Hop off Your High Horse

We are all human. Whether our skin pigmentation is darker or lighter, we all function the same. Breathe air in, let it out. Yet, some people believe that they have a higher status on the scale of life. But why? When everything is gone, we are all the same. As people are born and go through life, they all grow the same. We all breathe the same air. We all have a heart that beats; a brain that thinks, a pair of eyes that blink.

Putting yourself on a pedestal and stepping on the people you believe are below you isn't going to help you in the long run.by thinking so high of yourself, you put other people down. Can we imagine a world of only people who think too highly of themselves? Friendships wouldn't exist, because no one would admit their own faults. Relationships would never work, because nobody would want to give a little to receive love in return. The world would be a big places with smiling faces, deeply staring into the mirror held a few inches from their faces.

Never admitting to being wrong isn't going to change the fact that you are probably wrong. Everyone strives to be correct and full of knowledge. But the fact is; someone out there will always be bigger than you. Better than you. Smarter than you. When we learn to accept our faults, friendships can grow stronger and relationship can illuminate. If someone can prove a point, accept it. You learned something that day. Knowledge to improve yourself.

 Everyone has things they love about themselves, and that's healthy and good. But do you really love yourself so much, that we are better than the person sitting next to us? What makes me better than that girl who is to shy to say hello? I could say because I'm not afraid to say hey, but what if she loves that she gets to pick who she wants to speak too and people just assume she is shy? Something we hold high and cherish about ourselves, may be something that someone else looks down on. It is a wonderful thing to be comfortable with who you are, and to know that you are a beautiful creation from the Lords hands. But why make someone else think they are not, just because they differ from you?

Everyone has pet peeves also, things that just set you off. But don't let someone else's annoying habits make you forget they are human. They are made and born the same way as you were.

What Ever Happened to Being Proud to Live in America

What Ever Happened To Being Proud to Live in America?

            People claim we have never gone to the moon. People claim that the government is listening in on every conversation we have. People claim that 9/11 was executed by the government to go to war with the Middle East. People claim that all the food we eat and water we drink is poisoned. People even claim that there are groups that are planning to completely take over the world. People claim there is undisputable proof on these subjects. I claim they are insane.

            I understand that our government may step over its boundaries from time to time, but to claim that our government is the cause of tens of thousands of deaths is just outrageous. I understand that it’s hard to trust a government that keeps so many secrets from the public, but to have no faith in our government without knowing everything that is going on is just stupid. Do people not realize that if the government told us everything, then we would be more susceptible to enemy attacks? I understand that amazing feats of human ingenuity can be hard to believe sometimes, but to claim that they are impossible is outright idiotic.

            It only takes one well placed idea to fester and take hold in millions of people’s minds. Conspiracy theorists exploit this. They blast their so called “evidence” across media in all different forms. They make their ideas sound convincing and it takes hold. These people almost never show both sides, and if they do then it leans heavily to one side. The show Conspiracy Theories with Jesse Ventura is a great example. My Mom loves to watch this show all the time. I can’t stand it. The “Investigators” barely do anything except for complain about how their life could be in danger by looking into these things. This show’s whole concept confuses me. I don’t understand how if these theories about our government are true, then why does the FCC allow it to air? Why doesn’t the infinitely powerful government shut them down?

            The one conspiracy theory that irritates me the most is the 9/11 conspiracy. How some people believe that our government was able to kill thousands of innocent people from many different countries is beyond me. I don’t think any person in charge of a country could call for an attack on their own economy. It wouldn’t be worth it. Even if it was for oil in the Middle East, then the lives lost and the millions spent on cleanup and repairs would never be made up for. There are some who believe that flight 93 actually landed and the people on it were either killed or paid off, which also doesn’t make sense. The people on that plane were Middle Eastern, so why not just use Americans and say the plane was making a detour? I feel that if it was a true government conspiracy it would be much better executed and bulletproof. Especially if the government is as powerful as these conspiracy theorists make it out to be.

            I’ve gotten in large arguments before with some people before about some theories. I point out larger holes in their theories than they can in the accepted truth. The holes in the theories are usually more common and easily detectable. I don’t think I’ll ever understand some people’s logic. Maybe they just don’t do their research, or they’re just hell bent on finding something to complain about. I for one am proud to live in this country, but I’m not too proud of some of the people who live here with me.

Studies Show Link Between Smoking and Senselessness

Last week, I walked out of a Supplement Super Store (a health store) and into the path of two smokers. I don’t know about you, but I find it extremely annoying when you walk out of somewhere (especially a health store), and the door is blocked by smokers. It’s unavoidable; I had to walk past them to get to my car. My brain always tells me I have two options in these kinds of situations: you either have to hold your breath and make a beeline for the nearest fresh air, or you have to inhale the smoke and try not to hack. Smoking is not just annoying, though. There are hundreds of reasons to not smoke from its addictive properties to the lung cancer it causes.

One important reason is that smoking kills.

Some statistics put the number of premature deaths up to 443,000 people a year because of cigarette smoke. All of these deaths are avoidable because we have all been warned against cigarettes in one way or another:

• There are multiple warning labels on cigarette boxes.
• Almost all of us have seen the gruesome before-and-after pictures of smokers’ organs.
• Television advertisements aren't allowed for cigarettes.
• We are taught in health class about the multitude of cancers that come from smoking.
• There are websites like http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/.
• We've all heard what “studies show” about cigarettes from the news

But another reason to stay away from cigarettes is that smoking is also responsible for thousands of deaths of non-smokers.

Yes, non-smokers are dying from cigarettes. Any argument that says “It’s-my-body-I-can-do-what-I-want” is invalid; smoking can harm and kill the people around you. And even if you are careful to smoke far away from anyone else, third hand smoke can live in your clothes, your carpet, and your skin. Even when you aren't smoking, you are discharging the harmful effects of cigarettes to people.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Lastly, even if you don’t die from cigarettes, you are putting an enormous amount of garbage you’re your body. If you simply read the ingredients list before picking up a cigarette, you might think again. The composition of cigarettes looks something like this:

• Nicotine (an addictive drug)
• Arsenic (Poison)
• Ammonia (Household cleaner)
• Acetic Acid (Vinegar)
• Methane (I think we all know what this is…)
• Methanol (Rocket Fuel)
• And about 600 other cancer causing ingredients.

Some of these additives in cigarettes are harmless if eaten…but burning something changes its composition. Suddenly, harmless becomes deadly. It’s like cigarettes are designed to kill you.

Also, I understand that nicotine, or a stimulant, is part of the reason for smoking. It makes the brain feel good temporarily. But don’t health risks, the addictions, and the deaths far out way any slight mood lift? I mean, putting rat poison in my mouth would kind of put a damper on my day instead of lighten my mood.

I personally know someone who smoked. I know how hard it can be to stop if you've started. But I also know, that you won’t regret the extra ten years of life that you get back or the extra hour you get to spend with your grandkids when they visit because you aren't out on the porch smoking.

Smoking is harmful to everyone, not just the smoker. Plus, health classes, warning labels, and ingredients lists have made it common sense not to smoke. So please, don’t let yourself or your friends smoke; let’s all try to think twice before lighting up.

Born This Way

     “My momma told me when I was young we were all born superstars…

                   There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are

            She said, ‘ because he made you perfect babe…’

                 I’m beautiful in my way

                    ‘Cause God makes no mistakes

                          I’m on the right track

                              baby I was born this way”

                                                                                      -Lady Gaga

 

Born that way. No, born their way. Everyday, somewhere, homosexual's , are  being called out of their name: mainly a FAG. But has anyone really thought of what these words do to those who are homosexual? Or how it makes the person saying the word look? Although there are people in our society who don't mean to use FAG in a hurtful way, there are still those who intentionally try and slaughter the lives of many homosexual's with out using a single weapon, except for their words.  This insipid, and banal language toward a gay person affects them in so many ways.

G'S:There are many people who treat homosexual's as if they are a “bad memory” that they must erase. Some people have their reasons for calling homosexual's FA

·                     Because two men should not be together

·                     They are the cause of STD’s

·                     God created a man and a women to be sexually active

These are reasonable explanations, but is FAG the word to describe homosexual's? The fact that Homosexual's are attracted to the same sex, doesn't change who they are nor does it change the qualities they have obtained in their lifetime.

                         Homosexual's are:

·                     Diverse with their personalities

·                     Confident in everything they do

·                     And are very intelligent and successful in our society                                                                      

Being called a FAG eliminates all of the above qualities they possess.

Those who call homosexual's people FAG'S, obviously don’t understand the impact those seven letter's have on homosexual's mental and emotional health. Mentally, a homosexual feels unexcepted by society, and can feel like they will be disowned by their family as well. Emotionally, being called a FAG can lead a homosexual to commit suicide. Those against homosexuality, and the whole gay society, know that FAG is not used to express  your infatuation with a person. So in their minds they don't believe they should be somewhere they're not wanted. Honestly, who could blame them. Would you want to be somewhere you're not welcomed?

Some religious people may argue that it is a sin to be gay, and so they are justified to calling a    homosexual a  FAG. But wait a minute, isn't having sex before marriage a SIN; isn't being JUDGMENTAL a SIN; isn't cursing a SIN; isn't committing adultry a SIN? So why does society have to call a homosexual a FAG, to express the sin associated with being gay. There aren't  many people going around classifying each other because of having premarital sex, cheating, judging, or cursing; but these are all sins, just like society says being gay is.

Everyone knows that the gay society will forever be incessant. So why not just treat them with the same respect you want to be treated with? Homosexual's are understanding of those who believe being gay is a sin, and that God did not create two men to have sex with each other. But they are not saying they disagree with you, it's just THEY WERE BORN THIS WAY. Instead of criticizing homosexual's with vituperative words, such as FAG, respect them for who they are and what they are. Instead of trying to decimate the gay culture by calling them FAG'S, and other derogatory words, Respect them for who they are and what they are. No matter how hard you try and forget this “memory”, everyday, everywhere, homosexual's do exist and will always be here among us all. And all they ask from you is to respect them for who they are and except them for what they are.   

Academic Parasites

Parasitic relationships are when one organism benefits from another organism, which receives nothing in return. Student relationships can consist of one student doing all of the work and another student taking the credit for that work, stealing the answers for themselves. Sounds familiar, huh? Normally, you are either the one that is doing the work, or you are the one that is copying the work. If you are the one that copies, you generally know that it is you, and that’s ok—as long as you finish the work before the teacher sees. Cool. Have you ever kept up a conversation with this person that you are taking advantage of without any alternate intentions? Not even a “hey, how are you?” No? Oh, and you’re upset that they don’t feel like giving up his/her work? How dare they?

                It’s probably very obvious that I am concerned about the equality of the hard-working students and the…not-so-hard-working students. How is it fair that some people do all the work without ever getting credit or maybe even a sincere “thank you” for helping? A new friend isn’t even brought up in the deal. All that these people receive are the title of being the “smart person.” This isn’t really a blessing, more of a curse. Once a person shows how “smart” he/she is, that person is forever branded as the one to go to because they actually did the work. So, doing all of one’s work is not beneficial to one’s self if another person is going to be a leech anyways. It’s not fair!

                Why do I do all of my work? Is it just because I’m smart? Is it because I have no life? False. I have two jobs (and I work hard at both), I have friends, I am involved in so many extracurricular activities that I can’t even get my days straight. I do my work because it’s my responsibility. Maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s that thing where you do what you know is right simply because you know you should. It really irks me whenever a person would walk up to me, give me a dry compliment and steal my work. I spend a lot of time making sure that I will pass each class—and even learn something about it, too. If you don’t want to learn, whatever—just don’t drag me down with you. It’s hard enough that I have to do my own work, but now I have to do yours, too?

                There are a few circumstances in which I know that people will need help. Believe me, my point isn’t that I don’t understand, or that I’m intolerant, it’s that I know that some people aren’t applying themselves. My brother suffers from ADD, and he honestly has trouble understanding some things. If he asks someone for help, it’s because he needs help. One would know if it was an issue of him not understanding or just not doing his work. On the contrary, if he left a section blank in his homework, this could either be that he didn’t finish (as every kid is guilty of), or that he seriously didn’t understand and was too afraid to ask for help. Even though he could figure some stuff out and he knew who to ask, it was tough for him to get the ball-rolling. He was even in trouble of failing, and sometimes he needed to ask a peer for some help just so that he wouldn’t fail his class. This wasn’t just because he was “lazy” or “stupid.” This was because he didn’t know what to do, but he wanted to figure it out on his own. He would work hard to get his grade up and eventually he graduated in a higher note. This is great and all, but that doesn’t mean that everyone who consistently expects you to grant his/her wishes like a genie has some other story.

                Not everyone is in danger of failing. Not everyone has to ask just “one” question because he/she was working too late to finish the assigned work. Not everyone has a low I.Q. because of some mental defect. So, that being said, why does everyone think that it’s ok to leech? Just because you said one nice thing about a “smart” person doesn’t entail that you are allowed to put someone else’s grade in danger because you just couldn’t turn off the T.V. or tell your friends you had to go do homework. In fact, why didn’t you just ask a friend to help you? If they couldn’t help you, why not make friends with your information source? I’m sure that if you got to know them, other than spewing out a few friendly phrases, you might actually grow to like them. And here’s a crazy thought: they might be ok with giving you some answers every once in a while. But God forbid that a popular person or someone that “doesn’t associate with the smart kids” will actually hold up a nice conversation with that person! What if that smart person desperately wants someone to talk to, so they have no choice but to give away their work? What if they actually have a lot of friends and you are keeping that person from those friends? What if this person was doing his/her assignments while they were at work, and you didn’t finish yours because you were too busy partying with your friends? What if this person is struggling to do what they can with what they have, and they are craving knowledge? Wouldn’t you feel guilty for slacking off and taking advantage of that person? No? Well, good luck making your academic achievements without your “friend.”

Dangerous Drivers

Dangerous Drivers

 

When I was about five years old, I was in a terrible car accident. My mom was driving the van on the overpass, and a lady ran a red light since she was in a hurry. She hit the side of the van and sent my mother, my brother, and I to the hospital with numerous injuries. My mother had a broken leg, I was in a neck brace, and my brother had a massive bump on his head. All of that could have been avoided if the lady was a better driver.

 
While driving, you can be easily distracted, but the number one thing that should be on your mind is the road. Distractions make people drive atrociously and that creates a major threat to other drivers.

According to alert driving, 90% of accidents are caused by bad drivers. These drivers have terrible habits, such as

·         Disregarding rules of the road
·         Drinking and driving
·         Eating while driving
·         Putting on make-up while driving
·         Talking to passengers in the back
·         Texting while driving

 

 

Driving under these conditions is absurd because the people who drive like this don’t believe that they are doing anything wrong. You can avoid being a bad driver if you

·         Pay attention to the road
·         Eat before you get in your car
·         Put on make-up before you leave
·         Turn your phone off before you drive
 
If you don’t try to drive less carelessly, others start to be more cautious of how you drive, which starts to make them a bad driver too.

Some people don’t mean to drive poorly, they might just be

·         A new driver
·         An old driver
·         A rushed driver
·         A lost driver
·         A cautious driver

These items aren’t as dangerous as the first list, but they can still pose a threat to others driving.

If you don’t start working on becoming a better driver, you can end up causing accidents that can hurt—or even kill—many innocent people.

 

  

You don’t want to be the person who ends up ripping a family apart since you didn’t feel like driving correctly. When you put driving aside, you put your life and other drivers’ lives at risk every second you’re on the road. Being a responsible driver should be an important thing in your life because when you drive safely, you get to live another day, and you won’t have to worry about being the cause of a horrific accident.

Lying's Ugly Truth

We’ve all lied. We’ve all cheated. It’s human nature, but there is a difference between a single fib and a sequence of lies. There are reasons why lying is considered morally wrong. Lying can:

•Tear friendships apart

•Destroy any trust people have in you

•Hurt people around you

I have a friend, who shall remain nameless, that lies constantly. In fact, he lies so much that I don’t believe anything he says anymore, and frankly, we’re not very good friends because of it. I feel no trust in what comes out of his mouth.

There are walls that are built between people when they lie. There are barriers fueled by lies and only broken by the truth.

We all know the story about the boy who cried wolf. What I’m trying to say is the same thing. When someone lies, people may believe, but it won’t be long before the truth comes out. People will realize that you lied, and like the villagers in the story, they will come to deny anything you say whether it be the truth or not. In the end, it’s the liar who gets hurt.

What’s worse is when liars bring down others with them.

I have another friend, who will also remain nameless, who is a great friend of mine. We have been friends for forever, but there is just one problem. Whenever we are one-on-one, he is honest, but when other people are present, he will spit out lies, condemning me and praising himself. I try to deny what he says, but he has a strong grip on everyone. They side with the lies. It hurts, and our lifelong friendship is whittling away. Some days I avoid him because I don’t want to listen to the lies, and so a barrier forms between us.

Unfortunately, lying is large part of our society. Politicians lie. Parents lie. Teachers lie. Children lie. But why do we lie? We lie because we want to protect ourselves or others, and we also lie for personal gain.

So what do we do now?

 We do our best to tell the truth and be honest with one another. Honest people are more liked by the people around them, more likely to be trusted, and are proven to be healthier. Try to picture a world where no one lies to each other, no one cheats at games, and no one keeps any secrets. Can you picture it? We can make that a possibility with one truth at a time. Lying is the easy way out. It’s easy to lie, but the truth is hard.

The truth is strength.