I took a Social Studies course while attending Whatcom Community College about a year and a half ago. My professor had us split into groups and choose several topics concerning social issues to create presentations on. I nominated "Celebrity Obsession", and we all agreed it was a very appropriate topic to address.
How often do you hear about this particular problem being acknowledged? Not very often. Know why? Maybe because the majority of news providers all promote it by feeding the sick obsession. How often do you catch yourself in a week's time dropping some kind of comment about a celebrity, either glorifying or insulting them? How much money gets dumped into the ridiculous tabloids that litter every grocery and convenient store? And the only reason those shelves stay filled is because America is so eager to consume material that will supposedly inform them intimately on the lives of famous people.
I am not trying to say that it is completely unhealthy to be informed on the lives of celebrities. They are celebrities for a reason, after all. But, come on. Everything in moderation!
So why exactly am I on this rampage about the overabundance of influence that is naturally empowered to the celebrities of this particular country? Allow me to explain.
I was reading an article in 'USA Today' newspaper that was completely dedicated to celebrity's presidential support. I expected to at least hear about celebrities actually 'doing' something to support the candidate of their choice. Oh silly me, there I go assuming again. One particular part of this article stood out to me. I read that Pierce Bronson was spotted in Malibu out with his family and he was.... *deep breath*...... (are you ready for this?!?!?)......WEARING AN OBAMA T-SHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!
I laughed. Not that it was funny, but it kind of was in an ironic, sick way. It just sucks that there are people that work really hard to support their candidates of choice and barely get the appreciation they deserve and James Bond gets spotted by some money-hungry paparazzi for a couple minutes, and thousands upon thousands of Americans have read and recognized that Bronson supports Obama.
As I read about 007's clothing of choice, I thought of my friend Paul, who has been sporting a pin on his jacket reading "Old White Woman For Obama". If only he were a celebrity. If only.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
To Believe Or Not To Believe?
The craziness continues...
Election Day is extremely close now, and I am still so unsure of which choice is the 'right' one. As if there was a 'right' choice.
I am reminded constantly of my hatred of politics as I type in various different key words in Google's search box. There are thousands of links one click away, and each of them are packed with information that is supposedly going to either pump me up with stuff I totally agree with or potentially open my eyes to some colossal truth that is a must-know to the masses before Election Day occurs.
I find myself reading a plethora of material, but none of it is necessarily up-building or positive. From slams on McCain's haughtiness to websites that aim to convince everyone that Obama holds ties to communism and terrorism...
How on Earth do I decide what believe? How are we, the citizens, supposed to select a leader when we are bottle-fed more crap about both of our finishing candidates than any one country should ever be forced to take?
I listen to people talk about what they hear on the news, or what they read or see on the internet, and they talk amongst themselves as if they are well-educated on what they are talking about. Depends on your opinion of well-educated I suppose. If well-educated is pumped full of baloney to the point where you know it inside and out, then I suppose there are a lot of well-educated voters out there.
Again, I must ask for forgiveness for my lack of faith in this country's government.
I argued with a friend the other night. He was ranting about the whole "Obama's ties to Communism" issue and seemed completely certain that it was all true. I questioned his trust, and he responded with, "If you don't believe me, look it up!" And so I did. I am still unconvinced. What is it exactly that legitimatizes information to be true? Is it the amount of websites that all proclaim the same thing? Is it the source of the information? Is it how many people actually believe it?
Unfortunately, we all do have to pick and choose what we will beleive and then base our ever-so-important vote based on that select information. Isn't it too bad that we can't get to know each of our Presidentail Candidates on a personal level before we cast our vote to either one? Or perhaps that is a bad idea, because then we would realize that they are human beings that make mistakes, thus unfit for office?
And so here I am, still sitting on the fence. It seems that no matter which side I chose, I'll still be in over my head in hogwash. And nobody likes to be in over their head in hogwash.
Election Day is extremely close now, and I am still so unsure of which choice is the 'right' one. As if there was a 'right' choice.
I am reminded constantly of my hatred of politics as I type in various different key words in Google's search box. There are thousands of links one click away, and each of them are packed with information that is supposedly going to either pump me up with stuff I totally agree with or potentially open my eyes to some colossal truth that is a must-know to the masses before Election Day occurs.
I find myself reading a plethora of material, but none of it is necessarily up-building or positive. From slams on McCain's haughtiness to websites that aim to convince everyone that Obama holds ties to communism and terrorism...
How on Earth do I decide what believe? How are we, the citizens, supposed to select a leader when we are bottle-fed more crap about both of our finishing candidates than any one country should ever be forced to take?
I listen to people talk about what they hear on the news, or what they read or see on the internet, and they talk amongst themselves as if they are well-educated on what they are talking about. Depends on your opinion of well-educated I suppose. If well-educated is pumped full of baloney to the point where you know it inside and out, then I suppose there are a lot of well-educated voters out there.
Again, I must ask for forgiveness for my lack of faith in this country's government.
I argued with a friend the other night. He was ranting about the whole "Obama's ties to Communism" issue and seemed completely certain that it was all true. I questioned his trust, and he responded with, "If you don't believe me, look it up!" And so I did. I am still unconvinced. What is it exactly that legitimatizes information to be true? Is it the amount of websites that all proclaim the same thing? Is it the source of the information? Is it how many people actually believe it?
Unfortunately, we all do have to pick and choose what we will beleive and then base our ever-so-important vote based on that select information. Isn't it too bad that we can't get to know each of our Presidentail Candidates on a personal level before we cast our vote to either one? Or perhaps that is a bad idea, because then we would realize that they are human beings that make mistakes, thus unfit for office?
And so here I am, still sitting on the fence. It seems that no matter which side I chose, I'll still be in over my head in hogwash. And nobody likes to be in over their head in hogwash.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Dying Government?
I am not big on politics.
They stress me out, if anything. I find that my mind is much healthier without being polluted with the nonsense that our country's politicians throw around. There was a point in time I actually showed a bit of interest in the scene, and that was when I had just turned 18 and could vote. I still didn't understand a lot, and I mostly let people talk me into the way I viewed politics. Letting someone talk you into the way you feel about something is never a good idea. But that is what happens sometimes when you are young and naive.
Election Day is mere weeks away, and everyone around me is getting hyped up and excited about it.
Bellingham, Washington is a very liberal city full of Western Washington University's students that are young, full of opinions, and very active. Being submerged in such an atmosphere has compelled me to do something that I never thought would happen: Care about the U.S. government.
This election is going to decide how the country of my occupancy will be ran during some of the most vital years of my life. I began to think about all the things that a president has the capacity to change. It's a crazy position to fill, and everyone knows that half the promises that the president-to-be makes in the presidential debates will never be fulfilled... but why not at least attempt to get someone in office who appears to give more of a crap than the rest?
The lack of faith I have in this country is pathetic. It doesn't help that I have spent a quarter of a year in Sweden and seeing that all the citizens get free college, and have health care benefits. Those are two major things that I would love to have right now.
If I was to get sick right now, I would be completely screwed. I would have to starve myself for a while and use food money to even be able to afford a walk-in clinic visit. If I want to go back to school anytime soon, I will have to work full time somehow to manage paying all my bills, rent, and tuition. Not to mention the price of books these days. Sure, there is financial aid, but that doesn't help me much. They portion out financial aid according to your parents' income until you are 24 years old. Do they assume that all parents that can afford it help their kids out when it comes time to pay for college? Because mine definitely do not. The thought of having to work full time and go to class and have hours of homework sounds like hell, not to mention a recipe for depression. No time for rest, no time for social activities, and barely time to study. Shouldn't a country want it's young citizens to be educated? Are the elders forgetting that we will be the ones in charge one day? I feel like education should be a lot more accessible and convenient than it is, and I am sure millions agree with me. A happy and well rested student is probably more likely to succeed in the end than a stressed out, strapped-for-time-and-money student.
Also, the next president is going to shape and prep this country for whatever it will become for my generations' children. I have always wanted a family, and I absolutely love kids, but I might change my mind. The future of my possible offspring is in the hands of whatever baboon that takes the chair. If I were at the point right now in my life where I would be able to contemplate reproducing, I really think that it would be almost selfish to bring a child into the world the way it is now. Just another way of realizing that big changes need to happen NOW.
About a week and a half ago, I looked up and read over a series of debates and attempted to form an opinion of my own about anything at all. Unfortunately, I was not convinced of anything. Neither of our two leading candidates has me feeling like they are going to pull this country out of the deep hole it is in.
I work with a few activists that seem to have a lot more hope for this country's future than I do, and that helps a lot with keeping my interest and keeping my own hope alive. So thank you, work mates... you guys give me hope that maybe this country has a few smart people in it, and it is people like you that I would love to see take over the leadership in this country. I was at the point where I felt that my opinion, and my vote, didn't really matter in the scheme of things. But maybe it just takes more than a half-hearted vote to really make a difference. I am beginning to see that. I hope that more young people that hate politics have their interest sparked by amazing people that are really out there to put the people first.
Here's to the people that care, and are willing to put up a fight to keep and better the rights that we have as citizens of the United States. You have truly impacted me. Thank you.
They stress me out, if anything. I find that my mind is much healthier without being polluted with the nonsense that our country's politicians throw around. There was a point in time I actually showed a bit of interest in the scene, and that was when I had just turned 18 and could vote. I still didn't understand a lot, and I mostly let people talk me into the way I viewed politics. Letting someone talk you into the way you feel about something is never a good idea. But that is what happens sometimes when you are young and naive.
Election Day is mere weeks away, and everyone around me is getting hyped up and excited about it.
Bellingham, Washington is a very liberal city full of Western Washington University's students that are young, full of opinions, and very active. Being submerged in such an atmosphere has compelled me to do something that I never thought would happen: Care about the U.S. government.
This election is going to decide how the country of my occupancy will be ran during some of the most vital years of my life. I began to think about all the things that a president has the capacity to change. It's a crazy position to fill, and everyone knows that half the promises that the president-to-be makes in the presidential debates will never be fulfilled... but why not at least attempt to get someone in office who appears to give more of a crap than the rest?
The lack of faith I have in this country is pathetic. It doesn't help that I have spent a quarter of a year in Sweden and seeing that all the citizens get free college, and have health care benefits. Those are two major things that I would love to have right now.
If I was to get sick right now, I would be completely screwed. I would have to starve myself for a while and use food money to even be able to afford a walk-in clinic visit. If I want to go back to school anytime soon, I will have to work full time somehow to manage paying all my bills, rent, and tuition. Not to mention the price of books these days. Sure, there is financial aid, but that doesn't help me much. They portion out financial aid according to your parents' income until you are 24 years old. Do they assume that all parents that can afford it help their kids out when it comes time to pay for college? Because mine definitely do not. The thought of having to work full time and go to class and have hours of homework sounds like hell, not to mention a recipe for depression. No time for rest, no time for social activities, and barely time to study. Shouldn't a country want it's young citizens to be educated? Are the elders forgetting that we will be the ones in charge one day? I feel like education should be a lot more accessible and convenient than it is, and I am sure millions agree with me. A happy and well rested student is probably more likely to succeed in the end than a stressed out, strapped-for-time-and-money student.
Also, the next president is going to shape and prep this country for whatever it will become for my generations' children. I have always wanted a family, and I absolutely love kids, but I might change my mind. The future of my possible offspring is in the hands of whatever baboon that takes the chair. If I were at the point right now in my life where I would be able to contemplate reproducing, I really think that it would be almost selfish to bring a child into the world the way it is now. Just another way of realizing that big changes need to happen NOW.
About a week and a half ago, I looked up and read over a series of debates and attempted to form an opinion of my own about anything at all. Unfortunately, I was not convinced of anything. Neither of our two leading candidates has me feeling like they are going to pull this country out of the deep hole it is in.
I work with a few activists that seem to have a lot more hope for this country's future than I do, and that helps a lot with keeping my interest and keeping my own hope alive. So thank you, work mates... you guys give me hope that maybe this country has a few smart people in it, and it is people like you that I would love to see take over the leadership in this country. I was at the point where I felt that my opinion, and my vote, didn't really matter in the scheme of things. But maybe it just takes more than a half-hearted vote to really make a difference. I am beginning to see that. I hope that more young people that hate politics have their interest sparked by amazing people that are really out there to put the people first.
Here's to the people that care, and are willing to put up a fight to keep and better the rights that we have as citizens of the United States. You have truly impacted me. Thank you.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
I'm 22, Don't Know What I'm Supposed To Do
This is the age of indecision.
I have settled myself into the swing of Bellingham life already. I am back at both my jobs, mostly moved in to my new house, and doing all the same things I was before. It feels like nothing skipped a beat while I was away. Except my heart, of course. That skipped many beats while I was away. The reasons why are confidential, however. Sorry!
And so, now that I am home, it is time for me to face a dilemma that so many people around my age come to face. What the heck am I going to do with my life now?
I need a plan, and I have a few options.
- Save money and go back to school either winter or spring quarter
- Use my saved money on recording equipment and focus on my acoustic music.
- Find a way to move to Sweden to focus on Pretty in Punk and get the experience of living somewhere else in the world.
- Move to California and gain a year of residency there so I can avoid paying out of state tuition at the University of my choice.
All these ideas sound good. Now for choosing one and executing it. Not so easy.
For now, the extent of my planning is SAVE MONEY. Who knows what happens after that?
I have settled myself into the swing of Bellingham life already. I am back at both my jobs, mostly moved in to my new house, and doing all the same things I was before. It feels like nothing skipped a beat while I was away. Except my heart, of course. That skipped many beats while I was away. The reasons why are confidential, however. Sorry!
And so, now that I am home, it is time for me to face a dilemma that so many people around my age come to face. What the heck am I going to do with my life now?
I need a plan, and I have a few options.
- Save money and go back to school either winter or spring quarter
- Use my saved money on recording equipment and focus on my acoustic music.
- Find a way to move to Sweden to focus on Pretty in Punk and get the experience of living somewhere else in the world.
- Move to California and gain a year of residency there so I can avoid paying out of state tuition at the University of my choice.
All these ideas sound good. Now for choosing one and executing it. Not so easy.
For now, the extent of my planning is SAVE MONEY. Who knows what happens after that?
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