Destiny vs. Decision
Throughout life, I think people flip flop between believing in a destined path and making the decisions that determine how your future plays out. When the reasons behind things that happen to us are unknown or we don't accept it as truth, we tend to use the very popular phrase "everything happens for a reason." But what about those times where the fruits of our decision are displayed directly in front of us? What typically happens when the deal with consequences the pair with our actions? "I'm in control of my life" is what leaves our lips. This is also common when it comes to when good things happen versus when bad things happen. When we reap good benefits its because we worked but when we are rammed with the negatives, things just happen. Is that really how it is?
There's no way to know if there is a such thing as a true destiny... maybe that's what bothers me the most. I read about and watch stories about these amazing people defeating the odds and doing great things. On one hand, one could say that they overcame adversity because they made the decision to. How do we know they weren't destined to do that? How do we know that if they made different decisions in their life that things would still end up the way they did? What if the idea of being in control of your life was created to mask the fact that destiny does exist? Think about it. If people decided to just let things happed to them because they were "destined" I think the world would be a completely different place. The idea of being in control and beating the odds for example creates individuals that travel different paths and bring new things to the table.
In actuality, maybe it isn't destiny vs. decision but destiny + decision.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
A Letter to Parents
Dear Parents,
If you are in the process of raising your very first child, admit it- you have no idea what you're doing. I think more often than not parents forget that even though they have been raised into decent adults, raising one is totally different. If your child is 17/18 and wrapping up their final year of high school, relax. Soon your child is going to go off into the world on their own and you have to trust that you're done everything that you can to raise them right. At the same time, however, teens do make mistakes and holding them to the highest standard of perfection when you yourself weren't on that level is slightly petty and disheartening to the teen struggling to figure out and establish who they are in this crazy world.
Guidance has gotten you this far. It's about time to take the training wheels off. Parents, you are entering the bike riding stage where you're running besides the bike with no wheels, preparing to let go and see if your child has been listening to what they've been told. Support your kid. They need it. As excited as they may be about riding the bike alone or going away to school- deep down inside they're just as nervous about you letting go as they are.
When you do let go, that isn't the end! If they fall, you must be there to pick them up. If they don't, be there for praise. Eventually they will start riding the bike all over but they will never forget how they learned.
It's basically May of many first children's senior year and the realest thing is yet to come. Everyone must brace themselves and have faith in themselves. Things will be different but things will be okay.
If you are in the process of raising your very first child, admit it- you have no idea what you're doing. I think more often than not parents forget that even though they have been raised into decent adults, raising one is totally different. If your child is 17/18 and wrapping up their final year of high school, relax. Soon your child is going to go off into the world on their own and you have to trust that you're done everything that you can to raise them right. At the same time, however, teens do make mistakes and holding them to the highest standard of perfection when you yourself weren't on that level is slightly petty and disheartening to the teen struggling to figure out and establish who they are in this crazy world.
Guidance has gotten you this far. It's about time to take the training wheels off. Parents, you are entering the bike riding stage where you're running besides the bike with no wheels, preparing to let go and see if your child has been listening to what they've been told. Support your kid. They need it. As excited as they may be about riding the bike alone or going away to school- deep down inside they're just as nervous about you letting go as they are.
When you do let go, that isn't the end! If they fall, you must be there to pick them up. If they don't, be there for praise. Eventually they will start riding the bike all over but they will never forget how they learned.
It's basically May of many first children's senior year and the realest thing is yet to come. Everyone must brace themselves and have faith in themselves. Things will be different but things will be okay.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Civic Duty: All people should...
All people should "do the right thing". That's common knowledge, right? I think a majority of people would agree that when it comes to making decisions one should always do the right thing. I don't think that's the problem. Determining what the right thing is is where the roadblocks occur.
We don't live in anarchy, so someone creates some type of rules that all Americans must abide by. No objection is really necessary. Someone tells us what's right and what's wrong and we listen. Unfortunately life isn't black and white. The gray area of interpretation is the sole reason why we have people that disobey laws and do what they want. We do live in a nation where freedoms are abundant and people can be their own individuals.
For example; littering.
I could rattle off a list of reasons why littering is bad, tacky, and distasteful, but if you don't think our environment is very imporant you aren't going to care. It's as simple as that.
How about abortion?
I wouldn't say that I'm a huge supporter of abortion but at the same time, I don't think it's fair to tell someone what they can or cannot do with their bodies. Every situation is different, we can't treat them all the same.
It is difficult for me to determine something that "all people should" except for maybe that all people should be able to make their own decisions about what they do with their lives as long as it's ethical. At the same time... who's to say what's ethical? Oh the joys of living in a country that emphasizes the individual...
This is where my train of thought chugs off into the sunset.
We don't live in anarchy, so someone creates some type of rules that all Americans must abide by. No objection is really necessary. Someone tells us what's right and what's wrong and we listen. Unfortunately life isn't black and white. The gray area of interpretation is the sole reason why we have people that disobey laws and do what they want. We do live in a nation where freedoms are abundant and people can be their own individuals.
For example; littering.
I could rattle off a list of reasons why littering is bad, tacky, and distasteful, but if you don't think our environment is very imporant you aren't going to care. It's as simple as that.
How about abortion?
I wouldn't say that I'm a huge supporter of abortion but at the same time, I don't think it's fair to tell someone what they can or cannot do with their bodies. Every situation is different, we can't treat them all the same.
It is difficult for me to determine something that "all people should" except for maybe that all people should be able to make their own decisions about what they do with their lives as long as it's ethical. At the same time... who's to say what's ethical? Oh the joys of living in a country that emphasizes the individual...
This is where my train of thought chugs off into the sunset.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Is poverty a choice?
poverty (noun)
1. the state of being extremely poor
2. the state of being inferior in quality of insufficient in amount
In the monetary sense of the word, sometimes being impoverished isn't a choice. In a lot of cases a person may have been brought up in a situation where the funds just weren't there. Sometimes events happen that can cause a total lifestyle change into poverty. However, there are other ways to be poor...
A person can be ignorant to the world around them, ignorant to the reality of the situation they are in, ignorant to just the correct information in general. This type of poverty can also either be a conscious decision or not.
Being in poverty is one thing, staying in poverty is another. There is a difference between being in a bad situation and sulking in it and being in a bad situation but using your resources to get out. Granted not everyone has the same resources but it's coming from different walks of life that make the best group of people.
1. the state of being extremely poor
2. the state of being inferior in quality of insufficient in amount
In the monetary sense of the word, sometimes being impoverished isn't a choice. In a lot of cases a person may have been brought up in a situation where the funds just weren't there. Sometimes events happen that can cause a total lifestyle change into poverty. However, there are other ways to be poor...
A person can be ignorant to the world around them, ignorant to the reality of the situation they are in, ignorant to just the correct information in general. This type of poverty can also either be a conscious decision or not.
Being in poverty is one thing, staying in poverty is another. There is a difference between being in a bad situation and sulking in it and being in a bad situation but using your resources to get out. Granted not everyone has the same resources but it's coming from different walks of life that make the best group of people.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Malcolm X
The first half of The Autobiography of Malcolm X is jam packed and a lot to process. Before reading this book, I can admit that I didn't know much about Malcolm X except for that fact that he was a big deal during the civil rights movement. With that said, I didn't know what to expect while reading. I tried my hardest to read with a sense of detachment to really get what the author in this case was trying to get across to me.
Malcolm's upbringing was wild to me and unexpected in a way, but everything that he went through up until he got arrested gave him a valid basis for his views on white people. I don't know much about the Muslim religion either but the phrase "white people are the devil" seemed really fitting for his ideas.
His views really give me something to think about. One thing that has really stuck out to me was his statement about African Americans fighting for civil rights before human rights. Growing up and being educated solely on the teachings of Dr. King, I am now starting to understand Malcolm X's points about taking action, not singing songs.
Why are our students not educated about this side of the movement?
Malcolm's upbringing was wild to me and unexpected in a way, but everything that he went through up until he got arrested gave him a valid basis for his views on white people. I don't know much about the Muslim religion either but the phrase "white people are the devil" seemed really fitting for his ideas.
His views really give me something to think about. One thing that has really stuck out to me was his statement about African Americans fighting for civil rights before human rights. Growing up and being educated solely on the teachings of Dr. King, I am now starting to understand Malcolm X's points about taking action, not singing songs.
Why are our students not educated about this side of the movement?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Music Review
There are all types of music out there for people to listen to, obviously, and I listen to all types of music. The song I'm reviewing though is very relevant to me and should be relevant to all Chicago teens.
"Candles in the Sun" by Miguel is a song that calls attention to the very fact that we as humans are all the same and going through hardships- but we treat each other horribly. We all just need to stop and look around and realize that we don't have to fight each other. In contrast to the rest of the songs on the album 'Kaleidoscope Dream', Miguel brings a serious issue to the forefront with a constant back beat that really makes you think about the lyrics?
Look at all these people, searching for a reason. Searching for a piece of mind.
They say we're all created equal... That's what they teach us.
But that ain't how we treat each other.
No that aint how we treat each other.
See, the truth is that we need each other.
It'll be too late when we find out (yeah) all that we've got.
Chicago has become notorious for it's high murder rate. Last week, a high school student lost his life at a basketball game and hours earlier today a student from King HS was shot and killed for no reason. She was only 15 years old. It is sickening to hear about my friends and people I love having to deal with loss after loss. I hate that I have to live in fear of my own life and the life of my younger sister. My anger and frustration is what fueled me to create my piece "Look Around" which will be performed in the Guys N Dolls show. (Check that out)
I think everyone needs to take a step back and realize the consequences of these senseless acts of violence or it will really be too late when we find out we're all that we've got. We are the future, but our future literally is struggling to survive.
"Candles in the Sun" by Miguel is a song that calls attention to the very fact that we as humans are all the same and going through hardships- but we treat each other horribly. We all just need to stop and look around and realize that we don't have to fight each other. In contrast to the rest of the songs on the album 'Kaleidoscope Dream', Miguel brings a serious issue to the forefront with a constant back beat that really makes you think about the lyrics?
Look at all these people, searching for a reason. Searching for a piece of mind.
They say we're all created equal... That's what they teach us.
But that ain't how we treat each other.
No that aint how we treat each other.
See, the truth is that we need each other.
It'll be too late when we find out (yeah) all that we've got.
Chicago has become notorious for it's high murder rate. Last week, a high school student lost his life at a basketball game and hours earlier today a student from King HS was shot and killed for no reason. She was only 15 years old. It is sickening to hear about my friends and people I love having to deal with loss after loss. I hate that I have to live in fear of my own life and the life of my younger sister. My anger and frustration is what fueled me to create my piece "Look Around" which will be performed in the Guys N Dolls show. (Check that out)
I think everyone needs to take a step back and realize the consequences of these senseless acts of violence or it will really be too late when we find out we're all that we've got. We are the future, but our future literally is struggling to survive.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Is King still king?
Every time that Dr. King's birthday and Black History Month rolls around, I think about a question that was brought to my attention a few years ago- "is it bad that we focus on the same African American's every year?"
We're always talking about Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, others from the civil rights movement, Mary Bethune, Oprah Winfrey, etc. That's great! It's important that we learn about our history, but what about the people who are making history today? Unfortunately, I can't even name any besides our President... but that is exactly my point. The people that are trying to make a difference today are just as important as those that came before them.
As far as Dr. King is concerned, when I was in 4th grade we had to color in a picture of him and on the side, I wrote that he would proud that his dream came true. I was too young to really look past the fact that now blacks and whites could be friends. My mother had to explain to me that while things are better, they are far from perfect. As I continued to grow and entered Whitney Young, I began to see what she was talking about. I am fortunate enough to attend a school that accounts for all types of people in harmony, but the world isn't as warm and welcoming as these halls. When President Obama was first elected, the backlash I saw from people ranting about his skin color astonished me. One time, during my sophmore year, I was taking the bus home and and old man got on the bus and starting ranting at me for my seat. The thing is (a) I was listening to music and looking down so I didn't know he was talking to me (b) there were TONS of open seats all around me. It ended with him getting off the bus 10 minutes laters screaming about how he fought for black, white, purple, and orange. Yeah.
So is King still king? He needs to be. Maybe his relevance will knock some sense into everyone. Racists who continue to spit fire and those within our race who are now fighting against ourselves. Our struggle needs to not be forgotten.
We're always talking about Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, others from the civil rights movement, Mary Bethune, Oprah Winfrey, etc. That's great! It's important that we learn about our history, but what about the people who are making history today? Unfortunately, I can't even name any besides our President... but that is exactly my point. The people that are trying to make a difference today are just as important as those that came before them.
As far as Dr. King is concerned, when I was in 4th grade we had to color in a picture of him and on the side, I wrote that he would proud that his dream came true. I was too young to really look past the fact that now blacks and whites could be friends. My mother had to explain to me that while things are better, they are far from perfect. As I continued to grow and entered Whitney Young, I began to see what she was talking about. I am fortunate enough to attend a school that accounts for all types of people in harmony, but the world isn't as warm and welcoming as these halls. When President Obama was first elected, the backlash I saw from people ranting about his skin color astonished me. One time, during my sophmore year, I was taking the bus home and and old man got on the bus and starting ranting at me for my seat. The thing is (a) I was listening to music and looking down so I didn't know he was talking to me (b) there were TONS of open seats all around me. It ended with him getting off the bus 10 minutes laters screaming about how he fought for black, white, purple, and orange. Yeah.
So is King still king? He needs to be. Maybe his relevance will knock some sense into everyone. Racists who continue to spit fire and those within our race who are now fighting against ourselves. Our struggle needs to not be forgotten.
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