It may be evil but sometimes you just need to have a laugh at another's expense, and today, I just rolled over laughing at the "deranged" sorority email published on Gawker this past week when it was read dramatically by Michael Shannon of "Boardwalk Empire."
I do feel a little sorry for this girl, but I mean, come on ... Why on Earth would you send this email in the first place ... THINK BEFORE SENDING PEOPLE. Cyberspace is a scary thing. Everything is saved. Everything is available for pretty much forever. Be smart.
Lord, help the mister who comes between me and my sister, and Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man. (Sisters, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen)
This week we have seen too much tragedy and heartbreak and violence the world over. Like I said in my previous post, from Boston to Baghdad, my heart goes out to the victims of senseless violence and loathsome crimes that have been committed.
I pray for the departed, for the maimed and recovering, as well as for the souls of the criminals across the world who carry out these horrific acts. I believe that everyone deserves a prayer.
Here's to a better, more peaceful week. Smile at a stranger. Hug a friend. Call a relative. Do whatever it takes to make this world a little better. A little more peaceful. A little more accepting. A little happier.
We could all use it.
Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me, where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me. (Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Judy Garland)
Y'all are gonna like this one ... Wait for it. Wait for it ...
At work a few days ago, I had a grown ass man ask me if I was related to Saddam Hussein. If it was a child at the school that I work at, I would have written it off as curiosity and a learning experience, but when you are a TEACHER, it gets written off as ignorance and stupidity, sir.
Now, I have had my fair share of people ask me that question, and my fair share of times, I have looked people straight in the eye, deadpan, and said, "Yeah, he's my uncle." Just like Will Smith is related to John Smith, and Denzel Washington is related to George Washington (for all I know, they might be, I did not research this ... But, for the sake of making a point, there you go).
Usually after saying that people realize, "Shit, I look like an dumb mf-er right now." Nope. Not this guy. He straight up was like, "Nooooooo wayyyy." Ummmm, first off, our names are not even spelled the same, bro. Second off, NO. We are not all related. And, lastly, comparing me to one of the world's most hated men and maniacal terrorists in the history of time - super offensive, especially in light of recent events.
For anyone who may have this compartmental way of thinking - yes, it may make your black and white life easier - but it is NOT RIGHT.
When you talk and you say things like "People from there are blah blah blah" or "I guess it was the so-and-so's again" and "The terrorists did this ..." you are simply exacerbating an already hateful world. And when you do say these things do you think about who the "people" are that you are referring to and who "the terrorists" are? When you say things like that, you have already painted a picture of who the problem is, and of who a terrorist is. You are simply adding fire to an already humongous flame. A terrorist can be anybody. Terrorism knows no creed, color, nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Yousef Erakat of FouseyTube put out this video today, which I think sums it up wonderfully, especially when hate crimes have already been on the rise in the past week against what many people paint as the stereotypical "terrorist" in today's society.
Now, am I saying that a terrorist is never a Muslim? Obviously not. Am I saying that they are never of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent ... No. I'm not that naive. What I am saying is that there is no reason to paint all people of one faith, or one color, into one horrible picture, and to put them in one small box. That is simply ignorant.
And, on top of that, I refuse to get into the "But guys, you need to understand you shouldn't do that because Islam is a peaceful religion" argument ... Because, you know what, personally, I am tired of having to apologize for the sins of others. I am tired of having to think, after every horrible tragedy, "I hope it wasn't a Muslim" for fear of all Muslims being blamed, and I am sure that this is the feeling of billions of Muslims all over the world.
As the innocent bystanders of these horrible incidents that occur, we also deserve the time to grieve alongside the rest of humanity but oftentimes we are not given that because we are too busy worrying about apologizing for the actions of others, but you know what? I'm sorry I'm not sorry. There is no reason that the innocent should have to apologize for the misguided actions of a select group. What I should be able to be sorry for are the families who lose loved ones in these tragedies. I should be able to mourn the lose of life due to these actions ...
But the one thing I will not do from this moment on is apologize for the actions of others.
Why can't we talk it over? Always seems to me that sorry seems to be the hardest word. (Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Elton John)
There are simply no words to express my feelings about what happened in Boston yesterday. There can never be words to express things like that because there are always too many emotions involved - sadness, anger, confusion. There are always too many questions - who? what? why?
After the initial shock wears off, you begin to think about the people who were there, the ones who actually experienced the insanity and the horror of the situation. That's the worst part and it doubles once you flip on the news and you put yourself through the agony of watching the horror unfold - because you have to know, you need to know, what is going on and what the new developments are, whether or not they are confirmed.
It pains me even more to know that there is no corner of the world where people can simply walk in peace and just be with each other without hatred - and that people don't take the time out to read or research and know what's going on in the world.
Yesterday it was Boston and Baghdad, and unfortunately, tomorrow it may very be somewhere else in the world where something horrible will happen ... because it's become a daily occurrence in our lives. People around the world are dying, and being terrorized, and what are we doing to stop it? Can we do anything to stop it?
What will you do to be the change this world needs?
Now I've been crying lately thinking about the world as it is. Why must we go on hating? Why can't we live in bliss? Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train. Oh peace train, take this country, come take me home again. (Peace Train, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam)
Ummmm, yeah, I don't know about you but I was not particularly concerned about marriage while in college (or now, for that matter). I had my mind on more important things like if I would pass my Dinosaurs class and where the next party I would be attending was happening and if my new rush crush would get a bid to my sorority and pick me as her Big Sister. Yeah, sounds superficial, but, I mean, come on ... Isn't that what most people are thinking about at 20?
And that isn't even the biggest issue I have with this woman's "advice" to women ... I have a problem with her insinuating that unless you marry (and marry someone who is your "intellectual equal"), you will essentially be a sad, pathetic, lonely mess with no future.
Yes, intelligence is obviously an important aspect to consider when choosing one's life partner. As it has been said, looks fade (side note - unfortunately Alzheimer's exists, so sometimes your mind fades as well) ... so you do want to be able to spend the rest of your life with someone you can actually talk to on a level playing field ...
BUT what about those other aspects that are also important in choosing someone to spend the rest of your life withlike, I don't know, maybe choosing a man who is kind and warmhearted and funny and who is nice to his mom and likes puppies and/or babies and is not a total and complete douche.
You cannot measure a man's character by the name of the school on his degree that he has hanging on his wall in his giant mansion on a hill, like Ms. Patton would like you to do ... A man's character is measured in the way he treats the people around him. And the way he treats you. I know plenty of extraordinary men who have graduated from state schools. I know men who have gone to what some people would call "no-name" schools, who are definitely a better catch than some of the Ivy-Leaguers I know. Just putting it out there.
This woman really needs to take a chill pill and consider how she evaluates the people around her ... and, if Son 1 and Son 2 happen to come across this blog, I apologize for bagging on your Mom. And I feel sorry for you guys because neither of you will be getting a date with anyone, anytime soon.
When somebody needs you, it's no good unless he needs you all the way. Through the good or lean years, and for all the in-between years, come what may. Who knows where the road will lead us, only a fool would say. But if you let me love you, it's for sure I'm gonna love you all the way, all the way. (All The Way, Frank Sinatra)
