Emotions are what makes human beings people. Its what defines us, as an individual, and a species. No other living organism on this planet can fell like we do, no other organism on this planet, can love or hate or empathise or despise, like we can. For the very thing that sets us apart, can sometimes be our greatest weakness. Human beings can be noted for many higher brain functions that other creatures lack. Our brains are so developed we have developed the ability for speech, and its most promising feature, its allowed us to expand beyond simply procreating and gave us the freedom to branch out. We've elected and toppled governments, drove species to extinction and back again. We've even discovered how to manipulate the genome that makes us unique.
But many would argue what truly makes us unique, is not our 46 chromosomes, but the feelings that truly giude us. I for one, have no stance on this except to say that without either, i wouldn't be able to call you a person. I cant begin to tell you why we do some of the things we do. Like jump on grenades. Or send millions of people to their deaths in a gas chamber. I cant tell you those things, sometimes i like to think no one can. And if your argument is, people do these things because their wired too, ill ask you why, but if you tell me its because they were great or terrible people. I'll say bull.
I just like every other stong willed person believe in heros and villains. Saints and sinners. But what really gets me is the overwhelming question mark looming over the whole exchange. I've always asked the questions, always wanted an answer, and if you cant answer me, ill write you off. But im sure there are people who would writie me off for doing just that, and scoff at me, and my shall we say disbelief? Im as confused to this point as you the reader must be now, but ill leave you with a final proclamtion, im a believer in human ingenuity, individuality, and free thought. I'm a beleiver in the Human Condition.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Politics: A joke
In 2008, America celebrated a milestone in our country's ever increasing urge of equality, the election of our first African-American President. Barack Obama, became the first African American president of the United States. Something some beleived would never happen. Besides his skin color however, i see no difference in Barack Obama then i do with the white candidates for president. In all honesty, what is different? He makes promises he doesnt keep, makes motivational speeches when only when hes up to it, and the economy is still in the gutter. The only real difference between our president and those of the past is his popularity. And that can be chalked up to the wirring uneducated followers of his skin color, not his polotical views. This of course is all speculation, and to quote me as fact, would be not only false, but unreliable.
Barack Obama will win the primary vote again in 2012. Anyone denying that is delusional. But can we honestly say its because that many people agree with his polotics? Or is it because they're jumping on the equality/ethnicity bandwagon trailing from Illinois to Washington. Dont misunderstand me, i've got nothing against the guy besides the regular grumblings of a non-voter towards his elected officials. My real problems with America, how many people today could list off the cabinet? Or all the Justices on the Supreme Court? Hell list me off the Bill of Rights and ill give you a gold star. Again, im not trying to disuade into thinking im agains the presidency or the government at all. But if we cant understand our leader, how in the world are we supposed to elect them?
Were not, to be frank. I have come to the conclusion that the majority of America isn't there to vote for whom they beleive will be their strongest leader, or even to vote for their party. No, the way i see it, the vast majority of Americans are there to ooo and aaa at the pretty lights and check the box next to the right name. The popular vote, if not the entire presidency, is a popularity contest. If your smiles white, and your teeth shine, hey there's one state. If you're good at public speaking there's another. You know why Ronald Reagan got through politics so well? Man was an actor, and the best actors, are in politics. I doubt that 50-60% of the people walking out of a public speaking of a presedential candidate could tell you what the speech was actually focused on beyond "Pro Life or Pro Choice" as their explanation. But im sure if you asked who they were voting for they wouldnt hesitate to tell you, it was that gentleman who just stirred their hearts with the very words they can't remember not 5 minutes later.
And another thing, should we really celebrate Barack Obama as the first African American president? Of course he is, and that should be something to cheer abou in America, but should we be proud of that fact? the fact that racial issues and tension have held back the ethnic and cultural advancement of an entire population of African Americas? One of the largest ethnicity in these United States? No. Thats my opinion. For all intensive purposes we should be the laughing stock of the civilized world. While we celebrate over the rise of our first "ethnicly diverse" president and the freedom for things like gay marraige, country's like Great Britain have already elected a female Prime Minister, and our neighbor to the north Canada has sanctioned gay marriage years ago. Are we so backwards that an African American President was a huge step for the racial aspect of America? I shudder to think that the election of Baack Obama caused a bigger stir in the ethnic and racial forums of America, than where his political views and polocies may have layed.
Barack Obama will win the primary vote again in 2012. Anyone denying that is delusional. But can we honestly say its because that many people agree with his polotics? Or is it because they're jumping on the equality/ethnicity bandwagon trailing from Illinois to Washington. Dont misunderstand me, i've got nothing against the guy besides the regular grumblings of a non-voter towards his elected officials. My real problems with America, how many people today could list off the cabinet? Or all the Justices on the Supreme Court? Hell list me off the Bill of Rights and ill give you a gold star. Again, im not trying to disuade into thinking im agains the presidency or the government at all. But if we cant understand our leader, how in the world are we supposed to elect them?
Were not, to be frank. I have come to the conclusion that the majority of America isn't there to vote for whom they beleive will be their strongest leader, or even to vote for their party. No, the way i see it, the vast majority of Americans are there to ooo and aaa at the pretty lights and check the box next to the right name. The popular vote, if not the entire presidency, is a popularity contest. If your smiles white, and your teeth shine, hey there's one state. If you're good at public speaking there's another. You know why Ronald Reagan got through politics so well? Man was an actor, and the best actors, are in politics. I doubt that 50-60% of the people walking out of a public speaking of a presedential candidate could tell you what the speech was actually focused on beyond "Pro Life or Pro Choice" as their explanation. But im sure if you asked who they were voting for they wouldnt hesitate to tell you, it was that gentleman who just stirred their hearts with the very words they can't remember not 5 minutes later.
And another thing, should we really celebrate Barack Obama as the first African American president? Of course he is, and that should be something to cheer abou in America, but should we be proud of that fact? the fact that racial issues and tension have held back the ethnic and cultural advancement of an entire population of African Americas? One of the largest ethnicity in these United States? No. Thats my opinion. For all intensive purposes we should be the laughing stock of the civilized world. While we celebrate over the rise of our first "ethnicly diverse" president and the freedom for things like gay marraige, country's like Great Britain have already elected a female Prime Minister, and our neighbor to the north Canada has sanctioned gay marriage years ago. Are we so backwards that an African American President was a huge step for the racial aspect of America? I shudder to think that the election of Baack Obama caused a bigger stir in the ethnic and racial forums of America, than where his political views and polocies may have layed.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Puritan Enterprise
The Puritans came to America escaping the religous persecution plaguing europe at th time. First of many, they paved the way for other religous sects to make their home in America, which had become a place of religous freedom. As they were wildly unpopular in Europe, they sustained their reputation in America becoming a disliked group of beleivers who's ideals were frowned upon.
However, even though the Puritans were hated and persecuted, they did embody everything the American Dream represents. Despite their unpopularity the faith flourished on the virgin lands of america without the monarchistic authority looming over them. They came to America searching religous freedom and found it, allowing them to grow and expand as a group and people gaining wealth and followers. This idea is the hallmark of the American Dream.
As a group the Puritans are generally frowned upon by the writers of history and are always cast in a negative light. if asked, i wouldn't make a comment, because who am I to question anothers beleifs. What they did and how they did it was apart of their religion and cannot be speculated on by others, particularly outsiders like myself. A modern equivalent of that would be a devout Christian trying to make an objective observation of the various acts and ideals of the Islamic faith. Something many have strived and failed to do.
However, even though the Puritans were hated and persecuted, they did embody everything the American Dream represents. Despite their unpopularity the faith flourished on the virgin lands of america without the monarchistic authority looming over them. They came to America searching religous freedom and found it, allowing them to grow and expand as a group and people gaining wealth and followers. This idea is the hallmark of the American Dream.
As a group the Puritans are generally frowned upon by the writers of history and are always cast in a negative light. if asked, i wouldn't make a comment, because who am I to question anothers beleifs. What they did and how they did it was apart of their religion and cannot be speculated on by others, particularly outsiders like myself. A modern equivalent of that would be a devout Christian trying to make an objective observation of the various acts and ideals of the Islamic faith. Something many have strived and failed to do.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The American Dream
The American Dream, in all honesty it differs from person to person like fingerprints. However my family has benefited greatly from the American Dream. An example of our American Dream in an of itself, is me. I am a half asian half caucasian person living in the United States. Political, religous, and the freedom from prejudice all find a place in my life. I'm allowed the freedoms everyone else is given in America because of the equality this country provides. The American Dream has helped my family in other ways as well.
My mother is an asian women. Born in America, while both her parents were immigrants from Asia. My grandfather from china and my grandmother from South Korea. My mothers parents were both doctors. My grandmother practiced medecine as a pediatrician while my grandfather researched medecine itself. Both had their own various acheivments while my grandfather and his time also pioneered the research leading to the knowledge of zinc being neccassary for the body to function. The American Dream served them well as they immigrated from another country thousands of miles away and raised themselves up in society in the United States.
My mother too, benefited from the American Dream, she holds an E.D.D in Education from columbia University and is the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs at Mass. College of Pharmaxcy and Health Sciences of Boston. She is a high level administrator at a provate college in Boston. One of the few asian women to do so. My mother benefited from the freedom the American Dream grants letting her follow her dreams in academia. These are only a few ways in which the American Dream benefited my family.
My mother is an asian women. Born in America, while both her parents were immigrants from Asia. My grandfather from china and my grandmother from South Korea. My mothers parents were both doctors. My grandmother practiced medecine as a pediatrician while my grandfather researched medecine itself. Both had their own various acheivments while my grandfather and his time also pioneered the research leading to the knowledge of zinc being neccassary for the body to function. The American Dream served them well as they immigrated from another country thousands of miles away and raised themselves up in society in the United States.
My mother too, benefited from the American Dream, she holds an E.D.D in Education from columbia University and is the Associate Provost of Academic Affairs at Mass. College of Pharmaxcy and Health Sciences of Boston. She is a high level administrator at a provate college in Boston. One of the few asian women to do so. My mother benefited from the freedom the American Dream grants letting her follow her dreams in academia. These are only a few ways in which the American Dream benefited my family.
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