Shoes

One of my greatest faults in my personality is that I am constantly placing myself in other people's shoes.

A fault? How is that a fault?

I know, most of you think that being compassionate to others is a good trait. That trying to understand other people's lifestyles is a good trait.

And usually it would be that.

I empathize with the good guy. I empathize with the bad guy. This makes me conflicted IN EVERY ARGUMENT.

It gets rather annoying. I blame my parents. My father is conservative, my mother a liberal. Do not ask me how it worked. But it has. And they raised me. I don't vote for either party.

I vote though because I like my rights. A hundred years ago, I wouldn't be able to vote. So I am voting now.

Waste of a vote when I vote independent? It probably is. But I disagree with the two party system. I think we need different eyes. Eventually people are going to see that and vote independent with me. Maybe they will vote for me. Who knows?

There is no black and white to any issue. Any one who tells you differently has not looked close enough.

Hear me out: there is no right or wrong. I doubt there ever was.

I can see that. Forgive me for not choosing sides.

Cultural Eraser

Americans have been infamous for erasing other cultures.

Most of you know a brief history of the U.S., all of you should know that there were people here before the Europeans. All of you should know that we pushed them out of their land and destroyed cultures and families. Some people refer to this as the United States Holocaust.

Which, you know, it was.

I have said before that I believe it is possible to live together with diversity and with out conflict.

I know it was possible for them, too.

Right now I am taking an American Indian Literature class. And the professor always reminds us that our ancestors were not violent. This is reassuring.

It wasn't just with American Indians. And this isn't in the past.

Let's talk about American Indian Boarding schools. Those existed in the U.S. until the 1960s. Many of you probably do not know what those are. American Indian Boarding schools were a way to take the 'savage out of the Indian.' The U.S. government snatched children from their homes at young ages (earliest I heard of was 3 years old) and took them to boarding schools far away from their families.

These boarding schools were designed by a military individual. The students were uniformed and not allowed to speak their native language or practice those traditions. Because this went on for a century, many American Indian cultures traditions were erased. Even their languages has disappeared.

Is 1960s not soon enough for you?

Let's talk about the Somalis.

We have a chance to make our past mistakes that: past mistakes.

But people are too ignorant to notice that we are making the same mistakes all over again.

Most Somalis are Muslims and their religion requires them to pray 5 times a day, everyday. This seems to be a huge problem for everyone. This does not effect Christian Americans in any way, and it is only a disturbance when individuals try to stop Muslims from following their religious traditions.

Today, many Americans are trying to stop the ceremonies of other cultures. TODAY. This is not in the past. By stopping the ceremonies, the traditions of these cultures, these cultures will disappear.

I do not know why people are so affected by Muslims praying every day and five times a day thing. It doesn't effect me.

Locally, this is what is happening in my area. Muslims, some Americans, some Immigrants and some visiting, are getting prohibited from practicing their religion. I see no wrong in allowing individuals of the Muslim faith to pray.

Maybe I'm not seeing something. Is it really that wrong to allow 15 minutes maybe three times a school or work day for people to pray. If you think that it is unfair for the non-Christian workers, make it a break for everyone.

There is this argument that Christians don't recieve breaks for praying or religious activities.

Why are so many stores with limited hours on Sundays? Why do we have Christmas off? Why in the world is everything closed on Easter? Ahh, yes. Because of the Christians. Just because Christians are not receiving daily 'breaks' or accommodations does not mean Christians do not recieve anything.

Sadly Americans are not stopping at the United States. Many are going overseas as missionaries to try to 'change the world' as the 'hands of God'. I have no problem with education. I have no problem with Churches raising money to help 3rd World Countries. I do have a problem when people trying to convert anyone who isn't their religion. These people have cultures, religions and traditions. These people do not need our God. What they need is education about surviving, maybe english, maybe some training for jobs.

One of the United States biggest faults is what they did to American Indian cultures, and Irish American cultures, and Italian American cultures, Mexican American cultures, Chinese American Culture, and African American cultures.

Yes, it is just not one ethnicity we did this too, it was every ethnicity that 'Americans' came across.

We erased their culture. We erased everyone's culture. Making America seem cultureless and boring.

Representative don't represent

My coworkers and I, as well as the people we live with, may not have a place to live next month.

This is going to be taxing on my health and on my education.

If anyone knows me well enough, school is my priority and I value it before family and friends. My education is my lover and I shall not let it be taken away from me because MY REPRESENTATIVES can't find a common ground.

I'm angry. And I am PISSED OFF. (It's the same thing so I am doubily as angry.) I went to this school because I worked hard. And there is no way that I am going to stand for being in debt and being out of class and a home.

This is unacceptable and you will no longer represent me if you do not get your act together.

Kapeesh?

My freedoms should not be withheld because of your lack of simple organization.

Can I be a Feminist?

I hear so many feminists telling other feminists that they can not be a feminist for xyz reasons.

This is not going to help us receive equality. We need to stick together. Even if you disagree with some of their lifestyle choices, personality, whatever.

Anti-feminists are counting on us to screw up and divide our input.

If you meet someone who is trying to help the equality movement, but is a pro-life supporter...It's hard to turn away, it's hard not to point out that you think they are being a hypocrite.

I emphasize choice.

I want to be able to give women the choice to vote, or not. I want to give women the choice to have children, or not. To have the choice to get an education, or not. To be straight, or not.

I want to give everyone this choice, man or woman, black, white, asian, native american, latina/o, even ability.

You can call yourself a feminist if you believe you are one. You will be welcomed by me, as long as you are not trying to stop other individuals of receiving the rights you have as well.

So you meet a pro-life feminist. It seems like an oxymoron, you hear nails on a chalkboard in the background, it hurts so much to not say anything.

Ask them in a polite way why they are pro-life; respect their answer. Ask them to respect your own opinion as well.

And move on, to fight for the rights all born individuals.

Sex Advice

I have been getting a lot of good advice about (straight) sex lately.

"Keep the numbers low."

"Make sure you are ready to have sex."

"Wait until marriage..."

"Don't put your penis in crazy" (In this case, I would probably have to change the body part so it is applicable. )

But I'm having trouble figuring this advice out.

When people tell me to keep the numbers low, I know exactly what that means. Don't sleep around. But how low is low? Under 5, under 10, under 25? No one is willing to define it for me. Plus, when a person is begging you to have sex with them and you say: "I need to keep the numbers low." They say 'it's just a number.'

And I have no problem with gaining experience. Yes, you should keep it low so that you lower the risk of you spreading diseases or contracting them. But what's wrong with a girl having 10 partners? Or as many as she pleases or as little as she pleases. I don't see guys being told, make sure you have as SMALL AS NUMBER OF PARTNERS as you can. This is a sexist piece of advice.

Why is it sexist? Ask why it's important for you to keep your numbers down. Along with lowering the risk of STDs, they will also tell you that, "To make sure your future husband won't be disgusted at you." You never hear guys telling guys, "make sure that you don't sleep with a lot of girls....keep that number down."

If my future life partner cares how many guys or girls I have pleased in bed and gets disgusted at me for it, that person is not my life partner.

I'm not saying, sleep with everyone. I am not saying that at all. But make your own choice with who you sleep with. Don't concentrate on the numbers. Concentrate on what you want to do.

Make sure you are ready to have sex.

This one is a good piece of advice. But it has a lot of flaws to it.

If you would have asked me 8 years ago, what this means...I would have said: "To be ready to have sex means that you are ready for the consequences of having sex. The consequences are, having babies or getting a naughty disease."

And some adults view this the same way.

I no longer feel this way.

In fact, how does anyone know when they are ready? Do you get a card in the mail? Is it your maturity level? Is it the age of consent?

Which leads me to the next piece of advice, waiting until marriage.

This piece of advice is hard. And I applaud all who succeed and make this a reality. But is it too late for me?

I know I have made mistakes in the past, but it can't be too late for me to turn my ideas around?

I tried telling a guy that I was waiting until marriage to have sex. And he stared at me and laughed. Another guy completely disregarded it and kept trying to have sex anyway. Another guy told me it was stupid. Their basis: because I already had sex.

So now what? Am I just a piece of meat to every guy now? You can walk all over me because someone else already did? That isn't fair to you or me.

Now don't stick your penis in to crazy is a good solid piece of advice. Now in my case it's don't let crazy stick in to you.

Blunt but to the point.

In my experience, I have learned 4 rules you have to follow to have a healthy sex life. You can be married or unmarried for this advice. You can be straight or bi or gay or lesbian or pan or whatever. (you just might need to change the reasoning why this rule is important.)

1. Protection is always necessary.
2. Get tested.
3. Respect your partner!
4. Make your own choices

One is important if you do not want any diseases or unplanned pregnancies. Two is important, too, because accidents do happen. Make sure your partner gets tested too.

Three is one of my favorites. This means honest communication and you have to be open. Make sure your partner wants to have sex.

And four is my favorite.

Make sure your choices are your own. This will make sex both positive and enjoyable for you. If you feel like you need to do it, it's not your time to be having sex. If you feel like it is going against your morals even just a little, it's still not your time.

Follow these rules and you will be sure to have a sex positive lifestyle.

Pressures that Women Feel everyday

Here is a list that I compiled about the pressures or conflicts that women may feel on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis:

You have too be thin, but you can't be too thin.

You have to have boobs, but you can't overflow.

Act sexual, but don't be a slut

Get 'experience' but keep those numbers low.

You eat vegetables, you have anorexia.

You eat junk food, you have a problem.

You can only be a feminist, if...

...you are a lesbian

...you wear pants every day

...you avoid wearing bras

...you burned your old bras

...you hate men

...and children

...you were a tomboy as a child

...you are a communist

You can not be a feminist, if...

...you like to cook

...you wear makeup

...you shave

...you have children

...you are married

...you are black, asian, Indian, American Indian

If you dress like a girl, you are conforming.

If you dress like a guy, you are trying too hard to not conform.

You dress with revealing clothes, you are a slut, you sleep around, you want attention.

You dress because you are cold, you are a prude.

Single? Hurry! before all the guys leave!

In a relationship? Don't you want time to yourself...?

You don't want kids? You are ruining the world.

You have too many kids? You are ruining the world.

You had kids young? horrible.

You had kids old? horrible.

Lesbianism only happens when you are going through midlife crisis,

or have a psychotic illness,

or because your drunk,

or you want to impress the hot guys.

(I will be updating this...)

When Old White Men Talk...

If I have learned one thing this summer about old, white men, is that once you get them going and acknowlege their opinions as valid--- THEY DON'T STOP TALKING.

It's like their privilege leaps out of them. They dominate the discussion, put in life experiences that it seems only he sees the validity of the story to the discussion.

You've been talking for over 200 years in this country, it's time for you to share the stage with the other members of your class. Even when he has no experience with that topic, they share it.

We are waiting for our turn to lead the discussion. The women, the young, and the members of other ethnic groups. We are even waiting for our turn to share what we think.

But you won't allow it. It's not like we do not want to hear your opinion. We do. We just want opportunity for you and others to hear our own.