woot woot!

So yay! the semester is over!! but I will miss having you as my teacher, because not only was it am indeed different experience, but i learned and enjoyed it! lol The entire rhetoric deal is staying with me and i think that now for future classes I will be able to produce better research papers and arguments. Like I said, this didn't only help me as a writer, but also as a person. When I began to talk in class or in my blogs about my beliefs I began to feel imposing, for the first time in my life... because if i ever did a paper in HS about a controversial subject my teachers would always tell me, "Wow! very opinionated! I like that!" or something along those lines... so i never really considered it to be too bad... lol and now I see how being like that actually leads me to failure! lol ironic, but true. My cousin warned me that I was going to be exposed to something like this, people with completely different ideas and theories, and lifestyles that with my personality I'd want to "correct" but that I'd have to learn to stay away unless i want enemies... lol So yea, indeed it was very productive, to my opinion you're an amazing teacher, i think its mostly because you're young and because of your personal life experience I learned to identify myself with you because of past experiences I've had similarly, and those experiences are the ones who make up who I am today. Not only that I learned to appreciate you as a person even though we didn't interact in a personal level your personality was very much exposed and at reach to your students, which i think is a very important factor that many teachers don't understand. Because of that many of us felt comfortable around you, in class, and out of class, thus we were able to express our thoughts and ideas to someone who is teaching but open to us. You weren't like one of those dry, authoritative English teachers... lol at first you seemed like it, however you're not! lol Now I feel like my mind is actually open to receive others' point of views and understand them and still stand in my point of view and not dislike them or "shun" them for being different, for example: Belinda! lol Also... I learned how to make my argument stronger, and find solutions for the problems that benefits all around me, or at least who ever is more important to me...
So finally... thank you for everything! and I will most likely keep following your blog! This has been one of the best English classes ever! =D Not only the teacher but the people were cool and easy going! =D me likey that!

"I Shall Pronounce You... HUSBAND and WIFE!"

Ok... so true, the definition of marriage does come from Church. And there was a schism between the Church and the government, due to the differences between them, and how the Church was trying to stay within its morals, and the government was going for "the American Way"... now... is the "American Way" the correct way always???

As we all know.. the popular vote isn't always the right one...
Not too long ago, same-sex marriages were legalized in Massachusetts. So then, this one couple got married by the law. Eventually, they came to ask a Pastor to marry them, as a homosexual couple... and of course, the Pastor opposed because its against his principles and values, and wrong before God... now... the homosexual couple sued the Church!! So then my question is.. if marriage then did come from the Church, why make it a legal issue? now... to what extent do people have to adjust to different lifestyles? When God instituted marriage he made it for a woman and a man... not for one single gender... thus, it should be kept that way. Domestic partnership already have the same responsibilities as a married couple in many ways by law, why do they need the title?? Marriage is something that should be kept Sacred. If homosexual marriage is legalized, eventually they'll want to force Churches to accept and allow that type of behavior inside our Churches, and that is just going too far. It is enough accepting and respecting their sexuality, their lifestyle, now lets not impose it... there is freedom and there is abuse, or excess of freedom (In Spanish, hay libertad, y hay libertinaje- two different things). People are using the "human rights" or "equality" lines to defend themselves and apply it to anything that comes along and taking advantage of it.
Watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zbpDe_QhS0

So things can go well, but lets not push it...

Why distort the meaning of something that wasn't started by the law of men in the first place...?

In conclusion, it is a moral issue, not a civil rights issue... so where do morals initially come from?? ... Church, or Religion... Especially in this country, where the immigrating pilgrims were Christians initiating our colonies, and thus our laws took form... so this is not a current issue, its always been that way, since the beginning...

Education System!

lol I was just talking to my dad about this on Sunday morning...

The only reason he went and got an education was because his father in law wasn't going to give him my mom's law if he didn't at least have a college degree in something. SO he went ahead and got a technical certificate in mechanincs... lol althoguh he owns a carpentry company today and only uses his mechanics to fix our cars, he still met his goal: he married my mom. That influence had nothing to do with money... but nowadays... why am I in college? can't I just depend on ym fufture husband and take care of my children and the house and tht'll be my job??? lol NO WAY! Nt how society sees it... both male and female, mom and dad have the necessity to work and earn money to survive! What is it that is driving people so insane over money??? It is as if money has become a god for most people, and their lives are dependent on it. I see myself involved in that as well, we all do. because if we have no money, we don't eat, we don't shower, have clothing, have shelter, etc. Money is an idol. Thus, colleges take advantage of that. "You wanna make money, give us more money and we'll give you a degree where you'll make money." So now that money rules our world, we're more concerned in getting an education i n order to earn more money... for example, what is competition most likely to be about?? ... Money! lol anyways... humans have created a great dependence on money, and it just keeps getting worse!

Election '08!

Wow! This has been the most historic election in history! We have the typical white-male Republican, and an African-American Democrat running! They both come from different background... strong background, and are both very convincing; as every politician.

Though... politics is a very delicate subject, such as religion, and other topics.
Throughout my life, my father and grandfather have always taught me about politics and how it runs. They both have always been very updated with the topics, thus I get updated... Furthermore, my aunt is a the Director of Federal Funds of Catano, PR.... but its not like I know how any of that runs, only that she speaks of the people she comes across, the hypocrisy that she lives through her day-to-day. And well that leads me to see the reality about politicians. For the most part, my dad always tells me how I should always look to see if the candidate attains to our values, our convenience, our lifestyle, etc. On the other hand, he also has taught me to observe how the promises that candidates make are actually realistic, or how they're saying pretty much the same thing in different ways, or how they make something look very appealing, but down in reality its not possible or goes against our family values. Thus, when choosing a candidate one must take all of these things in consideration and adjust it to how it works for us (the country), as citizens. How will this candidate keep real values? how will this candidate better this area, or this other one? Its all about being "the best". But, as we all know... to each its own. We all have different opinions, and in this case, both candidates show great devotion to their family and country, but an individual can't rely on politician promises. So then what to do??? vote or not?

Another fact that speaks most about the characters of the candidates is their history. How have they made a difference in this country, how do they identify themselves with the public, where did they come from, what kind of household, what kind of environment... etc. However, does all of hat really matter???? After all, the decisions are mostly made by the congress, not solely on the president. If congress doesn't approve, then the laws or bills won't go anywhere...

Regarding the video on Tasha's Blog... it is very true. Most Americans have no clue of what goes on in politics. Even immigrants that have to take the citizenship test know more than they do. I'll admit that... plus, most of what I know about politics or government I know from family or what they taught me in High School. So, I'm not completely learned on this subject, but enough to know that the one candidate that promotes my beliefs and my ideals is who I will vote for.

How do I know which one? well, I have gone to their web sites (http://www.johnmccain.com/Undecided/WhyMcCain.htm and http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php), I have been informed about and have watched some debates and speeches. And to be honest, my decision is very affected by my family, perhaps it shouldn't be like that, but I allow it to happen because its because of them that I am who I am, and I like who I am. To me, both candidates have much to offer and much work to do. In the end... lol since I'm not entirely informed, I still have a few more days to decide....

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ASTROLOGICAL!!!!!!

ok... well i am extremely altered by this presentation... and as a Christian Catholic I have to defend my faith, as this is what I would call, or the church would call... a blasphemy! First of all... the birth of Jesus was NOT on Dec. 25th... his birth is not a certain date, or even year!!!! The only way we can predict in a way Jesus' birth is through the birth of John the Baptist, His cousin. And God's before Jesus Christ???? NO WAAAYY!! I'm sorry to all of those who believe in that, and are too gullible and were misinformed by this, but in history Jesus Christ has been the only God in human skin born of a Virgin, whom was also conceived without sin, and the only Son of God, and by far the only one who has established a religion that has lasted over two millenniums. I will admit that the presentation will make almost anyone believe, it was very well done, very "credible"... but only to those who don't know their facts on religion and haven't researched, or learned much about it... thus, they shouldn't speak about this subject. There were many prophets before Christ, predicting His coming, His birth, death, and salvation... but there weren't any other gods. As the video goes on and on they assimilate the stories of Judaism and Christianity to other myths and stories. They relate the zodiacs to Christianity... as if Christianity came from astrology... and wow! Its amazing how these people connect everything and are seeking the destruction of Christianity. Especially at the end when they mention the Jesus didn't exist??? well how do they know exactly when Jesus was born... that cannot be told for certain in the first place. And just by that the audience should know that this video is, one: completely biased, two: misinformed by many many many facts, and three: was made by whom????? I have no Idea who is giving me this information... who made all of this up... who gathered all of this... and it is EXTREMELY controversial. And I always thought that it couldn't get worse than the DaVinci Code...


this blog will continue...



GGGRR!! =D

"Holy Roller"

As a child I was taught to look at celebrities as negative influence. Celebrities always brought up an impropper image to the public, thus, I was not to become or imitate any. I remember the cartoon videos my mom would get me on Bible stories and I'd love them, and I was never really allowed to watch the local programs because they were too vulgar for a lady like me. lol But since one always loves the prohibited, whenever my cousin would turn to one of those channels I'd watch the shows... but I "never" really saw anything out of the ordinary... they were just funny. Eventually I started sharing the jokes with my parents, and I remember how their expressions were and they'd start asking questions, and when they found out about my cousin allowing me to watch it... she got a nice spanking... lol but anyways... its inevitable. Everyone is influenced from one way or the other... influence puts on a lot of pressure that barely anyone can handle. For example... when I started watching the Style Network, I started to wear my make-up "correctly" and one learns and takes from here and there what will shape what we call "ourselves"... or "you". It is our surroundings, that determine our preferences in music, clothes, attitude, etc. Despite our nature, nurture intervenes excessively in who we are. For example, most, if not all, of my friends are from Youth Group, but then I also had friends in school... eventually one chooses who will be better for you to keep, but int he mean while, one kinda goes with the flow until you face consequences, good or bad. However, one thing I'd agree on, is that one becomes an individual from society. And I think that a person is who he or she chooses to be because they can.

Solution to Poverty?

OK... the images were moving, indeed. And unfortunately, reality is that many other countries are living in the same conditions. Well, I don't wanna brag, but I'll share my experience. I've been a youth group counselor around 5 years at my local church in Pompano Beach, Fl. The entire time we've had masses of youth come and go; along with their life situations, the different social statuses, cultures, etc. (btw, this is a Spanish youth group, the majority are immigrants). Many of these youth come from those areas, and they express their stories, and one gets to appreciate what one has at home, and also one learns to respect those people for their character, and how they got to where they are, how they gt themselves out of their "hell-hole" and came here looking to succeed. Now... my question is... If they're here now, and have gotten themselves to succeed, why don't they begin a plan, or a political plan, to allow their homeland to progress? Are they actually a benefit since they came to the US, or just ignoring their reality????

Anyway... So at youth group we decided to organize a project called "Juventud en Accion" which is also linked to "Amor en Accion", under the Archdioceses of Miami. We collect money from and ONLY FROM the youth, the money they decide to donate and send it directly to our account, and that then goes to Dominican Republic and Haiti to help maintain a school, give breakfast to the children, and grant them the availability of school supplies. Last check was $2500.00 that our Youth Group (Naar Malak = Jovenes Mensajeros in Hebrew) raised for that cause alone. Furthermore, this past weekend we had a Garage Sale... it wasn't too successful, but the clothes was all donated to Haiti... and we had around 20 lbs, if not more. So I feel as if our youth group alone is making a difference in the world... we're not just standing around watching the world drown.