Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Monday, September 4, 2017
Labels, Politics, and Me
Hello everybody, it's PrincessSarah here.
I want everyone to know a few things before I start.
1.All of the opinions shared are completely my own, and I will take full responsibility if I offend anyone.
2.These are my views. If you have different views, that is fine; I won't judge you, but please comment in a civil manner.
3. I am willing to engage in a civil discussion in the comments, but if it gets out of hand, I will have to take measures concerning my blog.
4. If a comment contains swear words, hate speech, or any form of crude language the comment will be deleted.
5. This applies to ALL posts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All right, let's get down to the bare bones of my social/political beliefs. I am going to leave my religious beliefs out of this discussion, but I am grounding my beliefs on a Christian worldview.
If one looked at me on the outside, and heard my arguments I could be labeled many things. I could be labeled a "Christian Conservative" for my stance on abortion, although I could be considered very liberal in many other regards, the calmer types claiming I am a "member of the democratic party" and the more daring people calling me a Socialist or even going as far as to accuse me of being a Communist with anti-American intentions.
I am pretty sure that I can debunk all of these rumors rather quickly and sufficiently by saying this: "I am not, nor do I want to be, affiliated with any political party in the United States of America, or throughout the rest of the world." I am neither a "Republican" nor a "Democrat", neither a "Capitalist" nor a "Communist", and I certainly don't have any intentions of treasonous acts. I am a loyal American citizen and I can't see that changing anytime soon. Just because I may be fed up with the state of being that the U.S. is currently in, doesn't mean that I don't love the country as a whole.
I bet that the curious reader is now left wondering what I am after I just, crudely speaking, proclaimed that I am not political. Does that mean I'm just too busy? Too lazy? Or just plain too self-absorbed to care about the political state of affairs? The answer to these questions is No. I do care about politics. But I possibly care more about the "social status" of things, rather than the government itself. I use these terms loosely, for fear of being pegged as a "Socialist". I am honestly not opposed to that at times, but I feel that I have my own brand of "Politics".
I have, however, left out the important word that defines the moral values of a person, rather than political, although they are closely tied. I am, in essence, a pacifist. Putting a label on this side of myself proved tricky, although somewhat freeing. (Just please don't start WW3 people). I am scared, some could say, of war, and possibly being drafted into a potential WW3. Warranted or not, as I grow in maturity my concerns are more moral and less physical in the sense that I am not afraid to die in the way that I used to be. I am definitely not searching for death, but I don't feel as if I need to run at every turn as I used to. I am more concerned with the questions that my karate teacher made me think on in the midst of his long self-defense lectures. Occasionally it would come to the point of "breaking his neck" or "cracking his skull". Violent imagery designed as motivation to succeed in karate backfired into "motivation to stop this fighting". Pacifism was one of the many reasons I quit karate, and I feel free ever since I quit.
Like it or not, the moral side of my brain was raising questions inside my head. Is it OK to kill in self-defense? And more importantly, is it ever necessary to kill out of defense of one's self or others, even if the assailant was intending to kill? The answer to the first question, in my world view is absolutely a "no". I think that in the case of physical assault if violence is the only way out, leaving the assailant unconscious and contacting local authorities should always suffice. The second question poses another set of moral questions. I think that I have to leave it on "Yes--only in the most extreme of circumstances." And by extreme--I am talking about mass-genocide levels of extreme. I remember reading an excellent Young Adult biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer last semester (The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero by Patricia McCormick), and I remember being fascinated with his story. For those unfamiliar, Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who was shocked with the way things were going. Being a pacifist, he tried to convince others to notice what was happening, but nobody would listen to him, and after a moral struggle, he decided that the only way to save millions of lives and end end the war was to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Although he didn't attempt it himself, he masterminded the plans which his several close friends followed, although unfortunately failing to kill Hilter, he left a legacy behind him.
Yes, being a pacifist is more than idling the hours away. Out of all of America's National Holidays, there are not many who receive the honor of having one. Labor Day celebrates workers' rights while Memorial Day and Veterans Day deal with the military. Of course we celebrate the New Year, as well as Christmas Day and Independence Day. And of course, there is Presidents' Day. There is only one Holiday named after a human being, aside from Columbus Day, named after the man who discovered America, and the honor goes to Martin Luther King Jr. He isn't remembered for aggression; he is remembered for his speeches, and I am a firm believer in the "pen is mightier than the sword approach". Using writing, it being works of fiction and nonfiction alike, can convey emotions, feeling, and weight, without being destructive. That isn't to say that one should go about screaming nonviolence in people's face. It has to be brought forth with care, discretion, and most of all, love.
Again, I emphasize that being overbearing is a turnoff of any pacifist behavior. I am not trying to force any individuals to change their beliefs, simply offering a new viewpoint. I respect people's Second Amendment rights, and their need to defend themselves. I have zero tolerance for murder, racism, or sexism however, and hope to see that change. For now, though, I think that bring new thoughts to the table in a constructive and calm way could be a good start for America, before all else. I could go into whole books on political and economic philosophy, my ideas, and how it could be done, but for now it will suffice to say that on the political spectrum I fall along the lines of a visionary; some would call me a dreamer as if it were a slur, but I'm not the only one. I'm OK with that.
~~Sarah
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Major influences:
Gandhi
Bonhoeffer
MLK
John Lennon
I want everyone to know a few things before I start.
1.All of the opinions shared are completely my own, and I will take full responsibility if I offend anyone.
2.These are my views. If you have different views, that is fine; I won't judge you, but please comment in a civil manner.
3. I am willing to engage in a civil discussion in the comments, but if it gets out of hand, I will have to take measures concerning my blog.
4. If a comment contains swear words, hate speech, or any form of crude language the comment will be deleted.
5. This applies to ALL posts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All right, let's get down to the bare bones of my social/political beliefs. I am going to leave my religious beliefs out of this discussion, but I am grounding my beliefs on a Christian worldview.
If one looked at me on the outside, and heard my arguments I could be labeled many things. I could be labeled a "Christian Conservative" for my stance on abortion, although I could be considered very liberal in many other regards, the calmer types claiming I am a "member of the democratic party" and the more daring people calling me a Socialist or even going as far as to accuse me of being a Communist with anti-American intentions.
I am pretty sure that I can debunk all of these rumors rather quickly and sufficiently by saying this: "I am not, nor do I want to be, affiliated with any political party in the United States of America, or throughout the rest of the world." I am neither a "Republican" nor a "Democrat", neither a "Capitalist" nor a "Communist", and I certainly don't have any intentions of treasonous acts. I am a loyal American citizen and I can't see that changing anytime soon. Just because I may be fed up with the state of being that the U.S. is currently in, doesn't mean that I don't love the country as a whole.
I bet that the curious reader is now left wondering what I am after I just, crudely speaking, proclaimed that I am not political. Does that mean I'm just too busy? Too lazy? Or just plain too self-absorbed to care about the political state of affairs? The answer to these questions is No. I do care about politics. But I possibly care more about the "social status" of things, rather than the government itself. I use these terms loosely, for fear of being pegged as a "Socialist". I am honestly not opposed to that at times, but I feel that I have my own brand of "Politics".
I have, however, left out the important word that defines the moral values of a person, rather than political, although they are closely tied. I am, in essence, a pacifist. Putting a label on this side of myself proved tricky, although somewhat freeing. (Just please don't start WW3 people). I am scared, some could say, of war, and possibly being drafted into a potential WW3. Warranted or not, as I grow in maturity my concerns are more moral and less physical in the sense that I am not afraid to die in the way that I used to be. I am definitely not searching for death, but I don't feel as if I need to run at every turn as I used to. I am more concerned with the questions that my karate teacher made me think on in the midst of his long self-defense lectures. Occasionally it would come to the point of "breaking his neck" or "cracking his skull". Violent imagery designed as motivation to succeed in karate backfired into "motivation to stop this fighting". Pacifism was one of the many reasons I quit karate, and I feel free ever since I quit.
Like it or not, the moral side of my brain was raising questions inside my head. Is it OK to kill in self-defense? And more importantly, is it ever necessary to kill out of defense of one's self or others, even if the assailant was intending to kill? The answer to the first question, in my world view is absolutely a "no". I think that in the case of physical assault if violence is the only way out, leaving the assailant unconscious and contacting local authorities should always suffice. The second question poses another set of moral questions. I think that I have to leave it on "Yes--only in the most extreme of circumstances." And by extreme--I am talking about mass-genocide levels of extreme. I remember reading an excellent Young Adult biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer last semester (The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero by Patricia McCormick), and I remember being fascinated with his story. For those unfamiliar, Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who was shocked with the way things were going. Being a pacifist, he tried to convince others to notice what was happening, but nobody would listen to him, and after a moral struggle, he decided that the only way to save millions of lives and end end the war was to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Although he didn't attempt it himself, he masterminded the plans which his several close friends followed, although unfortunately failing to kill Hilter, he left a legacy behind him.
Yes, being a pacifist is more than idling the hours away. Out of all of America's National Holidays, there are not many who receive the honor of having one. Labor Day celebrates workers' rights while Memorial Day and Veterans Day deal with the military. Of course we celebrate the New Year, as well as Christmas Day and Independence Day. And of course, there is Presidents' Day. There is only one Holiday named after a human being, aside from Columbus Day, named after the man who discovered America, and the honor goes to Martin Luther King Jr. He isn't remembered for aggression; he is remembered for his speeches, and I am a firm believer in the "pen is mightier than the sword approach". Using writing, it being works of fiction and nonfiction alike, can convey emotions, feeling, and weight, without being destructive. That isn't to say that one should go about screaming nonviolence in people's face. It has to be brought forth with care, discretion, and most of all, love.
Again, I emphasize that being overbearing is a turnoff of any pacifist behavior. I am not trying to force any individuals to change their beliefs, simply offering a new viewpoint. I respect people's Second Amendment rights, and their need to defend themselves. I have zero tolerance for murder, racism, or sexism however, and hope to see that change. For now, though, I think that bring new thoughts to the table in a constructive and calm way could be a good start for America, before all else. I could go into whole books on political and economic philosophy, my ideas, and how it could be done, but for now it will suffice to say that on the political spectrum I fall along the lines of a visionary; some would call me a dreamer as if it were a slur, but I'm not the only one. I'm OK with that.
~~Sarah
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Major influences:
Gandhi
Bonhoeffer
MLK
John Lennon
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Q&A With Me
Q: What is your name?
A: My name is Sarah.
Q: Where do you live?
A: Pennsylvania, USA.
Q: What is your favorite colour?
A: Blue.
Q: Cats or dogs?
A; Cats.
Q: Favourite Movie?
A: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Q: Favourite book?
A: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street.
Q: Favorite game?
A: Super Mario Galaxy.
Q: Favourite band?
A: The Beatles!
Q: How about a solo act?
A: Imogen Heap.
Q: Favourite Beatle then?
A: John Lennon.
Q: Biggest creative inspiration?
A: John Lennon.
Q: Crush?
A: John Lennon! 😸
Q: Romantic or nah?
A: Nah?
Q: hang out with guys or girls?
A: Whoever wants to play videogames with me.
Q: Nerd, geek, or dork?
A: #nerdsquad.
Q: Favourite song?
A: "A Day in the Life"
Q: Favorite albums?
A: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Beatles), Sparks (Imogen Heap), 25 (Adele), The Blessed Unrest (Sara Bareilles), The Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd).
Q: Taylor or Katy?
A: Tay-Tay all the way.
Q: Best Taylor Swift song?
A: "Blank Space".
Q: Best Youtuber?
A; Melinda Kathleen Reese. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP2-S6-M9ZvlY8t7cRn4O6A
Q: Best Twitch Streamer?
A: darbian. https://www.twitch.tv/darbian
Q: Most motivational Beatles song?
A: "Revolution"
Q: Disney or Dreamworks?
A: Is this even a question? Disney, duh?
Q: Favourite Disney Movie?
A: Zootopia.
Q: Favorite dance?
A: Gangnam style!
Q: But seriously, do you dance?
A: I take Irish Step Dancing.
Q: What about school?
A: I'm in tenth grade; I'm homeschooled.
Ill do a part 2 later!!
A: My name is Sarah.
Q: Where do you live?
A: Pennsylvania, USA.
Q: What is your favorite colour?
A: Blue.
Q: Cats or dogs?
A; Cats.
Q: Favourite Movie?
A: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Q: Favourite book?
A: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street.
Q: Favorite game?
A: Super Mario Galaxy.
Q: Favourite band?
A: The Beatles!
Q: How about a solo act?
A: Imogen Heap.
Q: Favourite Beatle then?
A: John Lennon.
Q: Biggest creative inspiration?
A: John Lennon.
Q: Crush?
A: John Lennon! 😸
Q: Romantic or nah?
A: Nah?
Q: hang out with guys or girls?
A: Whoever wants to play videogames with me.
Q: Nerd, geek, or dork?
A: #nerdsquad.
Q: Favourite song?
A: "A Day in the Life"
Q: Favorite albums?
A: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Beatles), Sparks (Imogen Heap), 25 (Adele), The Blessed Unrest (Sara Bareilles), The Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd).
Q: Taylor or Katy?
A: Tay-Tay all the way.
Q: Best Taylor Swift song?
A: "Blank Space".
Q: Best Youtuber?
A; Melinda Kathleen Reese. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP2-S6-M9ZvlY8t7cRn4O6A
Q: Best Twitch Streamer?
A: darbian. https://www.twitch.tv/darbian
Q: Most motivational Beatles song?
A: "Revolution"
Q: Disney or Dreamworks?
A: Is this even a question? Disney, duh?
Q: Favourite Disney Movie?
A: Zootopia.
Q: Favorite dance?
A: Gangnam style!
Q: But seriously, do you dance?
A: I take Irish Step Dancing.
Q: What about school?
A: I'm in tenth grade; I'm homeschooled.
Ill do a part 2 later!!
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
HI
HI! This is my blog! I reply to all comments. I like readers. I like comments. I like feedback.
Thx.
Thx.
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