Why Am I So Bad At Writing and Posting More Often?! (Part Two)

As you could probably have inferred from the title of my last post, I have decided to question and explain my lack of consistency in multiple posts over a period of time. I don't yet know how long that period of time will be. I also do not yet know what posts will be like once I am finished with these posts.

In my last post I mentioned how the burden of writing and posting would fall upon my shoulders. I have been thinking a bit about the wording of this. Upon thought, perhaps it's my categorizing writing as a burden to bear that has made me reluctant to write and post. I have had a sort of rough/ complicated relationship with English class and writing for a while. Through my experiences of writing in school, I have come to subconsciously see writing as an unappealing task that I was just required to do. However, as I have become more educated and my writing skills have improved, I have begun to work on getting rid of this attitude. I still have issues, the greatest of which being my insecurities over my writing ability. I know that I am able to write well. That much should have been made obvious by my ability to succeed in writing intensive courses and because of the praise that I have received from my professors and peers. But I cannot help but doubt myself because I want every word that I say and write to mean something. I want to be insightful and illuminating. To hear that my writing or something that I have said has had a positive impact on the world around me would be amazing. It is that desire to be meaningful, though, that holds me back. The precision with which I attempt to use makes me hypercritical of the translation of the thoughts in my head to words that others can hear or read. My quest for perfection stops me from writing because if I can't translate my thoughts exactly why bother try to translate them at all?

Another reason why I have not been writing and posting has to do with the very nature of this blog. I chose the title "Stand Up and Speak Out" for a reason. I wanted to create and have a space where I would be free to state my opinions on politics, culture, and other controversial issues. However, I hadn't felt that sharing my voice and experiences with the world would make any sort of difference. Looking back, I see the error in that. As the world we live in changes we are given more reasons to share our narratives. This seems to be especially true now, what with the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. The more I think about it the more I realize that I must speak now while I can. To at least try to make some sort of impact, even if it's just on one person.

I cannot afford to remain seated and silent.

Why Am I So Bad At Writing and Posting More Often?! (Part One)

Here I am once again writing about how it has been too long since I last wrote anything on this blog. I must admit that I have a bad habit of not visiting or posting on any account of mine. This is, of course, with the exception of my personal Facebook account. Either way, I don't write or post nearly as often as I would like.

It's not like I don't have a valid excuse. I am a full time college sophomore who holds a position of leadership in sorority. I am double majoring in Zoo and Conservation Science and Biology AND have a minor in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. I have devoted many hours to my studies and to the people who I now call my family. In my first year at college I took more than the expected number of credit hours (38 total) and went on a 3000 (junior level) travel course to London and Amsterdam for my WGSS minor. This year, although I am taking only 15 credit hours this fall semester, I have taken on the role of service chair for my sorority and volunteering/ working a four hour shift once a week at a wildlife rehabilitation and education center for my zoo major. Next semester I will be taking 18.5 credit hours of classes and will be going on another May travel course to South Africa for my zoo major.

Looking at my schedule, it would make sense that I wouldn't have time to write or post. As a wise woman once said, "Ain't nobody got time for that". But I feel that using my busy schedule as an excuse isn't acceptable because 1) I was able to put aside time for the rigorous new member education required to join my sorority and 2) this doesn't take into account the breaks from school that I had. Instead, the burden of trying (and probably failing) at running a semi-coherent falls on my shoulders alone.

But, like I've said before, I will now try my best to hold myself more accountable when it comes to writing and posting.

What is Tolerance?

With today being Thanksgiving in the United States of America, many families are going to be gathering together to celebrate and eat. And when families are gathered it's almost guaranteed that there are going to be a difference in opinions about some hot button topics. This year those topics will probably include ISIS and other forms of terrorism, the Syrian refugees, the presence of racism and bigotry towards the LGBTQIA+ community, and maybe even a little bit about the debate over abortion. To say there is the potential to be awkward and uncomfortable is probably an understatement. But with it being what it is, I've been thinking about what it truly means to be tolerant.

This discussion over tolerance can be a difficult one to have. People on the right side of the spectrum complain about people becoming too "politically correct" and that the first amendment right of freedom of speech will go away. On the other hand people on the left complain that the world isn't tolerant enough. The problem with both sides is that they both exhibit habits of intolerance. Conservatives on the right believe the civil rights movements of now are encroaching on their religious freedom and are intolerant to people who don't have the same belief systems that they have. However, liberals on the left are the exact same way, except their intolerance is towards people who they deem to be intolerant and bigoted. At the present moment, it's hard to decide which side is worst. But I feel like the underlying problem of it all is in how both sides define tolerance.

To some tolerance is found in a person's actions or beliefs, or tolerance could just be the lack of discrimination. But I believe neither of these definitions can be applied to the idea of tolerance. I feel this way because I believe that tolerance is not an idea but is actually a way of living. True tolerance is the choice to learn more about people who are not like yourself. This is the case because it is impossible to be tolerant of all people and all beliefs. Everyone is born into and raised in a world that is full of prejudices. Even the most "politically correct" people could be intolerant. And I'll admit that I am also intolerant. Tolerance isn't easy. Throughout my life I have been intolerant towards multiple groups of people whether I was aware of it or not. However, what sets me apart from others is that I have learned more about what I am intolerant of. Through this gaining of knowledge I have realized my mistakes and am more aware of what I do. And although I do make mistakes and have other intolerances, my awareness of these intolerances helps me to become a more tolerant person. 

But if I'm going to be completely honest, tolerance and awareness is not enough. What society really needs is acceptance. Because just because someone is tolerant or aware doesn't mean they like what they are tolerant of aware of. What we need, in my opinion, is acceptance because nothing is going to truly change for the better without it.

Tragedy in Paris

The attacks and acts of terrorism that occurred in Paris last week are a true tragedy to the people of France and the world. However, I want to make opinion on one thing clear. I believe that to point fingers and place blame on Islam is incredibly ignorant. I feel this is especially true of people who pick out parts of Islamic texts that depict violence. When I hear and read these comments of Islam being a violent religion I cannot help but wonder if they if they have read the entirety of the texts that they take their quotes from. Or even if they have read the entirety of Jewish or Christian religious texts. Most people refuse to acknowledge the multiple depictions of violence of violence in the Bible or the Torah. In addition to this they are blind to the true meaning of the texts they are quoting. The passages that call for the killing of "heretics" are not referring to the killing of Jews or Christians. The "heretics" that are mentioned are people who pray to and practice religions of multiple gods or goddesses.

I also wonder if these people have taken or retained any information from any world history class. Historically, more violence has been committed in the name of Christianity than in the name of Islam. A key example of this are the Crusades of Europe. During this period of time, Christians from Europe went to the Middle East in order to reclaim the Holy Land as theirs. It was during this that Christians killed and displaced many people regardless of whether they were Muslim or not. I also have yet to learn of a period in history when people were forced into converting to Islam through the use of violence or persecute a group of people based on their faith. And, from what I have learned, Islamic rule was mostly peaceful.

Lastly, terrorist groups like ISIS, Al Quaeda, and Boko Haram, who claim to be Islamic, are not truly Islamic! They, like those making comments against Islam, pick and choose which pieces of Islamic religious texts that they want to follow. And these passages are chosen because they are the passages that best serve their own interests. They do not practice Islam in the way it is meant to be practiced. It's for this reason that they are not an accurate representation of the entire Islamic community. Islam is a religion of peace and acceptance, and anyone who says otherwise is severely wrong. Think of it this way. No one judges the entirety of Christianity based on the actions of the KKK. For many this would seem ridiculous because the KKK make up a small percentage of all Christians. If this is the case, why shouldn't the same logic be applied to these terrorist groups and Islam?

So, in response to this tragic event, I choose to stand in solidarity with the victims of this violence and their families. But I also stand in solidarity with those who are being falsely accused of violence and terrorism because of their faith.

The News and Its Biases

When taking to adults/ teachers/ people with more life experience than I do about college life, I keep on getting told how important it is to pay attention to what is on the news. I take this advice very seriously because I've recently developed an interest in politics, and the political atmosphere is almost constantly changing. These changes vary from shifts in the economy to speeches made by major political figures, and many other things. And I've found that the best way to keep up to date on everything that is happening is to try to keep track of the news.

But one thing I've found is that it can be difficult to find a truly object news source. Almost all news sites and sources are biased in one way or another. I find this to be particularly difficult because I believe in the importance of telling the truth. For me, the truth is a holy thing and being honest is like praying. It's because of this that I tend to be picky with my news sources, and to be honest, I have yet to find a single or even a group of news sources that I truly trust. But for now, I've decided that the best thing a news site can do is let their audience know what their biases are.

While this site is not a news site (I am by no means a journalist, be it an accredited journalist or not), I feel that it is only fair that I admit my own biases and define what this site is. This site is a place that I am going to put my opinions. I do not plan on doing many projects/ posts like I did with the topic of solitary confinement. That, however, does not mean I will not do my best to make any facts I provide are true. But anything that cannot be found to be a fact will most likely be an opinion or personal experience of mine. Additionally, in terms of where I am on the political liberal vs conservative spectrum, I have a major tendency to lean towards the liberal side. I identify as a liberal person, though I am not particularly extreme in my views and ideals. 

So.... I just thought that this is something you should know about me. If this is something you can't deal with, then that's your choice.

Living In Solitude (Audio)

http://www.driveplayer.com/#playlistId=0B-JLHz-WLBwpNnIxTzNwTDN3SjA&userId=101209130628504435844

Works Cited for "Living in Solitude"

Bond, Michael. "Does Solitary Confinement Breach the Eighth Amendment?" - Health. 29 June 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21992-does-solitary-confinement-breach-the-eighth-amendment.html#.VIfrOPnF-gZ>.

"Fact Sheet: Solitary Confinement News from a Nation in Lockdown and the Law." Solitary Watch. 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://solitarywatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fact-sheet-solitary-confinement-and-the-law.pdf>.

"Speak Outs - Is Solitary Confinement Constitutional?" Annenberg Classroom. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/speakout/is-solitary-confinement-constitutional>.

"The Dangerous Overuse of Solitary Confinement in the United States." American Civil Liberties Union. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <https://www.aclu.org/dangerous-overuse-solitary-confinement-united-states>.

"Torture: The Use of Solitary Confinement in U.S. Prisons." Center for Constitution RSS. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://ccrjustice.org/solitary-factsheet>.

"Torture: The Use of Solitary Confinement in U.S. Prisons." Centerforconstitutionalright. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://ccrjustice.org/files/CCR-Factsheet-Solitary-Confinement.pdf>.