I find it highly incredible how you can look at something and marvel at it. Even the slightest little thing. No matter what it is, something is always there that lets you mind go and marvel-if you let it. Often times we look at the world, and don’t see anything but a place filled with people, pollution, and noise. The world is made up of so much more than that. A beautiful sunset can be one of the most amazizng things to marvel at. Being a photographer, I know that you can’t always have a camera to make the memory last forever, but your brain can do that for you. Just open up your mind and your soul to the wonderful world around you. Stop and smell the roses, even just for a second. Don’t just pass through life not having a clue in the world about the world. Because believe it or not, life doesn’t last forever. In fact, it doesn’t last for long at all. You blink, and it’s gone. It’s that quick. For the most part, despite all the drama, pollution, people, etc., life is truly a wonderful thing. Be happy, and you’ll realize that. Take a step back and you’ll see, truly what a wonder the world can be.
Take a Moment
Mother nature has been a part of us forever, she was there when we first felt raindrops and the touch of the warm sun on our cheeks. She provides us with things as a real mother would. And at times we take her for granted.
In today’s world we are always stuck inside watching television or on some sort of technology. When we do go outside we take pictures or text people about our experience outside, but we never take the time to enjoy what we see. We never take time to enjoy the way the leaves fall upon us, like slow moving rain.Or the way a rainbow can paint the sky. But we are missing a lot more than what it looks like. We are missing the sound of the wind brushing through the trees and the sound of birds chirping, we miss the smell of fresh morning air. If we would actually pay attention to our surroundings ! we would be drowning is a sea of discovery. Missing all of these experiences that mother nature gives us, is the same as not thankingyour mother for buying you gifts, not eating the food she makes for you, or ignoring all she does for you. We must not take mother nature for granted, she teaches us as our real mothers do.
“The earth has music for those who listen.” -George Santayana; we must always take a moment to listen what mother nature has to say.
My mother has always been there for my life experiences, the good and the bad. When I look at mother nature I see some of my own life experiences. For example when I see “a flock of birds headed south for the season it reminds me of the times I have moved to new places. I grew up in a military family”, so moving was a regular thing for me. the leaves paint the ground with colors of brown, red, and yellow. You wouldn’t think that you could relate to the leaves on atree, or the way the sky looks, or even the waythe sun stretches across the lake after waking up from a deep sleep.
Live your life
What is life? 21st century is filled with latest technologies, many answers but not this one, what is life? Life is a kind of boat which takes you to different kinds of river’s. There maybe waterfalls sometimes and it is possible that there is no one in the boat with you. All you have to do is be there for your ownself, face it whatever and however it is. Being a coward and scribing will just be like proving your own self weak. Its like saying you are a tree and a big saw named life will cut you through your weakest part and bring you down on your knees. Its up to you after that, you either cry and cry over spilt milk or you let things go by facing then and enjoy this journey. Everyone knows the final destination for this journey? Yes, everyone is scared of this 5 letter word named “death”. It is well said in many poems that even if you are a king, you are kept in the same kind of grave as the beggar. The point is how you reach the final destination. You have two options, either cry, crib and waste this gift or you can live laugh enjoy and then let the world remember you. There maybe millions of walls lay infront of you, you can either get scared and bang into each on of them or you can break each one and move ahead. It is well said that small matters lead up to big ones and solving a small matter will not eventually give rise to a big one. There maybe problems with your parents or one of them or maybe both of them could be already in the final destination, there maybe millions and thousands of difficulties in life but hey, that’s what life is all about, just live, move on, forgive and forget. The final destination maybe near all you do is live and let the world remember you ….
The High That I Wasn’t
That day I learned not only things on the subject of science, but that time is not the greatest of all thief’s. His eyes were not white, they were an irritated red, and they were not his own eyes even, they did not dart about in that curious way, instead they bore into the textbook. Nor did they shine, but were dull like a gloomy summer day. “Daniel” I spoke his name once softly, yet on the inside I was screaming “Daniel, Daniel, Daniel! Where are you? All I see is this sullen skeleton of a boy where the man I love should be sitting”. The melancholy school bell rang, beckoning the students to their next class.
He was only worse the next day. I was enveloped by a deathly hopelessness as his sunken face looked at me, with eyes so emptied of life. I hung my head down at the desk as a tear escaped my big brown ones, and tumbled down my freckled cheek. He couldn’t help but notice the miniscule puddle, and asked “what is wrong?” the stench of the one who had stolen my loved ones life assailed my nostrils with its smoky smell, as I shed yet another silent tear.
The early morning air was icy like my heart as I walked across the school lawn. Rounding the corner, I saw him. He was standing in a circle with some other boys, who, despite their clumsy laughter, I could tell were dead as well. The thief was there to meet me, its scent making my eyes water. “I’m sorry that I am not the high you wanted” I said, my words bitterer than the drugs that had stolen the one I loved.
Open Letter to Gap
Dear Gap Factory,
Seriously, Gap, you’re a children’s factory and a company that makes clothes for girls and boys. So why do you refuse to sign a safety bill for a factory in Bangladesh that makes clothes for your company?
I’m a thirteen-year-old girl who buys clothes from your store. I struggle with the fact that you won’t protect a factory that has girls the same age as me working there. In fact, about two-hundred girls the same age as me were killed at the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh, when the building collapsed. Over the past couple years there have been many factory disasters in Bangladesh, including collapsings and fires.
I thought first of asking, “Why?” But then I thought of that of course you were just being penny-pinchers. This bill would probably cost you money by building more sound factories and improving the working conditions. According to Wikipedia, you make over sixteen billion dollars a year. But you couldn’t “risk” spending one million dollars?
Then I wondered if you actually thought about your decision. The fact that eight year-olds are working in those factories amazes me. Did you ever think about that? Maybe you should think that the people who are making your clothes should not be younger than fourteen, or even eighteen!
Finally,I wondered if you knewactually what was going to happen if you signed that bill. You could potentially save lots of lives of children my age by improving working conditions.
After I saw the news, I realized that you don’t care about the children of the workers in that factory. You assumed that you didn’t have to sign the bill, and nobody would care.
Well, Gap Factory, I care.
You, Gap Factory, and other stores that didn’t sign this safety bill, need to know that agreeing to sign the contract could have changed the lives of so many. Children. Workers. The elderly.
So, I am asking for change. Did you know that panel of experts awarded you the “Public Eye” award, aka the worst company of the year? I hope you plan to change that. You can hold fundraisers or even make a new bill that satisfies everybody. All I am asking is to see change that would improve the lives and working conditions of the factory workers.
So let’s see what you can do.
Sincerely,
Cameron U.
A loyal customer
Thirteen-year-old girl
Nothing
How many people feel as though nothing they do in life matters. Well guess what, I don’t. Haha. I feel great about my life and what I am doing. Too bad for you. If you don’t feel good about your life, then that’s your problem, not mine. I mean, just quit whining, suck it up, and keep being worthless. I’d better stop talking now and let you get back to your pitiful lives. You don’t have anything else to do anyway.
Peace in Savage Garden
Wishing for a bullet proof world.
No, wishing for a bullet free world.
Wishing for a world with no bomb blasts and target killing, terrorists attack and drone attacks.
Wishing for happiness and prosperity everywhere. Wishing for a smile on every face. Wishing for honesty, sincerity, good nature, respectfulness in every one round the world.
Wishing for peace.
Dreaming about the day when there will be nothing to fear except Almighty God. Can this dream come true? Can we join hands to finish racism in our world? The brotherhood which our prophet brought in this world is forgotten. Can we relive it? The unity? Faith? Hard work? Love? Sincerity? Beliefs? Does any of it ring a bell? Have we forgotten what our Quaid brought us? What the Holy Quran enlightened us with? Islam’s teaching?
Can we not build a nation free of all traits? Why are we running in this damn rat race of money? Fooling everyone to win a seat in National Assembly? Making promises to forget the very next second. Selling our faith and conscience to Satan. Is everything you’ll ever need in this world and beyond is money and power? What if you die the very next day? Do you really believe that you’d be able to carry the burden of your sins on your feeble humane shoulders – hey wait – are we human? Can we call our acts and manners humane?
The person who’s sitting on the highest post is doing big crimes. The person who’s working under at some negligible post is doing deeds of his might; small crimes. Rule: eat as much as you can while you are able to, don’t know if you’ll still be working here or not.
In northern areas, we see killing. In southwest, we see social warfare. In south, there’s racism. Are we really on nation, which Iqbal dreamt about?
Why don’t we look up in the history and study of Khilafat of Omer Farooq’s era. He ruled more than half of the world, but in his era of khilafat, not even a dog slept hungry.
The fault is not with our rulers only. Our people are not sincere too.
The shoplifters, mafia, dacoits, kidnappers – don’t they appear from among us? Brothers are killing each other for hierarchy. Husbands are murdering their wives just because of some minor household mistakes. Robbers and muggers are shooting the passersby just for some thousands rupees in their pockets or some cheap cell phones.
The aim of this article is not to accuse anyone in particular. Instead, it’s a wakeup call to shake us off from the deep slumber we are in. Let’s take a look at our being ourselves. Let’s see how crystal-clear our person are. Don’t count the flaws in the crystal attains, but find the ways to remedy it.
Think again.
I am a visionary.
Are you?=
Competition
There is no person in our world, who never wins or loses, who never feels a spirit of fight or fear before it, and who never tries a sweet taste of dream to win or deep disappointment. Some people can even easily name their life a game, and others just give up and take a defeat. But I think, both people are week: people who obey gambling or people who are afraid to play because of fear to lose again. So, competition plays an important role in our life. But strong people are people who never stop believe in themselves. And, honestly, who don’t want to see their children strong and powerful. Parents sometimes forget about what kids really want and get them to such tops where they fall so fast and painfully. I know a lot of parents who can’t even talk to their kids when the latter don’t get what they want in some competition. And then kids forget about rules of game and turn into cruel people who can do everything, jut to achieve their aim. They also teach their kids to live in same way. I’m really afraid to see, someday, my life in that way. My mother says that life makes people do such things just to survive and sometimes we don’t have any choice. But I still believe that honesty in every step in life, which consists from big and small games, has a value. maybe, I am a conservative person buy i will always maintain honest game, because for me a price can be more expensive than a prize. And this should be the main principle in kid’s life, because in that way we can have some future.
Why I Hate Facebook
I hate social networking.
I guess it’s okay for people to communicate in small distant conversations with a realm of 500 people they may or may not even know, rather than have one worthwile, meaningful conversation with a single person you will never know things about by just looking at their Facebook profile. Whatever happened to giving your full attention to a person?
What has happened to our society?
“Come outside, let’s play some basketball.”
“Okay, sure, can I check my Facebook real quick though on your computer?”
It’s not like you’re going to say no. Do it, you gutsy, weak sauce you. “Sure, I don’t mind.” And than that horrid horrid “I’m just being a host” smile they’re completely blind to but you display anyway.
What are they doing on there anyway? Oh you know, just messaging a bunch of people about the plans we have next Friday to hang out and check Twitter on each others computers. For God’s sake.
And then there’s those people you’re so “close” to that they can just use your computer without asking and you can’t pull them off because there’s no way to do it without being inapporpraite. And actually, they’re not actually that close with you because they’ve never taken the time to talk to you, instead they just talk to the ten people they’re online chatting with. And then, as you patiently wait, they skype with people you don’t know but don’t include you in because the only real point is to show off to you that they have this other, really cool friend too and they have a really cool relationship with inside jokes they made on their walls. Or in real life, as they so ignorantly portray, but think about it, we all know the truth don’t we?
Seriously. Even when we sit with a person and try to talk with them, constantly our phones are next to us, waiting for the next text, the next twitter update. When was the last time someone truly gave another person their full and total attention? Why, deep inside, are we trying to impress each other so much? What is the point of being so fake?
And just look at it all. The facebook updates, the million likes, the adding people the day after you met them and said two words to them. No! It’s all wrong, it all must be wrong. You don’t really have any intention of keeping in touch with them, do you? And what’s with this desperate, “I-can-take-photos-with-my-mac” display picture thing and the million vague “some hearts are meant to be broken” statuses/tweets/tumblr-reblogs. No one cares! Maybe people would care if you wouldn’t put it out there like that and actually make it worth something.
I can’t even finish this because my dad is calling me and I’m clawing the keyboard in such intense rage at society/the world/my life and being stuck in the stupidness that I am with such stupid people. And the worst part? I’m a victim of it too.
Gosh dang it.
I hate people.
Success
Success is something that builds one step at a time. I don’t think it comes automatically to a person; I know it didn’t to me. It took me many years of practicing and patience to become the person I am today. I am still learning new things each and every day which is a great habit to get into. All my life I have struggled with being successful or at least feeling it in my inner body, no matter how hard I tried it was never good enough. Every time a teacher returned a test of mine I looked at the score and it showed a F. I never felt so down in my life. Finally, in my senior year of high school, I signed up to take AP Statistics. Even though, I didn’t understand half of the material my teacher sat down with me and explained the information in a way that I could understand it. I ended up raising my test scores and for the first time got an A on a final exam. I truly felt successful. Success is what matters to me. Although success is important to me, getting the career a person wants is also essential.
Nobody wants to go into a career that they feel like they wouldn’t be essential to. For instance, I enjoy traveling so when I go to college I would like to get a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management because when someone works in a hotel a person works with a lot of tourism people from around the world. I have read a lot on this degree and it sounds fascinating. If someone is not happy at their job they probably won’t be happy in life. If someone is not excited about their life then they won’t be successful and in my mind success is top priority next to career choice. People in today’s society need to wish want they want for and follow through with it.
In Words
Emotions cascade to paper. Feelings and thoughts that would otherwise be left alone are represented in words. The way ideas are translated from what a person is feeling to a language that others relate to is writing.
Writing is a panacea, a worldwide remedy that works unlike anything else. It is an opportunity to save yourself from insanity from not sharing your feelings. Words of a tattered soul or one who holds other emotions can often be viewed as a work of art. They can illustrate a picture, depict feelings, form the expression in a song, or impact someone. Words of true pain, joy – whatever the mood may be – can transform the reader or the author. Whether it is a temporary effect or a lifelong one, they are changed in some way. With all that is thrown at us, it is important to convey how you feel.
Poetry and literature can describe life’s trials and tribulations from beginning to end. Looking at a writer’s collection, their life and feelings are evident in their words. Since people are unique, their thoughts are also unique, which causes different effects and feelings on those who read them. Writing is a way to heal for both you and the reader. Knowing that you can express your feelings in art instead of bottling them up is part of what makes this such a good healing process. Writing is even recommended by doctors to help patients deal with problems.
Thinking is individual to each of us, so when we transfer our thoughts to something that others can see, we feel understood. We get reactions and feel like we are connected. That matters.
The KEy to The NEw World
Our Minds are a Very Powerful tool ! That’s if we use it. Most people don’t even think for themselves anymore. They are believing what ever we hear. No matter how many signs are telling us otherwise. We all just want something to believe in. But have we put the right faith into the correct person?
United states of America. People see this as a Get to spot for a better life. Heres what They Dont Realize.
Can we honestly say that we have? Do any of you know the real story behind it all? Behind all the mysterious Things that are happening in the world? Can we all just say that its Just Global Warming or even just the Prophecies of the End Of The World ? I’m Starting to think everyone plays a part in The downfall of the world. Here’s why I think that.
Because everyone plays a part in what is happening around the world. Like Gas Prices or the Stock Market. Can we honestly say that its just gotten that bad. That everything that Runs our daily lives is slowly crashing into the ground! How do we reverse it or how do we make it Slow down? We all hope for change! But I think we as the people put to much Faith into Change. That we want to believe in something that will most likely never be changed.
Lets be honest. Can we honestly say that we will get our Rainforest back? No matter what we do we can’t undo the Damaged already caused. But yet the Government Runs and Controls us. I mean really There making almost everything illegal. We don’t have the Freedoms we were Promised. From our Founding Fathers. Everything’s going down hill so fast. That we are in a Race to save our Society. The life we all know is Changing Everyday. And we honestly think its for the better? Look around people are blind to see no matter what there will still be Crimes.
So why Must people See The United States Of America as the Land of the Free. We are not really Free we are a Controlled Population. I mean look at it State Governments had a Lock out just last year. I mean what is that? IS it worse then what there telling us. Do they know something and there not telling us?
Do you honestly think we know everything that we need to know? Honestly Can we say the Changes were making are for the better? I mean why cant we Smoke a Simply plant that Grows naturally around the world? I mean why are Drugs called Gateway Drugs? I mean they even Say Mind Alternating Drugs. I mean if there mind alternating drugs then. Is it because it opens more access to use our brains. Because us as humans only use 5% of our brains capabilities? Yes it also Kills your brains cells. But those labels they put on Drugs make you truly Wonder whats going on in the Bigger picture. Im not saying it Should be Legal or not Im just saying. Who put them in Charge to Run our Life. I want to Live my own life. The one I make for myself. Not the one the Government LAys out in front of you.
If people call this Free then I honestly can say that There is no such thing as Freedom. No matter where we are. Just because something looks better and taste better doesn’t mean that it is. Some people think The Illuminati is the Secret behind it all. Well if this is True well then either way were still being lied too. We only are told the things that make the news. We don’t hear about what we are doing to change it.
We just Simply go on with our everyday lives hoping that Something or Someone will come along and put our Faith into.Others think the End Of The World. The Mayans Predicted it. But is it also possible that there were all Killed out before they Finished making it. Oh wait Lets be Real we’d Rather have Faith in something that we don’t even have the true story behind it all. Are Country is Still Very young but Just as we Learned in History. every Great Civilization Rise and Fell with Sun. Is it possible we might be reaching our downfall? Theres so much we dont know about were we all live and call home. Is it possible for us to even see the bigger picture or just the things there telling us.
I’m not Saying America isn’t Great at all. At least Everyone wants to come here to start a better life. And Honestly its only because we offer what a lot of other countries don’t offer. But at what costs to us?
Christianity what does this have to do with the World? Nothing it has nothing to do with it. but yet were any of us around at the time of the Great Writing of the Bible? Can we honestly say someone just didn’t write it and say this is what the Lord told me. This is another one of those things that we believe in based off of what people say. Honestly its another figure we put our faith into for what do we do that for? The Higher power of life is our Very own Minds. Within our own minds we can escape from the slowing ending world and try and find a way to delay the damage already done. Our Minds are the only thing that isn’t Controlled but yet we still believe what we have no idea that could be true or Not. What do we do when the Savoir Doesn’t come? Then what do we do? What if there’s only a Higher power and its not Based off Faith lets be Honest I don’t believe in Organized Religion. And that’s exactly what it is. We believe what is written in a book. But wait aren’t they revised every few years. the question is HOW an WHY !?And By who decides what they add or take out? Are you fools honestly
*Want to believe in Someone believe in Yourself. Because everyone else Tell you Lies. *
Others Look to Astrology for the Answers. The person they look to is Nostradamus. Honestly I would say that Nothing we believe in ever comes true. Look Didn’t the Bible Say something about 06-06-2006?
I quote the Bible. ” 2006 The year of the Beast”. Last time i checked its 2012 People. Who saved us from this so called Beast ! Did it just not get unleashed!? Some people think Nostradamus Followed Satan. Really is everything going Religion based now? I guess there is truly no Truly Great mind out there. We are all are playing a part in believing in the Bible. Because its been around so long people look to that as what will truly happen. but if your Christian shouldn’t you be fearing the Coming of the Savoir? Every single one of us are Hell worthy. Because what you failed to see is that if the lord truly did create the earth.
We as humans have the right to take care of it. Have we taken care of it? No we didn’t Its worse then before. Everything is slowly coming to a stop. We brutally Murder the precious Earth we live in with the Automobiles that we all drive and yes even Bus riders. Because your still contributing.
Lifes to short to want to believe in. ITs way to short to even think of something that drastic happening. Why must we all have something to believe in. The Bible was wrong the first time in 06-06-2006 and the Devils writer was Wrong in the end of 90’s Millennium ( Turning to the 2000’s) it was said in Nostradamus Notes. So cant we Just think it’s safe to say both Devils and Christs books are Wrong it was proven its still the year 2012 guys ! How many of these END OF THE WORLD Things have we been through? Not a Single one has happened. So it means that this one is the ONE. Okay so your still believing in something that has been proven faulty.
Lets be honest even if the World was in total Devastation. There will always be those few who come out alive. IF we truly evolved from Primates then we all have the Natural instinct of Adaptation. So wouldn’t that mean that we will make it Through what ever comes our way unless its an Air born Chemical that kills everyone.
So based off everything do you still believe that there’s a Higher Power and its Called our Government. Given everything there the one’s that tells us lies hides the truth of it all for what the safety of man kind? I think that’s something that i have a right to have a say if we find out or not ! Now look at the Illuminati its Government conspiracies. And it’s based from the very people who look at the bigger picture and actually think for themselves. The Illuminati is the Government they hide the best worlds secrets and they keep things from us that really the people should know. So now that it all cleared up.
I can’t tell you that you have sit and think about it after reading this but im Saying you will honestly think about it because what im saying has meaning and it was once in the bible. The thing we hold best in life in what We put our Faith into. Choose wisely . This is the key to the New World the world you can only see it as what it truly is when you free your mind and put aside what the books say and look at the bigger picture.
Written by,
Skyler Teddy .TM
How Music Affects the Mind
Music has changed throughout the ages, but it has performed the same few tasks since its coming. Music’s many styles can alter a person’s aesthetic, physical, social, mental, and spiritual conscience. The sudden change people can undergo is most certainly amazing. The power that music has over the mind is mostly unexplainable, but no one would even question this power because of the love that people have for music.
Just an overview, the left brain focuses on the ability to pay attention, logic, and verbal ability. The right brain focuses on creativity, artistic ability, and athletics. The two sides seem completely opposite, but they can be linked by listening to music that plays 60 beats or more. In this case, people could use music to connect to other things, and that could be used as a memory tool. Memory and music have been used together since the creation of Greek dramas. The Greeks figured out that their dramas could be remembered more easily.
Listening to music while working can go either way. It has both pros and cons. Some say that listening to music while working helps in academic performance in reading and literacy skills. Teachers however, say that it distracts you. Teachers also say that listening to music with words while reading is the worst thing ever, but they are more lenient with classical instrumental music. This is because you are not reading and listening to words at the same time.
Society in our world today is nothing like it was
To the insecure;
I need to talk to you about an alarming issue that the people of this generation are facing. Life in today’s society is nothing like it was. It has gone overboard. People judge, hate, and call each other names based on their appearance. They think that they’re ugly compared to the pretty skinny girl in the magazine; which most of the time, is photo shopped to make them look like a perfect Barbie. When in reality, they’re an average person, just like all of us. But the thing is, we’re all beautiful. God created us to look the way we do. We get brought down every day by society. Do you think God would have wanted that? We have created a society that makes people hate who they are. People are afraid to be themselves.
A lot of these targets are aimed towards teenagers, sometimes, even younger. This has all created that little voice inside of your head telling you that “you shouldn’t wear this, it makes you look fat” or “you should wear more makeup, you need to cover up that zit”, all because of this stupid society that makes people think that there is such thing as a perfect person. There are not. Nobody’s perfect.
It’s not just self-image that society has affected. Back then, children respected their families, spent time together, and honored their family. Kids created something with their imagination even with just a little old shoe box. They didn’t need electronics or electricity to keep them entertained. When I was little I remember watching The Sandlot for the first time with my dad. He said “When I was little, all we did was go outside and play ball on the field until dinner time”, and every time my dad and I went to the field to play, no kids were there. It was empty.
A lot of things have changed. Look at us. We go walking around with our underwear hanging out. The fashion industry has created that “amazing body” that all of us want and some people do terrible things for it that harms their bodies, just to look like the guy or girl in the magazine.
A lot of people have a lot less morals and values than they did. They live life thinking “YOLO (you only live once)” and go off and do whatever they want because they want to. I think that is fine, but when you hurt others because of it, that is exactly why our society is so messed up. We need a change. Our generation needs to step things up and do something about this because I don’t want my kids growing up in the kind of society that I did. Everyone is beautiful and you shouldn’t get that thought in your head that you aren’t. No one should. Be your own you. You are amazing.
Love,
Your Conscience
The Old Philosophy's Modern Requirement
Ethics and morals form the basis of human civilization. An individual is defined primarily by the virtues he/she possesses. Our values segregate us from mere animals, and add an irreplaceable essence to our lives. In recent times, the retention of basic age old virtues such as those of respect for elders, honesty, compassion, accountability, etc in people has become a rare sight. Materialism and selfishness have become unfavorably common due to a severe deviation in the sacred moral compass installed within each individual. We have begun to measure success in terms of fame and happiness in terms of luxury we can afford. The true and genuine essence of these emotions is lost in today’s fast paced lives.
Speaking from a teenager’s point of view, I see my friends and acquaintances considering it acceptable to treat their elders with disrespect. Being ‘rebellious’ is labeled as “cool”. The future of our nation and ultimately the world lies in hands of my generation. These hands can only bear this heavy responsibility provided they are strengthened by doses of morality. Decision making skills and the quality of life is tremendously improved by the existence of a moral code of conduct in society. The increasing immorality is resulting in a loss of discipline. Humanity is presently carelessly treading a dangerous path to becoming savage and barbaric like the Neanderthals of the stone age, all development and progress will result in futility if redemption isn’t prioritized.
Scientific discoveries and material progress is meaningless if the Human race is unable to achieve inner satisfaction and happiness, which can solely be achieved through alterations in our moral priorities and treatment of others. Basic values and virtues must be instilled in our characters before it’s too late to revert. The set of morals an individual possesses can either make or break him/her, therefore to ensure a bright future one must improve on their present self. With each passing generation the achievement of true contentment is becoming a tougher task, our elders’ simple philosophy of practicing the portrayal of certain emotions like reverence, compassion, etc made their lives complete in all aspects. It’s time to preach “Out with the new and in with the old” when it comes to our ethics; It’s time embellish our lives with the jewels whose value exceeds beyond the purchasing power.
Letter to the World
Dear World:
I write this today in hope to open your eyes. I want to tell every person from the pope. To the struggling Christian that doesn’t know what to believe. To the most dedicated atheists. That god is real. He is really there.
The complex human being wants everything to be good. To be very happy and well kept. People say that gods not real because there are so many evil things happening every day and if there was a god, well he just wouldn’t allow it. The thing is that god gave us the amazing thing, the right to choice in our daily lives and if we don’t want to believe we don’t have to. Life is full of choices god is not a wizard all the bad things that happen make us stronger, but we are human and we will make mistakes and they may not be good ones. To destroy evil is in god’s plan and he is working on it. The devil is very strong though and is so very good at making people think that life is all there is, so let’s live it how we want to and not how we should be living. The road to happiness is not easy. But science! It proves that god is fake doesn’t it? The big bang theory, water, life how light formed. Science supposedly proves that the bibles creation was wrong. Science and god actually work together. The bible was not meant to be a science book, explaining everything would just take up to many pages to read so it is summed up a little. 7 days it took to create the world according to the bible and scientists say that the big bang theory took about the same. The big bang also states that well there was a bang and that’s proves the point. Let there be light. The world around us works so well. Just a simple leaf has a long story. The universe is amazing and the human being is perfect. There is no way that all this just happened by accident.
Some people challenge that the devil is also fake. Some of the worst and most atheist people live the best lives. And some of the best and most Christian people live the worst. A man may be rich and not believe and could be very easily confused because the Christian is poor. Well the devil sometimes allows for a person to live in ease so that they won’t have to reach out for god. The presence of the devil is like a jail cell, but it’s kind of comfy. The gates always open but you want to stay awhile, and one day it’s too late and the gate closes. Some people take that risk but me I shut the gate on the way out.
I Live My Life Through
Everyone has a passion, something that they center their life around in so that they develop a love hate relationship with it. An activity or hobby that you hold so close to your heart, in a way which you can’t imagine living your life without it. You live your life through it.
I live my life through dance. 168 hours in a week and I can be found dancing at least 20 of those.I live my life in the studio, at the school, on the stage, or on the field, constantly stretching, jumping, leaping, turning, and gracefully moving across the floor. Foodless, studyless, and sleepless nights day in and day out. Welcome to my life.
The dreaded, repetitive statement: “Again”, says the coach, running each number so many times till the point that girls leave to go throw-up. Being turned down at auditions because “you aren’t what we are looking for”, and questioning if it’s worth it when a teacher tells you that he “will make you cry, bleed, and scream”. But guess what, he “doesn’t care”, he “only wants dedicated members in the class”.
I turn on the radio and each song that comes on I can remember having a combo to. I come home and dance my way around the house, turn here,leap there, and cartwheel around (until I bang my foot on the kitchen counter). I walk counting the beats 5-6-7-8. I sit in my school desk practicing paradiddles and shuffles, while the boy next to me thinks I am having a foot spasm. Oh, and what would my nightly math homework be like without sitting in the splits? I go through jazz shoes like water; rip here and hole there in every pair. I come home from the long day, and ice my feet and use a heating pad on my back. Hundreds of pirouettes come along with hundreds of blisters and calluses; all just adding to my already beautiful feet.
Disappointment and defeat rush through my body when my teams name isn’t called in the top three at competition. But, when then the hard work doesn’t pay off, I wake up the next morning and return to practice. Lectures, films and more lectures on how, “ you got to want it”, and that “your best just wasn’t good enough”. Triumph comes with the defeatment.
Why do I do it? I do it for the same reason that all other dancers would give: there’s no greater feeling than to move to a piece of music and let the rest of the world around you disappear.
I live my life through dance. How bout you?
Connected but Farther Apart
This is the information age, everything and everyone is wired. From your smartphone or home computer you can see the world, answer a question, or check Facebook in less than a second. You can even tap out a quick message to a friend or even call them. With all these connections, and the simplicity of doing so, how can we not communicate?
We don’t.
I’ve grown up in the “information age” and know how easy it is to tap out a quick text message to one of my friends, but, call me old fashioned, I still prefer to talk to them face-to-face. The younger generations are having a difficult time mastering the art of verbal communication. When I see the ridicules stories on the news about kids that text people sitting next to them of send tens-of-thousands of text messages in a month I just shake my head in disbelief. The lack of verbal communication that plagues today’s younger generations is disturbing. I know of six year olds that don’t know how to properly form words verbally and have no social skills whatsoever, I hear the stories from my mom and aunt who both work at a school that only educates kids from two to six years old. If kids of that age are already having trouble communicating verbally with other children, imagine what it will be like when they get older. The generation that is currently being raised will grow to become socially awkward and verbally inept, what will that do to current society.
As this trend continues to become progressively worse verbal communication might be completely eradicated in the near future. At that point those of us that are still alive that can communicate verbally might be thought of as strange.
Starfish: A Letter to the President
Dear Mr. President,
As a young child, I aspired to become the president of the United States of America. Little did I know that being an immigrant would be a disadvantage to me. In a country that prides itself on offering bountiful opportunities to all who possess talent, not being able to even consider the option of running for president is agonizing. Telling a child what she can or cannot do should not be based on something that is out of her control, like where she was born. In the eyes of a fourteen-year-old who has been fortunate enough to mature in such a racially diverse environment, this law is racist and unnecessary. Not being born here does not make me feel special or unique like it should. Instead, it makes me an outsider; it makes me feel inferior to those who were born here — my peers. Even my nine-year-old brother has it better than I do.
Her thick black hair is left down, blowing as she exits the plane. She looks down and sees me, a six-month-old baby. Anticipating this turning point in her life, she holds me tighter and leaves the terminal to enter the land of freedom and opportunity. You see this Indian women, wearing brand new jeans she bought especially for her voyage. You see the glint in her eye, and you wonder if her excitement was prevalent all throughout the fifteen-hour plane ride. You think to yourself a mother, with her arms full and her hopes high for the baby, is about to enter a country open to ALL.
Nope.
You would be wrong, as the country that is soon to engulf her isn’t open to all… especially her baby. About thirteen years later, the country she entered and the ideals the country gave to her baby would soon prove to shut her baby out. The country that is open to all would not be open to her baby and many like her baby. If the principles on which America was founded were really being followed, the arms-full-and-hopes-high mother wouldn’t have to sit back helplessly and watch America neglect her baby.
My name is Pranjal. I am fourteen years old and currently a freshman. I am a conscientious student, a diligent worker, and considerate friend. I am a girl scout working towards my gold project and an active member ofmy girl scout troop. I am also a humanitarian: my silver project was about bullying, and I am PR for Women Warriors, a club in my school that focuses on issues concerning feminism. I firmly believe in exerting my voice to help others. Living in a “democratic” country really molded me and encouraged me to voice my opinions and my ideals.
America is a country for the people and ruled by the people. Here we can choose to be whoever we want to be, and do whatever we want to do. Living in an immigrant country forces us to be enclosed by a sea of cultures, each of us a part of the big ocean that is the country. Each fish lives harmoniously with each other, celebrating their similarities.Amidst all the swarm of colorful fishes is a starfish. She has amazing abilities to regenerate and do things that other fish can’t do. However, she also has things that he can’t do — things that other fish, her peers, can. She lies there, watching the other fish, yearning to swim around like them. The starfish feels impaired. She can’t do what the other fish can, and she can’t be like the other fish either. The starfish is me. While my peers have the option to exercise their political freedom, I don’t even have the comfort of the option.
As a citizen, when I think of someone whom I would want sitting in the Oval Office I think of someone with like Malala. Bold, courageous, just, and pure-hearted. She has become an icon of courage, and having a president like her would mean that the country would be in safe hands. What if the U.S does have an Americanized immigrant like Malala amidst the ocean, a starfish who has the ability to lead the country to prosperity but couldn’t even if he/she wanted to? I think Americanized immigrants should be allowed to be president. The Los Angeles Times states that today our country’s foreign born population “is at an all-time high.” It’s about time that we include all of our population and amend the Constitution. The reason that “No person except a natural born citizen” (Article 2, Sect 2, Constitution) is allowed to be president was added to theconstitution is to eliminate the idea of a president with “non-american” ideals. This law was relevant in the 18th century, but today is no longer needed. To overcome this, I think there should be an age cutoff. The age cutoff would prevent a person who has grown up in another country and has an “influenced opinion” from governing the country in an “un-American” perspective.
Why do I have to be a natural born citizen to be president? It gives me sorrow that all Americanized immigrants, including future generations, can’t be president if we weren’t born here. I feel invisible. Like I don’t count among everyone who was born here. Isn’t discrimination something America is intolerant of? Your speeches of intolerance toward discrimination feel hypocritical to me. This country won’t let me attempt to run the country I am proud of, govern over the people I can relate to, and enjoy the celebrations that I have known as a baby. All because I wasn’t born here. If the principles America was founded on are really being followed, I wouldn’t feel ashamed to call myself American. One thing is for sure; if I ever did become president, I’d make sure to do everything possible so people wouldn’t feel worthless. Society already compares and judges enough. Now rules do, too.
I genuinely hope this situation gets addressed before it crushes the dreams of others. I hope that we use the gift our forefathers gave us and create amendments to amend the Constitution. I yearn for our country to be more lenient and welcoming to all potential presidential candidates. By doing so, we can be one step closer to making America a truly democratic country filled with citizens who live in the country with their heads held high and united.
Respectfully,
A Citizen Wanting Change.
References:
Zaldivar, Ricardo. “An Immigrant President? It Could Happen.” Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2003. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
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U.S. Constitution. Art. II, Sec. 2.
Something so quiet
Silence. It comes when you least expect it. No one can live without silence. A good thing is that it never stays. Usually it comes and goes. You hear silence when you’re alone, sad, or trying to ignore someone. There’s two types of silence. The threating and icy silence which is the most harmful. There’s a peaceful and thoughtful silence too. The question I’m trying to ask you here is … which one do you hear more of?
When I’m in my room trying to write a poem or story I usually want to be alone. As I write I start to feel calm and at peace with myself, which makes me begin to hear a thoughtful silence. When I’m alone in my room with a book, pen, and a brain full of words it’s difficult to break the silence. Sometimes, if I know what I want to write about, it may take me only half an hour. On other days it may take me all day because I’m stuck on a word or sentence. The only time the silence breaks is when my mom knocks on the door to ask if I want a drink but she never comes in. My mom is a writer too and she understands my need for silence. For some, like me when I’m writing, silence is needed. If your an artist in your studio would you want the room to be silent to express your ideas? I would. Silence is a very important part of our lives.
There is a time for some people when they feel the threating and icy silence. These people are usually made fun of and don’t have many friends. Believe it or not but even popular girls with lots of friends feel this sort of silence. They may be depressed or not happy with who they are as a person. Most teenagers who hear this kind of silence commit suicide because they beileve this is the only way to end this slience. They kill themselves, only to find out that when you die, a even more icy, numb silence sweeps over you.
There is no way to rid yourself of this feeling. As I said before, silence can come and go as much as it wants. Some people need silence to create poetry, stories, art work, express themselves, or just relax. Other people feel helpless over this feeling which leads to death, obesity, drug users, depression, high school drop outs, and so much more.
If only EVERYONE heard the calm silence! The world would be a better place. No one would feel alone or afraid. Sadly, the one reason people don’t feel this type of silence is because some people, and I must admit I fall under this category too, are just mean, cruel, or selfish. Everyday I pass the kid all alone at the lunch table and don’t offer a seat to him. Although I’m not calling them names or spreading rumpurs, I might as well be. Walking past someone with out talking to them only makes their own type of silence even stronger. I could have been the reason the kid across the street shot himself. I never played basketball with him, talked to him, or even let myself know he existed.
So, may I ask one more time…. What type of silence do you hear more of?