The following article written by Belinda Luscombe appeared in Time Magazine (14 Jun 2010):
“Twesigye Jackson Kaguri’s American Dream was motoring along quite nicely until he was besieged by grandmothers. Born in a remote part of western Uganda, he’s studied hard enough to get to college in the capital Kampala, and then to the U.S. He had an American job, and American wife and the beginnings of a down payment to buy a house.
The following was written by Alex Perry and published in Time Magazine (June 21, 2010):
“To reach the most malarial town on earth, head north from Kampala (Uganda) across the Victoria Nile and, just before you come to the refugee camps that mark the southern edge of Uganda’s 20-year civil war, turn east to Lake Kwania. Africa’s other Great Lakes are known for freshwater beaches and cool evenings, but Kwania is more of a giant swamp: shallow, full of crocodiles and choked with lily, papyrus and hyacinth. The malaria parasite loves it here.
I recently watched this Reed Cowen documentary. But I don’t think that documentary is right word here. It is more of a personal polemic. It seems like the word documentary is frequently misused.
Having said that, I enjoyed Reed’s film. It resulted in a great deal of personal introspection. I agree with Sean Means that “it’s unfortunate that the response by an LDS Church spokesman . . . was to label Cowan’s film sight unseen, ‘obviously biased.’”
Last week, while in Gulu Uganda, we needed gravel (aggregate) for our concrete mix. We had rented a truck and our driver took us to the local supplier. The source was a large rock (probably granite) outcrop. All around women, children, and a few men were breaking large chunks of granite into a smaller size appropriate for concrete and other uses. This was accomplished using small metal hammers. The day was an inferno and the humidity was high. Some quarry workers had found a little shade; some just worked in the hot blazing sun.
I was recently in Gulu, Uganda, an area that has only recently become safe. At a village about 70 kilometers north of the city, a friend and I installed a swing set at a primary school that the parents are working hard to keep going. The nearest school is over 5 kilometers away. So a village school would be a definite plus.
I arrived in Uganda a little over 2 weeks ago. I love the country, the people are very friendly and the landscape is very green. The problem is that Uganda is a comparatively small, landlocked country located in the heart of Africa. It has a population approaching 30 million; and the population is continuing to explode. To make matters even more congested, most Ugandans live in a narrow north-south corridor around Kampala. Big families and poverty are the norm.
The following appears on page 32 of the 2009 Lonely Planet “The Netherlands:
“The 1960s were a breeding ground for discontent and anti-establishment activity, and in the Netherlands this underground movement led to the formation of the Provos. This small group of anarchic individuals staged street “happening” or creative, playful provocation (hence the name).
Today, the public face of Mormonism is bizarre to say the least. In broadcasting you have Glenn Beck, in politics you have Mitt Romney, in entertainment you have Donny and Marie Osmond (and let’s not forget Derek and Julianne Hough). And in literature there is Stephenie Meyer.
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the role of religion. This subject was thrust into the limelight by none other than Mormon convert Glenn Beck who outrageously stated that if a religion has “social justice” in its mission statement, then run the other direction as fast as you can. This suggestion was rightfully lampooned from all directions. And is hopefully being generally ignored.
In the March 2010 Sunstone Magazine, Stephen R. Carter provides a wonderful synopsis/review of the a Nick Hornby book:
“The story is about Katie (How to Be Good ), a general practitioner married with two children. Her husband, David has an ill-paying job writing a column called “The Angriest Man in Holloway.” Their marriage is falling apart and on the verge of ending when David meets a spiritual healer named DJ GoodNews. The encounter turns David completely around, and he becomes the most ineptly philanthropic man in Holloway.