Consider this the end.
For the record, I really did enjoy this class. Granted sometime I was completely bored out of my mind because I could not comprehend some of the crazy ideas Derek suggested, overall I enjoyed it. Especially the topics of time, our whole patriotism discussion, and clearly I enjoyed the music portion.
This ended up being that class I actually looked forward to at the end of the day...it was a nice end to my 5 and half hour day on Mondays and Wednesdays. I learned alot...learned to question what I learn...and to then learn more. I asked questions I never thought I would and answered question I never thought would be asked of me.
So thanks to all for a wonderful semester and hopefully I'll have some more classes like this with you in the future! =)
Have a wonderful summer all!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Life = Music
Right out of the womb music has been my life. My father played the clarinet through high school, took piano lessons as a child, taught himself the flute, and can play the saxophone...and he still does today. So it was inevitable that I would get involved with music.
Like every other child, I sang during elementary school and played the recorder and all that jazz. Then in the 3rd grade I started playing my dad's clarinet and I have been playing ever since. In the 4th grade, I got put in the advanced band with the 5th graders. I took private lessons during middle school, played saxophone in the jazz band, and missed making the District band by 3 points. In high school I was first chair right off the bat, played with the pep band at football games, got involved in the pit band for musicals when I wasn't acting on the stage, and was in the Woodwind Quintet that went to play at a Band Director's Conference in Boston. We won many titles in high school at many competitions and they are moments I will never forget. I also played here at MCLA my first semester...but it isn't the same here. But I do still play on my own.
Being involved this much in making the music makes it quite obvious that I would love listening to it also. Every genre gets a chance with me. I don't care how obscure it is. I don't care if some people don't consider it music. I'll give it a chance. And so should everyone else.
So the point of this was to pretty much make the point that for some people, music is life. But it doesn't have to be their life. Music has been, and always will be, a major part of my life, but it doesn't fully define who I am. No one should be full defined by one thing...
Like every other child, I sang during elementary school and played the recorder and all that jazz. Then in the 3rd grade I started playing my dad's clarinet and I have been playing ever since. In the 4th grade, I got put in the advanced band with the 5th graders. I took private lessons during middle school, played saxophone in the jazz band, and missed making the District band by 3 points. In high school I was first chair right off the bat, played with the pep band at football games, got involved in the pit band for musicals when I wasn't acting on the stage, and was in the Woodwind Quintet that went to play at a Band Director's Conference in Boston. We won many titles in high school at many competitions and they are moments I will never forget. I also played here at MCLA my first semester...but it isn't the same here. But I do still play on my own.
Being involved this much in making the music makes it quite obvious that I would love listening to it also. Every genre gets a chance with me. I don't care how obscure it is. I don't care if some people don't consider it music. I'll give it a chance. And so should everyone else.
So the point of this was to pretty much make the point that for some people, music is life. But it doesn't have to be their life. Music has been, and always will be, a major part of my life, but it doesn't fully define who I am. No one should be full defined by one thing...
Fa la la la la?
Music is what you make it.
Amanda had wrote in her blog that a thunderstorm on CD isn't music, but rather just a thunderstorm...on CD. I disagree. Music is noise, music is different to the individual. Some consider thunderstorms music. Like the Native Americans, they dance to thunderstorms making that the music, and no one can deny them their right of believing that is music. I might not think it is music, but in some cultures it is.
Just like many say Rap isn't music, it's just people talking. But it's noise, and any noise can be construed as music to someone. Anything you can find a beat in. You can hear a beat in a jackhammer and then find other beats in the environment that go with it. This all makes its own music.
Music is in the ear of the beholder. I don't believe anyone can deny something that makes noise the right to be music.
Amanda had wrote in her blog that a thunderstorm on CD isn't music, but rather just a thunderstorm...on CD. I disagree. Music is noise, music is different to the individual. Some consider thunderstorms music. Like the Native Americans, they dance to thunderstorms making that the music, and no one can deny them their right of believing that is music. I might not think it is music, but in some cultures it is.
Just like many say Rap isn't music, it's just people talking. But it's noise, and any noise can be construed as music to someone. Anything you can find a beat in. You can hear a beat in a jackhammer and then find other beats in the environment that go with it. This all makes its own music.
Music is in the ear of the beholder. I don't believe anyone can deny something that makes noise the right to be music.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Succession of Success
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left." ~Bertrand Russell
Claiming success in a war does not make any sense to me. In a way, yes, we have won because we accomplished some of our goals that we went into Iraq to do. But not all, and we have hurt or killed so many people that were in our way (or even just innocent bystanders).
But who can claim success? Us? The Iraqis? The Taliban? Sadam?
The Iraqi were liberated from one government and then surpressed by ours. So can they claim success? Just because we believed they were suppressed doesn't mean that they really were. What we believe is not always right. So can they claim success?
The Taliban attacked us knowing all to well that we would attack back. They got what they wanted and they still have their real leader, Bin Laden. So can they claim success?
Sadam always said he would go down for his country...he did. So can he claim success?
Can we claim success? Can anyone?
Claiming success in a war does not make any sense to me. In a way, yes, we have won because we accomplished some of our goals that we went into Iraq to do. But not all, and we have hurt or killed so many people that were in our way (or even just innocent bystanders).
But who can claim success? Us? The Iraqis? The Taliban? Sadam?
The Iraqi were liberated from one government and then surpressed by ours. So can they claim success? Just because we believed they were suppressed doesn't mean that they really were. What we believe is not always right. So can they claim success?
The Taliban attacked us knowing all to well that we would attack back. They got what they wanted and they still have their real leader, Bin Laden. So can they claim success?
Sadam always said he would go down for his country...he did. So can he claim success?
Can we claim success? Can anyone?
5 Years
March 20, 2003.
At this point I was still in middle school, 8th grade to be exact. Near the end of 3rd quarter if I remember correctly. I was also 14 years old, a minor. At that age, we still don't really understand the concept of the world working as a whole. All that we knew at that point was people we knew were going to be sent overseas for work...
April 17, 2008. (5 years and 28 days later)
At this point I am a freshman in college, ending my first semester. I'm 19 years old, an adult by American standards. But now I understand more about how the world works. That we share it and it must be unified in some ways. But I still don't understand why we (as Americans) think we are the higher power. Makes no sense. 5 years ago we went into Iraq and made the decision that we were going to "liberate" those people. 5 years ago. This was supposed to be an in and out job. 5 years. A whole different set of soldiers are over there than the ones who were there in the beginning. I see no point for us to have such a presence over there anymore. No matter when we pull out, there is going to be conflict. The bad groups of people will just keep holding off until we go...maybe in another 5 years...but the second we're gone, they will try and regain their power. So we should start to just pull out.
5 years
4,038 American Casualties
21 people missing or captured
29,628 people wounded
112 journalists dead
40 media support workers dead
500 US troops had ambutations (toes and fingers don't count)
At this point I was still in middle school, 8th grade to be exact. Near the end of 3rd quarter if I remember correctly. I was also 14 years old, a minor. At that age, we still don't really understand the concept of the world working as a whole. All that we knew at that point was people we knew were going to be sent overseas for work...
April 17, 2008. (5 years and 28 days later)
At this point I am a freshman in college, ending my first semester. I'm 19 years old, an adult by American standards. But now I understand more about how the world works. That we share it and it must be unified in some ways. But I still don't understand why we (as Americans) think we are the higher power. Makes no sense. 5 years ago we went into Iraq and made the decision that we were going to "liberate" those people. 5 years ago. This was supposed to be an in and out job. 5 years. A whole different set of soldiers are over there than the ones who were there in the beginning. I see no point for us to have such a presence over there anymore. No matter when we pull out, there is going to be conflict. The bad groups of people will just keep holding off until we go...maybe in another 5 years...but the second we're gone, they will try and regain their power. So we should start to just pull out.
5 years
4,038 American Casualties
21 people missing or captured
29,628 people wounded
112 journalists dead
40 media support workers dead
500 US troops had ambutations (toes and fingers don't count)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Big Deal? Really?!
Ok, so there are a few reasons why I am bloggin so much lately.
1. I really enjoy this topic
2. I'm trying to make up for my lack of participation out loud in class (I haven't had the most attractive voice lately)
3. And I'm trying to make up for my lack of blogging for a couple of weeks this semester...with everything it is very easy to lose track of this thing...
But on to what matters.
Why is it such a big deal whether someone is "patriotic" or not? And I am using the stereotypical definition of patriotism involving the War in Iraq and supporting the troops and all that good stuff. And seriously, that's what it is...stuff.
I support the war. From beginning to end. We were all convinced falsely of their being WMD over there...so we went for it. A lot of people were behind it then. But now that we know the truth, there is a faint support system. I don't necessarily support the cause (but I do support the spread of democracy), but I support the war and everyone involved. I have had way too many people that are close to me get sent over there. But no matter the reason, I am going to support them and what they are doing. They support the war and believe that what they are doing is right and that they are helping somone. If the people doing the actually fighting support it, shouldn't we support them?
But people bash them. This apparently makes them unpatriotic. But they have a point where they are coming from. Patriotism talks up defending your country...we are no longer really defending our country anymore. Come on. You know it. We are there because it is a situation we can't back out of or all hell is going to break loose. We are defending ourselves. We might have in the beginning...a little bit...but definently not now.
But does it really matter? Why does EVERYONE have to support the war. Why does EVERYONE have to be patriotic. Some people, as much as we don't want to think about it, are stuck here. They can't go anywhere else. They don't support what we are doing. They have that right...it's called free will. It's a human right. And we are all humans. But not all humans are patriotic.
1. I really enjoy this topic
2. I'm trying to make up for my lack of participation out loud in class (I haven't had the most attractive voice lately)
3. And I'm trying to make up for my lack of blogging for a couple of weeks this semester...with everything it is very easy to lose track of this thing...
But on to what matters.
Why is it such a big deal whether someone is "patriotic" or not? And I am using the stereotypical definition of patriotism involving the War in Iraq and supporting the troops and all that good stuff. And seriously, that's what it is...stuff.
I support the war. From beginning to end. We were all convinced falsely of their being WMD over there...so we went for it. A lot of people were behind it then. But now that we know the truth, there is a faint support system. I don't necessarily support the cause (but I do support the spread of democracy), but I support the war and everyone involved. I have had way too many people that are close to me get sent over there. But no matter the reason, I am going to support them and what they are doing. They support the war and believe that what they are doing is right and that they are helping somone. If the people doing the actually fighting support it, shouldn't we support them?
But people bash them. This apparently makes them unpatriotic. But they have a point where they are coming from. Patriotism talks up defending your country...we are no longer really defending our country anymore. Come on. You know it. We are there because it is a situation we can't back out of or all hell is going to break loose. We are defending ourselves. We might have in the beginning...a little bit...but definently not now.
But does it really matter? Why does EVERYONE have to support the war. Why does EVERYONE have to be patriotic. Some people, as much as we don't want to think about it, are stuck here. They can't go anywhere else. They don't support what we are doing. They have that right...it's called free will. It's a human right. And we are all humans. But not all humans are patriotic.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Freedom of American
"Seems as though I should drink coffee all day without spilling it inside my Chevy as I drive around without knowing my First Amendment freedoms." - Nick Raby
Is this really where our country is going? We care about food and cars more than the freedoms people have fought for? Really people? Is this truly what an "American" is?
I guess I'm a horribe American then.
(1) I don't like coffee. I'm a hot chocolate kind of gal.
(2) I don't drive a Chevy truck. Yes, I drive a Chevy, but not the same connotation.
(3) I know my First Amendment Right
- Freedom of Religion
- Freedom of Speech
- Freedom of the Press
- Freedom of Assembly
- Freedom of Petition
and no, I did not just google all of those.
Is this what some consider Americans? Is this the view we are giving the rest of the world?
Is this really where our country is going? We care about food and cars more than the freedoms people have fought for? Really people? Is this truly what an "American" is?
I guess I'm a horribe American then.
(1) I don't like coffee. I'm a hot chocolate kind of gal.
(2) I don't drive a Chevy truck. Yes, I drive a Chevy, but not the same connotation.
(3) I know my First Amendment Right
- Freedom of Religion
- Freedom of Speech
- Freedom of the Press
- Freedom of Assembly
- Freedom of Petition
and no, I did not just google all of those.
Is this what some consider Americans? Is this the view we are giving the rest of the world?
America, America...
"Are we truly internationalist? Can we get beyond patriotism? Or, in the end, are we just Americans?"
Or, in the end, are we just Americans? Let us consult urbandictionary.com for a second.
American (n) -
(1) Technically, an American is someone from the Americas - i.e. North or South America
(2) An American is someone who lives in the USA. Not all americans are overweight, ignorant pricks with an addiction to burgers and flag waving. Some of them are actually friendly, intelligent people!
(3) legal resident of the United States; not really a nationality since everybody came here from somewhere else
(4) Probablly the most bashed on country in the world.
(5) Denotation: Someone living in the Americas, North or South, more commonly refering to those in the US.
Conotation(neg):arrogant, proud (of nothing), stupid, hick, redneck, bible thumpers, etc
Conotation(pos):hardworki ng, proud (of their actions), loyal, dedicated, etc
Conotation(neutral): god-fearing, christian, melting-pot-people, etc
(6) An American is a fat arrogant bastard - usually armed to the teeth with guns and hamburgers - who hates everything and everyone who doesn't hate everything and everyone. Also he may be inbred.
(7) Someone who loves mock other countries, act, talk, and look incredibly tacky and/or cheesy, and who loves to pervert the english language.
(8) Cultureless, mindless bastards who for the most part have no idea about the rest of the world...
Can anyone be "just American" if no one truly knows what American is? Some of these defitions say "we" are kind, caring people...others say we are mindless bastards...some just say it means we are residents. Which are we supposed to believe? At times, I guess we can say we fit all of these definitions. But does that make us "just American"? If we are orignally from all over the place, can we really be just one thing?
Arguing number 8: Are we really cultureless? I think not. You cannot live without culture. We may not be the same culture as the person who wrote that definition, but we have a culture of our own. It may be quite messed up at times, but it is a culture nonetheless. You cannot deny this. And I have a mind of my own...I don't listen to everything the media or the government tells me...so I cannot be mindless...and I'm not a bastard. And I like to think that I know a relative amount of information about international relations and the status of other countries. This is all assuming I am "American".
Concuring with 1: Why do we think of just ourselves as American? The people from Mexico trying to come into our country are Americans too. They are from North America. Why do we get to take this title and they do not? Is it just because we weren't creative enough to come up with a better name that we had to use the name that was also to continent which we were on?
Concuring with 3: The only true Americans are Native Americans, correct?
Or, in the end, are we just Americans? Let us consult urbandictionary.com for a second.
American (n) -
(1) Technically, an American is someone from the Americas - i.e. North or South America
(2) An American is someone who lives in the USA. Not all americans are overweight, ignorant pricks with an addiction to burgers and flag waving. Some of them are actually friendly, intelligent people!
(3) legal resident of the United States; not really a nationality since everybody came here from somewhere else
(4) Probablly the most bashed on country in the world.
(5) Denotation: Someone living in the Americas, North or South, more commonly refering to those in the US.
Conotation(neg):arrogant, proud (of nothing), stupid, hick, redneck, bible thumpers, etc
Conotation(pos):hardworki ng, proud (of their actions), loyal, dedicated, etc
Conotation(neutral): god-fearing, christian, melting-pot-people, etc
(6) An American is a fat arrogant bastard - usually armed to the teeth with guns and hamburgers - who hates everything and everyone who doesn't hate everything and everyone. Also he may be inbred.
(7) Someone who loves mock other countries, act, talk, and look incredibly tacky and/or cheesy, and who loves to pervert the english language.
(8) Cultureless, mindless bastards who for the most part have no idea about the rest of the world...
Can anyone be "just American" if no one truly knows what American is? Some of these defitions say "we" are kind, caring people...others say we are mindless bastards...some just say it means we are residents. Which are we supposed to believe? At times, I guess we can say we fit all of these definitions. But does that make us "just American"? If we are orignally from all over the place, can we really be just one thing?
Arguing number 8: Are we really cultureless? I think not. You cannot live without culture. We may not be the same culture as the person who wrote that definition, but we have a culture of our own. It may be quite messed up at times, but it is a culture nonetheless. You cannot deny this. And I have a mind of my own...I don't listen to everything the media or the government tells me...so I cannot be mindless...and I'm not a bastard. And I like to think that I know a relative amount of information about international relations and the status of other countries. This is all assuming I am "American".
Concuring with 1: Why do we think of just ourselves as American? The people from Mexico trying to come into our country are Americans too. They are from North America. Why do we get to take this title and they do not? Is it just because we weren't creative enough to come up with a better name that we had to use the name that was also to continent which we were on?
Concuring with 3: The only true Americans are Native Americans, correct?
Patriotic Patriotism
"Are we truly internationalist? Can we get beyond patriotism? Or, in the end, are we just Americans?"
Can we get beyond patriotism?
patriotism (n) - devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.
Again, no. I don't think we can get past patriotism. Having a devotion to something as strong as something such as a loyalty to a country is very hard to get over. Unless something radical occurs like an American Revolution Part Dos, then I think we won't be able to overcome this.
We have a strong urge to protect and defend our country. (Ex. see war we are in that started right after we were attacked) Everyone wants to defend what is theirs and this country is, in essence, ours. Even to take it down a notch, just think of a family. Someone attacks your little sister and you are going to defend them, no matter what it takes. That is a form of patriotism within your family.
Within any community there is patriotism. High school rivalries have patriotism. Just think of the Red Sox and the Yankees. Their is patriotism to each respective team.
People try to put the lable on patriotism that is has to deal with just a nation, when in fact it is just an ordinary human emotion that no one can truly surpass.
Can we get beyond patriotism?
patriotism (n) - devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.
Again, no. I don't think we can get past patriotism. Having a devotion to something as strong as something such as a loyalty to a country is very hard to get over. Unless something radical occurs like an American Revolution Part Dos, then I think we won't be able to overcome this.
We have a strong urge to protect and defend our country. (Ex. see war we are in that started right after we were attacked) Everyone wants to defend what is theirs and this country is, in essence, ours. Even to take it down a notch, just think of a family. Someone attacks your little sister and you are going to defend them, no matter what it takes. That is a form of patriotism within your family.
Within any community there is patriotism. High school rivalries have patriotism. Just think of the Red Sox and the Yankees. Their is patriotism to each respective team.
People try to put the lable on patriotism that is has to deal with just a nation, when in fact it is just an ordinary human emotion that no one can truly surpass.
Internationally Ignorant
"Are we truly internationalist? Can we get beyond patriotism? Or, in the end, are we just Americans?"
Are we truly internationalist? No, not at all. We could very easily be a self-suficient nation and we know it. Because we have that thought in the back of our mind, then we don't seem to be a concious about international affairs as we should be. We only care about other nations when we need them...once we have accomplished what we need, we let them be. We may leave them in a worse state than we started, but who cares? We got what we want, right? We don't need them anymore.
I am not saying this is the right mentality to have in any way. By importing, we are helping those nations around us. I completely support this. Granted, I think we should be producing within our own country more than we import, but we can still help those around us. If we cared more about the countries we use, maybe then we can really consider ourselves internationalists, but not until then.
Are we truly internationalist? No, not at all. We could very easily be a self-suficient nation and we know it. Because we have that thought in the back of our mind, then we don't seem to be a concious about international affairs as we should be. We only care about other nations when we need them...once we have accomplished what we need, we let them be. We may leave them in a worse state than we started, but who cares? We got what we want, right? We don't need them anymore.
I am not saying this is the right mentality to have in any way. By importing, we are helping those nations around us. I completely support this. Granted, I think we should be producing within our own country more than we import, but we can still help those around us. If we cared more about the countries we use, maybe then we can really consider ourselves internationalists, but not until then.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Riddle Me This
"After you've heard two eyewitness accounts of an auto accident, you begin to worry about history." ~Author Unknown
You know, I never thought of this. Two peoples' realities could be so different that what they saw may be the same, but in the end they are explained differently. Each person may have picked out different details and explained the same actions two different ways...bring about two different emotions or imaginations within the person this situation is being explained to.
How are we supposed to decipher this? Maybe, with history, there is really a different outcome than what we have all learned. Maybe World War II wasn't as bad as we thought, but because we imagined it the way one person explained it to us, it has been turned and twisted.
You know, I never thought of this. Two peoples' realities could be so different that what they saw may be the same, but in the end they are explained differently. Each person may have picked out different details and explained the same actions two different ways...bring about two different emotions or imaginations within the person this situation is being explained to.
How are we supposed to decipher this? Maybe, with history, there is really a different outcome than what we have all learned. Maybe World War II wasn't as bad as we thought, but because we imagined it the way one person explained it to us, it has been turned and twisted.
Judging the Judged while being the Judge
Either way, who am I to judge anyone based on what they consume into their bodies? We each can choose what we want to take in, this is based off of free will and human nature. Just because I have made the decision to eat the cooked flesh of an animal doesn't mean that everyone has to. If we had to do everything everyone else did, there would be no time in the day...or nothing to do because everything would contradict itself.
I guess this just brings up the whole topic who why judge anyone in the first place. Some say God is the only one who can judge...then why do we have a court system with people called "judges" if we are a country founded under God? (Yes, that was extreme...but still, you catch my drift?) Judging takes too much time and energy in my opinion. First you have to form your own opinion in the first place, then figure out the person's opinion whom you are going to judge. From there you must observe their behavior and then, after a long mental process, speak or write the words to judge them. Seems a little annoying doesn't it?
If you are going to judge me or anyone else, keep it to yourself. Kind of goes with the saying, "If you don't have anything good to say..."
You know the rest.
I guess this just brings up the whole topic who why judge anyone in the first place. Some say God is the only one who can judge...then why do we have a court system with people called "judges" if we are a country founded under God? (Yes, that was extreme...but still, you catch my drift?) Judging takes too much time and energy in my opinion. First you have to form your own opinion in the first place, then figure out the person's opinion whom you are going to judge. From there you must observe their behavior and then, after a long mental process, speak or write the words to judge them. Seems a little annoying doesn't it?
If you are going to judge me or anyone else, keep it to yourself. Kind of goes with the saying, "If you don't have anything good to say..."
You know the rest.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?
A vegetarian is a person who won't eat anything that can have children. ~David Brenner
You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car. ~Harvey Diamond
Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them. ~Samuel Butler, Note-Books, 1912
Dear Lord, I've been asked, nay commanded, to thank Thee for the Christmas turkey before us... a turkey which was no doubt a lively, intelligent bird... a social being... capable of actual affection... nuzzling its young with almost human-like compassion. Anyway, it's dead and we're gonna eat it. Please give our respects to its family. ~Berke Breathed, Bloom County Babylon
Think of the fierce energy concentrated in an acorn! You bury it in the ground, and it explodes into an oak! Bury a sheep, and nothing happens but decay. ~George Bernard Shaw
Vegetarianism is harmless enough though it is apt to fill a man with wind and self-righteousness. ~Robert Hutchison, address to the British Medical Association, 1930
Heart attacks... God's revenge for eating his little animal friends. ~Author Unknown
Vegetarian - that's an old Indian word meaning "lousy hunter." ~Andy Rooney
I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight. ~Rita Rudner (<-- One of my favorites)
In the strict scientific sense we all feed on death - even vegetarians. ~Mr. Spock, Star Trek, "Wolf in the Fold"
I will not eat anything that walks, runs, skips, hops or crawls. God knows that I've crawled on occasion, and I'm glad that no one ate me. ~Alex Poulos
I won't eat anything that has intelligent life, but I'd gladly eat a network executive or a politician. ~Marty Feldman (<-- Another really good one)
I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants. ~A. Whitney Brown
Discuss.
You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car. ~Harvey Diamond
Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them. ~Samuel Butler, Note-Books, 1912
Dear Lord, I've been asked, nay commanded, to thank Thee for the Christmas turkey before us... a turkey which was no doubt a lively, intelligent bird... a social being... capable of actual affection... nuzzling its young with almost human-like compassion. Anyway, it's dead and we're gonna eat it. Please give our respects to its family. ~Berke Breathed, Bloom County Babylon
Think of the fierce energy concentrated in an acorn! You bury it in the ground, and it explodes into an oak! Bury a sheep, and nothing happens but decay. ~George Bernard Shaw
Vegetarianism is harmless enough though it is apt to fill a man with wind and self-righteousness. ~Robert Hutchison, address to the British Medical Association, 1930
Heart attacks... God's revenge for eating his little animal friends. ~Author Unknown
Vegetarian - that's an old Indian word meaning "lousy hunter." ~Andy Rooney
I was a vegetarian until I started leaning toward the sunlight. ~Rita Rudner (<-- One of my favorites)
In the strict scientific sense we all feed on death - even vegetarians. ~Mr. Spock, Star Trek, "Wolf in the Fold"
I will not eat anything that walks, runs, skips, hops or crawls. God knows that I've crawled on occasion, and I'm glad that no one ate me. ~Alex Poulos
I won't eat anything that has intelligent life, but I'd gladly eat a network executive or a politician. ~Marty Feldman (<-- Another really good one)
I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants. ~A. Whitney Brown
Discuss.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Crazy Ron
Ok...so I found this quote on a website that I will list at the end. But I had the urge to share...
"And it’s hard not to notice that those who support meat eating are mostly “God gave us dominion over the world” Christians who support guns and wars and hate gays and peace activists."
His name was Ron. And he was on the site http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/22/4022/
Why? I want to know what people have to say about that quote.
"And it’s hard not to notice that those who support meat eating are mostly “God gave us dominion over the world” Christians who support guns and wars and hate gays and peace activists."
His name was Ron. And he was on the site http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/22/4022/
Why? I want to know what people have to say about that quote.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Meaty Meat
"A vegetarian is a person who won't eat anything that can have children." ~David Brenner
I eat meat. Just for the record.
If we are talking this from a killing the animal point, then there are many aspects to look at. If people are against us killing cows and larger animals such as that, then I would like to advocate that people should not kill the mice that run around their dorms or the ants that can infest a kitchen. Either way you look at it, you are taking the life of a living organism. (And technically eating a vegetable is killing an organism...just for the record.)
Not everyone can treat everything perfectly. No matter how many laws we create and restrictions we put on how animals are to be treated, there are always going to be those people that cut corners. NEWS FLASH! Not everyone follows the laws. Look at how many illegal immigrants we have in this country. None of them follow any of the laws. A lot of people could care less about the laws put in place to protect us and others. The animal rights law are not just in place to protect the animal, but also to protect us. Recently there has been a case about a slaughterhouse that forces cows that were so sick they couldn't stand into the country's food supply. Clearly this brings about sickness and no laws were followed to protect us citizens.
(http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Mar12/0,4670,CongressSlaughterhouseAbuse,00.html)
I eat meat. Just for the record.
If we are talking this from a killing the animal point, then there are many aspects to look at. If people are against us killing cows and larger animals such as that, then I would like to advocate that people should not kill the mice that run around their dorms or the ants that can infest a kitchen. Either way you look at it, you are taking the life of a living organism. (And technically eating a vegetable is killing an organism...just for the record.)
Not everyone can treat everything perfectly. No matter how many laws we create and restrictions we put on how animals are to be treated, there are always going to be those people that cut corners. NEWS FLASH! Not everyone follows the laws. Look at how many illegal immigrants we have in this country. None of them follow any of the laws. A lot of people could care less about the laws put in place to protect us and others. The animal rights law are not just in place to protect the animal, but also to protect us. Recently there has been a case about a slaughterhouse that forces cows that were so sick they couldn't stand into the country's food supply. Clearly this brings about sickness and no laws were followed to protect us citizens.
(http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Mar12/0,4670,CongressSlaughterhouseAbuse,00.html)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Reality of Reality
"Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality." ~Jules de Gaultier
Why is it that many just refuse to accept a reality? It is as if accepting a reality would be to completely reject all others. But as I'm sure we have all learned, this is not true. Accepting a reality, to me, is accepting your life as your own. Pretty much just saying it is real and has meaning.
But then the imagination comes in and seems to blow all this away. At night, or even during the day, people dream of what life could be. Maybe something that is better than their current status. This causes people to question their reality and, in many occasions, declare that this reality either needs to become non-existent or that it is far inferior to the alternate reality that they have created in this mind.
Everyone creates alternate realities using their imagination...it's basically called playing the "what if" game. But this is no reason to reject what is true. No reason to reject what is now. Rejecting this reality that you live in now hypothetically makes you live in no reality. Is this possible? Can anything exist outside of a reality? If it isn't in a reality, then it most certainly cannot be real.
Lions, and Tigers, and Imagined realities....oh my.
Why is it that many just refuse to accept a reality? It is as if accepting a reality would be to completely reject all others. But as I'm sure we have all learned, this is not true. Accepting a reality, to me, is accepting your life as your own. Pretty much just saying it is real and has meaning.
But then the imagination comes in and seems to blow all this away. At night, or even during the day, people dream of what life could be. Maybe something that is better than their current status. This causes people to question their reality and, in many occasions, declare that this reality either needs to become non-existent or that it is far inferior to the alternate reality that they have created in this mind.
Everyone creates alternate realities using their imagination...it's basically called playing the "what if" game. But this is no reason to reject what is true. No reason to reject what is now. Rejecting this reality that you live in now hypothetically makes you live in no reality. Is this possible? Can anything exist outside of a reality? If it isn't in a reality, then it most certainly cannot be real.
Lions, and Tigers, and Imagined realities....oh my.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Factual Interpretations
"There are no facts, only interpretations." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
Could this in fact be true? (which I guess that its self would be an interpretation.)
Perhaps everything we accept as fact via something such as science could be completely different than what we precieve. Interpreting data is a rather large part of the scientific process. Perhaps the person doing the interpretations gives the data to another, who is to say that they both don't come up with two completely different, yet logical reasons? This could continue in an endless circle of interpretations with the outcome of no facts.
But what if the majority agree on a certain interpretation...does this than become fact and make the beginning quote null and void?
Could this in fact be true? (which I guess that its self would be an interpretation.)
Perhaps everything we accept as fact via something such as science could be completely different than what we precieve. Interpreting data is a rather large part of the scientific process. Perhaps the person doing the interpretations gives the data to another, who is to say that they both don't come up with two completely different, yet logical reasons? This could continue in an endless circle of interpretations with the outcome of no facts.
But what if the majority agree on a certain interpretation...does this than become fact and make the beginning quote null and void?
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Educational Reading
"A thorough reading and understanding of the Bible is the surest path to atheism." ~Donald Morgan
Take it as you will. I have read the Bible and studied it since a young age...I am still a believer in God.
Take it as you will. I have read the Bible and studied it since a young age...I am still a believer in God.
A vs A...will A win?
"I considered atheism, but there weren't enough holidays." ~Author Unknown
I find it very hard to not believe in something supernatural. I feel like no matter what you kind of need it as a fall back to explain the unexplainable. If you are agnostic, then how to you explain those which science has no explanation for right now? In essence, everything needs an explanation. Granted the explanation may change...but it still always has one. Believe in the supernatural is a fall back in many peoples eyes, but it works nonetheless.
With agnosticism you at least understand that there might be something supernatural and not completely rejecting the idea as atheists do. In my mind, agnostics are more open-minded to the fact that there might be something bigger than them out there controlling what is happening here, but they don't necessarily believe it completely. Just like not everyone believes everything that scientists say the first time.
I find it very hard to not believe in something supernatural. I feel like no matter what you kind of need it as a fall back to explain the unexplainable. If you are agnostic, then how to you explain those which science has no explanation for right now? In essence, everything needs an explanation. Granted the explanation may change...but it still always has one. Believe in the supernatural is a fall back in many peoples eyes, but it works nonetheless.
With agnosticism you at least understand that there might be something supernatural and not completely rejecting the idea as atheists do. In my mind, agnostics are more open-minded to the fact that there might be something bigger than them out there controlling what is happening here, but they don't necessarily believe it completely. Just like not everyone believes everything that scientists say the first time.
Separation of You and Yourself
"This is a little prayer dedicated to the separation of church and state. I guess if they are going to force those kids to pray in schools they might as well have a nice prayer like this: Our Father who art in heaven, and to the republic for which it stands, thy kingdom come, one nation indivisible as in heaven, give us this day as we forgive those who so proudly we hail. Crown thy good into temptation but deliver us from the twilight's last gleaming. Amen and Awomen." ~George Carlin
I stumbled across the quote today and it brought about a question in my mind and reminded me of a conversation I had with my father junior year of high school. Can there ever truly be a separation of church and state?
Being a religious person means you live that way. You believe things, whether most think they are right or wrong. And it is part of you and you cannot separate yourself from it. If you cannot persay separate yourself from what is a part of you, how are you supposed to separate it from the decision you make as a government official? It baffels me that some people think they there can be a clear division between church and state, when in fact, as far as I am concerned...it is quite impossible.
I stumbled across the quote today and it brought about a question in my mind and reminded me of a conversation I had with my father junior year of high school. Can there ever truly be a separation of church and state?
Being a religious person means you live that way. You believe things, whether most think they are right or wrong. And it is part of you and you cannot separate yourself from it. If you cannot persay separate yourself from what is a part of you, how are you supposed to separate it from the decision you make as a government official? It baffels me that some people think they there can be a clear division between church and state, when in fact, as far as I am concerned...it is quite impossible.
Thing 1, Thing 2...of just Thing 1?
"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure." ~Lee Segall
The more we know the more we guess? In order to have true bliss much we live in ignorance?
The more we know the more we guess? In order to have true bliss much we live in ignorance?
Silly Kids, Trix are for Hungry People
By nature, humans are selfish. And I would like to think everyone has accepted this by now. As much as we may care for those less fortunate, all we do is want and want. Helping someone brings you a feeling of accomplishment for helping someone...so you get something out of it...essentially making the original helping someone null and void.
One childish example that comes to mind is the whole advertising around Trix. "Trix are for kids" and the poor rabbit couldn't have any. The kids kept them to theirselves and wouldn't share. On a whole other level this advertising is showing kids that they shouldn't share but at the same time it is a very simple example to show the fact that once we get something that we could share, we don't want to.
Such as all the surplus food our country, and others, have. We keep it "on reserve" until it goes bad because we dont use it because we dont need it. We are just being selfish and keeping these products to ourself even if they would be of much better use to someone else. They are wasting away and doing NO ONE any good just sitting there going bad. This is one phenomenon of our country that no one could ever explain to me.
One childish example that comes to mind is the whole advertising around Trix. "Trix are for kids" and the poor rabbit couldn't have any. The kids kept them to theirselves and wouldn't share. On a whole other level this advertising is showing kids that they shouldn't share but at the same time it is a very simple example to show the fact that once we get something that we could share, we don't want to.
Such as all the surplus food our country, and others, have. We keep it "on reserve" until it goes bad because we dont use it because we dont need it. We are just being selfish and keeping these products to ourself even if they would be of much better use to someone else. They are wasting away and doing NO ONE any good just sitting there going bad. This is one phenomenon of our country that no one could ever explain to me.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Flower Called Thought
"All religions share a very fundamental, valuable basis. It is as the religion flowers that it begins to lose meaning." - Nick Raby
For a second I feel as if I need to dive into my own religion and try and compare and base it to this class and reality as a whole...if that makes any sense to anyone.
As with any religion, there is a core set of beliefs that I hold near and dear. I'm sure these morals of mine will be told throught this blog and the next. I guess you could compare the core of my beliefs to the flowers that has not bloomed yet. They are just a set of things within me that no one truly knows about and they may not be that "pretty" persay.
But once they flower, others find out about them. The words get spread. And the whole idea may get beautiful. This is where we all run into problems. The fact that they may become beautiful. They may turn out quite ugly and result in the ideas of a Hitler. But at least in my case I'd like to think that the theoretically flower I am calling myself and my thoughts is one that is beautiful.
But if I am to just keep those beliefs and the religion inside me, what is the point? Yes, it may give me something to believe in, but the basis of most religions is to help the greater good. And there is no way that I myself am the greater good. If religion doesn't flower, then it has already lost its meaning. In reality (or at least my reality), once religion has flowered, then its meaning has truly been fufilled.
For a second I feel as if I need to dive into my own religion and try and compare and base it to this class and reality as a whole...if that makes any sense to anyone.
As with any religion, there is a core set of beliefs that I hold near and dear. I'm sure these morals of mine will be told throught this blog and the next. I guess you could compare the core of my beliefs to the flowers that has not bloomed yet. They are just a set of things within me that no one truly knows about and they may not be that "pretty" persay.
But once they flower, others find out about them. The words get spread. And the whole idea may get beautiful. This is where we all run into problems. The fact that they may become beautiful. They may turn out quite ugly and result in the ideas of a Hitler. But at least in my case I'd like to think that the theoretically flower I am calling myself and my thoughts is one that is beautiful.
But if I am to just keep those beliefs and the religion inside me, what is the point? Yes, it may give me something to believe in, but the basis of most religions is to help the greater good. And there is no way that I myself am the greater good. If religion doesn't flower, then it has already lost its meaning. In reality (or at least my reality), once religion has flowered, then its meaning has truly been fufilled.
Blind Religions are Scientifically Lame
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein
There are many reasons why I used this quote.
1. For anyone who knows me, one of my favorite words recently is "lame"
2. I'm a science major
3. I'm a Christian
4. This describes my life based on the above reasons
In my mind, it is quite impossible to have one without the other. Religion can give so many different ideas for things that can be proved by science. The theories of creationism and evolution are the big ones in my mind right now. With the idea of religion comes the thoughts of supernatural phenomenon that, to any scientist, is a gold mind of ideas to prove.
I have had experiences with in my religious past that I have tried very hard to find answers for. As to why I suddenly fell to the floor without feeling faint...why I had this emotional reaction to something without even thinking about it...why I was shaking all of a sudden. Through medicine and other scientific means of research I have tried to find reasons for these, but I have come up with nothing concrete that fits the standards I am looking for. So for the time being, I need to assume that those experiences were really caused by something supernatural.
Honestly, I'm not so sure that there is a way that we can explain everything that happens in this world. There is just so much and it goes so indepth that there is no way anyone could comprehend everything about it. Which in a way is sad because I would truly love to know how everything works and why certain things happen. But one day maybe we will hit a point where our intelligence can no longer go any further and there are still things we cannot explain...what then? At the point we can no longer turn to science. Will the default be turning to the supernatural and a certian religion?
Perhaps one day we will know everything and religion will become obsolete. At that point, what is the point? Do we really want to reach a point in our world where everything is known and there is no more to learn? For someone like me, I would not want to live in a world like that. I'm a habitual students...I love to learn...if there was no more for me to learn and everything could easily be explained, I would feel like I had no purpose. Thinking that there is always something more out there and maybe even something that we cannot explain is what truly keeps the world turning in my mind.
There are many reasons why I used this quote.
1. For anyone who knows me, one of my favorite words recently is "lame"
2. I'm a science major
3. I'm a Christian
4. This describes my life based on the above reasons
In my mind, it is quite impossible to have one without the other. Religion can give so many different ideas for things that can be proved by science. The theories of creationism and evolution are the big ones in my mind right now. With the idea of religion comes the thoughts of supernatural phenomenon that, to any scientist, is a gold mind of ideas to prove.
I have had experiences with in my religious past that I have tried very hard to find answers for. As to why I suddenly fell to the floor without feeling faint...why I had this emotional reaction to something without even thinking about it...why I was shaking all of a sudden. Through medicine and other scientific means of research I have tried to find reasons for these, but I have come up with nothing concrete that fits the standards I am looking for. So for the time being, I need to assume that those experiences were really caused by something supernatural.
Honestly, I'm not so sure that there is a way that we can explain everything that happens in this world. There is just so much and it goes so indepth that there is no way anyone could comprehend everything about it. Which in a way is sad because I would truly love to know how everything works and why certain things happen. But one day maybe we will hit a point where our intelligence can no longer go any further and there are still things we cannot explain...what then? At the point we can no longer turn to science. Will the default be turning to the supernatural and a certian religion?
Perhaps one day we will know everything and religion will become obsolete. At that point, what is the point? Do we really want to reach a point in our world where everything is known and there is no more to learn? For someone like me, I would not want to live in a world like that. I'm a habitual students...I love to learn...if there was no more for me to learn and everything could easily be explained, I would feel like I had no purpose. Thinking that there is always something more out there and maybe even something that we cannot explain is what truly keeps the world turning in my mind.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Time and the Soul
"This implies that there was no beginning, nor will there be an end to time, for terminal points are, by definition, different from all others in being without a predecessor or successor. "
Without a doubt, this brings us back to the whole "is there a beginning" question which I am quite sure will never be proven or disproven. And to keep arguing that point is somewhat pointless in my mind at this point.
But when I read the above quote in Prof. Johnson's blog, and in mind that we are going to be talking about religions, I thought of the soul. If there is no end of time, does this mean that there is no end of time for what we consider our souls? And was there no beginning? If there cannot be a predecessor or a successor then this must be true. We must have forever been around in some form and we will forever continue to be around.
I would like to think this is true just for the sake of thinking that there is something beyond this cruel world. Believe that something from you will continue on into forever just seems to bring some sense of joy into the world and the feeling that there are things better. And if time is to never end, then those good times are to never end also, correct?
I consider myself to be nondemoinational Christian. In other words, I'm not Catholic. I feel as if I need to put this in here as a disclaimer for when we do start talking about religions. I can be rather opinionate due to the fact that I have experienced some very interesting things with my faith and have been through much in my life that has brought me out stonger from it. Some will say I am closed minded, to which I may respond that they are closed minded for not considering what I believe to be true, the truth. That last paragraph was slightly random, but may it give you a heads up to the fact that I most likely will speak my mind on those subjects...and some may not like my views on religion...
Without a doubt, this brings us back to the whole "is there a beginning" question which I am quite sure will never be proven or disproven. And to keep arguing that point is somewhat pointless in my mind at this point.
But when I read the above quote in Prof. Johnson's blog, and in mind that we are going to be talking about religions, I thought of the soul. If there is no end of time, does this mean that there is no end of time for what we consider our souls? And was there no beginning? If there cannot be a predecessor or a successor then this must be true. We must have forever been around in some form and we will forever continue to be around.
I would like to think this is true just for the sake of thinking that there is something beyond this cruel world. Believe that something from you will continue on into forever just seems to bring some sense of joy into the world and the feeling that there are things better. And if time is to never end, then those good times are to never end also, correct?
I consider myself to be nondemoinational Christian. In other words, I'm not Catholic. I feel as if I need to put this in here as a disclaimer for when we do start talking about religions. I can be rather opinionate due to the fact that I have experienced some very interesting things with my faith and have been through much in my life that has brought me out stonger from it. Some will say I am closed minded, to which I may respond that they are closed minded for not considering what I believe to be true, the truth. That last paragraph was slightly random, but may it give you a heads up to the fact that I most likely will speak my mind on those subjects...and some may not like my views on religion...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Inately Inate
Was I born with the inate ability to play football? or understand business? to sew a shirt button? to talk in numerous languages? to run a marathon? to understand philosophy?
There is this belief that we are all born with the ability to do anything with the life we are given and that our environment and what we are exposed to is what determines what we will achieve with our lives. I guess this could go for physical activities as well as emotional feelings and beliefs. In the Intro to Philosophy course we just finished talking about various religions. Going off of this belief that we may all posses the feelings for everything, this means everyone theoretically could be any religion. If this is the truth, why is there such competition to gain members for a certain religion when they all stem from the same feelings within us each?
If we have the inate ability to understand anything...then why do I not understand the majority of the stuff that I should? Like some of the crazy abstract ideas that are presented in this class. Do you have to have genius status in order to completely comprehend everything in this world and tap all of the ability you inately have?
When I started typing this, I hoped that an answer or two would flow out of me and on to here...but yet again, all I do is pose more questions. Is this a never ending cycle? There I go again!
There is this belief that we are all born with the ability to do anything with the life we are given and that our environment and what we are exposed to is what determines what we will achieve with our lives. I guess this could go for physical activities as well as emotional feelings and beliefs. In the Intro to Philosophy course we just finished talking about various religions. Going off of this belief that we may all posses the feelings for everything, this means everyone theoretically could be any religion. If this is the truth, why is there such competition to gain members for a certain religion when they all stem from the same feelings within us each?
If we have the inate ability to understand anything...then why do I not understand the majority of the stuff that I should? Like some of the crazy abstract ideas that are presented in this class. Do you have to have genius status in order to completely comprehend everything in this world and tap all of the ability you inately have?
When I started typing this, I hoped that an answer or two would flow out of me and on to here...but yet again, all I do is pose more questions. Is this a never ending cycle? There I go again!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Matching Experiences to Experiences
Does this mean that everything that happens in my life somehow is intertwined with everything else that occurs in my life? Or only with the things I had a hand in creating? To base my feelings and such off of an experience that is based on an experience seems like a never-ending cycle of analytical craziness. It's a circle of thoughts and comparisons that will just continue comparing until the end of time. It's an endless continuium.
By why? Why does everything have to be based off of something else? I may possibly be acting like that little annoying preschool kid everyone babysits at least once in their life. You know, the one that just keeps asking "why?" after everything you say? But this is one thing that keeps bugging me...WHY does everything have to be based off something eles? There had to be someone in the beginning to start off the basis for everyone else. How did they do it if everything is based off one another?
This post just may be a bunch of meaningless rambling as I look back on it...but sometimes this is what philosophy does. In fact, it reminds me of "LOST"...mainly because it keeps posing more questions than answers...which is one of the reasons I don't watch the show haha. I have a feeling that is going to be a common statement I bring up in every single one of these blogs...until I can find the answers that I want to at least a few of my questions...
By why? Why does everything have to be based off of something else? I may possibly be acting like that little annoying preschool kid everyone babysits at least once in their life. You know, the one that just keeps asking "why?" after everything you say? But this is one thing that keeps bugging me...WHY does everything have to be based off something eles? There had to be someone in the beginning to start off the basis for everyone else. How did they do it if everything is based off one another?
This post just may be a bunch of meaningless rambling as I look back on it...but sometimes this is what philosophy does. In fact, it reminds me of "LOST"...mainly because it keeps posing more questions than answers...which is one of the reasons I don't watch the show haha. I have a feeling that is going to be a common statement I bring up in every single one of these blogs...until I can find the answers that I want to at least a few of my questions...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
I can be classified as...
To anyone out there who isn't quite sure...I'm a Biology major and a Chemistry minor. In other words, my life = science. So because of that statement I have the feeling like I have to be categorized as a "naturalist" just because that seems to be the one related mostly to science.
Because of core requirments for this wonderful institution we all attend, I am also taking the Intro to Philosophy class while taking this one...and in the other one the professor had mention how philosophy is the basis for science. Without a thought, there would no science. So does this mean I can technically be a scientist and be considered something like a skeptic?
But either way, I guess I do consider myself a naturalist. I believe there is a method to how everything exists here...to an extent I guess. Which would technically make me not a naturalist because they think that there is a process for everything and that all can be proved via science. But I am not so sure of that point. I guess I'm in the middle on a lot of this...which tends to be a common thread in philosophy: changing ideas and never being fully committed to one way or another.
One thing I am sure of however, these views will change numerous times of the course of my two classes here and I learn more and more about what people think around me...stay tuned =)
Because of core requirments for this wonderful institution we all attend, I am also taking the Intro to Philosophy class while taking this one...and in the other one the professor had mention how philosophy is the basis for science. Without a thought, there would no science. So does this mean I can technically be a scientist and be considered something like a skeptic?
But either way, I guess I do consider myself a naturalist. I believe there is a method to how everything exists here...to an extent I guess. Which would technically make me not a naturalist because they think that there is a process for everything and that all can be proved via science. But I am not so sure of that point. I guess I'm in the middle on a lot of this...which tends to be a common thread in philosophy: changing ideas and never being fully committed to one way or another.
One thing I am sure of however, these views will change numerous times of the course of my two classes here and I learn more and more about what people think around me...stay tuned =)
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