A racey topic... racism

Not going to lie, some of my friends have a twisted sense of humor, and one sent me this one earlier today.  It really got me thinking of how people often judge others just simply on the color of their skin.  I've been in the situation where I lived with a black family for a few months, and when people heard about that, the comments I got where outrageous.  


I also grew up down south, where there is still a large wide of people whom are racist against the black community.  They think of them as these people who thrive in the ghetto, who are trash, who kill, rob, and rape our people.  Yet there is just an equal amount of white, Asians, Latinos, and every other race who do the same- yet they don't have the stereotypes that most colored people do.


Also, I have met people who aren't comfortable around a certain race, will completely take a different way to go some place just to avoid them, and will be beyond rude to them- easily to say they are racist against one group.  I will admit, I am guilty to an extent of this.


Why do you think that people are uncomfortable around a certain race or have such a strong hatred towards a certain group of people?

Appreciate all, even what you don't understand.

Jenny asked "Do you like going to art museums? A lot of people think it is utterly boring, how about you?"

Yes! I have always loved going to art museums.  My whole family are those people who think art is boring- yet I'm in love with it.  It's the best way I can express myself, and most of the times I don't even understand it.

In my life, I have been lucky enough to go to art museums in Washington DC, Richmond VA, San Diego CA, Tampa FL, and several museums in Spain- all of which I was in heaven. 

My favorite two museums were the Museo Del Prado in Madrid, and the Picasso Museum in Spain.  I easily spend a full day in Museo Del Prado without noticing it; I fell in love with art all over again!  Though my sister generally hates art, she managed to find a few pieces that she liked and even a few that she had seen before- it was a great bonding experience for the both of us.

The picture in the post is of the Museo Del Prado.  Inside and out it has beautiful art: sketches, paintings, sculptures, and things I don't even know what to call them.  But the Prado was by far my favorite museum I have visited.

Do you think appreciation for things such as art come from understanding them? 

Without Art, there is no Heart

Sam asked "Do you have a favorite artist?  Do you have a favorite painting by them?" Link to blog post

I will agree with Sam, my favorite artist is Picasso, and my favorite painting by him is La Guernica.

I was lucky enough my sophomore year in high school to go to Spain, and even luckier to go to a Picasso Art Museum where I saw La Guernica up close in person- it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life.  I was with my sister at the museum, and she told me that she didn't understand the painting at all (along with all art in general), so I proceeded to explain all the symbolism in it about the war and about the life of Picasso.  By the time we left she told me that she felt like she just received a history lesson.

Question: Do you think art is an effective history and story teller if given the chance to be understood and explained?

I'm proud to be an American

Shannon asked in regards to Osama bin Laden being killed "How does that make you feel as an American?" and I feel the video above fits how I feel perfectly.

I was greatly affected by the 9/11 attacks- my dad was deployed the next day and his sub was attacked, he is lucky to be alive; and my uncle was deployed a few days later, he was lucky to walk away when his tank was bombed.

Knowing that the man that was the cause of 9/11 is dead is bittersweet, but American needs to be on the lookout for a retaliating attack that is most likely going to come.

Aside from the bittersweet feeling, I'm glad.  The man needed to have his life put to an end because of the hell that he caused in the world, and his death is the start to a justification to the deaths of all the men and women who lost their lives in Project Freedom.

Do you think it's wrong that the nation as a whole has celebrated the death of Osama?

Golden Rule?

Everyone knows that the Golden Rule is "treat others how you wish to be treated", and Shannon asked if I always act how I want to be treated.

As much as I hate to say this, I do not.  There are some people that I'm really short tempered with which causes me to have a short fuse with them and I often tweak out on them- which is no fun to have done to you.  There are people that I treat better than others--I think that is inevitable-- but in return I'm treated badly.
But I will say, there are some instances that I treat others how I like to be treated, and it usually deals with respect.  In situations in which I do treat others how I wish to be treated, I hope to think what goes around comes around- but that isn't always the case.


Do you think that karma works hand-in-hand with the Golden Rule?

Give peace a chance!

Julia asked:  Do you think it will ever be possible to have universal peace?

I'm all for John Lennon and the hippie people from the 60's saying "hey hey give peace a chance" but I don't think it's a realistic concept.  Most countries that are at war is because of a stand point with governments or because of disagreements in just about everything.
I personally think for universal peace to even remotely happen, the world has to have a set type of government (no one person in rule, no one person killing everyone creating a war in their own country), and honestly most likely one established religion.
Even though it would be able to be down without the religion factor, I feel the world needs to come together as one, under one government.

Now I'm thinking if the world was together, like the United States, wars would probably STILL break out!  California could bomb Florida because they attract more people for spring break or some other stupid reason.  No matter what, the world, countries, hell even cities and states are going to have something that pull them apart and set them up against each other.

Do you think people are peace advocates because of the hope for peace?  Or because they think it can actually happen?

Is that a guy or a girl?

Sam asked: Why do you think Girl Looks Like a Man contests have never materialized?

Sam posted about the Dude who looks like a Lady contest that was held at Relay for Life on Friday evening.  I was there and I thought it was pretty amusing to see the guys dressing up like girls and "strutting their stuff" acting like us females.  Raising the question as why Girl looks like a Man contest haven't appeared yet is a very good one and it triggered some thoughts of mine.

First off, I think it's simply socially acceptable for females to wear mens' clothing.  Today, women wear jeans, dress pants, blazers, shirts with collars, and even ties- yet they are looked at like it's completely normal.

Secondly, I thought of the growing rate of gays coming out.  Since I moved to MA, I've noticed there is a massive amount of homosexual people, and some females simply dress themselves as a guy because it's more comfortable for them.

I think ideas such as above have been though of when contests like that are created, plus some females just look like males.  I also think it's a way to stay away from avoiding some people.  I know some women who naturally look like a male, and they are very uncomfortable with it, and often take things like that offensively towards themselves.

Why do you think people are so afraid of offending people?  And how it gets to a point that people even lie to avoid the offensiveness?

You are as strong as you think you are!

Katie asked: Do you think it is important to have inner strength to accomplish things in one’s life? 

I think it's very important to have inner strength, no matter what you are trying to accomplish.  Being mentally weak can set you up for failure in life, which is no good in any way.  Inner strength is what keeps us going in life, helps us getting out of bed in the morning, and helps us deal with situations we generally wouldn't be able to deal with.

Stress is one form on inner strength I feel.  The more stress you have in your life over periods of time, the better you get at managing the stress along with your time, then you're setting yourself up for accomplishing things as an outcome.

Once you deal with certain hardships in your life, and overcome them, you're setting yourself up for a successful future to an extent.

Do you feel inner or outer strength is more important?  Why?

Anything you can do, I can do better!!

I’m slowly realizing how much of an egotistical world we live in.  People generally want to be the best, and be the center of attention, and doing anything to get there.  From sports, to social groups, to sports, to anything else in the world involving other people, we always strive to be the best, even if it means putting others down in the process.

Though we are naturally competitive people, I feel this is extreme.  Being competitive is one thing, but always wanting to be the “best” takes it too far.  Some people take it to the limit where they would do anything to be considered the best, even emotionally and sometimes physically hurting others- which is not okay. 

Why do people feel the need to be on top, to be the best, and be number one, even at the expense of others?

Honesty is a sturdy foundation, but we build on shakey things

Growing up, we are infused with ideas that are “right” and “wrong”: do as you’re told, listen to your parents, don’t talk back, and always tell the truth.  Though there are different levels of lies, they are all still lies, but some people find them acceptable.  Telling one lie immediately sets you up to have to tell another one, and then it’s a huge chain reaction of lies, and then it gets to a point where you no longer can keep up with the lies- then things crumble down. 

   

The world would be a lot better and easier if everyone simple told the truth, but it’s never that easy.  People are afraid of the truth, by why?  It’s better to be hurt by the truth instead of protected by a lie.

Why do we feel the need to lie?  Why are we afraid of the truth?

I accept Rachel's Challenge

April 20, 1999.
Columbine, Colorado.

History was made.
Two students shot up the high school, killing fellow classmates.

First one to be killed was a girl named Rachel Joy Scott, and she was killed because they asked her if she believed in God; she stood by her faith and replied with a "yes", then was shot.

Many people have heard of and have been touched by an organization called “Rachel’s Challenge” which was put together by her family, and it reminds people of her goals of her life that she wishes everyone else to follow.

 

                “I won’t settle to be average,” – Rachel Joy Scott

The quote above is a quote that she lived daily by, along with 5 other goals that prose as her “challenge”. 

Her challenges are as listed:

1. Eliminate Prejudice

2. Dare to Dream

3. Choose your influences

4. Kind words

5. Starts a Chain Reaction

She also had an idea of chain reactions, a more realistic version of the movie Pay It Forward you could call it.  Rachel thought that if she did one nice thing to a person- could be as simple as a smile- could improve their day, which would make them do something nice to another person, thus causing a chain reaction.

 I accepted Rachel's Challenge my senior year in high school, will you?

you just may cause a chain reaction...

Do you think such lifestyle changes are realistic?  How far will the “chain reaction” exactly go?  Would taking this challenge turn the acts of kindness from an altruistic act into an act of egoism? 

Touchy Topic... Torture

Jenny asked "Is talking about and/or seeing torture difficult for you? Is it to the extreme like me or are you interested as well as disturbed?"

I personally can take watching torture in movies for the most part, because I know it's fake and I just keep telling myself that over and over if I start to tense up.  But personal reasons and such make torture kinda iffy with me.
I hate to say, but I get horrible nightmares where my sister is physically tortured in front of me, and I can't do anything to save her.  My sister is my world, and I always wake up from these crying, shaking, and covered in sweat.  Though all of this is in my mind, I can't help but be extremely upset- I mentally get beat up. 

I can talk about torture for the most part without expressing any emotion, but that's just because I've grown to mask emotions very well.  I've grown to realize that I can talk about anything and make it seem as if I have no emotions towards the topic, and it's something that Ive grown to like.  Though I'm uncomfortable on the inside with most aspects, I can make it so people don't know.


There is also a part of sickening fascination I have.  Not saying I enjoy watching people get tortured, but think back to the Mayans and Aztecs.  Their history is so interesting (or at least it is it me), and these two groups were considered the most violent of the Indians.  They would behead a group of losers in a sporting even, and carry the heads around to prove they were the champions.  Things like that oddly interest me-maybe I'm just weird.

Do you think the movie industry plays with the emotions that people get from torture and other gruesome acts and puts those situations in the movies just for such reactions?

I'll raise them how I want

Julia asked "Do you think that your parents' age had anything to do with how you were parented and how they handled certain situations? How have your parents shaped how you see the world?"

I don't think my parents' ages have much to deal with how I was raised, or anything.  I think it's more-so how their families where growing up, and all the hardships they faced from childhood until now.

For example: my mom was abused growing up by her father and uncle, and she took the hits so her younger siblings wouldn't have to.  When her and my dad were married and had my sister, my mom told him that if he ever laid a hand on any of her kids (other than needed punishment, but even that has a line) that she would either walk out or something even worse.

As for my dad when he was younger- he was the oldest out of five children, in a poor family, and an Air Force brat.  His mother was one out of 23 children, and she came from a very poor family.  Also, my grandfather was a severe alcoholic, and was extremely abusive towards his children.

Then when my parents got married, they were also poor, and had a very hard time getting on their feet.  My mother bounced from job to job, and my dad was always being stationed in different places.  Both of my parents have told me stories from right after they were married sitting in the living room of their new apartment and using boxes as furniture.  Or any of the many times my dad would sell his blood plasma so my parents would be able to eat that week.

But back to the original point, my parents didn't raise me the way they did because of their age or the time they grew up in, it's totally based off of what they endured before I was born.

Looking back on all of this, I'm very thankful that I'm in college and able to eat, because neither of my parents had the chance to go to college.

Why do you think people always take the smallest things for granted?  Even if it is something as simple as food on a plate? 

Forget censorship?

Catherine asked : Do you think the government should have control over what we post on the Internet?

I'm totally split on this question.  There are some things that shouldn't be available to everyone on the internet--things such relating to the safety of our troops and safety of our citizens in general.  Then there are things such as pornography that can be seen by anyone just by a click of a mouse--but if they want to seek it out that badly, why not make it easily obtainable?

There are also things such as anti-troop groups online, which really make me mad.  I'm so pro-military because of my family, and seeing that people don't appreciate the people who are putting their lives on the lines for us just irks me beyond belief.  But with things such as that, you can easily look away, turn the page, and in some cases, block seeing things related to that.

Let's turn back a little bit--the Wiki Leaks.  People publish secret information pertaining to safety, and government tactics, and who knows what else, because they can.  

Again, I'm split in my response.  Some things should be censored and controlled by the government, but also keeping things open to the public helps to lower the amount of people that are ignorant and uniformed to certain topics in the world.

Question:  Why do you feel the people who leaked information (the WikiLeak people) decided to do so?

How about when I'm gone?

I've been on a kick lately where I've been listening to a lot of Eminem, and lately, this one has been repeating, and it just sticks in my mind.

This is one of the most powerful raps I know of Eminem, and I love it, love the emotion.  Music is such a great outlet for emotions, and if you actually listen to the lyrics, they are amazing.

What really gets me is the chorus of this song:

And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling
And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel my pain
Just smile back
And when I'm gone, just carry on, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice
Just know that I'm looking down on you smiling
And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain
Just smile back...

So much power in the chorus, and it makes me think of when people die.  

Why do we miss people when they die?  Because they aren't here with us any more.  Why don't you think that we can accept death, and be happy if someone dies?  They aren't here any more, but they don't have the pain that we feel and have while we are here.. over all, they are in a "better place" even if there isn't a heaven or hell.

I admit, I'm addicted.

Julia asks "Have you ever spent a great length of time not using Facebook? During this time were you anxious to check the site, or were you content with your present activities?"

 Fact: I'm currently on facebook having a conversation with someone on a status post about California.

I want to say the longest time I was away from Facebook was my sophomore year in high school when I was in Spain for two and a half weeks.

During that time, I didn't even have access to a computer so it didn't really phase me that I couldn't check my facebook, but when I came back I had over 200 notifications... It was ridiculous

Aside from when I left the country and when I just didn't have access to a computer, the longest time I didn't check my Facebook page was about three days or so, and I was still slammed with notifications.  In that time, I don't even know what I was doing.  Most likely outside, out with friends, and work.  But no matter what I have going on, I always manage to find time to check  my page because I use it to talk to my parents who live in California.

How do you think we have become addicted to technology and can't seem to live without it (such as cell phones, laptops, and social networks)?

Label the jar, not me.

Julia asked "Have you ever been labeled? Did you agree with this label, or did you try hard to resist it?"

Yes, I personally have been labeled, and in so many different ways.  I grew up being labeled, as long as I can remember, even in 1st grade I was labeled.  

The top two that I always get is the label of "military brat" and "country girl"- though these are more of stereotypes, I fit them.  

But all the times I have been labeled, I just shake it off.  I am who I am, and if I wasn't, then who would I be?  The components that people label me as don't define me, they simply add to who I am as a whole- and why to resist what I am?

"I will not be labeled as average" was said by Rachel Joy Scott before she was shot in the Columbine shootings, and I agree with her.  The label of average is the only one I will never accept.

My question to you is why do you think that people feel the need to label people?  What is the point of it?

Foul Facebook?

Jenny raised the question of: From a young adult standpoint, do you think that "Facebook is evil" or does it generally serve a beneficial purpose in society?

I personally am guilty for being of the many people who are "addicted" to Facebook, but it's more than an addiction, it's a legitimate tool of communication.  Because of me moving around a lot (my move next month will be 19), I have lost touch with a lot of friends, but since I have found Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with them.  I even recently found one of my friends who moved to Japan when we were in 5th grade.
Though some people take advantage of this social network, I think it is FAR from evil.  Yes, some bad things can happen on there, no matter what there is going to be bad things going on.  Overall, it's a helpful site.

As with Jenny, I have used Facebook for many of things, and not just keeping in touch with others.   I have used it to organize events, and even spread the word of school events to reach out in the community- and it has always worked.

As to dip into the side where Facebook could be considered "evil".  There have been instances where older men (way older,  I'm talking like 50's) have messaged me asking for sexual and just rather explicit things- which are clearly NOT okay and I'm pretty sure that in the Terms of Agreement, Facebook bans such contact.


Question:  Why do you think people take advantage of tools such as the internet and use them for things that they were intended to?  Such as trying to find sexual relations via Facebook. 

Does the television promote teen pregnancies?

Lauren asked..
"What is it that makes reality television so appealing to some people?
Why is there such a high incidence of teen pregnancy in the united states nowadays when birth control is cheap and easily accessible by most people?"

Lauren's blog was mostly in reference to the shows on MTV "Teen Mom" and "16 & Pregnant" and she hit some good points.

The television is a powerful instrument, and often times, shows influence viewers but in a negative sense.  The amount of teen pregnancies have increased since these shows have started to air on MTV, but I feel they should do the opposite.  Bringing a child into the world is something that no teen should have to deal with at that age, no matter how "mature" or "ready" they think they are.  Yet why does it happen?

I personally do not see what people get out of reality television- then again, I don't watch it often.  Some people do it for a mere time killer, and end up getting hooked to the show- most of the times it is of people making fools of themselves..
But as for the question pertaining to birth control.  Birth control is a substance that is easily obtainable nowadays, yet the percentage of teens that are sexually active do not have it.  My thought is, because they don't wish to tell their parents they are being sexually active so they just hide it from them and sneak around their back thinking condoms will be able to protect them 100%..

My question to you is how do you think the morals of people regarding sexuality/being sexually active has changed so much over time?  Back not too long ago, having sex before marriage was frowned upon, and now it seems like if you're a virgin past the age of 18, people in your age class look down on you! 

"How can the words I say send someone over the edge?!"

Jenny asked: "What are your thoughts about this? Was she justified in saying what she did and did they deserve the backlash?" in reference to the Dixie Chicks and what Natalie said about President Bush




I personally remember when this happened and remember talking to my mom saying how ridiculous it was that people acted the way that they did.  Yes, what Natalie said wasn't the best of things to say on national television, BUT after all, she IS an American citizen, which gives her the rights to say what she wishes.




The song that they wrote (and which I have posted above) definitely has strong meaning.  There is a line that says "it's too late to make it right, and I probably wouldn't if I could".  That has so much behind it and explains the song as a whole if you know the meaning behind the writing of the song.


Question:  If a normal person (non celebrity) made this comment, people would have shaken it off- why do you think people blew this ONE comment out of proportion and pretty much ending the Dixie Chicks?

Follow the Yellow Brick Road??

Should the road that we follow be paved with the Golden Rule?  Treat others as you wish to be treated?

There was a point in life that everyone followed the Golden Rule (or a majority of the people), but it seems at if we have strayed away from that.

The paths that we walk on are no longer paved with the decisions that we make based on the Golden Rule, but it's more-so that people make careless decisions and don't even care how the treat another human.

How have we managed to stray away from such a "rule"?  It went from being the basis of a lifestyle, to being the motto of "goodies".

Who cares? Apparently we all do...

Catherine asked "Why do people do dangerous beauty rituals that could cause (or do cause) bodily harm? Also, if you know of a beauty custom that was once favorable but now is not or illegal, discuss it as you answer the question"

Her post really intrigued me- people really do go to extremes to make themselves be considered as "beautiful", but we don't even know why.  I honestly think it's just how society has grown to: just about everyone is self conscious, just about everyone wants to look like someone else, and just about everyone wants to be someone else.  It's all ridiculous!  People pay massive amount of money to tan their skin which poisons it, we mutilate and modify our bodies with tattoos and piercings (I'm guilty of this one), we inject our bodies with chemicals to make us look younger- all to fit in and be accepted by the world around us.

But Catherine raised a really interesting point, how different cultures physically hurt themselves to change their bodies (such as the Japanese foot binding).  There are women in Kenya and Laos that wear many neck rings, in which the removal could kill them- but it's part of their culture and I don't think we will ever fully understand that.

If beauty is really in the eye of the beholder, why do you think that people go to such extremities to modify themselves?