Different

What does it mean when something or someone is different? By definition the word different means not of the same kind, not the same, or not ordinary or common. But what does it mean to call something different? We can say an apple is different from a orange, but they are both fruits. To compare an apple to a slice of bread, but they are both still food... then lets say we compare an apple to a car, but they both have mass and take up space, they are both comprised of matter. By definition then can any of these things be described as different? We throw around the word different like any other adjective, if something isn't what we believe to be normal or the same as us we call it different. A woman is different from a man, one skin color is different from another, a gay individual is different from a straight individual. But are they different? Sure they have differences, but no matter the differences we are all human beings... all the same. I feel like most of the arguments I hear today are about those three things: sex, race, and sexual orientation. After hundreds of years of fighting and revolutions we are still arguing over the same things. Don't get me wrong we've won some battles, but the war still rages on. No matter how hard we try that label "different" gets slapped on someones forehead and that's all anyone can see. Lets really think about this for a moment: what separates an apple from an orange? The color, shape, texture, flavor, etc... but when we think of them we see fruit, right? All those differences, but with the exception of your personal preferences we don't really think one is better than the other right? Both are sweet, have nutrients, are appetizing, are healthy for you... and so on. Now lets think about the differences between a woman and a man. Sexual organs, hormones, physical structure... can you think of anything else? Those few things don't even compare to the differences in an apple and an orange and yet we see woman as being so much different from men. Throughout history man ruled, man made the money, man was head of the household... is there something that makes man greater than woman? How about this lets look at this scientifically: men tend to be stronger than woman, but woman tend to be smarter than men... like the apples and the oranges we have our differences but that doesn't make one better than the other. I was brought up seeing every human being as holding the same amount of weight in the world, not to look at everyone as being different and those differences holding more weight than another. I think if everyone saw the world that way as everyone being human, the world would be a different place. Look at it this way: when you fill a bowl with apples and oranges and bananas and so forth, what do see? A bowl of fruit, right? So when you look at the world do you see all the differences, or do you see the human race?

A Long Way Down

I just watched the movie A Long Way Down and if you haven't seen it I recommend it. It gives a look into the lives of four people who on New Years Eve meet on the roof of a building ready to jump. Instead of jumping they all make a pact to wait until Valentine's Day. I really liked the movie because it gives a glimpse into the biggest question when it comes to individuals committing suicide - Why? When people commit suicide their loved ones are left to ask the question as to why they did it. Sometimes the person leaves a note and sometimes not, but no matter what that person writes down on the paper whose to say that's the real reason they ended their life. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone who plans to watch it, so I won't tell you if they jump or not. What I will tell you is something they say at the end, that a man who survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge said that in the five seconds after he jumped before he hit the water was that the only thing in his life that couldn't be fixed was jumping off that bridge. Being someone who has almost committed suicide I understand that thought completely. Luckily for me I had someone to make me realize that the only thing I couldn't have fixed would have been taking my own life, that someone gave me my five seconds. I think that the why is a big question and maybe even the person who's ready to jump doesn't even know the answer themselves. But if that person is you, I ask you to take those five seconds before you jump and think about it...

Self Evident Truth

I just watched this video and I thought it was necessary to share. If you haven't heard of the http://www.selfevidentproject.com/ you should, it is something that I think could help to break down barriers. In truth it is about so much more than gay individuals, its about all individuals and showing them for what they really are - human beings. We shouldn't be separated into groups based on sexual orientation, race, belief; we are all humans and we deserve equal rights. I'm a straight white christian but that doesn't mean I don't see the struggles of others. A majority of my friends are gay or bisexual, most of them don't believe in a god, and I have witnessed their struggles and listened to their pains and I stand beside them. I was raised seeing a person as a person; no matter their race, beliefs, or sexual orientation. With all that's going on today I think that most people forget that we are all human beings, and those things that define a person shouldn't be what separates them from being a human being. Being gay doesn't suddenly change the fact that you are human and being human you deserve the same rights as everyone else.

Strength

Strength -- A couple of years ago I got that word tattooed on my foot. I got it for one important reason: I needed it to remind myself everyday just how strong I am capable of being. I'm not talking about the kind of strength it takes to lift something heavy, but the strength it takes to hold an imaginary weight on your shoulders. My family and friends tell me all the time how strong and brave I am, that I'm going out and attempting to make my life better. In truth though I am not as strong as I look, I am pretty good at putting up a facade, and I fight everyday to stay strong. I may look like I've got it all figured out and everything is going as planned, but really I have no idea what I'm doing and I worry all the time that things won't work out. I think that everybody goes through this same thing at least once, if not more, in their life. I have worked hard the last six years to put my past behind me, to push myself to be the person I'm truly meant to be. Strength, is something that has brought me through. In all honesty I don't think everyone could have traveled down the same road I did and make it to the other side. It was more than just something inside of me though, it was all the people in my life; my family and friends and all the new friends I gained along the way. They are the reason I keep fighting everyday; the thought that my strength is their strength. They need me as much as I need them, and my life is important to them. I think that is something others should take from, that the life you live isn't lived just for you alone but all those around you as well. Your strength emanates in the lives of others and vice-versa. No matter how alone with your struggles you feel there are always those who are around to share your burdens, whether it be the god you believe in or family and friends or a significant other or a therapist you probably pay way to much for. It took me a while to figure it out, but when I did I realized that even though I feel alone that I'm never really alone and that gives me strength. So looking at that word inked into my skin reminds me of so much more than a word, it reminds me of my struggles all the things I went through and the knowledge that I have the ability to beat anything that crosses my path; it also reminds me of all the people who I draw that strength from and those same people who need me to be strong.

“I am thankful for my struggle because without it, I wouldn't have stumbled upon my strength.”
― Alexandra Elle

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I unfortunately don't get to spend the day with friends and family because I'm 1300 miles away from them. I love Thanksgiving at my house, I remember waking up to a turkey cooking in the oven. That smell will forever be burned into my memory. I love spending time with my family, most people can't stand to spend a whole day with their crazy relatives but me I love them all. When I was younger we used to play games all afternoon as the older men would take a nap to sleep off the turkey and the older women would play cards. Those are fond memories...

There is something else I feel like talking about today, mostly because it is so in your face at the moment. The Ferguson case. I noticed this article this morning - http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/11/27/agitators-planned-to-disrupt-macy-thanksgiving-day-parade/ Honestly I am disappointed in people, I understand that people are angry; I myself didn't really follow the case but I am aware of the circumstances. I don't see the reason behind ruining a parade which is meant to celebrate thanks. I listened to the prosecutors speech and watched the aftermath, that boys family asked for peace and the people answered with destruction. Burning of american flags, burning of police cars, burning of public buildings. Since the case started there has been so much hate and loss, is that really the best way to fight this case; fire with fire. There are some questions I wish to ask, and please don't consider this offensive I don't mean it to sound the least bit racist. Would this all have turned out the same if that boy had been white? Is the color of his skin really the underlying factor? If that boy had been white would it have made national news, would the president have made a speech, would there have been rioting and protesters? Police brutality happens more often than any of us would like, with power comes those who will abuse it. Police brutality occurs no matter the color of someones skin. Don't get me wrong I am not naive to the fact that those of darker skin are often targeted for police action, I took a class during my undergrad which focused on the criminal justice system and minorities. The cold hard truth is that if you are a rich white male you are far less likely to be stopped by the cops than a poor black woman, and its not right... not in the least bit. But everyday more and more of those with the old train of thought are leaving the criminal justice system and people with a new train of thought are coming in, I truly hope that someday the color of someones skin will no longer be an issue. But likewise people need to stop falling into the stereotypes; don't act like they expect you to act and rise above, make them see you in a different light.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite holiday, it's the one day out of the year that you have permission to be whoever or whatever you want, the skies the limit. Although I still think the classics are the best; vampire, witch, ghost, zombie... and you can interpret them however you want. What I really love about Halloween is its history whether All Hallows Eve or Day of the Dead. A time for remembering the dead a celebration of those who have passed on. Today Halloween has become a day of scares, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins. As long as I can remember I looked forward to the week before Halloween when I got to carve pumpkins, I loved digging my fingers into the slimy innards. Oh, and trick-or-treating I sure miss those days. Spending all evening dressed up in my cute little costumes knocking on strangers doors. I have fond memories of coming home to my father watching some scary black and white movie on TV and I'd sit at the table and pour out my bag full of candy so I could sort through it. And when I got old enough I finally got to go to a haunted house, screaming when something jumped out at me... and nothing is scarier than a clown with a chainsaw. As I get older it seems like those exciting Halloween things are getting farther and farther away, life seems to get in the way. I hope someday life will slow down enough and I'll have kids of my own and Halloween will become what it used to be for me again.

Visual Perception

I was thinking today about how we perceive others visually, simply I was thinking about the old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover." In most cases I think that this saying holds weight, to quickly people judge a person based on their appearance. Speaking from experience, I know what its like to be judged based on the way you look. People look at me and see a simple weak naive innocent girl, but trust me I am so much more than that. In truth we have all done it, it is natural for us to judge others based on the way they look. What we see is the first way in which we perceive an individual, even before they speak or act. For example the town I grew up in has a biker rally every year, thousands of bikers come from all over. When you see them at the bar or driving their bike around town you see a biker with tattoos and wearing leather. What you don't see are who they really are; most of them are doctors, lawyers, and other honorable members of society. The way a person looks or the way they dress doesn't always display the person they are, sometimes is does, but not always. How different would the world be if we saw people for what they truly were as opposed to what they look like? Could you just imagine, seeing people for who they really are? Would you want to? Would you want people to see you for who you really are? I think these questions are pretty important to keep in mind the next time you judge someone based on how you visually perceive them.

Meaghan Ramsey: Why thinking you're ugly is bad for you

I know I have posted quite a few Ted Talk videos, but I have another that I felt like sharing. One of the first things she talks about is a young girl posting a video on YouTube asking if she's ugly or not. The comments that Meaghan shows almost made me cry. To think that people would say such terrible things astounds me, because in no way is that young girl ugly. I know that Meaghan focuses on girls in her talk, but she also talks about boys as well. Some of the statistics and research findings she presents are staggering; I am amazed that even something such as how well you do on an exam and your overall GPA can become affected by how you perceive your appearance. I speak from experience when I say that I too struggle daily with whether or not I look good enough, and I think that a lot of people do. But how can we hope to change anything, how can a young impressionable girl feel beautiful when people are telling her how ugly she is? I think that the basis of Meaghan's idea is something that in the long run could change the way young people look in the mirror.

Representations of Gender in Advertising

Just saw this video, I feel like it kind of goes along with my last post. It describes gender roles in advertising, the statistics are based on Canadian society but I think they are pretty similar wherever you live. It amazes me how media portrays women and men; whether its advertisements, commercials, music videos, etc. Women are shown in such sexual and submissive roles, whereas men are shown as dominant and powerful. It is something that has always bothered me, mostly because people take one look at me and automatically assume I am weak. I was raised strong, I am capable of doing things most men can't even do and it bothers me that I am so quickly judged solely on the fact that I am a feminine woman. Gender stereotypes are the reason so many people are unhappy with the way they truly are, society tells us we have to look and act certain ways and really we should just be whoever we want to be.

Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood

Just saw this video and I felt the need to share it. I realize that in the world today the lines that separate men and women are starting to blur, but the truth is that those lines are still there. I am a feminist and I believe strongly in equal rights and equality of all, but what I think we as a nation fail to realize is that as hard as we try to make women stronger and more independent men are not being made to change as well. Now I don't want my words to be taken the wrong way so I will try to explain. Like this video is trying to explain, boys grow up watching movies that portray men as the dominant character. Women are very seldom portrayed as anything other than a damsel in distress, all love struck and defenseless. Don't get me wrong I love romantic comedies, but the issue with most of these movies is that it shows a woman needs a man. There is a quote that I think is really important for young girls to know, "A women needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." Society is working hard to promote strength in young girls, but we also need promote respect and understanding in young boys. Movies need to show more men working alongside women, showing men who are more than just the conquering hero.