There are a few things that I'm passionate about and will take a stand on. There are only a few because being that passionate about too many things is tiring. Arguing about the same things over and over with no resolution is not my idea of a good time. That being said, I will argue and educate and attempt to persuade to my opinion until I'm blue in the face about two things in particular: Adoption, and drugs. I've already said what I need to say about adoption. Guess it's time to cover the other one.
April 20th is a big day for a lot of reasons...and not all of them good. It's a bad day in the history books. April 20th is Hitler's birthday. It's also the day that two teens who felt like the world owed them something went on a murderous rampage in a high school in Colorado. For today's generation, 4/20 is also national pot smoking day. I bet a lot of parents either didn't know or didn't remember it.
I don't know when this whole "national pot smoking day" began and I really don't care. The only thing I can find came from Wikipedia saying it started in San Rafael, California, by a group of high school students in 1971. Guess it fits...that being hippie era and all. From whatever beginning it had, it's grown into a giant monster of a thing that has "observances" throughout the country and many political ulterior motives. Among todays young adults and teenagers and even some parental units, 4/20 has morphed into the day it is acceptable to smoke weed. Apparently, it's the day we all throw our good sense and brains out the window for a day.
Most of these people would have you believe that smoking pot is less harmful than drinking alcohol. Here's my response to that: A-anything that you put in your body that alters your state of mind is harmful, and B-you must be smoking pot and want it legalized so you don't feel guilty for breaking the law. I would also say that nearly everyone has to admit that everyone reacts differently to different substances. While it might be harmless for a teenage girl still in high school with no access or desire to hit anything harder, there is always that person that marijuana is a stepping stone for.
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. The active ingredient in Marijuana, the one that causes the mellowing and the munchies and the mind altering effects, is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. I imagine that with this drug being so widely used and abused, doctors and scientists have done a great deal of research on it and it's effects. Here's what I've found and I'll link to the website I found it on:
1. There are many methods of marijuana consumption. When it's smoked, the chemical THC passes quickly into the lungs and bloodstream which then transports the chemical to the organs and the brain.
2. There are specific parts of our brains that are receptive to the THC. These parts of our brain, when mixed with THC, react on a cellular level, creating the "high" experienced when smoking pot.
3. According to this research, the highest concentration of the most susceptible parts of our brains are focused in the places that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentrating, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Ever seen someone high try to remember something? Yeah. It's not a pretty picture.
4. People who smoke weed frequently have a much harder time shaking the effects it has on their brains. This results in, for lack of a better term, a pot head. I know most kids and young adults know the term, but for clarifications sake, a pot head is someone who is unintelligent and can't do anything too complicated if their life depended on it because they just aren't all there.
5. If abused extensively, no matter what "free thinkers" tell you, marijuana can have the same addictive effects that any harder drug has.
6. In this study, it also says that chronic marijuana abuse in younger people may be a marker for other more severe genetic problems including schizophrenia.
That's only the effects this "harmless" drug can have on the brain. It also affects our bodies. Marijuana is known to increase heart rates by 20-100%, making the likelihood of a heart attack in a marijuana smoker increase 4.8 times within the first hour of smoking. Marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Have you ever seen someone smoke weed? Bill Cosby does a pretty funny routine on it. To get the full effect of the drug, a user must hold the smoke in longer than they would for a regular cigarette, thus increasing the exposure to the harmful substances withint the marijuana. In recent studies, out of 450 people who smoked either marijuana or cigarettes, the weed smokers who did not smoke tobacco cigarettes missed more days of work and had more health problems than those who didn't smoke marijuana.
These are the facts that I got at this http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/marijuana website. Anyone that reads this blog knows that I don't blog about things I haven't had exposure too. In that vein, here is what I've learned through exposure and observation in my own life:
No matter what anyone tells you, you cannot predict what will happen to a person who does not know their own mind. Whether it's cocaine, heroine, alcohol, or marijuana, a mind altering drug means that the person who took the drug does not have full control of their brains or bodies. Everyone reacts differently to different substances and you cannot say that one persons reaction will be the same across the board. My experiences with marijuana have been one extreme.
My life was altered by this "harmless" drug when I was 19 years old. A man came into my life who was a recovering drug addict. We dated. Two months after we started dating, he started smoking weed again. He said it was to help him calm down and that pot was the only drug he was going to be using. I believed him. Silly me. For this person, weed was a stepping stone. For everyone he associated with in that world, weed was just the vehicle. There were two people I knew in this man's life who were always happy when he started smoking weed again...both were drug dealers. After a month of just weed, a lot of which I'd catch him smoking, take from him, and throw away, the weed lost it's usefulness for him. It no longer gave him the high he was looking for. He had to use harder stuff. In his case, he started using crystal meth. For anyone that doesn't know, meth is known as poor man's cocaine. Take all of the cleaning products from under your kitchen sink and mix them together a certain way and you have what these addicts are putting into their bodies. Or...just get the battery acid out of your car battery. It's just as effective.
The end result of this relationship was I lost a very important part of my life that I will never get back. I was also forever altered in that I know more about the drug world than I ever wanted too. I know this is kind of an extreme, but you don't get through to some people by sugar coating reality.
The bottom line is that this is reality: Marijuana is not harmless. There's a reason it is illegal. I saw a comic on Facebook today that illustrated a man drunk and a man enjoying a high from marijuana. The drunk commited several heinous acts. He was prone to violence, raped a woman, and displayed himself to cops...solidifying his stupidity. The man who was high was relaxed, giggly and had munchies. Those are possibilities. Not everyone who gets drunk has that severe of a reaction. Not everyone who gets high is that mellow. You cannot predict how individuals will react...whether it's a drug or alcohol. Don't sit there and try and convince me that weed is harmless. It's not. And anyone who says otherwise is probably trying to sell you some or get you to buy some for them.
Know what your kids are being exposed to. Talk to them. Find out what they know and fill in the blanks. The best way to stop this epidemic of stupidity is to stop allowing people to be stupid and float along in their lives with no accountability. Their are consequences to every choice. Educate your children on what they need to know so their choices and the consequences from them are beneficial to them.
And y'all...don't be stupid.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
And your point is....?
Epic fail for me again. I haven't blogged in way too long and there's been plenty for me to blog about. Maybe part of the reason I haven't is because there's been too much on my mind that I haven't had a chance to sift through and decide what I want to share with everyone. I guess there's still a little bit of that right now, but there's been a few things that have stuck out quite a bit to me over the last two months.
Here's the main question that's been plaguing me for several months now: "How do I continue my life and act like nothing's happened when the level of betrayal and hurt and heartache I feel borders on insurmountable?" I know we've all had things happen to us in our lives that we think we can't get over or come back from. Sometimes, it just seems impossible. I've been experiencing one of those times for the past several months.
Here's the lowdown and then I'll break into my usual attempt at philisophical resolutions. I have been accused, along with one of my friends, of being the biggest gossip at church. I find this ironic because I'm never there. I haven't really been able to do much but go to sacrament meeting for almost two years now. I can't even do that anymore because of the work scheduling conflict. Anyway. I have been called out several times in the past several months for spreading rumors about someone close to me. Not only that, but I've apparently been spreading rumors that this person and the significant other in the picture are talking about getting married in April. I've also been accused of being downright rude to the significant other. How you ask? You're gonna love this...by not smiling or waving or making eye contact with the significant other. The person close to me pitched an almighty fit and told me that my father would not tolerate it if I were to treat my mother with such disrespect. No joke.
My first response is to scream, "Are you freaking kidding me?! What are we? High School freshmen?!" My second is to fight back and defend myself, which, unfortunately, I did.The fighting back part. Not the defending myself. I had a long discussion, via Skype because this person doesn't seem to be able to talk to anyone in person about important things, with this person that's close to me about what I thought of the significant other. I've reached a point in my life where I don't sugar coat how I feel. I don't have time or the inclination to hold your hand and tell you what you want to hear. So I laid out how I felt and none of it was positive. This significant other reminds me of someone me and another friend have less than affectionately nicknamed "Crazy Pants". No joke. Because I was honest, I was reamed. I was told I was being judgemental and that every gift I thought I'd been given from my Heavenly Father was null and void and a figment of my imagination. Again, I wish I could say I was joking. I back pedaled, as it was close to Christmas and I wanted to make peace so others involved wouldn't have to deal with the tension between me and this person, and I apologized. I admitted I didn't know the significant other very well and said that I would try to give that person a chance. I didn't realize at the time how much my resolve and good nature would be tested.
Since then, I've been forced to accept a relationship that I can't support. I've been told to either accept it or be cut from this persons life. Before you say just let this person go, I can't. In most instances, I'd agree and say cut the bad fruit from the tree before the rot starts to spread. I can't this time. So, in order to have this person in my life, I'm having to dig a whole lot deeper than I ever have before to find the tolerance and patience to deal with the unwelcome parasite that has latched onto mine and my family's lives.
Now, for the philisophical part. If this were anyone else, I'd immediately tell them to let that toxic person in their life go. No one needs the stress and worry and sickness that comes from this level of toxicity. The person we call "Crazy Pants" is a prime example of that. I swear that girl has borderline personality disorder and I therefore avoid her like the plague. I don't need that kind of drama and mess in my life. I get enough from my own problems. Anyone who came to me describing a situtation I just described would get the exact same advice from me...unless you were telling me it was family, like my situation is.
When does a situation with your family reach the point where you have to say enough is enough? When do you cut off the constant stream of lies and half truths that do nothing but ruin the fragile bridge of trust that took years to build as it is? Prophets throughout history have said to love the sinner and hate the sin. Christ himself said to forgive our neighbor until 70x7. Does that mean count out the 490 times you're supposed to forgive your neighbor, or in this case family member, and stop when you've reached that magical 490? No. It means forgiveness is infinite and should be given to everyone. I would however add a word of caution to this explanation.
Just because someone has come back and apologized and forgiveness has been given all around the board, that doesn't mean that trust has been reestablished. In my case, this person has begun telling me he loves me again. Unfortunately, I don't trust it. I was forced to eat a lot of bad tasting crow for something I don't think I should've had to apologize for. The only reason he's now telling me he loves me, is because I caved and decided to be the bigger person. Up until that point, he was going to basically disown me. I was no longer his sister and there was nothing I could've done except accept that he was right and I was wrong. Therefore, my council to anyone else experiencing something like this is fairly simple, though it took way too long to get to it.
If you have a friend whose relationship with you is more toxic than positive, forgive them and let them go. Holding on to those grudges only hurts you. Trust me. I know. If you have family that is causing a similar situation, forgive them and love them, but it's ok to be on your guard about them. I used to think passing judgement on people was wrong. It took an unwed pregnancy and several years of very big mistakes to realize that passing judgement is ok...as long as it is righteous. That's a fine line to walk. Here's how I do it: If I'm in a situation and can draw on my past experiences to see the potential hazards and pitfalls that situation might bring, I'm going to excerise my hard earned judgement and avoid those hazards and pitfalls. It's called experience for a reason. We weren't sent to earth to just exist. We were sent here to learn. Why wouldn't we use what we've learned to be happy?
The bottom line is just that. Everyone deserves to be happy. The best person to affect that happiness is you. Use what you know and make the right decision.
Here's the main question that's been plaguing me for several months now: "How do I continue my life and act like nothing's happened when the level of betrayal and hurt and heartache I feel borders on insurmountable?" I know we've all had things happen to us in our lives that we think we can't get over or come back from. Sometimes, it just seems impossible. I've been experiencing one of those times for the past several months.
Here's the lowdown and then I'll break into my usual attempt at philisophical resolutions. I have been accused, along with one of my friends, of being the biggest gossip at church. I find this ironic because I'm never there. I haven't really been able to do much but go to sacrament meeting for almost two years now. I can't even do that anymore because of the work scheduling conflict. Anyway. I have been called out several times in the past several months for spreading rumors about someone close to me. Not only that, but I've apparently been spreading rumors that this person and the significant other in the picture are talking about getting married in April. I've also been accused of being downright rude to the significant other. How you ask? You're gonna love this...by not smiling or waving or making eye contact with the significant other. The person close to me pitched an almighty fit and told me that my father would not tolerate it if I were to treat my mother with such disrespect. No joke.
My first response is to scream, "Are you freaking kidding me?! What are we? High School freshmen?!" My second is to fight back and defend myself, which, unfortunately, I did.The fighting back part. Not the defending myself. I had a long discussion, via Skype because this person doesn't seem to be able to talk to anyone in person about important things, with this person that's close to me about what I thought of the significant other. I've reached a point in my life where I don't sugar coat how I feel. I don't have time or the inclination to hold your hand and tell you what you want to hear. So I laid out how I felt and none of it was positive. This significant other reminds me of someone me and another friend have less than affectionately nicknamed "Crazy Pants". No joke. Because I was honest, I was reamed. I was told I was being judgemental and that every gift I thought I'd been given from my Heavenly Father was null and void and a figment of my imagination. Again, I wish I could say I was joking. I back pedaled, as it was close to Christmas and I wanted to make peace so others involved wouldn't have to deal with the tension between me and this person, and I apologized. I admitted I didn't know the significant other very well and said that I would try to give that person a chance. I didn't realize at the time how much my resolve and good nature would be tested.
Since then, I've been forced to accept a relationship that I can't support. I've been told to either accept it or be cut from this persons life. Before you say just let this person go, I can't. In most instances, I'd agree and say cut the bad fruit from the tree before the rot starts to spread. I can't this time. So, in order to have this person in my life, I'm having to dig a whole lot deeper than I ever have before to find the tolerance and patience to deal with the unwelcome parasite that has latched onto mine and my family's lives.
Now, for the philisophical part. If this were anyone else, I'd immediately tell them to let that toxic person in their life go. No one needs the stress and worry and sickness that comes from this level of toxicity. The person we call "Crazy Pants" is a prime example of that. I swear that girl has borderline personality disorder and I therefore avoid her like the plague. I don't need that kind of drama and mess in my life. I get enough from my own problems. Anyone who came to me describing a situtation I just described would get the exact same advice from me...unless you were telling me it was family, like my situation is.
When does a situation with your family reach the point where you have to say enough is enough? When do you cut off the constant stream of lies and half truths that do nothing but ruin the fragile bridge of trust that took years to build as it is? Prophets throughout history have said to love the sinner and hate the sin. Christ himself said to forgive our neighbor until 70x7. Does that mean count out the 490 times you're supposed to forgive your neighbor, or in this case family member, and stop when you've reached that magical 490? No. It means forgiveness is infinite and should be given to everyone. I would however add a word of caution to this explanation.
Just because someone has come back and apologized and forgiveness has been given all around the board, that doesn't mean that trust has been reestablished. In my case, this person has begun telling me he loves me again. Unfortunately, I don't trust it. I was forced to eat a lot of bad tasting crow for something I don't think I should've had to apologize for. The only reason he's now telling me he loves me, is because I caved and decided to be the bigger person. Up until that point, he was going to basically disown me. I was no longer his sister and there was nothing I could've done except accept that he was right and I was wrong. Therefore, my council to anyone else experiencing something like this is fairly simple, though it took way too long to get to it.
If you have a friend whose relationship with you is more toxic than positive, forgive them and let them go. Holding on to those grudges only hurts you. Trust me. I know. If you have family that is causing a similar situation, forgive them and love them, but it's ok to be on your guard about them. I used to think passing judgement on people was wrong. It took an unwed pregnancy and several years of very big mistakes to realize that passing judgement is ok...as long as it is righteous. That's a fine line to walk. Here's how I do it: If I'm in a situation and can draw on my past experiences to see the potential hazards and pitfalls that situation might bring, I'm going to excerise my hard earned judgement and avoid those hazards and pitfalls. It's called experience for a reason. We weren't sent to earth to just exist. We were sent here to learn. Why wouldn't we use what we've learned to be happy?
The bottom line is just that. Everyone deserves to be happy. The best person to affect that happiness is you. Use what you know and make the right decision.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The Green Lantern concept
Well, I've started and not finished two other posts. I get going and they eventually make sense to me, but in a way I'm positive would never make sense to anyone else. I tend to do that occasionally. That and with so much on my mind, it's hard to focus on writing about any one thing.
This last month and a half or so I've been way too focused on the status of my life. I think we tend to do that when we get to a certain age. Everyone around us seems to be well on their way to the next step in life and for whatever reason, we are left behind. I know there are lots of extenuating circumstances right now, but it's to the point where I wanna sit there and go, "Seriously?!"
There are stages in life. Early childhood, grade school, teenage years, college, early twenties, post graduate years, marriage, adulthood, babies, raising children, empty nesting, grandchildren and a whole bunch of others I'm sure we could put in there. We go from one to the next just trying to make it through. So what happens if you get to the end of one stage, and stall at beginning of the next?
That's kind of what I think a lot of my generation is facing. We graduate high school, go to college, and then get stuck in a rut. I think that some of the reason for that can be attributed to the socio-economic status of the world. One thing affects another which affects another and it just goes on and on. Because the economy is so bad, there are fewer jobs. College graduates are having a harder time finding work. That means they are working jobs they didn't go to school for that pay much less than what they were hoping for with a degree. They're living at home longer because it's cheaper. (I'm a perfect example of this) They are simply "hanging out" instead of exclusively dating because exclusively dating someone can lead to marriage and a lot of us can't afford that. All of it can be attributed to the fact that the economy sucks.
In my opinion, we're stalling because we're afraid. Our world has become so much more uncertain. I remember being a child going to elementary school and the only thing I worried about was whether or not the boy I had a crush on had noticed me...and getting good grades, though that was admittedly secondary for me. Now, I feel like Scarlet O'Hara from Gone With the Wind. She got so focused on securing her future, that she didn't have time to worry about anything else or what might get in the way. "I can't think about that right now. I'll think about it tomorrow." I don't think it's just me that feels that way either. I think that's why there are so many singles and college graduates who just get...stuck.
Ideology has changed somewhat as well. It used to be that people would go to college, get married, finish their degrees, and then go to work. Now, people are far less inclined toward marriage. The examples that we see from celebrity couples and even our own parents or friends parents don't really instill much confidence in the institution. Some people believe that they are just not meant for marriage or anything greater than a dead end job with no potential to climb higher and be part of the "1%" that have earned the right to be the 1%. Don't get me started on that. I'll get angry.
What I don't understand is why we are so afraid. People have been doing the hard things for years. We are not the only generation to suffer through hardship and our hardship is certainly not the hardest. Each generation, each era, has had it's own struggles. They were just as difficult for them as our struggles are for us. The people who suffered religious persecution in Europe and fled to America, their struggles were life changing to them. The pioneers who crossed the great expanse of our nation dealt with fear, sickness, death, and all the things that the wilds of our country could throw at them. Many of them didn't make it. Our country has faced numerous wars that encompassed numerous generations and with each war came more sophisticated weaponry. We've faced a depression before that was mixed with a serious drought in our farm country. We've faced corrupt politicians, intelligence wars, and weapons that can destroy entire cities in the blink of an eye. I know there were people who avoided the challenges of their time, but I don't think it was to the extent we are facing now. In each era, with each struggle, I'm positive these people were afraid. I don't think any young man who signed up to go to war didn't feel some twinge of fear...but they went anyway. Why is it so different now?
I can't avoid talking about the "99%". I've said it before and I will probably say it again. My generation is spoiled rotten. I'm not going to place blame because I don't think it can be attributed to any one person or group of people. My generation has begun to think that, because they've been given everything instantly throughout their lives, they shouldn't have to work to get anything. There is a small percentage of kids my age who believe that taking the money from people who have RIGHTFULLY EARNED IT is the "moral" and correct thing to do. I am not part of the 1%. I work for what I have. I don't know how all of the 1% got where they are, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't because they stole money from people who were richer than them. I think most of them were blessed with genius moments and capitalized on it. The kicker for me is that these Occupy Wall Street, "99%" demonstrators wouldn't know what to do with themselves if the 1% hadn't done what they did and created the things they have. There'd be no cars, no computers, no gasoline to run the cars, no iPhones...we'd be in the 1830's. I guarantee that if that "99%" were in the shoe of the 1%, they'd be singing a different tune. Why are they so afraid to get their hands dirty and go to work? Why are we so afraid to put in a little elbow grease to make our lives work? Life has never been easy. Why do we all of a sudden think it should be?
My generation is going to destroy us. They're already well on their way. We are so hell bent on "getting our share", that we are forgetting the important things. The funny thing is, I think most of my generation would agree with me and not the OWS retards. We're just too afraid to stand up and say something about it because of how it might sound. I don't want things handed to me. I don't want someone to say, "Here, Kati. You haven't done much, but you seem underprivileged so I'll give you your brother's money because he has extra and needs to be generous." That's called Communism. I didn't earn that money, my brother did. I didn't earn the billions Bill Gates has. He earned it. He worked for what he has. Why can't the "99%" understand that they have just as much potential to be the next Bill Gates? All it takes is a little elbow grease...and courage to conquer your fear. True, you may not end up a billionaire...but you get to experience life. I can't think of a greater reward than that.
This last month and a half or so I've been way too focused on the status of my life. I think we tend to do that when we get to a certain age. Everyone around us seems to be well on their way to the next step in life and for whatever reason, we are left behind. I know there are lots of extenuating circumstances right now, but it's to the point where I wanna sit there and go, "Seriously?!"
There are stages in life. Early childhood, grade school, teenage years, college, early twenties, post graduate years, marriage, adulthood, babies, raising children, empty nesting, grandchildren and a whole bunch of others I'm sure we could put in there. We go from one to the next just trying to make it through. So what happens if you get to the end of one stage, and stall at beginning of the next?
That's kind of what I think a lot of my generation is facing. We graduate high school, go to college, and then get stuck in a rut. I think that some of the reason for that can be attributed to the socio-economic status of the world. One thing affects another which affects another and it just goes on and on. Because the economy is so bad, there are fewer jobs. College graduates are having a harder time finding work. That means they are working jobs they didn't go to school for that pay much less than what they were hoping for with a degree. They're living at home longer because it's cheaper. (I'm a perfect example of this) They are simply "hanging out" instead of exclusively dating because exclusively dating someone can lead to marriage and a lot of us can't afford that. All of it can be attributed to the fact that the economy sucks.
In my opinion, we're stalling because we're afraid. Our world has become so much more uncertain. I remember being a child going to elementary school and the only thing I worried about was whether or not the boy I had a crush on had noticed me...and getting good grades, though that was admittedly secondary for me. Now, I feel like Scarlet O'Hara from Gone With the Wind. She got so focused on securing her future, that she didn't have time to worry about anything else or what might get in the way. "I can't think about that right now. I'll think about it tomorrow." I don't think it's just me that feels that way either. I think that's why there are so many singles and college graduates who just get...stuck.
Ideology has changed somewhat as well. It used to be that people would go to college, get married, finish their degrees, and then go to work. Now, people are far less inclined toward marriage. The examples that we see from celebrity couples and even our own parents or friends parents don't really instill much confidence in the institution. Some people believe that they are just not meant for marriage or anything greater than a dead end job with no potential to climb higher and be part of the "1%" that have earned the right to be the 1%. Don't get me started on that. I'll get angry.
What I don't understand is why we are so afraid. People have been doing the hard things for years. We are not the only generation to suffer through hardship and our hardship is certainly not the hardest. Each generation, each era, has had it's own struggles. They were just as difficult for them as our struggles are for us. The people who suffered religious persecution in Europe and fled to America, their struggles were life changing to them. The pioneers who crossed the great expanse of our nation dealt with fear, sickness, death, and all the things that the wilds of our country could throw at them. Many of them didn't make it. Our country has faced numerous wars that encompassed numerous generations and with each war came more sophisticated weaponry. We've faced a depression before that was mixed with a serious drought in our farm country. We've faced corrupt politicians, intelligence wars, and weapons that can destroy entire cities in the blink of an eye. I know there were people who avoided the challenges of their time, but I don't think it was to the extent we are facing now. In each era, with each struggle, I'm positive these people were afraid. I don't think any young man who signed up to go to war didn't feel some twinge of fear...but they went anyway. Why is it so different now?
I can't avoid talking about the "99%". I've said it before and I will probably say it again. My generation is spoiled rotten. I'm not going to place blame because I don't think it can be attributed to any one person or group of people. My generation has begun to think that, because they've been given everything instantly throughout their lives, they shouldn't have to work to get anything. There is a small percentage of kids my age who believe that taking the money from people who have RIGHTFULLY EARNED IT is the "moral" and correct thing to do. I am not part of the 1%. I work for what I have. I don't know how all of the 1% got where they are, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't because they stole money from people who were richer than them. I think most of them were blessed with genius moments and capitalized on it. The kicker for me is that these Occupy Wall Street, "99%" demonstrators wouldn't know what to do with themselves if the 1% hadn't done what they did and created the things they have. There'd be no cars, no computers, no gasoline to run the cars, no iPhones...we'd be in the 1830's. I guarantee that if that "99%" were in the shoe of the 1%, they'd be singing a different tune. Why are they so afraid to get their hands dirty and go to work? Why are we so afraid to put in a little elbow grease to make our lives work? Life has never been easy. Why do we all of a sudden think it should be?
My generation is going to destroy us. They're already well on their way. We are so hell bent on "getting our share", that we are forgetting the important things. The funny thing is, I think most of my generation would agree with me and not the OWS retards. We're just too afraid to stand up and say something about it because of how it might sound. I don't want things handed to me. I don't want someone to say, "Here, Kati. You haven't done much, but you seem underprivileged so I'll give you your brother's money because he has extra and needs to be generous." That's called Communism. I didn't earn that money, my brother did. I didn't earn the billions Bill Gates has. He earned it. He worked for what he has. Why can't the "99%" understand that they have just as much potential to be the next Bill Gates? All it takes is a little elbow grease...and courage to conquer your fear. True, you may not end up a billionaire...but you get to experience life. I can't think of a greater reward than that.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Fighting the Darkness
Life can be full of negatives. It seems to me that it's easier to find and remember things to be sad about, but much more difficult to remember the good things. We see it every day of our lives. Life is essentially a roller coaster. For some, controlling that roller coaster comes naturally. For others, it's like riding the Texas Giant or the Titan at Six Flags. You know the twists and turns and steep dives are coming, but you can't do much about it strapped into your seat on the car. You are at the mercy of someone else's design.
I've been spending a lot of time watching people. Sounds kind of creepy, but it's how I learn. When I watch the things people do, it helps me to learn the things I need to work on in my own life. Right now, what I'm noticing, is that there is an awful lot of the black clouds that come with negativity. A lot of us are having a hard time finding something to be positive about. I'm sure there are a number of reasons for this, but I wanted to offer my perspective.
Please don't think I'm delusional or retarded for this theory. I've spent a great deal of time feeling it out, sometimes very literally. You see, there's a very simple principle that exists within the laws of physics. Darkness cannot exist where there is light. However, the darkness is not destroyed, it's simply laying in wait for the light to go away so that it can once again rule the space light had previously occupied. The same can be applied in our lives. When we are thriving and happy and on a good path, our lives are filled with light. There is no room for darkness. When we struggle and wander on a path that is less than desirable, the darkness creeps in.
Darkness is subtle. In a 24 hour cycle, the night comes on only as the sun slowly sinks into the horizon. It is a gentle descent into the blackness of night. So it is with our lives. We make little mistakes that eventually become bigger. It's rarely a full on blast that takes out the sun in our lives. That generally doesn't happen. I think that's because no one intends to be a bad person. I believe that everyone is essentially good and wants to be a good person. It's just very difficult once you've begun to let the darkness rule you.
On the opposite end, have you ever noticed how quickly the dawn expels the night? When the sun breaks over that horizon, everything is bathed in light. The darkness disappears. The good things in life outweigh the bad. They will always dispel the darkness inside of us. The only thing holding us back is ourselves and how thick the clouds are around our hearts.
I realize that some of this is probably not making much sense so let me explain. I believe that some people are very literally followed by clouds of darkness. In the Bible, Genesis records that 1/3 of the host of heaven were cast out when Lucifer rebelled and led them astray. They were forbidden to come to earth to gain a body. When you think about how many people have thus far lived on this earth, and how many more we still have to come, 1/3 of that number is a staggering amount. I don't even want to try and think about how many that was. Mostly because I stink at math, but I digress. When these spirits were cast out, they followed the Morning Star. That was one of Lucifer's names. Lucifer was such a rebellious child that he did what all rebellious children do. He decided that if he was going to be miserable, then everyone else should be too. He has set out from that moment to make our existence here a living hell. We have something he can never have and it makes him angry. He blames us and God and Christ for his present state. He doesn't know how to accept the blame and responsibility for what he's done. Sound familiar? He is the reason for all of the misery in the world. Well, he's partly to blame. We all make choices, but I'll get to that later.
I believe that that 1/3 host of heaven is very real. I believe they are the darkness that follows people around. Here's why: I have felt them. Like I said, please don't think I'm delusional or retarded. I know it sounds a little crazy, but it's not that hard to imagine. I have led a less than perfect life. I strayed from the light for a lot of years and am still trying to find my way back for some things. There have been times where I swear something has been following me and whispering negative things in my ear. Most of that revolves around my own self worth and appearance because that is where I struggle the most and they know it. Were I too actually think well of myself, I would not have been in some of the situations I've found myself in. Anytime I've seen a picture of myself, I have self-criticizing thoughts, and as crazy as it sounds, when I have those thoughts, I'm also thinking at the same time that I'm crazy because it's not that bad. Why else would I think I'm ugly and a horrible person? I truly don't believe that...but something is trying to make me.
That's not the only reason I think they're real. I have been around other people I would swear are being influenced by that same darkness. These are people who would normally not do the things they do, but are constantly being whispered too and are too weak to say no. It's really not that far fetched. What else would those spirits be doing? Misery and jealousy are terms coined specifically because of those people. They are the definition of misery, jealousy, depression, anger, and hatred. They are the clouds surrounding our hearts and souls that keep us from finding the light.
There are ways to silence the darkness. Just stop doing what you know is wrong. Like I said, I've been down that path and it is much easier to stay stop doing the wrong thing than to actually stop sometimes. It is very difficult and it can physically hurt. Living in darkness is infinitely easier than trying to live in the Light. As someone who's struggled for a lot of years to find her happiness, I can testify to how much easier and enticing the darkness is, because the other aspect of the darkness is that it conceals the bad. In the Light, you have to face what you've done and try and fix it. Your soul is like your body and has to heal and it is a slow process...but it's worth it.
In the book, The Hobbit and the subsequent Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is a creature named Gollum. When he enters the story, he is a shriveled, pale, sickly creature who cannot exist in the normal world. He lives in a cave that is dark and dank. He is a slave to what he calls "my precious". It's a ring possessed by the spirit and evil of it's creator Sauron. When he found it, it whispered to him. He killed his friend to possess it and spiraled downward every day after that until he became what Bilbo Baggins found. Gollum did not begin as Gollum. He gave in to the whisperings of something much darker until he could no longer think for himself. The more he wore the ring, the more he fell to the influence of evil. It's the same for all of us. We never intend to become the Gollum's of this world. No one ever wants to be that miserable. The challenge, again, comes when we try to find our way back to the light. Gollum tried. He reverted briefly back to Smeagol, which was who he was originally, but ultimately could not sustain that life. It was too difficult for him and being Gollum was much simpler. Ask a drug addict or some politicians and they'll tell you the same thing.
So the solution is simple. Stay away from the dark. Don't touch it with any part of yourself because it is very enticing and it will drag you down with it. If you are already there and are struggling to get to the light, don't give up. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it sucks...but yes, it's worth it.
I've been spending a lot of time watching people. Sounds kind of creepy, but it's how I learn. When I watch the things people do, it helps me to learn the things I need to work on in my own life. Right now, what I'm noticing, is that there is an awful lot of the black clouds that come with negativity. A lot of us are having a hard time finding something to be positive about. I'm sure there are a number of reasons for this, but I wanted to offer my perspective.
Please don't think I'm delusional or retarded for this theory. I've spent a great deal of time feeling it out, sometimes very literally. You see, there's a very simple principle that exists within the laws of physics. Darkness cannot exist where there is light. However, the darkness is not destroyed, it's simply laying in wait for the light to go away so that it can once again rule the space light had previously occupied. The same can be applied in our lives. When we are thriving and happy and on a good path, our lives are filled with light. There is no room for darkness. When we struggle and wander on a path that is less than desirable, the darkness creeps in.
Darkness is subtle. In a 24 hour cycle, the night comes on only as the sun slowly sinks into the horizon. It is a gentle descent into the blackness of night. So it is with our lives. We make little mistakes that eventually become bigger. It's rarely a full on blast that takes out the sun in our lives. That generally doesn't happen. I think that's because no one intends to be a bad person. I believe that everyone is essentially good and wants to be a good person. It's just very difficult once you've begun to let the darkness rule you.
On the opposite end, have you ever noticed how quickly the dawn expels the night? When the sun breaks over that horizon, everything is bathed in light. The darkness disappears. The good things in life outweigh the bad. They will always dispel the darkness inside of us. The only thing holding us back is ourselves and how thick the clouds are around our hearts.
I realize that some of this is probably not making much sense so let me explain. I believe that some people are very literally followed by clouds of darkness. In the Bible, Genesis records that 1/3 of the host of heaven were cast out when Lucifer rebelled and led them astray. They were forbidden to come to earth to gain a body. When you think about how many people have thus far lived on this earth, and how many more we still have to come, 1/3 of that number is a staggering amount. I don't even want to try and think about how many that was. Mostly because I stink at math, but I digress. When these spirits were cast out, they followed the Morning Star. That was one of Lucifer's names. Lucifer was such a rebellious child that he did what all rebellious children do. He decided that if he was going to be miserable, then everyone else should be too. He has set out from that moment to make our existence here a living hell. We have something he can never have and it makes him angry. He blames us and God and Christ for his present state. He doesn't know how to accept the blame and responsibility for what he's done. Sound familiar? He is the reason for all of the misery in the world. Well, he's partly to blame. We all make choices, but I'll get to that later.
I believe that that 1/3 host of heaven is very real. I believe they are the darkness that follows people around. Here's why: I have felt them. Like I said, please don't think I'm delusional or retarded. I know it sounds a little crazy, but it's not that hard to imagine. I have led a less than perfect life. I strayed from the light for a lot of years and am still trying to find my way back for some things. There have been times where I swear something has been following me and whispering negative things in my ear. Most of that revolves around my own self worth and appearance because that is where I struggle the most and they know it. Were I too actually think well of myself, I would not have been in some of the situations I've found myself in. Anytime I've seen a picture of myself, I have self-criticizing thoughts, and as crazy as it sounds, when I have those thoughts, I'm also thinking at the same time that I'm crazy because it's not that bad. Why else would I think I'm ugly and a horrible person? I truly don't believe that...but something is trying to make me.
That's not the only reason I think they're real. I have been around other people I would swear are being influenced by that same darkness. These are people who would normally not do the things they do, but are constantly being whispered too and are too weak to say no. It's really not that far fetched. What else would those spirits be doing? Misery and jealousy are terms coined specifically because of those people. They are the definition of misery, jealousy, depression, anger, and hatred. They are the clouds surrounding our hearts and souls that keep us from finding the light.
There are ways to silence the darkness. Just stop doing what you know is wrong. Like I said, I've been down that path and it is much easier to stay stop doing the wrong thing than to actually stop sometimes. It is very difficult and it can physically hurt. Living in darkness is infinitely easier than trying to live in the Light. As someone who's struggled for a lot of years to find her happiness, I can testify to how much easier and enticing the darkness is, because the other aspect of the darkness is that it conceals the bad. In the Light, you have to face what you've done and try and fix it. Your soul is like your body and has to heal and it is a slow process...but it's worth it.
In the book, The Hobbit and the subsequent Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is a creature named Gollum. When he enters the story, he is a shriveled, pale, sickly creature who cannot exist in the normal world. He lives in a cave that is dark and dank. He is a slave to what he calls "my precious". It's a ring possessed by the spirit and evil of it's creator Sauron. When he found it, it whispered to him. He killed his friend to possess it and spiraled downward every day after that until he became what Bilbo Baggins found. Gollum did not begin as Gollum. He gave in to the whisperings of something much darker until he could no longer think for himself. The more he wore the ring, the more he fell to the influence of evil. It's the same for all of us. We never intend to become the Gollum's of this world. No one ever wants to be that miserable. The challenge, again, comes when we try to find our way back to the light. Gollum tried. He reverted briefly back to Smeagol, which was who he was originally, but ultimately could not sustain that life. It was too difficult for him and being Gollum was much simpler. Ask a drug addict or some politicians and they'll tell you the same thing.
So the solution is simple. Stay away from the dark. Don't touch it with any part of yourself because it is very enticing and it will drag you down with it. If you are already there and are struggling to get to the light, don't give up. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it sucks...but yes, it's worth it.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Ya gotta be kidding me
I think the term I'm looking for is...OMG!
So, it's been a while. I kind of wanted to just regroup a little bit and ground myself before I talked about anything else. A lot has happened in the past few months and I feel like I've recharged a great deal. Just in time for another controversy for me to talk about! Haha
Initially, I didn't want to discuss any politics or anything similar on this blog. I figure I'm ok if I can keep the arguments with the sibs and friends to a minimum. Either way, this week I will probably post twice. Today, I want to talk about something that will lead into my 9/11 post tomorrow: "Entertainers". More specifically, I want to talk about the idiot who made a splash in the music industry this week simply by opening his mouth: Soulja Boy.
On Labor Day, Soulja Boy released a new song and video. The title is "Let's Be Real". Here's a little bit of info on "Soulja Boy" aka DeAndre Cortez Way. This kid is literally a kid. He was born in July of 1990, which makes him a mere 21 years old. From everything I've read about him, he has not had to struggle through anything. His father bought him a recording studio when he was living in Mississippi and he made his own videos to go along with the "songs" that he wrote. He self-published (much like a boy who looks like a girl *cough* Justin Bieber *cough*) and gained recognition and fame through YouTube. He was 11 when the airliners hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Like most of Hollywood, he is also terribly mis- and uninformed about a lot of things, politics and prejudice in particular.
So, there's your preface and information on Mr. Way. So, on Labor Day this year, this numbskull released "Let's Be Real" as both a track and a video. Being that he's gotten so "huge" in the rap/hip-hop industry, his video went viral. I don't think he realized how many people support our troops and our law enforcement, especially with such a huge anniversary just days away from when he released it. The lyrics of his song basically claim that he's better than any FBI agent or any military personnel. I won't write word for word what he said because I'm intelligent enough to use better words, but he said to screw the FBI and screw the army troops. He asks what they're fighting for and tells them to "be your own man"... I'll let that sink in for a moment before I go on.
Here is this 21 year old idiot who was old enough to remember 9/11. He is old enough to have witnessed the events of that day. He is not old enough for memory loss unless it's drug induced which is entirely possible. My question is, "What in the world were you thinking releasing that song?" The troops deployed overseas are not without means to view this kind of thing. Sure their amenities in these places are not consistent, but they aren't in the middle of a desert with absolutely no communication with the outside world. Did he honestly think they wouldn't see and hear what he'd done? I just don't understand.
Mr. Way has an interesting history of trading barbs with other rappers he doesn't get along with. They call them "diss songs". I call it middle school name calling and bullying. I'm not that big of a fan of rap anyway and that's increased in recent weeks. These guys think that because they rose from the ghetto and became "superstars" that they are more credible and more valuable than someone who didn't follow their example, but joined a branch of the service to escape the "hood". I wonder how they could have gotten that idea.
I remember that day ten years ago. I remember the thousands of people who died that day. I remember the troops who led us into Afghanistan and Iraq. I remember those who died to make sure that the threat against our freedom was neutralized. How is it that he forgot already? How is it that they've forgotten already?
In response to Mr. Way's video, the troops are fighting back with the same determination they fight with everyday. I've seen several videos on YouTube mocking Mr. Way for his tasteless lyrics and even poorer timing. He backpedaled when he started getting slammed with the hate, claiming that what he said was taken out of context and he was more upset and frustrated with the fact that we're fighting wars we shouldn't be and not taking care of the homefront. My response to that? Hahaha You're so dumb!
This generation is notorious for forgetting the sacrifices made by so many to give them the freedom of speech they seem to not have a filter for. We remember on the days that are marked by a holiday such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and September 11th. Where is our patriotism the rest of the year? I admit, I am guilty of forgetting and taking for granted those things myself. I will not, however, speak out against the men and women who are standing in harms way overseas and at home to keep me and my loved ones safe. These people have given so much. Sometimes they give everything they have and still more is demanded. We have lost many lives to the cause of freedom and still we forget. With all of this sudden amnesia, I'm curious as to what's fueling it. Well, I don't have to look far.
News and entertainment are far from unbiased and fair. Celebrities and news outlets frequently make their political leanings know. I heard of more celebrities endorsing Barak Obama when he was running for president than I think I've heard in my entire life. They spoke up and encouraged us to vote for the first black president. A: He's half black. B: Why is Hollywood suddenly required to endorse a political candidate running for any office? I was completely dumbfounded when I saw so many of them making their opinions known. I was not shocked when my generation did exactly what Hollywood wanted and voted him in. I am part of a generation of sheep. That's no secret. I'm just not one who eats the koolaid flavored grass. I just don't understand when Hollywood's opinion of something political became valid. They are there to provide overpriced and underperformed entertainment. Unless they're running for office, they should stick their noses out of it. I honestly don't know why they side with the left either, as a side note. I don't understand that little tid bit of stupidity in the slightest.
Basically what this boils down to is a lack of education in the younger generation. My brothers have had full day-long conversations about the state of affairs in our country. I mostly remain quiet during those rants, but I absorb what I hear and find out for myself. The sheep just do what their told. The shepherd, in the form of news media and Hollywood, tells them to believe what they want them to believe and they do it. There are very few of us who actually do our homework and use the intelligence that God gave us to make informed decisions. DeAndre Way is too young and too ignorant to have formed an adequate opinion for himself. He's spouting what others have told him. He's outraged over something he has no comprehension of because someone else expressed their own outrage. He's as much of a sheep as the other koolaid-grass munching woolen livestock.
So where does that leave us? The obvious answer is in some really big piles of sheep poo. The only way out is to educate our own children and do what we can to keep them from having to clean up the ever growing mountain of poo being created by those too ignorant and too stubborn to just stop eating the koolaid-grass.
So, it's been a while. I kind of wanted to just regroup a little bit and ground myself before I talked about anything else. A lot has happened in the past few months and I feel like I've recharged a great deal. Just in time for another controversy for me to talk about! Haha
Initially, I didn't want to discuss any politics or anything similar on this blog. I figure I'm ok if I can keep the arguments with the sibs and friends to a minimum. Either way, this week I will probably post twice. Today, I want to talk about something that will lead into my 9/11 post tomorrow: "Entertainers". More specifically, I want to talk about the idiot who made a splash in the music industry this week simply by opening his mouth: Soulja Boy.
On Labor Day, Soulja Boy released a new song and video. The title is "Let's Be Real". Here's a little bit of info on "Soulja Boy" aka DeAndre Cortez Way. This kid is literally a kid. He was born in July of 1990, which makes him a mere 21 years old. From everything I've read about him, he has not had to struggle through anything. His father bought him a recording studio when he was living in Mississippi and he made his own videos to go along with the "songs" that he wrote. He self-published (much like a boy who looks like a girl *cough* Justin Bieber *cough*) and gained recognition and fame through YouTube. He was 11 when the airliners hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Like most of Hollywood, he is also terribly mis- and uninformed about a lot of things, politics and prejudice in particular.
So, there's your preface and information on Mr. Way. So, on Labor Day this year, this numbskull released "Let's Be Real" as both a track and a video. Being that he's gotten so "huge" in the rap/hip-hop industry, his video went viral. I don't think he realized how many people support our troops and our law enforcement, especially with such a huge anniversary just days away from when he released it. The lyrics of his song basically claim that he's better than any FBI agent or any military personnel. I won't write word for word what he said because I'm intelligent enough to use better words, but he said to screw the FBI and screw the army troops. He asks what they're fighting for and tells them to "be your own man"... I'll let that sink in for a moment before I go on.
Here is this 21 year old idiot who was old enough to remember 9/11. He is old enough to have witnessed the events of that day. He is not old enough for memory loss unless it's drug induced which is entirely possible. My question is, "What in the world were you thinking releasing that song?" The troops deployed overseas are not without means to view this kind of thing. Sure their amenities in these places are not consistent, but they aren't in the middle of a desert with absolutely no communication with the outside world. Did he honestly think they wouldn't see and hear what he'd done? I just don't understand.
Mr. Way has an interesting history of trading barbs with other rappers he doesn't get along with. They call them "diss songs". I call it middle school name calling and bullying. I'm not that big of a fan of rap anyway and that's increased in recent weeks. These guys think that because they rose from the ghetto and became "superstars" that they are more credible and more valuable than someone who didn't follow their example, but joined a branch of the service to escape the "hood". I wonder how they could have gotten that idea.
I remember that day ten years ago. I remember the thousands of people who died that day. I remember the troops who led us into Afghanistan and Iraq. I remember those who died to make sure that the threat against our freedom was neutralized. How is it that he forgot already? How is it that they've forgotten already?
In response to Mr. Way's video, the troops are fighting back with the same determination they fight with everyday. I've seen several videos on YouTube mocking Mr. Way for his tasteless lyrics and even poorer timing. He backpedaled when he started getting slammed with the hate, claiming that what he said was taken out of context and he was more upset and frustrated with the fact that we're fighting wars we shouldn't be and not taking care of the homefront. My response to that? Hahaha You're so dumb!
This generation is notorious for forgetting the sacrifices made by so many to give them the freedom of speech they seem to not have a filter for. We remember on the days that are marked by a holiday such as the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and September 11th. Where is our patriotism the rest of the year? I admit, I am guilty of forgetting and taking for granted those things myself. I will not, however, speak out against the men and women who are standing in harms way overseas and at home to keep me and my loved ones safe. These people have given so much. Sometimes they give everything they have and still more is demanded. We have lost many lives to the cause of freedom and still we forget. With all of this sudden amnesia, I'm curious as to what's fueling it. Well, I don't have to look far.
News and entertainment are far from unbiased and fair. Celebrities and news outlets frequently make their political leanings know. I heard of more celebrities endorsing Barak Obama when he was running for president than I think I've heard in my entire life. They spoke up and encouraged us to vote for the first black president. A: He's half black. B: Why is Hollywood suddenly required to endorse a political candidate running for any office? I was completely dumbfounded when I saw so many of them making their opinions known. I was not shocked when my generation did exactly what Hollywood wanted and voted him in. I am part of a generation of sheep. That's no secret. I'm just not one who eats the koolaid flavored grass. I just don't understand when Hollywood's opinion of something political became valid. They are there to provide overpriced and underperformed entertainment. Unless they're running for office, they should stick their noses out of it. I honestly don't know why they side with the left either, as a side note. I don't understand that little tid bit of stupidity in the slightest.
Basically what this boils down to is a lack of education in the younger generation. My brothers have had full day-long conversations about the state of affairs in our country. I mostly remain quiet during those rants, but I absorb what I hear and find out for myself. The sheep just do what their told. The shepherd, in the form of news media and Hollywood, tells them to believe what they want them to believe and they do it. There are very few of us who actually do our homework and use the intelligence that God gave us to make informed decisions. DeAndre Way is too young and too ignorant to have formed an adequate opinion for himself. He's spouting what others have told him. He's outraged over something he has no comprehension of because someone else expressed their own outrage. He's as much of a sheep as the other koolaid-grass munching woolen livestock.
So where does that leave us? The obvious answer is in some really big piles of sheep poo. The only way out is to educate our own children and do what we can to keep them from having to clean up the ever growing mountain of poo being created by those too ignorant and too stubborn to just stop eating the koolaid-grass.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Because of the brave
I must confess that the Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, I loved everything about it. The firework shows were always a lot of fun and the barbecues always seemed so much more yummy on the fourth than on any other day of the year. I still get crazy excited about that aspect of this holiday. There are, however, more substantial reasons for being a major fan of July 4th.
I am a history nerd. I love learning about history. When my family lived in Bosnia, we got to tour some places in Europe. My favorite place? The bunkers on the beaches outside of Dunkirk that were used by the Germans in World War II. I thought it was just so cool to be standing in a physical reminder of the price our country has paid not only for our freedom, but for the freedom of so many others. That is something we as Americans do well. We see the value of liberty and it makes us hardheaded. We don't settle for less.
When it comes down to it, our freedoms were bought with the lives of men who were willing to lay down their own to prevent their families and their descendants from having to live under brutal tyranny. America was colonized originally for religious freedom. Our ancestors came here where they could be free to worship without fear of persecution. Eventually, that persecution followed them with the British rule. King George set up colonies in what eventually become the original 13 states. The people were made to believe that they were being equally represented in the British parliament. When it became apparent that that was not the case, they fought back. Initially, their fighting was in small demonstrations...if you call things like the Boston Tea Party small. King George levied taxes and established laws that our forefathers did not have a hand in making. Now, they could have chosen to wait it out and hope that things would get better. They knew, as so many of us still know, that government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people and that a monarch an entire ocean away was not what was right. They wanted freedom.
On July 4th, 1776, the first continental congress signed a Declaration of Independence. In it, they listed everything that had been done that had forced them into making such a decision. They also listed their belief that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain rights that no one had any right in taking from them. The most amazing thing to me is that these men didn't just arbitrarily decide to plunge their fellow Americans into war without trying other avenues first. They'd tried for several years to get King George to work with them. Like Pharaoh and the Hebrews, King George was not interested in negotiating. So they did the only thing they could do. They cut ties and fought for Independence.
In the 1700s, warfare was much less, and in some cases much more, sophisticated than our current methods. At the time, the colonies didn't have a professional army or navy. They relied on militiamen. In my mind, that was probably the best thing they could have done. A man fighting for his family and his home is much more determined to succeed than a soldier simply being paid to fight. A regular army was formed on June 14, 1775. The Continental Congress appointed George Washington as its Commander-In-Chief. Washington knew the value of militia and utilized them for short stints while coordinating his own army. On November 10, 1775, the United States Marine Corps was formed at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. At the beginning of 1776, Washington's army had 20,000 men, one-third of which were state militia. 20,000 men volunteered and fought for freedom against the much more rigorously trained British redcoats. Before the end of the war, 250,000 men served as regulars or militiamen during the eight years of the wars duration. Think about it. Right now, that's not a lot of people in a war. At the time? That's incredible.
Eight years after a handful of men took the initial step toward freedom, the British were defeated and we were free. We established our own form of government and adopted a constitution of rights and laws. Throughout history, our country has fought many times to maintain that hard earned freedom. In 1812, we again went to war with the British. In 1860, South Carolina seceded from the union and was quickly followed a month later by many other Southern states, beginning the most devastating war in our history. More American lives were lost in the Civil War than all the other wars combined. Brother fought brother. Each side believed they were in the right. Our constitution was put to the test. Are all men created equal no matter his color? Again, thanks to men willing to lay down their lives for the freedom of others, that questioned was answered with a resounding Yes!
Irony is a funny thing. In the early 20th century, Germany declared war on the world. Old grudges were momentarily laid aside and the United States of America came to the aid of all European countries and fought for their freedom. This action was repeated when Hitler took control of Germany and declared war on the world for a second time. The United States was understandably leery of joining, but did so enthusiastically when Japan sucker-punched us on December 7, 1941. Try as they might though, they were unable to defend against the countless numbers of men and women who heeded the call for soldiers to fight for freedom. So many of that generation went willingly into battle, knowing the likelihood of their own return home was not great, but doing it anyway. They knew that freedom isn't free and were willing to pay the price. Many of them did.
Our country has fought for others freedoms many times since then. My grandfather fought in Korea with the Marine Corps. We fought for the South Vietnamese. We fought for the Iraqis twice. Seeing a pattern?
Our country and our people are the home of the free BECAUSE of the brave. Men and women of valor have stood up to tyranny and injustice and fought back and won on countless occasions. Think about that the next time you see a flag waving or sing the national anthem.
The Star-Spangled Banner Verse 3:
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
I am a history nerd. I love learning about history. When my family lived in Bosnia, we got to tour some places in Europe. My favorite place? The bunkers on the beaches outside of Dunkirk that were used by the Germans in World War II. I thought it was just so cool to be standing in a physical reminder of the price our country has paid not only for our freedom, but for the freedom of so many others. That is something we as Americans do well. We see the value of liberty and it makes us hardheaded. We don't settle for less.
When it comes down to it, our freedoms were bought with the lives of men who were willing to lay down their own to prevent their families and their descendants from having to live under brutal tyranny. America was colonized originally for religious freedom. Our ancestors came here where they could be free to worship without fear of persecution. Eventually, that persecution followed them with the British rule. King George set up colonies in what eventually become the original 13 states. The people were made to believe that they were being equally represented in the British parliament. When it became apparent that that was not the case, they fought back. Initially, their fighting was in small demonstrations...if you call things like the Boston Tea Party small. King George levied taxes and established laws that our forefathers did not have a hand in making. Now, they could have chosen to wait it out and hope that things would get better. They knew, as so many of us still know, that government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people and that a monarch an entire ocean away was not what was right. They wanted freedom.
On July 4th, 1776, the first continental congress signed a Declaration of Independence. In it, they listed everything that had been done that had forced them into making such a decision. They also listed their belief that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain rights that no one had any right in taking from them. The most amazing thing to me is that these men didn't just arbitrarily decide to plunge their fellow Americans into war without trying other avenues first. They'd tried for several years to get King George to work with them. Like Pharaoh and the Hebrews, King George was not interested in negotiating. So they did the only thing they could do. They cut ties and fought for Independence.
In the 1700s, warfare was much less, and in some cases much more, sophisticated than our current methods. At the time, the colonies didn't have a professional army or navy. They relied on militiamen. In my mind, that was probably the best thing they could have done. A man fighting for his family and his home is much more determined to succeed than a soldier simply being paid to fight. A regular army was formed on June 14, 1775. The Continental Congress appointed George Washington as its Commander-In-Chief. Washington knew the value of militia and utilized them for short stints while coordinating his own army. On November 10, 1775, the United States Marine Corps was formed at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. At the beginning of 1776, Washington's army had 20,000 men, one-third of which were state militia. 20,000 men volunteered and fought for freedom against the much more rigorously trained British redcoats. Before the end of the war, 250,000 men served as regulars or militiamen during the eight years of the wars duration. Think about it. Right now, that's not a lot of people in a war. At the time? That's incredible.
Eight years after a handful of men took the initial step toward freedom, the British were defeated and we were free. We established our own form of government and adopted a constitution of rights and laws. Throughout history, our country has fought many times to maintain that hard earned freedom. In 1812, we again went to war with the British. In 1860, South Carolina seceded from the union and was quickly followed a month later by many other Southern states, beginning the most devastating war in our history. More American lives were lost in the Civil War than all the other wars combined. Brother fought brother. Each side believed they were in the right. Our constitution was put to the test. Are all men created equal no matter his color? Again, thanks to men willing to lay down their lives for the freedom of others, that questioned was answered with a resounding Yes!
Irony is a funny thing. In the early 20th century, Germany declared war on the world. Old grudges were momentarily laid aside and the United States of America came to the aid of all European countries and fought for their freedom. This action was repeated when Hitler took control of Germany and declared war on the world for a second time. The United States was understandably leery of joining, but did so enthusiastically when Japan sucker-punched us on December 7, 1941. Try as they might though, they were unable to defend against the countless numbers of men and women who heeded the call for soldiers to fight for freedom. So many of that generation went willingly into battle, knowing the likelihood of their own return home was not great, but doing it anyway. They knew that freedom isn't free and were willing to pay the price. Many of them did.
Our country has fought for others freedoms many times since then. My grandfather fought in Korea with the Marine Corps. We fought for the South Vietnamese. We fought for the Iraqis twice. Seeing a pattern?
Our country and our people are the home of the free BECAUSE of the brave. Men and women of valor have stood up to tyranny and injustice and fought back and won on countless occasions. Think about that the next time you see a flag waving or sing the national anthem.
The Star-Spangled Banner Verse 3:
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Modesty
Ok. So, I am more than positive that most of anyone who read last weeks blog didn't really agree with what I said. I'm ok with that. Mostly because I don't think I explained myself very well. I think that regularly of my posts here. This week is, I think, a little more straightforward.
Modesty is a big issue for this generation and it continues to grow with each passing generation. The issue? We have no modesty. There are a few different ways you can interpret modesty, but the most straightforward way is the one I want to talk about. Modesty in regards to our physical appearance is a thing of the past...or so everyone seems to think.
Growing up, I remember being instructed on what modesty was. I didn't really understand what being immodest does and how it affects people, but have since learned the older I've gotten. I've learned that dressing (or not dressing as the case may be) a certain way can alter someone's perception of you entirely. That alteration has potential to be either a very good thing or a very bad thing.
Middle school was when the other girls my age began wearing less modest clothing. Middle school is when we really start to become aware that there is a definite difference between boys and girls. Puberty hits everyone. Cracking voices and the beginnings of raging hormones rule the school. That's also when we start being given a little bit of independence. I remember watching as many other girls in my grade chose to wear less modest clothing and because most of them were more popular than me, that's what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, or fortunately however you want to put it, the clothing they wore was fairly well forbidden in my house. My parents had pretty strict rules about modesty that I tried more than once to bend. Which, on a side note, is kind of interesting because I think skimpy clothing is meant to show off...and at thirteen, most girls don't really have anything to show off. Seems to be rather stupid if you ask me.
As my life has progressed, the value of modesty has regressed. I have witnessed little girls running around in very little clothing; ie low cut spaghetti straps, mid riff baring tanks, and Daisy Dukes and mini skirts. When I say little girls, I mean four and five year olds. Kind of silly, huh?
Don't get me wrong. I would completely fight against the high necks, long sleeves, and long dresses of days past. I live in Texas! There's no way I'd be willing to walk around in the summer heat in an outfit like that. I don't, however, believe we are doing anyone any favors by allowing our children to "learn" about sex appeal before they can even read.
Modesty is a beautiful thing. I applaud anyone who can remain modest in the society we live in. It can be very difficult to find clothing that won't reaveal everything to everyone. I'm not disputing that. In the long run, it's very worth it. I don't think women in general, but especially younger women really understand the power they have over men. Some know and don't care. Little girls definitely don't know.
I think that when we dress them in more revealing clothing, we think it's harmless. "They're little girls. No one is going to objectify a little girl and look at her like she's a sex object." ...Excuse me?! What planet are you living on?! There are so many stories of sick, sick people doing horrific things to little girls. I'm not saying it only happens to girls who are less modest cause I don't believe that in the least. I do think that, even if nothing bad happens to them when they're young, we are setting them up for failure.
I have been on both sides. There was about a year and a half where I didn't really care about anything of any importance. I did what I wanted and it generally didn't involve I would care to repeat in mixed company. I was one of the girls who'd been raised with a sense of modesty. I knew what was inappropriate to wear. I figured out really quickly why it was forbidden at home. I learned why my parents had taught me to dress in a way that left some of my figure to the imagination. The opposite turned guys around me into submissive idiots at times and then demanding jerks at others. I knew how to use my sex appeal to my advantage and it almost always involved revealing clothing.
So there is no doubt about what immodesty does to the male species, let me lay it out for you. I don't mean to get biblical, so forgive me if that's how this sounds. Men and women were created with the ability to have children. Our bodies were specifically designed for that. We were also given urges that can be very difficult to control sometimes. As one who's lost control on more than one occassion, I can vouch for that difficulty. Immodesty makes it all the more difficult. That's just the way we are designed. It's hard for anyone to concentrate when there is so little left to the imagination. I don't mean just girls either.
The point I'm trying to make is that our children become what we teach them to be. If we teach them that it's ok to walk around in almost nothing, what do you think their future attitude will be? Why do you think sexting is so accepted now? Kids have no concept of the value of modesty because we don't teach it to them. Why are we allowing them to think it's ok to look like a hooker at the age of 5?
Modesty is a big issue for this generation and it continues to grow with each passing generation. The issue? We have no modesty. There are a few different ways you can interpret modesty, but the most straightforward way is the one I want to talk about. Modesty in regards to our physical appearance is a thing of the past...or so everyone seems to think.
Growing up, I remember being instructed on what modesty was. I didn't really understand what being immodest does and how it affects people, but have since learned the older I've gotten. I've learned that dressing (or not dressing as the case may be) a certain way can alter someone's perception of you entirely. That alteration has potential to be either a very good thing or a very bad thing.
Middle school was when the other girls my age began wearing less modest clothing. Middle school is when we really start to become aware that there is a definite difference between boys and girls. Puberty hits everyone. Cracking voices and the beginnings of raging hormones rule the school. That's also when we start being given a little bit of independence. I remember watching as many other girls in my grade chose to wear less modest clothing and because most of them were more popular than me, that's what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, or fortunately however you want to put it, the clothing they wore was fairly well forbidden in my house. My parents had pretty strict rules about modesty that I tried more than once to bend. Which, on a side note, is kind of interesting because I think skimpy clothing is meant to show off...and at thirteen, most girls don't really have anything to show off. Seems to be rather stupid if you ask me.
As my life has progressed, the value of modesty has regressed. I have witnessed little girls running around in very little clothing; ie low cut spaghetti straps, mid riff baring tanks, and Daisy Dukes and mini skirts. When I say little girls, I mean four and five year olds. Kind of silly, huh?
Don't get me wrong. I would completely fight against the high necks, long sleeves, and long dresses of days past. I live in Texas! There's no way I'd be willing to walk around in the summer heat in an outfit like that. I don't, however, believe we are doing anyone any favors by allowing our children to "learn" about sex appeal before they can even read.
Modesty is a beautiful thing. I applaud anyone who can remain modest in the society we live in. It can be very difficult to find clothing that won't reaveal everything to everyone. I'm not disputing that. In the long run, it's very worth it. I don't think women in general, but especially younger women really understand the power they have over men. Some know and don't care. Little girls definitely don't know.
I think that when we dress them in more revealing clothing, we think it's harmless. "They're little girls. No one is going to objectify a little girl and look at her like she's a sex object." ...Excuse me?! What planet are you living on?! There are so many stories of sick, sick people doing horrific things to little girls. I'm not saying it only happens to girls who are less modest cause I don't believe that in the least. I do think that, even if nothing bad happens to them when they're young, we are setting them up for failure.
I have been on both sides. There was about a year and a half where I didn't really care about anything of any importance. I did what I wanted and it generally didn't involve I would care to repeat in mixed company. I was one of the girls who'd been raised with a sense of modesty. I knew what was inappropriate to wear. I figured out really quickly why it was forbidden at home. I learned why my parents had taught me to dress in a way that left some of my figure to the imagination. The opposite turned guys around me into submissive idiots at times and then demanding jerks at others. I knew how to use my sex appeal to my advantage and it almost always involved revealing clothing.
So there is no doubt about what immodesty does to the male species, let me lay it out for you. I don't mean to get biblical, so forgive me if that's how this sounds. Men and women were created with the ability to have children. Our bodies were specifically designed for that. We were also given urges that can be very difficult to control sometimes. As one who's lost control on more than one occassion, I can vouch for that difficulty. Immodesty makes it all the more difficult. That's just the way we are designed. It's hard for anyone to concentrate when there is so little left to the imagination. I don't mean just girls either.
The point I'm trying to make is that our children become what we teach them to be. If we teach them that it's ok to walk around in almost nothing, what do you think their future attitude will be? Why do you think sexting is so accepted now? Kids have no concept of the value of modesty because we don't teach it to them. Why are we allowing them to think it's ok to look like a hooker at the age of 5?
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