So, another year has come and gone since last Christmas. Much has changed since then, yet much has stayed the same. This year, yet again, Dad had to fly on Christmas so we celebrated early -- our Christmas Day was December 23rd, 2010. I seem to have gotten some flak for having Christmas "early."
I don't think people really understand what the idea of this holiday is all about. As I told a friend of mine who apologized when he found out my dad wouldn't be home for actual Christmas Day, "Holidays are what you make of them, not what date the rest of the world says they are."
It doesn't matter that we celebrate a holiday on a different day than most people -- especially a holiday focused on family, love, giving and happiness.
Christmas isn't about getting gifts, or putting up a Christmas tree. It's about being with family -- at least it is in my family. It's about getting together and loving one another and spending quality time together.
Is Christmas the birth of Christ? To many Christians, yes. Is Christmas the birth of Christ to us? Somewhat.
There are many more layers to Christmas than just that in our family. To us, it is a time to give thanks for the wonderful things we have in our lives: friends, family and joy -- things far too many people do without. To us, it's a lot like a second Thanksgiving -- giving thanks for the things we have. Except there are generally a few presents under the tree, to the children's excitement! We gather around the dinner table with great friends and great food and thank the all-mighty being upstairs -- whoever he, she or they may be -- for all that we've been blessed with.
As for Santa Claus? Well, I'll believe until the day I die that he exists. Santa is part of the magic that is Christmas. I will forever believe that he is a "right jolly old elf."
So, wherever you may be -- Naples, Florida or Caracas, Venezuela (where Dad is right now) -- enjoy the Christmas holiday with your family and friends.
24 December 2010
05 November 2010
Remember, Remember...
Just a few nights ago this country went through some sweeping changes in leadership. The people took to the polls to elect the 112th Congress of the United States. Most people voted to change the leadership back to a right-leaning coalition. The President of the United States will remain the same until 2012, as will the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, but the Speaker of the House is likely to become John Boehner, a republican from Ohio.
All of this "change" at this point in time can't help but make me think of one of my favorite films, V for Vendetta. In the movie the main character, V, says something in a video that is broadcast to future London. He says "There is something terribly wrong with this country." That sounds, to me anyway, a lot like the message that Republicans were giving to the country about the leadership in the Obama-Pelosi-Reid coalition.
I just felt this was a comparison worth mentioning.
All of this "change" at this point in time can't help but make me think of one of my favorite films, V for Vendetta. In the movie the main character, V, says something in a video that is broadcast to future London. He says "There is something terribly wrong with this country." That sounds, to me anyway, a lot like the message that Republicans were giving to the country about the leadership in the Obama-Pelosi-Reid coalition.
I just felt this was a comparison worth mentioning.
01 September 2010
Social Institutions
In society, there are many institutions that are put in place to categorize people; these categories are used to divide the human population of the world. Gender, race, sexuality, class, nationality, religion, education, etc. These categories have been systematically put in place by the society at large in order to judge others, and in effect, disassociate themselves from others.
Personally, I don't buy into any of it. My skin might be physically white, but I don't identify as white. I don't identify as black either. I identify as me. The same goes with any other institution set in place to categorize people. It is automatically assumed that I'm white (we'll stick with race for the time being), but I don't even know enough about my genealogy to know if there are any members of my past family that were Black, Asian, or Hispanic. Knowing this gives me the ability to claim to fall outside any of the socially "normal" categories. I attend an HBCU. My skin may be white but that doesn't stop me from being friends with, or identifying with those whose skin may be black.
Race is a touchy subject in America. For example, as long as Barack Obama is the "first black president" instead of the "44th President of the United State of America," race will still be a problem. All of this notion that we've "moved past race" as a culture is clearly hogwash. As long as FSU students remain afraid to go south of Gaines St. or go out on the FAMU homecoming weekend, we clearly still have an issue with racism. There may scientifically be three races (Mongoloid, Negroid and Caucasoid) but all three are still human beings. Every person on this earth bleeds the same color: red. That is something that won't change no matter what color skin we might have, what socioeconomic class we might fall under, who we go to sleep with at night, or what gender we identify with. We all need food, water, shelter, compassion and most importantly, we need each other.
Backing out of race and moving into another touchy subject: sexuality. I am automatically assumed to be a heterosexual when I meet someone new. Why? I may not be homosexual OR heterosexual, but I don't understand why all humans must have this preconceived notion of others before even getting to know them. Human beings are just sexual, just like any other creature on the earth. Scientists have found that many animals have sex with members of the same sex. I feel that I must reiterate, humans are still animals, which means we retain many animal qualities. Sex is a natural part of life, a part that humans partake in just like most other animals.
Nationality is another institution that has some sketchy beginnings. Why are we "proud" of a country that we didn't choose to be born in. I didn't choose to be born in America, nor did someone from Switzerland choose to be born there. That is a decision made prenatally by our parents (and partially by world governments denying or admitting emigrants).
I must reiterate that social institutions are SOCIALLY and CULTURALLY bound. Everyone behavior is their own decision, and should have no automated responses to certain stimuli. There are many institutions that I don't buy into. I only went into two of the big ones, but there are definitely smaller ones that I feel the human race should not entertain.
Personally, I don't buy into any of it. My skin might be physically white, but I don't identify as white. I don't identify as black either. I identify as me. The same goes with any other institution set in place to categorize people. It is automatically assumed that I'm white (we'll stick with race for the time being), but I don't even know enough about my genealogy to know if there are any members of my past family that were Black, Asian, or Hispanic. Knowing this gives me the ability to claim to fall outside any of the socially "normal" categories. I attend an HBCU. My skin may be white but that doesn't stop me from being friends with, or identifying with those whose skin may be black.
Race is a touchy subject in America. For example, as long as Barack Obama is the "first black president" instead of the "44th President of the United State of America," race will still be a problem. All of this notion that we've "moved past race" as a culture is clearly hogwash. As long as FSU students remain afraid to go south of Gaines St. or go out on the FAMU homecoming weekend, we clearly still have an issue with racism. There may scientifically be three races (Mongoloid, Negroid and Caucasoid) but all three are still human beings. Every person on this earth bleeds the same color: red. That is something that won't change no matter what color skin we might have, what socioeconomic class we might fall under, who we go to sleep with at night, or what gender we identify with. We all need food, water, shelter, compassion and most importantly, we need each other.
Backing out of race and moving into another touchy subject: sexuality. I am automatically assumed to be a heterosexual when I meet someone new. Why? I may not be homosexual OR heterosexual, but I don't understand why all humans must have this preconceived notion of others before even getting to know them. Human beings are just sexual, just like any other creature on the earth. Scientists have found that many animals have sex with members of the same sex. I feel that I must reiterate, humans are still animals, which means we retain many animal qualities. Sex is a natural part of life, a part that humans partake in just like most other animals.
Nationality is another institution that has some sketchy beginnings. Why are we "proud" of a country that we didn't choose to be born in. I didn't choose to be born in America, nor did someone from Switzerland choose to be born there. That is a decision made prenatally by our parents (and partially by world governments denying or admitting emigrants).
I must reiterate that social institutions are SOCIALLY and CULTURALLY bound. Everyone behavior is their own decision, and should have no automated responses to certain stimuli. There are many institutions that I don't buy into. I only went into two of the big ones, but there are definitely smaller ones that I feel the human race should not entertain.
29 August 2010
Should I Double Major?
Well, today I talked to dad about some possibilities for my future and he had some good points. He said that there will be some news firms that will only hire someone who has a degree in journalism, which I won't have if I don't transfer to FAMU or double major in journalism.
I thought about double majoring and the minoring in Spanish because I'm so close to having a Spanish minor anyway.
I'm not sure yet, we'll see. I'm going to talk to Dr. Grable tomorrow about it and see what she thinks.
More to come on this later.
I thought about double majoring and the minoring in Spanish because I'm so close to having a Spanish minor anyway.
I'm not sure yet, we'll see. I'm going to talk to Dr. Grable tomorrow about it and see what she thinks.
More to come on this later.
30 May 2010
Summer
Well, I'm in South Florida for the summer, and I'm bored to tears. Yes I have a job, but it is only there until 10am which leaves me with an entire day to entertain myself. There are a few people in Naples to hang out with, but it's nothing like Tally, especially since graduation.
I hate this town. I told myself to go to the beach today and be a beach bum, but I decided against it because there is really no one to go with and what fun is the beach without other people?
I'm really missing journalism. I have nothing to do for the newspaper, radio station or class that involves journalism. I've replaced summer journalism classes for answering phones. I do enjoy what I'm doing, but I think that I could have spent this summer better. =\
I hate this town. I told myself to go to the beach today and be a beach bum, but I decided against it because there is really no one to go with and what fun is the beach without other people?
I'm really missing journalism. I have nothing to do for the newspaper, radio station or class that involves journalism. I've replaced summer journalism classes for answering phones. I do enjoy what I'm doing, but I think that I could have spent this summer better. =\
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