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| Equality. | March 27, 2006, 11:49PM |
 by: colorofnightfall |
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Individuality is a constantly debated point. Some contend that all people are the same while others will contend only those who 'free their minds' are truly different. There is even the widely shared sentiment of 'You can be different just like everyone else.' I agree with the above statement but in a completely different sentiment than it is often interpreted. I feel that everyone is different but that this is what makes them equal. Everyday we see examples of people embittering the differences between us instead of embracing them. We see people criticizing those who try to be different or who are just trying to find their different personality. Every person is different and not because of their fingerprint or the distance from their ear to their eye or their dental record. Every person is unique because of their personality. Identical twins separated from birth prefer the same tea without ever meeting but that doesn't make them the same person. Cliques are not such because everyone is named 'Barbie' but because there is a Barbie and a Sharon and a Cathy and a Suzie and they all understand each other and their differences regardless of how similar they dress. While you can't tell all the scene kids apart I promise you they all have names and personalities and different likes and dislikes and things that make them who they are. People shouldn't have to try to be different because they are born that way. No matter how hard you will try you will never be the clone of your best friend so stop trying to convince the world thats what it is. I have now established that the entire world is different. There is the conflict of what differences can bring. The media is often portraying racial and discriminatory crimes. By definition these crimes are committed because someone is discriminating against people who are different than them. They may be black, homosexual, muslim, female, male, christian, bisexual, foreign but above all they are different. They are strange and foreign and scary and heterogeneous and all those things that frighten us so much. At this point people run to defend the value of diversity point out all the wonderful reasons we are different and why that makes us amazing. And this is completely true. Without the mix, the chaos of some many different ideas, opinions, beliefs, cultures and minds we would have nothing. Every single human being is different and that is why human culture in one form or another has survived so long. That is the beauty of difference. I am myself and you are yourself but we are equals. I don't care if you are the 'scum of the earth' or the king(or queen) of Persia. You are human just like me. You will never be me but you will always be my equal. The things that make us different is not what makes us the same but what makes us equal. It shows that we can try and be be better or worse than some one else but that it can't compare. It is truly like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruits and then both have seeds but one red and the other orange, soft and hard, segmented and whole. You can't hold them to the same level because they aren't the same thing. If you were to ask who was better, me or you?, there would be no comparison because while we might seem superficially similar we are completely different. No one human being is better or worse than another because we are uniquely incomparable. | |
topic: Philosophy | |
[reply] [5 comments] |
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| Wicca | March 24, 2006, 4:58PM |
 by: Punk1989 |
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Wicca I am so tired of hearing how Wicca’s are the devils servants and how we are all Satanists, let me tell you this, we are not. The Devil is a Christian manifestation and we don’t believe in any such thing. We choose to do things because we feel right doing it, not because of fear of the afterlife and that we will be eternally punished. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not doing this to aggravate people of another religion, that is your choice, but to hear these insults again and again is just severely annoying. We Wicca’s follow a Wiccan Reed, which is much like the Christian ten, which basically state that: A) Harm ye none B) Do what thou wilt These basically mean that you will not harm any living being for any purpose or reason, because anything action that you perform will come back towards you 3 times, whether that is bad or good. This is the basic philosophy of the Wiccan religion, we also believe that any other person is entitled to their own opinion, they are their own choices, we are not biased, we do not judge on appearance, sexual orientation or religion, and we do not try to force our religion onto anyone else. “We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people. We are not dangerous. We are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs, hopes, and dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke. We are not what you think we are from looking at T.V. We are real. We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor. You don't have to be afraid of us. We don't want to convert you. And please don't try to convert us. Just give us the same right we give you--to live in peace. We are much more similar to you than you think” - This was said by Margot Adler. Although we see much acceptance in this world, we also see much negativity as the American (Said that because I live in Northern Ireland) President George Bush, stated that Wicca’s would not serve they’re country in Iraq because Wicca is a cult and not revered as a real religion, which is just sadistically stupid on his part. His exact words where “"I don't think witchcraft is a religion. I would hope the military officials would take a second look at the decision they made." “He disapproved of Wiccan soldiers being given the same religious rights as others in the military.” This proves that all religions are not accepted as they should be, there are many different religions ranging from Aladura to Zoroastrianism, but Wiccan’s are usually the most hated ones because Christians review them as “Devil Worshippers”. My friend stated something extremely true, which was “It’s like choosing to have electric power over gas power, its no big deal in the long run, except, lets say Christians are the gas power they are constantly flammable because they're so biased, so their religion is slowly exploding into flames, while the rest, with the electric power, sit happy in their homes watching their favorite shows.” The Wiccan religion is not a joke, we are not just part of this religion to be “cool” as some other people do, we are this religion because we fully believe in it. Below are some sites that give you some comparisons and interesting views on Wiccan’s. http://www.religionfacts.com/wicca/index.htm http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcr4.htm | |
topic: Rants | |
[reply] [3 comments] |
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| Label Crazy | March 23, 2006, 3:24PM |
 by: Sean T. |
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I don't know about you but I'm about sick of labels, what ever happened to good old originality. Everyone wants to define themselves based upon a certain 'trend', Goth, Emo, Punk, Juggalo, Jock, Prep, Geek. I haven't exactly figured out where labels come from.. is it because of close minded people judging others who look or dress differently or is it just people who label themselves in an attempt to fit in, in fear of being judged. We're all people.. and to those of you who've decided to only associate with people who fit your 'label' and laugh at others who aren't as 'cool' as you, then you've got alot to learn. The facts are this... there a good people, and there are bad people. Take the time to learn about someone before you say 'Oh no, I'm not talkin to that preppy bitch, or I could never be seen around someone like hard.core.maggot666. Listen, I have friends that fit all these so called labels... honestly they could switch places with each other and it wouldn't make much difference... just the way they look. Take 'preps' for instance... people say they don't like preps because they love money and material things and they hate people who are less fortunate than them. well, I know people that dress that way and they're nowhere near rich... thats just what they like to wear. I honestly don't like true preps... I don't judge them by the way they look... I get to know them first and you can usually tell a real prep right off the bat, real preps are bad people. How about goths... to others they just look like the worst people you could meet... goths get judged alot, by people in the real world anyway, truthfully I don't think many people even know what it means when they say their gothic... maybe everybody has their own little definition. But once again there are bad goths who live up to the public image by doing hostile things to other and what not.. but yet have I met a goth who was like that... sure maybe they do drugs or whatever you'd like to believe.. but generally their just really cool people no matter what personal choices they choose to damage their bodies with, if any. What about geeks? Yeah, I've gotten that one.. but it really doesn't mean much to me.. the facts are that I'm technically proficient, and I wear glasses.. Ok.. but people still define so called geeks as having this really nerdy unpersonable attitude toward others, as if their only friend was their computer.. Hah. People just tend to judge that way too much, and sure, there are people just like that. But the only reason you should judge someone on is personality... you don't know what their like just by looking at them, even if theyre ugly, or evil lookin, or have their hand shaped like a gun pointed at their head. Just give others a chance and you never know.. you could end up with a new best friend, or an awesome relationship. Character is the main thing... look past clothes and looks Another big thing going on is the gay/bi issue... and it seems like so many guys are disgusted at the idea of another guy looking at them or hitting on them... listen.. if you put yourself on the internet then your gonna get looked at whether you know it or not. Gay guys can be really awesome, sure some will try to hit on straight guys/girls, but if your straight then don't let it bother you.. everyone makes such a big deal out of it. Most people that are gay or lesbian are born that way and they can't do anything to control it.. and its gotten so open now that the government tries to stop gay marriages and holy evangelists condemn gay people to hell.. give me a fuckin break. I think this is one of the lighter things becoming much more accepted because of awesome people out there proving that everyone has a right to choice. The most important thing going on with differences between people has got to be racial discrimination... it's just the stupidest thing that people have engraved in their minds. But once again it is always gonna be a deal of good people and bad people... there are good white people, there are good black people, good chinese, good mexican, good puerto ricans... it's all about fear for one's safety... racists are just afraid of being hurt by someone of another color because they believe that their color is discriminated upon.. or they don't like it cause their jobs are getting taken... thats just simple business right there... be mad at the CEO's of companies, not the mexicans that they hired cause they'll work for less.. Why take it out on any some mexican.. they had nothing to do with you losing your job. I mean.. come on.. we all came from the same place, and at one time we were all the same exact color... thats how its gonna be here soon enough.. I might not see that day, but that will be a nice world to live in.. No more racial discrimination.. we're all coming back together... one world, one goverment, one race... it could be that way now if people learned to agree on their differences. Maybe some of you don't wanna see it that way.. but its bound to happen no matter what. Why wouldn't you wanna live in an undivided world were everyone could just get along. One thing that may never change is the religion issues flaring all over the place. This is one of the main primers for racism. We all have our beliefs... everyone has somewhat different beliefs of an afterlife... or they believe in nothingness after death, thats a bit too dismal for me.. but I still respect it. Choice is everyones freedom to take the path that suites them best. Personally I've never liked religion because there are so many different views and arguments against the others.. So many contradictions.. and the only main factor is a divine creator and an afterlife. I think if you choose to follow religious rules and sanctions then thats fine. I believe in God though.. I like alot of worship music.. but I don't follow any rules to how to live my life.. I just do what I know and be the best person I know how to be but I still like studying other peoples ideas, even satanism... I know you guys aren't bad people. Heh. Personally I think earth is hell. I think if you do bad things here then you just reincarnate into a lower form. But I'm not gonna get into my beliefs too much.. I know there are people that'll disagree with me. Overall, my main point for people is to open up and stop judging people so much. You'd be able to find yourself alot happier if you got to that point of being able to find common groud with people that only seem strange to your ideals. So just think about that the next time you think about leaving rude comments or calling someone names. I'm sure if your kind then they will be too. It takes understanding to get understanding. | |
topic: Advice | |
[reply] [17 comments] |
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| Cannibalism. | March 19, 2006, 8:50PM |
 by: gothicXgabby |
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Recently in my English class, we were assigned to read a 'special interest' book. I chose a so called ''Weird peoples'' book which had never been checked out of my schools library though it had lay there for several years. The Title of the book? Cannibalism, from sacrifice to survival. When it became known of the class what I was reading, it became no shock to me of the reaction. What I wasn't expecting, was the depth of information, and relevancy of this book to todays culture in this 246 page book. Cannibalism has been a well known subject since we were young enough to comprehend the balance of life in death in nature. Perhaps with the exception of a few children, cannibalism usually becomes well aware by age 10. ( Though it is rarely spoke of ) I continued to read the book when I had finished my work in several other classes, and one day, I had the oppritunity to see how much it really mattered to several students who voluntarily stated their beliefs in my History class. It turned into a debate like situation in which I pointed out the most common and well known motives for cannibalism. The results were surprising. One girl in my class stated "She would rather eat her own feces" than feast on a companion should she be stranded some place with human remains her only repast. Several other students received scathing looks from their peers when they admitted they would partake in cannibalism if they were in that situation and they see nothing wrong with cannibalism should it be in a similar predicament. I was surprised to see such a 'hush hush' topic be so openly discussed, argued, and evaluated as if it was nothing more than the local weather. The class ended that day with me perplexed. Cannibalism was such a seemingly quieted subject to me, though I knew alot on the subject, it seemed odd that it wasn't as hushed a subject as I'd thought. I wanted to know what everyone else knew and what everyone else felt on the subject. I continued to read and got very satisfied results from the random chit-chatters of students deep into conversation and the 2 other class debates. The book was almost as pleasurable for me as the interaction. What honestly astounded me as I continued to read on, was that cannibalism happened to be a very broad subject. I found the most common thing that comes to mind when cannibalism is mentioned involves a black cauldron full of khaki clad missionaries boiling with carrots and other assorted vegetables. However, I discovered cannibalism has so much more to it. Cannibalism can be one or more of an array of many different reasons. Hunger, madness, sadism, religion, ceremonies...all plausible reasons for such a grusome (( As thought of mainly by the 'normal' people of the U.S. )) custom. However, can we as Americans ((For all the Americans who will read this )) really say whats ''disgusting'' about other peoples cultures? So a group of african tribes called the leopard people sacrifice a young woman as a right of passage for a man. While we see it as wrong, are we allowed to say its incorrect? I don't think so, but who am I to judge. To conclude, cannibalism is too broad a subject to write a full article on with even only 8% of the information. I would greatly recommend the book to anyone who found this article to peak their interest in the least bit...the title again is "Cannibalism from sacrifice to survival" by Hans Askensay. To anyone who reads it, you're in for a treat. | |
topic: Essays | |
[reply] [0 comments] |
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| Red, White, and Platelets | March 18, 2006, 3:00PM |
 by: Tezrian |
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Imagine giving birth to a little boy, he seems healthy enough. He has his mother’s eyes and fathers face and is loved even though he is covered in blood and other things. He goes in for the routine tests all babies are required to have. When the doctor comes back he says that he has sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder in which blood cells are not circular but sickle shaped. The distorted shape cuts the cells ability to carry oxygen along with other problems. Sickle cell anemia did not have a cure when the boy was born. A few years later a new idea cropped up. By taking stem cells found in umbilical cord blood it could cure different diseases and regenerate dying cells. The idea was accurate and the boy was cured of his sickle cell anemia thanks to stem cell research (Davis, 2005). Laboratories, growing, and harvesting, these words, long ago would have been associated with an evil scientist experimenting with his or her new creation. Now, these words are connected to stem cell research. Stem cells are difficult to obtain because they are only found in a limited number of places. One of these places, and how the stem cells are retrieved, has many pro-life members in an uproar. Embryonic stem cells, along with bone marrow and adult stem cells should be used to benefit society, and this research should be continued without restrictions. One of the foremost arguments against stem cell research is the initial gathering of the stem cells. When stem cells were first grown in 1998 it was a shock to society. Many did not know what to think about this breakthrough in science, while others were in an outrage. The cells had been taken from a human embryo. To normal human beings it does not sound as though it is a major problem. Many people die and leave their bodies to science. Their cells are used in tests for future generations and the advancement of science along with the expansion of knowledge. Those who believe strongly against abortion and fetal tissue research believed that the scientists were taking a life (Hatch, 2005). Pro Life members believe that any cell that has been fertilized is a human being. Therefore, by taking the stem cells from that developing mass of cells and destroying it, what the scientist has done is murder (Wertz, 1999). The extraction of stem cells, however, can be justified. “To say that fetal research causes abortions is a bit like saying that a need for donor organs causes murders (Wertz, 4).” It has been determined that a fertilized egg is not a “human being” until it reaches fourteen days after conception. In these fourteen days it is called a “pre embryo.” Previous to the fourteenth day the scientists are allowed to harvest the stem cells grown. After that certain date it is unwise to harvest because the argument over when a human really is a human begins. The process of extracting the stem cells is known to few. If more knew about the process and how specific the cells can become in the procedure many doubts about stem cells would be cleared up. Possibly even Pro Life members might agree that it is worth using. The first step of the process an egg is taken then the DNA is removed. After that skin cells from the patient are removed and DNA is removed. Then the DNA from the skin cell is placed within the egg. After that is done the blastocyst, egg, is stimulated with either electro current or chemicals. In a three to five day time period the cell divide and multiply creating stem cells. Finally the growing cells are removed and by doing that the blastocyst is destroyed, murdered by those who believe in Pro Life. These life altering cells are placed inside a patient who is suffering from any number of diseases and disorders in the hopes that it will work. Since stem cells have the capacity to form into any cell of the body the possibility of healing are seemingly endless (White, 2005). Eggs that are used can come from any number of sources. Donations, cadavers that were given to science, even the leftovers from processes such as In vitro fertilization, or IVF. Eggs are frozen in storage to be kept for several years before being destroyed to make room for new eggs that are brought in. It is estimated that millions of frozen eggs that are usable are decimated each year. Each of those eggs has the possibility of helping someone. From diabetes to sickle cell anemia, a single egg can create a miracle where they was no hope (National Health Institute). Gene therapy sounds like a futuristic medical process. However, it is being used today to try and cure diseases that have plagued the world for centuries. Many believe that the process of gene therapy will do more harm then good. A single error and the patient could end up in worse shape. The disease could worsen, leading to debilitating results. The worst outcome for a mistake in gene therapy would result in death. There have been claims that there is a high mortality rate for gene therapy. Some say that there is a larger risk for death then the miracle that it promises. For nearly ten years scientists have been working on gene therapy. All of them hope for it to work, nearly ten years to find a way to make it work (Rifkin, 2005). Gene therapy by using stem cells is the miracle that scientists have been searching for. The problem behind gene therapy is the donor genes used in the procedure were not a perfect match. Like any transplant the donor must be just right or the patient receiving the transplant will suffer and the operation rejected. Normally organs will turn black from lack of oxygen being transported and cease to function, while in the case of blood donors would result in death of the patient. Stem cells reduce the risk to a near zero percent fatality rate. This is made possible because of the stem cells ability to be manipulated with the patients DNA into whatever cell is needed in the therapy. The patient technically is using his or her own skin, blood, heart cells in the therapy. The ability to do so decreases any risk of a match being incorrect. The patient’s recovery from his or her disease should be a hundred percent A big issue with embryonic stem cells is federal aid from the government. In 1995 a ban on stem cell funding through the federal government was placed. In 2005 the bill was reviewed and kept in place. An overwhelming majority was against removing the ban on the funding (Meyer, 11). Private funding, however, is still allowed. Many of the companies that have worked with stem cells spent years scraping together money to continue research on the scientific break through. If the government funded the research and the medical projects then more questions could be answered. Questions on whether or not stem cells will cure diseases scientists have been trying to cure for decades. Also questions such as could it cure cancer have been spoken about and hypothesized. The possibilities that stem cells have are enormous. If federal aid was granted and the ban withdrawn then more people could be cured of diseases that they have been suffering with for entire lifetimes. Many babies could be saved from living a life that would have required them to take shots every day, or leave them unable to do what normal children do because of a disease that they had been born with. The government needs to allow the funding to help future generation and the children born, if nothing else (H.R. 810). Another Act pertaining to stem cells was up for review within the House of Representatives. The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 strongly supports the usage of umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells. The stem cells found in the cord can be taken without an egg being destroyed. The Act states that the use of the cells from the umbilical cord can be used to treat the many suffering peoples of the world. It also can be federally funded because the stem cells were not taken from an embryo (H.R. 2520). Besides embryonic and umbilical cord stem cells there are two other types. Bone marrow stem cells are limited in their ability to become different types of cells. These cells include the red, white, and platelet cells in the blood. Being limited in their abilities to change, their usefulness also lessens, but they are still beneficial when dealing with blood disorders. These cells are more difficult to harvest because they are found in the marrow and the procedure is complicated. Also bone marrow stem cells are not condemned by Pro Life members and are accepted. Last but not least, adult stem cells also have the ability to change into many of the cells of the body. These cells are minutely limited in their ability to turn into other cells. Studies show that they are less effective then the embryonic stem cells. They are also much more difficult to obtain and are slow growing. Though after many tests, the cells still have much potential and will most likely be used much more then its embryonic cousin (Caplan). These stem cells are the alternative to embryonic stem cells and Pro Life members are pushing to have these cells be the main cells used to help patients. Eggs, harvesting, and miracle are all words associated with stem cell research. The discovery of these cells was a wonderful thing to happen. The benefits that are possible with these cells can reach as far as the imagination. The curing of illness in thousands is worth the price of a few embryos that are used in the process. These are just some of the many reasons that stem cell research should be continued to be used to benefit the world and all the people that live on it. The ability to save lives should never be forgotten. Miracles such as the boy’s full recovery from sickle cell anemia are far too precious to be kept a secret. The world should be able to experience the joy of a loved ones recovery when they thought death was the only option. References Caplan, Arthur “Research on Human Embryos Can Be Ethical.” Medical Ethics (2000). 15 Nov. 2005. Davis, D Curing Sickle Cell Anemia. Online. 7 Dec 2005. Executive Office of the President Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 810 -- Stem Cell Enhancement Act of 2005. 24 May 2005. Online. 8 Dec 2005. Executive Office of the President Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 2520 -- Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005. 24 May 2005. Online. 8 Dec 2005. Goldstein, Lawrence “Fetal Stem Cell Research May Improve Medicine.” Technology and Society (2002). 15 Nov. 2005. Hatch, Orrin G. “Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Ethical.” Medical Ethics (2005). 15 Nov. 2005. Meyer, Michael J. “Human Embryo Experimentation Can Be Morally Justifiable.” Greenhaven Press (2002). 15 Nov. 2005. National Institute of Health, “Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Beneficial.” Human Embryo Experimentation. (2002). 15 Nov. 2005. Rifkin, J “Gene Therapy Is Dangerous to Health.” Greenhaven Press (2002). 8 Dec. 2005. Wertz, Dorothy C. “Fetal Tissue Research Will Benefit Medical Science.” Greenhaven Press (1999). 15 Nov. 2005. White, D Pros and Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Aug 2005. Online. 7 Dec 2005. (If you wish to read the articles and the links do not work, please message me and I will send you the article) | |
topic: Essays | |
[reply] [12 comments] |
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| Editor's Rant | March 17, 2006, 11:15PM |
 by: Saturnalia |
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As one of the Article Editors of this website, I have a few grievances about my job that I would like to address. Most of the articles we receive are of very poor quality, and I, for one, am quite disturbed by the fact that there are those on this site who think it's okay to submit such mediocrity. 1.) It is not okay to submit an article that starts with the words, "Okay, so like..." or anything resembling them. You are not passing notes to your friend sitting next to you in 3rd period. When writing an article, you are addressing a wide audience, so don't get so personal and informal. Also, it makes you look like you're not taking your article seriously. 2.) I never want to see another article written as thus: "i wud lyke u 2 suk my cock...". It's called Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation. Use it. Learn to love it because shit like that gets automatically rejected. 3.) While we're discussing spelling, I must ask a question I have pondered for quite some time. Is your head going to implode if you ever use a spellchecker? No? Then why the fuck don't you people ever use them?! I'll be the first to admit, I don't spell every word right the first time, but if I'm going to display my writing, something that represents me and that I will be judged by, for the whole internet to see, I'm going to damned well be sure that every letter is in its proper place. "Stop judging people! Not everyone knows how to spell!" I've actually heard this before, and more than once. Well, you know what? At your age, you should know how to spell. You make yourself look like a retard, and the people that defend you truly are retards. You're at least 13 years old (have to be to gain membership to this site), yet most of you write like you're in 2nd grade. And don't give me any of this "well it's the skool's falt for not teeching me right" or "i have a lerning disebility" shit. If you didn't learn how to spell right by now, it's your own damn fault for not paying attention. Most public schools suck, this doesn't mean that you can't take matters into your own hands and educate yourself. As for those with "learning disabilities", most of you are full of shit and so are the people who told you that you have a disability. There didn't used to be such a high percentage of learning disabilities as there are now. You know why? Parents and teachers would beat the fuck out of kids for not paying attention in class. End of problem. Your disability is that you're fucking lazy. 4.) Choose unique subject matter! If I see one more article about how stupid Emo kids are or how great they are or how people should stop arguing about it or how people should stop telling people to stop arguing about it, I'm going to go out and kill every Emo kid on Earth just so I won't have to hear about it anymore. We all know the government is corrupt and that the media lies. We don't need a million articles about it to remind us. If you're going to write about politics, try to stick to current events. Failing that, try to write about something that nobody's done yet or that can be of great informative value to the reader. 5.)Don't be afraid to do a little research. It helps make you look like less of a clueless moron. Use Google, or some other search engine. Cite references. Don't plagiarize. 6.) If your article gets rejected, don't bitch about it. Don't come leaving comments on Tonnyx's or my profile saying "How could u reject my article?!? I worked hard on it! I'm gonna tell eon on you!!!" Obviously, you didn't work hard enough, and your petty threats are meaningless. We let a lot of shit slide and if your article was horrendous enough to warrant rejection, it's nobody's fault but your own. Your article will never be rejected because an Editor doesn't like you. Your article will never be rejected because an Editor didn't agree with the subject matter. I'm "Pro-Life", but I've put "Pro-Choice" articles on the front page because I thought they were well written and presented a good argument. There is no bias. There will probably only be about 5 people that will actually read all of the above. Well, hopefully you 5 have learned from it. I know there are intelligent minds meandering through this site. To them, I must say, don't be afraid to shed some light on the literary void we have here. There should be more people submitting articles, and now that you know how not to annoy the editors, there should be a lot more people submitting -good- articles. | |
topic: Rants | |
[reply] [27 comments] |
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| Symbology of Hatred | March 16, 2006, 5:58AM |
 by: OdiuM |
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A few recent events have caused me to want to vent a little and write this article. I go to university. I catch a bus to campus. Most days I start around the same time, so I’m usually at the bus stop to catch the same timed bus those days each week. As such, I see the other people whose individual routines involve public activities around that time, in the same area as my bus stop, on each of those days. Some of these people include; the guy who owns the paint shop opposite the bus stop, arriving to open up his store; the guy who drives the Tribe of Judah Street Meet van, driving off to set up somewhere to feed the less fortunate; and the old man who walks along the path right past my bus stop, presumably on his way to the shops… It is this old man whose actions have caused me to write this article. I’m usually alone sitting in the bus stop. I sit there minding my own business listening to my mp3 player. At the time in the morning that I arrive at my stop, the sun is usually beaming in and there is no shade for shelter (no, not midday, it’s actually much, much earlier). As such, I usually bring and wear my hat while I’m waiting. Now, I don’t think there is anything extra special about my hat. It’s pretty standard. It’s a black bucket hat… with a white Pentacle on the front (for those who don’t know, it’s a five pointed star with a circle around it, commonly known as a Pentagram). Last week when I was sitting at my stop the old man walks along the path in front of my stop. He looks at me the whole way as he passes and just before he goes past the side of the bus stop shelter he slows down and says “Waiting for the bus?”. I had my headphones in so I didn’t hear what he said clearly, so I assumed, because he was asking something about a bus, that he had asked something like “What bus are you waiting for?”. I answered that I was waiting, and stated my bus number. He then stopped and came closer to me. He stood over me and asked me a whole bunch of questions. He had an accent, and spoke slightly broken English. He saw my bag and asked, “Where do you go to school?”… and I answered university, and he said “Good”. He then asked what university and what course I was doing and I answered. He then said “Good” again. He then noticed my labret piercing, and gestured to his own face and asked “Why did you, how do you get that off?” and I answered that the ball screws off. He nodded and made affirmative understanding noises. He then looked more carefully at my hat – which I believe is the sole reason he stopped – and first asked if I was Jewish (simply, I believe, due to the fact that there is a star in it). I answered that I wasn’t, so he then asked why I had that symbol on my hat. I answered that it is a Pagan symbol. And he stood back, shook his head and pointed at my hat and said something… which I’m not quite sure what it was. From his tone, his body language and the way he was pointing, I got the general gist that he didn’t agree with my hat and felt that it symbolised something bad. He then lent in, and repeated what he had said while he was pointing. He then shook his head and laughed in disgust. Then he finally went away. I was understandably taken back by this encounter. I eventually dismissed it as nothing. Today when I was waiting at my stop, again listening to my mp3 player and wearing my hat, the same old man walked along the path. He didn’t stop this time. He did however look right at me with a quite unmistakably mean face, point at me, and yell something at me while he was walking past. I didn’t catch what it was he yelled due to my music. I am very sure though, that whatever he yelled wasn’t nice. Why is it people feel it is their place to yell at complete strangers, in this obviously extreme way, for no other reason aside from their clothing symbology? What would he have done if a Buddhist, Hindu or Janis wearing their symbol was in my bus stop instead (for those who don’t know, a holy symbol from Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and many other ancient religions was adapted by Hitler to become the Nazi Swastika)? If he hadn’t asked, he never would have known I was a Pagan (I can make this assumption because he thought I was Jewish originally)… he had decided, simply because I wear that symbol, that I was someone who he had due right to abuse. I don’t expect to be threatened by old men as I wait for my bus at the bus stop up the road. Today’s world seems to be in a state of racist/religionist outburst. If you look like you belong to a particular culture or religion, or dare wear the symbol that represents it on your person, then you will most likely find yourself abused or discriminated against in the greater public. | |
topic: Life | |
[reply] [17 comments] |
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| A true story. | March 16, 2006, 4:00AM |
 by: Overrated |
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It was then, when the full gravity of the situation hit her like a tonne of bricks. It was then when she realized that this was real. She was being raped. He had locked all the doors. She was pinned down by his incredibly strong arms. Couldn't move. Doesn't matter when she says no or stop. He wouldnt listen.Wouldn't matter if she screamed. No one would hear. No one would come. No one could save her now. She fought him, she fought so hard...even though he was much stronger and there was no hope of escaping. She screamed for help...even though there was no hope that anyone would hear. But he ripped her clothes off and forced himself on her, all the while saying he loved her. Telling her to say she loved him back. Forcing her to say it. Slamming her head against the window when she refused. Continuing to slam it until she did as she was told. Finally, she began to see that if she did not succumb to his desires...did not do as she was told...did not let him do whatever he wanted with her...that she may not live to escape that backseat ever...so she laid there. She did what she had to in order to save her life. She sobbed the entire time. She escaped finally when he was through, with a few bruises, a horrid headache and a bleeding lip. Clothes ripped in a few places. Barely able to move or talk from the shock. But he still rapes her every night in her sleep. Tortures her in her nightmares. She will never escape him. Imagine that happened to someone you know. Someone you love. Someone you can't ever imagine being used and abused in that way, to that extent. You can't really, can you? Well, you're lucky. I wouldn't want you to understand, because to fully understand you would have to endure it personally. And I would never, ever wish that upon you, or the person I hate most. Did you know that one in four women have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime? ONE in FOUR. Name off four women in your head right now and ONE of them will be raped/assaulted in their lifetime. Unbelievable. Want to hear something also pretty unbelievable about this story? The girl had dated this guy for TWO years. Thought she knew him pretty well. They had broken up about 5 months ago, kept in touch, stayed friends. Sometimes he would say stuff about how she "owed him one last time." Sex. Sex. Sex. Thats all he ever wanted from her, it seemed. But she never in a million years would have thought that he would come to her school, pick her up and take her to the deserted part of a mall parking lot and rape her. NEVER in a million years. You can think all you want that this would never happen to you, that you really do know all the people in your life. But statistics lead us to believe otherwise. Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. (http://www.wavaw.ca/informed_myths.php). It happens. But I'm not telling her story just to warn people that rape really does happen. You know it happens. You read about it practically every day in the newspaper...see it on the news. You know it can happen to anyone, at any time. What you don't know, is the rest of her story. And the stories of the 94% of victims who's cases never even make it to trial. Who's rapists never get punished. This girl swallowed her fears and apprehensions and finally told someone what happened. She agreed to go through the horrible testing and agreed to speak with the police and try to file charges. Only 6% of rapes even make it that far. (http://www.wavaw.ca/informed_stats.php) She replayed, revisited the memory over and over, meticulously disecting the crime over and over for the police. She braved the making of the rape kit in the hospital, which exposed and exploited her all over again. All the while keeping in mind that this served a greater purpose. He would never ever do this to anyone ever again. Now the policeman comes to the door, after about a week of investigation. He has questioned everyone- the accused, the accused's friend, the victim, the victims' best friend and mother. He sits her and her own mother down at the table and tells them that the investigation is over and that he will not even bother submitting it to a crown attorney. He says that there isn't even a point in bothering to submit it, because there isnt enough evidence to charge him. The accused apparently seemed sincere when he said the sex was consensual...when he said the victim had no credibility. And hey, there is no proof that the bruises were in fact from the accused. How can they charge him for something they can't even prove? So just like that, it was over. This girl was raped and her rapist never even got a slap on the wrist. He never even got the THREAT of a fucking slap on the wrist. She was never given any kind of restraining order either. And she couldn't get one until he tried to contact her several times and until she could prove that he was a threat to her security. Our fucking legal system and its enforcement is beautiful isnt it? She has lived in fear ever since, waiting for the day when he decides its right to come back and punish her for telling. It needs to end now. And I guess the best I can do to help, is to keep telling her story. Because the more people know, the more people see how wrong it is, the more people will have the courage to stand against it. Although I have seen how horrible a person really can be, I also know how beautiful they can be. I've seen miracles, met heroes. And they're the people who helped this girl through this hell. They're the people who are reading this right now, wondering what they can possibly do to help, to make a change. They're you. <3 thanks for reading. if you have any questions, i will be happy to answer them for you. | |
topic: Life | |
[reply] [12 comments] |
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| Homophobia | March 15, 2006, 5:02AM |
 by: eyesofdread |
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I know that many people on this site have already expressed their views on homophobia, however due to recent events in my life as well as events that I have witnessed I feel a need to put my opinions about homophobia into words. Being gay myself I cannot help but create an argument that is at least a little bit biased, however I will try. First off, I would like to make it perfectly clear that to hate or dislike a gay person is not a case of homophobia. Homophobia occurs when you hate or dislike someone because they are gay. The reason I feel the need to clarify the above statement is that I often find that a lot of people are too quick to label someone as a "homophobe" purely because they have a disagreement with someone who is gay, sometimes the argument, or disagreement doesn't even follow the topic of sexual orientation. Just as I would take a stand against being labeled as someone who hates heterosexuals based on my dislike for one straight person, I will also take a stand against someone being labeled as one who hates homosexuals because they hate one gay person. No one in this world is loved or even liked by everyone and I believe that if we are to strive to overcome the issue of homophobia we must first understand what it really is. It is my honest belief that no-one should be judged based on their sexual orientation alone. I believe this because regardless of your sexual orientation if you are in a relationship with someone it should be based first and foremost on love. Some may say that in an "ideal" world we would all find a perfectly suitable life partner whom we loved, get married, have children and live out all the conventions of the romanticized heterosexual marriage...however, as I am sure you are well aware, we do not live in an "ideal" world and it has always been my belief that love is not about finding the perfect person, but rather, seeing an imperfect person in the perfect way. We cannot choose who we love and a lot of the time we cannot explain exactly why we love the people we do, we also cannot choose who we lust for. So why judge someone on something that is completely out of their control? I am currently in a relationship with a girl whom I absolutely adore. When she holds me I feel safe and secure, when she kisses me I feel more love than I have ever known and when I look into her eyes I see a promise of loyalty and I know that that’s what she sees in mine. I do not believe that there is anyone in this world who will ever have the right to tell me that this is wrong. Because it seems that we cannot talk about gay rights, without also talking about gay marriages, I feel it is appropriate to discuss the topic in this article. I am not too sure of the history of marriage in other cultures, and so I do not feel that I have the proper right to deviate away from the western society in this point. In the society that we live in marriage was traditionally a means of financial security as well as a religious celebration of the joining of two people into one unit. Because the values of our society have changed so to has the nature of marriage. Today marriage is a celebration of a love so deep that two people are willing to devote their lives to one another, and yes it does come with other benefits in terms of laws etc however it is usually viewed, first and foremost as an announcement of the love shared between two people. I believe that there is a serious problem with the way our current marriage system is structured, and I will use my cousin as an example of this. Two years ago my now 26 year old cousin (who is gay) wanted to get married to his long-term boyfriend. Gay marriage has not been legalized in Australia, and, as you may well imagine getting from here to a country in which gay marriages ARE legal is an expense that not all of us can afford. So, my cousin and his boyfriend remain as the (gorgeous) couple that they are without any official signals that they are advancing any further. At the same time my cousin was in a band with his close (British) female friend, about one year ago this same cousin decides that he wants to move to England because he (and the band) think that they will have a better chance at success in the UK. To avoid the hassle of getting Visa’s and all, he and his female friend get married because by law that means that he has just as much of a right to be in England as she does…in my view this is an absolutely appalling miscarriage of justice. When two homosexuals love each other, and want to celebrate that love with those who care about them then they are unable to do so through marriage, however, if two people of the opposite sex want to get married then they can no questions asked. I am NOT saying that all heterosexual couples that get married are doing so to manipulate the system…that would be a stupid and outrageous claim. What I am saying is that if there is room for these scenario’s to happen within our legal system then something has to change. Marriage should be about love, not gender There are all kinds of people in the world. Some heterosexual’s are “sporty”, some are “arty”, some are “introverted”, some “extroverted”, some are “effeminate” whilst others are more “masculine” the list can go on and on…by this same token there are homosexuals who are considered sporty, arty, introverted, extroverted, effeminate, masculine etc…the same with bi-sexual people, pansexual people, asexual people, what have you. We are all people and we are all able to enjoy a vast range of activities and become mentally stimulated by a diverse range of interests. The point of this article is not to “convert” people to try and make them gay, it is to try and state that we are all people, regardless of gender and sexual orientation we are all living, breathing creatures. Next time you come across someone who is of a different sexual orientation, I urge you to look beyond that one aspect of their personality and make your judgment based upon the true intricacies of their character. It is only by doing this that we will be able to break some of the tension that lay between the different orientations and in doing so we will be able to begin to create a world in which the concept that “we are all born equal” hold true meaning and weight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please note: I am aware of, and do appologise for the fact that this article was aimed mainly at people who are in relationships. This does not mean that I believe homophobia any less serious in terms of single homosexuals. | |
topic: Life | |
[reply] [13 comments] |
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| The Mentality of Happiness | March 14, 2006, 6:49PM |
by: colorofnightfall |
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Why do you wake up in the morning? If your response to this is that you have no fucking idea and that life is futile and pointless, chances are that’s bullshit and you have a lot to get up for. Here is your disclaimer: This is a piece on mentality. This is not a piece targeting select misanthropic subcultures and this is not out there to target you and make you feel like you ‘just can’t help it.’ This piece is out to get humanity as a whole and their obsession with the glass perpetually being half empty.
Why? What gives you the right to say that? Everyone has problems and everyone has to deal with life as it hits them, but a good portion of people are well-adjusted. In fact, it might be said that they are happy. If you are under the age of twenty and you say its because you are depressed for serious, nine times out of ten you are wrong. While this does not prevent it from happening, psychologists are extremely reluctant to diagnose adolescents with any sort of disorder or imbalance due to the natural fluctuation of hormones experienced during this point in maturation. 30%(according to About Teen Depression) of teenagers suffer an emotional problem between the ages of 15-24, but 70% of those with an emotional problem outgrow it as they develop and mature. Suicide is the third most common cause of death among children 5-24. While this is shocking and alarming, remember that numbers can be manipulated to say what the surveyor wants. Taking into account overpopulation, while it is very tragic that teenagers die (I do mean this), consider that the population is growing. While it is unfair that people are constantly writing off teenage angst as hormones, it most often is. We all want understanding but at the same time people will not take you serious if you can constantly mouthing off about how futile your average life it. (If you have clinical depression this article is not directed at you, so you can merely read for entertainment.) I am a happy person. I believe it is due to the outlook I maintain towards everyday life. If you want to tell me that I am happy because I ‘don’t know real pain’ I will match you tit for tat in personal tragedies ranging from the death of my friend in October to the hole I found in my favorite band shirt (I am very attached to that shirt…). And I am not arguing that depression is how many bad things happen to one person because that isn’t at all. Its how you chose to handle those problems. When I wake up tomorrow morning I will not start my day fixed on all the sad baggage that I could carry with me. I might grumble and throw something heavy at my alarm but I will wake up and face the day with my arms flung open and trying to make the morning better. When someone says something rude to me tomorrow, they will be written off and instead I will laugh when I make a paper mustache and my friend tells me ‘You are completely amazing!’ My life is what I make it and when I make it sound blissful and amusing, it’s the same life 3 million high schoolers across America are having. It seems that way because I let it get that way. Instead of pouring clouds and darkness over my life I want it to be happy and I try at it. We are all adapting and growing into ourselves; and that is it exactly. We have yet to live. We are the youth. We are the future. We have the entire world at our fingertips if only we embrace it. We should be jumping at the bit to dive headfirst into the unmolded essence of our future. We shouldn’t be wallowing in self-pity because we are in our primes and no force can reckon with us. When I say this, I realize it takes time and effort. Trust me. I have been low and I have crawled out of the pits of despair but here I stand before you with dreams and hopes ready to take every day head on. People use sadness as a substitute to dealing with problems and adapting their personality. They use their problems to cushion them against life and to rationalize things that should be solved. It is so much easier to cry about a problem then try and fix it. If we look at depression as a hole in the ground, when you fall in it is much harder to get out than it is to just stay down there, unmoving. And the more times you fall and the longer you stay down there the more you begin to think it’s a waste to get up because you will just fall down again. That is unrealistic pessimism. When you constantly say life is a waste you are not even trying to consider all the beauty that is surrounding you and all the joy that is yours for the taking. If there was nothing worth living for people would cease to exist. A perfectly miserable person (really, absolutely disgusting) gave me one pearl of advice. It was that when I fall flat on my ass in the hole of my depression I can wait for someone to help me up but that no one will want to unless I can help myself. If misery enjoys company so does joy. It’s an unfortunate cycle but if you are constantly depressed and pour all you energy into being that way will the blissful wish to spend time with you? If people took the energy they focused into blurring beautiful everyday life to jaded sorrow and trained all their motivation on living to the fullest, they wouldn't need to tell the word of their angst. I know everyone has a hissy fit over depressing and wangsty poetry, but if you purge yourself of that noxious melodrama that way then go ahead. If you are sad do something to make yourself. Listen to a song that makes you happy (one of my favorites is No Rain by Blind Melon), draw something, go jogging, write a story, write an article, write a song, play a video game, read a book, watch comedy central, SOMETHING. I've heard many a person say to me 'I am not pessimistic, I am realistic.' But saying the sky is falling and life as we know it is coming to an end is not healthy pessimism. Being realistic is saying 'Here is the good and here is the bad. Lets see which outweighs the others and go' not 'I don't know why I bother.' A common mentality is 'I'd rather be bitterly pessimistic then ignorantly optimistic.' I hate to break it to you but optimists are not ignorant. They see life coming just like everyone else but instead of letting life trip them up they bite their cheek and say 'on to the next.' And as a side note: there are two things that have been recorded as significantly lowering IQ (which is the mental age compared to the chronological age) are severe head injury and clinical depression. As was previously stated, everyone is allowed their off moments of grief but don't take that and make it into who you are. You are interesting and amazing when you are yourself and when your personality shines like the sun, not when you are repeating the morose words of your predecessors. If depression eats at you like acid and leaves gaps the only way to fill them is with a cement of joy and optimism. Live life with the knowledge you are your own sun. Children living in Kenya where there is rampant AIDS and TB, constant marauding by bandits, and sickly squalor have been seen laughing and living in happiness. Life is not what is handed to you, it is what you make it. Live like you want to be alive. | |
topic: Advice | |
[reply] [5 comments] |
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