On Politics... Etc.

I usually hate speaking about politics, if not for the fact that they're always a pain, for the fact that no matter what is said or how one says it, some random person is always offended, but this time I will make an exception.

Throughout the course of my life, I have rarely ever cared about politics. They were always so messy, so complicated, and almost everyone to whom I spoke was extremely opinionated. I did not mind those who quietly kept their opinions to themselves (and I still don't). Even those people who voice their opinions do not bother me that much, unless I'm in a bad mood and then I just listen, picking apart their grammar because it's rather entertaining for me. There are certain types of people however, who I would consider extremists. If they are not extremists in thought, then they are extremists in the manner in which they express their opinions, and any time I have ever encountered one of these persons, I usually walk away, angrier and more stressed out than I was before I encountered them (I use encounter in the sense of talking to and/or "listening in" which most of the time is me trying to ignore this person because they're obnoxiously loud and I can't walk fast enough to get away).

The type of person with whom I have a significant amount of experience falls into the second "extremist" category. They were typically the most vocal during the debates in my Global/Social Studies classes in which I had to partake. They were almost always the most argumentative in the room, refusing to back down from what they said unless their points were whittled down by clear logical arguments from the other participants.

Perhaps it was their personality. I can recall numerous instances in which they were snarky, sarcastic, or bitter. Even to those who simply were physically present and mentally on vacation it was clear that said "extremist" was angry and disrespectful towards the person that was being addressed. At the very least, they were insensitive to the remainder of the class, especially those who had the sole intent of sleeping through the school day (me). It is quite possible that the volume of their voice during my nap had something to do with my particular distaste for them and their ilk. I also do believe that their lack of respect and their insensitivity towards others played a major role in why I have a permanent distaste for them.

A quick note, I make the distinction between them and myself for the sole purpose as to make it easier to write this entry. I do acknowledge that I probably have done something along these lines in my life. I also acknowledge the fact that a lot of people are "extremists in the manner in which they express their ideas" about some things at certain times. Most of the time justly so. I look towards those who are extreme almost all the time about almost every subject. Those who shove their beliefs down someone else's throat. They are one of the reasons why I avoid politics.

This entry serves a purpose aside from detailing my experiences with the types of people or behaviors (I tried to acknowledge how sometimes extremism, or at least both types as I have defined them can be a behavior in my last paragraph) for whom I have a distaste. Growing up, I was the odd man out. I was almost alone in my political beliefs. I was raised in a very conservative family, while rather humorously, I attended a notably liberal school. I still sort of snicker when I think about it.

I can still vividly remember multiple occasions during which I was walking down the halls of my high school and I heard jokes about political beliefs or political figures (the latter more than the former). Most of the time said jokes referred to beliefs/figures that aligned with what I was being taught to believe in at home. The students who made them were academically talented or gifted with some kind of intellect so I was often caught off guard. I always said nothing. Why attract attention to yourself when you're alone and it's not worth the time? Nevertheless, the jokes stung, not because they were offensive to me (I usually never cared) it was because they made fun of some of the ideals in which my grandparents believe. That may not matter to those who made the jokes and I definitely have no intention of shoving my beliefs down the jokers' throats. When I heard said jokes, I could not help but think of my grandparents and parents. They were/are a great source of wisdom. They were my earliest teachers. And I could never repay them enough for that. And their beliefs were being made fun of, a thought that stings and starts to irritate me every time it crosses my mind.

While I may sound bitter about how I grew up at home in one belief system and grew up at school in another, it taught me a rather important lesson that I feel that not only politicians, but people could, should, and need to learn: tolerance. I do acknowledge that I am not perfect when it comes to tolerance. But I also realize that people are lacking this quality. I am not speaking to a lack of tolerance based on race or religion, but rather to a lack of tolerance to different trains of thought or belief systems. For example, inter-party relations in the US are terrible. Conservatives are idiots to liberals. Liberals are idiots to conservatives. Everyone is an idiot (not entirely untrue). In a place where the vast majority of people are of one party, any one who is unlucky to fall into the other party, be vocal/publicized, and then criticized, is condemned and crucified on the spot (hopefully figuratively speaking, but it is always possible). An example of this would be how Phil Robertson from the show "Duck Dynasty" was suspended from the show for a little while until there was enough backlash  from the viewers to force the channel to allow him back. I personally applaud the Robertson family for supporting their patriarch during this time. Not many families are that strongly knit together. But I digress.

I would argue that if people had tolerance for each other, this world would be a better place. I know many people who might read this are thinking that tolerance is not enough, there should be acceptance, or "education," or a conversion of some kind where one person converts from one way of thinking to another. Personally, if someone were to try to "educate" me about how my beliefs were wrong and theirs were right and they did not have solid evidence, qualitative or quantitative, or even just a logical argument with sound points, I would most definitely get pissed off. Not only are they, in some cases, shoving their beliefs down my throat, but they are also wasting my time.

To me, there seems to be a lack of tolerance in families as well. For example, many adults, especially the elderly were raised in a different time than ours. Yes I find this to be a valid justification for what they are saying.  If you as a reader and a person do not, then perhaps consider that the elderly have lived for a significantly longer time than you have (I'm considering the reader to be rather youthful). They are wiser and will almost assuredly know more life skills than you. I would consider myself one of the luckiest people alive if I have a fraction of the skills and the drive that my grandparents have by the time I get that old.  I have yet to express this in a better way but, as a youth, one simply has to make allowances for the elderly, if only out of respect. There are certain cases where I would argue that it may be more socially "convenient" to step in and say/do something that opposes one's elder. But still, those are the exceptions not the "rule."

There is one thing that you as a reader must consider and that is that I do not intend to shove my beliefs down your throat, I merely intend to present an argument with clear, logical points. I apologize for any imposition of beliefs that may have occurred. But, I believe I have hit all the main points that I have wanted to discuss. I may update this as needed. Also, for those who are interested, I will be trying to write monthly, and if I can manage more, I will.

New Years...

I know I haven't posted anything aside from the first introductory blog post, but I figure it's sort of fitting to start a new year with the first real post. It wasn't planned that way, that's for sure...

A lot of people try to start the year with a resolution or several resolutions, so I guess I'll try to start with that...

For some reason lately, I have felt the strangest sense of dissatisfaction with my life. I don't know where it stems from and I can't seem to pinpoint the source of it. Everything in my life seems to be going well and nothing seems to be a point of concern or of contention. It doesn't make sense. And it's frustrating. I should be feeling great. I have been exercising, working, sleeping, watching Netflix, and hanging out with friends among other things. I seem to be completely incapable of identifying the source of my dissatisfaction, or the sense that my life remains unfulfilled...

I know I always have wanted to go on an epic adventure. Ever since I was a child, I have played and I have loved The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Those games, along with Kingdom Hearts, were probably some of the most influential facets of my childhood. Through them I became obsessed with the power and beauty of music which led to me becoming a pianist. Though I think simply a mediocre one, many of my friends would say otherwise. Through them I became obsessed with the idea of being a hero. Especially in Kingdom Hearts and Ocarina of Time, where you ended up saving or working with a beautiful girl towards one goal (I played both of those when both me and the video game industry were young enough so the graphics seemed pretty realistic).

Aside from thoughts of grandiose adventures, where the hero saves the day and the girl (the former being, ideally, more important than the latter, but still, you know, there are perks to both), I find my thoughts wandering towards thoughts of Prince Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender. There was a point in the TV show at which Zuko had everything "going for him" but he was still unhappy and he didn't understand why. I believe it was at the point where Uncle Iroh was imprisoned and he was with Mai (I think that's how her name is spelled?). I watched the series multiple times through while it was on Netflix. Yes I was that guy. But I think a lot of people were "that guy" too so it's not that important. Anyways, Zuko's unhappiness/dissatisfaction sort of echoes my own because of their unidentifiable source. This drew me to think more about it and my mind immediately jumped to the scene where Zuko found the Avatar's bison and Iroh confronted him, saying: "I'M BEGGING YOU, PRINCE ZUKO! It's time for you to look inward and start asking yourself the big question: who are you and what do YOU want?" Now I find myself thinking that those are pretty good questions to be asking myself...

So there are several parts to my New Years Resolution I guess.

• Improve as a pianist
• Work towards being some semblance of a hero
• Have some type of adventure
• Answer the questions "Who am I?" and "What do I want?"

Reading back on them they sound kind of corny, but whatever.

First Sleep

For the vast majority of people reading this who do not know me, I am a simple college student. There are many things that define me but I will not state them here. The purpose of this blog is simply to be an outlet for me, a place for me to write down my thoughts and whatever else pops into my head and see where it leads me. And it will probably never see the light of day. In time, I may be grateful for that, after all anonymity is in most cases a safe place to be. I will be purposefully ambiguous at times for no other reason besides the fact that it is slightly entertaining.

In any case, it's very late where I am staying now and I'm thinking about going to sleep. Goodnight.