Conveniently Lazy

"So much attention is paid to the aggressive sins, such as violence and cruelty and greed with all their tragic effects, that too little attention is paid to the passive sins, such as apathy and laziness, which in the long run can have a more devastating effect."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Thus far, I've been in college for four months, and academically the demands have not been so high where I'm overwhelmed all the time. But then again I am just starting out. However I recently had to turn in a portfolio for my English class each paper had to be the standard 4-6 pages, and the final fourth paper had to be 6-8. Not so bad, right? No, not at all...minus the fact that I had to write on topics that are less then desirable. Even though only four papers were asked of me, the topics showed themselves to be difficult.

I had to write on the following things:
Narcissism
Power of Context
Intensive Farming
Processed foods.

After doing some extensive research online and only finding sources that were less then credible, I gave up on the forces that are the Internet and went to the library. In about half the time I found books upon books that helped me build a strong argument for each paper. That's when I realized the convenience of the Internet was, and still does make me and the rest of my generation continuously lazy. For each topic I thought the solution would be to just go to google and call it a day. I mean we've made it the answer to every problem..."just google it" we say. Except the only problem is most of the time anything that actually may have helped came from wiki, and though I love wikipedia dearly, the world of academia does not deem them credible. Leaving me in the dust with no sources. These search engines so often demand for you to be so specific that the amount of time spent on thinking of the specifics and browsing results equates to or equals more than going to the library and saying, "hey you have any books on processed foods or environmental behavior [that's what the power of context is. It states environment dictates behavior, not inherent characteristics]?"


Sure the Internet has offered us quick easy answers, but sometimes those quick easy answers really aren't what we need, but we accept them because they offer instant gratification. That's all fine and well but what I really discovered is after actually picking up a book on a specific topic you form an interest that wasn't there in the beginning. For so long I complained in some form or another about how these topics suck an who cares? Then I realized I do. Doing mini research papers allows you to broaden your mind and in essence makes you cultured.


I'm not saying dismiss the Internet completely, that would just be silly...I love google, and facebook, and everything else the Internet has offered me. All I'm suggesting is that we begin to incorporate the old with the new. Internet and good ol' print, because print has been around for so much longer then the amazing invention of the Internet. Thus, information in print exceeds what the Internet can offer, and that should always be taken advantage of.

Tale of a Fem-Nazi

The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, "It's a girl."

-Shirley Chisholm

OK, so in a past blog I slightly touched upon the world of sexism with "My Life as a Double Standard" but it wasn't that in depth.

So, here goes. You see, I have this friend who in her own self right would consider herself a feminist [however not so extreme where she has a buzz cut and burns her bras]. She hates it when women succumb to a guys every beck & call. Make excuses for men as to why they, the woman, should cook and clean. As if men did not have the same hands to do it themselves. For her its a question of dignity and self worth. She doesn't believe that doing these things for the opposite gender are wrong, more like there should be an equal share in work at home and the coorprate world. She should not have to stay home and tend to the children all day, while he comes home and sits on the couch. Once again, she doesn't think there is anything wrong with staying home but that should not be a woman's only option. She, like her male counter part should have available to her the same business oportunities. Gender shouldn't matter. Talent is talent and no one can deny that.

As Chisholm says, the sterotyping of a female begins at birth. At that moment we are instantly thought of, subconsciously or not as lesser and weaker by society. Furthermore, society tells us that when we grow up we should strive to have 2.5 kids with a white picket fence and a home for us to care for.

For so long, women got gyped out of one thing or another, and for some reason we are told that we cannot think on our own or for ourselves. Males automatically get the role of dominance and power, and because of that rules and laws such as "the rule of thumb" were created. The saying which is said to be derived from an old law that said it is legal for men to beat their wives so long as the object in which they beat them with was no thicker then their thumb, or the ever popular "glass ceiling."

No one denies that men and women are different, and physically speaking there are just certain things that women really cannot do. But, that isn't to say that we are all damsels in distress looking for our prince charming. We too have dreams and aspirations that go further then a family and a home which should be recognized.

unreal beauty

"No wonder our perception of beauty is so distorted."

-Dove campaign

I, am NOT beautiful. I mean sure my mom tells me sometimes that I am...but she's my mom you know? Now this girl...to the right. SHE is beautiful, not me. I, am NOT sexy, or pretty or cute. I am none of those things. I mean I'm too tall but yet too short. My hair is never the right length. I'm too fat, I'm too dark but not dark enough. I don't have the correct smile, my head isn't shaped correctly, and there's just something off about my nose. But it's not just me who isn't beautiful, lets face it. None of my friends are either. Oh, and I can't forget to mention that even though now my younger cousins think they're beautiful; When they grow up, they too will realize that they aren't beautiful either. NONE of us are, and no matter what we do, we will NEVER be beautiful. Well at least that's what my television, and magazines and movies are telling me anyway.

For so long the media has been given us a distorted image of what is and is not beautiful, and for so long we've approved and accepted that the media is right. We accept the fact that no one looks like that, and yet we all strive to be that way. Something just isn't right here. Why are we doing this to ourselves, and our self esteem? We are letting an unrealistic image of beauty run our lives. Causing us to feel inferior. Yearning to accomplish an unreachable goal.

Why can't we just simply accept ourselves for who we are and acknowledge that we all are in fact beautiful. Created by something or someone bigger then ourselves whatever you may believe. Weather that be God, Allah, or even your parents. Made the way we are for a specific reason and no one should be able to tell you otherwise. But, if my blog still doesn't have you convinced then maybe this will. Watch it, you won't regret it: http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx[cp-documentid=7049579]/