My dad and I don't see eye to eye on much of anything, politically speaking. I was just sitting here thinking of a blog topic to write about when suddenly it was delivered to my room. My dad came in to read me a text message his friend sent him. It was on the topic of illegal immigration to the US. It was as follows:
"If u cross the north Korean border illegally u get 12 years hard labor...if u cross Iranian border illegally u get detained indefinitely. Cross the Afghan border u get shot. Cross the Saudi border u will be jailed. Cross the Chinese border u will never be heard from again. Cross the Venezuelan border u will b branded a spy and your fate sealed. Cross the Cuban border u will b thrown n prison to rot. However, cross the U.S. border illegally, u get a job, a drivers license, a social security card, welfare benefits, food stamps, credit cards, subsidized rent or a loan to buy a new house, free education, free health care, the right to vote, and all without speaking a word of english. This should piss Americans off. If you agree, forward to everyone you know!"
I asked him if he agreed with the message. He did. I pointed out that China, Venezuela, North Korea, and Cuba are all communist countries where people give up their rights for perceived social equality. As a conservative Republican, shouldn't he take offense to their philosophies? Most of these countries have reputations for being horrible places to live or, at the very least, full of poverty and violent conflict. Why does he want to take their advice?
Secondly, if illegal immigrants got the right to vote, I never heard it and I think it would be a pretty huge issue if they did. Lastly, I recommended he take with a grain of salt any information he receives in a chain letter, a text message, or anything else that addresses him as 'u.'
I don't have a strong stance on immigration, but I can sympathize with people who feel the need to sneak into a more prosperous country. I'm sure my dad would do the same thing if he were in their position. However, I don't feel that I know enough about the issue to take a stance on it, so I don't. It makes me angry when people blindly take a side on something they obviously know nothing about, or when they validate an argument simply because the conclusion is the same as theirs, despite whether any of the points made were valid.
I realize he just thought the text message was funny, but come on. This is a guy who still thinks interracial marriage is a big deal and thinks there is opposition to it in the Bible. What the heck? (<- total contradiction of the topic in my last post. I never said there weren't exceptions to the "Don't be That Guy Rule.")
7/7 - done catching up
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Don't be that guy
Don't be the guy that says that political or religious opinion as if it were fact in the middle of light-hearted conversation and make everyone feel awkward.
For real. You're welcome to your opinions, but don't state them like they're fact. It makes everyone uncomfortable. It's an established rule of conversation not to bring up religion or politics unless you know everyone involved is okay with it and you're mature enough to be receptive to their ideas. In English today, we were told that when writing a free-response question on the AP Language exam that we should make at least one concession in order to show mature thinking, because mature thinkers are able to recognize that their opinion is not absolute fact or the only viable option. I completely agree with that statement and think it's something people should apply to their entire life rather than just an FRQ.
6/7
For real. You're welcome to your opinions, but don't state them like they're fact. It makes everyone uncomfortable. It's an established rule of conversation not to bring up religion or politics unless you know everyone involved is okay with it and you're mature enough to be receptive to their ideas. In English today, we were told that when writing a free-response question on the AP Language exam that we should make at least one concession in order to show mature thinking, because mature thinkers are able to recognize that their opinion is not absolute fact or the only viable option. I completely agree with that statement and think it's something people should apply to their entire life rather than just an FRQ.
6/7
Eat slowly
This isn't really a big deal, but I feel that people who go through their food too quickly miss out on one of the greatest things in life. I went to Chick-Fil-A the other day with a few friends and though most of us ate for the entire hour or so that we were there, one of my friends finished his meal in less than two minutes and his drink in one large gulp.
Food, relaxation, and friends go hand in hand. Extending the meal over an hour instead of two minutes means you get more for your money, continue feeling full, can take time to enjoy the taste of the food, and fill in gaps of conversation or time needed to think. It's part of a societal trend to always be hurrying through life, even though a quick arrival at whatever your destination is isn't necessary.
5/7
Food, relaxation, and friends go hand in hand. Extending the meal over an hour instead of two minutes means you get more for your money, continue feeling full, can take time to enjoy the taste of the food, and fill in gaps of conversation or time needed to think. It's part of a societal trend to always be hurrying through life, even though a quick arrival at whatever your destination is isn't necessary.
5/7
Be outgoing
So, as I've already posted, I'm going to Centre College this fall, probably to major in English. I've gone to school with many of the same people since elementary school and it's going to be a completely new experience for me. In fact, most incoming students will be facing this same problem. I didn't really know how to go about preparing for the complete shock of knowing absolutely no one until I got an idea from another incoming student.
My friend, Michael Gaddis, another incoming student, received a friend request from a girl named Coral Davenport. He told me that she added everyone on Facebook who was in the Centre '14 network. I thought this was an excellent idea and did the same, sending each friend request with a message explaining that I'm going to Centre with them next year. I also looked at their profile and, if I saw anything we had in common, I tried to mention it in the message. As a result I've met a few people I'm sure I will be befriending in person at Centre this fall. I'd strongly recommend anyone reading this to add at least the people in their incoming class who seem somewhat interesting. It has had a positive result for me so far.
4/7
My friend, Michael Gaddis, another incoming student, received a friend request from a girl named Coral Davenport. He told me that she added everyone on Facebook who was in the Centre '14 network. I thought this was an excellent idea and did the same, sending each friend request with a message explaining that I'm going to Centre with them next year. I also looked at their profile and, if I saw anything we had in common, I tried to mention it in the message. As a result I've met a few people I'm sure I will be befriending in person at Centre this fall. I'd strongly recommend anyone reading this to add at least the people in their incoming class who seem somewhat interesting. It has had a positive result for me so far.
4/7
Thursday, April 29, 2010
In Loving Memory of Jon Feltman's Formerly Clean Record
This post is dedicated to Jon Feltman, who gets off of probation tomorrow. Jon Feltman, a young man with no discipline record in school or crime record with the police marred his record forever sometime last year.
Last year was Jon Feltman's junior year and it was free ACT day and all juniors were required to take the test. Jon was running late, so he thought he would go a few mph over the speed limit and get to school in time to take the test. Soon enough police sirens were blaring behind him and rather than pulling over, Jon went faster. Amazingly enough he got away, parking his car in Taylor Potter's driveway, who couldn't figure out why he was there, as Taylor was already gone. When asked, he responded simply "Just hangin' out."
When enough time had passed, he left Taylor's house and went to school. On the same route he outran the cop on. He ran into the cop again and was confronted by the po-lice and got many charges.
Jon Feltman, this is for you. Today's life lesson is:
"If you get away from the cops, don't go back to them." 3/7
Last year was Jon Feltman's junior year and it was free ACT day and all juniors were required to take the test. Jon was running late, so he thought he would go a few mph over the speed limit and get to school in time to take the test. Soon enough police sirens were blaring behind him and rather than pulling over, Jon went faster. Amazingly enough he got away, parking his car in Taylor Potter's driveway, who couldn't figure out why he was there, as Taylor was already gone. When asked, he responded simply "Just hangin' out."
When enough time had passed, he left Taylor's house and went to school. On the same route he outran the cop on. He ran into the cop again and was confronted by the po-lice and got many charges.
Jon Feltman, this is for you. Today's life lesson is:
"If you get away from the cops, don't go back to them." 3/7
Start early on your college search...
This doesn't apply so much to my fellow seniors, but I've learned something in the past few months that I feel I should pass on to underclassmen. Being the second person in my extended family to attend college for a bachelor's degree, I really didn't have anyone to turn to for advice when my search began.
As a result, my search did not begin, really, until spring break of my senior year. I began filling out applications about a week before the deadlines and used Common App to apply to a wide variety of schools that I thought I might have an interest in later. What resulted was a frantic and very stressful last quarter of my senior year that has had me reaching out desperately for some sort of certainty about the next four years of my life. I've settled on Centre College, just two days before my acceptance of admission is due, and though I'm very happy with my decision and confident that I made a good choice, the process could have been much easier if I only started it earlier.
2/7
As a result, my search did not begin, really, until spring break of my senior year. I began filling out applications about a week before the deadlines and used Common App to apply to a wide variety of schools that I thought I might have an interest in later. What resulted was a frantic and very stressful last quarter of my senior year that has had me reaching out desperately for some sort of certainty about the next four years of my life. I've settled on Centre College, just two days before my acceptance of admission is due, and though I'm very happy with my decision and confident that I made a good choice, the process could have been much easier if I only started it earlier.
2/7
Sometimes it's good to take a break from technology
Recently, because of water damage, I've been forced to live at my grandparents's (Is that correct? I never got that rule down.) house for a few weeks. Unfortunately, during this same period my laptop has died, the operating system on my desktop has expired, and my car has broken down. I have had more work than usual in school and difficult decisions about college to make. I've had very little opportunity to interact with my friends on Facebook or play video games, as I have been separated from my beloved computer and Xbox 360.
As a result, the vast majority of my time has been spent listening to music (The Shins at the moment, one of my all-time favorites) and reading (re-reading Harry Potter). I had forgotten just how therapeutic reading for pleasure can be, as I'd been constantly busy with reading material thrown at me by all of my classes and not had much time for reading what I wanted to. Oddly enough, I don't feel as stressed out right now as I do when I have many less things to worry about and I'm at home. I can't speak for everyone, but a break from technology has helped for the most part.
1 blog down. 7 to go.
As a result, the vast majority of my time has been spent listening to music (The Shins at the moment, one of my all-time favorites) and reading (re-reading Harry Potter). I had forgotten just how therapeutic reading for pleasure can be, as I'd been constantly busy with reading material thrown at me by all of my classes and not had much time for reading what I wanted to. Oddly enough, I don't feel as stressed out right now as I do when I have many less things to worry about and I'm at home. I can't speak for everyone, but a break from technology has helped for the most part.
1 blog down. 7 to go.
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