Yo Tengo Una Pregunta.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Do you feel as though this is something America holds to be "self-evident" in today's society? Are all men, and women, no matter what their race, creed, or orientation, treated equally? If not, what ways could we as a society change this? Should we?

A Generation For Change

Our generation is not exactly renowned for its work ethic. However, every generation has things they need to do in order for the next to be able to do what they need to. Had the Wright brothers sat on their butts and chose not to build their idea for a flying contraption, we probably would not have the airplanes we use every day. If Alexander Graham Bell had not invented the telephone, our generation would not have the present danger that is texting and driving. Much like these fellows who have shaped our society today, it is our job, and really the job of every generation, to make a path for those who are to follow us.

I do not think any generation really knows what their job will be until it presents itself clearly. It is hard to see the big picture when you’re too close to it. We can look back on previous ages and say, “Oh, yeah, that was what that age group did and this is how it affects us now.” But when one is trying to figure that out in regards to one’s own life, it is incredibly difficult to see what exactly that thing is.

There is not a doubt in my mind that our generation will come up with cool gadgets and new inventions, but I think the most important thing we can do, really the most important thing any generation can do is change society as a whole. In 100 years, the iPhone 10 will be that ancient collectible that your grandma pulls out of the closet for family get-togethers that causes everyone to groan (because really grandma, we’ve all seen this 17 times by now.) Our legacy will be the advances we made towards humanity, not the technological hurdles we have leaped over. Frankly, I am a little concerned that our generation will lose sight of this. We have an unhealthy addiction with technology that will distract us from the main goal. Yes, I am using first person pronouns, because I am guilty of this too.

I do think one of the goals of our generation should to eliminate oppression in every demographic. It is 2013 and women still do not make as much as men for the exact same job. It is the 21^st century and gay people still cannot get married in all of America. Segregation has been declared unconstitutional for decades but people of color still have little representation in government bodies considering their numbers in the population. These three groups of people all have one thing in common: decisions are made for them by a majority of straight, white men. Now, these issues do not seem that big now, but look back on slavery: slave owners thought what they were doing was right too. Will future generations look back on the decisions we have made regarding these three demographics and feel the same disgust we feel towards those who owned slaves? The answer is, unfortunately, probably yes. Honestly, that makes me incredibly sad for our state as a generation and I hope to see a change of this in my lifetime.

Cats aside, where do I see myself in 10 years?

Ten years from now, who knows where I will be? All I can hope for is that in a decade, I will be satisfied with my life up to that point. Hopefully I will have a job that I enjoy, preferably something in the entertainment industry. That last part is a long shot, so I am not planning on it, I am just hoping that my life takes that path.

Even if this does not work out, I want to live in either Chicago or New York. I definitely know I do not want to live in Missouri for the rest of my life. I am glad that my roots are here and I have been blessed to have this small town shape me into who I am, but my future does not lie here. I did not feel this way until a little over a year ago. I can remember thinking when I was younger that this tiny town was where I would spend the rest of my life, even when all of my friends felt otherwise. Now, I can't wait to leave this mind-numbing place and see what the world has to offer. I want to have papaya on the beach at Virgin Gorda; I want to toast Pine Nuts at the mouth of an active volcano; I want to experience the world.

So I guess I really do not know where I will be in ten years, and I rather like the sound of that. If I knew now, I would probably screw it all up somehow. My plan for the next ten years is to just take things bird by bird and worry about situations as the come. I know this won't happen, I mean I worry about everything, but a girl can dream, right?

In A Pickle.

I have never really found myself in a pickle that I could not figure out myself. However, if such a situation did arise, I would call one of two people: my mom or my best friend, Megan. 

My mom and I argue quite a bit and we do not always see eye to eye, but I know no matter what, if I needed her, she would be there in a heartbeat to help me out. I don't always open up to my mom and I tend to shut her out, but I know if the time came for me to need her help, she would not hesitate to be there.

Megan has been my best friend since first grade. We have been through it all together- divorce, death, dating- and we have both been made stronger by these experiences. I know that if I called her at any hour for any reason, she would listen. We've had our share of arguments, some more serious than others, but we have overcome all of them and have left them in the past.

I guess the common theme here is that both of these people have stuck around, even when I probably wouldn't have had the roles been reversed.

Bleep blorp boop ptang zee?

I think it would be completely ignorant and perhaps even a little arrogant to think that in the endless universe, our planet is the only one with life. From a scientific standpoint, the probability of another planet having the right conditions for beings to thrive is so high that it is next to impossible that something is not living there. From a religious standpoint, the thought that God took enough time to create the Earth and put enough thought into how to make it perfect, would it not only make sense that he did the same with another planet?

Maybe that planet does not have life that science fiction has deemed as “alien,” but I think there is life out there beyond our little Earth. They might not have UFOs or green skin with antennas, but I think it would be extremely naïve to believe that we are all there is. There are countless galaxies, innumerable planets, and inestimable opportunities for life to exist and to think that in all of this, only one planet, in one galaxy has life is frankly conceited. Plus, how cool would it be if you had a doppelganger in another galaxy?

Of Vacation and Relaxation

If money was no issue and I could go anywhere in my last summer before college, I would spend the greater majority of it in New York. I would spend time in Central Park, walk around Times Square, tour 30 Rockefeller Plaza, look at the Statue of Liberty, see at least one Broadway show, attend the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre every Sunday night, and hopefully develop a New York accent. I would sample the flavors of street side food carts and dine in the finest restaurants Manhattan has to offer. It is a fantastic city and I hope to live there someday, so this would be a good first experience there. Yes, New York would definitely be a stop on my summer before college.
Whether my summer is beginning or ending in the Big Apple, I have not decided yet. What I do know is that I will also be flying back to Hawaii to enjoy some time with my family before I leave the nest. I want to relax by the waves while my family scuba dives. I want to experience again the aromas of the food of the island and enjoy the people around me. The street performers were something I really thought was awesome while I was there, and I want to see them one more time. I would of course get some of the delicious coconut shrimp that I had the first night we were there before; it’s the best food I have ever had in my life and I’d love to have it a second time.
For the last few days of my summer, I would relax at home, watching my favorite shows on Netflix and taking a break before this new journey. It sounds like a bummer way to end a summer full of fun, but to me that is the perfect way to end it.

Application of Information= Education

There are many different ways for one to be considered “educated.” The word is completely relative to whatever one is supposed to know a lot about. For example, it would not matter if a farmer could recite pi in its entirety if he did not know how to grow crops. One who is educated has the responsibility of applying what they know. There is no use in one knowing everything there is to know about a certain topic if they can never put that knowledge to use.
I also believe that it is the responsibility of someone who is passionate about something to be at least remotely educated on the topic. One who practices feminism and claims to stand for women should know what it entails and why it is important. It is obvious that one does not need to be seriously educated to know that women are oppressed, but a little background knowledge on the history of women would be beneficial.
I do not think that anyone can be considered completely uneducated. Everyone knows a lot about something, however useless that information. Those that we consider uneducated either do not possess common sense and are too specialized, or those that do not apply what they know. Either way, both are still educated, they just do not show it. Education is not knowledge. Education is the ability to execute the information you have already.

Nielsen= A big No-No

The Nielsen Ratings System is a deeply flawed method of determining how many people tuned in to watch a certain show. There are a total of roughly 20,000 Nielsen household totaling about 50,000 individuals participating. Their TV habits, the shows they watch, and those they don’t, are recorded for each individual family member, which helps advertisers know the demographics they are appealing to. You see, that’s just it: the Nielsen System’s data is given to advertisers and they only care about which commercials were seen and which were skipped through.

 This is why so many good shows that still have a lot of ideas, like Arrested Development, are cancelled and those like Two and Half Men stay on for 10 years. The former shows are usually enjoyed by a younger, more tech-savvy audience who watch shows online or DVR them and skip through the commercials, while the latter are watched mostly by older viewers who don’t have these viewing habits. This is also why so many shows with cult-followings are cancelled, because no matter how dedicated a fan-base is, no matter how many methods they use to watch their favorite shows, no matter how beloved the show is, if they are not a Nielsen family, their vote does not count, and if they are a Nielsen family who does love one of these shows but has a habit of skipping through commercials, their love for it is futile. You see, advertisers don’t care how much you love a show or how critically acclaimed it is; they just want you to buy their stuff.
I don't only feel this way because of the effect this system has on my shows, but that's definitely a factor of my opinion. Because no matter how "awful" they are, they're important to me and to many others around the world.

Courage.

                Webster defines courage as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” To me, courage presents itself only in situations where it is hard to be courageous. It is easy to show a brave face when you still have something to hold on to. Anyone can be brave if they do not fear losing anything, but it is those times in which someone has the possibility to lose everything that true valiancy shines through.
                This is very evident in the stories that stand the test of time. If Cinderella had started out as a princess losing her shoe, no one would retell the story. Had Mulan stayed home and done what her family had expected of her rather than fight in a war, the ballad would not be a favorite among millions today. It is those stories with characters that start with next to nothing and risk everything that stick with us. Because that is what courage is, bravery amidst those that are most unlikely to be brave.
            To me, there are many types of bravery, but that is what true courage is.