September 25, 2016. This was the first game that we were able to play with full contact. We were all ready to strapped up and go head to head with our opponent. During our stretch we seemed really flat according to our coach, and he yelled at us saying that we better pick it up or else it would be bad. That is exactly what we did. We came out and scored on the third play that we had the ball. It was a pass from Jack Maley to me. I broke free from three tackles and speeded around the last defender into the back of the end zone for about a thirty yard touchdown. When we were on defense we stopped them on four plays and got the ball back, scoring again a few plays later but this time it was a run play. Ran into the end zone by Charlie Russo. We kept stopping them on defense, we were controlling the game and the last play before halftime, our coach decided to throw deep since we were fifty yards away from the end zone. We were running my favorite play because this was the play that I always get the ball on. Once the play started, I took off, beating the defender deep. I looked back and saw the ball. It was a little over thrown so I sped up and stuck out a hand, catching it one handed and then running into the end zone with no time left on the clock. At halftime we were winning 20-0.
Starting the second half, we put in other players that weren't the starters. They scored on us and then we got the ball back. We made it 27-0 after our quarterback ran it into the end zone by himself. For the rest of the two halfs, it was an even game with no scores after ours. Then during an attempt to make a field goal for three points, the other team blocked it and ran it back to the end zone. Scoring another touchdown. After they tried to go for two and failed, the game ended and we won 27-11.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
College decisions and social media
Think before you post.
This phrase, born in the age of the Internet, has become a modern proverb, used commonly to discourage amoral activity online. However, in recent years, it has carried a more significant meaning to college applicants.
According to a study published by Time magazine, 40 percent of college admissions officers make use of websites like Twitter and Instagram to learn more about academic candidates. In many cases, universities use these internet networks to judge an applicant’s potential. These social evaluations are justified, as all posts made online are public, however online networks are generally unreliable sources of data on a student’s character.
Social media sites, though becoming increasingly impactful, do not properly display the values of a college applicant- instead, they are means of frivolity in which users compete for social eminence. Success on these networks is measured in followers, views, and retweets, in which those who are popular gain a greater following. “The essence of social media,” an anonymous Internet user writes, “is knowing your audiences and engaging them in something they love.” In this way, what students post do not necessarily reflect what they value: it reflects their means of gaining popularity.
Ultimately, academic worth cannot be determined by the number of “likes” an applicant receives on Facebook, nor how many followers they have on Twitter. Popularity is not a proper indicator of a candidate’s values, and social successes do not specify intelligence. These sites are called “social” networks for a reason- they are correlated more with communal values than ethical and intellectual pursuits.
To read more on social media and college decisions: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kat-cohen/the-truth-about-social-media-admissions_b_3325839.html
This phrase, born in the age of the Internet, has become a modern proverb, used commonly to discourage amoral activity online. However, in recent years, it has carried a more significant meaning to college applicants.
According to a study published by Time magazine, 40 percent of college admissions officers make use of websites like Twitter and Instagram to learn more about academic candidates. In many cases, universities use these internet networks to judge an applicant’s potential. These social evaluations are justified, as all posts made online are public, however online networks are generally unreliable sources of data on a student’s character.
Social media sites, though becoming increasingly impactful, do not properly display the values of a college applicant- instead, they are means of frivolity in which users compete for social eminence. Success on these networks is measured in followers, views, and retweets, in which those who are popular gain a greater following. “The essence of social media,” an anonymous Internet user writes, “is knowing your audiences and engaging them in something they love.” In this way, what students post do not necessarily reflect what they value: it reflects their means of gaining popularity.
Ultimately, academic worth cannot be determined by the number of “likes” an applicant receives on Facebook, nor how many followers they have on Twitter. Popularity is not a proper indicator of a candidate’s values, and social successes do not specify intelligence. These sites are called “social” networks for a reason- they are correlated more with communal values than ethical and intellectual pursuits.
To read more on social media and college decisions: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kat-cohen/the-truth-about-social-media-admissions_b_3325839.html
Life Is A System
Guess what? Life is absurd.
Society, I believe, is layered with systems that determine wealth, beauty, survival, and fear, just to name a few. Human society is actually not that complicated, because each of its beliefs stays constant regardless of time. Each generation merely adds more perspective -- or so they say -- to existing systems, while society is rigged throughout.
It's kind of like the consistency of emotions. For instance, death was considered "sad" in the past, and it is even now. Moreover, the first thing that pops up into our minds when we say paradise is a happy, painless place. But... why? Who on earth created this system of emotions? Who liked emotions to places, people, and ideas?
The world is so polarized; everything has to do with whether you believe in a system or not. Think about it for a moment. Are we actually "free" people entitled to our so-called "opinions," or are our lives being controlled by man-made systems? Is my voice and yours actually being oppressed because we can only state opinions based on those systems?
Well, then life is a system itself. Consider The Matrix. Maybe there is no real "freedom," but it's just an idea -- you know, just a little something that life wants us to believe in. I'm also controlled by these systems, because I can't think of a purely new idea anymore. Neither can any of you. My ideas only sprout from existing systems, because maybe nature is a system too. We don't know what's beyond this system.
Oh, how absurd life is, giving us questions we'll never be able to answer until we die.
Wait, is death another system too?
I'll never know, because life is too absurd to understand!
But this leaves us some questions. If life is absurd, why on earth am I taking time to write this blog post? Why am I still here?
Poetry's Effect on Lives
The first poem I ever recited in public was Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” when I was in the sixth grade. Although I read the poem out loud every night for a week before the recitation--memorizing it even--I never fully understood what it meant. For me, poems were simply difficult SSAT reading passages. But few nights ago, when I accidentally stumbled across Frost’s poem while browsing through @TwaltWhitman tweets, something weird happened. The words actually spoke to me. I began to understand the importance of poetry and the various roles it plays in our lives.
Poetry has the power to manipulate the human mind. It can inspire confidence, numb pain, and even kill. According to the vlogbrothers’ video “The Road Less Travelled By,” Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” killed the Englishman Edward Thomas, who, by mistaking Frost’s advice, joined the British army at an old age and was shot in World War I. Centuries later, the same poem inspired a man named John to create a video that challenged the conventional interpretations of the poem, allowing him to conclude that being adventurous can sometimes be dangerous. Nothing in Frost’s poem changed since it was first published, yet it influenced Edward and John in such a different way. Words carry so many meanings, and so they invoke different feelings for every individual. For example, the line “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—I took the one less travelled by—and that has made all the difference.” on itself carry so many different meanings that it gives the reader the freedom to wonder what Frost meant by “less travelled by,” or why he wrote the poem.
Poetry has the power to manipulate the human mind. It can inspire confidence, numb pain, and even kill. According to the vlogbrothers’ video “The Road Less Travelled By,” Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” killed the Englishman Edward Thomas, who, by mistaking Frost’s advice, joined the British army at an old age and was shot in World War I. Centuries later, the same poem inspired a man named John to create a video that challenged the conventional interpretations of the poem, allowing him to conclude that being adventurous can sometimes be dangerous. Nothing in Frost’s poem changed since it was first published, yet it influenced Edward and John in such a different way. Words carry so many meanings, and so they invoke different feelings for every individual. For example, the line “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I—I took the one less travelled by—and that has made all the difference.” on itself carry so many different meanings that it gives the reader the freedom to wonder what Frost meant by “less travelled by,” or why he wrote the poem.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snQvRZ2vDHE
Link to poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/resources/learning/core-poems/detail/44272
Marshmallow Love
MARSHMALLOW LOVE
Marshmallows are the food equivalent of love. They are sweet, soft, and way better than actual people. Each marshmallow achieves more in its short life than many people do in their entire lives. This is because marshmallows are perfect. Every marshmallow is different, and yet still perfect. People should aspire to be marshmallows.
Marshmallows can cure anything. Okay, maybe it’s more accurate to say that marshmallows can cure almost anything. Unfortunately they are useless for most physical ailments, and if you suffer from diabetes then definitely do NOT attempt this medicinal method. But they can and occasionally do work wonders for other life problems. Basically, marshmallows can cure some things. But marshmallows still, despite all the things they do not cure (previously listed), are amazing. They bring a unique joy that can only be achieved by a lot of sugar in a very small space. And this unique joy can be successfully paired with anything else in the world (chocolate, microwave, ...chicken?). But know that there is also no shame in eating them plain. And in eating them, plain (or with chicken), you potentially can be cured from… something.
Marshmallows also come in multiple sizes. The mini ones are tiny drops of strangely spongy love. They are beautiful and amazing, and their small size is perfect if you wish to inadvertently eat way too many, with no regrets of course. There is also the regular sized marshmallow whose only purpose is to make s’mores with. The real deal though, the ones that are necessary to the existence of love, are the jumbo marshmallows. They are the reason the world goes round. Sure, their only benefit is being bigger than the others, but that’s all they need to be great. Imagine eating more sugar packed into more space, and then imagine eating less sugar packed into less space. More sugar wins. Every. Time.
With this new knowledge of love, go find marshmallows--hopefully in a previously sealed package--and eat them.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Ineffective vs Effective Gun Control
If the point of gun control is to reduce gun violence and crime rates, than politicians are targeting gun control in an ineffective manner. The majority of gun laws are emotional laws, or they are targeting a specific aspects of a gun, which has no effect on crime rates.
Take the AK-47 for example. It is synonymous to the bad guy. When people think of the gun, most people think of terrorists and our enemies. Therefore people only view it as a bad weapon, not the tool that it is. When the AK is banned, it doesn't make sense because there are other rifles that have very similar characteristics that are not being banned simply because they don't have the same name and look as the AK. Another issue are the countless attachments or variations of weapons that are banned, which has little to no effect besides making the lives of the law abiding citizen that much harder. Look towards the 1994 Assault RIfles Ban. The results were inconclusive. It did not significantly reduce crime, nor did it increase crime. Essentially they created a law that did nothing, and only annoyed law abiding citizens. Lastly, when too many restricting gun laws are in place, a rise in gun violence may occur like what happened in Chicago. When Chicago banned all handguns, the percent of murders with handguns increased nearly 40%. (justfacts.com) The point of the law was to decrease handgun murders, but more murders were being committed by handguns. Clearly the law was not effective. Currently the majority of the laws that are being proposed are just more nuances, that do nothing except make people feel good that they are combating gun violence.
There is only one good argument that is being talked about right now and that is banning the selling of weapons to people on the no fly list, but even that has flaws. Some people are arbitrarily put on the no fly list. To make the law fair, citizens must have a way to appeal being on the no fly list, that way they do not have their rights stripped without due process. Another possible law would be to enforce mental health screenings every five years or so, until they age out in their elder years. Most people would pass easily and they can continue on living their lives owning guns. But it would still prevent the mentally unstable people from obtaining weapons legally. The second possible law that should be brought up, that has already been proven to work here in the United States, is Project Exile. Project Exile was a program developed to significantly decrease the amount of gun violence by making the penalties for illegal gun ownership and use much stricter in Virginia, 1997. It gave people a minimum of five years in prison when caught with an illegal firearm. It was possibly the most effective gun law ever written. It dropped firearm related murders by almost 40%.(policechiefmagazine.org) No gun ban or feature restriction has ever come that close to being that effective. It only applies to criminals, not the law abiding citizen, and criminals are the reason we need gun control. However, this law was terminated because certain politicians deemed it discriminatory towards minorities. It targets people who break the law, not people of color. If all three potential laws were to be put into place, it would have tremendous success in reducing gun violence, which is the ultimate goal of gun control.
Take the AK-47 for example. It is synonymous to the bad guy. When people think of the gun, most people think of terrorists and our enemies. Therefore people only view it as a bad weapon, not the tool that it is. When the AK is banned, it doesn't make sense because there are other rifles that have very similar characteristics that are not being banned simply because they don't have the same name and look as the AK. Another issue are the countless attachments or variations of weapons that are banned, which has little to no effect besides making the lives of the law abiding citizen that much harder. Look towards the 1994 Assault RIfles Ban. The results were inconclusive. It did not significantly reduce crime, nor did it increase crime. Essentially they created a law that did nothing, and only annoyed law abiding citizens. Lastly, when too many restricting gun laws are in place, a rise in gun violence may occur like what happened in Chicago. When Chicago banned all handguns, the percent of murders with handguns increased nearly 40%. (justfacts.com) The point of the law was to decrease handgun murders, but more murders were being committed by handguns. Clearly the law was not effective. Currently the majority of the laws that are being proposed are just more nuances, that do nothing except make people feel good that they are combating gun violence.
There is only one good argument that is being talked about right now and that is banning the selling of weapons to people on the no fly list, but even that has flaws. Some people are arbitrarily put on the no fly list. To make the law fair, citizens must have a way to appeal being on the no fly list, that way they do not have their rights stripped without due process. Another possible law would be to enforce mental health screenings every five years or so, until they age out in their elder years. Most people would pass easily and they can continue on living their lives owning guns. But it would still prevent the mentally unstable people from obtaining weapons legally. The second possible law that should be brought up, that has already been proven to work here in the United States, is Project Exile. Project Exile was a program developed to significantly decrease the amount of gun violence by making the penalties for illegal gun ownership and use much stricter in Virginia, 1997. It gave people a minimum of five years in prison when caught with an illegal firearm. It was possibly the most effective gun law ever written. It dropped firearm related murders by almost 40%.(policechiefmagazine.org) No gun ban or feature restriction has ever come that close to being that effective. It only applies to criminals, not the law abiding citizen, and criminals are the reason we need gun control. However, this law was terminated because certain politicians deemed it discriminatory towards minorities. It targets people who break the law, not people of color. If all three potential laws were to be put into place, it would have tremendous success in reducing gun violence, which is the ultimate goal of gun control.
Can Video Games have Educational Benefits?
Video games may not be the best use of one’s time, especially if it takes up a substantial amount of time, but they are proving to be fairly beneficial for teenagers. The effects on the social aspect is not the focus of this discovery, for it is the academic aspect that has been improved from video games.
Just like you would expect, it is playing them in moderation that causes them to be so useful in the classroom. Over-playing can lead to addiction and failure in school, while playing less than every other day just doesn't have the proven benefits shown from playing at a controlled rate. Gamers received higher scores in subjects like math and science compared to other students. The difference grew when compared to students who spend their free time on social media. Many students are pressured to stop playing by their parents who are worried their children will fail if they continue to play video games. Phrases like “you're brain will turn to mush” are thrown around.
At Choate, there is not much time allotted for free time that you can use for this activity. It is even less accessible to the boarding population. Their only chance is at the Student Activity Center. However, they do have the freedom of doing what they want without parental influence. Day students may have the free time, but their parents might not allow them to play any video games throughout the school year. Personally, if I had any sort of assessment I had to prepare for, I would steer away from any games, but there are some nights when I have far less homework and no assessments the next day. My parent’s rules are that I can't play during the week at all, which i semi-support.
It is good to have some discipline, but there should be time for videogames in a person’s life, especially if it can be both fun and educational.
Just like you would expect, it is playing them in moderation that causes them to be so useful in the classroom. Over-playing can lead to addiction and failure in school, while playing less than every other day just doesn't have the proven benefits shown from playing at a controlled rate. Gamers received higher scores in subjects like math and science compared to other students. The difference grew when compared to students who spend their free time on social media. Many students are pressured to stop playing by their parents who are worried their children will fail if they continue to play video games. Phrases like “you're brain will turn to mush” are thrown around.
At Choate, there is not much time allotted for free time that you can use for this activity. It is even less accessible to the boarding population. Their only chance is at the Student Activity Center. However, they do have the freedom of doing what they want without parental influence. Day students may have the free time, but their parents might not allow them to play any video games throughout the school year. Personally, if I had any sort of assessment I had to prepare for, I would steer away from any games, but there are some nights when I have far less homework and no assessments the next day. My parent’s rules are that I can't play during the week at all, which i semi-support.
It is good to have some discipline, but there should be time for videogames in a person’s life, especially if it can be both fun and educational.
How to Confess to Murder
If you were ever wondering how to confess a murder without having to face any consequences, just go to church. During confession in a Christian church, people often choose to reveal their darkest secrets to their pastors. Imagine how many dirty little secrets a pastor must know. Let's say, hypothetically, that someone was to confess a murder in church. Even if this person is accused, has to appear in court, and the pastor is called to testify, he or she is not allowed to say one word. They are so committed to their faith and responsibilities of being a pastor that even the law cannot persuade them to break their promises to their “God”. Pastors carry on with their lives knowing the most intimate sins of their congregation and yet they never spill the beans. They are the best secret keepers on the planet; which is a lot of weight to carry. All because they have a commitment and a dedication to a higher power that could possibly be a load of shit. If there really is no God, then they have been allowing criminals to walk freely without facing consequences for their actions. Faith is the strongest force in the world. Pastors have no proof and no validation of there even being a higher power, and still, they are completely okay with going against the law for the sake of their devotion to what could turn out to be a myth. I’m not sure that I will ever believe in something to that degree, and I’m not certain that everyone should within their lifetime. But everyone has something that holds them together; something to lean on. Pastors are held together by their faith.
Pomeranians❤️
Pomeranians were named after an area name Pomerania which is located in northern Poland and Germany. This was not the origin of the breed, but this is where the Pomeranian type began. The breed evolved because of two members of the British Royal Family. In 1767, Queen Charlotte brought two Pomeranians to England. The photo below shows a dog much bigger than a modern Pomeranian, but the dog has the heavy coat, ears, and a tail curled over the back. Queen Victoria had a favorite Pomeranian which only weighed 12 pounds. This started a trend for breeders to only mate the smallest Pomeranians of the litter. Queen Victoria worked on improving the Pomeranian breed in size and color, and the Pomeranian decreased in size by 50% in Queen Victoria’s life time.
Pomeranians are the cutest dogs ever! They are like a cloud with four legs. Pomeranians come in many different colors like white, black, grey, brown, orange, red, and cream. Each Pomeranian is unique with certain patterns and marks. Really rare Pomeranians can have blue eyes. Pomeranians have been breed to come in smaller sizes ranging from 3-8 pounds. On average, Pomeranians live for about 12-16 years, and ones that are smaller than 3 pounds could have health issues. Pomeranians are usually friendly, playful bundles of joy. They are intelligent dogs and are easy to train. Pomeranians are the most popular in the USA, ranking #21 in 2015 in The American Kennel Club list of most popular dogs.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomeranian_(dog)
Just Hold On One Second
Over the Summer I read Flight by Sherman
Alexie. I thought that it went into some crucial topics about troubled youth.
The idea of how Zits goes back in time to see the wrong of his ways, is to me, another
way of showing how children learn from their family and are influenced by the
past. One central idea of the plot really stood out to me, was how it
only took Zits one second to completely turn his mind of thought around.
Zits goes through a lot in the span of one second,
more than what is possible in one lifetime. The one second where he disappears
from reality to try and find himself in the history of his ancestors. The one
second where he stands in a bank full of people with two guns hidden under his
coat. The one second which determines whether he shall continue life as a cold
blooded murderer, or turn away from a life of crime and hatred.
That is the value of one second in
Flight. It’s not entirely clear what happens in that one second, at first it
appears as though Zits is dead, and he is simply traveling through time and
space into different people’s lives. However, it’s later revealed, while
watching a security tape, that Zits actually did disappear for just one second.
Perhaps something actually happened, it didn't just play out in Zits head, perhaps he
actually time traveled. This adds a whole other level of complexity to the
story, but in the end the only thing that matters is how that travel affected
Zits. It was while he traveled through time that he came to the realization of
what he thought he had done. All in the span of one second.
Media's Creation of Another "Iraq" in China
From where I grew up (Beijing, the capital of China), the far west of China, Xinjiang, is nothing similar to the wild west of America, a place where people longed for. People described it as a dangerous region, far too risky to visit, not to mention living there. The name of its prevailing religion (Islam) appears frightening enough to scare people away. When mentioned on television, the title would always contain words such as “rebellion” or “violence.” Despite government’s effort to embellish the region, Xinjiang's ideal image would always be shattered by relentless news reports. “China Says Violent Xinjiang Uprising Left Almost 100 Dead,” or “At least 50 reported to have died in attack on coalmine in Xinjiang in September,” etc. News is always true, right? It seems to be set on “truth mode” in default. It inherently has the permission of defining something or someone with a “dependable” source, no matter its content. It can righteously present one side of the story and leave it at that, while this incomplete information reaches the audiences as the truth. This is the case with Xinjiang. People only see it as the “Iraq of China” because the other side of the story was never brought to the public. The question “what happened” in Xinjiang is often answered by news reports, followed with an implied “duh, of course it’s the Muslims.” However, not many people considered the “how” or “why” of the event or situation. People there are opposing the government. Why? How did the dissent in Xinjiang develope? Indeed, facts are facts, and nothing is wrong with spreading them to a wider audience. However, biases and stereotypes are easily formed when the story presented is one-sided, especially by authoritative sources. Despite some presses’ effort to provide a fair description of Xinjiang, the media is still responsible to some extent for the it’s general negative image, and even worse, people’s silent refusal to accept the beautiful side of Xinjiang.
Hillary Clinton Had Pneumonia
“Hillary Clinton: Had Pneumonia” is the opening headline in Zach Galifianakis’ Between Two Ferns, and the video is an incredibly effective and strategic step toward Clinton’s goal to reach younger voters. In the twelve hours since being released, the video has had thousands of tweets, comments, and about half a million views. In less than a week, it has received another ten million views. It will undoubtedly continue to rapidly gain attention and showcase a more humorous, relatable side of the candidate.
The purposefully awkward and hostile interview with Galifianakis might be Hillary’s most favorable interview yet. A “behind the scenes” reveals she suggested the video be created, as well as the fact that the majority of it was improvised. Hillary has been mocked in her previous attempts to show her playful side, and a huge setback in popularity has been how likable she is perceived as. Seeing the presidential candidate in this context makes her seem genuinely relatable, and, as stated by the director in the interview, “She let out a big laugh on one of the early questions after Zach asked it, and it set us at ease that she got it and was having a good time... Zach would tell a joke and she would laugh really hard. And of course, we can’t use the laugh because that’s not what these are about.” Clinton’s enjoyment of the process, her genuine humor, and her relatability all make the interview incredibly light-hearted and fun for the audience. As Clinton has struggled with claims of her being “cold,” “distant,” and “calculating,” among many others, this interview shows a genuine humor that is not often seen.
I wasn't a Hillary supporter to start. At the beginning of this election, I was definitely feeling the Bern. I felt that Bernie Sanders was more likable. I believed he was a better public speaker, and I agreed with many of his ideals. And now, looking back, I realize I fell for something that many of us did. At first, I agreed with claims that Hillary appeared “cold,” “calculating,” “distant,” and even “unlikable.” I knew she was more than qualified, but was she someone I really wanted representing our nation? I should have known better, and known to have recognized the sexism embedded within my own perception.
I wished Clinton would show the passion that Sanders does in her speeches, or banter with other candidates during debates. I held these expectations without acknowledging that, if she were to act as an ideal male candidate, she would only receive criticism. She would sound “shrill,” “too emotional,” and “hormonal.” In all of Clinton’s years in a workplace dominated by men, she has undoubtedly learned that, as a woman, controlled responses are necessary to gain respect. Her controlled character is easily misperceived as aloof, cold, and calculating, but those are all things she absolutely has to be in order to be taken seriously.
Hillary Clinton has pressed through an incredible amount of sexism, and, having learned how to react to it, is seldom seen in a casual manner. Galifianakis created an environment in which she doesn’t need to be reserved and controlled. It wasn’t a serious event. This interview reveals a genuine part of her personality, and is a refreshing reminder of the upcoming election. If Clinton is elected this fall, it would be making a huge step in history. "Not to take away from that historical significance from you perhaps becoming the first female president, but for younger, younger generations you will become their first white president," Galifianakis deadpans. "That’s pretty neat too."
Between Two Ferns: https://youtu.be/xrkPe-9rM1Q
Between Two Ferns: https://youtu.be/xrkPe-9rM1Q
Spooky Ghosts? ooOoOOoooOOo
Satyagraha:
Non-violence Through Gandhi’s Eyes
Satyagraha, or Gandhian
nonviolence, has been a key concept in several successful non-violent demonstrations
and movements. Satyagraha is made up of three core concepts: satya, ahimsa, and tapasya. Satya means truth. In non-violent
demonstrations, Mahatma Gandhi followed the truth that everyone is
interconnected. Interconnection is the concept that we are all a part of God,
Brahman, or whatever deity you believe in. Ahimsa
is the idea of nonviolence. If you believe that every one is interconnected
then you demand ahimsa. Finally tapasya,
willingness to self-sacrifice, is necessary for a nonviolent movement. You have
to be able to put everyone else before yourself for the greater good.
Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of
Satyagraha has been the inspiration for non-violent actions such as the African
American sit ins (http://www.ushistory.org/us/54d.asp). Without this
inspiration, the sit-ins would never be successful in ending segregation. Every
time people participated in one these sit-ins, they risked their lives just to
stand up for a cause and make a mark on the world. Their use of ahimsa,
non-violence, to fight back against violence and segregation showed self-control
and determination. The idea of karma comes in to play in these peaceful
demonstrations as well. If anyone were to act violently, the whole sit in would
have been ruined and pointless. Also violent actions would come back to haunt
them as well as all the other people who participated because the segregation
would be just as bad if not worse. Fighting back would justify the white
people’s actions against them. The African Americans who participated followed
their truth, didn’t act violently, and were ready to sacrifice themselves, creating
a true Gandhian non-violent protest.
Gun laws and restrictions
Gun laws and restrictions have been one of the most heavily debated topics in the past couple of years due to all of the accidents that have occurred http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-deaths-and-injuries-statistics/. One of the main arguments made in favor of guns is that they can provide personal protection. Owning a gun is a way of “evening the playing fields” because it makes even the smallest child just as powerful as a six foot tall man. This is true however, the article below brings up a very significant point about how easy it is for guns to go from the hands of responsible owners to the hands of some not so responsible owners https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/21/gun-theft-us-firearm-survey?CMP=share_btn_link. So even though there are good, law abiding gun owners out there, it is still too easy for people who are not responsible to end up with them as well. This is just one of the many reasons why gun restrictions need to be revised and strongly enforced. Because too many kids, men and women are dying each year from guns and so this is a very poignant point that needs to be addressed by everyone in this country.
Monday, September 26, 2016
The Curly Hair Struggle
Curls
Springy, voluminous, and thick.
When it comes to curls, no ringlet is ever the same. Girls with this type of
hair are called curly girls. Many books and hair products are all made to cater
to this specific hair type. Girls with straight, limp hair crave these curls,
hoping to have some volume in their hair. I see girls whose hair are so straight
that they can not even achieve a wave. They spent countless hours on hair
treatments and using curling irons to try and get the perfect curls, before
their hair falls limp again after only an hour. What I don’t understand is why
girls with curly hair burn and flatten their curls. If people think that curls
are beautiful, why is it that society only shows “ideal” girls with straight
hair? Curls are made out to be exotic, and coveted, yet people do not actually
want the work that comes with them. Why is it that a girl, who has thick,
beautiful curls is thought of as being more beautiful only after her hair has
been flat ironed? Girls with curly hair put a lot of effort into their hair,
and should not be dismissed as being less beautiful because they have curls and
do not fit into the social standards that people have put women into, but
instead their hair should be appreciated for its beauty. Unfortunately, I hear
men and women alike say that they would never date someone with curly hair
because it makes them less attractive, which is offensive to me and others with
this hair type. What people who are this ignorant do not realize is that there
is beauty in all curls, and all girls, no matter what hair type they have. No
one can change their genetics, so instead of insulting and demeaning someone
for their hair type, it is better to just appreciate their hair and move on.
http://www.curls.biz/curly-hair-type-guide.html
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