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.

Slowly Suffocating

 

          Frolicking about the house, I giggle and look up to see her. She smiles sweetly back at me, and we ready ourselves for a game. “Close your eyes,” I whisper, snickering and searching the room carefully for the best hiding spot I can find for the little copper coin in my palm. Finally satisfied with my penny placement, I murmur consent for her to begin her quest. She overturns all of the dishes, vases, cloths, and pots in sight, and I can’t help but laugh; I am the best penny-hider she’s ever seen, after all! “Grandma, look harder,” I hum over her shoulder in encouragement. Gazing satisfied on her standstill of progress, I sneakily slide out the coin from beneath the chair rungs, and a grin spreads across my face. She laughs along with me as the quest ends in the biggest hug you’ve ever seen. I run off giggling for a moment, and suddenly smoke begins swirling to the ceiling. But I’m not worried; I’m used to it. My grandma was a smoker. I loved my grandma so much while I was growing up, but I lost her to lung cancer when I was young. The financial, physical, and emotional effects of coping with a loved one with a smoking problem can be difficult and exhausting, and everyone involved will be affected.

Firstly, the monetary consequences of smoking can be devastating. Using the Cost of Smoking Calculator from University of Maryland Medical System, I have calculated that smoking just one pack of cigarettes a day can cost between two to three and half thousand dollars each year in the U.S., an astounding amount of money spent on cigarettes alone. Considering the economic situation of the nation at this time, do you really think that such an expensive habit will do you any good by keeping you relaxed or happy? Take up knitting instead; it’s cheaper. In addition, there is also a positive correlation in the percentages of smokers in groups of people by decreasing level of education as well as poverty level, as shown in the CDC fact sheets. The consequences one could experience as a result of one’s bad habits should be considered in the decision to make this long-term commitment. Quitting, too, is often an expensive endeavor, often involving expensive nicotine supplements to substitute the addiction. Smokers that want to quit make commitments to wean themselves, but this is very difficult, as statistics show. The Scoop on Smoking claims that 70 percent of smokers want to quit, 40 percent of smokers attempt to quit, and only 50 percent of those who attempt to quit are successful. The high number of smokers that want to quit indicates that smoking isn’t as it is portrayed, as something one would wish to continue, and the monetary costs of smoking just cannot be worth it. Not only does smoking institute financial hardship, but one related to health as well.

Physically, smoking has much to take as well. In a matter of appearance, smoking often leaves a person looking saggy, sallow, and sickly; not to mention that it causes the clothing to smell of smoke or even have holes burned in the cloth. Shallow interests aside, smoking can also lead to deep internal issues as well, such as tar build up in the lungs, multiple cancers, emphysema, and many more. One out of five deaths each year in the United States is attributed to cigarette smoking, and smokers tend to live 13 to 14 years less than nonsmokers, according to the CDC. The organization also remarks that for each person that dies of a smoking-related illness, 20 more are suffering a smoking-related disease. Surely by changing people’s minds about how we view smoking and drugs habits can shift how many individuals and families have to suffer because of the choices that people may not have known fully what they have gotten into. But knowing someone with a smoking problem can lead to emotional issues as well.

Smoke fills your lungs and dances above your head as you look over at him. Sigh. There isn’t anything you can do. What can you say to change his mind? Absolutely nothing. He likes smoking more than he likes you, no matter how many times you cry and beg at his knees to get him to quit. You can see how he just gets worse and worse, deteriorating. Circulation: shot; breathing: labored –but he doesn’t see it. He has quit more times than you can remember, but he’s gone back on it more times than you can count on two hands. Eventually, you give up and think that maybe one day when you have kids, get married, or graduate he won’t be there, but what can you do? Dad, I love you with all my heart, but it hurts to see you do this. I don’t want any more little girls to think about being without their daddies, so don’t do this to them. Don’t make them worry to death and cry themselves to sleep anymore. It doesn’t have to be this way. The physical effects that a smoker often experiences are emotionally painful for loved ones who are forced to witness the suffering –an experience we hope to bypass. Think about how by smoking you might hurt that little girl, and think again about whether you really want to smoke, knowing the consequences.

Smoking hurts families from economic, physical, and emotional standpoints, so it is important to weigh all of the negative effects of a smoking habit before risking one. Above all, remember to keep it in mind that what you decide to do with your life really can negatively affect the people that rely and depend on you to be a role model. Sometimes I wonder if it was really worth it for the people I knew to have wasted so much by smoking, but I know that after all of those years they wouldn’t have been able to quit. But for anyone who hasn’t started smoking –don’t. One day when the years of smoking destroy your health, it won’t be you who hurts; you chose this, but your friends and family didn’t. They will have to face the pain after you’re sick and gone. Please spare you and your family of the financial, physical, and emotional pain that smoking could introduce into your life.

Drowning

“Crash! I hear glass shattering against the basement wall. I know exactly what had happened before my hand even reaches for the basement door. The creeks open, and I walk down the 19 steps I have faced way too many times at 2 in the morning. Descending half way down, a putrid odor engulfs my nostrils. Alcohol. I find my dad passed out on the floor. Blood was gushing from his fresh battle scar on his index that was speckled with brown shards from the pulverized beer bottle. Just another night at dad’s house I tell myself. Just another night that he wanted to forget.”

My name is Caitlin and my dad is an alcoholic.

When you hear the word “drinking” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people’s initial thoughts are partying and socializing, or maybe you think of stupid, uncoordinated people. The ones that throw up in the rose bushes and accidently drive over the trash can. These are all consequences of drinking but most people don’t grasp the concept of how hazardous drinking can truly be. You can hurt anyone around you, especially yourself. Drinking causes:

·         Memory loss

·         Impaired vision

·         Impaired motor-skills

·         Irrational thinking

·         Mood swings

·         Hangover

·         Liver failure

·         Cancer

In my reality, the word “drinking” sparks memories of violence, disappointment, misery, and betrayal. I feel like most people don’t understand the full effects of drinking unless they are affected by their own personal life experience. There’s a multitude of reasons that you shouldn’t excessively drink.

#1: Alcohol is not needed to “enhance” your lifestyle.

No one really needs alcohol to make his/her night better. That person might not even remember that night to be honest. You can have as much or more fun sober than you can wasted. Some people also think that if they drink and forget about everything, that it’s a good thing. It’s not like you’re going to wake up and all your problems are going to be gone though. They will still be present the next day companied along with a massive hangover headache. You end up in a worse than what you started at.

#2: Alcohol is expensive.

Think of how much money you would spend on alcohol alone if you drank on a regular basis? That’s a lot of cash that could be going to more important things like bills and food.

#3: Alcohol has terrible side effects.

Alcohol is a foreign substance that should not be consumed on sight. It has some very vicious set backs such as the ones lists above. The most extreme cases are that of liver cancer and alcohol poisoning. The liver has to process and break down all the alcohol you drink. Therefore if you drink a lot, the liver is put under a lot of pressure and stress to rid of this toxic substance.

Drinking is acceptable at the right moments, as long as you’re not getting obsessively drunk. You have to know when enough is enough and you have to be of age to drink responsibly. Drinking is coined with the terms fun and social, not anti-depressant medicine. Drowning yourself with alcoholic beverages is not a suitable solution to your problem at hand.

Racism between blacks and whites

            Back in our early childhoods, I was taught by my mother to accept everyone. That’s meant no matter what shape, size, gender, or color everyone is equal. I have stuck by this statement ever since I was little. Those words mean something to me; I live my life by those words of wisdom. Now everyone throws words around or comments like nothing. Whatever happened to treat everyone the same because we are all equal?

            Some say their racist or say racist things because of certain events. For example if an African American had an issue with a white person, their perception is probably now that all white people are bad, or vis versa. Stereotypes are another key role in racism. Most white people think of African American males and the word criminals associated. In 2008, “The Majority Of American Say Against Blacks Widespread.” click here for more info. As well as you would think being in 2012, people are more accepting and non-judgmental, for they are wrong people still label others. Example being, people think the it was the black guy that stole or did harm rather than a white man. It was like that stereotype paper we read in here. In the paper, the black guy was a Harvard Student and the white man wasn’t friendly and was mean. So therefore, all stereotypes are not true. Another thing could be that a race is afraid of change. The race might just be afraid to get out of their “norm” and see the way others. I personally believe the real reason people are racist is because of ignorance and the way kids were taught growing up. I was defiantly taught different than other kids were. I talked to some my friends and they can’t date outside of their race because of their parents. Also the soul fact that grandparents taught our parents who teach us about racism and it’s our choice to put it in play or not. My mother says be with someone that treats you right.

            In a recent conversation with a good friend, we had this exact conversation and our views. She had asked me what my opinion was and I asked the same. My response was what my mom had taught me and said. Her opinion was a little different. She said how they probably wouldn’t mind but not prefer it because it’s outside the race. As I said before it’s up to us to teach our kids and be the change we wish to see in the world.

            In my opinion I am not racist and don’t believe in the comments. If you have a comment I believe it should be kept to yourself. If you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all.

            In our household we are not racist, and here’s why:

·         We are all equal

·         We are all god’s children

·         Most importantly, WE ARE ALL PEOPLE, enough said.

If you have an issue with one person of one race, that does not make everyone of that race like that. You can also learn about people’s culture and the way they live if you give them a chance and get to know them.

One huge issue I have with society today is the fact interracial dating and marriage is not accepted. My mom thinks it’s because we are not like Chicago the big “melting pot.” Some people don’t care for whatever reason and others think it’s a big deal. I guess I just don’t understand why it bothers people if it’s not them?  I personally do not care who you date or who you love, or even the age. If their happy with their life and your happy in yours then who cares? If you love them and they love you that’s all that matters in the end.

I see why people are the way they are and sometimes it’s not their fault. But we have got to change the future generations mind if that’s what we think. We have to be strong and learn to tune out what is not necessary in our lives. It’s not worth hurting peoples’ feelings or making them feel bad for loving someone. My BEST friend is black and I don’t care what anyone thinks. She is loyal, kind, and the greatest person I have ever met in my life. She is not only a friend but a sister…..my other half. We are all like crayons…. We are all different but we all live in the same box.

                 

          

If You're A Hypocrite and You Know It, Clap Your Hands

     Every single one of you, dear readers, has been a hypocrite at some time or another. It's inevitable, isn't it? We don't necessarily mean to be; hypocrisy isn't always a conscious action.

     An online dictionary recalls that the most common definition of hypocrisy is "a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs."

     An extreme hypocrite, in my radical opinion, is the Catholic Pope Benedict XVI, also known as Joseph Ratzinger (here is his website, if you would like to know more, and there he is to the left). What makes him, this great, mighty, religious pope, a hypocrite? One may perceive the fact that I put this out there is simply due to my agnostic beliefs, but this person would be wrong. Anyone with a brain could tell that he is a hypocrite. He preaches about religion, about forgiveness, about God, about saving yourself and those around you. He preaches to us, telling us who we need to be and how we need to act in order to be saved by God. He preaches to us about donating ourselves and our time to those in need. He preaches while holding a golden cross, while sitting in his golden chariot, and while wearing his expensive clothing and jewelry. He preaches while there are children dying of starvation every single day. Maybe those children could use the money that was spent on his golden throne (as seen above). How dare he tell us how to behave and who to donate our money to, when he wastes resources and money on that ridiculously eccentric golden throne?

       Another fine example of hypocrisy in our society is former vice president Dick Cheney (if I may add, I am not opposed to him because he is a republican, I am opposed to him because he is, as the title suggests, a hypocrite). Dick Cheney had the audacity to go along with former president George W. Bush's homophobic 2004 re-election campaign. (Side-note: homophobia is an unreasoning fear of or antipathy towards homosexuals and homosexuality. Synonyms for antipathy are disgust, abhorrence, detestation, hatred. Homophobia does not simply mean fear of gays). What makes this hypocritical, you may ask, is the fact that Cheney has a homosexual daughter. If he is pushing for the LGBTQ community to not have rights, is he pushing for his own daughter to be the exception? If not, how can you call yourself a father when you don't want your child to be treated equally?

    

      If you would like to see the final, prime example of hypocrisy, you need only look in the mirror. Studies have shown that subjects watched strangers make the same decision as they did, yet the subjects thought it was unjust. If you have ever:

• said "Everyone's beautiful," while starving to meet the expectation that society deems "attractive," you are a hypocrite.
• said "Don't worry about what everyone thinks," while thinking to yourself every day "What if they think I'm stupid," or "What if they don't like me," you are a hypocrite.
• said "I don't judge," while thinking in your own head "Wow, she looks gross today," or "Wow, that person is a moron," you are a hypocrite.
• said "I would stick up for someone being bullied," while you hear rude comments every day and not once speak up, you are a hypocrite.

But then again, I'm not really one to talk, am I? I am a hypocrite for simply lecturing about hypocrisy. I am a hypocrite for:

• saying I don't like labels, yet I label myself every single day.
• saying I don't judge, yet I judge within my own mind.
• saying I believe it is bad to harm yourself and worse to kill yourself, yet I still struggle with cutting every day of my life, I question my own existence every day of my life, and my first suicide attempt was April 24th, 2009.
• acting like I am overly-confident, yet I question my self-worth more often than anything.
• acting like I cannot stand certain bands due to their lack of voice, yet I sometimes listen to NSYNC (and let's face it, they're the 90's version of One Direction).

      I am not yet proud enough to be unable to proclaim that I fall right under the list of people I despise. I understand certain hypocrisy. As Caroline Coleman stated, "How can we possibly save ourselves from ... hypocrisy if we are all blind to our own faults..."

How can we avoid hypocrisy, truly? Is it as easy as simply not contradicting your words with your actions, or is that too much to ask?

      I believe avoiding hypocrisy may just be that simple. If we would just stand by what we believe, hypocrisy wouldn't exist. If we would just be outright with what we believe, rather than standing behind a facade, hypocrisy wouldn't exist. If we would just be honest with ourselves, hypocrisy wouldn't exist. Do not act as if you believe something if you do not. Do not tell yourself lies anymore. If you judge someone, do not be afraid to admit it to yourself. If you oppose a belief, do not go along with it.

Our beliefs are all we have, so stand by them.

My name is Miranda Crouton, and I am a hypocrite.

Are you?