The Lighter Side

So I am usually complaining and ranting about the problems of society but today I think I'm going to take a less stressed topic today. I want people to know who I am. I am a sort of average teenager who spends his days hanging out with friends and my girlfriend, working to death, playing video games, and producing music. I play guitar, saxophone, can maintain a decent beat on the drum set, and play some piano. I enjoy life and am concerned about the future of our country. I like waffles too. Ham is my favorite lunch meat, I hate being sick,

Are We All LEMMINGS?!

Today, media and clothing promotes uniformity and common appearance among the people. This form of desensitization and striping of one's own personal self may have made many people like mindless drones. The problem with everyone wanting to be the same way is that more conflicts occur out of who is a better "copy," and no one wants to just be themselves. As well if people are easily persuaded to change their appearance to fit a common look what else will these lemmings of society follow? Will it be an eventual doom?

Today the world of video games has a large impact on the youth of today. Now many children would rather sit inside and play their "X-Box 360," than go out and play a real game of football. But is this completely horrid? Sure video games can have a negative impact on a child's physical ability. For if one is to sit inside and do nothing then it's only natural the he/she becomes out of shape. But with new technology games are requiring the user to move in order to play the game successfully.

I personally believe that if someone enjoys video games then it is their own prerogative to play them as much as they want. But those who are trying to cut sales and remove some video games that are rated "M" need to understand what they're talking about.

Video games can improve reaction times and some aspects of coordination. As well many video games can teach people many things. Most games set in the past actually have some historical context.

As well I believe that parents should pay attention to the games rating!!! If something says M then one should not buy such games for their 13 year-old child. People say that such games as "Grand Theft Auto" and "Halo" impose violence upon children; well the game was not indtended for children! If someone wants to complain about violent games then they should complain about violence in movies, books and shows. Yet many will not because all they are doing is looking for something to complain about. As well many people who complain about violence in games won't even pick up a controller to see what is so bad, however they will complain about them.

HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween is coming soon and many are getting ready to celebrate this "unholy day." But is Halloween evil? NO! is the answer. Many people claim that Halloween is a day to worship the devil, but that accusation is 100% false. Halloween is believed to be the day that spirits rise from the dead and mingle amongst the living. The oldest recording of Samhian (the original pagan version) was first recognized in the year 5 B.C.. On that day the Celtic people would leave food at their door to encourage the presence of good spirits and wore masks to ward off the evil ones.

Later in history the Roman Catholic Church decided to make up their own holiday in hopes it would over-shadow the celebration's. All Saints' Day was established on November 1st and was meant to provide a day of praise for all the saints without their own Holiday. But it quickly became known as All Hollows' Day (hollow meaning holy persons.) Later during the 1840's massive Irish immigration the practice of Halloween was brought to the United States.

The modern name comes from "All Hallows' Evening" but in Irish slang it was "All Hallows' Evening." This later became contracted into "Hallowe'en" and after that "Halloween" So as one can tell Halloween is not a celebration of evil but a popular, holy, praising of past souls.

Information provided by: http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/halloweenhistory.php

When It's Over...

As we find ourselves coming to the end of this 2008 presidential election we find that everyone has some mixed feelings about who should get the final vote. When choosing, people tend to not fully weigh all of the "pros and cons" of both of the candidates. The problem is; that when one has already their own set opinion about who is right and who is wrong, then he/she instantly negates the evils of one candidate and focuses only on the flaws of the other.

Sadly race is playing a huge part in this election. The fact that people are so bent on hating someone for something they can't change is appalling. Poking fun at some one for being darker than yourself is like making fun of a small boy with a mental handicap, or an elderly lady with cancer. These are all things that one can not change (well some not easily.) So why is it that people still insist on being racist? Barack Obama may not be the same old Caucasian that has been in office since the Rev. War but that does not mean that he does not have any leadership skills. (However, he does lack experience.)

Now, McCain may be that stereo typical "white politician," yet he does have experience; the problem with him is his Vice President. What saddens me is half of his adds are attacking Barack for being unprepared and not ready for office, when Sarah Palin has the least amount of experience out of all of them...

All I am trying to say is that one should weigh the facts and make a decision based upon the candidates personal views and abilities, not their age or skin color.

School

Standardized Testing...Is it truly important? Some could argue no. However, I find myself wondering where this world would be if the educational system had no ACT, or ITBS. Sure it takes time and makes the children taking it annoyed and very stressed; but isn't the whole purpose of such test is to have standards for the common intellectual state of society.

Imagine, if you will, what it would be like to sit down at a restaurant and try to order your food, but the waiter has no idea what you are saying or asking. Test like these were created to make sure that the people put into place to educate the youth of today are doing their job, and doing it well. For if a teacher is not preforming his/her job correctly, especially at a lower level, many people may grow up not knowing how to read or write.

Another question is without these test would their be a set minimum requirement for credits needed to graduate? I would say most likely but what if there was not any set requirement for credits other than basic skills? How many people would drop out of high school? Would it be less, I hope so...But those who would quit school prematurely would not be able to function at all in this world.

Once more

As I said in my previous blog I believe that people should take a stand on the problems of today. One thing I would like to clear up is that people who don't care about those around them SHOULD! This is because, sure people are their own individual entities, but to live in a productive society hostility should be cast aside. I recently did a test that showed to me the sad truth of the many anonymous faces that surround us. I walked along a busy street waving in a friendly manner to random vehicles. The responses where mixed at times, but their was a general distaste for what i was doing. Out of 20 cars i received 3 middle fingers, 2 "retard signs," 5 waves, and the remainder were a mixture of awkward and angry looks. Why is it that people are so hostile towards their fellow man? Even those who had not wronged them?

This World Mad?

The mass populous of today's society has gone around not caring about his/her fellow man. When these people do actually work up the drive to take a stand for something it is only something that ascertains to them. This 2008 election is a prime example. Sure one person may think that it becomes redundant and obnoxious hearing about it all the time. (Now it is true that the presidential election has more hype than say an election that involves congress. For we all know that they have more power as a whole than the Commander and Chief.) However, if one is to look deeper he/she would realize that in times of crisis whomever is in office can, and will, take on powers that are not previously available to him/her. What frightens me is that most times the power is not returned but rather retained by the office. What I'm getting at is during this time of war what powers might the new president take on to issue an executive order, that may not be cast aside after its initial use.

People need to realize that this election is bigger than just you or I. Making a choice is important!

I guess then, the question I will leave you with is; who do we want taking the power that may not be given back?