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michboy10
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Name: |~}{~|
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Metro: Pittsburgh
Birthday: 3/10/1988
Gender: Male
Interests: I love the movies, guys [in movies], theatre, guys [in tights sometimes], band (depending on what color underwear I'm wearing), guys [who can play and march at the same time], writting poetry, guys [who happen to write poetry as well], hanging with friends, guys [who don't necessarily have the same type of friends I do], listening to music, and guys [who like all kinds of music].
Expertise: a laiceps egaugnal taht si ton oot drah ot erugif tuo.
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  theport angel
Member Since:
3/4/2005
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| So... is just me or have you realized that it seems that it's only when someone needs to say something absolutely ridiculous is the only time you see exclamation points. And of course we all know that all caps indicate yelling on the cyber space... but it seems very interesting to me that we have abandoned the subtly (ridiculous spelling by the way) of the exclamation point and only use it to augment what is already clearly some kind of tirade. I mean really, when is the last time you read something that had something worthy of an exclamation point and it wasn't followed with SEVERAL exclamation points and/or question marks? This is absolutely ridiculous. Have we lost all value in the exclamation point? Clearly we have! **The grammar nazi would like to report at the moment that the author has made no attempt to correct his grammatical errors.**It is not too late to claim our exclamation points and question marks and other statement ending noticators! I think it is time that we rise up and say no more! We will not abuse exclamation points any longer! Rise with me brethren and we will rectify the sanctitude of english grammar!!!
*some random battle cry*
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| So tonight I got into an argument with a member of another greek organization because he misinterpreted what I said to a prospective member of his organization. I in no way intended to demean or condemn joining his fraternity while at the same time understanding why he came to such conclusions as he took my comments out of context. However, when trying to explain this to him he remained hostile and tried to argue why I was the one who was being completely unreasonable.
Honestly, CALM DOWN! It's not that serious. And when you approach me in a hostile manner that was completely unprovoked (such as vehemently denying that your organization would ever try to encourage me to join when they clearly did when I was freshman) and then demand that I answer a "simple question" with yes or no when I feel that neither is an adequate representation of my intent, you would expect that I would not want to answer the question. In fact I reserve the right to not answer. And while I could answer in the affirmative or negative followed by our favorite conjunction "but" it is very well known that most people would not allow me to finish my statement. Therefore, instead of putting forth the effort to explain my true intentions throughout the constant interruptions of why I'm wrong, I can choose to ignore the question all together. This is partially due to the fact that I went to a very conservative high school where people said that wanted to hear my side of the story but never gave me the opportunity. And though I am at a school where that is not a norm (i.e. people will listen to what you have to say) why instincts tell me that it is not worth my breath and energy and that i should simply leave the situation. This is especially true for a stranger to has approached me in a hostile manner.
Now I am sure that the person who was involved in this argument did not realize that he had approached me in such a way and was even less familiar with my background as he was more or less a complete stranger to me. However, you cannot try to make me feel guilty for my decision in the situation. What motivation do I have to assume the best in you as a person? NONE! In fact in the few minutes that I interacted with you, you were nothing but unnecessarily antagonizing. It was not my intent to make your organization look bad. In fact, I stated that there were members of your organization that were my friends. Had I been uninterrupted I would have stated that I did not join your organization because it, as a whole, was not a fit for ME. This not preclude it from being a fit for the person I was talking to, and I would have made that perfectly clear to him. I harbor no ill will toward your organization and if the other individual chooses to join your organization over mine or any other fraternity it is not because of anything I have said but because he feels that it is a fit for him.
However, the person I argued with continued to make very rational assumptions not taking account the human aspect of the situation. He was a business or econ major (which only further accounts for these assumptions). I am a social psychology and public policy major. I am very aware of how human interaction and bounded rationality affect "rational" decisions. Decisions and actions are not as straight forward when you take into account the things that I have learned from these fields. Therefore I am in a twisted way being perfectly rational, and though you may not completely understand my decision does not mean it was not in my best interest considering my dispositions and past experiences.
Simply put, instead of getting up in arms about something trivial just because you have biased interests (i.e. being a member of a certain organization), take a step back and realize there may be more thing in play than you can understand, and then let it go.
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| I wrote a letter today to our President urging him to do more for the GLBT community (see text below). I've decided that until I see progress I will email him at least once a week urging him to do more. If anyone would be interested in joining me let me know. I'm thinking of starting a facebook group...
President Obama,
Before Iowans cast their ballots in the Democratic Primary I wrote both you and now Secretary of State Clinton a note expressing my concern about GLBT rights in America. Your office was quick to send a reply expressing your dedication to equality and protection for GLBT Americans. As a result I decided to support your candidacy working on my campus with Carnegie Mellon Students for Barack Obama. I even worked in West Virginia in preparation for the WV Primary. I convinced friends, family, and complete strangers to vote for you in the primaries and the presidential election this past november. I expressed that I saw in you an honesty that was refreshing and confirmed that public policy is my passion and is something I hope to use to help better the world for everyone.
Mr. President, as much as it hurts to say this, I am beginning to feel misled. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so naive to believe campaign promises, but I really thought that the promises you made were realistic and attainable. You promised a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. While I realize it takes Congress to actually repeal the policy as Commander-in-Chief you can simply order that the policy stop being enforced so that no more honorable soldiers and being dishonorably discharged and that all will be able to serve this country until Congress has the time to appropriately address the issue.
You stated you supported the repeal of DOMA and yet your justice department has defended it and you have done nothing to suggest the contrary. This for me is the greatest betrayal. I don't know that I can adequately express in words what it means to know that my country refuses to recognize the legitimacy of a relationship I hope to have one day.
This is not to say that you have left the GLBT community completely in the dark. I have kept note of the things you HAVE done to create a more inclusive environment including inviting gay couples and their families to the easter egg hunt and extending some domestic partner benefits for employees of the executive. However, this is all simply lip service and I am sure you know that as well as I.
Mr. President, I am not asking for miracles. I know that there will be people who will oppose you and call you a liberal for doing the two things I pointed out above, but you and I know it is the right thing. It is unthinkably un-American to uphold this blatant discrimination of gay Americans. It is no different than someone hating you or I because we are black. That is why I am writing you this probably too long email urging you to stand up NOW for gay rights. And yes, I know you're busy with healthcare and the war and the economy and many say that MY civil rights can just wait. That MY rights aren't important right now. Well as you yourself said "I believe in the fierce urgency of NOW."
Mr. President, I respectfully refuse to wait for what is undeniably mine, and I look forward to your response soon.
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| So I'm going to start this off by saying I am being completely earnest because a lot of people around me have been kidding around about this. I was genuinely upset by the loss of MJ last Thursday. Michael was my FAVORITE musical artist as a kid and I own all of his solo albums. I was literally dumbfounded when I heard the news of his death, and frankly do not find the many jokes made at his expense to be in good taste. YES, it is too soon. Regardless the controversy he was engrossed in the past few years he forever changed the music industry and for me defined a period of my life that I will never forget and music I will eternally appreciate. So if you have your problems with MJ or you just don't care, that's fine, I respect that. Just be mindful that he did mean a lot to me and return the respect. RIP Michael Joseph Jackson, King of Pop |~}{~| | | |
| I am very excited that it is finally official that Barack Obama is President of the United States! I couldn't help but worry about Obama's commitment to what is most important to me, civil rights for the LGBT community. Well Obama has made it EXTREMELY easy to hold him accountable. His website lists his commitment to LGBT community. I am proud that he is truly being what he promised from the beginning. A new era of politics, one of loyalty and responsibility is upon us!
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