If you do anything today..

This past weekend, me and one of my best friends went down to Chicago to see Jamie Tworkowski speak for the organization he started a few years ago, To Write Love On Her Arms. I have to say, he is an AMAZING person to just sit and listen to. I sat there for a good two hours with goosebumps, just listening, letting it all soak in. He talked about three things that I really consider to be important in my life; people, music, and faith.

  But one thing that he said really stuck to me, and has had me thinking this past week. He said, "we're all people. we all hurt, we all have pain, happiness and struggles all the same." This is probably the most honest thing I've heard someone say in a very long time. It really got me thinking. I thought to how I have treated people, what I've said, and more importantly my actions towards others.  It sparked a new ambition in me; I don't want or need to be a hero, or but i just want to be a (small) part of a change for the good.  Im not entire sure when or where this whole idea of change is supposed to happen, but i hope i can recognize it when it comes.  But every single person on this earth is apart of a community.  We all live on this earth that is harsh and broken, and we were meant to live with one another.  We were meant to live alone, but to love and give love. 

This brings me to my second point; my faith.  I know people will probably want to skip over this part, but Im not going to ever try to push any ideas or beliefs on anyone, and i never will. Another thing Jamie Tworkowski said was "the word christian offends a lot of people...i really don't like what it has become."  There is this whole idea that every person who is a Christian is going to thrown their bible at you.  Thats just not it.  I will simply say this; I feel that the idea of a God has so many different perspectives.  A God i know and love may be completly different from the one you do.  And thats okay.  I just hope that people will be able to accept the idea that He has more grace, love, and forgiveness than condemnation.  He is constantly "in the business of redemption."    

Jamie started to talk about music, and how it has the ability to move people.  This is nothing new to me.  Music has the ability to heal, and is the foundation of TWLOHA.  It speaks for itself really.  

I truly admire Jamie for being able to take people from so many different backgrounds and bring them together for a greater good.  I was able to talk to him for a little bit after the show, and he has so much to say, and so many people that he wants to hear him.  Hopefully you guys will check it out if you haven't already.  Its such an amazing and unique org!  He has and continues to change the world, and started it all with one person.

So if you do anything at all today, just take a second, a small amount of time to really reflect on the great things that you have in your life. Try to learn something new, do something small for another person, or smile at a stranger on the street. You never know when you can completely make someone's day by doing the smallest deed.

Also, check out some of the new shirts TWLOHA has, they're all really tight and all go towards helping pay for treatment of people who are having trouble dealing with things in their life. you can buy them here:
http://www.zambooie.com/twloha/

Democracy At Its Finest...

Okay, so after reading this some three or four times, I think I'm finally able to come up with a pretty legitimate response to Carl Becker's article "Democracy" (especially for not being very politically charged).

I truly believe that we, especially as Americans who are constantly told we are lucky enough to live a democratic lifestyle, need to really understand the power that we may or may not have in the so called "land of the free." I completly agree with Becker's statement about how a democratic way of life can be very destructive to society (he referenced Napoleon, Caesar, and Stalin). Some people may even argue that we are victims of this "destruction" in the form of President Bush and low approval rates, some would. But what also came to mind, was, how well would a society actually be able to function without leaders? I think if we were to truly become a government ran by the people (non-politicians) the country would just go to shit, and thats putting it politely. Yes there are societies out there that are completly ran by the people with equal distribution of power (thanks Anthro 104 for teaching me that one!), but those are small scale societies. I feel that more industrialized societies need structure in order to get by.

Sure, it has its downfalls, but what government doesn't? It's simple fact that we will never be able to create a government that is completly approved by all people, but what we have is pretty kick ass if you ask me. Not too many government would allow a bunch of 19 or 20 year olds the freedom to talk about the government like we have.

Hopefully I didn't butcher this article too much!

That's All for Now Kids!!

Just Incase..

Here is a really funny site that a friend showed me recently.  I thought I'd spread it around, just incase anyone else needed to feel a little bit better about their lives...

http://www.fmylife.com/

Enjoy!!

Blog Launch!

My blog is officially underway, thanks to my English 100 class!! 

Now onto the assignment...

1. Freakonomics- I haven't read this book, but from what I hear, this is an amazing book that takes a whole new perspective on the usually boring (as least in my opinion) of economics.  Especially in time of economic strain, it would be helpful to see a new point of view.

2. The Lion King- I know this sounds pretty weird, but I heard from a friend that this movie can be directly related to Shakespeare's Hamlet.  I think that area in itself would be a really interesting way to connect various types of genres, media and historical pieces of work. Plus, it is a classic movie and everyone loves it!  

3. The Real World (and other related reality t.v. shows)- I truly believe that this is what started the whole "reality t.v. phenomenon" that we are currently in.  It's a great way to analyze the types of shows that dictate what we see as entertainment, and what better place to start than the source.

4. Crash- This movie is one of the first that really challenged cultural boundaries and racism, and does so in such a raw form.  It is a movie that every person can relate to, whether on a large or small scale, and can be affected by.  Its not too often that one single piece of work can impact such a wide rage of people.  

Thats All for Now Kids!