things I felt I fully understood. That limited my talking points dramatically. And yet, once I began talking, a huge variety of questions were raised by the students- and I was able to respond to each of them! I could not believe that I was able to apply my limited knowledge of social justice to each and every question (or at least help them respond to each others questions). And thinking of things with a sociological imagination excited these students! They asked me to come back so we could resume our conversation for another 70 minutes. Maybe some of these students will be inspired enough by our dialogue to create change in their community or maybe even in the world. Based on this experience, I think we have an obligation to spread our knowledge of social awareness, no matter how miniscule we think it is. Out of gratitude for the opportunity to learn about social justice alone, we should feel a responsibility to spread our knowledge as much as possible. By sharing our knowledge, we have a better chance of effecting change throughout our global community.

“To This Day” is a spoken word poem that explores the profound and lasting impact that bullying can have on an individual.

"And if you can’t see anything beautiful about yourself get a better mirror look a little closer stare a little longer because there’s something inside you that made you keep trying despite everyone who told you to quit"

Electricity shortages — the product of decrepit power plants, corruption and policy mistakes that are decades old — have reached crisis proportions.

Frequent power outages in Pakistan – even in metropolitan areas like Islamabad, the capital – are a major problem for civilian households and public buildings. The country’s infrastructure needs a complete overhaul. Hopefully the recent national elections and a smooth transition of power will encourage the country’s leaders to usher in some much-needed change!

This ties in to the TED talk below...the key to ensuring women's rights is by getting EVERYONE involved! Conditions have improved, but there is still a lot to be done!

I would love to see this TED talk redone to match every single social justice struggle.

theatlantic

See More Photos From Our In Focus Gallery of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma

[Images: AP, Getty, Reuters]

“On her, it’s a bold new look; on me, it’s a symbol of my failure to assimilate. On her, it’s unquestionably cool; on me, it’s yet another marker of my Otherness, another thing that makes me different from other American girls.

"On her, it’s a bold new look; on me, it’s a symbol of my failure to assimilate. On her, it’s unquestionably cool; on me, it’s yet another marker of my Otherness, another thing that makes me different from other American girls.

But will I celebrate the "mainstreaming" of a South Asian fashion item? Nope. Not when the mainstream doesn't accept the people who created it"

#cultural appropriation #culture #South Asia #south asian awareness network

"I've learned to redefine what constitutes an American tragedy. American tragedies occur where middle America frequents every day: airplanes, business offices, marathons. Where there persists a tangible fear that this could happen to any of us. And rightfully so. Deaths and mayhem anywhere are tragic. That should always be the case. The story here is where American tragedies don't occur.

American tragedies don't occur on the southside of Chicago or the New Orleans 9th Ward. They don't occur where inner city high school kids shoot into school buses or someone shoots at a 10-year old's birthday party in New Orleans. Or Gary, Indiana. Or Compton. Or Newport News. These are where the forgotten tragedies happen and the cities are left to persevere on their own." -- Dennis

#american #tragedy #define #south asian awareness network

At the Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan, more than 100 thousand refugees face dusty days and cold nights in an uncertain existence with no end in sight.

#syria #refugee #south asian awareness network

Look at the hands from the trains. If you are late for work in Bombay, and reach the station just as the train is leaving the platform, you can run up to packed compartments and you will find many hands stretching out to grab you on board, unfolding outward from the train like petals. As you run alongside, you will be picked up, and some tiny space will be made for for feet on the edge of an open doorway...But consider what has happened: Your fellow passengers, already packed together tighter than cattle are legally allowed to be, their shirts drenched with sweat in the badly ventilated compartment, having stood like this for hours, retain a sympathy for you, know that your boss might yell at you or cut your pay if you miss this train and will make space where none exists to take one more person with ten. And at that moment of contact, they do not know if the hand that is reaching for theirs belongs to a Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Brahmin or untouchable or whether you were born in this city or arrived only this morning or whether you live in Malabar Hill or Jogeshwari; whether you're from Bombay or Mumbai or New York. All they know if that you're trying to get to the city of gold, and that's enough. Come on board, they'll say. We'll adjust.

Suketu Mehta

#South Asia #Suketu Mehta #Quotes #Bombay #Life #south asian awareness network

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