Busy busy week it's been since I last posted. First week of winter semester and the stress has already begun. to be totally honest though, I sort of enjoy it. I really don't like feeling stagnant and I think it's really important to keep learning all your life. The moment you think you know everything is, I think, the moment when you close your mind to any growth or self-realization. I love learning about anything and everything I can because I love knowing things... if that makes sense. Anyway, enough of that rant.
I'm taking some very interesting classes this semester as electives. Literature of the Americas, which is basically a standard lit course but we're dealing with the different perspectives of the colonization of the "New World", namely, the Europeans (brave new world AND political and social power), the Africans (Captivity and slavery) and the indigenous people to whom this world was not new at all. I'm also taking an Anthropology 101 course which is also really interesting. I suppose these two classes have really made e think about the way people treat each other. The way people can somehow just put blinders on a situation and only see that which will provide the must material gain. I think the idea of entitlement probably sprouts from this ability. I hate that mentality. That people are born better than others or that they have the right to act in any way they see fit. ugh, anyway, if you let me, I could go on about this for days.
I think, for me, the important message to get out of studies like these is not to stand by and watch injustice happen. I say that if you see or hear about anything you disagree with speak out, even on some little tiny level. Don't just stand by and watch it happen. It all boils down to the idea of treating others as you wish to be treated doesn't it? If you don't speak out because it isn't happening to you isn't it quite possible that you will be alone when you are being persecuted? I read something about a week ago, that I'm sure you might have heard before but I thought it was really inspiring so I'm posting it now.
"First They Came" by Martin Niemöller.
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me."
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Musings for a new year.
A brand new decade.
It's really hard to realize just how much human beings change in the years from 10 to 20. I can't really look back on the past decade and say that I've done anything amazing or life-changing and yet, here is a completely different person typing and working. I can't really berate myself about the past decade, I was, after all, a child, but looking back on those years just makes me more excited about all the time I have left, all the things I have left to do, all the things I can influence in the years to come. Sometimes I think it's really exciting to be young and full of ideas.
I'm really digressing here but this all leads to my objectives for the new decade, the first decade where I'm really capable of making any kind of difference.
This blog will be filled with those ideas, any thought provoking or inspirational things I come across, whether that be a song, an organization, a poem, a piece of art.. I dunno, it could be anything.
I think i will start though with my ideas for the new year.
idea #1: Recycling---> I know this idea has been pounded on our heads so much that many of us are just tired of it but I truly do believe that even just this small change makes a difference... by reusing things and recycling things, we can reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution, reduce water pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the list goes on and on and on. It's really so simple. I've noticed recently, living without my parents, being in school at the same time tends to make me really lazy when it comes to this kind of stuff. and it's so stupid of me when really, all I have to is stick recyclable things in the box that I put next to my garbage can. So that is one definite important change.
idea #2: Using Local resources ---> As much as possible (and I realize it often isn't possible) going to local farmers markets, or simply farms and getting food from them is #1: cheaper in the long run (maybe not so much in the short... run (?)) #2: Better for the local economy and therefore your quality of life #3: Really quite a lot better for your health (fresh = less factory time and preservatives) Also, a side note, buying things that are free trade, even though they do cost more is really... well it's obvious why that's better, isn't it.
idea #3: Buy used, Save the difference ---> I'm not ashamed to admit that I got this idea while watching the TLC show 18 kids and counting, and it really makes sense. It ties into the whole reuse, recycle idea. Just because someone else has used it before you really does not mean that it is no longer useful. On the contrary, a lot of people tend to get rid of perfectly usable stuff for one reason or another. There are a lot of really nice thrift shops whose proceeds go to charity, or if you need to ease yourself into the idea, there are also some pretty posh used clothing stores out there. Vintage is great; stylish and economical. thumbs up! IT also will save you from ever ever being in debt (barring drastic and unavoidable circumstances, of course) because by following this basic idea you will never "exceed your income" as Mr. Bennett says.
so.. just some random ramblings from me... this seems to be a very environmentally friendly post... nothing wrong with that.
alons-y alonso (if you don't get the reference, just never mind)
It's really hard to realize just how much human beings change in the years from 10 to 20. I can't really look back on the past decade and say that I've done anything amazing or life-changing and yet, here is a completely different person typing and working. I can't really berate myself about the past decade, I was, after all, a child, but looking back on those years just makes me more excited about all the time I have left, all the things I have left to do, all the things I can influence in the years to come. Sometimes I think it's really exciting to be young and full of ideas.
I'm really digressing here but this all leads to my objectives for the new decade, the first decade where I'm really capable of making any kind of difference.
This blog will be filled with those ideas, any thought provoking or inspirational things I come across, whether that be a song, an organization, a poem, a piece of art.. I dunno, it could be anything.
I think i will start though with my ideas for the new year.
idea #1: Recycling---> I know this idea has been pounded on our heads so much that many of us are just tired of it but I truly do believe that even just this small change makes a difference... by reusing things and recycling things, we can reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution, reduce water pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the list goes on and on and on. It's really so simple. I've noticed recently, living without my parents, being in school at the same time tends to make me really lazy when it comes to this kind of stuff. and it's so stupid of me when really, all I have to is stick recyclable things in the box that I put next to my garbage can. So that is one definite important change.
idea #2: Using Local resources ---> As much as possible (and I realize it often isn't possible) going to local farmers markets, or simply farms and getting food from them is #1: cheaper in the long run (maybe not so much in the short... run (?)) #2: Better for the local economy and therefore your quality of life #3: Really quite a lot better for your health (fresh = less factory time and preservatives) Also, a side note, buying things that are free trade, even though they do cost more is really... well it's obvious why that's better, isn't it.
idea #3: Buy used, Save the difference ---> I'm not ashamed to admit that I got this idea while watching the TLC show 18 kids and counting, and it really makes sense. It ties into the whole reuse, recycle idea. Just because someone else has used it before you really does not mean that it is no longer useful. On the contrary, a lot of people tend to get rid of perfectly usable stuff for one reason or another. There are a lot of really nice thrift shops whose proceeds go to charity, or if you need to ease yourself into the idea, there are also some pretty posh used clothing stores out there. Vintage is great; stylish and economical. thumbs up! IT also will save you from ever ever being in debt (barring drastic and unavoidable circumstances, of course) because by following this basic idea you will never "exceed your income" as Mr. Bennett says.
so.. just some random ramblings from me... this seems to be a very environmentally friendly post... nothing wrong with that.
alons-y alonso (if you don't get the reference, just never mind)
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