My First Winter in DC

Technically, I've lived through 25 winters, but this particular winter was very special for me. Now, I realize there are a few of you out there from the mid-west or New York, who have lived through sub-zero winters but you can write about that in your blog. This is my blog and so we're going to talk about my first east-coast winter.

I realized it was over earlier this week when the low for the day was 46 degrees and I remembered how desperate I was for the weather to hit 30 degrees during winter. I somehow learned that 28 degrees for me was nearly insufferable, but 30 was something I could tolerate.

Winter was especially hard with the loss of all my winter clothes (see UPS blog). I decided to spend my first snow day inside- not just because it was snowing but because I think I was hungover. :) I finally chose to meet some friends at a Dupont bar for drinks and put on my boots, gloves, and scarf. The snow was cold, the breeze felt like pin pricks across my bare face, and my head was cold and naked. But I also remember being in awe over how beautiful the snow-covered nights were in DC. The moon was somehow brighter and the snow lying on the sidewalks and houses appeared to glow under the street lights. Nonetheless, I was miserable and ran out the next day to buy four hats and ear muffs (quite possibly my favorite possession, next to my teddy bear and chapstick).

I also used to be close to tears over the 'long' walk from Farragut North (18th and I) to Sign of the Whale (M between 18th and 19th). Every uncovered part of my body was in pain, my body was tense, my breadth became this enormous cloud of fog in front of me. Now, I walk from G and 23rd to Sign of the Whale and marvel over how close the distance is. But somehow, when the whether hit 15 degrees, sub zero with the windchill, that seemed like a lifetime away.

But winter is gone and already, it's a distant memory in my mind. I spent the weekend enjoying 80 degrees in my sun dress and short, summer hair, enjoying the purple, yellow, the white flowers I see everywhere, the white and red daffodils that seem to have been planted over night, and the trees that though bare still, are now dotted with little green buds.

I survived my first winter living on the east coast and I have at least one more to go. Though Spring and Fall are still my favorite seasons, I realize now that there's something to be said about snowy winter nights. Not a lot, but something... :)

Fine Lines and Sensitivity

Absolut Vodka recently ran an ad in their Mexican market (seen above) that basically says that in an Absolut (and perfect) world, Mexico would have all of it's territory as though the U.S. never robbed it from us (this author's opinion... :)). It's a commercial meant to do no harm... just that in a world- an Absolut world- everything is glorious and perfect and Mexicans would associate this glorious world with having their land. Let me tell you this first- most Mexican's don't think they'll get this land back ever... nor do they spend their days wishing they did or plotting to get it back.

But US consumers are so upset about this ad and find it so offensive... why? They can't handle that the U.S. took over Mexican land? Are they afraid that Mexican's are going to cross the borders armed with tanks and guns and take back the land? What are people so sensitive about?

On another advertisement note... I recently saw that some bar in some small city nowhere decided to advertise their taco/cerveza specials as such: Wetback Wednesday. And the community was in an uproar about this.

Let's discuss the differences:

Commercial 1, Vodka: Insults no one and jests at the fact that a perfect world for Mexicans would be a world where Mexicans owned Mexican land- what a concept.

Commercial 2, Tacos: Uses a common derogatory term for Mexicans to imply that on Wednesdays, said bar has cheap tacos and cheap beers.

Both Absolut Vodka and the bar have pulled their ads. Absolut with an apology for offending people and pointing out that this was for their Mexican market. The bar changed their sign to say something along the lines of: For the easily offended, now offering Mexican American Wednesdays. Clearly the bar missed the point BUT also brought up another good point... they also have White Trash Wednesdays and Trailer Park Tuesdays and no one complains about those... Well... yes. But this has been a long running argument. It's a very fine line that might always be blurry... what's the solution? I don't know. But if any of you are in marketing, I would suggest staying away from alluding to all racial jokes just to be safe.

Unanswered Questions

As I prepared for my presentation on sexual and gender based violence (GBV), I shuffled through the reading- things you'd expect (rape, sodomy, trafficking) and the things you wouldn't think of (trading sex for rations, boy-preference as GBV, etc). What disturbed me the most was the dirty, unsexy fact that a large portion of GBV is committed by the very people that are meant to protect these already vulnerable populations. Humanitarian workers. Police offers. Peacekeepers. It baffles me and makes my head spin in circles trying to get a grasp around it.

In 2002 UNHCR put out a report about the outstanding levels of violence perpetrated by humanitarian workers. The report quoted refugees and other workers, young girls saying they were told only girls who had sex with the workers would get food, or aid workers who said they knew about it but did nothing to stop it.

Today we had a guest speaker who mentioned this study and how the aid world was appalled. Yet, in 2006, UNHCR released another report saying nothing had changed. She (working for a US govt org) said that they discovered gross offenses by a NGO in Northern Uganda and they published a report the NGO was not happy about.

So I asked... well, you published the report. And they were unhappy. And you probably didn't fund them again. And then what? What happened to these offenders?

Her response: Excellent question. Nothing.

The ICRC is working on this problem, but in the meantime, she said some of these offenders are fired. Some are just reprimanded. Some return home. And live normal, happy lives. In the meantime, they leave behind women and children, already facing tsunamis, civil war and now being exploited by those mandated to protect... what happens to them?