Being manipulated can cause rage but rage itself is the greatest manipulator.
I finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and it was an absolutely beautiful book with an incredibly deep story line of an even deeper message. Continuing from my last post, the African American man (named Tom Robinson) accused of rape is (basically) revealed as innocent but is still made guilty and got killed when he tried to escape to his family. The man who was the "victim's" father (his name was Bob Ewell), had actually beaten his daughter and blamed it on the African American man which costed both their lives. This happened when Bob Ewell became extremely angry at Atticus for almost proving that he had beaten his daughter and near the end of the book, attempted to kill Jem and Scout. While doing so, he broke Jem's left arm, and while struggling, fell on his own kitchen knife (that he planned to use for killing Jem and Scout), killing himself. So who is the real enemy?
Technically Bob Ewell would be but in a way, wasn't rage? If anger had not consumed him he would not have beat his daughter, he would not have hated Atticus or his family, and he wouldn't have attempted to kill Jem and Scout. Of course, this is still his fault for you cannot blame anger. It is purely an emotion but when one chooses to let anger be their drive, that becomes a fault of that person with deep consequences. It is hard though, shielding yourself from the temptations and want of rage, revenge, anger, and all those negative but powerful feelings. We have to stay strong though, and resist this want to get angry for anger can become a weakness and blind ourselves.
I am not a hypocrite so yes, I have been and still get extremely angry sometimes. So angry that all the reason and sense in my mind is replaced with hate and flames of fury. Can we see behind flames though? Can we see those trying to make us understand or those who care about us? Anger will only grow, infecting its victims with the destruction it can cause, like a wildfire destroying the trees and forests that were once serene. If one does not put out the flames, it will become an inferno that can only destroy, and when the day comes that the fire goes out, they will realize that the burns would be too severe to heal.
You never know what one may do when blinded by anger. Offend someone, injure someone, kill someone...kill themself. I don't want to know and nor do I wish for others to. It is alright to get angry, we are only human and anger is a part of us but what we do need to know is when to calm down and let things be.
Rage is the greatest manipulator but that doesn't mean that manipulators have to win.
Please feel free to comment and share your opinions or experiences.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
It makes me sick, it makes Dill sick, and doesn't it make you?
Today, as I was reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the emotions of three pages hit me like an avalanche. The book, set in a Southern town in the 1930s, revolved around a girl named Jean Louise (but usually called Scout), her older brother Jem (Jeremy), and (sometimes) their friend Dill. The father of the two siblings, Atticus, was a lawyer who in the book fought a case where his client, an African American man, was accused of rape (Atticus is the defendant). Many things, emotional and surprising, unraveled as the case and depth of it all, revealed itself. The three pages I'm writing about today occur when Dill and Scout exit the courtroom due to Dill feeling sick, after watching a long period of the trial.
In those pages, Dill, who was crying, talks a lot about feeling sick when the (white) prosecutor talked in an incredibly disrespectful way to the African American man accused of rape, even though the one accused was very mannerly. What struck me so powerfully were the words spoken to Dill about him crying and being sick, by Mr. Raymond, a man from their town . As he talked about how Dill would no longer cry about specific things when he grew older, these were his words (mind the language) "Cry about the simple hell people give other people- without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they're people, too." I found these two sentences sadly true. Remembering that this book was published in the 1960s, I understood why Harper Lee's book included such a strong quote. One of the strongest I've ever heard in fact, and perhaps it was because she had written what the problem for over a hundred years was.
To be honest, it should be that she wrote the problem of a hundred years and counting. In my opinion, that quote in the book applies to all. Before people start being rude (or worse) to whatever something may be, they should think. They should acknowledge that though that person, or plant, or animal, or any living thing, isn't us, may not be someone/something we know, may not be at all related to us, that they STILL deserve respect. They still have feelings, emotions, joy, anger...pain, just like each and every one of us. Scientists may not be able to prove it but do we really need proof to live? Can't we for once, access the world with not only our brains, but our hearts as well?
It is the utter most self conceited and ignorant thing to say that we are superior because we are humans. It is just as bad when people say they are superior for more specific categories such as race, colour, etc. Nothing is superior and everything deserves respect, whether its a person or tree or even a bug. You may ask why a bug would deserve as much respect as humans but the question from me is why not? Respect does not discriminate, it is not selfish, nor is it cruel but unfortunately, those who are capable of showing respect, are also capable of doing all those things. Maybe that's why Dill was sick and maybe that's why I feel like that too.
I feel sick, Dill feels sick, and really, shouldn't we all?
Please feel free to comment
In those pages, Dill, who was crying, talks a lot about feeling sick when the (white) prosecutor talked in an incredibly disrespectful way to the African American man accused of rape, even though the one accused was very mannerly. What struck me so powerfully were the words spoken to Dill about him crying and being sick, by Mr. Raymond, a man from their town . As he talked about how Dill would no longer cry about specific things when he grew older, these were his words (mind the language) "Cry about the simple hell people give other people- without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they're people, too." I found these two sentences sadly true. Remembering that this book was published in the 1960s, I understood why Harper Lee's book included such a strong quote. One of the strongest I've ever heard in fact, and perhaps it was because she had written what the problem for over a hundred years was.
To be honest, it should be that she wrote the problem of a hundred years and counting. In my opinion, that quote in the book applies to all. Before people start being rude (or worse) to whatever something may be, they should think. They should acknowledge that though that person, or plant, or animal, or any living thing, isn't us, may not be someone/something we know, may not be at all related to us, that they STILL deserve respect. They still have feelings, emotions, joy, anger...pain, just like each and every one of us. Scientists may not be able to prove it but do we really need proof to live? Can't we for once, access the world with not only our brains, but our hearts as well?
It is the utter most self conceited and ignorant thing to say that we are superior because we are humans. It is just as bad when people say they are superior for more specific categories such as race, colour, etc. Nothing is superior and everything deserves respect, whether its a person or tree or even a bug. You may ask why a bug would deserve as much respect as humans but the question from me is why not? Respect does not discriminate, it is not selfish, nor is it cruel but unfortunately, those who are capable of showing respect, are also capable of doing all those things. Maybe that's why Dill was sick and maybe that's why I feel like that too.
I feel sick, Dill feels sick, and really, shouldn't we all?
Please feel free to comment
Sunday, December 2, 2012
About to go too far...or already too far gone?
Over the week I read three picture books, "Freedom Summer" by Deborah Wiles about two friends, one white and one black, facing the challenges of racism, "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss about cruelty to the environment, and "Fox" by Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks about the friendship between a maimed magpie and dog being tested to the limits by temptation. In all three of these books I found unfortunate truths for the reality of these "children's" books are quite evident. It hit me hardest though when I thought about how the situations of each book may have already passed the point of no return.
When I say point of no return I mean it as in things will never be erased. The pains and wrongdoings of people can never ever be erased. The cruelty done to African Americans will not suddenly vanish. The trees so brutally cut will never grow back, and as for Dog and Magpie in "Fox", the scars on their friendship won't ever go away. Even if things are mended, the "mending" can only fix the problem, not turn back time and make it non existing. What can people ever do to make things right again since the majority of things cannot become right but just less wrong. Of course, mistakes can help one learn and in "Fox", may actually strengthen the friendship between Magpie and Dog, being that Magpie decided to return to Dog knowing that she would have to face the guilt of her betraying him, but that does not mean that the trust between them will be as strong as it were before. The wounds will still be there and perhaps in moments may sting even more than when they were fresh.
Even more depressing is the fact that many are still doing such horrible things even if it already passed that point where things cannot be truly fixed. Emotions and hearts are not like machines where you can just fix it with some tools. We, as in all living things, are living but why can't this being of life be respected as it should always be? With the situations of the Truffula trees in "The Lorax", yes, the boy did get a seed, the last seed of all those trees but will the forests look the same as it were before it was all cut down? The animals will not come back and even if they did, their sufferings are irreversible. Don't people think before they act? Apparently we are the smartest of all animals, but I do not see how, for we cannot even see that doing something wrong cannot be undone and are the ones who have actually caused the greatest damage. Actually, we are the ones who are causing the greatest damage because people have not stopped. We are way passed the point of no return but do not even see that humans, as in ALL of us, are the cause for all these unnatural and horrendous issues that have blossomed into deaths, sufferings, and hearts that will forever have a long, jagged, and ugly crack. It seems that perhaps even the heart of our planet will one day be broken when it too can no longer stand such abuse.
While things cannot be erased, at least we can make the effort to have less things that cannot be so. Doing the pathetic action of making issues seem invisible is not one of those options. As for whether or not we are too far gone, yes we have gone too far but not so far gone that we cannot stop these actions if we really try.
Please feel free to comment.
When I say point of no return I mean it as in things will never be erased. The pains and wrongdoings of people can never ever be erased. The cruelty done to African Americans will not suddenly vanish. The trees so brutally cut will never grow back, and as for Dog and Magpie in "Fox", the scars on their friendship won't ever go away. Even if things are mended, the "mending" can only fix the problem, not turn back time and make it non existing. What can people ever do to make things right again since the majority of things cannot become right but just less wrong. Of course, mistakes can help one learn and in "Fox", may actually strengthen the friendship between Magpie and Dog, being that Magpie decided to return to Dog knowing that she would have to face the guilt of her betraying him, but that does not mean that the trust between them will be as strong as it were before. The wounds will still be there and perhaps in moments may sting even more than when they were fresh.
Even more depressing is the fact that many are still doing such horrible things even if it already passed that point where things cannot be truly fixed. Emotions and hearts are not like machines where you can just fix it with some tools. We, as in all living things, are living but why can't this being of life be respected as it should always be? With the situations of the Truffula trees in "The Lorax", yes, the boy did get a seed, the last seed of all those trees but will the forests look the same as it were before it was all cut down? The animals will not come back and even if they did, their sufferings are irreversible. Don't people think before they act? Apparently we are the smartest of all animals, but I do not see how, for we cannot even see that doing something wrong cannot be undone and are the ones who have actually caused the greatest damage. Actually, we are the ones who are causing the greatest damage because people have not stopped. We are way passed the point of no return but do not even see that humans, as in ALL of us, are the cause for all these unnatural and horrendous issues that have blossomed into deaths, sufferings, and hearts that will forever have a long, jagged, and ugly crack. It seems that perhaps even the heart of our planet will one day be broken when it too can no longer stand such abuse.
While things cannot be erased, at least we can make the effort to have less things that cannot be so. Doing the pathetic action of making issues seem invisible is not one of those options. As for whether or not we are too far gone, yes we have gone too far but not so far gone that we cannot stop these actions if we really try.
Please feel free to comment.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
A new Panem? (there are spoilers sorry)
What's worse? Panem, or that we could become it?
Over the week of Thanksgiving I read "The Hunger Games Trilogy" and all three books were very well written. The books are set in the nation of Panem, a place formed after the destruction of North America, which consists of twelve districts (plus one destroyed one) and a rich yet cruel Capitol. Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl, becomes a tribute in one of the annual Hunger Games, a "reality show"/contest where two tributes from each district (Katniss is from the extremely poor district of 12) are chosen and must fight to the death until there is only one person left (who will be the winner). She battles more than other tributes though and is forced to encounter much more.
I really enjoyed reading these books but throughout this entire trilogy, an eerie sense of reality kept making its reappearance. It seemed as though Suzanne Collins may have glimpsed the future and was giving us a hint or perhaps more of a warning . It may seem funny that I say this but it is because we do have the potential to become the future Panem. The selfishness and evil that lies in some are the reasons that these books may become true. In fact some of it is already true. How you may ask? Well look at some of the communist countries. Or totalitarian as others say. The capitol of those countries are all rich and beautiful while people are starving and suffering in other parts. Maybe the part about the actual Hunger Games do not exist but who knows how long that will last? The measures taken to ensure power can go pretty far and the more people know, the more they would want freedom.
There was one specific line in the third book, Mockingjay that I couldn't seem to forget. It was when (SPOILER) a "children related to the powerful people of the Capitol" edition of the Hunger Games was suggested although the overthrow of the capitol prior to this suggestion was supposed to end the Hunger Games. Katniss upon hearing that said/thought that "Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now" and I found this line very true. What has changed? We all think that many good things have been done but why does it seem that no matter how much good there is in the world, it can never out do the bad? Of course, this doesn't mean to stop doing good deeds but will there ever be a time in the future where we can all be at peace? Or will Panem replace it instead? Wars rage, starvation and poverty kills, the rich always seem to win, nothing seems to have changed at all. There have been scientific advancements, new technologies and medicine, but what does that compare to that of the cruelty from hearts of our own? Dictators are still in "reign" as well as countries where there is no true freedom (communist/totalitarian, etc), and how different is it from that of Panem, where people can't even say there disapproval of the Capitol without risking their lives? It is all the same. Life in many places are The Hunger Games.
Do we really need to go to the point of actually destructing the world to know we've went too far? Actually, the real question is "how long will it take before these books become an obvious reality?" Can change for the good even happen anymore even though many say it is? I don't see a difference. I'm not some sort of pessimist but I honestly don't see a great difference between times that we've considered bad and modern day. I earnestly hope though that I am proven wrong.
Change is the only constant but that doesn't guarantee its for the good so lets all work our way to a better EARTH and not that of PANEM.
Please feel free to comment.
Over the week of Thanksgiving I read "The Hunger Games Trilogy" and all three books were very well written. The books are set in the nation of Panem, a place formed after the destruction of North America, which consists of twelve districts (plus one destroyed one) and a rich yet cruel Capitol. Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl, becomes a tribute in one of the annual Hunger Games, a "reality show"/contest where two tributes from each district (Katniss is from the extremely poor district of 12) are chosen and must fight to the death until there is only one person left (who will be the winner). She battles more than other tributes though and is forced to encounter much more.
I really enjoyed reading these books but throughout this entire trilogy, an eerie sense of reality kept making its reappearance. It seemed as though Suzanne Collins may have glimpsed the future and was giving us a hint or perhaps more of a warning . It may seem funny that I say this but it is because we do have the potential to become the future Panem. The selfishness and evil that lies in some are the reasons that these books may become true. In fact some of it is already true. How you may ask? Well look at some of the communist countries. Or totalitarian as others say. The capitol of those countries are all rich and beautiful while people are starving and suffering in other parts. Maybe the part about the actual Hunger Games do not exist but who knows how long that will last? The measures taken to ensure power can go pretty far and the more people know, the more they would want freedom.
There was one specific line in the third book, Mockingjay that I couldn't seem to forget. It was when (SPOILER) a "children related to the powerful people of the Capitol" edition of the Hunger Games was suggested although the overthrow of the capitol prior to this suggestion was supposed to end the Hunger Games. Katniss upon hearing that said/thought that "Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now" and I found this line very true. What has changed? We all think that many good things have been done but why does it seem that no matter how much good there is in the world, it can never out do the bad? Of course, this doesn't mean to stop doing good deeds but will there ever be a time in the future where we can all be at peace? Or will Panem replace it instead? Wars rage, starvation and poverty kills, the rich always seem to win, nothing seems to have changed at all. There have been scientific advancements, new technologies and medicine, but what does that compare to that of the cruelty from hearts of our own? Dictators are still in "reign" as well as countries where there is no true freedom (communist/totalitarian, etc), and how different is it from that of Panem, where people can't even say there disapproval of the Capitol without risking their lives? It is all the same. Life in many places are The Hunger Games.
Do we really need to go to the point of actually destructing the world to know we've went too far? Actually, the real question is "how long will it take before these books become an obvious reality?" Can change for the good even happen anymore even though many say it is? I don't see a difference. I'm not some sort of pessimist but I honestly don't see a great difference between times that we've considered bad and modern day. I earnestly hope though that I am proven wrong.
Change is the only constant but that doesn't guarantee its for the good so lets all work our way to a better EARTH and not that of PANEM.
Please feel free to comment.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
To readers:
I will be posting my blogs on this url for a few weeks http://room116sold.blogspot.com/. They are all on the book "Sold" by Patricia McCormick. Will be writing back on this blog in around mid November.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
"Bitter Sweet" needs more sugar.
If what I know of life is "bitter sweet" then it definitely needs more sugar.
I have just started reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet written by Jamie Ford and even in this small bit that I have read, this book has really made me feel some strong emotions (especially the "bitter" ones). It is set in 1986 and starts with 56 year old Henry Lee (a Chinese American) standing in front of the Panama hotel ( "once the gateway to Seattle's Japantown" as quoted in the book) as the new owner uncovers the findings of belongings from Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. When the owner brings out a Japanese parasol as one of the belongings, Henry recounts the memories of him and Keiko, a Japanese girl in his childhood during the years of the war. After that the book jumps in and out of the years of the war (his childhood) and present day.
A lot of this book, talks about the war and the tensions between people (Japanese Americans and Americans) during those years. It is quite sad to think that from the faults of others, many can be judged with no reason but the fault of others. To me, I think that everyone deserves at least a chance and that it isn't fair when people don't give them one. Why should someone who have done nothing wrong be blamed for an issue that someone else had caused. There are always exceptions in the world and we should all acknowledge their existence. People are not items on a shelf and since we aren't we should not have labels, especially ones that are wrong. Whats the point of "profiles" if people have one created for others already? Why understand others if you already think you understand them? One cannot categorize another: oh you're this race or look, you must act like this, for nothing can truly define someone. I can't even define myself so why are there people who think they know who I am?
I have met many who say they know who someone else "is" and what they've gone through but the fact is that everything changes. In one second an entire life can change but really, no course is ever constant. Choices are not concrete, they're like strings, delicate and flexible, swaying each time a wind blows, and choices, are what makes one's path their own. Even if a list was given to us with every answer to every choice we were to make, that does not mean it would be followed. Sure, there are those who try to follow it but just because some do, that doesn't mean the rest of us will and we should not go into thinking that everyone would. Its a very difficult thing to do, trying to not think you understand someone but the only way to not do that is to actually try and understand others better. Surprises will come up and we should all just keep "understanding" to know that there is always more that we do not understand.
Some people will never understand why there is always more to understand and that's alright. If they can't understand us, understand them. There will always be people who make life more "bitter" but it doesn't have to be that way. Life isn't bitter. Its not sweet but it shouldn't be bitter. Something so precious as life can't be bitter and that's why many things, like the title of this book says, are bitter sweet. Bitter in some ways, sweet in others, it will all balance out in the end.
Life is made of bitter and sweet, but if this life as we know it is already bitter sweet, I think we could all help and add a bit more sugar.
Opinions are the mirrors of the world for they help us all reflect. Please feel welcome to add yours.
I have just started reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet written by Jamie Ford and even in this small bit that I have read, this book has really made me feel some strong emotions (especially the "bitter" ones). It is set in 1986 and starts with 56 year old Henry Lee (a Chinese American) standing in front of the Panama hotel ( "once the gateway to Seattle's Japantown" as quoted in the book) as the new owner uncovers the findings of belongings from Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. When the owner brings out a Japanese parasol as one of the belongings, Henry recounts the memories of him and Keiko, a Japanese girl in his childhood during the years of the war. After that the book jumps in and out of the years of the war (his childhood) and present day.
A lot of this book, talks about the war and the tensions between people (Japanese Americans and Americans) during those years. It is quite sad to think that from the faults of others, many can be judged with no reason but the fault of others. To me, I think that everyone deserves at least a chance and that it isn't fair when people don't give them one. Why should someone who have done nothing wrong be blamed for an issue that someone else had caused. There are always exceptions in the world and we should all acknowledge their existence. People are not items on a shelf and since we aren't we should not have labels, especially ones that are wrong. Whats the point of "profiles" if people have one created for others already? Why understand others if you already think you understand them? One cannot categorize another: oh you're this race or look, you must act like this, for nothing can truly define someone. I can't even define myself so why are there people who think they know who I am?
I have met many who say they know who someone else "is" and what they've gone through but the fact is that everything changes. In one second an entire life can change but really, no course is ever constant. Choices are not concrete, they're like strings, delicate and flexible, swaying each time a wind blows, and choices, are what makes one's path their own. Even if a list was given to us with every answer to every choice we were to make, that does not mean it would be followed. Sure, there are those who try to follow it but just because some do, that doesn't mean the rest of us will and we should not go into thinking that everyone would. Its a very difficult thing to do, trying to not think you understand someone but the only way to not do that is to actually try and understand others better. Surprises will come up and we should all just keep "understanding" to know that there is always more that we do not understand.
Some people will never understand why there is always more to understand and that's alright. If they can't understand us, understand them. There will always be people who make life more "bitter" but it doesn't have to be that way. Life isn't bitter. Its not sweet but it shouldn't be bitter. Something so precious as life can't be bitter and that's why many things, like the title of this book says, are bitter sweet. Bitter in some ways, sweet in others, it will all balance out in the end.
Life is made of bitter and sweet, but if this life as we know it is already bitter sweet, I think we could all help and add a bit more sugar.
Opinions are the mirrors of the world for they help us all reflect. Please feel welcome to add yours.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Aren't We All Blue?
If blue means gay and gay means different and we're all different aren't we all blue?
"Am I blue?" by Bruce Coville is a short story that I read that I find quite fascinating. It talks a lot about the prejudice towards gay people and focuses on how a boy named Vincent, who started from being ashamed/unhappy of who he might have been (that he might have been gay), to growing an understanding of why it didn't matter (or at least that's what I think he ended up understanding). This change in Vincent is what made me think about what this story really implied and that is what I want to share with you all today!
In the story, Vincent's fairy godfather (yes, he met his/a fairy godfather who would help him) made all the people who were gay, blue for a day. That way "...all the straights would have to stop imagining that they didn't know any gay people" (quoted from story). That quote is something that I find done too much - denial. People deny whatever truth they don't like everyday. Assumption- "You may be (gay), you may not. The point is, you're getting picked on because people think you are" (another quote from the story)- another thing that people do every day. Both these actions whether one is aware of it or not, can lead to serious consequences that one may regret only after they've done it.
Prejudice is also a big part of this story. People in this world have always had prejudice towards certain things that make some people so called "different". The topic of being gay or lesbian is one that pops up very often. Sometimes the prejudice can be very obvious, sometimes not. For example, when people say "oh its alright to be different" it sounds perfectly fine to the majority of us doesn't it? Well in my opinion, that phrase already has a prejudice and those who say it may not even understand why. What makes someone different? What gives us the right to label someone as dif-fer-ent? Truth is, you might as well label everyone you see as different. We are all different. Everything around us is different. If differences were not there, that, would be an issue. "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"-a quote by Dr. Seuss that I think is very true but is very much neglected in the world we live in. "Be yourself", a phrase commonly said, but is it really put into practice? Why do people still feel ashamed of who they are. No one should ever be unhappy with themselves as long as they have done their best,- and that includes their best of seeing the beauty of each and every one of us including their own. If they have done that then it shouldn't matter what others say. There will always be those who choose to see only the things that divide them from the rest (or others from the majority) but it doesn't matter, because no matter what reason it is that we were made the way we were, there is a reason, and that is all that counts.
We should all be proud of what we have accomplished and what we are capable of. We should all see that we are all different and yet still the same. You don't see gold being turned to steel, or jewels turned into dust, so why is it that we make our self so plain to achieve this so called "happiness"? If this is what true happiness is then I don't want it. I don't need it. I've changed myself too much that I regret it but I have already forgotten how to find the true "me". Hopefully you will all realize that trying to "blend" gives one no joy for I definitely got none.
Be proud to be the reason some people smile each day. We are all worth a chance and we should all strive to get it but if that chance is not worth us, don't waste what we already have. Be proud to be you, and definitely be proud to be "blue".
Feel free to comment.
"Am I blue?" by Bruce Coville is a short story that I read that I find quite fascinating. It talks a lot about the prejudice towards gay people and focuses on how a boy named Vincent, who started from being ashamed/unhappy of who he might have been (that he might have been gay), to growing an understanding of why it didn't matter (or at least that's what I think he ended up understanding). This change in Vincent is what made me think about what this story really implied and that is what I want to share with you all today!
In the story, Vincent's fairy godfather (yes, he met his/a fairy godfather who would help him) made all the people who were gay, blue for a day. That way "...all the straights would have to stop imagining that they didn't know any gay people" (quoted from story). That quote is something that I find done too much - denial. People deny whatever truth they don't like everyday. Assumption- "You may be (gay), you may not. The point is, you're getting picked on because people think you are" (another quote from the story)- another thing that people do every day. Both these actions whether one is aware of it or not, can lead to serious consequences that one may regret only after they've done it.
Prejudice is also a big part of this story. People in this world have always had prejudice towards certain things that make some people so called "different". The topic of being gay or lesbian is one that pops up very often. Sometimes the prejudice can be very obvious, sometimes not. For example, when people say "oh its alright to be different" it sounds perfectly fine to the majority of us doesn't it? Well in my opinion, that phrase already has a prejudice and those who say it may not even understand why. What makes someone different? What gives us the right to label someone as dif-fer-ent? Truth is, you might as well label everyone you see as different. We are all different. Everything around us is different. If differences were not there, that, would be an issue. "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"-a quote by Dr. Seuss that I think is very true but is very much neglected in the world we live in. "Be yourself", a phrase commonly said, but is it really put into practice? Why do people still feel ashamed of who they are. No one should ever be unhappy with themselves as long as they have done their best,- and that includes their best of seeing the beauty of each and every one of us including their own. If they have done that then it shouldn't matter what others say. There will always be those who choose to see only the things that divide them from the rest (or others from the majority) but it doesn't matter, because no matter what reason it is that we were made the way we were, there is a reason, and that is all that counts.
We should all be proud of what we have accomplished and what we are capable of. We should all see that we are all different and yet still the same. You don't see gold being turned to steel, or jewels turned into dust, so why is it that we make our self so plain to achieve this so called "happiness"? If this is what true happiness is then I don't want it. I don't need it. I've changed myself too much that I regret it but I have already forgotten how to find the true "me". Hopefully you will all realize that trying to "blend" gives one no joy for I definitely got none.
Be proud to be the reason some people smile each day. We are all worth a chance and we should all strive to get it but if that chance is not worth us, don't waste what we already have. Be proud to be you, and definitely be proud to be "blue".
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