Response to Meghan

In Meghan's blog she talks about standing alone. This is a very huge topic in my mind because I think everyone at some point will have to stand alone for what they believe in. For example, a teenager all through their life was brought up to not do drugs or drink or party but as soon as they come to college all their friends are doing is that and they either have to stand alone and stay to their morals or give up and give in. This is a usual situation for most students because they can stand alone and seem like an outcast or just give in then feel guilty about that later. The people that stand alone and stand up for what they believe in are remembered most in history. This is because they did what they thought was right and they will always be remembered for that.

Culture wars

Another item from the reading that struck me was culture wars. By definition is a struggle between two sets of conflicting cultural values. This seems so weird to actually think about because it seems like everything could be a culture war. What causes them though? What causes someone to come to the conclusion that the unpopular opinion? Society basically says what all the norms should be and what is wrong. This causes conflict among countries and states.

One big example of this a culture war in America, is Gay Marriage. This is because society, heterosexuals also known as the majority, see the unpopular opinion, homosexuals, as being wrong. This is because it goes against  what they believe is right and wrong and societies morals. This has caused so much tension in America and has divided so many people. It can divide families and even friends. It is sad but this is caused by mostly fear. Fear that one thing can change everything. Fear that because a select minority is homosexual that everyone will "turn out to be homosexuals". This is all irrational. If everyone were to look at it with a more rational view they would see that that is a life style and a choice. Not something that is forced because other people are. Culture wars end up changing perception of an idea of something in to complete chaos.

Discrimination

Discrimination is huge in today's society. We all know how it is caused. But what I don't fully understand is why?. Why do people need to put other people down? Especially about religion, when nothing is set in stone about it. It is all just what people have written about and may not have actually happened.  The biggest discriminatory act that has happened in 2011 was the Koran burning. This offended Islamic people everywhere. The priest in charge of this was trying to invoke fear because of 9/11 but instead he anger everyone, except for extremists.

Why would he do this? It was most likely to show that because our country got hurt at one point, that he could hurt them by burning their most sacred texts. It could also be to show power and to show that we are a lot stronger than they are. It could also be that he was afraid of something of the same sort happening. People do strange things when they are afraid and sometimes these go to extreme measures. This reminds me of the shooter in the bank who takes a hostage. For all of us to live happily, people need to stop trying to show that they are stronger and more powerful than everyone around them. They need to be happy for what they have. If we didn't discriminate people would be so much happier and the world would be a perfect place. Yet, that is a dream world.