You're Different.... uhh... Go away

Boys are Boys and Girls are Girls for genetic and physiological reasons, but the media teaches them to live like Men or Women. The stereotypes for men and female are installed by the media and entertainment industry. Until, recently Wild West movies only had a male on horseback fighting a 1,000 Native Americans (to be politically correct) and then getting the girl in the end. This is because the perception of males is to be independent, courageous, and wild. However, the reason why the woman is usually not the crime fighter is due to perception. The American culture portrays the woman as the weak side kick who must be the object of being saved. These perceptions of male and female are in every aspect of are life. For instance it is normal for a girl to be a cheerleader or play field hockey, but its not normal when a girl plays for the boys football team. Which leads me to my second point. When ever a sex goes beyond their boundaries it is perceived as "odd". For instance a good friend of mine (a guy) loves singing, but all my other friends ignored him and isolated him, because singing is not a man's thing to do. It's awful that the first thing they think about is what's "manly". He is still being isolated from my group of friends all because he likes to sing. This is the problem, people who are not the same, are often isolated. The Gays, the different religion, the different sports fan, and the person with different political views than the majority, get looked down upon. It's a terrible past time for America, we have always looked down upon those who do not conform to the social norms.

Culture of Violence

After watching Bowling for Columbine, it really got me thinking about the type of culture America portrays. We love our weapons. O boy do we love em'. Get er' done! It is a constitutional right to "bear arms", yet it has gotten out of control. The right to bear arms is never going to go completely away, but there is a HUGE problem when people can open a savings account and get a free gun. It's a HUGE problem when people are forming their own militias to shoot M16 together. It's a HUGE problem when the general public blames others for their own mistakes. Columbine was a tragedy, and the fact that everyone blamed someone else and very little changed, that's a tragedy. Gun control in our country is too lax. Compared to other 1st world countries (MDC's), we have 100 times more deaths by gun than any other leading industrialized nation. This is an epidemic. Yes, it is our right to own a gun, and Yes most people who own guns are law abiding citizens that own a gun properly, but it's always about that small percentage who doesn't own a gun responsibly. By selling and putting more guns on the streets is only emphasizing the never ending cycle of violence. Further, there are many people that own assault rifles. They claim, "It's properly locked away", but it's always about that person that you would never think to use the gun. Prime example, 6 year old nephew shoots up 1st grade classmate. Furthermore, everyone blames someone different, O it must be the media, O it must be our administration, O it must be Marilyn Manson. However, it is not one source and has to be addressed as a complicated issue. To start the government cannot punish the NRA for hosting rallies at recently affected areas, but they have to show some decency. Also, new gun control laws need to be in place, the current gun control laws were created post Vietnam era and do not apply to the new "more violent" society. Assault rifles cannot be allowed on the streets under any circumstances. Finally, guns cannot be considered prize possessions, they must be seen for what they are, they are killing machines that are used in war, and are used as self-defense in the ultimate last moment. All religions, people, ethnicity's believe in the value of human life. So.... how bout' let's change the world. We can't save that six year old, and those innocent bystanders that were killed in Littleton, CO; however, we can save that 10 year old that will accidentally stumble on his fathers gun and play around with it, we can save that future school shooting, and we can save countless lives through more gun control, and just common sense!

Living life to the fullest is the wealthiest thing one can acheive

The movie Tuesday's with Morrie really opened my eyes. The social commentary of the movie is phenomenal. First, through the character of Mitch, we see that the work patterns of average Americans may bring in the dough, but they will push away loved ones. The movie makes it seem as if there was no balance in Mitch's life; furthermore, he runs from his fears: not marrying sooner, not visiting "coach", and not living his life the way he wants (musically). With the character of Morrie, his main message was you only have one life to live, and only a short amount of time to live it. He didn't care about what everyone thought, he simply danced. He didn't care about what everyone thought; he simply yelled "what's wrong with number 2?" Morrie's character makes you appreciate life, and it helps break the patterns of the American Work-a-haulic. The final message that Morrie helps portray is that Americans hide their fears by working/making more money. He helps portray the cycle of "misery", where a person works to earn money to buy stuff, then because they bought stuff they have more "success", and then they want more success so they work harder to buy more. Morrie breaks this cycle because he takes a look back at his life, and all he wants to do are simply things with his loved one's. He doesn't want any material gain; all he wants is to dance! This movie was quite moving and really should make an impact on all who watch it.

Perception is Everything

I recently joined the racquetball club. I know what your thinking and yes I was being serious. The first time I played it was last week and did quite well. So I tried to get my friends involved in the club in order to play them. I must have asked 25 people and they all gave me the same response, "really racquetball?" Many people perceive the sport as being very easy, old, or not interesting. They do this with out even giving this sport a chance. Why are people so close minded? I guess the answer I have come up with through this experience is they are afraid. People are creatures of habit (if we weren't there would be no Homework). We do the same things over and over each and every day. However, when the chance comes around to break that pattern, people shy away from it. As if they don't want to know anything else. This also could relate to the whole American culture. Just view American's throughout the world when they travel, they think their way is best and often do not try or experience another culture. It's simply a bad habit, not to try new things. Racquetball is very much like tennis, yet most people's perception is its not a sport. Why do you think this happens? All I want to do is play a little racquetball with my friends.....