The song Same Love by Macklemore and Mary Lambert, produced by Ryan Lewis, advertises their support of gay marriage. The message of this song is that no religion or belief justifies the mistreatment of the certain group of gay people. They should have human rights just as any other, because they love like any other.
"The right-wing conservatives think it's a decision, and you can be cured with some treatment and religion" Many religious people believe that one chooses to like another of the same sex, and fails to understand that that is the person they are. Many religions teach that being gay is a wrong doing, and it is a characteristic that can simply be taken away through treatment.
But being gay is not an illness.
"Live on and be your self, when I was at church they taught me something else. When the preach hate at service those words aren't anointed, and the holy water you soak in has been poisoned." Churches are strongly against gays as it, "goes against the bible," but by practicing this intolerance in church it preaches hate. It forces a predijuce on people who practice that faith. But when religions cannot accept all who wish to practice, then their services and holy water that bring one another together becomes of a lesser meaning.
"'Man that's gay' gets dropped on the daily, we've become so numb to what we are sayin'." Over the years the word gay has become a word of hate instead of what it truly is. It's a rude term yet society has turned it into an every day saying and thats why people who use it don't take into consideration its meaning.
When I first listened to this song a while ago, I was touched by the sincerity of his words. But at the same time I was hit with his powerful message. Our nation has achieved a lot of things, yet the one that is most important has not been fully accomplished. Human rights. While we are working on it, creating new laws and bills, I feel their will always be a hidden hate untill true acceptance is found.
This hatred is : "the same hatred that caused wars on religion... the same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins." So why isn't it as important?
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Bravest of Them All
~ I have just finished the book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and I strongly recommend this book to everyone!!! It provoked so many strong emotions, and I felt so much empathy for each character. It was beautifully written. ~
"You coward." spat Hans Junior to his very own father, and stomped out to vanish onto Himmel Street. Hans Huberman? Papa? A coward? For not being apart of the Nazi Party? For being against Hitler? Not in my opinion. No one there on Himmel Street was a coward. Every neighbor's bond created a friendship so strong it could overcome any beast. It is Junior who is the coward.
Hans Huberman is one of the most inspiring characters to me. Because in a world that was then ruled by fear, he still managed to do what was right.
He was a painter. He was a father. He was a friend. So when Hitler came into power, he didn't have the heart to deny a Jew from his services of simply painting an insult off of his store's window. Strike one. He hid a Jew named Max into his family's basement. He cared for and shared what little his poor family had. Strike two. During a march of Jewish prisoners through the town on Munich, he gave an old man bread. He received a public whipping, and was the drafted to battle in Russia.
What am I trying to say? Well, it is those who joined forces with Hitler who are beneath us. The men who became Nazis although convinced themselves it was a good cause, were just hiding from the wrath of Adolf and his followers. It was people like Hans Huberman who against all risks did not fall under the brain washing of the tyrant who were courageous. It was them who were brave. Hiding a Jew during the Holocaust was life-threatening. It was not a small task. Those who did were standing up to a whole army of soldiers; once-innocent men who were blinded with hate.
So no, those German soldiers, back in 1930, they were not brave.
Max was, for staying some what sane during the time period.
Leisel and Rudy were, for befriending Max, and knowing right from wrong.
And Hans Huberman, who most definitely, was not a coward.
"You coward." spat Hans Junior to his very own father, and stomped out to vanish onto Himmel Street. Hans Huberman? Papa? A coward? For not being apart of the Nazi Party? For being against Hitler? Not in my opinion. No one there on Himmel Street was a coward. Every neighbor's bond created a friendship so strong it could overcome any beast. It is Junior who is the coward.
Hans Huberman is one of the most inspiring characters to me. Because in a world that was then ruled by fear, he still managed to do what was right.
He was a painter. He was a father. He was a friend. So when Hitler came into power, he didn't have the heart to deny a Jew from his services of simply painting an insult off of his store's window. Strike one. He hid a Jew named Max into his family's basement. He cared for and shared what little his poor family had. Strike two. During a march of Jewish prisoners through the town on Munich, he gave an old man bread. He received a public whipping, and was the drafted to battle in Russia.
What am I trying to say? Well, it is those who joined forces with Hitler who are beneath us. The men who became Nazis although convinced themselves it was a good cause, were just hiding from the wrath of Adolf and his followers. It was people like Hans Huberman who against all risks did not fall under the brain washing of the tyrant who were courageous. It was them who were brave. Hiding a Jew during the Holocaust was life-threatening. It was not a small task. Those who did were standing up to a whole army of soldiers; once-innocent men who were blinded with hate.
So no, those German soldiers, back in 1930, they were not brave.
Max was, for staying some what sane during the time period.
Leisel and Rudy were, for befriending Max, and knowing right from wrong.
And Hans Huberman, who most definitely, was not a coward.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A Modern Form of Racism
Illegal immigration has been a leading factor of discussion in politics since the 1700's. Many see unfairness in illegal immigrants taking their jobs, and maybe even being in higher ranking occupations. In order to fix this problem, states like Arizona have passed laws that allow police officers to randomly search anyone of whom they assume could be an illegal immigrant. There is much controversy on this law, however, because many see it as a racist act.
During the industrialization period, immigrants where mainly of Irish or Chinese descent. Later in the 1900's it was the Italians. Now in the twenty-first century, the majority of immigrants are from Mexico. So, while currently there are a lot of immigrants from other places besides Mexico, Hispanics as a whole are being targeted. New laws expect everyone to carry around their citizenship papers in the possibility that he or she might be questioned. Everyone meaning if you happen to "look" like an immigrant.
Based on the author's questioning on whether or not the government's way solving the issue will improve, she is not for the new immigration laws. She states that even from the very beginning of construction of America, most Americans were immigrants. While describing the conflict in Arizona she quotes people who are on either side in the debate."It's a law based on racism. I know a lot of people who are afraid of going out in the street. They just take their children to school and go right home. They feel like their safety is threatened." -- Gamboa, a U.S citizen, son of illegal immigrants. Gaheen is someone who feels very strongly against any illegal immigrant. The author, Patricia Smith, chose two very opposing opinions to show the severity of the issue at its most.
I can understand both point of views, for instance, being angered that someone who is illegally living in the U.S. got the job you wanted--needed. At the same time though, there must be other ways to solve the problem of illegal immigration. I agree completely when Gamboa says it is a law based on racism because it discriminates against Hispanics. I think that instead of deporting people who may or may not be an illegal immigrant, the government should just create a more structured way in preventing more from entering. There is no real ethical way of removing the immigrants who are already in the U.S., seeing that everyone deserves a better life and new beginning. Because there are over 11 million illegal immigrants already in America, I don't see the benefits in making it harder for people like them to succeed. Overall, any law that is passed needs to be fair to all the races and nationalities that make our nation.
Bibliography:
During the industrialization period, immigrants where mainly of Irish or Chinese descent. Later in the 1900's it was the Italians. Now in the twenty-first century, the majority of immigrants are from Mexico. So, while currently there are a lot of immigrants from other places besides Mexico, Hispanics as a whole are being targeted. New laws expect everyone to carry around their citizenship papers in the possibility that he or she might be questioned. Everyone meaning if you happen to "look" like an immigrant.
Based on the author's questioning on whether or not the government's way solving the issue will improve, she is not for the new immigration laws. She states that even from the very beginning of construction of America, most Americans were immigrants. While describing the conflict in Arizona she quotes people who are on either side in the debate."It's a law based on racism. I know a lot of people who are afraid of going out in the street. They just take their children to school and go right home. They feel like their safety is threatened." -- Gamboa, a U.S citizen, son of illegal immigrants. Gaheen is someone who feels very strongly against any illegal immigrant. The author, Patricia Smith, chose two very opposing opinions to show the severity of the issue at its most.
I can understand both point of views, for instance, being angered that someone who is illegally living in the U.S. got the job you wanted--needed. At the same time though, there must be other ways to solve the problem of illegal immigration. I agree completely when Gamboa says it is a law based on racism because it discriminates against Hispanics. I think that instead of deporting people who may or may not be an illegal immigrant, the government should just create a more structured way in preventing more from entering. There is no real ethical way of removing the immigrants who are already in the U.S., seeing that everyone deserves a better life and new beginning. Because there are over 11 million illegal immigrants already in America, I don't see the benefits in making it harder for people like them to succeed. Overall, any law that is passed needs to be fair to all the races and nationalities that make our nation.
Bibliography:
- Smith, Patricia. "The Great Immigration Debate." Upfront New York Times Magazine 6 Sep. 2010. 13 Jan. 2013
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