The Perpetual Digression

Somebody once asked me if I believed in evolution or creation. My response was a chuckle.

From the time I was little, I was fascinated with the world around me: how people respond to hardship, the way in which some use religion to justify their behavior, and--perhaps most importantly--who was right.

Coming from a largely secular family, these questions were ones that I kept to myself in fear of chauvinistic responses; because I spent much of my childhood with my grandpa, my perspective of the world was shaped at a susceptible age to emanate that of a liberal. Since I was little, I vehemently questioned the mindset of conservatives and eventually became irascible when someone would disagree with my view on politics. Yes, I abandoned Hot Wheels at the young age of 11 to deliberate something from which some adults even abstain.

Growing up, I tried to take the world around me from an objective position. My family returned to the Catholic church and--almost immediately--I began to appreciate the world from a different angle. Unbelieveably, I still remained pro-choice--yes, going to church did augment my belief that the views of liberals were "right"--and believed in welfare, restrictions on guns, and the separation of church and state. 

While some conservatives believed that America should be run on Christian values, I questioned the fact that they simulatenously resented Middle Eastern countries for adopting a theocracy: basing their government on the morals of the Islamic religion. I couldn't fathom the hypocrisy.

It was sickening to me that conservatives refuted the morality of welfare and even considered it profuse. I've heard it many times, but I will grudgingly repeat it: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." That's very cute, but extremely idealistic. While social mobility is promised in America, people like us don't understand that some poor folks absolutely cannot conquer their situation. 

Is that their fault?  No. The conditions under which some are oppressed simply do not allow for mobility on the socioeconomic ladder. Yet, some religious conservatives exhort that they deserve no help. How Christian. 

Then, there's the old adage: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."

Don't people kill people with guns, though?

I completely abandoned my aforementioned Catholic perspective, however, when a Catholic friend ridiculed my refutaiton of creationism. When I was asked whether I believe in evolution or creation, I said neither.

That was my response not only to this friend, but to the world. A world that exposes us to the undeniable facts of science and juxtaposes them every Sunday with the promise of salvation and faith with the simple acceptance of creation. My response was the rebellion to conform to these two contrasting concepts--ideas. 

I'm a liberal who believes in a God that embraces the good in people and the salvation of the world beyond life. My god is not concerned with the mundane convictions of humans that digress the true accomplishment of religion: to be able to love one another and yourself and achieve peace. 

If I Had A Dollar For Every Time They Stared, I'd Be A Millionaire

       "Show me your wrists." To the majority of you, this is a simple statement. It's something you've probably said before to one of your class mates, whether it was said in a joking manner or not. I've heard this many times. Directed toward me by a stranger, looking only spite me and get a good laugh out of my discomfort. But it's not funny. 
      Now, my post has nothing to do with self harm. But I would like to add before I start that it's not a laughing matter; people really do struggle with cutting and it's not funny. It's not something to joke about.
      I am a happy person. I am content about where I stand in life. I have a few good friends, a family that loves me, and education. But, I am different. I don't listen to the same music as most people. I don't wear clothes that are "the latest trends or styles." And my makeup is almost always slightly darker than the "pretty girls."
      But here are a few things that I do do.
      I laugh. I hang out with friends. I breathe. I strive to do my best. I need my mommy sometimes. I cry over boys. I sleep. I eat. I smile. I yearn for knowledge. I learn. I have emotions. Just like everyone else in this world.
      I have hardships in my life, but don't we all? I know each and every one of us do. I am not going to go into my problems because that's not what my post is about either. 
      I deal with my problems in a positive way. I draw and write and I am also into photography. Music has also had a huge impact on my life. I am just like any other teenager, learning, awkward, and growing as a human being.
      But just because I'm different, people try and label me. I'm stereotyped as "emo." And in today's society, this is a derogatory term for people who use self mutilation as an escape and listen to demonic music. When in reality, Emo is just short for emotional. But to tell you all the truth, I don't cut myself.
      For those of you who have gotten to know me, I am a happy person. I'm blunt and honest. I'm outgoing and I'm there for anyone who needs me, no matter what.
      Then, why? Why do people call me this? 
      Because I look a certain way and listen to a different kind of music. That's why. Because of the way I look.      It sickens me that people have to label each other. We're all human beings. We all try to succeed. We all have emotions.
      In fact, Stereotypes in general sicken me. If you play a sport, does that make you a jock? If you wear a skirt, does that make you a whore? If you excel in academics, does that make you a nerd? The answer to all of these questions is no.
      And that's common sense... Isn't it?
      See, that's the thing. Everyone wants that sense of belonging. Humans need that feeling. And yet, everyday, we label people and we hurt them, to the point where they're afraid to be themselves. And all of us have felt this way.
     Humans "need" to have a sense of order. Organization. Social class. A caste system. So, we classify other human beings, our peers and ourselves, into this system.
     Jocks.
     Preps.
     Nerds.
     Skaters.
     Goths.
     Stoners.
     These are just a few, and sadly there are many more. And I bet as you read each of those words, a stereotype of that group of people popped up into your head, and you were able to visualize this person with knowing nothing of them but their label.
     Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I am so tired of being labeled and categorized. And I know I'm not the only person who feels this way.
     I am not a cereal box - don't label me.


     

Being Accepted

In high school, most people have troubles with being accepted. People of all different backgrounds are thrown into one school and expected to fend for themselves. Kids are kids and they are trying to find themselves and be who they want to be but being in an unaccepting school can cause these kids to hide and not share with other people who they are.

I have been dealing with being bullied all of my life because I am a male cheerleader. And apparently, to the stereotypical kids, being a male cheerleader automatically makes you gay. And what people don’t understand is WHO CARES!? How does any of my business have anything to do with anyone else’s high school experience? It doesn’t, so obviously kids just say things to have power over someone else because it makes them feel better about themselves.

So, in your comment, I would like you to tell me your theories of kids and bullies. Why do you think they do it? Are the jealous? Or are they just mean people? And I would also like you to share a personal experience or two about being bullied or being not accepted in school. We are in this class that is the most accepting group of kids in the whole school. So I want these comments to be positive and conversational between us students. Everyone deserves a place to feel good about themselves. If you do not feel comfortable sharing personal stories, DO NOT SHARE. I only want you to share if you feel comfortable!:)

Author: Nathan Allen