Post by Sparks on Mar 16, 2005 13:15:53 GMT -8
I wasn't sure what category this went under, so this is where I'm tossing it.
Work in Progress... well it was, until about two minutes ago. When I finished it.
It's...basically everything I am. I am sick of people talking about (not) labelling each other, so I just wrote out what I am and what I believe in, so at least some arguments can be averted.
And hopefully you'll read it and tell me what you think
LABELS, CONFORMITY, AND A REVOLUTION AT BAY
- B. E. M.
Kids my age are so concerned about putting a label to themselves, or refusing to do so.
I think it's human nature to label things. That's where we came up with Greek, American, Thai, Chinese, Aztec...what are those? Labels? That's how we understand each other.
And it's also human nature to group. Classify. Communities are an example of this.
Except people take a look at themselves and either say "I am this, because this is what people should think I am, and this is what I look like, and until something better comes along, I think I would like to wear this badge" or they say "labels are ridiculous, I'm not going to conform to society's standards and call myself something because that is the trendy thing to do" and put on a smug face.
Well I think I've found a way around that.
And I've also found myself a label.
I was thinking about it a while ago and I just decided that, why don’t I just make a list of all the things I am and then go from there?
I'm strongly against racism, fascism and homophobia.
I believe in preserving the environment. I don't believe in churches, although I have nothing against people that do, as long as they're good people. Religiously, I am Agnostic.
I'm a thrift store shopper - at least a good chunk of the time, because why waste money and support sweatshops and child labour?
I'm an artist. I am a musician. I love painting, sketching, drawing, and playing the piano. I'm a creative person. I write songs and I write lyrics, and I write stories, poetry, and any type of prose.
I am socially savvy and I never let people take advantage of me.
I believe in the quote "Silence is a virtue: Use it for your own protection.", but I also believe that if you don't speak up, no one will hear you.
"The shit we have to climb through is the shit we choose to take", as put by a 1980's punk band from the UK: Crass. So I don't deal with things that I don't think are important.
I'm just a liberal, libertarian, and a socialist. I'm an activist - I'm strongly against the war in Iraq, whether in the name of making it a democracy, or searching for non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
I am and will continue to be against the inevitable impending invasion of Iran and Syria.
Someday I can see myself becoming a true anarchist, but first I need to learn the history.
I'm a pacifist - and I say that because it's the truth. I'll fight to the death for my rights, and everything I believe in, but ultimately, I believe in peace.
People don't understand that love is the most important force in our universe, and if you want to call me a hippie, go ahead. I believe in love. I believe that is where our humanity lies, and that is the most important thing, for me.
I'm straight-edge. I toe the line. I am EDGE. I don't care about the opinions people have of my lifestyle, or the comments that I get for it. I won't shove it in your face - I won't even talk about it unless you try to shove booze and cigs and LSD in MY face. I don’t preach, only practice.
I love having good times, whether that involves serious force, breaking into a mosh pit, dancing to some abrasive punk rock, accompanying friends to a punk rock show, or hanging out on the corner of University, cracking jokes and waiting for the city bus.
I go to shows for the anarchist rhetoric and the indescribable energy. I do it to forget about everything else and just have fun. I do it to connect with kids that I've never met, and I do it because the bands will keep on playing and the moment will inevitably disappear someday.
I'll protest if I don't agree with something. Injustice is something I will stand up against.
I'm Pro-Choice! "Pro-Life - refuses women control over their, their own body. 'It isn't right!' you say - but what gives you the right to take that right away?" –a quote by Closet Monster: a local band.
I'm not going to bow down to you if you don't respect me first.
I don't believe in being what “society” wants me to be. I am nothing you have ever seen before, so don’t try to give me a label just yet. I’m taking care of that for you, because I’m the only one that truly knows what I’m about.
I hate it when kids claim there is "no future for you, no future for me" because as much as I love Sid and Johnny and the rest of the gang, I don't believe that. If you want a future, you have to make it for yourself. You have to bring your own future to a start and you have to do it in a way that you are true to yourself, and what you believe in.
I make sacrifices in my life to do the right thing.
I think you can never be too aware. Politically, or otherwise. If you don’t know what’s going on around you, you’re no help to anybody – least of all yourself.
Maybe I am not all about the granola-crunching soccer-mom left-wing rhetoric, but I think it’s more acceptable than the right-wing rhetoric that is practically forced down our throats by every outlet of the media.
I watch CNN. I know how much of it is actually real.
I think the Underground Action Alliance is a good step in the right direction, and I think alternative media sources are crucial to a logical understanding of what is going on in our world right now.
I believe in equality.
I believe in unity. Unity and hypocrisy - they might only be words to you, seven simple syllables combined; but to me they represent everything that is right and wrong with this world.
Hypocrisy is the gasoline that fuels the hate-machine of Armageddon.
Unity is what binds us all together. It is love and peace and strength, and it is two complete strangers taking each other by the hand and shouting out, for all they’re worth, “Oi!” because that is the face of unity. It’s kids coming together to fight for a common cause, respecting each other and turning on the music, and going on until they can’t go anymore.
This is what I am. And altogether, when all those things are mashed into one word, I can pretty safely say that what I am, is a revolutionary.
“And we rock, because it’s us against them
We’ve found our own reasons to sing.
And it’s so much less confusing when lines are drawn like that
Where people are either consumers or revolutionaries,
Enemies and friends hanging on the fringes of the cogs in the system
It’s just about knowing where everyone stands.”<br>
That’s a quote from the chorus of a song called “Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious”, by a band called “Against Me!”<br>So maybe I’m an Anarcho Punk as well.
I’m in it for the long run.
A revolution waiting to happen.
Work in Progress... well it was, until about two minutes ago. When I finished it.
It's...basically everything I am. I am sick of people talking about (not) labelling each other, so I just wrote out what I am and what I believe in, so at least some arguments can be averted.
And hopefully you'll read it and tell me what you think
LABELS, CONFORMITY, AND A REVOLUTION AT BAY
- B. E. M.
Kids my age are so concerned about putting a label to themselves, or refusing to do so.
I think it's human nature to label things. That's where we came up with Greek, American, Thai, Chinese, Aztec...what are those? Labels? That's how we understand each other.
And it's also human nature to group. Classify. Communities are an example of this.
Except people take a look at themselves and either say "I am this, because this is what people should think I am, and this is what I look like, and until something better comes along, I think I would like to wear this badge" or they say "labels are ridiculous, I'm not going to conform to society's standards and call myself something because that is the trendy thing to do" and put on a smug face.
Well I think I've found a way around that.
And I've also found myself a label.
I was thinking about it a while ago and I just decided that, why don’t I just make a list of all the things I am and then go from there?
I'm strongly against racism, fascism and homophobia.
I believe in preserving the environment. I don't believe in churches, although I have nothing against people that do, as long as they're good people. Religiously, I am Agnostic.
I'm a thrift store shopper - at least a good chunk of the time, because why waste money and support sweatshops and child labour?
I'm an artist. I am a musician. I love painting, sketching, drawing, and playing the piano. I'm a creative person. I write songs and I write lyrics, and I write stories, poetry, and any type of prose.
I am socially savvy and I never let people take advantage of me.
I believe in the quote "Silence is a virtue: Use it for your own protection.", but I also believe that if you don't speak up, no one will hear you.
"The shit we have to climb through is the shit we choose to take", as put by a 1980's punk band from the UK: Crass. So I don't deal with things that I don't think are important.
I'm just a liberal, libertarian, and a socialist. I'm an activist - I'm strongly against the war in Iraq, whether in the name of making it a democracy, or searching for non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
I am and will continue to be against the inevitable impending invasion of Iran and Syria.
Someday I can see myself becoming a true anarchist, but first I need to learn the history.
I'm a pacifist - and I say that because it's the truth. I'll fight to the death for my rights, and everything I believe in, but ultimately, I believe in peace.
People don't understand that love is the most important force in our universe, and if you want to call me a hippie, go ahead. I believe in love. I believe that is where our humanity lies, and that is the most important thing, for me.
I'm straight-edge. I toe the line. I am EDGE. I don't care about the opinions people have of my lifestyle, or the comments that I get for it. I won't shove it in your face - I won't even talk about it unless you try to shove booze and cigs and LSD in MY face. I don’t preach, only practice.
I love having good times, whether that involves serious force, breaking into a mosh pit, dancing to some abrasive punk rock, accompanying friends to a punk rock show, or hanging out on the corner of University, cracking jokes and waiting for the city bus.
I go to shows for the anarchist rhetoric and the indescribable energy. I do it to forget about everything else and just have fun. I do it to connect with kids that I've never met, and I do it because the bands will keep on playing and the moment will inevitably disappear someday.
I'll protest if I don't agree with something. Injustice is something I will stand up against.
I'm Pro-Choice! "Pro-Life - refuses women control over their, their own body. 'It isn't right!' you say - but what gives you the right to take that right away?" –a quote by Closet Monster: a local band.
I'm not going to bow down to you if you don't respect me first.
I don't believe in being what “society” wants me to be. I am nothing you have ever seen before, so don’t try to give me a label just yet. I’m taking care of that for you, because I’m the only one that truly knows what I’m about.
I hate it when kids claim there is "no future for you, no future for me" because as much as I love Sid and Johnny and the rest of the gang, I don't believe that. If you want a future, you have to make it for yourself. You have to bring your own future to a start and you have to do it in a way that you are true to yourself, and what you believe in.
I make sacrifices in my life to do the right thing.
I think you can never be too aware. Politically, or otherwise. If you don’t know what’s going on around you, you’re no help to anybody – least of all yourself.
Maybe I am not all about the granola-crunching soccer-mom left-wing rhetoric, but I think it’s more acceptable than the right-wing rhetoric that is practically forced down our throats by every outlet of the media.
I watch CNN. I know how much of it is actually real.
I think the Underground Action Alliance is a good step in the right direction, and I think alternative media sources are crucial to a logical understanding of what is going on in our world right now.
I believe in equality.
I believe in unity. Unity and hypocrisy - they might only be words to you, seven simple syllables combined; but to me they represent everything that is right and wrong with this world.
Hypocrisy is the gasoline that fuels the hate-machine of Armageddon.
Unity is what binds us all together. It is love and peace and strength, and it is two complete strangers taking each other by the hand and shouting out, for all they’re worth, “Oi!” because that is the face of unity. It’s kids coming together to fight for a common cause, respecting each other and turning on the music, and going on until they can’t go anymore.
This is what I am. And altogether, when all those things are mashed into one word, I can pretty safely say that what I am, is a revolutionary.
“And we rock, because it’s us against them
We’ve found our own reasons to sing.
And it’s so much less confusing when lines are drawn like that
Where people are either consumers or revolutionaries,
Enemies and friends hanging on the fringes of the cogs in the system
It’s just about knowing where everyone stands.”<br>
That’s a quote from the chorus of a song called “Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious”, by a band called “Against Me!”<br>So maybe I’m an Anarcho Punk as well.
I’m in it for the long run.
A revolution waiting to happen.