Life is a highway...and I'm driving away on it.

Hey..I haven't been blogging FOREVER, but, for those how read what I have to say, I thought I'd let you know I'm starting to blog again! Mostly on Tumblr.com now (http://sillysillaface.tumblr.com/). I've decided the reason this haven't been working out is because I need to bring these issues home, I NEED to speak from the heart. So, my latest blog still have posts about change (in fact better ones than these because I have spent 2009-2010 educating myself and working on me and my understanding of things), but it will also include personal thoughts and what now..Like how I'm feeling about moving across the country and what now. I am going to visit Arizona next school year, so I will be posting about that too when it happens. Sooo..if you still want to read my thoughts and what not..go to http://sillysillaface.tumblr.com/, the blog is called: Watching Across the Universe

Thinking out loud

So, here I am, sitting in Latin class, just taking in the room (because there's no way I'm ever going to fully pay attention today) and all I can think is, "WTF?" Everyday I go school to listen to the same people bicker, degrade and simply disrespect themselves and others, for what? This might sound strange, but I don't swear; I don't see the point in doing it, it sounds dumb, most deagratory word are female and male body parts or something people actually are and simply saying the word (wheather it's directed towards someone or not) it degrades and disrespeact me and allows others to do so. Also, if I don't use the language, then others can't use it around or against me, because I've already made it clear that I just don't and won't do that. Now, my closer friends once in a while will let a word or two slip in my presence ( like "retard", "bitch" or "gay") and they'll turn around and tell me that they're sorry for saying that. But it's not to me they should be apologizing to, because it isn't really me they have offended, they should be apologizing to the child dignosed with mental retardation, women, and those declared as queer (because gay is so oftently used out of context and wrong, I reffer to gay by their other alais, queer).
I hate school mostly because of that, my generation is opening a portal of destruction for the next; and school are doing nothing to prevent or stop it which makes them just as wrong and guilty. Next period I have physics, which is taught by a man who uses said language (and make refferences/suggestive comment for word he could be reported for;and he does so very frequently). He may have been a rocket scientist once, but he still very ignorant. And, people dare to wonder why every two minutes someone is the U.S. a woman is raped!?! Oh course, some say "It don't consern me" or "It doesn't concern me", well, there is oh so many women in the U.S., one day it could be your mother, your sister, your girlfriend and even you. But none of what I just wrote matters, does it? I'm just one person thinking out loud, what are the chances that others might feel this way too.....

Freedom of Speech/Press is only acceptable as long as it’s not heard

Have you heard about the case where this teenage girl from Burlington High (CT), Avery Doninger posted on her LiveJournal that her schools “Jamfest was canceled due to the douchebags in central office” and the school denied her being the class secretary and speaking at her graduation? Well, it was in the Advocate recently! The court apparently sided with the school, saying that it was like “she shouted ‘douchebag’ in a crowed theater.”(Hartford Advocate, 5/5/08 pg7) However, I find this be just another limitation of freedom of press and speech. I bet if I went to a theater and yelled out “DOUCHEBAG” at the top of my lungs people would just ignore me and keep walking or look at me like I'm some sort of idiot, and nothing would happen. Besides that, LiveJournal is a bloging spot where it’s shared with friends. The court said that her “blog post ‘created a foreseeable risk of substantial disruption’” (Hartford Advocate). What disruption? SO a teen called central office douchebags, I do believe that she’s allowed to vent, and I bet she’s not the first or last person to call them that. I suppose if I agree with her statement I might receive the same treatment? Fat chance. This also has a ring of ageism to it too. However somehow, I think I’ve stirred off course.

Ah, yes, Freedom of Speech and Press. The “Freedom” we supposedly have, that is only if it’s not heard. Avery in only one of quite a few great examples where the law has limited this “right” (if we can call it that a “right” anymore), and I think we, the people, should do something about it. American is supposed to be run by the people, so why not run our country? NO one ever got into the history books by behaving and I don’t recall the world ever changing with a smile, which came to think of it, the world has come to be change by many frowns and tears (and arrests). I think something does have to be done, limiting freedom of speech and press goes not only against the first amendment, but also against why the USA was created. The whole point of America was to be free and say what we wanted how we wanted, so why are we regressing from it? It makes no sense to me. Although I’d love to write a whole essay on this subject, I think I’m going to let it stop (temporarily) here. I think I’m gonna do some more research on it, then post it here. But until I report back on “Freedom of Speech/Press is only acceptable as long as it’s not heard”, I’ll leave you with some food for thought, if every time someone speaks their mind freely (weather appropriate or not) they are prosecuted for it, what type of future does that lead to? How would you deal with not being able to express yourself freely? And where would be the “Freedom”?

Weapon of Degrading: Music

Ever heard that Lil Wayne song, Lollipop? Yea, I only heard it recently and honestly, at first I listened to the beat – it was cool. Then I paid attention to the lyrics – NOT COOL. I’m more of a rockish, oldie music person myself, and after songs like that, it’s gonna stay that way. The song is SO degrading to women, and yet they dance and sing along to it? It’s disgusting. Have you read the lyrics? No, then let me show you some.

[Verse 2: Lil Wayne] Okay After you back it up Then stop Drop It shawty Drop It Drop it like its hot Drop it like its hot Do do do it shawty Don't stop Shawty said the nigga that she with Ain't shit Shawty said the nigga that she with Ain't this Shawty said the nigga that she with Can't hit But shawty Imma hit it, hit it, Like I can't miss And He can't do this And He don't do that Shawty need a refund Needa bring that nigga back Just like a refund I make her bring that ass back And she bring that ass back Because I Like That
So, women are supposed to be shallow, and do whatever a man asks according to this verse. First off, she’s just gonna go and cheat on her boyfriend, then say she’s gonna dump him because he mean’s nothing to her – wonderful image of women right there. Then it goes on to him acting like he’s the Mac daddy and has her doing what he wants.

[Verse 3: Lil Wayne] I get her on top She drop it like it's hot And when I'm at the bottom She Hilary Rodham Middle of the Bed Give and gettin' head Give and gettin' head Give and gettin' head I said hmmmm I like that Say hmmmm yea I like that I said hmmmm yea I like that hmmhmmm Call me So I can come and do it for you Call me So I can come and prove it for you Call me So I can make it juicy for you Call me So I can get it juicy for you

This here is just ridiculous. First off, disreaspecting the first woman president candidate (weather you like her or not, she’ll still the first woman candidate, have to give her props for that). So, according to Lil Wayne, the only way women get ahead is by putting out – great, try explaining that to your daughter or sister. This are only a few lyrics to the song, try looking up the whole song. Next time you listen to a song, try paying attention to the lyrics and think about your daughter(s), sister(s), and mother(s) (and if you’re a woman, yourself). DO you really think about them (or yourself) like that? If not, are you going to continue to listen and promote this? The only way to change this is to stand up and do something. When you’re out with friends and this song, or any song that degrades anybody come on the radio, tell them to turn it off or at least turn it down. Yea, your friends, maybe even family are probably going to may fun of you the first or second time, but if you keep consistently reminding them, explaining the lyrics and challenging their view of the song(s) eventually they’ll stop. You can always ask them not to play that music around you too, instead of telling them to stop listening to it altogether. Change doesn’t come over night, but it has to start somewhere. Be apart of the solution, not the problem. Besides, there is music that promotes change and empowerment; all you have to do is find it. Best of luck.