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?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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.
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.
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