The End is Near

So occasionally I come across difficulty in selecting a topic for my Sunday evening blog post, often due to my absence of brain power (however much was there from the start remains unknown). As a solution, I ask my girlfriend at times to suggest a few topics for me to cover. The other day I asked her to look at my blog to read one of my posts, and of course she complained about the absence of color and life! To me this is a funny generalization between males and females. We guys generally don’t care what the damn thing looks like, as long as the content is there. But many women will spend excessive (in my eyes) amounts of time and effort to the detail of things, like a blog. A bit unrelated to what I’m going to talk about next, but I just found it somewhat humorous.
Anyway, more importantly, there are eight days left of class. Eight! I cannot believe how quickly this semester has gone by, let alone this year. I feel that I have changed quite a bit since August, and reflecting on that is interesting. When I first came here to UNC, I was all about the “I love college” attitude. I had no real desire to actually work hard to earn my grades. I mean, I was still a good student and did my work, but I definitely procrastinated a lot. I cared about my grades and put effort, but I never gave myself time to put my best effort into things. Plus, it was often painful to sit down in the library on a beautiful day and work. It was almost unnatural for me to look at my weekends as time for studying and preparing for the week ahead. I mean, who honestly had to do that in high school? I know I didn’t. I was accustomed to tests and papers that required minimal analysis and application, with much more regurgitation than anything. So you can only imagine what I thought of my initial tests and papers here at Carolina.
Time management is what really killed me and my study habits were poor. I got caught in a cycle that is not easy to avoid. I would stay up late trying to finish work due the next day, and would be tired during class the following morning. This would leave me restricted on my learning and would cause me to go to my room to nap or relax instead of reviewing or completing work ahead of time. This is a vicious cycle and it is really difficult to get out once you are in it. I would relate it to quicksand.
Also, coming to an environment with an incredibly large student population, most of which are among the brightest in the world, was intimidating at first. Walking by the library on a Friday night and seeing students working away made me feel guilty and questioning of whether I was working as hard as I should be. Confidence is a huge factor in academic performance that I lacked last semester. As a result of my cycle I got a lower-than-expected grade in Chemistry (shocking right?). I let this get to my head and it made me want to avoid the subject altogether. This lack of practice and the mental intimidation produced a bad result, but ultimately taught me a lot.
Following the Fall semester, I realized that while I’m at school I should be doing everything I can for my classes. Lengthy breaks will follow and reward my hard work. Practice makes perfect, and without the proper time to sit down and practice, success will be limited. The number of people who can sit through a class without paying attention or working hard and still receive good grades is rare, extremely rare. Those people always pissed me off.
I’m still learning as the semester winds down, but I feel that I have come a long way from last semester in terms of balance and managing my collegiate lifestyle. Fortunately, as cliché as some may find it, I have really taken to heart the concept that no matter what you do, just be happy and that is the best thing you could ever ask for. With this in mind, I will still strive for my goals, but I’m going to enjoy my ride in life as well.

Your Weed Payed for My Child's Education!

First off, let me make it clear that I do not engage in the consumption or sale of marijuana. I am proud to say that despite peer pressure and other situations, I have never smoked weed. However, its legal status is a national interest to many, and I think it is an interesting topic. I am not an expert on the issue itself, so bear with me. I will just give my opinion on what this country should do concerning marijuana and its legal status.

If I remember correctly, there are a shocking number of people in jail for non-violent marijuana crimes. The figure is something like one out of every six people in jail is there for these non-violent crimes. To me, prison is a place for violent and dangerous people. The people that go to jail for breaking the controlled substance laws with marijuana are generally non-violent, or at least do not have a history of violence. So why are they going to jail, other than because it is simply against the law? Their imprisonment is contributing to the overcrowding of jails, and allowing many violent criminals to stay on the streets.
In my opinion, marijuana should be a personal choice, like alcohol or cigarettes. Some may argue that it alters the mind and decision-making of the user. However, so does alcohol. I remember reading that people who consume alcohol are more likely to act violent than those under the influence of marijuana. Prohibition and the 18th amendment show that we clearly could not live without alcohol and it is almost inevitable that marijuana will be an aspect of society regardless of legalization or not. So why not legalize it? Why not tax it and use the money for other things? After all, this is a free country, and if these people want to risk their health with marijuana why can’t they?
The laws against marijuana have created an underground society that often does involve violence in terms of smuggling and transporting the drug into the United States. If it were legalized, this trend could be eliminated with production occurring within designated parts of the country, and becoming self-sustaining. This would likely eliminate most of the incoming smuggling, and the violence associated with its transportation. By taxing the substance and incorporating regulations, it could be just as efficient as the alcohol business. The money received from the taxes would stay inside the country, rather than venture to the drug lords of third-world nations. We could enhance infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Although it sounds like a simple and easy process, it is not.
Should marijuana be legalized, it would not be surprising if other drugs such as heroin or cocaine were pushed for legalization by its users. Also, health issues would be inevitable no matter what people say. Putting smoke into your lungs is simply not good for you, whether it is tobacco, tea, or marijuana. Also, with legalization marijuana could potentially become more accessible to children and secondhand smoke would also become a health issue.
Ultimately, I think there is a lot of potential for legalizing marijuana for the good of our people. So much money is spent on it today that often leaves the country when it should be staying. Also, like alcohol, people are going to continue to use this substance regardless of regulation, so we might as well utilize the habit of some to benefit all. It is already making advances in California with medicine, so it is not out of sight for future legal changes to occur.

Controvercial Futbol

It is Saturday afternoon and I just finished watching Manchester United clash with Chelsea. If you are unaware of what I am talking about, these are two of the premier clubs in the EPL (English Premier League). This league is hailed as one of, if not the, best leagues in the world. In case you are not aware, I am an avid futbol (soccer) fan, and a proud fan of Manchester United. Unfortunately today, Manchester United fell behind 2-1 to Chelsea, leaving them two points behind the now current leaders, Chelsea. I would normally be upset only because of poor performance or lack of effort from my team. However, I am furious, and for different reasons.

Along with my passion for playing and watching futbol, I am a referee as well. So while I watch the players, I also watch the referees to learn from them. These leagues feature the best players in the world, along with the best referees in the world. Now, I know that as humans we are not all perfect, but at this level it is safe to say that near perfection is expected. To my awe, Chelsea scored their second goal of the match after clearly being in an offside position. This means that the attacker was past the second to last defender at the precise moment that the ball was played to him. This is the primary concern of the assistant referee. Yet, today the assistant referee got it all wrong and cost the match for Manchester United, who was already the loss of injured Wayne Rooney, arguably their most potent goal scorer. This brings me to pose the question of whether instant replay and review should be implemented in modern day futbol, including the world cup.

With modern technology, instant replay and review can be seen in many of the world’s large-scale sports. Football, basketball, tennis, baseball, hockey, and NASCAR all utilize this technology. It has been of long debate whether this technology should be implemented in the world’s game or not. I personally am against it. Think about it. Futbol is played all over the world, often in venues that do not have access to such potentially expensive equipment. Also, futbol has been revered for its beautiful play and the unexpected variations in results due to weather, location, player’s health, and even officials. Futbol is a game that is characterized by these variables and allows for spectacular results all around. A team may have a tendency to be dominant in a league, but any team could potentially seize an opportunity to upset the other. Also, from the perspective of an official, this type of error correction could lead to loss of credibility and ultimately game control. People may begin to doubt the officials, who are doing their best to call what they see, and this would tarnish the sport as a whole. So, despite my anger and disappointment for a missed offside call that lead to my team’s loss, I am still in favor of keeping futbol free of instant replay and review.

What have we done?

I usually tell myself that I am going to complete this blog post before Sunday evening, but for some reason, I always end up doing other things instead. This weekend was quite enjoyable for me. I stayed in my residence hall and spent time with friends on Friday evening, after finishing a long week at school which included a midterm on Friday morning. Saturday I woke up at 10 am to meet with my father, who was visiting from Asheville, and travel to Cary for a referee assignment that I had. I refereed the Duke women’s soccer match against Minnesota University. From there I grabbed some Indian cuisine with my father, and returned to campus for some intense racquetball.
While in the car, on the way back to campus, I mentioned to my father that I wondered what it would be like to live in the 60’s and 70’s. I had a Simon and Garfunkel song stuck in my head, and its sweet melody and creative lyrics brought me into a state of deep thought on the meaning of life as we know it today. I know that to many, this is not a profound event, but for me I really questioned a lot.
In modern times, it seems to me that a majority of people are preoccupied within our recent technological craze. People are constantly focused on a screen, whether it is a computer, television, iPod, or any other device. Everyone is always in a hurry to hustle and bustle and fit as many things as possible into one day. I am aware that I partake in these activities, largely because of school and other obligations, but it really overwhelms me at times. Many days I feel have just flown by without any real significance coming out of them. Did I meet anyone new? Did I invest in my personal relationships with family or a loved one? To me, I think it is possible that with modern societal norms, people overlook the simplicity of just living. I mean, imagine what this world was like thirty years ago. Sure people were busy with work and school, but even then the social scene was different and most likely the pace of life.
With all of these “improvements” in our lives, we can find the cheapest gas in town online, we can drive to places we have never been to before with the push of a button, and we can access almost any piece of information known to man with a computer. This almost takes the joy out of living, I feel, by making things so convenient. We lose appreciation for the “hunt” or the search for things. Now trust me, I love the internet and it is extremely helpful, I was just using it as an example. I do think, however, that we have advanced to the point where people have lost the concept of living by trying to enhance everything that we were provided with. I do not think it is necessary for us to rid ourselves of all of our amenities, but I think a balance is necessary.

Giving Back to the Less Fortunate: Necessary or Optional?

On both Friday and Saturday, I devoted large portions of my time to volunteer. On Friday, I participated in a Habitat for Humanity build. My work consisted primarily of roofing work. I helped put tar paper down on the roof and also carried 70-80 pound packages of shingles up a ladder. On Saturday, I got together with some graduate students and went to Club Nova. This club is a house where mentally ill people come to be served meals and some are even housed behind the club.
Now, this is not the first time that I have volunteered. I have experience working at other places including Habitat for Humanity back home in Asheville. But for me, Club Nova was a completely different experience. I was interacting with people that are normally not encountered in everyday life. All were adults with varying levels and cases of some form of mental illness or disturbance. Some resembled characters from the film “Radio” while others were interested in super heroes. Regardless of their illness, I really enjoyed interacting with these people. They were very polite, grateful, and appreciative of our cooking and cleaning up. So after having these experiences, I pose the question: should we as a society take it upon ourselves to care for the less fortunate, to what degree, and how?
I remember at the beginning of this semester some of you guys were talking about the welfare system and how people on welfare were taking advantage of the system. You claimed that they were driving nice cars and owned other things that indicated a more luxurious lifestyle. I personally cannot agree or contest that statement because I do not have enough experience seeing these things. However, I do believe in humanity and taking care of each other, so I do support the concept of welfare and taking care of the less fortunate.
I am sure that some of you are in complete disagreement, which is fine, but let me first explain why I feel this way. First, you must put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Imagine being born with a disability that prevents you from working. Imagine being stuck by disaster that causes you to lose everything you had in life. Not fun huh? Maybe then you would want some help? The purpose of government is to serve its people and I feel that this is a valid way of serving some people. Secondly, there are people out there who do not abuse the system and need government care so that they can get back on their feet. The real issue is regulating this system so that people do not abuse it and actually make progress from it.
People cannot be given everything, or they will not grow from it. Poverty tends to be cyclical and with provided opportunities, many should be able to grow and seek jobs and education to better themselves and their financial situation. So the degree of care should depend on the situation. Certain levels of need should be established by financial analysis and other factors to be determined by the government. Then, to make sure that these people do not abuse it, more accurate applications should become standard so that the government is not fooled by some people’s illusions. I know that Club Nova is for mentally ill patients and it is generally agreed upon that they should be cared for because it is not their choice to be disabled. But I do know that they are as equally deserving of care as people who do not have the ability to support themselves or their families, whatever the situation may be. We are all humans and we are all created equally, so why can’t we all be able to access equal opportunity and aid?

Experiences

So for some reason, I was under the impression that because of Spring Break, blog posts were not due this weekend. But just in case, I checked many other people’s blogs and found that you published posts.
So I don’t really have much on my mind now. It is late Sunday evening, the night before classes resume from Spring Break. I had a good break. I was able to relax, sleep in, and spend time with my family and my girlfriend. Over this break, I realized how drastically people have changedhabi, including myself. Friends from high school do not act the same or necessarily have the same interests as before. Some are too focused on school work (not necessarily a bad thing), while others are too preoccupied with their friends from college. As if they do not spend enough time with them in the first place!
Every break I have from school, I tell myself that I am going to devote some time to working on school work. Unless something is immediately due, this never happens. I wonder why I even bring my backpack to school. I consider myself a good student, but for some reason I view my home as an escape. It is a haven of missing comforts. I never thought it would be this way, but as a second semester freshman, home has what I need, rest, food, family, and my bed. Along with being unable to complete work, I never find enough time to reunite with every friend I want to. My girlfriend is moving to Hawaii this Wednesday with her family because of the Air Force, so I dedicated most of my time to her.
Despite being extremely busy with family and my girlfriend, I did manage to catch up with a few friends. Unfortunately some of my buddies have changed, and not necessarily for the better. One of my pals is dipping now, and he acknowledges that it is a bad habit. He even has a friend who has just been diagnosed with mouth cancer for the third time! Hello! Wake up call! Well, I am not his mother and do not nag him or lose sleep over it, but I did find it somewhat disturbing and dramatically out of character for him. But I feel that I need to evaluate myself as well.
After having almost a year of college under my belt, I feel a lot of things have changed for me to some degree. My relationships with my family have improved, dramatically in some cases like with my high school sophomore younger brother. I think distance makes one treasure what they have, plus not having to be in each other’s space constantly is a nice plus. Also, I think I have gained a more broad sense of what is out there in the world after just a little exposure to Carolina. I feel I was an aware person of my surroundings, but I think I have gained a better sense of what life is like in the real world and how I am going to prepare for it. I hope.

Family Values

The elusive vacation known to college students across the nation as “spring break” has finally arrived for UNC school system schools. Most students will be traveling to warmer locations in hopes of beach fun, drunken nights, and spring flings with the opposite sex. Many students, like myself, will be returning to their homes to spend quality time with family and friends, or will they? Something I have noticed is plaguing our nation’s families; the erosion of family values.

Not long ago, I was home for winter break and the holidays. I was surrounded by family and friends. It was a very enjoyable time. As a matter of fact, I was invited to spend some time at a good friend’s house. I spent the afternoon with him and was invited to stay for dinner by his mother. I gladly accepted the invitation, expecting a pleasant family gathering filled with discussions and catching up with one another. Instead, to my surprise, dinner was spread across the kitchen counter like a buffet. I was told to fill my plate, while my friend’s parents ate and watched television in the living room. My host’s sister was watching television in the kitchen area, and my host wanted to go to the basement to eat and watch football. I know this may not be shocking to many of you, or it may be, but I was raised in a family where dinner is considered family time.

This is likely not a new trend in American households either. The more technology advances and the more Americans value the phrase “time is money”, the less quality time is spent with family. Americans spend more time working than any other nation in the world. Some argue that this is a way to maintain American international power, influence, and security. But is it really worth the sacrifice of family time and values? It is just sad for me to see that families do not spend time with each other like they used to. Of course not all families are like this, but from my observations it seems like it is a growing occurrence. It is no wonder that divorce rates are so high in our society and family problems are considered a norm. Is it safe to attribute all of these societal issues to the absence of a nightly family meal? It is possible, but I am sure there are other contributing factors.

Ultimately, we college students live away from home for a majority of time during the year. So it is only logical for me to think that family time should be cherished when the opportunity is presented. I know that I will not spend every evening I can eating with my family, but I do know that when we eat, it will be together with the absence of outside distractions like the television or computer. I find these to be extremely anti-social and distracting. So next time you find yourself wanting to watch television at dinner time, remember that your time with your family is limited and should be enjoyed when possible.

Racist America

Another week at UNC has come and gone, and here I am sitting at my computer trying to come up with a good blog topic. It’s comical how cyclical things can be in one’s life. My week tends to be quite busy from Monday through Wednesday. After that, the weekend is practically there for me, since I only have three classes on Thursday and Friday combined. But before I know it, I’m slammed with Chemistry and Spanish homework. I usually dedicate my entire Sunday to Chemistry, and then I compose my blog post. Anyways, I’ve decided to discuss the issue of racism in the modern United States of America because of an incident I encountered over the weekend.
We all know it’s there. There is an unspoken truth about racism and racial preference in this country, as much as we would like to deny it. Each group has there stereotypes and understood societal roles. Unfortunately, our historical roots dealing with racism are deeply embedded in this country and it will likely be years before it is ever erased.
This weekend, my suitemate hosted a friend from high school who now attends Clemson University. Apparently Clemson students are quite racist. While he was visiting, he was in my room with a bunch of friends. One of our friends happens to be an African-American. While we were all talking, the Clemson visitor managed to call our friend the “n” word. I am almost positive that he did not have a hurtful tone or intent behind his words. However, I found this appalling. How can someone say such a deeply hurtful thing without even thinking twice about it? And this is why I say that racism is still a problem in the U.S. People throw this word around like it is nothing, especially African-Americans. To me, this only promotes and sends the message that calling an African-American the “n” word is okay. The visitor seemed completely okay with his statement and never once apologized. I later talked to my suitemate about it, his host, and he defended him by saying, “well, they are a little racist at Clemson”. As if it were okay! Our friend is his friend as well and it did not affect him either! And the issue extends far beyond black and white. The general animosity among immigrants and other ethnic groups are present as well.
Of course there is a major sense of improvement among our generation. Interracial relationships are becoming more and more common and minorities have full citizen rights. But unfortunately, each tends to congregate by race and stick together rather than associate themselves with the other groups at hand. People still identify themselves by their skin color rather than who they are and where they come from. It is easy to categorize people in such a way, but that does not necessarily justify it. Our society as a whole needs to make a full effort before any progress can be made toward this issue.

Vietnam and Iraq: What's the difference?

I’m enjoying writing about these controversial issues, so here’s another one: the war in Iraq.
Like most Americans, I was easily persuaded by government propaganda and the media motioning for a “War on Terror”. This was shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and Americans were emotionally distraught and needed a focus to blame for the attack. Yes, the Taliban was responsible for training the men who high jacked the planes and yes, they were operating in Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, the Taliban was an oppressive political group in Afghanistan that should not have been tolerated. Therefore, I believe it is safe to say that the occupation of Afghanistan was legitimate and reasonable. But that leads to the real issue at hand: what about the occupation of Iraq?
American involvement in Iraq is not a new concept. We quickly jumped to aid the people of Kuwait and defended them from Iraq and their invasion. This was called Operation Desert Storm. The problem with this mission is that it was an opportunity to wipe Iraq of their dicatator, Sadaam Hussein, but it did not happen. The American government was clearly motivated to be involved solely for its self interest in the rich oil reserves of Kuwait. If the Iraqi’s gained control, things would have potentially been economically unfavorable for the West. However, American forces were able to push the Iraqi military out of Kuwait. Yet, we never took Sadaam out. Why not? The opportunity was there, but it did not happen. Clearly, the American government had an opportunity, but it was too engaging and probably not worth the effort in the end.
So what bothers me is the fact that, after September 11th, the United States invaded Afghanistan and then moved on to Iraq without completing military operations in Afghanistan! We spread our military force too thin and were not able to adapt to the fighting style attributed to the respective regions. I know that it is easy to criticize the government’s actions with hindsight, but some things are just obvious. First, the U.N. searched the Iraqi regime for weapons of mass destructions and did not find any evidence of such weapons. Second, military operations in Afghanistan were not complete before moving on to Iraq. Third, where are the weapons of mass destruction? The Bush Administration obviously felt confident enough to tell the public of their existence and to provide reasoning for our actions, but they were never uncovered!
I understand that Sadaam was not a good man, with several crimes to his name. But surely it is evident now that he provided some sense of stability in Iraq. Also, aren’t there more threatening leaders out there in the world? Kim Jong II possibly? I mean, they do have nuclear technology and a clearly demonstrated hatred for the United States. I guess I just feel that the war in Iraq was a big scam for making money through private contracts with the military and possibly to redeem the previous Bush Administration by getting killing Sadaam Hussein the second time around. Will the United States ever come out of this conflict with a victory? I highly doubt it, and the comparison to a modern Vietnam conflict seems very applicable to me.

9/11: Inside Job or Coincidence?

Before I start discussing this hot issue at hand, I just want to make it clear that I am an American and I love my country dearly. This can be a sensitive subject for some so I just wanted to make that clear.
Now, September 11, 2001, I can remember vividly. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I was in the 5th grade. We were one hour into our daily routine when the news had spread of an airplane crashing into the World Trade Center. I remember hearing the teachers speaking amongst themselves nervously, and the television was turned off after the second plane hit.

After a few weeks, the United States launched itself into a war with Afghanistan and the Taliban. With heavy media coverage and propaganda, American citizens were largely in support of the Bush administration. But with the release of the official 9/11 Commission Report, many people began to look into the incidents more and question the government.
When I first saw the news coverage of the attacks, I was completely convinced by what the government said. I was extremely young and easily persuaded. I believed that the War on Terror was the right thing to do. I was really intrigued by the whole situation, because I recognized how huge this event was for our country and from a historical view. But with my experiences and age, I’ve realized how subjective material is and that information like this should be analyzed and questioned.
So, with that said, I think there are a lot of things concerning the 9/11 terrorist attacks that are too “coincidental” to be believable. I do not fully believe every theory out there, but I think there are definitely some aspects that need to be analyzed and explained.
First, the World Trade Center was designed to withstand aircraft impact. It had extremely strong support beams throughout the building. Also, it is the first steel high-rise building to collapse by cause of “fire”. When reviewing the footage of the towers collapsing, the building collapses directly into its own footprint. This indicates that explosives were possibly in the building previously. And the collapse of the 7 World Trade Center building,, which is not even directly connected to the two plane-struck buildings, was very unusual and like a result of demolition.
The man who leased the World Trade Center complex, Larry Silverstein sued his insurers to get the attacks to count as separate events so he would receive double the money. Also, where was the Air National Guard, 80 minutes after the attacks began, to defend the Pentagon, possibly the world’s most secure air space? How much money did Dick Cheney’s corporation Halliburton make when the United States went to war? How is Iraq connected to Afghanistan and the War on Terror? And why did the government invade Iraq without a Constitutional declaration of war?
There are many more things to consider, but I’ll leave it at that for the time being. I’ll be happy to further discuss this in comments and later blogs.

Would You Like Fries With That?

What is the matter with Americans and their diet today? It seems that people no longer care for their long-term health and are only considered with satiating their doughnut cravings.
One of the problems of modern nutrition is the lack of education. Most people are unaware of precisely what is entering their body at any given moment. It seems common knowledge that one should not eat more than what they need, and if you stay within reason of the 2,000 calorie diet, then you are in the clear. However, this is not the case by any means. People in the general public seem unaware of the necessary nutritional needs of the human body. Yes, fats are necessary, but in moderation. White bread is a simple carbohydrate and turns directly into simple sugars. It practically serves no purpose for you or your body. Now, I understand that people want to enjoy what they eat, but there are so many healthy alternatives. Unfortunately, as a society we are constantly eating simple carbs, sugar-filled soft drinks, and saturated fats. It is no wonder that obesity is such an issue with adults and youth alike. What are we going to do about this? Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and many other health issues are all related in some way to diet and nutrition.
Now, I understand that it is difficult to look at a menu and try to choose the grilled chicken over the juicy burger. Or the vegetable medley over the French fries. But the bottom line is that health is an investment. You must approach it as a long-term deal if you want to be healthy in later years. If your input nutrition is beneficial, the likelihood of prosperous health in later years is quite high. It is an investment that is well worth the cost and discipline.
My grandmother is 79 years of age and she still goes out every morning at the crack of dawn to exercise. I know she sounds like she is in peak health, but she was not always that way. Approximately twelve years ago, my grandmother suffered a very serious heart attack. She was not watching her diet well and heart issues are hereditary. Fortunately she managed to survive and every since she has managed her dietary intake to perfection. If only we all had this kind of discipline.
We should not need a major life-threatening occurrence to serve as our wake-up call. Now is the time to realize that health is the most important thing we possess. I propose that people begin researching and finding more healthy alternatives. Search for creative recipes and manage food intake by reading the nutrition facts on food products. Also, exercise and physical activity are imperative for sufficient health. Join a fitness club, walk your animal, play a sport. Just do something to get your heart going. Everyone needs a break from the daily grinds of life and this time could not be better spent than by exercising and taking care of oneself. Trust me, this problem is unnecessary and can be solved. Motivation, learning, and commitment are the key.

Controvercial Issues

As I sit down on this quiet, Sunday evening, I’m struggling to really think of what I would like to post. I have been bombarded with Spanish, Chemistry, and English homework and frankly my mind has not been up for the challenge of creative blogging. So, as a moderately resourceful student, I looked at what you guys have posted to get some ideas. I’ll be honest; I didn’t manage to read everyone’s posts. However, I’ve noticed that some good topics tend to be controversial. So let me start off by stating that I like these topics and I firmly believe that discussion is important for molding views of all sorts.
The issue at hand? Homosexuality. Is it a lifestyle or is it inherent? I honestly can’t say for sure because I have not done credible research, but I do have an opinion.

I personally believe that homosexuals do not have a choice in their sexual preference. I mean, let’s face it. Who honestly chooses to do something that will segregate them and their rights? Homosexuals constantly face negativity in society and the media. They cannot marry in nearly every state except for six in the New England area. So my biggest argument is that people do not choose to be gay because people don’t like to be targeted and discriminated upon. I feel that it is something that a person is born with, and we as a society must accept it as any other social deviant.

Some argue that homosexuality is a lifestyle and that homosexuals simply want to “shock” others for the sake of attention or simply because of failed relationships with the opposite sex. I acknowledge the fact that some people may do this. For example, look at bisexuals. The concept of gender is irrelevant and this makes me question whether or not one can choose their sexual “lifestyle”. However, in general, homosexuals are attracted to the same sex and nothing more. So why can’t people understand this? I am not homosexual, but I feel that they are equally deserving of marriage rights as anyone else. Who am I to tell a same-sex couple that they cannot love each other and be married happily? I’m not.

I think that our generation as a whole tends to be more accepting of issues such as homosexuality and racial integration. However, not everyone is accepting, especially the previous generations who have written laws regarding same-sex marriage. The bottom line is, all men are created equal and are/should be entitled to equal human rights. Let us embrace rather than hate, for it will only improve life on Earth as we know it.

A New Experience

Firstly, I would like to say that this is my first blog entry. The ability to write about nearly anything, on the Internet, without limitation is interesting. It is a new experience and I plan on making the most of it. My title reflects my desire to document how different experiences or events change or enhance my perspective on things.

As a freshman I feel like I am forming an identity and my perspectives are changing. This weekend I took a trip to Guilford College in Greensboro. I had to attend a collegiate refereeing workshop in Greensboro, so I took the opportunity to visit and stay with my good friend from high school. For those of you who don't know, Guilford is a small, private college in Greensboro, NC. Before leaving on Friday afternoon, I was excited to see what it would be like at another college campus. I love UNC and I was anxious to see how Guilford would compare.

I've been on Guilford's campus once before while traveling to the coast. The campus was conveniently on our way and my friend Morgan wanted to show me his future campus. Guilford is a quaint, peaceful school. The quad is picturesque with beautiful trees and attractive landscaping. The buildings are very suitable for the campus style, and the quad looks comparable to that of Chapel Hill's campus. However, I must say that I would not be able to go to school there. Guilford has a small student population, about 2,000. At first I thought this would be a good thing, for visiting purposes. My host knows a lot of people and I was introduced to many of them. Yet, as my trip progressed, I realized some things about life and college. First, parental influence is huge in terms of student development. Most of the kids that I met, aside from Morgan's good friends, were quite apathetic about Guilford and there studies in general. And I'll be honest, I don't love studying all the time, but I do care and it is of high importance to myself and my future. Also, because of this general observed apathy, I noticed a bunch of students engaging in destructive behavior toward their campus. Students pulled light poles down, threw stones at windows, and even urinated in stairwells and water fountains. Honestly I was in shock about the last two, and the other behaviors were definitely unexpected. When this happened, I talked to some of the kids and they asked me if I did similar things to my campus. I simply replied, "well, back at my school we actually like it there and don't do things like this". I guess to tie it all together, I realized how influential a person's background at home determines how they act outside of their home, especially at school. Also, it was somewhat eye-opening to see people destroy what their parents were investing in for their future. It was discouraging but at the same time it made me appreciate where I am now, as cliche as it may sound it is true.