12 Things About December

In the last month, I have:

-Said I love you
-Broken someone's heart
-Visited three states
-Laughed until I cried
-Feared for my life
-Shopped until my feet hurt
-Wanted to kill someone
-Talked to drunk people.
-Watched fireworks
-Teased someone mercilessly
-Gotten an unexpected present
-Lied to someone

The Spirit of Halloween

I remember a time when I was young and I went trick-or-treating with my parents. I was walking down the dark streets when I met this man. He had on ragged clothing, and it seemed to me that he didn't have a home. What was this destitute man giving for Halloween? Not candy, but money. He obviously hadn't shaved for weeks and needed every penny he had. But yet he chose to give this Halloween. And it was this small gesture on that night that touched my heart. I hadn't noticed at the time that the gesture was special, I hadn't even remembered it for the following several years. But today, one day after Halloween, I remembered his simple act. To give without anticipating something in return. It may sound simple, but it's hard to have such a pure heart.

I know people who give on Christmas just to receive a present in return. I know people who give presents weeks early so that the receiver will have enough time to buy a present to reciprocate. I know how hard it is to just give to bring joy to people.

That man I saw on Halloween left me with more than just two dimes and a penny that day. He made me realize the spirit of not just Halloween but America as well. And to this day, every gift I give, I make sure that I'll give just to give.

Feeling a Little Blue?

You're not alone. Reach out to someone. Help someone. Go jogging. Strive to be that one happy face in a sea of blue.

Make a difference.

The Price Of Education

Name a place in the United States and people will probably tell you that there are numerous cases of the H1N1 virus. The H1N1 pandemic has prompted schools nationwide to be shut down. Except for ours. Because to us, the price of education is worth more than health. But of course, we already knew this from the three hours of sleep we get every day to study for our Physics Test tomorrow. But sleep, you make up on the weekend. Recovering from the H1N1, not so much.

What incentive do we have to stay away from school? Certainly not to keep other people virus free while students nowadays are getting bombarded with missed assignments the next day. There's a test tomorrow! I could be nauseous, dying, unable to breathe, and yet I'd drag myself to take that test. Why? Because if not, we get the harder version of test the next day.

For many of us driven students, we don't think it's such a big deal to be sick. Or at least to attend school until we take our test. But in a public high school with over 2500 students, 1 person with a disease leads to 30 in less than an hour, and each of those 30 students leads to another 30. On average with 7 periods a day, how many students is that in one day? You do the math.

Needless to say, nobody wants to make up an additional two or so weeks at the start of summer. What are we to do then? Stand at the crossroads between life and education?

I Scream for Ice Cream

The liquid drips down as the girl struggles to contain it in her mouth. Just the look of the soft pink delicacy was enough to make me salivate. Behind her winded a long line, to the corner of the sidewalk. I turned to watch her walk. Her concentration was not on where she was heading, but on the jewel in her hands. The bright sun shone down on her, causing shrinkage of her prized possession. Her teeth mashed into the already melted substance. I could see the flurry of pink in her mouth, turning in circles like a washing machine. The girl chewed as if she had all the time in the world. She desired to enjoy every single bite she could. When she swallowed, the contractions of her pharynx were very distinct. When at last she was done, she took the remaining drops and poured it down her throat like a dehydrated man who had not seen water in days. Then she broke into a wide and satisfied grin. Her happiness in that moment resided in such a simple thing.

9/8/08

Could be Worse, Could be Raining

Actually I love the rain. The way that everything looks just that much better after it rains, the glistening water drops sliding down the petals of a beautiful flower, the rainbow that you won't be able to find anywhere else, how could anyone dislike rain?

Of course, I know of many people who don't like rain. The cold gloomy gray day does sometimes get me down. But after it rains, that's what I live for. And I could sit outside my house and admire the beauty of our planet forever.

20 Favorites

1. Color- Lilac
2. Dessert- Chocolate Cake with Ice Cream
3. Smell-Rainy Day
4. Flower-Rose
5. Animal-Monkey
6. Month-August
7. Beverage-Peach Ice Tea
8. Saying-"Take Care"
9. Snack-Cheese and Crackers
10. Song-The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson
11. Number-7
12. Fruit-Watermelon
13. Vegetable-Eggplant
14. Piece of clothing-Sweater
15. Day of the Week-Friday
16. Season-Autumn
17. Ice Cream Flavor-Mint Chocolate Chip
18. Thing to collect-Seashells and Memories
19. Time-6 A.M.
20. Coffee-Iced and Sweet

25 Things About Me

1. I started volleyball because I like the pain I got from hitting the floor.

2. I absolutely love ketchup, almost on anything.

3. I spend time pondering questions most people would never think twice about.

4. I'm a sucker for roses.

5. I strongly believe in equal rights for homosexuals.

6. I fell in love to music in sixth grade while listening to Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney.

7. I'm very nosocomephobic, sometimes chronophobia, but never geliophobic

8. I like the color purple.

9. I'm uncannily polite to people I don't know.

10. If you deserve it, I'll be fiercely loyal to you.

11. If I disagree with you, I'll most likely tell you, and then continue to voice my opinion regardless of what you say.

12. I want to meet more people.

13. I don't really believe in myself.

14. I absolutely love how the day looks after it rains.

15. I'm also scared of spiders, or anything with more than 4 legs or less than two (except fish, some are okay).

16. I want to learn latin.

17. I don't get a lot of sleep because I can not properly allocate time for homework.

18. I'll give you sympathy, but I won't give you pity.

19. I'm currently pondering why humans need acceptance.

20. I'm a bit emo deep down, errr, deep, deep, deep down.

21. I am an avid reader.

22. I want to attend a wedding.

23. I tend to put off things I don't like, thus causing further pain when I actually get around to it.

24. I can't believe it took me half an hour to think of twenty five things to write.

25. I think reading things about me must be boring.

Perseid Meteor Shower

As the night gets darker, many more meteors illuminate the sky. Flashes of light against dark, a stunning display of astronomical beauty. What I would give to watch the meteor shower on the roof of a house with blankets, with friends, with lovers. But instead, I lie on my bed, my mother unwilling to leave the comforts of her house, and my father unwilling to leave his computer. I can imagine what it would be like, to be a family, but the image is shattered and I know the best I can do is smile and pretend. So I cry and I weep for all the love lost, but at the end of the day I'm me in my life and that's all I'll ever be. I can't change the past, but I can make the future. And I promise myself that I'll love and love deeply because I know how much it hurts to be alone.

The Top 10 Things I Take for Granted

In no particular order:

1. The ability to walk.
2. Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste, Hear.
3. To have food on the table.
4. At the end of the day, to be able to have a nice warm home.
5. Loving friends, loving family.
6. Education.
7. Clean Drinking Water.
8. Clothes.
9. Cars.
10. Medicine.

Nightmares Haunt Me

I don't remember much about my nightmare except that I was dying. Maybe this is foreshadowing my [near future] life. Me and my friends just checked out of this shady motel we were staying in for a vacation in the middle of nowhere. What I remember about this is that there was sand lots ot it, small grainy white sand like on the beaches in the Carribean. There was no ocean, or water in that case, just lots of white sand and a couple of trees. Medium height green trees on the side of the road. The road was paved with cement, though realistically should've just been dirt and gravel. After we checked out of the motel, which conveniently was located right across the street from a shabby hospital ( since in dreams scenes tend to dissolve and change) we got into our car with our four or so suitcases. At this time I mysteriously appeared in the hospital and was diagnosed with a disease that would kill me in a couple hours. Apparently I had inhaled some fire, not ash, not smoke, but actual fire with flames, and it was now pooling in my stomach and attempting to burn me. Then we drive five minutes into this circle and my friends run away from me because I was dying. Actually my friend and her family that came out of nowhere drove her away. No doubt that'd happen in real life too. And then I was actually in the process of dying because I felt my stomach starting to erupt from fire, and then I woke up. What a nice cheerful dream to start off my day. The hospital was one room with a stout asian doctor with a dirty white coat that obviously new nothing of his trade. Maybe this is why I've always been scared of hospitals. What a weird thing to be scared of. I just know the rest of my week is going to be superb!

Chocolate

Just got back from my vacation. Think beaches, warm weather, crystal blue waters, and people waiting on you day and night.

Naturally, I just had to post this [10 min quick write]:

It taunts me. Begs me to take a bite. Wills me to ruin its perfect layer. Milk chocolate in just the right shade of brown. Not too dark, not too light. Like a well crafted Prismacolor colored pencil. The clock ticks, each second becoming more and more unbearable. I settle for touching it. It is smooth. So much like a baby's skin. A savory cube with two small bumps on the top, like a camel's hump. I bring myself closer. What's inside the velvety layer? I dare myself to find out; I want it so badly, the need for chocolate overwhelming all other senses. I finally comply. Crunch. Oh, what on Earth can compare with this feeling? The chocolate melts in my mouth immediately, paving the way for a softer chocolate inside. My mind wanders to a time where I ate s'mores around a campfire. And that smell. Excruciatingly intoxicating. The choclate is so much like a drug, the savory aroma of milk and sugar that seeps into my senses, leaving a tingly feeling behind. The taste, so much like a sense of heaven, with a nostalgic feeling. On the inside, a light coffee color, as soft as a pillow, but firm and strong. I thank thee, Athos, Pathos, and Aramis.



My favorite candy bar for a while, chocolate in chocolate. None of that creamy caramel that gets stuck in my tooth. Plain good old chocolate.

The only thing I can't resist is temptation.

Switzerland

After learning so much about Switzerland from our immigration unit at school, I can sincerely say that I would love to take a trip there. An excerpt from a speech on immigration follows, with just the introduction and the conclusion.

Simply delicious

Switzerland, the land of holey cheese, chocolate, banking systems, Roger Federer, and Swiss Army Knives. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with neat farms and small villages, and thriving cities that blend the old and the new, Switzerland is the nexus of the diverse physical and cultural geography of Western Europe, renowned for both its natural beauty and its way of life. Aspects of both have become bywords for the country, whose very name conjures images of the glacier-carved Alps beloved of writers, artists, photographers, and outdoor sports enthusiasts from around the world.

Beauty at its finest

For many outsiders, Switzerland also evokes a prosperous if rather staid and unexciting society, an image that is now dated. Most Swiss live in towns and cities, not in the idyllic rural landscapes that captivated the world through Johanna Spyri's Heidi, the country's best-known literary work.There are four main languages in Switzerland due to the different buffer countries around and that the UN and Red Cross situate their headquarters in Geneva: German, French, English, and Italian. These languages mark the various zones of the country and, thus, highlight different aspects of life.

And,

We can see that the American society tends to not open its doors to immigrants due to the very aspects of life immigrants have to deal with. For one, the society seems to not accept change and a new look, often not truly taking into heart that “Change has come.” If the American society had open doors to the winds of change, maybe we could go forward and mature ourselves with every immigrant that steps out of the airport or the boat and take in Lady Liberty’s inscription in Ellis Island

Diversity

Many people view immigrants as harmful to our society because they take jobs and overcrowd our country. However, I think that they [legal immigrants] are beneficial to our country because of the diversity they bring. Illegal immigrants are a whole new topic altogether. For now, let us embrace our country, for its diversity, for its culture, and most of all for its ability to make people feel welcome. After all, we're living the American Dream.

"No matter what other nations may say about the United States, immigration is still the sincerest form of flattery."
-Clayton Cramer

Tradition & Modernity

In turning in my photography final, I learned I lesson I was not prepared to learn. My photograph is a sepia toned image of a grove of trees. Nowadays, many people turn to technology as it renders all other older methods obsolete. From looking at the endless rows of trees, I wonder about farmers in the old days.

Hard work and labor. Why suffer, when there are obviously easier ways of accomplishing something. But it's not just the convenience, more the method. The process of understanding what you're accomplishing and how you're going to get there.

So many people no longer appreciate the joy of pure hard work. That tingly feeling you get from doing an honest days work that doesn't compare to anything else. Farmers especially, are known to make up the bottom of our social class. But without them would we have anything? Not food, obviously. But more than that, we all had to start somewhere. And that's usually at the bottom. It's when you move up from the bottom that truly matters, because face it, it's no easy task.

A couple weeks ago, I, in order to complete some volunteer hours took on a task of picking fruit from trees to feed the underprivileged. From 9 to 12, I labored under the hot sun, climbing ladders and picking grapefruit. But when I was done, I can honestly say that I hadn't felt as good in a long time. Not just for completing my hours either. To know that I put in a honest days work.

This brings me back to my photograph. For our final, we had a choice, print in the darkroom or develop your image digitally. Most people were drawn to the latter, but I differed. I wanted to work in the darkroom. Although digital prints seem to draw people in more due to their sharp focus and crisp colors, I opted to spend every single day remaking prints. And in the end, I got my final done and I'm happy and all is good. And my picture is a tribute to those farmers, with all my undying gratitude and all my faith that they did contribute to this society.

Jen

Shot some photographs for my friend using studio lights. I definitely couldn't resist her flapper dress. Turned out pretty well, I guess. I think this picture captures her personality quite nicely. Upon first impression, we may think that she's just another high school student on drugs, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. And for the record, it's a fake cigarette.

It's Not Black or White

In a world that's not black or white, what's wrong and what's right? Where do we draw the line? Do the ends truly justify the means? Is it acceptable to kill to save? Does that sound ironic to anyone else?

Deontology or Utilitarianism?

To give an example, would it be morally permissible to torture a person to get information that could save 10 lives? 100 lives? 1000 lives? Most people would hesitate as the number of people saved increases. However, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (More Information Here), torture is never acceptable, no matter what circumstances. Do we leave 1000 people to die in order to save 1?

Let us have weapons! Let us kill! After all, it's for the greater good.

I personally believe that the ends do not justify the means. The means are every bit as important as the ends. We cannot, and must not, as a society, allow ourselves to believe that only the ending counts. We will not pardon crimes simply because they act in favor of the greater good.

To spark some minds, think about this:

“The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.”

-Leon Trotsky

As always, leave your thoughts.

Cultivating Tolerance: Homosexuality

In a world so prone to change, it's no wonder that we all want to be different. At the same time, you can't be too different--no, that would mean you're abnormal, and thus a "freak". Our society, though more accepting as we evolve, tends to be quite narrow-minded at times. We frequently see discrimination, yet we ignore it in hopes that it will work itself out. During times like this, when we stay silent, we are allowing this to continue. We, by choosing not to act, reveal our innate desires and feelings.

Of course, I'm not talking about everyone here. Sure, there will be people who are indifferent; not everyone who chooses to stay silent means that they're really conceding. Maybe, there's just not enough time in the day to deal with equality.

Homosexuality. A word we've all heard of, be it from the news or from friends. We don't like to consider taboo subjects simply because it's different. We don't want to be put in the spotlight, we want to stay in the gray zone, where we don't stand out. To seek acceptance is our goal, yet at the same time we ourselves are not accepting.

Imagine. You wake up one morning but you are not allowed to go to school. Maybe not that. But you can not visit your sick friend at the hospital or your paycheck is less than the employee who works below you. Or, after serving tirelessly in the military, you do no receive the benefits. That is a nightmare more than 6 million in America deal with every day. It's true that discrimination still goes strong in today's world. Homosexuals and bisexuals are constantly persecuted in several environments, be it in the medical sector or in the armed forces. And hardly any protection is provided. Thirty-two states in the United States provide no protection for this persecution. That is a large number, considering the size of the states that do give some haven.

Our country was founded on equality. The fact that we are all born human, and that we are ensured equality means that there should not be any discrimination. What is difference? Maybe you are wearing red, and I am wearing blue. We are marked by what we do, but at the end of the day we all need sleep. We all are humans who function the same way. So then what gives people the right to laugh at other people and call them wrong? Just because you are sexually oriented a different way, whose to say how you can or can not live your life?

America is known for its freedom. People have traveled to these United States of America over time to find freedom and opportunity that is lost in other places. The Declaration of Independence lists life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights of man. How can we take away from people who are not harming others? We do not discriminate between a man and a woman like today. We should not discriminate based on whether you are homosexual or straight. When we reflect on what we have done, can we still truly call ourselves Americans? People who rise every day knowing they have the freedom of expression, thought, and assembly. This destroys the definition of America. This injustice must end. We, as humans, do not have a right to harm others. Homosexual people are not "weird" or "creepy". They are people, just like us, that want to live their lives with acceptance and love. A woman or a man may just be trying to buy milk on a typical Sunday. They are jeered at because in their other hand is a person of the same sex. We can not even allow a fellow being to buy milk anymore. Some people can not even set foot into a store.

Homosexuals are a helpful part of our society today. Statistics report that 60 percent of homosexuals are college graduates, compared to a relative 18 percent nation wide. Forty-nine percent of gays and lesbians work in professional and management jobs, compared to 16 percent nation wide. Looking at these statistics, these are a decent fraction of the people who will lead our future. However, gays earn 11 to 27 percent less than straight men, while lesbians earn 6 to 14 percent less than straight women. Why does this ceiling in earnings continue to exist? We already oppose the glass ceiling on woman's earnings compared to men, so this case should not be any different.

Some of the policies in this nation that are damaging to homosexuals include the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy enforced by the U.S. military. Essentially this does not allow homosexuals to come out of the closet as compared to their counterpart heterosexual soldiers. "It's hard enough being gay in an already intolerant world. Recently, Army recruiter Sgt. Marcia Ramode, with the Brownsville Recruiting Station in Brooklyn, N.Y., contacted and tried to sign up a man by the name of Corey Andrew Powell. He asked if the Army would accept him despite the fact that he is gay. Ramode allegedly responded via her military e-mail address that he could not join because "being gay is disgusting and immoral" and added "you must be a total idiot and so stupid to presume that you do not know what gender you are" and that he "should leave the United States.""(Marine Corps Times, Fort Worth).

Why can't the United States actually be proactive and allow all to join, despite sexual orientation? We have fought many wars all against intolerance, thus serving as a beacon for other nations to emulate. Yet we house that same ego in our armed forces, amongst men and women who have committed themselves for their nation? Britain, Israel, and Canada allow open arms to all, despite orientation, and still have strong armed forces. Are not all people created equal?

Analyzing the injustices that exist today, companies and public services should not discriminate based on personal beliefs and orientations. That ego is just as bad as restricting a Jew or a Muslim for entering a mall because the Jew wears a skull cap and the Muslim wears a hijab. That is the absolute restriction of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And it is on this note that, as Susan B. Anthony says, we propose to fight our battle-all peaceably, but nevertheless persistently through to complete triumph, when all United States citizens shall be recognized as equals before the law.

GAY STRAIGHT BLACK OR WHITE, MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT!

A speech recently given at a high school. It extracts the meaning of what we see, though we may be unaware.

And the beautiful quote that started it all:

"Why is it, that as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns, than holding hands?" - Ernest Gaines

To sum it up, I do believe in this cause, that nobody, nobody, should be discriminated against because of difference.

I am straight but I am not narrow.