Gatherings and Departures

1 June 2007
5:30 pm
New York City - Hostelling International

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Our trip to Cambodia has begun well. So far, the One World Delegation of Young Leaders have completed an orientation, gotten to bond over meals and misadventures in New York City, and stayed overnight in the exhuberant and noisome hallways of a youth hostel.

Aside from the tedium of paperwork, yesterday's orientation provided a stirring arguement from a personal context from the One World staff for why youth of color should contemplate careers in promoting human rights - those so-called inalienable rights that transcend boundaries and borders, states and regimes. Our group also had invited speakers greet and engage us in thinking about the context of international service, development and our role. I loved being able to listen both to the guests that we were greated by as well as the insightful questions posed by the delegates. I only have time to speak to the first guest - perhaps before we board I'll update this post:

Rep. Charles Rangel met with out group and spoke with an eagerness and energy that felt authentic. He encouraged us to begin that most critical work of 'representing' powerful courtesy, utility and humility - demonstrating positive qualities as delegates from the United States of America. I enjoyed that sentiment and the irony - one of our delegates is a Canadian-born national.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the discussion, and the most haunting insight came from a One World Foundation Board of Advisors member. She stated that the kinds of opportunities and experiences we would experience would often straddle and complicate two positions - solidarity and imperialism.


John