Ungratefulness and Christmas
As the feast of the Three Kings has passed, the Christmas season has finally come to a close. Now we’re in a new year and I’ve taken some time to reflect on some things.
Have you noticed how selfish and ungrateful people are depicted in Christmas commercials every year? I just noticed, and it’s got me thinking and talking.
There are these commercials out there where people are dissatisfied with the gifts they’ve received and are shown returning them. Some other commercials are of people procrastinating with their Christmas shopping and are seen giving people not the best gifts.
There’s this guy who wears an “ugly” Christmas sweater and when he opens the mail, it’s yet another “ugly” Christmas sweater. He then proceeds to return it. There’s this other commercial where the guy waited until the last-minute to do his Christmas shopping and sends out a gift filled with pens and pencils.
I always wonder, are these just stereotypes or real depictions of American life? I honestly think these are just stereotypes that the mainstream media keeps pushing on us. The stereotypes of the lazy, dumb, and procrastinating American male doesn’t apply to all people.
Why do we return gifts? Why can’t we just accept it or just donate it? I understand that if we’re not going to ever use it, it’s better to return it. Also, I think most people would just return it in exchange for stuff they want.
As for donating it, that’s a good idea and I think people should do that to any unwanted gifts. Although, there’s other ways to donate to the poor and the needy so that’s not a necessary route to take.
My point I’m trying to make is that be thankful and grateful for what you received this past Christmas. If you need to return it, take a couple bucks of the money you for got out of the return and donate it. Or, you could also purchase an item or items that can be enjoyed or used by more than one person such as an iPad or something like that. Get me?
Well, Happy New Year everyone!
The “War on Christmas”
What is this “War on Christmas” I keep hearing about? What is this “war” really? Are people really offended by the words, “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays?” What has this country come to? Why are people being offended by harmless words in this joyous time of year? People are silly, I’ll tell you.
I know I’m going to offend people by saying this, but if you’re offended by the words “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” than I think there are some problems you need to work out.
However, there are those who don’t celebrate it, and I understand that. I also know that as an American Christian, I’m in a “privileged position” to not be “offended” by the greeting “Merry Christmas.” I can’t put myself in the shoes of those who are not like myself (non-Christians), so it’s difficult for me and other American Christians to know what it feels like when the core majority of the American population celebrates a holiday that you simply don’t take a part in.
Christmas is both a secular and a religious holiday. Whether you like it or not, it is. Christmas was originally a pagan holiday celebrated by the Romans way before we started celebrating it as the celebration of Christ’s birth. Christmas has gone through so many transitions and it has always been both a secular and a religious celebration.
The term “Happy Holidays” is simply a shorter way of saying, “Happy Holy Days.” Just look it up. So, if you’re offended by “Happy Holidays” and you’re religious, than you must be out of your mind.
Why can’t we all be friends and simply all be happy together? Why can’t we just forget about what separates us and sit down have a good time?
I just don’t know anymore, I just don’t.
Christmas is not over, YET.
Americans have the erroneous belief that Christmas somehow ends 12am December the 26th. This is notion is false believe it or not. Christmas ends the 6th of January, the Three Kings Day. Hence, the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Cultures throughout the world still continue to celebrate Christmas up until this date, however, the U.S. seems to have disregarded this.
I just find it so sad that all the holiday decorations and music suddenly comes to end. Just because the advertisements say “after Christmas sale” doesn’t mean Christmas is over with!
I also find it sad that my fellow Americans have disregarded the unique Christmas traditions and practices of peoples around the world. We wrongly give our children the assumption that Christmas is the same everywhere. I know that it’s only natural, but it honestly doesn’t hurt to teach our children that Christmas isn’t the same everywhere.
Any Americans heard of Christmas crackers? What about Dia de los Tres Reyes? Posadas, Pastorelas? What about fireworks during Christmas time? Ever seen that?
See, my friends, it’s always important to expand your mind with different cultures, it’s not only good for yourself, but your children as well.
Gun Laws - My Take
I’m a centrist, and as a centrist I see both points of view and try to reach some sort of consensus that everyone can agree on.
When it comes to American gun policy, I firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment. What does the 2nd Amendment actually say?
AMENDMENT II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
I also believe that only the right people should be allowed to keep and bear arms. How would you define the right people? The right people are those who succesful pass a psychological, psychiatric, and mental health screening. I also think it would be a great idea to interview friends, family, and colleagues as to whether or not the person is appropriate enough to keep and bear arms.
There should also be required weapons training in order to obtain a gun license.
On one hand, I don’t think it’s really necessary to have assault rifles if you’re a city dweller, but on the other hand, I believe it’s your right to own these types of weapons. As long as you go through the proper channels, than I believe these are your rights and freedoms.
Should assault weapons be banned? I honestly don’t think it should be banned. People will find other ways to obtain these types of weapons. Just as people find ways to obtain marijuana, in different parts of the country.
The government just needs to make sure that only the right people are getting guns. Guns should be regulated, just as anything else in this country is regulated. I don’t know what regulation would exactly entail, but as long as it doesn’t infringe on gun ownership or the 2nd Amendment, then I’m all for regulation.
What are your thoughts? Please keep them clean!
Internet Trolls and the Connecticut Shootings
Any news event, either minor or major, your bound to see those internet trolls or people who can’t seem to respect different opinions on comment sections all across the internet. Just browsing the comments on social networking and news websites you’ll see big arguments erupting, and sometimes these online arguments can get and quite often do get pretty intense.
Before I get started, I just want to let you know that some of the things I say may say may be hurtful and insulting to some. If you’re a sensitive person, than I warn you before reading the rest of this blog post. As a centrist, I naturally see both points of view. I also play devils’ advocate for the sake of a discussion. So, don’t take it personally if you’re hurt by what I say, I do it for the sake of a much larger discussion of the issues surrounding the Connecticut tragedy.
Some people online have stated that there are many tragedies all throughout the World that Americans fail to notice. They mention people in Third World, War-torn, and suppressive countries. They use the recent news story of ten Afghan children being killed by a land mine in Kabul to prove their point. Why aren’t we morning or crying for these children all the way in Afghanistan?
I remember some people saying that Obama would never shed a tear for them. Some other people have stated that there are poor, hungry, and suffering children all around the World that Americans fail to shed a tear for. What about the good people of Syria or Israel - Palestine. Where are all the tears for these people?
There are also comments that have been made that the United States is responsible for drown strikes that ultimately kill innocent civilians in the Middle-East. I don’t doubt this at all. It’s a fact, that the mainstream news media is reluctant to report on or talk about. Is it right to compare the drown strikes in the Middle-East by our government with the tragedy in Connecticut? I don’t know to be honest. Some people have argued that the civilians weren’t intentionally killed, whereas the victims of the shootings were done so intentionally. Yes, that may be true, but life is life. I don’t see why the country that I love and hold dear to me is conducting drown strikes on another country’s sovereign land. The United States shouldn’t be conducting drown strikes. It’s so easy for me to say that we shouldn’t be conducting drown strikes, when I can’t even grasp the complexity of the War on Terrorism. It’s so easy to say something like this, while enjoying the peace and security here in the country.
I don’t know what’s in Obama’s heart, but it’s pretty judgmental for me to say that he wouldn’t shed a tear for the ten Afghan children or the unintentional victims of drown strikes. It’s true that we Americans fail to see the many tragedies and injustices throughout this World. It’s true that we Americans fail to see the suffering all across the globe. Why don’t we cry for the people in Syria or for the people in Israel - Palestine? Why don’t we cry for the people in North Korea or China? Why don’t we cry for people in Africa or Latin America? These are important questions to ask ourselves. We should really think about why we are mourning the loss of these people in Connecticut but not people in different parts of the World. I’m not at all saying that we shouldn’t be mourning the victims of the Connecticut shootings, rather we should be thinking about why we are mourning, but not other people and events. I believe it’s really important to think about this.
We can’t be mourning for everyone on this Earth because we would always be sad and depressed. We need to keep on going and move on. Moving forward is a part of life. The American people are mourning the deaths of the Connecticut shootings because they’re our fellow Americans. We may not know them personally but they’re our own people. We may not know the person down the street, but we say hi to them when we pass by their house. Why? We do so because they’re our neighbors. We have a desire deep inside of us to form connections and relationships with people. I guess it’s because we’re all a family here in America, that’s why we’re mourning the deaths of these people. I think it’s difficult for us Americans to be mournful of other tragedies in other parts of the World, because we think of these areas as far away places whereas the shootings took place in our own backyard, so to speak.
I remember other people saying that the mainstream media is making us feel sad for these events, but we’re not really sad for these people. I don’t know how true this is, but I can only speak for myself here. I’ll admit I was sad, but I tried my best to stay away from anything related to the shootings. The news and social networking websites were getting me depressed. However, could I truly put myself in the shoes of friends, family, or relative? I would think not, nevertheless, I was saddened by these events, as any person would be. Personally, it would be wrong for me to even claim that I feel the pain friends, family, and members of the community are feeling.
However this got me thinking, does the mainstream media give us some sort of sociological expectation to respond in certain ways to events in the news? Maybe, maybe not. It’s possible and maybe it’s not. However, the mainstream news media is sensationalizing this tragedy. Whenever I watch a news conference, I really can’t stand the questions that journalists are asking. I know they’re just doing their job, and I respect that. When the press secretary says that he can’t release any more information, end of story, stop bantering him with the same questions. I just feel that the mainstream media isn’t truly respecting the privacy or dignity of the community. I could totally be wrong on this, but to me, events such as this is just one big juicy story for the mainstream news media. That’s pretty judgmental for me to say, and I’m sorry about that, but that’s just my gut feeling of the media’s handling of this story.
There have also been comments that the rendition of Silent Night on Saturday Night Live wasn’t the true original with all the religious stuff in it. Well, if you watch SNL often, you would know that the skits in the beginning of the program are pretty short, and not very long. Also, if you’re active in your church, like I am, you would also know that Silent Night is a long song, than most would think. So, I would imagine that the choir would sing a “modified” version of Silent Night. It’s sad, because some people aren’t even grateful that they chose this song. Silent Night, is a religious song in and of itself, and for that, these people should be grateful.
The media did it’s job at reporting the news, but is it time for them to back off? I don’t know. That’s a hard question. However, I think there’s a point when enough is enough.
I’m interested in hearing your comments and views! Please keep them clean! Thanks!
Connceticut Elementary School Shootings, My Take
Without saying much, is there anything else I can say that the news media and government officials haven’t already said? The holidays are supposed to be a special time of the year where families, relatives, and friends gather around and be happy and have fun together and then something like this sadly happens.
All we can do is keep the victims in our thoughts and if your religious, in your prayers. Since I’m writing this on the day of this tragedy, I’m not sure if there are any plans, at this point to collect donations for victims and the community. However, I’m sure there will be plans to collect donations.
All human life is equally precious. No matter what stage of life a person is at, all human life is intrinsically valuable. All human life is great and beautiful no matter what point you are in life.
We all know that these are sad, tragic, and unfortunate events. What else can be said about these events? Is it too early to be discussing gun policy or is this the perfect time to be discussing events such as this and the gun polices that goes along with it?
Well, as a centrist, I believe the right to bear arms as it is clearly stated in the United States constitution. I also believe in stricter gun control. Gun right activists mistakenly equate “more strict” gun control as a violation to gun rights. That’s simply not the case. Stricter control simply ensures that the right people have the right to use and bear arms.
What do I mean by the right people? Well, people who don’t have any mental and / or intellectual disabilities. People who don’t have a serious criminal record. People who are not out there trying to get someone shot. That’s what I mean by the right people.
If you live in the middle of no where, miles away from the nearest police station, those are the type of people I imagine using guns. If you live in the city, with the local police station only five minutes away, I don’t necessarily expect you to require a gun, but I certainly respect your right to possess a gun, if you feel it’s right for you. You just have to be the right person to own one.
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Very true. Professional guns and firearms also make it possible for mass killings such as this. Should the government make all firearms illegal and unlawful? No, of course not. That would be crazy! The government should make it more difficult if not impossible for the wrong people to obtain a gun licence and a firearm.
The problem with the gun policy in the U.S. is that it’s way to easy for the wrong people to obtain a gun, well, as it appears to me.
What say you? I’m interested in hearing your comments! Please keep them clean! Thank you!
Remember, if you’re religious and believe in God / the supernatural, please keep these people in your prayers.
Peace and blessings!
Israel and Palestine and the United Nations
I try my best to remain close to the center as possible when it comes to issues regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I understand and respect both sides equally. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the World’s most complex issues and both sides have equally suffered.
There are no good sides or bad sides in this conflict. Both are guilty of their own sin and evils. However, they both have done good for their respective peoples.
I’m only a college student, not an expert in international affairs or policy, but I speak from what I draw from the World around me. I think the United Nations approving a resolution to change the status of the Palestinians from a non-member observer entity to a non-member observer state is a fabulous and a great thing. Some may disagree, and may say I know nothing about this very complex issue. This may be true, but the Palestinians deserve to be recognized as a state, not an entity. Vatican City is hardly a “nation” or a “country,” but it’s a sovereign state. Palestine on the other hand is a nation and a country, but in the past considered an entity. Now, it’s a “state” and that means a lot to so many people.
I don’t claim to know everything about the conflict, but it just seems right to me that Palestine receives recognition as a state not an entity by the international community via the UN.
Israel has a right to defend itself, no doubt about that. There are people throughout the World who want to destroy Israel. Not only Israel, but the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western nations. Israel is one of the most powerful and economically stable region in the Middle-East. It is said it is a Democracy, but when compared to the Democracy of the US, I’m not sure how much that statement would hold up.
I don’t take any sides, I only observe and take in. I just feel that Israel and Palestine should work together through this and find a fair and balanced solution.
I’m ignorant of the whole conflict, but I’m just speaking my mind here.
What say you? What are your opinions on this matter? I’m interested in hearing your opinions! Thank you!
Nurse and the Prank Call Controversy
By now, all of you already know of the whole controversy surrounding the nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, who answered a prank phone call by Australian DJs who were posing as members of the British Royal Family. A lot has been said about this sad and tragic story.
As, an American, I really don’t care for stories involving the British Royal Family. It’s not right for me to say I don’t like them since I’ve never met them before. Are they bad people? No, I don’t think they’re bad at all. I know they do a lot of good. However, I don’t think news stories involving them have any importance and relevance in my life as an American.
Back to the sad and tragic story of the nurse, Saldanha. It’s kind of funny how members of the news media kept saying how this is such a sad, tragic story, and so forth. However, before this even happened, they were criticizing her! They were commenting on how could these two nurses were gullible enough to even believe the prank phone call. News commentators were also saying that the pranksters didn’t even sound anything like the people they were impersonating. Well, if you’re in healthcare, you would know it’s always crazy, and I don’t think a busy nurse is going to have the time or even the mindset to even analyze a person’s accent to see it right or not. This was a big story, and as you can imagine, a normal average person being thrown in the center of a big media story is a big thing, a really big thing.
Just think about it. What if you get thrown into the middle of this big news story, that’s some serious stuff to deal with. If you aren’t a public figure, than you’re not prepared at all to be put in the public spotlight without any prior notice.
People are blaming the radio DJs. Personally, I don’t think the DJs are to blame. I blame the media circus surrounding the whole incident. I also blame the news media for putting normal everyday nurses on the spot. That, in my opinion are the real people to blame, the news media.
They make little things into big things. They sensationalize stories. You want to know what else the new media does? They also manipulate and mislead the news and events around the world.
People seem to be pretty judgmental about the nurse. People without even knowing the nurse are saying she must of had some serious problems. Well, don’t we all have some serious problems? I mean, I’m being serious here. If you were in her shoes, you don’t know what could go on. It’s so easy for people judge and say, “oh, she had some serious issues.” Well, have you ever met the woman? Have you ever talked to her? Before judging this woman and her death, what about judging your own life because the only person who has the right to judge you is yourself. That’s a fact.
Whatever you do, don’t blame the DJs, they couldn’t even imagine that something like this could have happened. Just don’t. Blame the news media.
However, as I really thought about it, is the new media really to blame? Despite, their tactics, should I really be pointing the figure at them? Yes, the news media is totally out of line in many aspects of their coverage of world events. But, it probably isn’t right to blame anyone including Jacintha herself in this incident. It’s a sad and tragic story, but the blame game needs to stop because it causes more harm then good. We live in a culture and society of “blaming.” This needs to stop.
What say you? I’m interested in learning and hearing of your opinions. Thanks!
American - Child of Immigrants
Quite often, I get questions such as; What are you? I reply, I’m an American. They may ask; Where do I come from, I say, I’m from here. They may also ask what is my nationality, and I of course tell them I’m a citizen of the United States. As a child of an immigrant family, I get these types of questions quite often.
If I was an Anglo-American, would I get these types of question? I would safely assume that I wouldn’t get these types of questions if I were White. It’s such a struggle to emphasize myself as an American, in a society that assumes you’re an immigrant from another country. Well, I’m not an immigrant from another country. I was born and raised in this country and thus I see myself as an American, nothing more, nothing less.
I had this one experience that really made me stop to think. A gentleman came up to me and asked me where I’m from and I told him that I’m from here, Boston. He replied, no no, I meant what country you are from. I told him again that I’m from here and I was born in this country. He went on to ask me what I am, and I told him that I’m an American. He replied, no no, I don’t think so, you don’t look American to me. He said, where are your parents from, and I told him that they came to this country a long time ago, in the late 80s early 90s.
I could go into more detail of the conversation between the two of us, but I think this brief summary of our conversation is sufficient enough.
So, what do you all think? See what I mean when I tell you that it’s hard to make people consider you an American, and nothing else?
I’m in no way ashamed of my heritage, ancestry, or descent. However, I’m an American and this is my country. I don’t consider myself a part of the country that my family came from. I acknowledge and respect the country of my ancestors, I’ll say that. My allegiance is to this country, not any other country.
So, what say y’all?
Thanksgiving Day and Being a First Generation American
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Peace and blessings to you all!
It’s been awhile since I’ve been on Tumblr because of school. So, since I’m on break, I thought I should hop on Tumblr and write something meaningful.
I’m not sure if I’m considered a first generation American or a second. I was born and raised here in the US, but my family came here from another country. So, are they the first generation Americans or am I?
Anyways, as a child of an immigrant family, there’s a lot of comments I get when it comes to the celebration of US holidays.
Some of the things I get are;
- Do you eat your food on Thanksgiving?
- Do you eat your country’s food on Thanksgiving?
- Do you eat your people’s food on Thanksgiving?
- Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
As a young person who was born and raised in this country, that so happens to be born into an immigrant family, this is kind of hurtful, if not insulting.
What makes me different from other Americans that makes me different? Is it my brown skin, my Spanish last name, my hair and eye color, or is it because I’m not White? Would people ask these types of questions from an Anglo-American? I’m pretty sure Anglo-Americans don’t get the type of questions I constantly get.
It’s funny when I tell people that I’m an American, people almost automatically ask me where my family comes from, as if it’s assumed that my family comes from somewhere else. Don’t get me wrong here, all Americans come from somewhere else, even indigenous Americans immigrated here. I’m in no way ashamed of my heritage, ancestry, or decent. However, I’m a Person of Color, and there was a time in this country’s history where People of Color and other immigrant groups were not considered American and even less of a human being.
I’m proud to be an American, and I love this country very much. I’ll admit that during Thanksgiving, along with the traditional American foods, my family also cooks, serves, and eats traditional ethnic foods. This is what it means to be an American, to blend and melt different cultures, practices, and ideas.
I love turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and the like. Yet, I also love the food of my heritage and background.
What does it mean to be an American for you?
Be thankful and grateful for all that you have this year. Peace and blessings everyone!
