"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.

Men, Men, Men... Women???

As I grew up, I was always taught that women need to be independent, they CANNOT, by any means, depend on a man to work and maintain a house. Any day they can pack things up and leave since they don't easily attach emotionally to a woman, and woman needs to be able to stand up on her own. That mind set has stuck with me forever, and I think that's the reason I'm in college, because other than me needing an education, I can't depend on my future husband. The house and all our belongings have to be at least half mine. You can say that since my mother grew up with five other women under her roof, that side of the family is, indeed, very feminist. If you have ever heard of the book, "Why Men Love Bitches?"... well her family applies that book to the maximum potential. On top of that, they tend to be controversial, thus I believe the phrase that encourages to never speak about religion or politics with family. However, not so much with friends. One has that choice to pick friends, not family. Family are people God gave you so that you can learn how to manage all different types of temperament in the world and not have as many problems and still be able to love others disregarding differences. lol But on the other hand, one gets to choose the friends you hang out with, and there's a reason for that, one doesn't just pick friends because they don't like each other that much, it's because you have things in common. You see, I love my friends, we share mostly the same religion and mostly the same point of views. Whenever someone doesn't agree, we learn to respect it and listen. Rarely there is an argument that increases pressure. Now do you see why I love my friends? Most, or I would say all of us, have opinions, which are for the most part similar, and even if they're not, we still manage to express it, listen, and move on. None of us like drama, or argument, so we're pretty much easy going, and laid back in some aspects.

Anyways, back to the whole women vs. men thing. Is it that women are actually trying to succeed and become real professionals because they aspire to be, or is it because they're trying to prevent a man from stepping over them??? As individuals we have the same rights that a male has, only that we have taken advantage of it. Nowadays, it isn't unusual for a woman to own a company, or have a high status, so why is the press making such a big deal about a woman being the US VP????? QUIT THE CRAP! isn't she JUST as capable? Didn't she receive the same education and process other governors or political figures would've? I think that a both genders directing our country will benefit us in every aspect, all around the world. All throughout history men have had leading roles, and I can see why the new female VP candidate is bringing such a scandal, but look where this country is at right now, and is being lead by a male president... So that brings us to ask... are men always the right ones to lead?? Do they actually have the same capability or are as astute as women? Since the US has had presidents it has always been men, and men always have the authority... I think it's about time a woman takes the role.

Carlos & Karla

Blogging and I were friends before. It was the way for me to be publicly discrete on my feelings, my crushes, my love life, my family life, and any other relationship or inner thoughts. When i started blogging I was around 14-ish. However, I noticed that the only times i was sable to blog were the times when something emotional happened; I didn't blog just for the sake of blogging. I learned to have people comment on my descriptions, and how I express myself, how they agree, or disagree. Eventually, as years passed, I met a guy, who loved to blog as well. We became really good friends, but didn't like each other... yet! lol Whenever we saw our friends had a new blog we'd both comment on it, and it was just this connection. We were both expressive, in a non-dramatic sort of way. (Except that I was a little more dramatic than him). As time passed, I noticed that my blogs were about him, and when I typed my feelings only thought of him... I ended up making a blog of how I don't wanna fall back in love (http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=22123042&blogID=171868613&Mytoken=33C941EC-E11A-4AA8-9A17D9C8285AE743289075600). That lead us to the relationship, and well no, I didn't fall in love. I loved him, but I wasn't in love with him (two different things). When we broke up I deleted MANY of my blogs, and you can imagine why, thus when you check out my blog on myspace you probably won't find as many... =(



Anyways, what I'm trying to say here is that blogging is like second nature to me. Now I blog on things that are just funny, or actually are an issue in my life. The difference is that now I barely find time for it, and I have to pre-write my blog on a paper to have an idea of how its going to be. But college has gotten ahead of me and I can't find the time to blog, so I'm very glad that this class will give me that opportunity to blog again (frequently). =D





*Karlita*