The only way that the media affects what I look at, listen to, and wear, is by informing me about the new things that are out there. Based on the advertisements for shows, music, and clothing lines, I make my own decision on whether or not I like what I see. So basically, the media is simply a means of informing me about what's new in the world, not necessarily something that I go to for advice.
All you do is hear about how much the media impacts our thoughts, but I've yet to have been impacted in such a way, so I find it hard to believe. I suppose that the people that make such claims have nothing better to do than to over-analyze everything that's published to the world. A good example of this is that ridiculous Spongebob bit that was posted in Natasha's blog--no mean to sound offensive, but it really is ridiculous.
If I video taped people's reactions when they got off of a roller coaster and asked them how it was, and some of them told me: "My heart was racing as I rode it up and down," then I can easily edit out the bit where I asked them how the roller coaster was to make it sound as if the person was talking about something else. I remember just about all of the clips from that Spongebob video from back in the day when I used to watch Nickelodeon, and the person that created the video did just that--edited out the earlier parts to make it sound naughtier than it truly was.
Most of those witty comments said by the characters in those clips were probably setup intentionally by the writers to add some humor to the cartoon, but it isn't anything that one can argue as being sexual when there's clearly a valid reasoning behind each and every one of those clips. You can't draw a valid conclusion with only half of the story.
As for the whole Sarah Palin bit, to put it lightly, the only thing that I like about her are her looks. She's about as fit to run this country as I am considering we both know little about politics. And if you don't believe me, then see for yourself: go to YouTube and search for "Sarah Palin Holds Forth On Bush Doctrine," watch it, and then search for "Saturday Night Live - Sarah Palin & Hilary Clinton." Trust me; you'll get more than just a laugh out of it.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Calamities Around the World
The thing that really gets to me about all of this is the fact that our own problems are overseen and forgotten in the midst of tragedies across the world. Recently, Hurricane Ike struck just about all of Cuba enroute to Texas, and the damage caused in Cuba was foreboding; but at the same time, that same hurricane left Cuba, traveled the distance across the Gulf of Mexico, and struck one of our own states--Texas. So while everyone is caught up in the mishaps at Cuba, the people of Texas are being overshadowed for being in a more fortunate situation since they reside in the U.S.
Let me tell you something--there is nothing fortunate about what happened in Texas, nor is there anything fortunate about what happened at Cuba. Sure, the U.S. is a more prosperous nation, but we have to take care of our own nation before we send items into foreign territories in hopes of helping other people.
As a future philanthropist, I naturally feel remorse towards anybody in a tough situation as those in Haiti, Cuba, and even Texas, but the fact of the matter is, there are problems like these all around the world, and as much as you'd like to try to help out everyone, it's just not possible. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to help, but the problem is that you don't know where your donated items are really going to. Because of this, you have to use caution when donating to seemingly rightful causes, since you may be led to believe that you're making a difference to those unfortunate people when in reality you're getting scammed.
I'm glad, though, that there are people willing to give to those in dire need, because I feel like if you're in a position that you can give, then you should be giving to those in these unfortunate situations. It's times like these where the U.S. bands together to aid third-world countries that are in less fortunate economic conditions, regardless of tension amongst those countries. And it's times like these where I can say that I'm proud to be an American.
Let me tell you something--there is nothing fortunate about what happened in Texas, nor is there anything fortunate about what happened at Cuba. Sure, the U.S. is a more prosperous nation, but we have to take care of our own nation before we send items into foreign territories in hopes of helping other people.
As a future philanthropist, I naturally feel remorse towards anybody in a tough situation as those in Haiti, Cuba, and even Texas, but the fact of the matter is, there are problems like these all around the world, and as much as you'd like to try to help out everyone, it's just not possible. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to help, but the problem is that you don't know where your donated items are really going to. Because of this, you have to use caution when donating to seemingly rightful causes, since you may be led to believe that you're making a difference to those unfortunate people when in reality you're getting scammed.
I'm glad, though, that there are people willing to give to those in dire need, because I feel like if you're in a position that you can give, then you should be giving to those in these unfortunate situations. It's times like these where the U.S. bands together to aid third-world countries that are in less fortunate economic conditions, regardless of tension amongst those countries. And it's times like these where I can say that I'm proud to be an American.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Opinions
You don't discuss religion or politics with your family and friends unless they share the same views that you do. Period. There's no point on talking about aspects of religion or politics to the people that you cherish the most if they don't share those same perspectives; it's only going to lead to arguments, or in worst case scenarios, friendships to be broken.
Now, that doesn't mean that people shouldn't have their own opinions. The true value of an opinion is the fact that it's yours, and the same way that you hold true to your own opinions, everyone else is entitled to do the same with theirs. If you can share your opinion in a non-superior fashion, where you don't degrade others and acknowledge multiple sides of the situation, and still manage to make believers out of what it is that you have to say, then you're already stronger mentally than most people in the world. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder, you deserve it.
As for me, many will agree that I hold strong to my opinions, and that I don't base them on popular belief. I'm my own toughest critic, because I work hard to keep myself from becoming something that I'm not. So if you ask me for my opinion on a subject, I'm going to give it to you, even if everyone else feels differently. My opinions help shaft my character, so if you don't like what I have to say, then you don't like who I am. I hold my opinions on a high pedestal because I know that having an opinion is what gives me a say in this world--a chance to not just be heard, but to be listened to.
And although I try my best to acknowledge multiple sides of any given situation, sometimes my primitive nature gets the best of me and I go from persuading to defending. But if I'm ever caught in a situation like that with you, just know that I'm always right. And if you don't believe me, take a look at this sentence: In my opinion, I'm always right. Now, if I rearrange the sentence, we'll have the following: I'm always right in my opinion. Thus concluding the argument!
And so I hope you've enjoyed some insight into my thoughts about opinions, especially the last bit where I proved why mine are always right. If you don't then you're clearly wrong, but if you read my blog, then you would have known that by now.
Now, that doesn't mean that people shouldn't have their own opinions. The true value of an opinion is the fact that it's yours, and the same way that you hold true to your own opinions, everyone else is entitled to do the same with theirs. If you can share your opinion in a non-superior fashion, where you don't degrade others and acknowledge multiple sides of the situation, and still manage to make believers out of what it is that you have to say, then you're already stronger mentally than most people in the world. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder, you deserve it.
As for me, many will agree that I hold strong to my opinions, and that I don't base them on popular belief. I'm my own toughest critic, because I work hard to keep myself from becoming something that I'm not. So if you ask me for my opinion on a subject, I'm going to give it to you, even if everyone else feels differently. My opinions help shaft my character, so if you don't like what I have to say, then you don't like who I am. I hold my opinions on a high pedestal because I know that having an opinion is what gives me a say in this world--a chance to not just be heard, but to be listened to.
And although I try my best to acknowledge multiple sides of any given situation, sometimes my primitive nature gets the best of me and I go from persuading to defending. But if I'm ever caught in a situation like that with you, just know that I'm always right. And if you don't believe me, take a look at this sentence: In my opinion, I'm always right. Now, if I rearrange the sentence, we'll have the following: I'm always right in my opinion. Thus concluding the argument!
And so I hope you've enjoyed some insight into my thoughts about opinions, especially the last bit where I proved why mine are always right. If you don't then you're clearly wrong, but if you read my blog, then you would have known that by now.
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