Discouraged or Inspired?

My first evening highlight was the Somerville Illumination Tour, which I highly recommend. It is once a year and is absolutely fantastic. I learned a little bit about the history of this fine town and got to see some AMAZING light displays. I even got a map so that I can take my family around on the tour myself. It was inspirational to see so many people bringing light into the night and cheer into strangers lives!
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Why stop with the lights? - Next I was onto the movies at the Somerville Theatre. However, I was over an hour early and there was a live performance in the top section, so I got to eavesdrop on a really awesome band called the James Montgomery Bluesband. To top it off, he had a special guest tonight, Grace Kelly, a 14 year old child prodigy tenor sax player. She is from my home town, Brookline, and also has the additional talent of being able to tap dance while she plays!! She is only 14 but has already held a solo show at Scullers Jazz club, one of the top jazz clubs in Boston! She truly sounded great. Well, at least through the door!
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When I did get to see the movie it turned out to be Intense! I saw Blood Diamond. Leo definitely deserves an Oscar for it although he was a bit mellow dramatic at the end and it just got so predictable and sappy that it was a bit too much. However, Whatever flaws the movie had, I think its strength was in laying out a strong political agenda ( I guess as long as you agree with its message). Hopefully it will cause most American viewers to question the origin of their gems.

This movie made me remember six years ago when I was living in Sri Lanka. There, I had a friend who was very wealthy because he was a very successful gem dealer. He worked specifically with the American and European students and tourists. Sri Lanka is known for its relatively cheap and high quality gems, especially saphires, alexandrite, rubies and cats' eyes. I have to admit that I LOVE gems and ended up purchasing some rare stones there. I appreciate both their social and geological history. It is fascinating. Although I had some idea that the conditions under which the gems were being mined were unfair, I don't think I labored on this thought for too long. I also did not think about the political/social disruption that diamonds and other gems could cause nor did I consider the damage to the earth as we pillage it.

I am not about to go and return the gems I have collected, but I will have to reconsider my future endeavors (if the opportunity ever arises again). I also will be more alert to this topic in the news in the future.