So I have been on a retreat away from blogging. For a while, I had grown weary of the exposure and constant fan following that resulted from my brilliant blogging abilities. I had a nervous breakdown, started clubbing with no panties on, and then went to rehab.
Now I am back and more ridiculous than I was before. I'm still panty-less though.
Something needs to change, though. I need a new gimmick. You are tired of the whiney self-analysis that my posts evolved into.
So, let's go back to the roots of this little blog thing. This blog thing started as a step for the movement of animal rights. As I grew up, though, it became more about self-discovery and reevaluation of the passions I held.
The plan, as of now, is to take what I have learned about myself and weave these things into posts about social issues. Basically, I'm still that hippie veggie chick with a bone to pick with society, just a little less hippie and little less veggie and a little less chick. I mean..I'm still a girl, I just think I've grown from a chick to a...chicken?
So, let's jump right on in here. ka-pow, and here we go;
Today, I observed an intense discussion in my sociology class on the criminal justice system, particularly on the death penalty. I did not partake in this discussion a) because it's at 8 in the morning, and I don't believe in discussion before 9:30 and b) because I was fascinated by the sociology present within the sociological discussion. Discussions seem to bring out the extreme opinions of people. There is very little middle ground because it is set up like a debate, an argument, in which there must be two poles that are equally defensive of their beliefs. Voices get louder and more shrill. Hands fly up like they smackin a big ol' booty as soon as people think of a retort. What is really interesting, though, are the bonds that are made within a class of mainly strangers. People feel connected to those that agree with them and the individual's ideas are reaffirmed in their minds. Before, I would have shouted from a very large hill my ideas to the class and then blogged about how wrong others were. Today, I'm much more chill. I'm a noticer. I sit and notice things. I'm like a stalker of social issues. It's creepy, but it feels so good.
What I learned is that people hate to listen. Like (this "like" is completely unnecessary, by the way)... we hate having to wait our turn. We hate having to pause and really consider what the other side says. Think about it. If you are, say, pro-choice and there is a "discussion" on abortion, are you really considering the ideas of the pro-life folks or are you thinking about how to prove them wrong? I'm not saying that thinking of arguments is wrong, I'm merely observing the futility of discussion. The other side is doing the same thing.
It is my belief that minds, hearts, and souls are only changed when personal experience lends itself towards that change. I became a vegan when I learned for myself the traumatic life of the consumed animal. Therefore, it is not my goal, with this blog or in life, to convert the world to my perspective. I now realize that a) I cannot change anyone or tell anyone what to do and b) my own perspective is vulnerable to change because I am human and not all-knowing.
My morals tell me that I must ALWAYS be open to change my opinion about things. I must always be learning more, absorbing more information. Also, I must always put out there what my current beliefs are so that others can benefit from my life-experiences and understanding of things. This doesn't mean I have to literally constantly be holding a megaphone and keeping people posted on how I feel about the world (although, admit it World, you'd like it if I did). I am saying that there must be an openness in my life to talk about the taboo topics and daunting social issues.
As humans, I think we are very closed off in many ways. Maybe it's an instinctual protection thing. 'Thing" is such a dumb word. It's a "I feel very protective of my beliefs because they are what make me, me so I fight with those who try to take them away"...kinda thing. If we would just take a sigh of relief and then let the air flow back in calmly and openly, then life on earth would be so much less confrontational. It would be more about learning and growing than about separating and destroying.
Peace and unity have become stereotyped as hippie-stoner things, but should be norms. They are the things (stop saying "thing!") that could actually make everyone happy.
Happiness is the goal, but as long as society is divisive then someone is always unhappy and feeling left out. Then that person hurts others in response to these feelings, and soon the hate passes around the world and people always have someone to be mad at.
Find peace within yourself, with your flaws, with your gifts, and with your haircolor, and you will inevitably find the peace within everyone else. You appreciate the flaws and gifts of others (never the haircolor though) and find it harder to hate.
STOP RANTING
OK. Sorry, I haven't blogged in a while and I could literally type all day. So... I will leave the library now and maybe go to class or something.
I hate class.
I hate teachers.
I hate society.
I'm going to commit a crime now.
OH the irony.
I feel like this blog is as futile as the discussion in my class.
Crap.
OH the irony.
ok bye.
