thecharleston

Every day I hear about bullying, sexual prejudice, or any sort of subjugation of our race. I think the first and most prominent point to make is that we are all the same. We are all the same race, the human race.

My inspiration today is about a mother who gave a stun gun to her openly gay child. That child is now being suspended for bringing a weapon to school. And, yes, he should be suspended for bringing a weapon to school. The point being missed is that this type of hate is accepted in schools so that a student needs to bring a weapon to school to defend themselves. Are we really so uncivilized that hate lives so deeply in our hearts and minds that we cannot accept those who may be different?

Granted, this is preaching to the choir. Yet, I want to believe that if this democracy is motivated enough, it will make enough noise to create awareness for those who are not bless with the gift that this American was established to give. Rather, what I see, is an America that holds to out-dated mentalities of isolationism that continues to breed violence when what it should promote is acceptance. So easily we forget that we accept,

-The New Colossus-

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus, 1883

Side Complaint:

I like reading the HuffPost...yet, I know their anecdotes are meant to draw me into worthless stories. We've come to the point where news is not news, it's entertainment. I don't even know what news means anymore.

To be honest, the closest thing I have to news is Montaigne, because I know that human nature doesn't change that much, but how we perceive and publish it does. If I want the the news, I'll read a little Montaigne, look at the headlines, and say, "yeah, isn't that the truth."

papa, huh?

so you liked amsterdam? i live in the eastern part of the country for a few years and got to spent time with some host families and the what not. didn't ever really do the amsterdam night lift, but i did hit the city a few times. most of our clubbing was local or over in germany. all in all though, love the country and love the people.

there's even a slim chance i might have a job lined up for this summer...<fingers crossed>