~~This was an assignment in English, and, God, it was hard to write. I've lost all hope in getting my voice heard, and having good triumph over evil, but I wrote that it could. It was like our one assignment in which we had to talk about sometime where someone has shown you prejudice. Hello! I'm an upper-middle-class, white, partially Christian American! What prejudice could I possible face? And yet a wrote a page about it. hehe, I can really write about anything. Anywho's, here's the Voice of the Future thing. Personally, I think it's a piece of shit, but, then again, I always think that about something I didn't enjoy writing. It starts out strong, but goes to hell from there. Enjoy...~~
It has almost always been but one voice. One soul to speak for the masses. The oppressed have repeatedly found someone to take their emotions and make them words. The voice of the disheartened is often neither incredibly wealthy, nor extremely powerful. They have simply felt their peoples’ grief and decided to put an end to it. Like a pebble may start ripples or a landslide, so may one person start the reform that can eventually make the lives of the suffering a little easier.
The speaker may be as prominent as Gandhi, or as meek as a child, but in the end, all that is ever done is stand up to a bully—some simply back down harder than others. While revolutionaries like Martin Luther King Jr. cause a great impact on mankind, a helping hand doesn’t have to be on such a major scale. It can be, and usually is as simple as helping someone who’s having a bad day. We may not realize it, but every kind word gives the weary a reason to go on.
While we tend to think of oppressors as cruel dictators and insane lynch mobs, the truth is there are many more that hit far closer to home. It can be someone who scrutinizes another’s appearance, the relentless teasing of those too docile to defend themselves, or even your best friend who’s bestial criticism goes unchecked and unchallenged. Those who do not stand up to evil and are capable of doing so are just as responsible for the spread of evil. Perhaps those who are being wronged are unknown to you. If it were a friend, we would step in, of course, but isn’t the one being harassed someone’s friend, too?
We can think to ourselves that someday, the tormentors will come to see the evil of their ways. We can convince ourselves that everything will work itself out in the end, but it won’t. It never does. Evil is stopped only by those who resist it. We must be the ones to do it. We owe it to the generations that have led us here, and to the generations that will follow. A better day will come only when we take a stand.
It has almost always been but one voice. One soul to speak for the masses. The oppressed have repeatedly found someone to take their emotions and make them words. The voice of the disheartened is often neither incredibly wealthy, nor extremely powerful. They have simply felt their peoples’ grief and decided to put an end to it. Like a pebble may start ripples or a landslide, so may one person start the reform that can eventually make the lives of the suffering a little easier.
The speaker may be as prominent as Gandhi, or as meek as a child, but in the end, all that is ever done is stand up to a bully—some simply back down harder than others. While revolutionaries like Martin Luther King Jr. cause a great impact on mankind, a helping hand doesn’t have to be on such a major scale. It can be, and usually is as simple as helping someone who’s having a bad day. We may not realize it, but every kind word gives the weary a reason to go on.
While we tend to think of oppressors as cruel dictators and insane lynch mobs, the truth is there are many more that hit far closer to home. It can be someone who scrutinizes another’s appearance, the relentless teasing of those too docile to defend themselves, or even your best friend who’s bestial criticism goes unchecked and unchallenged. Those who do not stand up to evil and are capable of doing so are just as responsible for the spread of evil. Perhaps those who are being wronged are unknown to you. If it were a friend, we would step in, of course, but isn’t the one being harassed someone’s friend, too?
We can think to ourselves that someday, the tormentors will come to see the evil of their ways. We can convince ourselves that everything will work itself out in the end, but it won’t. It never does. Evil is stopped only by those who resist it. We must be the ones to do it. We owe it to the generations that have led us here, and to the generations that will follow. A better day will come only when we take a stand.
Aubrey Mark's Going-Away party was Friday. It was all fun, games, and food, until people started to leave. Her close friends wept, of course. I've never been a real friend of Aubrey's, so I found saying goodbye to her fairly easy. But then I started to wonder: in 3 1/2 years, what close friends will I have to say farewell to, never to meet again? I've grown so accustomed to these faces that the thought of no longer seeing them kills me. Every new day draws us closer to the time when we all must part. My close friends I'm sure I'll never loose, but what about the other ones? Will they just fade from memory? Will they become no more than a wonderful dream? I think I've realized why 8th grade was such a good year. We were no longer insecure seventh graders, and we still didn't have to worry about the future. It was simply a party year, and party, we did. But now...we're almost to the finish line. I thought I would find joy in these final years, but I can really find nothing but despair. Our lives began the moment we walked through Putnam's doors. I think back on all the good times I had during elementry school, and how those days seem like yesterday. How long before I think the same about high school? How long before these days and these friendships are only memories? A couple years ago, I would've said forever, but today...it'll scarcely be any time at all.
Every time I see him, my heart flutters. Last month, I'd be contemplating on acting on those emotions, but now I'd give anything to see them gone forever. I feel as though I'm betraying a friend, which, I'm sure, is ridiculous. It's hard to instantly forget year-long feelings for someone. I will never act on those feelings while they're together. Friends will always come first, and I'd never knowingly do them harm. After all, what's wrong with being "just friends"? You can have fun with them, talk to them; what more do you need? I really don't know what I'm missing, but I certainly am missing something.
~~Written in 3rd period~~
Odd...I'm in an incredibly good mood today, and have been for the past couple days. I don't really know why. I spoke, a while back, of bringing balance to the Force. How, after extreme spells of happiness, I experience extreme spells of depression. Well, I guess it works in reverse, too. So, now I'm happy, and, uh, yeah... The upside is well, happiness (duh), but the downside is I don't have anything to rant about. So, I don't really know what to write about. Hehe, this is funny. Weeeeeee...!
So...
Omg, I did awesome on my speech! I think... Well, I got 5+'s and a 6-, so that's gotta mean something, right? I thought I dreaded speeches, but I've actually come to love them. Now THAT is strange. AnD oMg!!! LOST ROCKED!!!! It was a Sayid flashback, and those are AWESOME! I think every guy on this island has had a crazy moment. Locke's and Jack's was about the hatch, Hurley's was about numbers Danielle had written (4 8 15 16 23 42 creepy...), Sawyer's resulted in him taking the guns, Charlie stole Aaron while he was sleep walking, and Sayid nearly tortured a guy to death. But who cares? They're all hot. Well, not so much Hurley and Locke.
It's strange that I'm so happy, though. After all, I spent yet another Valentines Day single, PE continues to be hard, and I have a broken toe.
~~The Following Written at the End of the Day~~
We're only given so much hope in a day. By about the end of 3rd period, my stock runs out. During the 7 minute bus ride home, reality tends to come crashing down. Why does life have to be like this? Our world is wrought with corruption, hate, yet no one wishes or dares to address it.
Ah, the wonderful fight or flight responce. How my soul aches to run. "Where" matters not, as long as it's far from people; far from those who annoy me, hurt me, make me cry; far from those who know nothing but destruction. But I can't. These things must change, and if I run, I instantly relinquish my right to complain about them. If I run, who am I to critize others who do the same? So, if I'm not gonna fly, I guess I must fight, but for what? My own sanity? For those who have lost their's? For the promise I made to my child self years ago? I don't know, but things can't stay as they are. That would be the worst fate of all.
Odd...I'm in an incredibly good mood today, and have been for the past couple days. I don't really know why. I spoke, a while back, of bringing balance to the Force. How, after extreme spells of happiness, I experience extreme spells of depression. Well, I guess it works in reverse, too. So, now I'm happy, and, uh, yeah... The upside is well, happiness (duh), but the downside is I don't have anything to rant about. So, I don't really know what to write about. Hehe, this is funny. Weeeeeee...!
So...
Omg, I did awesome on my speech! I think... Well, I got 5+'s and a 6-, so that's gotta mean something, right? I thought I dreaded speeches, but I've actually come to love them. Now THAT is strange. AnD oMg!!! LOST ROCKED!!!! It was a Sayid flashback, and those are AWESOME! I think every guy on this island has had a crazy moment. Locke's and Jack's was about the hatch, Hurley's was about numbers Danielle had written (4 8 15 16 23 42 creepy...), Sawyer's resulted in him taking the guns, Charlie stole Aaron while he was sleep walking, and Sayid nearly tortured a guy to death. But who cares? They're all hot. Well, not so much Hurley and Locke.
It's strange that I'm so happy, though. After all, I spent yet another Valentines Day single, PE continues to be hard, and I have a broken toe.
~~The Following Written at the End of the Day~~
We're only given so much hope in a day. By about the end of 3rd period, my stock runs out. During the 7 minute bus ride home, reality tends to come crashing down. Why does life have to be like this? Our world is wrought with corruption, hate, yet no one wishes or dares to address it.
Ah, the wonderful fight or flight responce. How my soul aches to run. "Where" matters not, as long as it's far from people; far from those who annoy me, hurt me, make me cry; far from those who know nothing but destruction. But I can't. These things must change, and if I run, I instantly relinquish my right to complain about them. If I run, who am I to critize others who do the same? So, if I'm not gonna fly, I guess I must fight, but for what? My own sanity? For those who have lost their's? For the promise I made to my child self years ago? I don't know, but things can't stay as they are. That would be the worst fate of all.
It's so cool how just choosing colors can determine so much. My answer is freakishly acurate. I strongly recomend that you take it. If you already have, take it again. It's SO cool!
 | Sarah took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Needs a peaceful environment. Wants release from s..."
|
Well, uh, ya. There it is...
2 Comments Published by Elentine on Friday, February 03, 2006 at 4:27 PM.
Don't fear tomorrow, for it will soon become yesterday
That ideat, that all things good and bad must come to pass, seems to change meaning with as the moon changes shape. In bad times, it's the very wings of hope. All daunting tasks will eventually be dead and gone. However, in good times, that idea is a piercing cry which signals the night to end or the buses to leave.
Future becoming past is the rhythm my heart beats to. There are very few good tings to live for right now. Why is it that my friends' joy brings me nothing but grief? Is it possible that I, Sarah Kehoe, am finally growing lonely?
Bre clutches to Jeremy, Andrea clutches to Scott, and I--I clutch to, well, no one, save my binder. Seeing them with their boyfriends, they appear whole, and that has me now wondering if maybe I'm not. This whole thing has left me feeling bitter, cold, and lost.
I found out about Bre and Jeremy on Wednesday, but it wasn't either of them that told me. It was Andrea, who heard it from Scott, who Bre trusted enought to tell. I don't want to hear about it from a friend of a friend, because I am a friend. Or, at least, I thought I was.
After hearing it from Andrea, I decided not to say anything and pretend I didn't know. I wanted Bre to tell me personally. This was lunch, after I had already spent the morning and two class periods with her. When it was empty pinings for Scott or Ban, she wouldn't sut up. When it's something of importance, she says, "Oops, I guess I forgot to tell you."
She finally told me in history (the next day) but that was after Sam started up the conversation. Her excuse was more painful that the crime. "I thought you already knew." The truth was, I did already know, but I didn't want to be told by a secondary cource. I'm not some person you occationally talk to at lunch. I talk to you every day, I know you, I went to the god damny Blues Festival with you! Tell me when these things happen!
You were right to say I'm not stoic, because I sure as hell am pissed now! But don't worry, because if (and that's a big if) I ever get a boyfriend, you'll be the first to know. That's what friends do, right?
That ideat, that all things good and bad must come to pass, seems to change meaning with as the moon changes shape. In bad times, it's the very wings of hope. All daunting tasks will eventually be dead and gone. However, in good times, that idea is a piercing cry which signals the night to end or the buses to leave.
Future becoming past is the rhythm my heart beats to. There are very few good tings to live for right now. Why is it that my friends' joy brings me nothing but grief? Is it possible that I, Sarah Kehoe, am finally growing lonely?
Bre clutches to Jeremy, Andrea clutches to Scott, and I--I clutch to, well, no one, save my binder. Seeing them with their boyfriends, they appear whole, and that has me now wondering if maybe I'm not. This whole thing has left me feeling bitter, cold, and lost.
I found out about Bre and Jeremy on Wednesday, but it wasn't either of them that told me. It was Andrea, who heard it from Scott, who Bre trusted enought to tell. I don't want to hear about it from a friend of a friend, because I am a friend. Or, at least, I thought I was.
After hearing it from Andrea, I decided not to say anything and pretend I didn't know. I wanted Bre to tell me personally. This was lunch, after I had already spent the morning and two class periods with her. When it was empty pinings for Scott or Ban, she wouldn't sut up. When it's something of importance, she says, "Oops, I guess I forgot to tell you."
She finally told me in history (the next day) but that was after Sam started up the conversation. Her excuse was more painful that the crime. "I thought you already knew." The truth was, I did already know, but I didn't want to be told by a secondary cource. I'm not some person you occationally talk to at lunch. I talk to you every day, I know you, I went to the god damny Blues Festival with you! Tell me when these things happen!
You were right to say I'm not stoic, because I sure as hell am pissed now! But don't worry, because if (and that's a big if) I ever get a boyfriend, you'll be the first to know. That's what friends do, right?
