Facebook: Cartoon Default Photo

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If you are actively using Facebook, by now you have certainly seen some (if not many) of your friends change their default pictures to an image of a cartoon.

If it wasn't explained why, and you were curious - I'm sure you inquired and found out. But a lot of people still don't understand why -- which is one of the reasons I question it in the first place.

The explanation attached to the profile picture change is something to the likes of "Change your picture to a cartoon from your childhood. The goal? To not see a human face on Facebook until Monday, December 6th. Join the fight against child abuse & copy & paste to your status to invite your friends to do the same."

In the early stages of all of this happening, I would get annoyed each time I saw it -- but not really think too much about it. But when I saw my brother Faraz post "If you know a child is being abused, please call 1-800-4-A-CHILD instead of just changing your profile picture to a cartoon" I immediately smiled and thought THIS is something I could go along with and promote. Instead of belittling what is a serious problem in the United States and across the globe, this was good information that should be passed along.

My number one question or problem with the cartoon scenario is: does the problem or at least the severity of the problem that is child abuse suddenly disappear after December 6th?

I'm sure many of the people who changed their Facebook profile photo thought that by doing so, they were promoting a good cause... but most didn't even bother explaining the reason they were changing their photo in the first place. Instead of passively participating, we should all take an active stance.

Over the last twelve hours or so, I'm pleased to see several of my Facebook "friends" change their statuses to what my brother wrote and I urge you to do the same.

This whole thing reminded me of a little while back when females posted on their Facebook statuses where they "liked it" in order to promote breast cancer. It was supposed to imply where they liked to leave their purses, but it became so racy and provocative and I don't think it raised any awareness at all. Breast Cancer is the number one cause of death for females, and to undermine its severity just baffles me each time.

What cause will be next?

Instead, why not provide people with information? Or provide links to where people can donate to for further research and prevention. Wouldn't it be amazing if both of these problems became a thing of the past?

There are many pros and cons to social media. You can use them to promote great causes like child abuse and cancer amongst many others, but there is a way to do it. The growing trend unfortunately is that social media just desensitizes us more and more.

 P.S. Don't forget to leave me a comment below on your thoughts! As always, I'd love to hear from you.

Bloggers Unite: Human Rights Day

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Tomorrow -- December 10, 2009 -- is "Human Rights Day".

Most people don't realize how many people around the nation -- not just around the world - are denied their basic rights. some of these are constant court battles in the U.S., so at least they are being addressed... but what about people around the world? Privileges that we take for granted on a daily basis are something that many people yearn for their whole life in other parts of the world.

To name just one of the many issues i am concerned with, don't you think medical care should be a right that everyone has? to think of how many people in the U.S. alone are not able to receive medical care because they can't afford it or health care insurance and then to think about those across the world who lack the technology, the science, and enough educated doctors to be able to provide medical care is beyond devastating.

Blogger's Unite lays out the Objective of "Human Rights Day" as to "celebrate Human Rights Day and stand up with people all over the world who want to make human rights a reality for everyone".

For a little more background information:
Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted on December 10, 1948 that set down the basic principles at the very heart of the human rights movement. The UDHR has enabled remarkable progress in human rights, inspiring international human rights standards, laws and institutions that have improved the lives of many around the world.

Click here for more information on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I came across "Guidelines to Live by" on here earlier, quite randomly, and thought i would share it since it's the same subject matter:

You are human.

In that, you are the same as everyone else; no more and no less.

You have a right to be here. You have a right to the necessities of life, 
including food, shelter, warmth and companionship.

You have a right to stand tall. Accept your individuality. 
Be honest about it, for your individuality is who you are.

You have a right to be respected. No matter what you look like, 
what your beliefs may be, or where you come from, you have a right to 
be free from persecution.

You have a right to strive for what you value.

You have a right to be happy.

In your interactions with others, remember that every one has the same rights as you. 
Respect one and all. Before all else, do no harm – and let no 
harm be done due to your own inaction.

Seek not to impose your beliefs on others. People are not ignorant. 
They have their own beliefs, equally precious as yours.

Do not judge others by your own standards, for those standards will always be biased. 
Judge instead, if you really must, on whether their intentions are good.

When conflict comes – which it will, given the diversity we live in – listen. 
Seek common ground. Strive to act in ways to limit the conflict, not compound it.

Remember that when you are gone, 
others – many yet to be born – will inherit the things you leave behind.

They too have their rights. Therefore, seek ways to leave them peace. 
Seek ways to leave them prosperity.

Seek ways to leave them with the resources and knowledge they need
 to build their lives as they see fit.