Uncouth PerspectivesNot on the rug, man.

I have something to say, but I struggle in getting it out.

The world… I know it could be better.

The world… I know it IS better–why do people hate it so much?

Or, do they not hate the world, but instead hate themselves?

Fetid Self-Abnegation. Funny. I wrote a poem with that title. How fitting.

There is this center of hope in me. Hope that people can be happy. Hope that we don’t need to live this bullshit that we are living.

However, I think I’m one of the few who has this hope. Robots march around me calling themselves people. Robots who mechanically destroy everything human about themselves and those around them.

Robots who take the reality out of the world. Robots who are destroying the world.

I live with a smile on my face and reality in my heart. Fantasy is not an escape. Imagination is not surrender. My fantasy is my reality.

Is yours?

This is the world we live in. A world of individuals. A world of unique perceptions that can enhance everyone’s life.

A world of blind hypocrisy. A world of ignorance. A world of conformity disguised as individualism. A world of hate.

There is so much every person has to offer, and yet no one cares. They say they care, oh yeah, until of course your hair is not the right “style.” Or you have the “wrong” God. Or you just try to be happy.

I am done with it. I am so far beyond disgusted. I did a rant a couple days ago about judging. And funny, that topic comes back up.

I am a retail manager. I hate it more and more with each passing day. Because of the way people treat you. I am a customer service guru–I am the master! You know why? Because when I deal with people, I treat them just like that–people. And I get people what they need, not the highest priced item. I go out of my way to do little things, because the little things count.

And what do I get in return for it the majority of the time? Treated like shit. People treat me like I’m an uneducated drop out jocking a register. In my rant yesterday, I talked about how I treat people like people when I go places. It’s really not that hard, you know. After all, we are all people.

And none of this “treat people like you want to be treated” crap. That is part of the problem right now. People treat other people like crap because they want to be treated like crap.

The assignment was to change the world in two hours. After we did this, we got back together and talked about it as a group. The results were fairly interesting. Everything from putting balloons with 1984-esque sayings (“Big Brother is watching you.” “Look behind you!” etc.) to two people setting up the beginning of a conflict-management program for kids in grades 6-8 through an Improv class forum.

In our discussions, something became very obvious. The majority of the groups (or pairs, rather) did things “for other people.” They did “selfless” random acts of niceness. One pair went into a super market and just said “Hi” to people. Another pair handed out flowers.

I am not saying these are not nice things to do, nor am I saying not to do them. My problem is the altruistic (selfless) view of the acts. I’m going to try to best recount one of the conversations about it:

Pair: “It was great to see these people smile–that we showed that someone cared.”

Teacher: “Yeah, it is really amazing to see people smile.”

Pair: “Some of these people literally beamed. To think of how great it was to be nice and not be thinking of the self. It was amazing and felt wonderful.”

I’ve got two big problems with this conversation. First, any random act of kindness does not show you care. Or rather, it does not show you care about that person. You do not know them, you do not know who they are, if THEY are a good person, etc. It shows that you feel a deep kinship with humanity and perhaps have a little bit of self worth and want to show other people that they are okay for just living. Humanity, at best, forgets how great living is and, at worst, damns it. And that is sad. But, going up and giving a stranger a flower with a smile does not show you care about them, it shows you care about humanity. And, what is being said in this conversation is, “People like to know about care about them.” I think if people let themselves open up a little more, and perhaps really look at what is going on, they will see that people do care about them.

Also, how can you call it a selfless act and follow it with “it felt great.” You got something out of it! This assumption that if an act is self-centered it is bad is ridiculous! It feels great to make someone smile! I love to make people smile! Does that make me a bad person? No. Do I do it just to see the person smile. You bet. The smile makes me feel good. To see someone happy, and to know that I had a part in it, is wonderful! To call it altruistic is to damn it–to cheapen the experience. And, anyone who says a similar statement, is also cheapening themselves. There is a difference in doing something to look good (“Oh, look at what a nice person I am, I’m so loving and caring!”) and to do something to make someone happy. I do things to make people happy because it makes me happy. I do not do something to just make myself “look better,” I’m going to do doing something to actually make me better. It is all about happiness–except happiness for ALL of us.

And some of these conversations have been surprisingly disturbing. I have definitely discovered one thing, however. My definition of judgement is much different than most of the people whom I talk to and with. And so, I would like to clarify, if not just for myself, what I mean when I say judgement–and perhaps how I feel people should judge.

What I have found in the past week is that most people do not like to think they “judge” other people and strive to do their best actually not do this. When I first heard this, I fought the idea, as you will see why. The general consensus seems to be that you should not judge someone, because this is “bad.” Allow me to quote a well known authority on judging, God. In this case, specifically Jesus Christ:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Mathew 7:1-5

So, now I begin to understand a little about what people are trying to say. What right do you have to judge someone else if you have problems of your own.

Allow me to retort.

Let us start with a definition:

judgement n. 1. The ability to make a decision or form an opinion. 2. An authoritative opinion. 3. An estimate. 4. A decision reached after consideration.

When I talk about judgement, I am referring to moral judgement that comes from an informed decision based on reason. When a lot of people discuss judgement, they refer to snap, biased judgements. They claim and yell and scream that this is terrible and horrible and then they turn around and do it. I do not place these judgements myself and I would not indulge in the idea that this how people should be judged. However, we, as conceptual beings, have not only the ability, but the need to judge each other. Because you may have a “plank in your eye” does not prevent you from helping someone get their speck out. In fact, it may even help you find your own speck (yup, no planks allowed). My firm belief is that we can help each other grow and help each other learn by talking, discussing, debating, and judging each other.

I do not condemn any person. I do not hold a biased, snap judgement. I do however stand up for what I believe in and help show people things I see as wrong or “opportunities to improve.” And, a lot of times, this helps me soul search into myself and figure out if what I do is right or wrong.

I am not saying this is easy and I am not saying that it is always well received–but it is part of the way we learn and grow together.

Them’s fightin’ words!

There are some strong statements being made here, and I think they deserve some attention. For better or worse, here I go.

First, political reasons for gun control. It is sick to me that “politicians” would use something like this to hop into an office, but I would say I might have to agree. Politicians are using issues like gun control (abortion, drugs, “hot” topics, etc.) to try and bully their way into office. Why do we allow this? It actually greatly upsets me that everyone complains about “how bad politicians are” but never do anything. Hey, buddy, the vote is in your hand. Are you willing to use it?

Anyways, so we have established that, yeah, some politicians will use this. However, this is not all the pro-gun control activists. In fact, I doubt I would say these is the majority. These are just the ones we hear more about. I think before we go prancing about and pointing fingers, we should look at all the arguments and the people making the arguments.

As far as anti-gun control, I’ll go with what was said as the majority argument is normally about the infringement on constitutional rights. In fact, the rant basically says this. However, I have to completely disagree. And so does the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court. Allow me to provide details.

The second amendment reads:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the rights of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

This amendment is talking about the National Guard and the people who manned it. You have to keep in mind while reading this that the Militia’s of the day were people who came together, often times bringing their own weapons to the groups. If they could not bear arms, they would have none to contribute.

As far as the Supreme Court ruling’s go, investigate these cases:

United States v. Cruikshank

Pressner v. Illinois

Miller v. Texas

U.S. v. Miller

Lewis v. United States

Quilici v. The Village of Morton Grove

Farmer v. Higgins

This does not say whether or not we should have this right–what this is saying, however, invalidates the arguments presented by those who would use it, including this rant. By having gun control, it will not “be the downfall of the American constitution as we know it.” Because the wording of the amendment and the rulings of the Supreme Court do not support this.

Is gun control a worthy cause?

To some extent. But I think this bigger issue at hand here is not “the right to bear arms.” It is the unwritten law that in America it is okay to murder someone. This is, whether or not you want to admit it, an unwritten law. How many murders happen in a single day? How many attempted? How many people are actually “punished” for what they did? And why are we bothering punishing–we put someone in a cell and maybe even let them go after a period of time. What we need to do is focus on the problem. Self worth. Real education. Happiness.

Oh, and Nazi Germany will not come from gun control. But it will come from the people, if we allow it.

Some interesting sites:

http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm

http://www.sportingsolutions.com/thesecond.html

http://www.speakout.com/Activism/guncontrol/

Before I talk about anything else, I want to talk about the nature of drugs and this misrepresentations I found in this rant and in many arguments presented:

“They can make the real world more appealing and let you see the beauty of the little things that are overlooked or are taken for granted most of the time. That is not being in a fantasy world, THAT is being in the real world and appreciating it.”

“If you spend hours basking in the glow of complete contentment despite your current situation is it a fake feeling of happiness just because a drug helps create it? How can they be a waste of time if they make you happy?”

These are two of the statements that really stood out to me. First, let’s look at “making the real world more appealing” and “fantasy world” and the like. Drugs do not help you see the real world. They do not put you in the “real world.” They are an escape, pure and simple. I would, perhaps, concede to the argument that some drug use would quiet down the disruptive noise in someone’s addled brain long enough to allow them to see and hear things for once–it’s a shame that they see through a skewed filter and could not learn to see and hear in the first place.

And that is what this is really about–do we, as a society, teach our children and our people to need to rely on other things to “see the world,” other things that will not let you really see what is going on. Drugs skew your perceptions and your reason. These are the tools you have to interpret and define reality. When they are skewed, you are living in a fantasy world. What is more beautiful? Sitting in a dark closet “opening up to the universe” or the feeling after a long warm shower/bath? What is better, laughing like an idiot at every little thing (but, this allows the humor in the world to be brought out… perhaps you should have been able to look at it with humor at first) or the smell of your partner as you snuggle with them? What is better, blurry tunnel vision and your stumble looking for a toilet or the wonderful feeling after you defecate? There are some very wonderful things in the world that people take for granted. There are some wonderful things people miss. Drugs do not help you see them–drugs help you find empty things to replace them.

And that brings us to happiness.

DRUGS DO NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY.

No deal, here. Happiness is not a state of perception or a state of mind. It’s a state of being. There are highs and lows, up and downs, and everything in betweem–but if you are happy, you are always happy, no matter what is going on. Drugs do not allow you to love yourself or to love others. Drugs do not allow you to have pride in your work or actually accomplish something. Drugs do not give you beliefs and values and stand up for them. Only YOU do that, and only YOU can make yourself happy. Drugs are an externalization for happiness. Just as people externalize through religion, god, etc… other people choose to externalize through drugs and debauchery. None of it will make you happy. And none of it will really matter if you are happy.

I do not really have the time to get into anything I want to, but let me end on this. For those who say I am being to harsh, that people cannot just “be” happy, that drugs can help people:

You can sit and wallow in the problem and your own misery. Me, I am going to be out looking for a solution and being happy. People may not be able to up and resolve these issues, but it is damn well worth trying.

I live in Southern California. It’s hot right now. Not blazing hot, not extremely hot, but not mild either.

I come home this evening to a blazing hot house. I think to myself the the roommates must have left the windows closed. Joy. I walk over to my computer, turn it on, and start with the News articles like I always do.

More rolling blackouts in California.

“It’s hooooooot..” the people whine. I need my air conditioner!

Perhaps a swift kick in the ass would be more like it? My apartment has an air conditioner. Guess what, if you open the windows in the apartment in the morning, the air does the work for you. You don’t have to “condition” it. And that is rather bothersome, since I still have to walk home to a hot house and a potential black out situation, because many, many people do not get this. Yeah, air conditioning is nice. So is seeing at night and having cold, unspoiled food. First, in California, we.. uhm.. ARE in a power crisis. Not like this is new stuff, kids. Also, why waste the energy if you can open a couple of windows?! It’s very refreshing, and perhaps even free. Maybe not for long, though.

I know this is sort of slopped together, but I hope I’m making some sort of point. It’s hot, deal with it. And I don’t mean deal with it as in:

Deal with it — You’re out of luck. Sweat and DIE!

or

Deal with it — Please turn on your air conditioner so the rest of the power can be turned off in the state.

I mean:

USE YOUR MIND. Use some reason. Perhaps think about everything before switching on that air conditioner. Or don’t complain about how hot it is, without opening the windows first.

It only takes a little effort sometime to be happy–be grateful when it is as easy as opening the window and take the opportunity to do it whenever you can.

We were mainly shopping for me, but we did a little for her. She wanted to look in the “juniors” section, because she can wear a lot of that stuff. I decided I was curious as to what “juniors” women clothing was like these days, as I’m not very up to speed with fashion.

I have to say, to an extent, I am disgusted.

As a disclaimer to the rest of this… I believe in the beauty of the human body, and I think that people spend way to much time hiding behind Victorian ideas of sexuality and sensuality in America. We pretend like breasts and genitals are something “forbidden” and something “special.” Well, yeah, they are special, but they are special because we are all human and we are special. Not because they are sexual.

Now, with that said.

Some of the things I saw amazed me. First and foremost, the prominent ad campaign Sears was “Dare to Bare” … Dare to bare what?! What are we trying to say here? Some of the pictures of young girls, and what they were wearing, and some of the actual clothes (if, some of them could be called that) blew my mind.

The reason is bothers me so much, is that what this is saying is “To be cool, to get any self worth, it’s all about your body.” Well, uhm, NO! I think not. Especially in a manner that is supposed to be “sexy” at least and “slutty” at worst. And it is sad that showing off your body is “slutty,” though with young girls it is nothing but sick. At that age, people should not be worried about what clothing they are wearing (or how well that clothing shows off their body), but they should be searching for their identity and find self worth.

You are you, not your clothes.

Or lack there of.

Something big, something important, perhaps something even worth reading?

Perhaps that is just me. Let’s look at the newspaper here and see what we have.

Hmm. Orange County Register. May 5th, 2001.

Top story:

“Tree Hurts 27 at Disneyland”

Yup, I am apparently one of the few who wants some real news.

I really wish I understood this. The front page story, one that takes up about 45% of the entire front page is on–a tree falling? Okay, some people got hurt (no deaths!). Okay, it was at Disneyland. But, what is going on here? I would bet that there are more worthwhile stories than this, even if they are “scrounging” for news.

I would like to be able to open the paper and get some real news. I would like to turn on the TV and see something worthwhile.

Perhaps, I am just asking too much.

Please, forgive me?

Allow me, however, to let you in on something interesting. As the frequent readers may know, I am a big fan of the Weekly World News. For those of you who are familiar with this publication, it is a weekly tabloid that reflects on the absurd news stories across the World, including some “amazing” stories (we will not call them “probably highly fabricated” so we don’t get sued) that provide anyone reading, with a grain of salt, with endless hours of hilarity.

The other week, I picked up an issue and saw “Bat Boy, The Musical!” Now, again for those familiar with this publication, the “Bat Boy” story is a very popular one (in fact, probably one of their most famous), but I stopped and thought. A Musical?! Naaaah…

Well, guess what I saw today. The website for the musical.

You tell me.

http://www.batboy-themusical.com