'I don't mean to sound racists'

I am in Boston with two of my writers for a workshop and I am realizing how much I know and what the world needs to teach others.

We were out walking to night and we got away from the rich part of Boston and into the more trendy, college part. My companions began to get worried because we were not safe and people were scary. To be honest I felt that the neighbor was normal and the people had culture!

My companions also care to much about material objects in my opinion. They just want to look at Chanel and Dior, maybe try on, but only for the sake of the glory that is rumored around such high end stores.

We went to an Irish pub for supper and they were mad at the waitress because she didn't treat us like babies and wait on us hand and foot. They only tipped her a dollar.

There was a homeless man sleeping in front of a church. I borrowed one of my companions cameras to capture the shot, they both were worried and asked me not to. The man actually got up and asked me not, at which time I stopped. One of my companions replied, "As soon as he got up and I saw that he was black I got scared. You never know when they are going to pull out a gun." When the comment was made that that is a racists comment, the companion responded, "I don't mean to sound racists, but it's true."

I don't even have the energy to go off with this one.

Do you have any asprin because I am trembling so badly because of your beauty

Yes, I did make up that pick up line. And yes you may use it at your discretion. It's been my hobby lately, I think I may write a book. Or not because they are clearly not that good.

I am not even sure what to write about because there is so much going on in my head.

#1. My parents think that I can afford my own rent. There are telling me that I can suck it up and live in a place that is not good for me or live on the streets because I can't afford to pay rent. Can you say more stress on top of old stress.
#2. Hello! The paper, yeah it's plenty to think about all the time. I am constantly thinking about different things that need to happen and how to make things better. Not to mention doing human relations stuff all day, every day.
#3. School. I need to start studying for a couple of tests but it is looking like I may not have a lot of time to do that. I need to start making office hours and only working then and studying during other set times.

Well that is about it. Not that deep, more surface issues to babble about then deep intellectual social concerns. Though I continue to think about the world; my world is shaking pretty deeply right now.

Why would you even need to ask that question on such a personal issue

Background: About three months or so ago, I ran into some now pretty good friends. They are the type of friends that you can't always count on but bring out the best in you and make you grow in ways that you never thought that you could. They have taught me about a different way in approaching life's philosophy. Most of them are students studying at the local state college, again mostly in engineering or some other esteemed degree. They are all from an Arab nation.
The fact that they are Arab, makes it typical that some of them are currently celebrating Ramadan, a Muslim holiday.

To explore the tradition and gain a greater understanding of the Muslim religion, I decided to participate in the fasting this year. It is a month long fast from sun up to sun down. The reason for the fasting, in my understanding, is to have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the world poorest who do not have the convince of clean water and food at any moment.

Story: I was conversing with a friend and the discussion of religion arose. I was asked, 'Wouldn't it be cool if you could be a different religion every day of the week?' I was flabbergasted. Where would that question even come from, who is telling society that they can not be many religions at once. Is society really stopping us from identifying with multiple religions? Faith and religion are such a personal issue that they should not be dependent upon the world. I know that it is permissible for one to create their own religion, it may not be deemed permissible by societies standards but however questionable it is possible. In fact I believe that it is in better, in many cases, then settling for a form of traditional religion that one does not totally believe in. If you didn't believe in a company you wouldn't tell your friends about them and sell them as positive, why should it be any different with religion?

So, go forth and create your own religion. Make the world your own.

It all has to start somewhere...

As I sit at my favorite spot here, I can watch the game fans pass by. The fans are rude, crude and mostly drunk. In a nut shell obnoxious. However I understand the crowds to be, they remind me of a recent lecture by a professor at Chicago. He was explaining to my university that we are all clones. At first I did not understand his message, he was relating out lack of individuality to 9/11 and was a tad to abstract for me that early in the morning.

The face that we wear clothing, go to work, eat at the local pub is evidence that we are clones of society. I shy away from the word clone and would prefer to refer to the situation as socialization and assimilation.

Okay, so back to the game fans. They all walk by, clad in red and ready to yell for their favorite team. But do half of them really know who the line back man is? I feel that they are just going to the game because it is the desired thing to do. I must admit at this time that at one point in the week I felt a desire to attend the game as well. However, I didn't have the means to pursue that thought, and I am glad I didn't.

Who in society creates these blurred desires of the world? Some believe that it is the government. And that may be true to a certain extent. However, the government's message is delivered to it's citizens through media. If media is the one who sends the message to the receiver, then they have the power to control our thoughts and views.

More thoughts to come.....