Working with Partners

It sure is awkward meeting someone new.  Not if you want to, though!  I mean, I'm all for meeting new people.  It can just become awkward if you have nothing to talk about with this new person.  Thankfully, school sort of forces you to talk.  I'll express this in terms of a play.  Why?  Because I feel like it.

SCHOOL

        (impatiently)

Come on, come on!  Talk to this person!

DREW sits in the computer chair uneasily.  He fidgets slightly as the chair SQUEAKS beneath him.

DREW

        (cautiously)

Do I have to?  I don't even know what to talk about...

SCHOOL menacingly slaps DREW, as the the SNAP of skin upon intangible nothingness is heard throughout the class.

SCHOOL

          (ferociously)

You fool!  Just introduce yourself and write about virtues!

DREW

        (sobbing)

Yes, Mr. School, sir.

END SCENE

Now, wasn't that just beautiful?  It was better than Shakespeare.  I'm sure with that incredible, soon-to-be-Oscar-nominated scene, you can see how it works.  Though the school (in this case, a thinly-veiled abusive Mr. Langley) has us write to these strangers, they gently push us into it.  What makes it all the easier is the fact that there is no actual physical or verbal contact between any of us.  Sure, it's the coward's way of going about it, but that's why it works.  You can't just take some students over to Farmington, introduce them to their new partners and say, "All right, well you three mingle.  Oh, and go on out for a cup of coffee and discuss about our latest topic whenever you can!  Ciao!"  It just doesn't work that way.  This is what allows students to sort of easily move into such a big change.

What is more interesting is the fact that the internet and technology seems to have disconnected humans from each other, but in some way also brought them into one point.  They can converse easily and passively, yet change the setting to a simple get-together at the park, and many will only be standing awkwardly, trying their best to not associate with anyone in fear of the awkward introductions.  There's two odd opposite poles to the value of the internet.  There are connections being made, but are there really connections being made?  Phone was considered too impersonal at the time of its conception, and some could say it still is.  With text messaging being a prominent thing in society now, where has the development of communication gone?  Sure, you're "talking" to a person, but you're doing this through kilobytes of data and numbers, not through interpersonal, verbal contact.  That's what's scary about the rise of technology; the overall dependence upon it.

But I digress.  I really digress.  Partnering us up is a great way to get us to meet and collaborate with new people, but not in an awkward, I-don't-want-to-do-this kind of way.

Religion and its Intricacies

I'm atheist.  That's what I'm going to start this post off with, since I feel it obviously has relevance to this subject.  Its relevance, however, comes into play when I talk of my feelings towards religion.  I could go on for hours about how I hate certain aspects of religion and how it's detrimental to society, but this is a school blog, and because of such I should hold back on such offensive comments.  I will, however, give a bit of a watered-down reaction to this touchy subject.

For convenient purposes, I'll refer to the biggest religion out there, Christianity, to convey my personal thoughts and opinions on religion.  Yes, this is generalizing, but it has the most prominence here in America, considering the sheer amount of Christian believers.  What I feel is the worst part of religion is the sheer ignorance and hatred that it can spawn.  Now, I say "can" because it's fairly obvious that religion doesn't cause every single person who believes in it to become an ignorant, blind believer.  I know, however, that it does cater to those afraid.  When Christianity was conceived, it was in a time of pessimism.  There was no almighty heaven for those who lived a good life to retreat to, there was only an underworld where every person would go.  Christianity, at the time, provided a way for those afraid to cope with death to, well, cope with death.  Who wouldn't want to believe that, since they're a good person, they'll live in paradise for all eternity afterwards?

Curiously, this is what scared me when I was younger.  Yes, I was living in paradise, but for all eternity?  Eternity is a long time.  It's endless, in case you didn't know.  I'm not sure if you're like me, but I'd love to just stop existing one day.  "Okay, I've had my fill, please just let me actually die."  Does this sound pessimistic?  Maybe.  But it is a clear picture into my mind: I don't need a religion to solidify my fear of death.  We're all afraid of death, anyone who denies it is lying.  When it comes down to it, we will accept it, but never not be afraid.  We, as humans, are afraid of many things that are unknown, and so we create these gods and deities that make us feel a little bit better about existing.  Why be afraid if we convincingly trick ourselves into believing that it'll be okay in the end?  There's a loving, omnipotent being that will be there for us in the end.  Whether or not the Christian God is truly as loving and caring as many would have us believe is clearly up for debate, but many live under the falsehood that he truly is benevolent.

There are those that argue that the Bible is completely true and factual, while others merely state that they take a metaphorical approach towards their theological beliefs.  I choose not to take it in any way.  The Bible was never a good read for me, and I never once got what I wanted out of religion.  Atheism is the only logical way of living, for me.

And I'm completely okay with that.

Blame: When All Else Fails, Point Fingers

Oh, how truly easy it is to blame everyone else for something that you are trying to weasel your way out of--to expect everything to be okay if you can just grin and snicker your way through it.  Blame is a double-edged sword, though.  You lash out at one, but their parry could only harm you.  So why, then, does one blame?  Is the guilt not enough to stave their attempts?  It is human nature that causes it.

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, blame takes on a key factor in the play.  If not for blame, none of the events would have transpired at all.  Abigail's malicious intent is what causes the death of many innocents--all because of the base human emotions of fear and anger.  Her complete hatred towards John Proctor's wife is what caused her to lie and blame.  From The Crucible, it is made obvious that humans (in the end) are only out to save themselves, rather than another.  Whether or not the other will be harmed does not matter; their name will already be thrown into the mud without regard for what could transpire.

I haven't blamed someone else for something in what feels like a very long time.  Maybe I have and I don't remember, but it feels like it's been years.  Not since I was a child.  Going back to my true colors personality, maybe it was the guilt that I felt--the emotion.  I'm not sure.  I know I've blamed others for my problems, though, when I could have just sucked it up and tried to fix them on my own.  I'm sure many people have done this, though.  We have weak moments where the only way we could ever feel better is from putting the blame on others.  Not directly to their, face, though.  Only in our minds, to make ourselves feel better.

Maybe that's just me, though.  Who knows.  Regardless of that, it matters that blame only be placed on those that truly have done something to deserve such.

I'm Blue, but Not Depressed!

Corny pun aside, I am indeed the color blue, as my True Colors personality states.  To elaborate, blue is apparently the color of a whiny, emotional person that can't control their feelings for more than two seconds.  I guess that's the morbid way of looking at it, but even so, I'm apparently it.  Does this color define me, though?  I feel like it does.  I've found myself in situations where, if I were any other color, things would've turned out differently.

In truth, Mr. Langley was right in saying how blues basically forgive and forget.  This applies strongly to me--I don't forget, though.  I forgive, yes, but I hold whatever action that the person I'm forgiving has done against them until I can finally forget.  Is this a bad quality?  I guess so, but there's nothing much I can do about it.  I never confront anyone about it, and I'm always as polite as possible if I can be, so I guess there's no harm, no foul.

My second color that I would be is apparently an orange.  To be honest, I guess that's the best way of describing me.  I'm emotional, and I try to be outgoing and fun.  I'm a child at heart, I guess, but a mature one, apparently.

I guess I'm cutting this blog short.  I don't have very much to talk about, to be honest.  I've never liked talking about myself, anyways.  It feels awkward.

Categorization and Descriptions: Let's Make Some Friends!

It's very disgusting how judgmental people really are--he's too fat, or she's too tall, or he has a stupid voice, it's all the same: People judge, and there's not much more to it.  But from person to person, it varies.  Some have higher standards, while others just don't care.  What's most important is asking the question: Why do people do it?  What's the point of judging, categorizing, and describing people?  Where do we place them in society?  Where are they in our brains?

The truth is, they're not in our brains.  They're not anywhere but in the real world.  The perception of reality is what creates judgments.  One man could easily state that the sky is green and the grass is blue, and while others would easily refute it, there is no denying that this is truth to the man.  Cold, hard, irrefutable truth.  And so the same philosophy applies to categorizing and describing.  There are those religious radicals that will harshly categorize anyone who belongs outside their religion into their "bastard heathen" folder, but there are also some who will adopt a live-and-let-live policy.  To expect every single person to be the same is pure balderdash!

What is important is how you, yourself, categorize and describe people.  And how would I describe my styles of categorization and descriptions?  It's hard to say.  I would like to say I respect and treat everyone equally, but that's just not the truth.  No one could ever truthfully say that.  But do I try my best?  Of course I do.  I have weak moments, though.  We all do.  For me, though, there are some distinct groups:

• Religious, racial, and political tolerance and/or preference
  
• Favorite anythings (hobbies, books, movies, etc.)
• Other stuff
  

There's more, but those are the basics of it.  Are people going to be tolerant of my beliefs in terms of race, religion, and politics?  If not, then why bother with them?  Will their taste in anything get me so annoyed and angry that I won't want to be around them at all?  If so, they'll be kept in their own little corner.

Every day, we judge and categorize and describe who we see.  It's not malicious, it's just human reaction.

To Lose Everything

Imagine this: You're walking along a sidewalk as you begin to feel slightly "off".  You stop dead in your tracks, thinking to yourself that something is wrong.  Frantically, you pat the sides of your pants, realizing the undeniable truth: You lost your cell phone.  You quickly go over all the facts in your head: Where did I last have it?  Where could it be?  Did someone steal it?  After you search constantly for hours on end, you finally come to the conclusion that you'll never find it.  You've been beaten.  One day later, after much angry moping, you come across your phone.  Your heart skips a beat, and the butterflies in your stomach almost lift you off the ground.  Happily, you're reunited with what you desperately missed.

Now, let's take a different approach.  What was it like in that one day you dealt with having no phone?  Grueling to some, a slight inconvenience to others; but you found it, and that's all that matters.  But imagine what it would be like if you didn't find it.  Some would see this in a positive light.  "Hey, at least I can get a new phone--a better one!"  The sad truth is, though, most will just be heartbroken: "This sucks.  I'll have to pay for a new phone, get a new number, add all my contacts, and I'll never get my pictures back!"  The ending is the same for both, though: No matter what, you can get a new phone.

But what happens if you lost more than your phone?  What if you lost everything?  I mean everything.  No, not just your precious little iPod or your laptop, I mean everything: Your house, your family, your money, everything.  You'd be forced into the streets, cursed to scour and scavenge for what you could.  And even more, you'd be completely alone.  No one would be there for you; all would look upon you with contempt in their eyes, thinking you're nothing but a bum that gets drunk and high with the money you get.  The physical and emotional ramifications of such a disastrous mishap would be unimaginable.

From the beginning, it hits you like a train, and the descent into anguish and despair would be almost unbearable.  The horror is perhaps indescribable.  A terrain of hate and depression surrounds you as you drift further into an abyss of unquenchable disaster.  Could anyone truly survive this?  Sure, someone could be able to climb back up to where they were--and perhaps even further into fortune!  But could anyone ever mend the wounds that were inflicted upon them?  I feel they would be a psychological phenomenon if they could.  Humans can only endure so much before they just simply cannot take it anymore.  Who knows how many would take their own lives, and how many would just be driven mad from their ordeal?  It's a frightening prospect, and not one many can look upon with unconcerned eyes.  You'll find yourself averting your gaze and being glad to live in a world of ignorant bliss.  After all, if you don't think about it, it won't happen!

Right?

I Just Like Posting About Movies, Evidently...

My favorite opening for a movie, ever...  A shot of earth, as the view progresses to the moon and sun.  Perfect progression from C, to G, to an octave higher C.  The transition from the dawn of man, to the progression, and finally to the future.

One of the best movies ever made...

The Importance of Documented Rules

There are some out there who defy rules; some who rebel against them with an anarchistic cause.  Some find a sanctuary in this idea.  For practical (and noble) purposes, rules are very necessary.  Order and law is something that allows each and every country in the world to thrive.  Those with lax policies and unenforced rules are ones that typically fail.  Now I'm not all high and mighty for rules.  Authority can be wrong a lot of times, and it can be abused.  The system can be easily flawed, as well.  But, in all, rules are completely necessary as a way of allowing a society to survive.

The rules under my radar today are the rules of the Iroquois League, a joining of many different clans that inhabited central North America.  Before their integration, many wars took place between all the tribes.  Each one had a different set of rules and guidelines from the other one, and so chaos was almost impossible to avoid.  When enough was enough, the tribes met and decreed that they would join together in an effort to create peace between them all.  In this, a complete document of rules was established.  The Iroquois Constitution envelops many principles of the importance of documented rules.  If not for the Iroquois Constitution, havoc and chaos would have still ensued within the tribes of Central North America.

Not only this, but the overall principles of the Iroquois Constitution are completely revolutionary.  Never before was a combination of rival tribes so fluid and easy.  Though they often fought over trivial details between their beliefs and rules, they were able to integrate into a band of tribes that would live off of the peace of them as a whole.  They invited outsiders with open arms, only asking any one that should wish to join to obey their rules and respect what peace they had created.  The American Constitution took ideas from this constitution as well (along with philosophies by John Locke and the Roman council).  Come to think of it, we're not too original when it comes to our core foundations and beliefs in our own constitution.  Regardless, this only furthers the extent of the constitution's relevance, and the reason by which documented rules are to be looked up to and revered.