"RRR"

Recicle.

Reduce.

Reuse.



I know you have probably heared this all before, but I must reapeat it. I must be here to remind you the importance of taking action HERE AND NOW towards global warming. Did you know statistics expect a global disaster (as in The Day After Tomorrow movie) for 2030?!

I don't know about you, but that seems as if I will die in my diapers.

We have little time to change things. Nothing is impossible. Yet we must start. We won't have a chance much longer!



I won't bore you with specifics, since this is something everybody knows deeply but chooses to ignore (yes, you and me included). But I will put you my slogan for the school's global warming campaign.

"Unplug what you're not using.

Turn off the lights everytime you leave a room.

Close the sink while you are brushing your teeth.

Because little things make big changes.

Recicle. Reduce. Reuse.

It's your future"

Today on class one of my favorite teachers brought to discussion a pretty peculiar and unexpected story. Or at least unknown to me.
She explained to us the origin of Nazi racism. How German men and women came to dispise Jews, and how not so much of it was due to Hitler. Yes, he was the promoter of the theory, yet, it has a biological foundation.
The theory that whites are superior to blacks comes from two main studies. First, there was a scientist at the time whose name I don't recall that said to have discovered that the white people were stronger and smarter than blacks. And then there was Darwin. He was the one to create 'survival of the fittest'. In another context, of course. He said that only the strong animals were meant to live, meaning that the weaks should die. Or disappear.
Combining these two not-so-pleasant-theories, we find what came to evolve as a Nazi slogan. No interracial marriages so that every race was 'pure' in its own way, and whites are above the blacks. Furthermore, we are not supposed to help the sick, since if they are weak, they are not supposed to survive.

I find it inmensely curious that everything has such an unexpected background. Who would've imagined that those racist theories came indeed from studied, intelligent scientists?. Is it because thay thought highly of themselves? And would this theories would actually work right now, as in, 2009?
Not so surprisingly I do believe that these scientists thought very highly of themselves and therefore tried to find biological or scientific proof for it. Nevertheless, maybe it was just a combination of things. Jews weren't just hated at those times because of their DNA, but because thousands of years before, people that called themselves jews killed Jesus; that's how racism towards them really started, and later, well, found more reasons to continue.
Honestly I don't know if an extreme racism like that would succeed in our society, at least not with such vague, self-centered arguments. I do think racism has increased, though. Not in amount, but in the way. Now a days, it is not merely about blacks and whites. It is about African-Americans, Latins, Chinese, Muslims, Conservatives, Republicans, Socialists, Liberals, Buddhists, etc.. It is not just about color, but about origin, beliefs, religion... And it is actually ironic than in the era of supposed 'open-minded, accepting people' such distinctions still exist.
We still live like we did thousands of years ago, the streets for 'white people', the streets for 'black people', the 'Jew part' of the building, the Chinese street, the malls for whites, for black and for Latins. And I just can't help but ask myself how come we haven't evolved? How come we still do these things? How can I, when asked to describe my African-American friend, am only able to respond 'black', just like that, as if it were an automatic response?
I am not saying any of these things are right. I believe we are equal, and that even when it has increased in form, we are taking steps towards a stop. Maybe not of racism, since I think it has a cultural basis. But we are reducing every day more the limitations some ethnic, racial, or whatever word you want to apply, had in daily and work life. Take Obama for an example. He is so much more than a 'black' person, and by electing him president, we have proved that much. Besides, I think most of us when asked to tag president Obama TODAY, most of us wouldn't think of saying black, perhaps not positive tags, but certantily not race-based. Take Sotomayor for another. A Latin that gets to Supreme Court. Who would've guessed that one? Specially when we americans are so racist with Latins.

All of those are steps forward. I hope evolution also. But we have yet to take the big steps ourselves. Like I've always said and emphasized, it is not about the big ones, but about the million littles through which every achievement or true change is done.
As we have seen in both history and current events, the greatest things come from whom we least expected it.

"Genious can come from anywhere and in any way".-Ratatouille (...)

WG

"Were you scared you might die?"

" No, I know where I'm going. I just don't want to get there hit by a train"

Do you know were you're going?

"PP"

"Nothing is more deceitful than the appereance of humility. It is often an indirect boast.
You are really proud of your defects in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of thought you think highly interesting. When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone on five minutes, you meant it to be a compliment to yourself- and yet what is there sovery laudable in a precipitance which must leave very neccessary business undone?"

This is one of my favorite quotes on Pride and Prejudice. Because, as everything about the book, it is so precisely right. Most of us, myself included, presume our faults because we think of them as something cool, relaxed or good in front of everyone else. We put it as if it were the right thing to have those flaws. While giving the impression of being humble, not self-centered, and vulnerable. Such a dick move. Yet I always play that card.
The other day I was watching this movie called "The Jane Austen Bookclub". I've got to admit I enjoyed it a lot, it somehow resembles what I feel when I watch The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winset. I feel free and identified with the characters. I feel joyful. I feel like it's the real lifes of people we are seeing on the television. Yet I have got to admit I didn't understand or- more accurately- wasn't able to reflect much about it because I haven't read all Jane Austen books, so I couldn't really make all the connections and realizations. Nevertheless, I fully recomend it. It portrays really well how relationships work, what others think about them, and, I believe, about impulsive love and patient love.
As is in evidence the lesbian girl on the film. She is an impulsive lover. She finds herself completely carried away and enrolled in relationships with people she met only a few days ago. She lets herself be driven by impulsivity, passion and new flings. So is the love of the husband that cheats, that way also following the paths of impulse.
Then there is the patient love of the wife who forgives, and that of the one that has enough control over herself as to not letting things go further with a student. And so is the kind, but spoiled and altruistic love of the friend, who always seeks other's satisfaction in love but failes to do the same with her romantic life.
I believe there's got to be a bit of the two in every succesful and lasting relationship. There's got to be passion and spark that keep the fire going throughout the years. The impulse of satisfaction in each other. But the patient love is the one to give length to the relationship. The one that is going to allow only one fire at a time. The one that is going to see beyond the heat, and into the wood that sustains it.

The other perfect quotes from the book (so far) go like this:
"Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride- where there is real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation".

"Your defect is a propensity to hate every body.
And yours is willfully yo misunderstand them."- What's worse?

And I'm just gonna leave those two to stand by themselves.

WG

"New Color?"

Ok. So I've been thinking for like two weeks now about dying my hair. Again.
My hair is dark blonde, so I always do gold-like highlights. But I was wondering if maybe a little bit of red, or caramel red might look good?
I was also looking for a haircut. I now have it past shoulder length, and, I'm tired and bored of it. I was thinking of doing something maybe like Kate Moss' blonde bob? Or maybe something like Keira Knightley back when she had it about chin length.
If you have any ideas, please speak up.
WG

"Burqa"

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. My life has been insane.

I have a costume party this weekend! I am wearing a pirate costume that looks amazing, and the funny part is it was completely improvised out of my closet. This party promises to be good.

The other day I was doing a debate on France and religion, secularisim, Sarkozy and his 'positive secularism'. When I first heard the controversial topic of the banning of the burqas, I couldn't help but disagree, I thought that they deserved freedom to wear what they wanted.,

But after doing appropiate research, I changed my mind. I totally support Sarkozy. The burqa is a sign of women subordination under man within the Muslim religion. I can't accept that. After reading One Thousand Splendid Suns, I saw what Muslim women go through. I saw their sufferings and can't say that I support that. I can't. Women have to be free. We are in the 21st century, not in 10th, and we still treat women like slaves?

Then there is the matter of security. With weekly news about kidnappings and murders I, as a school owner, couldn't allow completely covered people claiming childs. How do I know it's truly their parents and not some strange murderer?. I studied a case of a Muslim teen who was abused and beaten by her father, leaving her face disfigured, but nobody ever found out because of the burqa. And the girl lived with that. We can't accept that.

The resolution we presented was for muslim women to wear a scarf that covered their heads and complete body except for their faces; and to start wearing it after graduating from high school, when they are mature enough to decide wether or not they want to be part of such a religion.

That is not racism. That is the first step towards letting women live under the freelance of hope, opportunities and freedom all of us enjoy. This is the first step towards showing muslim faith the world is ruled by human rights and universal rights, instead of sharia law.

We must act towards that.
WG

"Happiness"

I read this article today on the living section of, I promise, the best online newspaper, The Huffington Post.
It is a quite intersting piece. If you read the antecendent, you might like it even more, nevertheless, as a stand alone piece, it's good. A bit cruel. But realist.
Here I adhere the http direction for you to read it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-bishop/men-arent-all-that-happy_b_325414.html.
Here are a few points I wanted to comment about.
"The quality of your life experience may have less to do with what happens to you and more to do with how you choose to respond". This is part of the article. And is what I've always saying. Things might come with a reason, but you give them the purpose,outcome and mission. By choosing. By reacting. By perspective. As Russel points, we can't live our lives with the infamous "If only", like I often do; an example being my entry about how IF I had the money things would be easier. It's true. But not real. And why getting all worked up over fiction? better to focus on real things that we can actually change here and now. Also, the article talks about how little "If only" succesful people and situations exist. When we win, of course we never blame it neither on the circumstance nor on someone else. But when it comes to failures or incapacities, which might not be our fault or decision, we disguise it. Blaming. But let's not blame, but look for solutions.

"In general, people are unhappy because they have compromised in some way. They either compromised in the relationship they got involved in, the job their working etc. When you settle for less than you desire or deserve, you aren't quite as happy. We are the some total of the choices we have made in life. What we are now is the result of how much we've compromised."
This is an intersting analisis on the situation by a site commentarist. Interpreting it, I think this might have something to do with being mediocre. Or al least the part of "when you settle for less than you desire or deserve". And the last part reminds me of "bet big, win big". More direct way of saying it, though.

"And on and on. Women are EXPECTED to have emotions and are encouraged to express them. Men are told in many ways, both overt and subvert, to NOT express them, and when they do, the ones they express are somehow inappropriate. I gave up a long time ago. This comment is absolutely serious, but it's so ingrained in our culture that most people never notice it."
This is also a commetary. I have to admit, I didn't expect this. I guess subconsiously I always knew this, but decided not to aknowledge it. Because I'm a huge feminist. And this was the moment I recognized men's troubles and charges as well. We women might be harshly judged by society in almost everything, but society also puts really harsh laws on men. At least women are recognized to have the right to say how we feel, and it's okay, since we are 'hormonal' 'susceptible' 'soft' 'intense' 'overwhelmingly emotional' 'jumping to conclusions easily', etc. Men, are supposed to be 'tough' 'practical' 'permanent poker faces' 'masculine' 'full of testosterone and empty of feelings' 'not sensitive' 'in charge', etc. And it actually got me wondering what is worse: To have a huge charge, but to be able to show it, and therefore your overcoming publicly acknowkedged; or to have a huge charge, but this one being secret, so that even if you manage to gain success, it is not so acknowledged since your purpose and desires are unknown to everyone but yourself? What is more frustrating?
I was really really really becoming less of a feminist when I read that and started thinking. Until another comment was published:
"I'm happy as long as I'm getting laid
you see that is the key to happiness as a man"
To whoever wrote that, I'd like you to know you totally screw it.
I think it is so inmature to say that. Sex is totally overrated by men (and, ok, some women). Not that I don't like it, but c'mon, are you really putting the weight of your happiness and fullfillment on a booty call or spontaneous hookup with someone either drunk or so frustrated that can't find someone that actually cares about them to have sex with? C'mon. That must definately be a lame, cliche, inmature excuse and/or cover. No human being can actually believe that is happiness. Not real happiness at least. Joy? Perhaps. But I remind you, the difference between joy and happiness is that joy is temporal and defined by moments and happiness is more permanent and defined by our personal satisfaction with ourselves.
Want to be joyful? Me too. We all want that. But first I want to be happy.
Like I once read, "Happiness is not only what you recorded, but also how you choose to remember".
"You could not chance the facts; only change the lens through which you looked at them"



WG