The "Powder Attacks" Hit Home...

November 18, 2008 at 10:33 PM

-I don't want this blog to turn into a political wildfire so as soon as someone posts an offensive comment I'll delete it. And if it gets out of control I'll delete the entire blog-

First, a little background... I recently finished reading a play called Inherit The Wind. Inherit The Wind is fictionalized on account of the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial. It's changed me. The way Henry Drummond, the defense attorney of Bertram Cates, sees things has given me a new way of looking at others. Before blowing off a religion or anything in life, I will read and learn about all the options and make my decision. I would reccomend reading this to anyone looking to become a truly better person.

It kind of pisses me off how ignorant some children who have had religion shoved down their throats are. Please don't misunderstand; I'm not stating that one thing is right and the other wrong; I'm simply telling you what has happened to me.

Saying "it kind of pisses me off how ignorant some children who have had religion shoved down their throats are", was because of what I've heard today.

An envelope was delivered to the Seminary building next to the Junior High, which is just down the street from my school. At first, rumors were flying around saying it contained white powder. People were saying "The gays are attacking! The gays are attacking!" Which made me mad. As everyone knows, suspicious packages have been sent to the LDS temple in Salt Lake City, and one in California. And accusations are being made that the packages were sent by members of the gay community.

I just can't stand how I'm surrounded by people who are only willing to accept one view of life, and consider everything else wrong. I see this apply everywhere... In my history class, before the election, the teacher held a vote asking who would would vote for Obama, and who would vote for McCain. Guess who won... 3 people said they would vote for Obama, the rest of the class said McCain, because that's what their parents told them they should do. And then when the teacher held a vote for who would support and oppose Proposition 8, every student in the class raised their hand to support. I was disgusted and refused to vote.

I don't believe anyone should be denied any right in any situation in life. It makes me sad that people only believe one view and will not listen to others. Utah is very LDS. The LDS way of thinking is that marriage should be between only a man and woman; and this belief is passed down to children.

In my opinion, if anyone is denying any person eqaul rights, we might as well be back before Civil Rights. Do those like Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King who fought so hard, mean nothing anymore? I don't see a difference in denying someone something because of their sexuality, and denying someone something because of their skin color.

I know that I am taking a huge risk by posting this, but I just can't take it anymore! I need to get out of Utah....

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted via 69.156.175.110 on November 18, 2008 at 10:36 PM

Am I taking a big risk in saying that I find totally stupid the mentallity of a few american schools and families who forces their children to believe that we come from adam and Eve and lie on all the scientific evidence that have proven that we come from monkeys that have evolved over the years to become the human kind. Why should the humans always think they are that superior to animals at the point of lying on their own animal origins (I mean from monkeys? I went at a zoo not long ago and saw a monkey which I swear had exectly the same behaviour as a little human baby but with out talking of course. All the similar views in those certain schools/families/states about the gays or white people over black or no "relations" before marriage groups ?????? How can this exists in the US? Well I think each country has certain ironical things that should be corrected. I could also say, why corridas and greyhoud murders as a show in Spain, annual dolphin massacre (they don't call it officially massacre of course... ) in Dannemark, seal hunt and forest destruction in Canada (yes I'm canadian and often ashamed of my own country too...) goat sacrifices in Greece in the middle of the street etc...... all these countries are suppose to be civilize! Sorry if my words kind of shocking but you are right Paul!

Anne-Marie

I hope there are not young children reading this, if there is, email me and I will delete my posting...

From Paul G.
Posted via 75.169.224.5 on November 18, 2008 at 11:05 PM

Anne-Marie,

I agree with your posting. I should have included in my blog that America is supposed to be "the greatest country in the world" and I don't believe that anymore. If we're denying rights, than our country no longer deserves that title. People from other countries come here for freedom, yet I don't see that total freedom anymore.

I do not consider myself to be a "higher being" than my dog. And I think I am not alone. That is why it's against the law to beat an animal just like it is to beat a human. I believe that every one should be treated eqaul but sadly not everyone agrees.....

From Elizabeth Musil
Posted via 91.38.229.94 on November 19, 2008 at 2:58 PM

Paul, I agree with you totally. Especially the irony in the statement "America is the best country in the world," and the contrast between the statement and the reality that you find in day-to-day life. Granted there are many great things about the US, but in my opinion one of its biggest problems is the blatant refusal of people to look subjectively at things while broadly proclaiming their country, views, and way of life to be the best that there is.

An important thing to look at is to try to figure out WHY this is and why people are so rigid and unbending in their beliefs (which you must admit that, in some cases, can be a good thing). One reason that I have found is that for a lot of people, they have nothing else to compare it with. They have never traveled to another country, never seriously learned another language or become familar with different ways of living, and never been put into a situation in which they need to adapt their viewpoints. On top of this, our education system does nothing to encourage people to think independently. I don't know about you, but while I was in highschool, the name of the game was to memorize facts and figures, write a multiple choice test, or if an essay test, write what the teacher wants/is looking for, and then to forget it all two weeks later because we were never held responsible for what we actually learned. There is nothing in our system that encourages people to think independently or to assemble information from different sources and draw an independent conclusion. I first learned how to do this in college and while studying abroad in Germany.

Like you, I too come from a place in the US in which people are very conservative and very much hang onto their religious views and morals. And I admit that while I was still your age, I was one of them. But luckily, I learned how to be flexible in my beliefs, ie. that I respect others opinions and viewpoints as well as listen to/seriously think about what they say. Some of your classmates will mature in this way as well as they get older, but for now it is hard to expect someone to be able to do this when they know nothing different - to go against something that you have been taught and told since before you can remember is one of the hardest things ever to do, even if in your heart and mind you know it is wrong or shouldn't be so, and it takes time for old beliefs and ideas to change for the better. So yes, I agree with you, it is wrong to judge or accuse somebody because they are gay, or of a different race, or for any other stupid reason, and the fact that this still happens shows that we have a long way to go. But take pride in the progress that has been made, and don't be discouraged when change takes much longer than you would like - that doesn't mean that it isn't happening.

From Paul G.
Posted via 75.169.224.5 on November 19, 2008 at 9:37 PM

Thank you very much for sharing your comment Elizabeth.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted via 138.88.132.111 on November 21, 2008 at 10:42 AM

Paul, I'm really proud of you because you are open minded even though you are surrounded by a community which is not. There have always been, and I suppose that there will always be, groups who are targets for hatred, which can lead to persecution and even war. I believe that hatred is a terrible thing, especially when fed by theology.

From Craig Coleman
Posted via 202.220.252.121 on November 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your writing and after reading your blog I was worried where in the world is Paul going to school? Your bio says just a normal public school for now. I think you should change it to violinist.com just a normal school for now, trust me alot of people here will be able to help you more than where you're at now. Like Pauline said she is very proud of you and I think everyone here cares alot about you and interested in where you're heading.

Craig

From Paul G.
Posted via 75.169.224.5 on November 21, 2008 at 1:07 PM

Craig, yes, it is just normal public school. But I hope to change that for my senior year by either going to a music school or graduating early as I am ahead almost 2 credits because of my fine arts work.

I don't think there is any where to avoid seeing bad things if you know what I mean. There was a new girl in my english class yesterday, and as soon as she started walking in everyone was talking softly to the person next to them calling her barbie and other things and later in the day like "stupid slut" etc.

But the only word you can describe high school in is drama. And hopefully I'll get over it next year...

But I mean, I can't really say everyone around me is horrible and I'm innocent. If the "barbie girl" had walked into class a few weeks ago I probably would be one of the people making comments about her. But something kind of changed me this week... So I don't know what else to tell you. I was just saying to the girl next to me who is my friend, that you shouldn't call her a slut because we don't know anything about her and it's not easy being the new kid... So I don't know. Something just changed in my personality lately and I've been treating situations differently than I have in the past.

From Craig Coleman
Posted via 202.220.252.121 on November 22, 2008 at 1:27 AM

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your comments. I can explain to you because of my experience ,your H.S. is like drama now but if you go to music school believe me it's going to get more dramatic and you're going to have to survive that. There will be more Ken and Barbie types and others too,yes same sex couples also. So your just gaining experience now and later you will be able to see what's good for you and be able to decide for yourself. Say hello to your new classmate, that's the best way for now.

Craig

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