Final Words

It's coming. I know it.

These final words shall escape your lips.

Your ego rises

As I fall to the ground

First love, First fall.

I dread the day.

Perfect..?

Perfection. Is it achievable? Or is the whole world striving to
acquire an impractical score?

Since the first morning of our world, humanity has desired to be perfect. We invent --we innovate--, thinking at one point we will be satisfied with our achievements. Yet we were not satisfied with the wheel, or the discovery of electricity. We keep on striving for the next best thing.

Now, don't get me wrong, the power to create our future is an ingenious and valuable quality. Though humanity has reached the point where the goal to improve our lives does not only envelop the objects we invent, but the looks we invent for ourselves.

Our world has created a new, popular industry. The Modeling Industry. We started with Adam and Eve draping themselves with vines and have now evolved into clothing ourselves in every fabric known to man. Not only does the fabric matter, yet the stitching and design as well. Humanity has always had a slight obsession over the image they present, but we have now created an industry that doesn't just sell clothes, but also tells the public how they should look.

- Anna J. -

To the left is young Anna J. She is part of a top modeling company that has been titled as: Ford Models. Her images have been sold towards the entertainment of the fashion world, and the education of the public. On the website for Ford Models, her employers kindly give us the following information:

Height Measurements

Bust Size

Waist Size

Hips Measurements

Dress Size

Shoe Size

Hair Color

Eye Color

Now, why would we want to know this information in the first place? It is purely because the world has created an impossible image for girls to achieve. The first ten of Ford's models possess a waist size of about 24 (with an exception of one model with a waist size 23, and another with a size 25). To live up to this image is every girl's dream. Many teenagers assume that if they were "skinnier" that would bring them to be prettier. Websites such as FindYourTrueBeauty.com talk about how teenage girls' "self-esteem begins to hinge on how they look and what they weigh". The website also talks of how the constant obsession of your image can often lead to eating disorders --such as anorexia-- and other

psychological problems in teens' lives.

Betsey Johnson ~ Spring Collection
2009

Although, the fashion industry has also given some positive effects to the world. Fashion gives people the opportunity to express ourselves in copious ways.

Such "fashionistas" as Betsey Johnson use their talents to show off their true colors through their designs. Betsey claims: "I love my work" and encourages all girls to express themselves through fashion.

"A perfection of means, and confusion of aims,

seems to be our main problem."

-Albert Einstein-

 

 

Does the fashion industry gift us with the freedom of expression? Or does the reoccurring image of an unattainable figure constrain its viewers from ever expressing their true selves?

The Provocative Persuasions of Power

As humans--we have always hungered for power. Whether it is simply the desire to be heard in a public banter, or the want of control over a friend. Both situations cause hostile conditions for both the claimant and their patrons.

At the moment, many people are struggling with power. Thought countless people find it easier to coerce their way into apprehending superiority over others by relying on their temerity. Such techniques develop into violent, chaotic, situations. In Cairo's Tahrir Square, Egypt, the blood of a once gregarious city has been smeared about the stones of a once docile center of the city, causing the country's newly borne ignominy. Egypt has experienced recent struggles with their country's control over the government. The battle over Democracy and their government's loss of control of power has caused panic across the country- causing people to strike in fear of their futures in the country they love. The leader of Egypt--Hosni Mubarak--is gifted with all of the possible acquired power in his country, yet he ceases to expunge the violence that is currently in Cairo. 

In my English class we have been examining the book: The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by Shakespeare, and have recently discovered an adamant example of the downsides of power. Brutus goes through an emotionally challenging process over the decision of killing his beloved friend --Caesar--, or trusting Caesar with authority over all inhabitants. The pressure upon Brutus becomes strident as Cassius strains to draw him in. Finally, Brutus comes to join in the conspiracy with ultimate clemency towards Caesar--still extolling his praised companion. Though the unexpected assassination of Julius Caesar brings the citizens of Rome to question Brutus in his act of heresy towards a fellow ally. Even Julius Caesar himself is astonished at his friends' actions, and exclaims:

"Et tu, Brute?"

(Even you, Brutus?)

Brutus had chosen to abet the conspirators- determined that his conclusion was the correct one for the entire city of Rome. Though his decision may prove to come back to haunt him in his future ventures, his heart was in the right place.

Power is visualized by its two main definitions:

1. To supply with electricity or other means of energy

2. The possession of control or command over others; authority

There is a clear difference between using "power" to ignite a fire and using "power" to create a long awaited rancor towards your foes. Both definitions contrast each other greatly. The first speaks for the use of power to ensure the success of certain devices. The second addresses the manipulation of a certain being's power. Few people frequently look upon the abuse of power with negligence. Therefore, copious amounts of people extol the use of the first definition since it almost always results in good outcomes.

Power blinds men. Men are blinded by power. Both power and men are monsters. Yet it only takes one of these avarices to overcome the other in order to achieve serenity.

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

-Abraham Lincoln-

Questionable Adaptations

Our world is made up of our past. Without our pasts there would be no futures in front of us. We would be forever snared in the present. Our pasts may be extraneous bits of information that most don't take the time to reflect upon; but without them we would be at an impasse.

Which Came First?

Our pasts may be important, but are they vital? Or just insipid facts worth forgetting?

Forget.

I could see why people would think it best to castigate all of the remembrances of our pasts as a human race. Why remember generations that don't appear necessary for our lifetime? I mean, don't our history classes give us enough insipid data for us to drool-over?

We live in the world of the "tech-ies". My generation has evolved and adapted with all of the new technologies that surround us today. Our ancestors tell the stories of when they were younger, and they were lucky to have a radio. Books were their "get-aways". But in our futures--with our children--they will gape at us as we share the stories of when we had regular DVD players, or when the first iPods came out. I come to wonder: Is it us evolving? Or are we adapting to the evolving technologies'? And is this a good or bad thing? The new technologies are a beneficial part of our future; as long as we remember our pasts.

Recently, a new iPhone (the iPhone 4S) came out. There were millions of people lined-up outside Apple stores on June 24th; eagerly awaiting for their new phones. Once they receive them, they are filled with copious amounts of happiness, and love their iPhone for days. But after the new iPhone 4S is slowly absorbed, its avarice is slowly emaciated. We begin to examine our phones and doubt our sudden purchase(s). In a raw report of the iPhone 4S, they state that the new iPhone isn't very different than Apple's previous product: the iPhone 4. "it's no radical rethinking of last year's iPhone 4".

What these reporters don't seem to manifest, is the evidence of how far we have come in life. They can't comprehend the fact that once in our lives, we had the first iPhone. It didn't have a number; or a successor. It was just one of Steve Jobs's experimental sales. Although, it almost immediately became a necessity to the public, and all other Internet-savvy phones were immediate forms of ignominy.

"We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility of our future."

~Anonymous~

Remember. 

Look around the room you're currently in. You will find yourself oblivious to the motley pieces of technology that surround you. Now, expunge all of those lovely technologies out of the room. Think hard about the items you are about to jettison from your life...

Many people may stop after they ostracize their computers and cell phones and assume they are done. But what they don't think about is that everything we have today has evolved at some point in time. That includes: any supplies, furniture, clothing, and even the very structure you find yourself in. In the end, you find yourself sitting bare upon a pile of rocks.

You--as well as every other human being--are oblivious of the circumstances you have been blessed with. You may also be disregarding how vital they can be to your way of life.

Our pasts are a part of us. Even the times before our time can affect us in the largest ways. Without evolution we would never enter the modern world; we would be castigated into a primal state.

Our world will always grow. We will never stop creating new problems for ourselves, and we will never fail at finding ways to fix them. Evolution is a form of infinity. This cycle of life may have a few dents. It may throw us for a loop. It may display candid evidence of our futures. But we will adapt; as we always have. Without evolution's infinity, we will be stuck in a world of the never knowing, and lost in the mindset of the forever eager.

"The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it."

~Anonymous~

The Hidden Flaws Of Role Models

As kids, we always have that one person we look up to: Our role model. Whether it's a movie star, politician, or simply a family relative; we always have that one person we can look up to for that extra boost of hope or advice we need to keep going.

Role Model (n)
   ~a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people.

Role models can be our "go-to" with every issue in our daily lives. A teenager looks up to any model for their early-morning fashion crisis's; a college athlete may take his free time to study the videos of his favorite quarterback; and I listen to my favorite music artists every day to block-out all of the bad instances in life. But what if these idols of ours aren't all they're cut-out to be? Sometimes we are so desperate to follow someone else that we lose sight of what is going-on inside of our media-enveloped world. Just because she wears the best clothes, he throw with perfect dynamics, or they sing at perfect pitch, does not mean that they are flawless beings. Often, these role models can be quite egotistical themselves, which draws in their admirers even more.

Let's start off with a very common form of these "big-headed" deities of ours. How about Chris Brown for example? Everyone looked up at this Pop legend for quite some times till he committed his career-suicide act of heresy. Chris Brown was discovered at an early age of 13 years-old in his dad's gas station. He was believed to have great talent, and this young star quickly gave hope to millions of teenagers. About seven years later, Chris was heard of beating up his girlfriend: Rihanna (who was also a successful pop icon). His fans were heartbroken. How could such an inspiring young-adult turn into such a savage person after all that he's accomplished. Many Chris Brown fanatics are still in doubt--believing that he is/was too good of a person to do such a thing.

We, as fans, are easily abetted into believing we have connections to our role models. We may feel that our heroes understand us and care for us. In most cases, we look up to those who are out of reach, and therefore, they are unable to make real-world connections with us. I have a close friend who is a fan of Chris Brown, and still doesn't believe the evidence they have shown towards Chris Brown's beating Rihanna. He claims that "Chris just wasn't himself that day". He will never admit to the harsh truths of Chris's gauche actions because he believes they have a connection. But in actuality, my friend has an obsession. Humans commonly obsess in the seeming-perfect aspects in our lives, which makes us defy the truths on occasion.

In Lord of the Flies, the young boys stranded onto a lonely island are forced to coexist with each other's inabilities and talents. Although, they constantly refer to the adults whenever it is time to make an important decision. But what they don't realize are the adults they look up to so much are actually not the best role models. In these children's years, there was a horrific war--known as World War II--which caused adults to act-out in the most savage of ways.

"Call the role in your memory of conspicuously successful business giants and... you will be struck by the fact that almost every one of them encountered inordinate difficulties sufficient to crush all but the gamest of spirits. Edison went hungry many times before he became famous."

-B.C. Forbes-

When The Push Comes To Shove

"160,000 kids will stay home instead of going to school
because of the bullying they would have to face."

Throughout the week my fellow classmates and I have been focused on a most peculiar book: Lord of the Flies. A large portion of the class has been lured into the book by the wonders that Golding presents. Though, there is one fact that I can't seem to get by: the bullying tendencies the young boys share. These unforgiving blows and snide comments cause the boys to view each other as anathemas, and forget the circumstances of which fate as given them. These blinded ambitions may cause those struggles and conflicts in the near future, but they must also solve their differences instead of forcing ignominy upon their allies.

The reasons for bullying are perpetual. Many infer that this heresy is typically because of an unhealthy home life, a lack of self-confidence, or the bullying of the bully themselves. Whatever the cause, there need not be an effect. These extraneous actions cause damage to the victim -and the predator- later in their lives. Just as poor Kristina Calco had been coerced into her own death when she committed suicide in December of 2006. According to WWMT.com,  every day more than 160,000 kids will stay home instead of go to school because of the bullying they would have to face. Kristina Calco's mom has been inspired to share her story on bullying and share her daughter's story with the world. Sharing our thoughts may help to create rules to limit these behaviors, but with every rule comes a rule-breaker. These assaults will never cease, even if rules are attempted. So even though Kristina Calco's mother is quite an inspiring and strong woman, I doubt her attempt for her daughter will ever fully accomplish its noble purposes.

Bullying can blind. It can get to the point to where the attacker becomes blind at the height of punishment they are bestowing upon their victim. Bullies may feel tough and mean, but they are merely hurting young souls, looking to find themselves in this wide world we thrive in. I am not saying you must love towards your bully (or any other distant combatants), but you must understand their point of view on the matter. Many antagonists believe that by making another being hurt as they have previous, it will somehow heal them in the process. Though this method only maddens the assailant to a level of dissatisfaction. They go into a state of madness; panicking for their prey to hurt as they have; craving to find themselves once again.

"He garners so much emotion
in such a young age."

My brother has suffered under these merciless conditions. He never gets a break. My greatest fear in this life is that he will never experience the true allegiance of a best friend. He may be big for his age and a little young-minded compared to his peers, but he is the most compassionate soul I have ever been blessed to come in contact with. He garners so much emotion in such a young age. My poor brother was involved in an impacting car accident a few years back and fate granted him a few scars to add to his bullying burden. These marks of tragedy plus his perfectly imperfect smile make him the ideal victim for bullies. He puts what is right before what is the reasonable course of action.

I love my adolescent brother with all of my heart and would never wish this treatment upon any other being. Bullying wears on the soul and builds up over time. Luckily, my sibling is merely to the point where it rolls right off his shoulders and does not begrudge him as I fear. Though I have been there to experience his hurt on the days he realizes how careless these bullies treat him.

Bullying is a crime within itself. No one should have to experience this pitiless form of punishment. Then again, most of us aren't given a choice.

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself."

Harvey Fierstein

A Colored Confrontation

For years and years our world has been separated. We've been separated by water, language, and culture. Most of these obstacles we have over-come by our new technologies, communications, and curiosities. But there seems to be one object that won't seem to budge: Racism. Racism is an ever-growing issue across the globe. In the days of Martin Luther King Jr. and President Abraham Lincoln, there were signs and restrictions that aided this separation, but today this issue is only shown in the reactions of everyday people in our supposed "equal" world.

The positive side of this ongoing confrontation is that most individuals in today's world have changed perspectives, and no longer take part in the colored confrontation. We can always look upon this positive note and feel good about ourselves, but we must eventually realize the fact that the other percentage of the world is stuck in a severely racist mindset. This point of view that people have is not only wrong, but can also become very hurtfull. In the following link, a columnist shares his first colored confrontation of racism: http://www.cm-life.com/2011/09/09/the-root-of-racism/

You may see in the attatched article that poor Chaldean was not a part of the most common contrasting form of racism: Black and White. Chaldean was, in fact, was from the Middle East, although he was affected in the same way any black person would be treated after news on television about some sort of gang fight. These jaundiced opinions made by 11-year-old John struck young Chaldean harsh with fear. We are lucky enough today to have people that stand-up for others enough to protect the confidences crushed by the temerarious nature of racism.

There may be few proofs of hurt feelings due to racism, but they still exist. But the more barefaced proof of racism's effects is the physical evidence. Throughout the years we have had many examples of  the commonly gruesome side of the clash. For example, the next race to be offended would be the residents of the Middle East, due to the upcoming remembrance of 9/11. Many of those participants in the somewhat-racist population of our world will hold spite against the Americans who share similar ethnicity to our adversary: Osama bin Laden. Poor Chaldean is one of these people, and will suffer just as much as the rest of his relatives.

For those of us who view racism as a heresy, we wonder: what is going on inside the heads of the antagonists? Well, this answer we do not know for sure, but may have varied assumptions for. These people may have been raised in such conditions and beliefs, or may be mentally troubled. We must not judge these anathemas, and simply allow them to vent as we avoid their somewhat abetting arguments.



The contrast of colors should not be seen as a repulsive affair, but as a ravishing coexistence. We are nothing without each other. The kidnapped slaves from Africa put more blood, sweat, and tears into building the Americas then we -as Americans- did. Each world brings in new ideas, features, and technologies to the world. The sooner we accept our differences, the sooner we will expand our knowledge and build a better vitality. Any extraneous activities we can do as a country to reach out to alien lands is certainly worth the effort.

Racism hurts physically and emotionally. It can hurt the people who become victims, but it can also wound the bystanders. Contrasting colors are found in nature as a piece of beauty. Why can't we also look past our differences and see the true beauty within our neighbors?

"Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum hatred for a minimum of reason."

~Abraham J. Heschel (Jewish Theologian & philosopher, 1907-1972)