My Comment on Wordwideviewer's Post : "Voting"

My comment on Wordwideviewer's Post : "Voting."I don't think it should matter if the rest of the world is changed by you're vote. The amazing thing is that you have a hand in shaping the future of your country. It is just an amazing concept that everyone who is a citizen of the the United States has the opportunity and ability to voice their opinion, and as a result the majority of our country will hopefully be happy because they represent the largest portion of the people. I think that when people don't use the opportunity to vote, they are ruining it for everyone else, because the more that vote the, the more will be happy. Voting is an opportunity that we have in our country that everyone should take advantage of.

GREEK?

So the time is approaching to rush.  The question is:  Is greek life for me?  

In my family, my dad's side, his father was in a fraternity as well as my father.  My sister was a large part of her sorority as well, so I guess I'm feeling a little bit of pressure to rush.  I also think that a large part of the social life here at SMU is based on the greek system.  Is there somewhat of an indirect social pressure to rush here?  I definitely think so.  The reason of my uncertainty to rush is not because I think that I will not have a good time, I am just unsure of whether or not a fraternity is the right thing for me.  Does this mean that I am not the typical version of an SMU male student?  I don't think so.  

Over more than 60% of the student body at SMU is involved in Greek Life.  The majority of the student body is obviously involved, so how does the other 40% socialize?  I have no idea.  I almost feel forced to be involved in a frat, just so that I will be able to meet 60 percent of the people here.  

My final decision is still up in the air.  What do you think?  Is it possible to still be a part of the majority of social activities without being involved in a frat, or is there no hope?

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving time was the first time that I had been home in a while(around 3 months).  It was an opportunity for me to see all of my family, friends, and spend time with all of them.  It's an odd feeling walking back into a room that you lived in all your life and having the feeling that no one lives there.  When I came back, i noticed things that I had never seen before.  First of all, the toilet paper.  I never realized how rough it is until I got back to my house and used some "quilted."  I feel like being at college has made me appreciate all of the things that I have at home.  It has made me realize all of the small things.  I have become more appreciative of my time with my parents and my sister.  It has caused me to enjoy my time with my family, and look forward to seeing them.  This is different from how I used to thing during High School where I thought that they were there only to limit my fun.  Thanksgiving dinner was different for me this year.  I think it is the first time that i was actually treated as an adult.  I shared intellectual conversations with almost everyone at the table, and it seemed in my own mind that I had matured.  Being back from college has made me realize that it's time for me to start acting like an adult, and start appreciating everything that is in my life.  How have your views changes so far?  Have you become closer with your family?  

My COmment

Heatmoon is on a differnet search. One that I don't think Miz Alice has ever gone on. He is going to find what life is actually about, to find out what is fulfilling and meaningful to him. I think that Miz ALice has never needed to take this journey because she already knows what she believes, and she already feels at home. I think that she should take the trip, just as Heatmoon is. She could realize that her life is not what she had thought. The more we explore our surroundings, the more we learn. How Miz Alice know so much when she has remained on the same small island for most of her life?

Least-Heatmoon?

"We've had electricity on the island for only the last twenty-nine years. Phones for less than that. We've been a rustic tribe."(p.389)
What does this mean, and furthermore why would they do such a thing? Is it because they cannot afford the new technological advances? Do they feel the need to not use technology and to rely completly on themselves? Do they not see the benefit of technology?

What are the long-lasting effects of the island staying "rustic"?

I know that in some places and in some communities, they try to preserve the ancient ways. They believe that if it worked so well in thew past then why cannot it workl well forever. The beliefs of people who choose to stay technologically un-advanced are cauzing large communities of these people to stay behind and not contribute much to society. In a way, I feel like the people in our country who won't use modern advances are holding everyone back. They are not expanding their horizons, learning new things and becoming more inventive. Being stuck in the old way of doing things, to me, holds everyone back. Don't you think that the people who come from this small island will leave, and then be forced to return back to their humble begennings because they couldn't cope in the technological world?

Can the people of the island really advance in life without using the modern tools that everone else uses?

My Comment on Kelevra's "Steroids for your brain"

CLICK HERE to see Kelevra's post on steroids for your brain as well as my comment. I myself am prescribed Aderall. I decided recently to stop taking it. I hated the effects, the feeling of being on it, and the lack of emotion that it caused me to not feel. I had taken it for 4 years, and I decided recently that it is unhealthy. It made me feel sick at sometimes, but it was necessary for me to get my work done. Some people abuse it though. I feel that most people prescribed these "brain steroids" do not actually need it. The medical companies are set on making money, and Aderall is one of their biggest opportunities for profit. I think that anything is fine, but to an extent,

My Post to Think Again's post :Call And Response

CLICK THIS to view my comment regarding human trafficking. Human trafficking? This has always been something that freaked me out. I find it so weird that people make a living by smuggling other people. It makes me think that people are less human, especially when they are being treated like contraband. It de-personalizes the human character. It makes me sick to think that some people are still being bought like a dog or a car. The people in this industry make me sick, and I feel like they have no concern for the welfare of anyone else.

Schooling Re-Write new title: FIFA

How am I suppose to fit in? 

New friends...uhhh oh!

There are many different ways to make new friends its all about finding your place.  MY PLACE

When I first arrived here, at SMU, I was wondering which ways I would be able to relate to those around me.  I felt as though i was coming from a completely different culture than that of Dallas, TX.  I thought that my looks and general thoughts would make it hard for me to meet new people and make friends.  When I moved into Boaz, i knew who my room mate was, in fact I knew him my entire life.  We were trying to figure out what we might have in common with the people in out hall.  What could we possibly have in common with these other people?  After we set up our room and got situated we decided to play a game of FIFA.  (For those who don't know, FIFA is a video game on X-Box 360 about soccer.  We started it up and opened the door to try and meet some of the people on our floor.  Soon enough our neighbors came flocking in.  It turns out that FIFA was a common ground that allowed myself to meet the people on our floor and get to know them better.

Every day we have FIFA matches in our room.  I feel that it was a great way to meet all of the people we know now.  Hopefully, FIFA will continue to be a common ground to meet people.  It's very comforting to meet people who share the same interests as myself, even in a completely different environment and culture than I am used to.  What has connected you to the people you have met?  Are there any special ways of meeting people that you might have?

Gay Marriage?

         Coming from an area close to San Francisco, a breeding ground for gay men, I have seen how much the views on gays and gay marriage differ.  I think this is probably because of the way each of us were brought up, and the people we were around.  In California,  it seems that gay people and marriage are accepted more so than in Texas, perhaps because California has chosen to legalize gay marriage.  What's the difference?  Why do gay people want to have the right to get married so much?  

         Persons against gay marriage believe that it is contrary to their religion for same-sex marriages.  They see it incorrect for persons of the same sex to get married, and therefore believe that they should not have the same rights that most married couples receive.  They say that the lifestyle is dirty and don't want their families exposed to that type of lifestyle.  

         Persons in favor of gay marriage believe that it is their right to have the same opportunities as “normal” couples.  They feel that it is discriminating to not allow persons of different sexual preferences to have the same rights.  Many gay persons want the right to get married simply because they want the law and government to recognize them as an actual married couple.

         Many places across the U.S. have different views on this controversial topic.  The more southern the state, the more against the unification of the same sex they are.  I believe that the government shouldn’t be allowed to control the rights that couples have.  What’s the difference?  Who should be able to tell people what to do?  When should the government’s power be limited?

  

Modern Day Hitler

On Sunday, I decided to try something that I had not done in a while. I went to a Southern Baptist church service. Normally, when I do attend church I go to an Episcopalian one. What I saw and heard at this service was unlike anything that I was expecting.

The pastor was not even actually in the church. He was being broadcasted on television and everyone in the church was watching. This was odd to me. Why couldn't someone else actually stand up in font of the church and actually engage them as an audience? The things that he said were even more confusing to me. He started saying things like "The government is an evil being only out there to steal from us." As I looked around the church after this was said, I realized that I was the only one who was shocked by this notion. Everyone else seemed to believe it. The pastor then went on to talk about gays. "Nuts and nuts just don't mix! It's supposed to be a man with a woman. Any man with a man shall burn in hell!" I looked around once more, if someone was gay in the church he would surely be ashamed of himself. It made me think about being raised and brought into this culture, this different type of thinking. If you were gay, you would probably live in fear of anyone finding out. I felt like the pastor was basing everything off of fear.

One of the things that struck me was this line "I am going to tell you who to vote for." Everyone seemed to listen intently to his following words. He went on to describe a certain political candidate(John McCain). It seemed like he was endorsing him for all of the wrong reasons. The fact that he wanted McCain to win actually made me think that it would be better if Obama won, just because I didn't want to believe in anything that this crazed man was saying.

Eventually, after about an hour of his speech, I decided that I could bear it no longer so I walked out. I realized how captivating of a speaker this man was, and how he could easily get some people to believe his messages but did everyone actually buy into this? Are other religions like this?

To me religion is all about acceptance, and this church went against almost every one of my views. The pastor reminded me of a modern day Hitler, because of how captivating his speech was and how crazy it was. Are all Southern Baptist churches like this?

Comment

I commented on the post written by I heart Question Mark entitled the Great Depression of 2008.  Basically I expressed my belief for the government to not intervene.  My comment can be viewed by CLICKING

Comment

I commented on Patrick S.'s blog regarding biases in the media and its influences.  I wrote...  to view the blog CLICK

Monopoly

After playing an intense game of monopoly I feel like I am given insight to the real world.  During our game, which I lost, friends fought against one another, rivals were formed, and deals were made.  Monopoly is only a game, played with fake money and property but the true competitors went to extremes in order to win.  Some went even as far as to cheat, and strike deals with other players.  Out of the six people that were playing the game four were involved in underground trading.  It makes me wonder, can this game actually simulate some things that occur in the real world?

The game is eventually won by the person with the most monopolies, who is able to "run the board."  They are able to control all aspects of the game, because they have the most money.  Is our world run like this?  Does the more money you have mean the more power?  I think that our world is based off of this concept that money provides power.  It is getting harder and harder to start and run a small business when there are so many established large corporations.  Our society has allowed large businesses to take over, and now it is harder than ever to succeed without the financial support that the large corporations have.

I think that when there is a chance to buy a product locally, meaning from a non-corporate store, you should take it.  By supporting local venues and stores you take away the power that the large industries have taken over.  Do you think that corporations are beneficial for society, or do they bully around all the up and coming business owners?  I believe that allowing large company's to expand and grow as much as some of them have, has restricted our ability for a more competitive market.

For more reasons on why you should support local businesses click SUPPORT LOCAL.

Underlying MTV

Has anyone watched MTV recently?  I turned it on the other day, wondering what kind of shows were on it and was surprised by what I saw.  Music Television Videos is what the literal name of MTV is, so I figured that they would play music videos all day.  I was surprised when I started watching some completely fake show where a guy takes girls moms on dates in order to find out which one he would like the most.  The concept seems fine at first, but after you watch thirty seconds of it you realize that it is the most fake thing i've ever seen.  I don't understand how people watch it.  The guys on the show were only concerned with the looks of the daughters and every line seemed like it was handed to them.  The whole concept of MTV is based on materialism and trends.  They are trying to set a tone for how the younger majority of the world should be.  They give off the impression of "party, party, sex, sex."  I'm disappointed by the quality of shows being played, and overall it seems like the channel should no longer be called MTV, seeing as how it has nothing to do with the concept of music.  Do people not understand how fake it is or do they just not care?  Personally, MTV makes everyone worse off, especially those who believe in it's concepts and ideas.  

Check out how fake MTV actually is by clicking MTV fake.

Schooling

When I first arrived here, at SMU, i was wondering which ways I would be able to relate to those around me.  I felt as though i was coming from a completely different culture than that of Dallas, TX.  I thought that my looks and general thoughts would make it hard for me to meet new people and make friends.  When I moved into Boaz, i knew who my room mate was, in fact I knew him my entire life.  We were trying to figure out what we might have in common with the people in out hall.  What could we possibly have in common with these other people?  After we set up our room and got situated we decided to play a game of FIFA.  (For those who don't know, FIFA is a video game on X-Box 360 about soccer.  We started it up and opened the door to try and meet some of the people on our floor.  Soon enough our neighbors came flocking in.  It turns out that FIFA was a common ground that allowed myself to meet the people on our floor and get to know them better.

Every day we have FIFA matches in our room.  I feel that it was a great way to meet all of the people we know now.  Hopefully, FIFA will continue to be a common ground to meet people.  It's very comforting to meet people who share the same interests as myself, even in a completely different environment and culture than I am used to.  What has connected you to the people you have met?  Are there any special ways of meeting people that you might have?