Gullible is on the ceiling...

This is a call for all of those who believe that they believe totally in whatever political/ religious/ social issue, to just stop. Just stop and look and what you're believing in. Are you sure that you believe in it? Do you have evidence/ examples supporting it? Do you get your information from a credible source? Does the source have a strong bias? Have you looked at the other side? Considered the other side? Do you understand where the opposition is coming from?

Until one has gone through all of these steps, they don't really know what they're talking about. They're ignorant. To make a decision, you have to hear the other side of things. People should not believe the first thing they hear because it's may not be true.

For example, I was talking with a friend last night who for awhile was totally against the Ground Zero community center (I know this is fairly old news, but stick with me). He thought it be disrespectful towards the Americans who died on September 11th and that it was an act of defiance against the US saying, "We conquered you." For awhile, I tried to tell him about the liberal perspective, talking about freedom of religion and religious tolerance for all, including the Islamic religion. Last night, I got a phone call and it was my friend telling me how he'd read an article about the couple who want to start the Ground Zero community center. He read it in TIME magazine-- which he had heard me talk about a fair amount of times before-- and realized that there was more weight to the issue than he had thought before, despite my attempts to tell him earlier on when the issue first came out. He learned that the couple who started the community center had actually been working on fighting the Taliban, not the opposite like Reverend Terry Jones believed. He also learned that the reason that the Muslim couple want the community center is because they believe the US needs it. In the US history, we've oppressed Blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Irish, Catholics, Jewish, and many more. In current times, people of the Islamic faith are stereotyped and are misunderstood, especially those here in America.

What I want people to know is that they're two sides to everything. Right and Left. Good and Bad. Wrong and Right. Whatever. It's important to see that people shouldn't believe everything they hear. Terry Jones is a good example of this...

My European history teacher, one who I will remember for the rest of my life told our class to always question authority. Question everything. Make sure you have the right information and don't be afraid to admit your ignorance.

Skinny White Girl

To elaborate on an earlier post...
A paper I wrote for my English class, I don't care if you like it, agree with it, or whatever. Maybe it'll serve as some entertainment. Who knows...
Humans feel the need to classify people, not many know why.  It’s how the mind works. If some one or something doesn’t fit into at least one category, the mind goes into crisis mode because it cannot place an individual into a group. Many people disagree with the classification or discrimination of others; however, judgment on a person’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and size occurs at the moment one notices another and cannot be avoided. First impressions are not always correct but for the most part, they are.  Society must be able to recognize though, that there are people that have the traits of a specific quality, but may not fit the standards. I was placed on this Earth to fight the stereotype placed against my people. I, as a Caucasian, young woman am discriminated against and I do not meet the spoiled, perfect, and wealthy standards of the “Skinny, white girl,” stereotype.  

I only wish that I were as spoiled as I’m assumed to be.  Many times I have been confronted about my laptop, an Apple Macbook Pro. “Did your daddy buy that for you?” my oppressor tauntingly asks. “No, he didn’t. I paid for it.” His/ her shocked face is always priceless, as I continue to tell them that I actually paid for my truck also and regularly pay for the normal expenses such as: toiletries, gas, prescriptions, clothes, and schooling. My clothes are from everyday stores. I could care less about brand names and whether or not my clothes are “so last season.” It does not matter if one’s purse is from Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, or any other useless designer. Would my future employers care if I owned a Michael Kors garment from his fall collection? Doubtful, if anything, they’d be turned off and stereotype me into the group of spoiled girls. Those who are spoiled and brag about how their daddy spends more money on them than himself are materialistic and shallow. I refuse to let myself sink that low. I am financially dependent on my parents, but I demand to be given credit for the things that I do purchase and how I carry myself.

I have accepted that I am not anything remotely close to perfect. Like all other humans, I have many flaws.  I tend to be too kind and my so- called friends take advantage of my submissiveness. My ACT score was above average but nowhere close to the scores of those attending Ivy League colleges and universities. I don’t think before I act. My sister and I can’t ever seem to get along. I pick at my hair.  I’ll never be on the Victoria’s Secret runway or on the cover of Glamour magazine. Like the majority of college students, I procrastinate until the night before a test or major project. My truck has barely been able to pass inspection because I’m procrastinating to buy a new exhaust system. I have bad breath in the morning and many dark freckles. I have an addiction to Twizzler’s. I’m as stubborn as a bull.  On top of it all, I can’t seem to go one day without tripping over myself, running my shoulder into a wall, choking on my own saliva, or overall, just embarrassing myself in front of someone. I am aware of yet, comfortable with my imperfections because I know whom I am and I know that I’m doing my best.

            Some may argue that my family is upper- middle class, however we are included in the working- class status. My parents have worked hard all their lives to create the life we live. My dad has worked two jobs for as long as I can remember and my mom puts more hours into her job than is expected by her boss. At times, my dad would work three 24- hour shifts consecutively because of his two paramedic positions.  My grandparents were waitresses, garbage men, and farmers who all possessed addictions that kept them from a more privileged life. The generations before my parents gave birth to all of their children before the age of eighteen. My mom was the first to graduate college in her family. I will be the first of my family to graduate from college immediately after high school. I come from a family full of hard- workers. My family’s life was not handed to them and would be completely different if they had been content with what was given to them.

The amount of times I’ve been referred to, as a “Skinny, white girl” is incalculable. I am not better than any other human being out there nor do I think of myself to be.  Am I grateful for the life I have? Absolutely, I’m better off than the majority of people on this Earth and I would not ask for more. I actually ate my peas when my grandmother reminded me that children in Africa did not have as much as I did. Do I have everything? Not at all, at least not as much as I’m assumed to have. Each status and stereotype has its differences and its own conflicts that it’s inhabitants must cope with. Stereotypes are there for a reason but are not always correct. Those who are aware of their flaws should work to reduce the severity. I deserve recognition for the work that I have put into myself against the spoiled, perfect, and wealthy girls that have burdened me with the task of disproving this stereotype.

Accept me because I accept you.

I am an atheist. There, I said it. Now, I hoped I haven't scared you away because in our society atheism along with things like socialism and communism are taboo topics. From our young childhood, we are taught to hate these words, even if we don't understand them.

I'm an atheist, not because I hate the world, not because I'm a teenager doubting everything, and that I think that I know it all. I simply do not believe in a higher power. Why does this have such a negative connotation? I don't judge others because of their beliefs. I don't think of myself as superior because you believe in a funny man in the clouds like Santa Claus. Those thoughts don't cross my mind. Those of you who know me, am I not a good person? Do I not follow the general morals and ethics of society? I haven't killed a man, I don't cheat on my boyfriend, I do my best to be a good friend, sister, and daughter, I have good grades, I'm involved in extracurriculars... What more can you ask?

I've been to church, several times and if you'd ask me to go to church I would even though I disagree with the teachings. I like to learn about to different beliefs. I want to know as much as possible about religions. Many people are able to get through hard times through God. I know of people who have been able to overcome addictions because of God. I am so happy for those who are able to see the light (no pun intended) at the end of the tunnel because of God.

I simply am not able to. People should be okay with that for me. Don't pray for me. If I am wrong about religion, heaven, God, hell, etc. Then, I will gladly eat my words and go to hell and I will be okay with that and you should too.

Why so judgmental?

I work hard for what/who I am... if that makes sense. I work hard to be a good student. I work hard in the morning to look nice. I work hard on my personality to become a better person. I work hard at my job so I will have good references later on in life. I work hard to have people like me.

Do people know this about me? Maybe, maybe not. I know that I am sick and tired of having people label me as the skinny, white girl, who has it all and who they feel like they need to knock down. I've had a gradual climb to the top and nobody, I repeat NOBODY is going to knock me down. I work too damn hard to fall. I can easily share the top with others. The top is as big as the universe and there's room for everybody. It's when people start pushing others off, that's when I become the Hulk.

Blogging is my outlet. Tomorrow, I tackle religion.

Women can't drive...

There are two types of women drivers -- not all fit this category.

Type 1: Incredibly aggressive woman drivers. I get just as frustrated with slow drivers too; however, if women would stop tailgating others, they'd be able to see that there is a car in the slow lane that will not allow them to pass in the left lane. This would allow them to look less like an idiot and switching lanes every two seconds. 

Type 2: Those who lean over the steering wheels and drive like the elderly (whom this stereotype applies to also). I understand that you're terrified of those big tractor- trailers and hicks in their lifted trucks. It is not necessary to drive fifteen under the speed limit though. You're almost as dangerous as those who are going fifteen over!