On Skid Row

The movie "On Skid Row" was an eye-opener for me. Sure I've always been aware of homelessness in this country but to see it for myself was much different. It's a shocking truth that homelessness is pretty much a cyclic thing. When you're born into a homeless lifestyle, there isn't much you can do about it, but just to deal with it. But I also think that theres a lot of stereotypes that comes along with poverty-stricken families. Some people have given to the poor before, but later found those people spending their money on drugs. That discourages people from donating money to the homeless. Then, there is also the argument that if the homeless should clean up their act and go find a job. However, that isn't always possible for some. I just think these are a couple reasons why people look down on the homeless so much and are resistant to help.

The video's purpose was to raise awareness on the homelessness that is going on in our nation and let people know what's really going on. The audience would have to be those living in Los Angelas, probably not even that far from Skid Row itself. The video uses great appeals to pathos, especially since it captures the tragedy and suffering that these people go through. Whenever someone uses pictures of suffering, especially when children are involved, there is no doubt people will be moved. The narrator of the video made a good argument as well since he mentioned other solutions people have come up with before and how it did not work. This video is successful at raising awareness concerning the homelessness going on in this so called "rich" nation.

No child left behind

The teacher in the video posed a really good argument...yes it started off pretty weird and kind of raised an eyebrow, but then she got a bit more normal. lol. Anyways, she stuck to the topic, which was the "no child left behind" and did not go off attacking Bush and what not, like most people tend to that. She obviously knew what she was talking about and clearly explained the details of the whole act. I think the whole act is a great idea sounds lovely, but the way is plays out isn't so great. I am guessing that the FCAT is because of "NCLB". thats probably what the teacher was talking about with the tests every March. Seriously, teachers spend so much time teaching and preparing their students for the FCAT...rather than focusing on other curriculum. The act also has a "reward and punishment" detail to it which honestly made no sense to me. It doesn't make sense to reduce funds for schools that are doing poorly...wouldn't that just make things worse??? I don't think the basis for funds and money for schools should be based on how well the students are doing. If schools are not succeeding, then someone needs to oversee what the problem is and how to possibly help students do better...not say "oh hey their doing poorly, I guess we should punish them by lessening their funds". That makes no sense.

To vote or not to vote...that is the question

I found the last video to be very interesting because it talked about one of the issues and topics that I've actually thought much about myself. Should someone who knows nothing about the candidates vote aimlessly? There are some people out there who are voting because Obama or Palin is attractive...or that well Obama seems to know what he's talking about...so I'll go vote for him. Do we really benefit from those kind of voters who are simply "carrying out their civil duty"?? In my opinion, yes we should all take the opportunity of the freedom we have to vote, but only if you have a reason why you're voting for that person. It is our responsibility as American citizens to research and inform ourselves about each candidate so that we can make a reasonable decision about each one. But if you don't take that responsibility, then do not go out and vote and take it as something lightly. I think voting for the next leader/president is a very serious thing. It would be better if commercial ads included "research & inform yourself about each candidate" rather than just "go out and vote". It makes sense doesn't it?

And then there are the few people who do not even think that their vote will count. I've talked to some people recently who think that voting is stupid and rigged. I just laugh at them, but then later on think...hmm could that be true? But no I really don't think so. Well I have been keeping up with the debates and to be honest, I am one of those who are still undecided. The issues I am looking at are abortion, stem-cell research, the war, and the economy. There are so many different issues to pay attention to. And quite frankly neither Obama or Mccain really appeal to me. A lot of people are focusing on the economy and who's going to fix it for us, but I am also holding on to my Christian values. Yes, America is already pretty corrupt, (and i'm not sure if I'm the only one who believes that)...but I want a president who holds the same values as me. I will continue to keep researching and finding out more about both candidates so that I will be ready to come to a decision on November 4th, but right now I am still undecided.

9/11 Conspiracy

Wow! I'm sort of in a daze and at a loss of words after watching those three clips of the Zeitgeist. It really leaves you wondering what is really going on in the world and this thing we called "government". I am very well aware that the government keeps a whole lot of stuff from the American people. For all we know, they feed us with lies and tell us only what they want us to believe. Yet, we live in a "free" country right?

Well the Zeitgeist film really opens your eyes and allows you to see things in a very different light. The religion clip was quite eye-opening for me. I am a Christian, and I have always been told that Jesus Christ is the only one that died and rose again. The bible says so and I firmly believe in it. How is it that I have never heard of these things that the film talks about...such as all the similarities between different prophets or "gods" or the sun. It is very interesting, but I'm not really swayed by it. It kind of left me uncertain of what to think. However, since I hold my religious beliefs very closely to me, I am a bit skeptical of what the film claims about religion, but it does make me sort of what to look a little more into it.

Alright, now the 9/11 portion of the movie...this was a bit hard for me to watch. The very beginning of the clip was the hardest. Hearing the sound of an explosion and seeing the plane crash into the building over and over and over again...just broke my heart. It was intense. However, the whole theory that the government had planned this whole attack was not new to me. There is this film called Loose Change, which can be found on youtube, which also goes into detail about the government's conspiracy behind 9/11. I watched it about 3 years ago and have a burned copy of the DVD. I was a bit skeptical about the whole thing, but after watching Zeitgeist, it leaves me thinking that maybe this is true. The only question I have though about the film is that it mentioned that Bush was meeting with the Bin Laden family the morning of the attack, yet I thought he was in an elementary school reading to some kids?? I KNOW there was footage and evidence that he was there when the attack happened, but then how was he in the meeting with the Bin Laden family? Or maybe that was earlier before he was with the elementary kids?? I have no idea. But this film really does make you wonder. What kind of country do we really live in? It's scares the heck out of me! It doesn't feel like we live in a free country...I mean yes we do have freedom, but I feel like we are controlled by a government that keeps secrets from us. But if you think about it, honestly what can the people do?? is there anything we CAN do about our government and all the lies and secrets?

I am taking control of your mind...

Ah, the wonderful topic of media and its destructive effects on our generation today. lol. Whoever believes that the media has no effect on them must be in denial or is just plain stupid. Just kidding! No but really, the media is everywhere...music, television, magazines. There's always some kind of standard that men and women are supposed to live up to. Such as how skinny girls need to be, that premarital sex is okay, and that aging is not beautiful. Nowadays, celebrities can't be any larger than a size zero, boobs have to be larger than life, and aging is the sign of ugliness. Everyone wants to look younger, as if aging isn't a blessing of long life and wisdom. It's no wonder you see so many people today getting plastic surgery to fix every little "flaw" in their bodies. Honestly, God made each person unique and to snob your body is an insult to His creation, isn't it? That's the way I see it. If the media didn't constantly bombard our minds with images of skinny women, there would be much less people suffering from insecurity, anorexia and bulimia. Music and videos have a much drastic effect on us too. It is rare to find a song that doesn't degrade women or talk about sex and money. It's pathetic, but sadly that's what it has come down to.

Now with the topic of subliminal messaging in cartoons, well it's been going on for a while now. I'm actually a fan of Spongebob and find the show to be amusing. I don't usually watch cartoons ever, except for Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, and Spongebob. I'm still a kid at heart. But there have been instances where I've noticed subliminal messaging in the cartoons that my younger siblings watch. Of course, I don't say anything about it because they're too young to understand but it does raise an eyebrow. Honestly, I am pretty fearful for what the media will be like ten years from now when I have children of my own. The media now is like corruption on a silver platter....imagine what it will be like in just a couple of years. Kids are losing their virginity at the young age or 11 or 12. I know what I've been able to get away with in the past, and it just makes me 10 times more fearful of what my child will be exposed to. What is one to do with the non-stop feed of the media? The voice that tells women their not good enough unless their skinny as a stick? When even the cartoons children are watching can't even be trusted? Seriously...what are we to do?

A Flourishing Nation...A Dying World

In the fast-paced America that we live in, when do we ever stop and think about the world around us?...the problems and deaths going on beyond American soil. Honestly, so many us have become so saturated in our own wonderful lives that we don't know what's out there. We indulge ourselves in selfish luxuries, spending money like it grows on trees. I'm not going to lie, I am one of those Americans that do not know what is going on with the rest of the world. It might be ignorance, or just the lack of interest in educating myself. It is very sad actually.

Looking at the pictures of hurricane victims in Haiti really struck me. It's almost as if the people in the pictures are crying out to you...hoping someone out there would save them. Save them from this life that they did not ask for, did not deserve. A life where tomorrow is just a word rather than a promise. How is it that we can be living such comfortable lives here in America when the rest of the world is suffering? Many of us don't think that we could make a difference, and sad to say, some don't even care. To them, it's not their problem, so why solve it? It's pure ignorance; and that's where the saying "ignorance is bliss" comes into play.

The last time I visited Philippines was when I was nine. The very first cry of poverty echoed the moment I got out of the airport. I was riding in a jeepney, similar to a bus, and little kids where grabbing on to the door handles and railings of the back of the vehicle, begging for money. There must have been five or six of them. Everywhere I went, there were beggers seeking for a generous heart. Philippines really doesn't have much. They are quite poor, and my mother always reminds me of that. She tells me how many children there cherish every little toy they receive, since presents don't come around much. As little as they may have, they are still very happy people. When you take time from your daily hussle and bustle and think about the poor conditions out there, you realize that you have it good. You no longer sweat about the guy that just cut you off the road, what homework you have to do, or even what you're going to wear to school the next day. It all really means nothing when you think of those who have nothing.

No wrong or right opinion....or is there??

Your thoughts and your opinions make you who you are as a person. Of course, there are some ideas that we tend to just keep to ourselves because of fear of ruining relationships. Especially ideas concerning religion and politics. Often times, when your way of thinking is molded by influences like church and family, it's very hard to have your own opinions. I believe that when you're younger, you allow people to form opinions and beliefs for you. But as you get older, you start to experience life and you realize that you no longer think the way you did before.


Growing up in a Christian family, I've always had a conservative view of things. It was always about obedience, character, abstinence, and other godly beliefs. However, I must say that now being 18 years old, I have my own personal opinions that may not completely be in line with what I was taught growing up. Now don't get me wrong, I haven't become this wild and crazy rebel; I still hold on to many of my Christian beliefs. One very controversial issue would have to be abortion. For a very long time, I was very against abortion and did not believe that one's carelessness should be an excuse for the death of a life. To me, if you're not ready to raise a child yet, then you shouln't be having sex. However, I have been able to put myself in a pregnant teen's shoes and I honestly don't know what I would do if I were in that situation. Although abstinence is the best way to prevent unplanned pregnancy, sometimes it just happens. You can't always control that. My stand on abortion is different now, and I believe that every woman has their own choice. That also brings up the issue of whether men have a say in their child's life. Since it takes two to make a baby, it only makes sense that both people should have a say in the decision, right? Why should only the woman be able to make the decision, men may ask. Sadly though, it all still comes down to what the woman wants to do with her body. Must I remind you that she is the one who will be carrying this baby for nine months and has to go through the pains of labor.



Many things in society have changed compared to the way things were in the past. In the past, you didn't really have much freedom to choose what you wanted to believe. Your opinions didn't matter. Thankfully, we now live in world where your voice can be heard. In America, you can make your own opinions and not be persecuted for it. Regardless of race, sex, orientation, you are now more free to hold on to your own opinions.