Remorse

I feel really bad. I don't want this post to be this apology for not posting as frequently and as interestingly as it used to be. I mean, how can you be posting when you don't have time? But I don't like how I'm basically neglecting my blog. Also, I really can't think of anything interesting to say, which is not very good.

I hope I'll have more time as school goes on.



-- If there's anything around here more important than my ego, I want it caught and shot now!

Impromptu Speaking and Facebook Group Wars

Yesterday my sister's friend came over. She was mean to me, but she let me play her Wii. Normally, I wouldn't have even hung about with my sister and her friend, but I didn't have anything planned yesterday. So when my mom asked me to go to her Toastmaster's award party, I couldn't really refuse. My dad had to stay at home to watch my sister and her friend. Either I could go or I could stay at home with my sister's mean Wii friend. 

At first, I thought I'd be really bored there and that only adults would be there. But I talked to some of my mom's friends, I started to like it. My mom's friends were very interesting to talk to, not all stuffy and uninterested in teenagers like me. We all talked about Alaska, Ethiopia, the economy, and other very interesting stuff. And the food was pretty good as well. Because this was a Toastmaster's party, I thought that this "socializing" would help my speaking skills. And because the host was French, I got to practice a little bit of French as well. 

At the end of the party, there was a talent show. I was apprehensive about signing up. Even though I talked with most people there, I didn't really know them that well. But I signed up for the talent show on the basis that most of them had knocked down a few glasses of wine already. I was going to tell a joke about one of my mom's childhood neighbor, but my mother decided against it, right when it was my turn. I had to come up with another "talent" quickly.

It wasn't really a talent; I really just told a story. I told them about my experiences with my classmates who were very uneducated with the upcoming elections. I then explained how I could readily communicate with the people at the party. Everyone knew what they were talking about, unlike some of my classmates. I told them that at first, I didn't really want to go to this party, but in the end, I really opened up to these people and thoroughly enjoyed the party. 

I got a nice applause and a few good compliments afterwards. I'm glad I went. I really think that this party has gotten me a few new friends (even though they aren't my age), a nice chance to practice impromptu speaking, and a deeper passion for my Facebook group. 

During my story, I told them that I had started a Facebook group, Ethan for President, out of digust over both the presidential candidates. My premise was that if they have both passed stupid laws and said and done stupid things, they must not be good candidates. I invited all my friends on Facebook to join my group, and already sixty plus people have joined. Even some guy from the UK has joined.

I think my idea has caught on for most people. Another pair of people have started their own president group. (I'm not going to put a link because someone may join them.) So now it has turned into this membership competition. I don't mind though; my group has way more people than that other group. 

So someone join my Ethan for President group. I'd like to have a lot of people join before Election Day. 

-- If there's anything around here more important than my ego, I want it caught and shot now!

Makes Me Sad

This article makes me really sad. The article discusses Obama's mysterious label as "other". The article then asks people what they thought about Obama's race. Every one of those quotes said that they wouldn't vote for Obama because he's biracial.

Can you believe it? They are uneasy about Obama not because of his policies but because he's mixed. The people who were interviewed used "information" from the Bible, saying that people aren't supposed to marry other races. Then, some of the people said that they wouldn't want a black president (even though he's not fully black). Some people that were interviewed said that they liked him because even though he was black (which he isn't fully), he didn't show signs of his "blackness".

I really can't understand this prejudice. Society as a whole is supposed to be all progressive and all, no bigotry or anything. I guess I was wrong, however. These people act all righteous, "quoting" the Bible about how God told the people not to intermarry. The people interviewed in my opinion are not fully aware that they live in the 21st century, where beliefs like these are outdated and really racist. They probably haven't even seen a mixed person until Obama showed up on the news.

I really want to tell these people that they are wrong in their thinking. Am I evil in any way because my parents married each other? I mean, what if these people being interviewed met me at the store or something? What would they say to me? Would they denounce me, saying that I was a product of sin or something? How hard is it to accept that people are marrying other races? People need to get open to the idea because the idea is already being carried out.



-- If there's anything around here more important than my ego, I want it caught and shot now!

Poverty

October 15th is supposed to be Blog Action Day. Every year, bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, and others from around the world come together and discuss a certain topic. This year's topic is poverty. 

Poverty is very broad, spanning from the lack of basic necessities like water and shelter to the more complex issues like lack of education and respect, but, for me, it all boils down to lack of money. The water bill costs money. The mortgage costs money. College tuition costs money. Living a good life with the needs met, you guessed it, costs money. (The wants cost extra.) So money, or rather the lack of, causes poverty, but how does a person get to not having enough money to support their needs? Well, there are a few reasons.

First, bad management is the number one reason people don't have the money needed to support themselves. Saving money for retirement, shopping for the best deals, handling loans and mortgages cautiously, all these things are important for having money. However, mismanagement of money, no planning for the future, no regard for what you make compared to what your spend, will get you into debt and into poverty.

I guess I'm being to hard on some people in poverty; not everyone is a bad money manager. Some people are in poverty because of bad luck. Scams and cons steal a good life from innocent people. Natural disasters can also change a person's financial sitation. And just being born into a family where there isn't really a way out. For example with STDs, people are now being born with AIDS, getting it from their mother. It's like inheritance, but instead of receiving a sum of money,  you get an empty pocket. 

Poverty is bad. I'm not saying that poor people are bad, just the situation that they are in is really bad. No one in the world should ever have to experience poverty. It's not only morally degrading but also physically tough and hard on the mind. 

So what can we do to stop this? Charity is probably the best thing. It definitely helps erradicate poverty, and it also feels good to donate knowing that you have more than you actually need. Also, people in poverty should consider getting a job. Unemployment will not get you out of poverty. If you have children, instill in them a desire to get out of poverty. No smooching of the government and donations forever. Poverty is hard to live in, but it's not irreversible. 

-- If there's anything around here more important than my ego, I want it caught and shot now!