The Dried Out Opinions of People

"Cruse falsely charged that Hansberry and her family owned some 13 slum properties in the South Side, and deemed "obsequious" and "embarrassing" her "mimicry of the critical standards of white Communists" and her play's "assumptions that she knew all about the N**ro working class, of which she was not even remotely a member"

Reading through a 14 page packet for AP English about the famous Lorraine Hansberry, I encountered a paragraph of criticism on a play that she had created. It interested me since I read background information on her lifestyle and how she lived in a prominent white neighborhood. The ironic part about this is how Hansberry had been a member of the working class of African Americans. It made me think about how an opinion of one person can change how others think towards something. The influence of ones thoughts may be beneficial or harmful. It just depends on the person who is speaking. Since it was a white man criticizing a black woman it made many follow his views.



I though about the recent election. I have been at the point in life where my fathers interests have influenced me substantially since I always wanted to be like him. Along with this, his hostility towards Trump was almost bestowed upon me. That is until recently, I needed a type of verification for myself on why Trump was a bad president. I knew all of what he had said since I have witnessed clips from social media but it seemed to pass by because I had my fathers opinion to guide me. For my benefit I needed my own opinion because I am my own person.



It relates to the decisions I make in my life. I do what I want for myself and no one else. In the end it is my life and I am not living it to satisfy anyone but me I make decisions everyday and I leaned that everyone has their own opinions. They have their own views on something and their own reasons behind their views. What I came to recognize is how many people fall to voice THEIR opinion and instead agree on what others have to say without a legit conformation.

Just one way to prove my point is how children follow whatever is popular in culture today. Jermaine Cole (J. Cole) recently released an exquisite piece of art though the work of music connecting to his soul. Many children saw the trend on Twitter and recently began to agree with the views of others. Not giving themselves an experience to analyze the project, the children are still following the trends of society blindly. Without any outlooks they stay voiceless to their own opinions. Never reaching a maturity to create themselves. Having a brain that can soak up information, these children are drying up in the sun as they follow others. Never being able to be young men or women but children following others footsteps.



I am not saying that children are the only inhabitants of this problem but adults are as well. They follow the news aimlessly, hearing the nonsense that is false accusations. Because the opinion is from a woman in a dress reading complex words off of a poster, people seem to think that she may know what she is supposedly clarifying. They do not see the fake propositions behind the words but instead what is being stated. I know that society has been blinded and I see it day to day. I am glad to be able to think for myself and be mature enough to guide myself. I wish that others would too. Then again, this is all just an opinion from a 11th grader writing for a blog. So I want to ask, does my opinion give you enough clarification to follow my footsteps, or are you going to give yourself an explanation?

The "GREAT" Gatsby

As many different themes arise from the outstanding novel, The Great Gatsby, they all work collectively to pick apart James Gatz. Themes of class, love, wealth, and memories all play a prominent role in doing so. They show how Gatsby is not as great as we may think.

In an excerpt of the text it says, “Did you see any trouble on the road?” he asked after a minute. “Yes.” He hesitated. “Was he killed?” “Yes.” “I thought so; I told Daisy I thought so. It’s better that the shocks should all come at once. She stood it pretty well.” He spoke as if Daisy’s reaction was the only thing that mattered. “Who was the woman?” he inquired. “Her name was Wilson. Her husband owns the garage. How the devil did it happen?” “Well, I tried to swing the wheel --” He broke off, and suddenly I guess at the truth. “Was Daisy driving?” “Yes,” he said after a moment, “but of course I’ll say I was” (Fitzgerald 143).

This passage was striking to me as it opened my eyes to the character of Gatsby. Gatsby takes the blame for the love of his life. Because he cannot see anything past Daisy he does not care about the consequences that may affect him. When Gatsby takes the blame for the death, he is not penalized because of his class. He still lives luxuriously due to his wealth; he is still doing everything out of love for Daisy, while trying to repeat the past. This page made me think differently about Gatsby since it is narrated through Nick. I respect how he would do anything for the girl he loves. He stayed loving Daisy and only her for a boundless period of time. He stayed loyal to the girl he did not have, which was the only problem. He needed to understand that in this situation he could not be with her since the time had shifted. He came to his senses when Gatsby saw Daisy’s child. He then knew that he could not be with her and he was Jay momentarily. Him going out of his way to pursue a woman who is married through many different ways just shows that he is deranged. But love is a power that can overcome the toughest of men, the strongest of hate, and the coldest of hearts. Throwing extravagant parties to show off the wealth he acquired did not seem to change Daisy and her willingness to go back. She was at the point of no return.



Daisy herself was in a relationship that was not perfect. Much adultery was involved for a temporary sensation. Everything was a temporary sensation during that time. The use of speed for pleasure. The use of money for pleasure. The use of sex for pleasure. In the end the pleasure is gone. It is a moment in time that can not be reversed. It is a memory that may be held in your mind but never grasped in your hand. The only difference is Gatsby is so delusional about replaying time, he does not understand he can never go back. Daisy drove off and never came back. If the love was real Daisy would come back or at least care. Pick the petals off of the flower and you will realize what the real beauty of a Daisy is. It is worthless. After taking away the beauty what is left? Daisy is the character that seems like the villain in my point of view. She took the most important part of a person and never gave it back: the heart. Gatsby is lost and without his heart he is worthless. I do not know if I should respect, hate, or feel sorrow for Gatsby. He is not great and he is not James. He is gone to the point of no return. In the end Gatsby is just a memory stuck in time.

THANKFUL

Thanksgiving is a national holiday that is very ironic. The pilgrims came to America thankful for the food that the Native Americans gave them. Then after the union the pilgrims took over their land and killed them. Is that not ironic? That the people who “created” this country did not create it but stole it. Anyways the point of Thanksgiving is to be THANKFUL. I feel as if I take everything for granted. I only think about myself. This weekend gave me a chance to start thinking about others. It gave me a reason for spending my time on other people. For realizing all the things in my life that I have which are a blessing. It made me think of what I AM thankful for.

I am thankful for parents who care for my well being, and who are also always supportive of everything I pursue. I am thankful for friends who are always there for me no matter what I do. I am thankful for the roof that is over my head. I am thankful for the education I have received. I am thankful for the opportunities that have been . I am thankful for god and everything he has given me. I am thankful for the most comfortable bed put in my life. I am thankful for the clothes in my closet and grateful for being able to afford them. I am thankful for music. I am thankful for the internet because without it Ms. Val could not stalk my twitter. I am thankful for Krispy Kreme, Chick-fil-a, and Five Guys. I am thankful for sports. I am thankful for Detroit. I am thankful for role models who give me inspirations. I am thankful for people who hate on everything I do because it pushes me to do more. I am thankful for a mind of my own which I can use to be the best that I can be. And lastly, I am thankful for you. All I can say is...

Waiting On The World To Change

The 1920’s. A time for change, innovation, and modernization. One of the most influential times for the United States economy. A time when many Americans faced their fears to get a new start. Wealth increased and the mindset of Americans around the country changed for the better, all displayed in the book, The Great Gatsby.

Not only was the 1920’s a prominent time for USA's economy but it changed the mentality of the people of the United States. We were striving for more, changing our thoughts, and becoming independent. We were the definition of an American. The people who never backed down from a fight, the ones who looked for the unfamiliar, the ones who strove for the best, the ones who had courage. People moving into the cities were going into a different path, irregular from the rest of the world. As the 1920’s changed our views and inner thoughts, it did so for many people creating a new generation. People who took stand. People like Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. led blacks and used his speech to push through the normalities of humans, just as Americans had pushed through the unknown during the 1920’s. As Martin Luther King Jr. led the fight against the Jim Crow laws many obstacles appeared in his path. At the lowest points in his lifetime, King advanced with the goal of change in his eyes. Many others sparked for change including Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Malcolm X. All of these people were key to my claim for change. They all had a different message they wanted to be made, they were all icons whom people respected, and they all had a different vision they were pursuing.

Who do we have now? Many will say President Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and others. I just want to see Americans who push for change. Americans, who for a fact, are striving for MORE. We have made changes with our technology but what other advances have occurred since Steve jobs had passed away? A new phone with a larger screen? A better camera? No AUX Cord? I would like to envision a leader who may not only be a person changing technology. A leader who may not only be our president. A leader who speaks a voice for the people of the United States. I want to see another person striving for change and placing fears aside like AMERICANS had done so during the 1920’s … even if that person has to be me.

The Trouble With Trump

Trump is the new President of the United States, but how united are we as a nation today? Racism is at every corner, and hatred is piercing through they eyes of people. This new spark of America has made it very difficult to love all mankind in this country.

Throughout the past few days the values Trump embraces have erupted across the nation, leaving many people to wonder if they are safe, living in the country that ironically preaches justice and equality for all. After looking for progression in the United States we have reverted back to our old ways. The impacts of Trumps Presidency has made an appearance all around America. You see children beaten for being colored, people forced to take off their headpiece because they are Muslim, and people of color being told to go back to their “country”.

I have witnessed racism, first handedly, the Wednesday after Trump's election at Panera while studying with friends. Another peer, whom I thought would never think this way, came and sat with my friends and I. As our group began to talk, we dove into the conversation of politics. I was shocked to find out that this student was a hardcore Trump supporter. Openly explaining how he agreed with all of Trumps policies,  I asked, “Why would you want Trump to build a wall?”, and he stated, “To stop illegal immigrants”, which was the usual answer. Shortly after we began to conversate about the problems around the country with racism. He did not believe that police brutality was real. Instead he said, “Obviously those people had to do something against the law in order for police to take action.” I felt as if he overlooked all the videos on social media when police would take action when police would harass random citizen. I proceeded to take the conversations about fightings at Trump rallies and he stated, “They (African Americans) were a nuisance and deserved to be be kicked out of the rallies.” He even claimed they were “negroids” instead of saying black or African American. It came down to the end of the conversation about politics when he said something that shocked me. He said, “If you think about it black people are a joke.” “During the medieval times the jester was the person to entertain the king, that’s what black people are in this country.” “They are only here for our entertainment, whether it is in sports, television, or comedy.” “They have no other purpose.” “Think about it you do not see black people anywhere else except for entertainment.” When he said this my interpretation of this student changed completely.

I could not believe that a person could treat a group of people so horribly. Especially knowing his role in the school. I know for certain that if people heard him speak this way they would not want someone this racist as a person to look up to. How is he supposed to be a role model if he treats a group of people this way.  

Many people are discriminated day to day and a very small portion of it is displayed through the novel the bluest eye. A white male does not even want to touch her based off of her skin color. It states, “She holds the money towards him. He hesitates, not wanting to touch her hand” (Morrison 49). Just a glimpse of how a group of people are treated because of their color.

This interaction changed my way of presenting myself and accepting people. We are not the same in our beliefs but we are as people. God never created one person better than another and that is what we have to realize. Everyone has a group of people we discriminate against and we need to overcome the prejudice we face. There are beautiful people in this world no matter their color. We need to treat all of humanity well but get the same respect in return. As Malcolm X states, “I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don't believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn't want brotherhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I'm not going to waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn't know how to return the treatment.

Since the spark of Trumps Presidency we as a nation have to stand up for the unheard. Do not let these actions go unnoticed and we need to fight in order to get the United States UNITED again.

Do People Really Breed Love?

Children, women, and men are oppressed one way or another. The occurrence of verbal, physical, or sexual abuse has changed the way people live. People do not realize how destructive and scary the world is until something negative comes in the way. How are you supposed to appreciate the good in life when you have never seen the bad? It is not the best of both worlds but rather to live in both worlds. The saying you will not realize what you have until it is gone ties hand and hand with the aphorism until you experience a moment only then will you know the feeling.

The word feel has a positive and negative connotation, it just depends on how you feel about it. You feel what you can relate to. What may be close to you or far from you. People feel differently each day. It is even harder for the people who do not relate but feel by imagination (placing themselves in another persons place). It is until you plant your roots into the ground and connect yourself to the rest of world, will you be able to grasp and endure the problems society faces. Understanding these problems gives you a different insight into the world, another dimension many do not intend to reach. No one really thinks about how others feel.

A quote from The Bluest Eye states, “A little examination and much less melancholy would have proved to us that our seeds were not the only ones that did not sprout; nobody’s did” (Morrison 5). Everyone has their own seeds that do not sprout. Their dreams that were not achieved. Their prayers that were not answered. It is our hope for a better life that is broken when we attempt to plant the seeds, the seeds that do not grow.

We wish for things that may never happen. Like blue eyes, to make ourselves feel better about our appearance. It may be appealing looking at another person but the same features may not suit you. People always want to change who they are. They want to follow someone else, look like someone else, and be like someone else. They want to change themselves but what they do not understand is that they are admirable the way they are made.

There is no need for blue eyes when the brown eyes suit you well. There is no need for a smaller nose because someone else has it. There is no need for different features because someone else may have them. Once people realize they are amazing the way they were created they will blossom like the seed that never did. They will feel better about themselves changing the negativity to positivity. What they may wish for will change. They will want a better version of themselves instead of being like someone else. Instead of hatred and negative aspects of life, people will start to breed love. When people see that physical aspects of a person are not as important as they may seem the world will be a better place. When we all feel for others and the problems that people face is when we can breed love.

Pink Elephants

Throughout the life of a person there has always been a pink elephant in the room of their mind that has never been addressed. This is one’s insecurities. Everyone faces them and they hold people back in society. The expression of one's self is shackled to the ground when they let their insecurities rule them, but why? Where did this concept originate from? Who said the problems you have determine what others think of you? The rhetoric questions are not created just to make you think. It is to make you realize that this problem may be created from societies depictions of perfection.

The illustration of the perfect human makes you ponder about your own self; similarly, a real life barbie is not the perfect woman. Emily Prager states, “There are millions of women who are subliminally sure that a thirty-nine-inch bust and a twenty-three-inch waist are the epitome of lovability” (Our Barbies, Ourselves). Not only does this applies to all people as well. In the minds of men and women, societies representation of the perfect person has to be one way. This is not true. There is more to that of a person than their physical features. Physical features and appearance is what makes people stress from day to day. The way a person feels about him/her self impacts their lives. The negative aspects of this create insecurities. In today’s society, people who are successful usually hold themselves at larger heights, breaking down their insecurities. Many comedians poke fun at their own insecurities: Kevin Hart telling jokes about his height, Fluffy Iglesias joking about his weight, and Larry David joking about being Jewish. By making your insecurities a laughing matter they are kicked aside, thus having you feel better about yourself. Although it is not as easy as it may sound, insecurities are breakable. They are just a fly trying to get through your screen door.

Once upon a time there was a man named Lebron James. Lebron was a star athlete and everything in his world was going great… until his hairline started retreating. The dreadful, embarrassing, hide in your closet memes started to appear all around social media. Lebron could not hide from the shame as his insecurities piled on his chest like a landfill. Fast forward a few years of intense miracles, and a few championships. Here he stands, refurbished. The old Lebron was back on his feet. Jesus was astonished and so was social media. Now Lebron could go back to being the GOAT. The end.

Unlike Lebron, many people in the world do not have the money to make these miracles come true. Their height can not be changed, their genetics can not be modified, and there is only so much plastic surgery that can be done. The battle of insecurities for people is a common problem that can be pushed aside. It is not about what others think of you but what you think of yourself. In the end of the day, you control the outcome of how you feel and how you respond to life's challenges. So... send that pink elephant back to the zoo and overcome other problems that affect you.

The Making of Mankind

Humanity itself was constructed by society. What people think, do, and believe was all based off of ideas created by others around them. What position does a person need to hold to make themselves better than others? Should the logos of a person really give us a reason to use them as a model? Or is it the words that are communicated that makes society plead to new ideals or morals?

It is almost as if there is a key to unlock the minds of the human race. A key in which the United States has seized and is using to change our way of thinking. They open our mind and brainwash our thoughts. The stereotypes molded from television and the internet has altered our outlook on the world forever. At every corner it is Donald Trump pushing his way into politics, the Kardashians videotaping every moment of their lives, or the news broadcasting another  incident with ‘terrorists’. It is ironic by the way we view these people when we think of specific topics. What is our perception of a terrorist? Is it a brown male with a beard and a garment? For most people that is the first thing that comes to mind. Why do we not think of a white male who shoots up school as a terrorist?

This is because of the media's perception of these terms. It is because of the social constructs of society. We see each person through a different lens. The ways people look at things is different. “Education is not bad or good, it is how you look at it” (Valentino). A person can be doing something and it could be considered bad or good to another. Since the government has taken control of so many minds, the viewpoints of what is good and bad has changed for many Americans. The only way to win is if we get the key back. We must unlock our minds and see what is really being displayed in the world.

Behind The Bars

The bars that hold the world behind. The borders that restrict us from thinking outside the box. The panels that separate us from the rest. The Holocaust was a terrifying time for Jews, and words simply cannot describe the horrors it created. The ability to live freely was incinerated before their very eyes as Hitler gained power over the Jews, power gained through fear and hate. They were separated and pulled apart as though they were pieces of a puzzle that did not fit into the picture of humanity. The horrors of the Holocaust demonstrated hell on Earth, a horror words still cannot describe.

Books about the Holocaust explain the terrors it created, but they do not give an accurate representation of the actual tragedy. People cannot understand the horrors and  thus cannot paint the picture in their head. The words tell a story but the true horrors, the horrors that only the Jews understood, can never be truly captured by mere words. The holocaust was dreadful indeed but it would be literally impossible to understand the trauma those in concentration camps faced without physically being in their shoes.  America was in shock when it saw the Twin Towers fall to the ground but now it does the same to other countries. I am not saying the destruction of the Twin Towers was not a problem (WHICH IT WAS) but I am explaining that America's government is executing disgusting actions like these. These things would be unexplainable in the eyes of American citizens if it happened HERE. Since people can SEE how it is to have something so horrific happen why would they inflict the same pain on others? If a white man was treated like a slave they would stand up for any black man. If a German was treated like a Jew they would never want anything so terrible to happen to a specific race again. A real life moment a person faces gives them an idea of how something may be. When you see something with your own eyes it is easier to understand. So how would words be used to show an accurate representation of the Holocaust without using pictures to add to the story? They wouldn't. The difficulty to explain a picture of how the ashes of hundreds of people are lying on the ground in complete detail is nearly impossible.

Throughout the Novel, Maus by Art Spiegelman, the borders and panels of each picture in the comic symbolize entrapment. The entrapment of the Jews and how they were treated like animals. As time goes on the experiences worsen while the borders get thicker. Death is at every corner as the Jews pray for this nightmare to end. The pictures give a real life connection as if we (the readers) were there experiencing the Holocaust ourselves. The Jews were locked up, separated, and killed. They were trapped. They were victimized.  

On page 74 of Maus it shows the family eating but the picture is shown from the viewpoint looking through the window. Just as one would look through a jail cell. This clearly foreshadows the Jews’ impending entrapment. The angle used is as if a person were spying on the family just like as a camera would spy on a person in a jail cell.

When one tragedy ends another begins. When slavery ended the holocaust started. There have always been people that are hated for some indistinct reason. People have been caged for unfair accusations and to this day it still stands. How is it that a country that is “FREE” has the largest incarceration rate in the world? Not only are we being hypocritical as a country but the past is slowly coming around; history tends to repeat itself. The chains on slaves have changed to the bars that hold innocent people in cells. The aphorism “what goes around comes around” comes to life. Just as memories haunt people, history haunts the world. Pictures only help express these problems.

Filled with lies and deception America's government is slowly reverting back to its old ways. Just as the Jews were held in concentration camps, the FREE people of America are held in large prisons. The bars that hold people back are being built day in and day out.

As demonstrated, America spends obscene amounts of money to place their own people in jail cells. A person can understand how it feels to be behind bars since it is displayed in movies and pictures, since it is visually represented in their head. Some of the greatest people were held behind bars. Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Tupac Shakur to name a few. For what reason? It is almost as if the government is fed up seeing people live their lives. Just as Hitler was fed up seeing Jews walk on the streets. Not only is our society worsening and being held behind bars like the Jews but our leaders are not leading us the way they should. They are so concerned with the military and prisons they do not see what needs to be changed. The country is based on the people but it does not seem that way anymore. We are all confined in some way or another.

Society today is restricted not only physically but also mentally. Just like the Jews, and just like slaves. We are all held back. What we are told everyday is a cover up. The news depicts things the way they want it to be seen. The question is when will all the lies be exposed? When will we open our eyes? When will we as a society change its way of thinking? When will we break the bars that hold us back and truly be free?

The Only Guarantee In This World Is Death

As life continues throughout its normal pattern, humans experience situations that affect their attitude and mood.  A person’s willingness to push forward may break down more and more until they can not handle the life they live.  This, in many cases, is because of the dreadful illness that can cause physical limitations called depression. Depression is a mental illness that affects how you feel, act, and think in an extremely negative and self-harming way. 

The matter is depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the world and it can come to anyone unexpectedly. People who may have the perfect life can suffer from depression. Every person has their own battle and it come with a fight they must be willing to take. As David Foster Wallace explains how people have their own way of thinking in his speech, “It is our default-setting, hard-wired into our boards at birth” (This Is Water). David describes how people have a type of self-centeredness that makes things that only matter to them important. Many people around the world are becoming familiar with the troubles of depression. The reason is because the people around them may be suffering because of it. It takes a different mentality of thinking and an open-mindedness  to truly feel for others.

I myself have never understood the severity of depression and the outcomes that come along with it until I began to become more familiar with the illness. I have friends that suffer from depression and that are fighting  it every day.  This year a fellow student at Troy High had passed away after fighting depression. It takes a strong person to overcome these daily setbacks of depression and many people cannot handle it. David Foster Wallace had committed suicide after dealing with depression on September 12th, 2008. He is one of the many who had dealt with depression. Other celebrities that have suffered are J.K. Rowling, Terry Bradshaw, Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Abraham Lincoln, Angelina Jolie, Demi Lovato, Anne Hathaway, Sir Isaac Newton, Mark Twain, Halle Berry, Rosie O’Donnell, Kurt Cobain, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Kid Cudi. These people endured the same pain as others that was caused by depression.

KID CUDI

Although depression is very serious, it is taken as a joke. Many individuals poke fun at the idea of people not being strong enough to handle this illness. I myself had been a part of this until I realized how hard it would be to have this problem. Often people forget that it is an illness and they often think others are acting this way for attention.  It is until someone commits suicide that catches the attention a person’s eyes start to open. It is until a loved one is seriously hurt because of this illness. It is until you are the person who suddenly feels a different way because of depression. The joke is not as funny as it seems to be. Death is a deep, dangerous road many have been following. Imagining waking up every day thinking taking your life would be better than living the one you have right now.

Jermaine's Interlude
The famous rapper J. Cole said” Oh, I had so many days of crying. Oh, I had so many days of pain. Have you ever been as sad as I am? Lord, I ask if anything would change? I can see the future that we’re heading. I would say it’s better not to tell. If it’s anything like this in Heaven. Maybe I’d be better off in hell” (Jermaine’s Interlude).

Imagine being a successful rapper and explaining to your fans that you have depression. Some people may show support because there is a larger fan base but place yourself in a “regular” person’s shoes and tie the laces tight. Try standing in front of so-called “friends” who are just a piece of the broken glass in your life and mumbling out the words that barely fall from your tongue explaining how you feel every day. How hard it is to wake up from bed?  How you can only trust them with this and then they turn their back and make fun of you?  With all the love, you have for them and how they took all your warmth during the cold days. How they threw you to the side to rot away and walk off like nothing happen. Then you may understand a part of how it feels. The knife was rigid and every cut to the heart made you feel as if it was easier to end your life instead of bearing with the pain. That is how it must feel for a person who has depression.

You never realize how serious something is until you open your eyes and open your mind. This is exactly what David Foster Wallace expressed in his piece. An open mind is a virtue many people should have. Depression is not easy to understand. Having a life is a beautiful thing but overcoming all the complications it brings is another challenge that comes along. Suicide is just one horror of depression and death if often the way people flee from the pain. The joke is not a laughing matter and death is nothing to mock fun at because it is the only thing that is guaranteed for every person in this world.

Life

Life. Existence. Presence. It is what each person receives and what each person lets go. However, what is the true meaning of life? What are you (as a person) even here for? For me, life is not about going to school each day, taking notes, and learning things that will never benefit me. It is not about sitting and doing what others tell you. It is not about working the 9-5. This is how many people live their life, but again what is life?  In my opinion, life is a blessing. It is given to you and it is your job to use it the way you want. If you are not doing what you want, then why are you wasting your time?  How are you going to live your life?

Interpretation of life is different for each person. The perspective each person has on life is different. What each person wants is different. Their views are different. Although views may be alike, they are unique to you (as a person). The ways people live their lives are based on what they think is best and what they want. How are you going to live your life?

1.  Pleasure: Do what makes you happy in the moment instead of pushing for the future, which is unknown. 
2. Morals:  Do what you think is best. Follow your ideals of right and wrong. Live your life by your own morals and standards.
3. Survival: Do what you need to do to survive. Life is not easy so you need to be strong. Stand your ground and do what you need to do to last.
4. Peace: Do what you need to do to make your life peaceful. Build tranquility and understand the world and how it works. Doing this will only make your experience more joyful.
5.  Time: Do what you want. Time is money so do not waste it. You only have one life to live so live it to the best of your ability.

These are not the only ways people can guide themselves on how to live.  As David Muso roughly said, “I’m gonna die anyways so I’m chillin. That’s why I don’t always care if I get a bad grade”. In my opinion, life is all about what you think and what you want. If you want a car there are multiple ways of getting it, you just need to find the way that suits you. Voice your opinion, do what you wish, but there are always consequences for your actions. “The world is shaped by two things- stories told and memories they leave behind” (Vera Nazarian). Lessons learned mold you for the future but they are always important to look back upon. Every person has something in their life that made them who they are right now. Never give up on what you believe. Determination along with hard work are keys in life that will take you where you strive to go. Not living the way you prefer can turn to be a waste. 

There will always be someone who has more, or who is better, you just need to appreciate what you have. As J. Cole expresses in his song Love Yourz, 

"Always gon' be a bigger house somewhere, but feel me

Long as the people in that love you dearly

Always gon' be a whip that's better than the one you got

Always gon' be some clothes that's fresher than the ones you rock

Always gon' be a that's badder out there on the tours

But you ain't never gon' be happy till you love yours "

Life is not going to be the same for each person because of the situations and experiences they have dealt with. It is their thinking and wishes that get them to where they are. A person may work harder to achieve what he/she desires. They might work harder than you but in life that is the way it is. Love what you have. Your life is special to you so be appreciative to what you have.

Tupac Shakur said, “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive. Never surrender”.  What dies inside are your dreams. Never give up and you will be content with the outcome. Are you going to follow your own morals? Are you going to live your life to the fullest? Again, life is different for each person and it has much friction that comes along with it. It is a journey that you must be willing to take. A blessing that you must be grateful for. An experience that only comes once. So I ask again, how are YOU going to live YOUR life? 

The Truth About Love

Love, the elusive magical feeling that we all strive hard to achieve. The world revolves around love and we live for it. To have it is one of the greatest treasures in life and many wars have been fought for LOVE. As a teenager in high school, I see the word love being used more commonly day to day, but I do not know if people understand what love actually is.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary love is, “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person” or “attraction that includes sexual desire: the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship”. As all types of people, (especially teens) use the word love I can only imagine what love they feel. Breakups and cheating has become common in this century although it has been around for quite some time. 

In the passage, Because My Father Always Said He Was The Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play “The Star-Spangled Banner” At Woodstock a line about modern love arose which had me thinking. The line stated, “Hank Williams and Jimi Hendrix don’t have much in common,” I said. “Hell, yes, they do. They knew all about broken hearts,” my father said. “You sound like a bad movie.” “Yeah, well, that’s how it is. You kids today don’t know shit about romance” (Alexie 30). This stood out to me and made me think that we (as a group of individuals living in the 21st Century) may not know much about romance. Maybe this is why our so-called “love” has not been working out. 

Nowadays people cannot handle being locked down because they are always looking for options. They do not realize that it takes dedication, and that love does hurt. It is the person you care about being there for you when you need them the most. It is understanding, compassion, and acceptance. Love is when someone cares for you so much that they stay up all night for you to get home. Love is not an easy journey. People do not feel this type of love because of technology. The digital era created people to seek instant satisfaction and that is not what love is about. You, yourself, have to realize what you are looking for and not throw around the word because it is more than just a word. It is a feeling. If you are seeking for love go out, grab it, and harvest it for the rest of your days to come. Do not push it aside and treat it as nothing because soon it will be nothing. Now think deep and take your time to realize if what you are seeking is love.  

I was in my feelings when I wrote this. 

I Spoke My Voice

As I was trying to find a clever topic for my first blog and I came across the topic of discrimination. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews caught my attention since the discrimination of Jews started the fire and hatred which lead to the Holocaust . Not only was discrimination shown to the Jews but to all types of people at many different time periods throughout humanity.

The topic of discrimination is often looked over since it happens frequently. Yes you see it on social media, yes you see it on the news, but has it ever appeared in your life? If so, then you would understand why it is such a big problem in our day to day society and Trump is not helping. In the Declaration of Sentiments it states, “He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice” (Stanton). As it shows in the Declaration of Sentiments, women are being mistreated and discriminated. They want to have their own rights and so does every other person in the world. Everyone is equal no matter what shoes they wear, whether they have money or not, and regardless of their pigmentation.

People do not realize after years of discrimination problems are going to arise. People who get upset at the fact that others are going to speak their voice should not get mad since they most likely haven’t experienced discrimination. Yes, the actions of others do affect how a group as a whole is presented. It does not mean that if someone did something wrong you are at fault with them. If ISIS is going around killing people and you are Muslim that doesn’t mean that you are killing people. If the Bloods and Crips are wreaking havoc around cities and you are African American that does not have anything to do with you. People are limited on previous profiling and perceptions rather than their personalities and how they are as a person. We all read The Adventures of  Huckleberry Finn and that is a great example of how discrimination and racism is not true. Who knows the problems people face that influence their actions and make them do what they do. You do not know what’s going on in the mind of a policeman trying to tell whether or not a person is dangerous. Although I do not agree to what the police are necessarily doing, I do not know what is going on in their minds. I haven't stepped into their shoes.

In the book, The Things They Carried, a soldier placed himself into the shoes of the enemy after killing him. The soldier did not know anything about the young man but he could dig deep enough to feel what the other man may have felt. That is what we as a group of people have to realize. If we do not understand what is going on with people and how they feel there is absolutely no reason to discriminate. Do not hate on a football player for speaking his voice against what is wrong.  Colin Kaepernick explains why he did not stand during the National Anthem in an interview, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder" (Kaepernick). As you can see he is taking a stand and showing his voice. He has enough money to stay to himself and not say a word about any discrimination… but does he? NO. Did Martin Luther King Jr. not speak his voice? NO. Did Rosa Parks not speak her voice? NO.  Did Muhammad Ali not speak his voice? NO. They all took a stand and none of them quit. We need more people to take a stand and help stop all the discrimination and problems in the world. The only way we can find peace is together. If there is hate how are we going to move further?

(LOOK AT THE LETTERS IN BOLD)