Monday, March 19, 2007

Japan

This entry will supersede the obscenely short, painfully under-elaborated article that I'm sure made you question my value to the English language. Neglect of the quality of my writing has pervaded my blog in such posts; simply presenting ideas and setting them aside for later (often unrealized) elaboration resulted in many missed opportunities for literature. I will not err in that familiar vein again. I hereby resolve to consummate each entry before posting, leaving each as a work to stand alone, and nevermore will I use my blog as a notepad instead of an exercise in writing. Now, to the purpose of this post, I will be going to Japan all of next year. I'll finish this later

Sunday, March 04, 2007

A Speechy for You (Salz inside joke, don't read unless you're in his class... or else)

Misinformation. Seems harmless, powerless. Why, it’s just a little word. Could “misinformation” ever deal any real destruction? After all, it’s just “information” with miss missing an s at the beginning. However, this little word conveys a meaning that is undoubtedly powerful and potentially dangerous. The meaning of it is false information spread ignorantly. Propaganda is not misinformation, that would be disinformation. Disinformation. Seems harmless, powerless. Why, it’s just a little word. Could “disinformation” ever deal any real destruction? Yes, the cruelest criminals cram false information down their subjects throats and oppress millions, but it’s not important when compared with what I’m here to talk about. What I’m here to talk about is far more pressing than any disinformation in the world today. What I’m here to talk about is obscenely mis misinformation that has permeated the schools of the world, plaguing it like the black plague plagued Europe. What I’ve traveled here tonight to talk to you about is the flat out lie that ancient Europeans ate corn. Corn, of all things! Any two-year old prodigy can tell you that this is just a mistranslation of wheat, corn was only from the Americas, for the Americas, and in the Americas at that time. This oft-propagated translating error’s popularity climb must be brought to a screeching halt immediately.
The key to ending this campaign of misinformation is to take the fight to the source. In this case, the authors of many major history books. The only people who could end this are those with degrees in history. For example, let’s say we have a hypothetical history teacher for the sake of argument, Mr. Slaz, if Mr. Slaz decides to send this letter, he will be protecting the minds of our youths, protecting the reputation for truthfulness of our literature, and protecting the memories of our wheat-scarfing friends in ancient Europe, where there was no corn.

This in no way suggests my political beliefs... ellipse and rhetorical question, anyone?

So on America's newest, most appealing new medium for political conversation and "look-at-me"-isms, Facebook.com, has probably changed hundreds of millions of lives by now. After hundreds of thousands joined in support, nearly 500 dollars were donated to Darfur. Facebook finally makes politics "cool," since you know what all your friends are doing. Finally... a way to get through to the children. Regardless, the reason I'm here to blog to you today is the latest Facebolitical campaign, "Day of Silence 2007." Here is a sample of what they're peddling:

The Day of Silence is an annual event held to commemorate and protest anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools. Students and teachers nationwide will observe the day in silence to echo the silence that LGBT and ally students face everyday. In it's 11th year, the Day of Silence is one of the largest student-led actions in the country.

Basically, they're trying to alienate those expressing their feelings about gays, which is un-American. They are BULLYING these innocent racists and gay-haters. Bastards.

Seriously:
This could legitimately be halted if the protest goes on in public schools and is enough to "disturb the peace." Although this might seem like a violation of rights, protest legally should not interfere this way, and besides, those participating are not imploring the government for anything (and by the way it had to be a schoolday, since nobody would ever give up a weekend). If people are quiet during classes, or if the event just affects the day enough to warrant the label "disturbance," it can be canceled, and will be appealed, naturally, but the child will lose. However, since it's a one-day thing, and most won't actually be silent the WHOLE day (some are mute), the likelihood of intervention is almost nilcho (mmmm non-existant nacho)
I think homophobia and racism are usually inveterate conditions, usually stemming from childhood, household, and work environment or compelling personal experiences and people that profoundly affected (or consistently were in) the lives of those harboring them. Such deep hatred is a complicated issue, and not doing anything about it all at once across the country for a day probably won't do shit, and if it does anything, it will only force hateful people to swallow their true emotions instead of confronting and dealing with them. I think we should just have a GAY HISTORY MONTH!!! That would SOooooOOoo totally work! Nah, I think that the best way to convince those with hatred (many are almost/just are incurable) that gays are equals is to distinguish homosexuality from a sin and show the beauty of what homosexuals can accomplish (just as much as a heterosexual can). History should be taught. Discussions and confrontations should take place. Or, maybe, if we close our mouths and eyes and look up to the skies, they will see the error of their ways.

Additionally, this marks the start of a new type of TLP: fewer, longer, de-sucked posts. They will usually be literary, sometimes just normal blogospherical goodness. This would be the latter. However, I will be updating at least once a week from now on, to hopefully build up a place where i can edit papers and save them someday, in case I need some for college or if I elect to be a writer. I just deleted a 10 line long "to be or not to be" joke... thank me later, PAX SYROMANA BITCHES


EDIT:
I forgot to add that they're selling t-shirts. How noble