have you stood in another's shoes?

points of views are very interesting.
they are helpful to know.
they can be offensive.
they can be enriching.

propaganda is using media to try to persuade others to a specific point of view. once, while researching information for a historiagraphy paper about anti-semitism in post world war two in the Middle East, i came across this.

i thought i'd share.

first: use this address- http://www.islamicity.com/IslamiTV/
2nd: under "Main Categories" (left hand column) select "Original Shows"
3rd: toward the bottom of the left column "Sub Categories" will appear, select "Comical Views"
4th: watch and listen to the two about Bush. (you can watch the other two if you'd like...)

then, let me know what you think. and if you haven't watched 'em, don't read the comments until you do.

HYPOCRITE

My life has been culminating into this crazy thing bound by deadlines, time frames, and schedules: although I like organization more than I probably ought to, I miss simplicity. Since when does it matter if a paper be four pages or eight pages? Since when should a person lose sleep, sanity, compassion… over an insignificant assignment in the eternal scheme of this world?

Last Sunday, Ashley N. asked me to give the lesson for FHE. I did, giving one on optimism. I privately set the goal to be optimistic all week. I failed. Miserably failed. Besides having a Hurricane Katrina proportioned migraine for multiple days, I was short-tempered, frustrated, depressed, and cranky. I didn’t want to laugh. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to do anything.

But knowing this, and remembering what I shared on Sunday, I feel even worse (imagine that) because I know that I am being a Hypocrite. “Be happy,” my mouth said. “Be miserable,” my actions yelled. “Smile at others,” I suggested.” “Don’t you dare smile at me!” my eyes hissed. “The Savior, even through all that He suffered- for you, for me, for all of those He loved- was the most optimistic man to live. We are taught to be like Him,” I reminded the group. But, to everyone reading my actions, face, or mind, “Woe is me. Let me be miserable.”

But…. I wanna report… I am fighten’ dat miserable misery-devil.
And

I

Am

Now

SMILING!!!!!

a day shy of two weeks...

wow i am pathetic. and the thing is that once again I have nothing to write about. i really want to take a nap though.

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

They (the unidentified people of the world) say that a person is suppose to go to school to learn stuff. I am going to school. Am I learning anything? You bet I am!

• The sun doesn't provide enough heat.
• Freshman are not wide-eyed, bushy-tailed innocence.
• Guys are still scarey sometimes.
• Other guys are fun and enjoyable to be around.
• Girls and their girlish tendencies to flirt 24/7 are annoying.
• Bugs are named correctly.
• Intimidation comes in the form of scribbely lined homework sheets.
• Professors are just as akward as everyone else: hence there is no hope to grow out of it.
• People as a whole are friendly.
• It is not difficult to look like you are an authority of some sort- just dress nicely and frown slightly and move with purpose.
• It is important to keep friendly connections with everyone- even with those who intimidate you- they come back into your life at one time or another.
• Tons of people in a little hallway, trying to go five different ways, does not result in happiness. (so is it wickedness?)
• LIFE IS EXPENSIVE
• Getting older is good, but depressing at times.
• Clocks are mean. They make their hands go really fast when you have a deadline to make. And they make their hands go molassesly slow when you are bored with nothing to do.
• Mastering a foriegn language is impossibly hard.

And have YOU learned ANYTHING as cool as me?
I betcha yeh haven't... ;)

"adults are obsolete children"

You know those people (the old people) that act as if they were still children. Be it due to their actions, mentality, spontaneity, creativity, and a whole lot more 'ity's, these people are either endearing are pathetically annoying. Trying to be more optimistic in my outlook in life, I am going to ignore the second group and expound slightly upon the first.

Starting with the author of the quote, Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss.
Dr. Seuss wrote political cartoons at one point in his life, but he is not known for them. Rather he is known for his childrens' books that were written with such childish glee, that all of America has either heard, read, seen, or had any little claim with the intricate exciting tales. If ever you are bored, try clicking around in www.suessville.com -you will be pleased, I am sure.

And then there are the people a little closer to home. My mother is one of them. More often than not, any of the things that could be classified as hairbrainish or certifiably crazy were things that my mother initiated. Memories such as playing in the muddy swing-set area (we were resanding) during a downpour, lying outside- under a tree- watching the lightening in the sky and feeling the thunder shake the ground, letting the wind hold us up during a storm that entailed hurricane winds, driving a full sized van when my feet couldn't reach the pedals while my head remained above the steering wheel, attacking my Father with ribbons and nail polish as he napped on the floor, jumping into the pool fully clothed, and I could go on and on forever. I want to be like my mother when I am her age, have kids that are in school, and keeping a job, a house, and a family in wondrous order.

The funny thing about personality is that it doesn't change much. Yes, people get older and gain wisdom, but those who are happy at heart and are like a little child in the candystore, are going to be those fun, crazy, endearing old people. When the wrinkles set in and age deprecates the mind, are you going to be one that will be thrilled for the places you have not only gone, but will yet go? Will you live in the past or, perhaps, you will be more thrilled for the adventures that will pack your days full of glee and wonderment at this gift, called life, that our Heavenly Father gave us?

I am done. I have an appointment in Seussville. Maybe I'll see you there.

THE NEWS

In order to understand the full affect of this news, I included a portion of one of my journal entries:

… I had agreed to go on a blind date to humor a friend of mine, and actually looked forward to it. The guy came and we went out. Toward the end of this date, this man that I had scarcely met asked me to marry him. Strangely, I felt a need to agree, so I did.

Then we were married- I really don’t remember any of the ceremony, planning, or anything. I went home to North Dakota to see my family directly following the wedding- I was there for a month.

On my return, I was walking up a greeny knoll to the BYU married housing. A bunch of mothers came running to help me take by things to the place where my husband and I were to live. They brought a bunch of horrific house decorations, as well.

When I saw the inside of the building, I was horrified. The units were only kept separate by an ugly colored-red curtain. The living room had two small couches- both just barely fitting in the cramped space. Then two more curtains led to two bedrooms- both only furnished with a cot and a two-drawer dresser.

The place was deplorable and I was almost in tears- but I kept my chin up. I began to bring the stuff into one of the bedrooms and tried to put a few things in a drawer, but discovered they were full of the old occupants’ belongings.

A few of my friends showed up for a “house” warming party- eight to be exact. About a half hour later another group came- leading was my husband. “Hello,” I said cheerfully when I saw him- yet it was with reservation.

“Hi, uh…uh……uh……”
“You don’t remember my name?!!!!!”
“Well! You left me for a month!”
“One month! One month! To visit my family!”
“Well,” he snidely inserted, “we are just hit and miss. I’ll be gone for a week.”

I knew that this fighting wasn’t good. I got up and went to hug him. He pulled back slightly and I looked up at him and was hoping he’d kiss me- my first kiss. He did not. The tension was high in the room and people started saying that they had better go. My husband left with his friends- among which were several of his ex-girlfriends.

My mind started to race, berating myself over and over, “what have I gotten myself into? Why did I marry him? What did I see in him? Do I even love him? How is this going to work? I can get a divorce. No. I can’t. I need to be patient and understanding. It will work. Oh, Father! Will it? Help me!”

And then I woke up. Thankfully.


Anyway- the guy in my dream was tall, tan, and had dark hair: not suave handsome, but ruggedly so. On Friday night, I went to an Orem Owlz game. The Owlz won (Both teams were rather poor). But the news is, I SAW HIM! Okay, maybe it wasn’t HIM, but he was tall, tan, and dark haired… and drop dead handsome!



Disclaimer: Maria truly does not want to ever meet the husband of afore stated dream.

Nothing New & Exciting

BUT,


THE WORLD IS STILL BEAUTIFUL!