A Day Without Immigrants

Today will go down in history as one of the most insightful and consequential protests in American history. “The day without Immigrants” is a protest calling out to all immigrants in the U.S. to stay home from work, school, and close down businesses for the day in order to show how essential these people are to our society. This protest is against Donald Trumps immigration policies, banning certain countries from entering the United States. Also increasing the deportation of residents in the U.S. who are here illegally. 

Today’s protest is one of the more meaningful protests of all time due to the strategic simplicity and lack of violence or burden. Most of 2017 has been a political hell for America. It seems every week is filled with a new protest regarding the same on-going predicaments. However, this protest is unique and immensely respectable. There is no violence, blocking of freeways or traffic, and mainly it will provide a much deeper message to America that immigrants do in fact benefit the American society. 

The United States used to be called the melting pot. This name was granted to the U.S. signifying that immigrants can come into the U.S. and be one with the culture and strive for the “American dream.” The American dream is not limited to only the American citizen, frankly the American dream is designed more so for immigrants than someone born in the United States. The American dream is a way of motivation and life for those who wish to excel in America and know why America is known as the melting pot. Now-a-days however, this pot has run cold and only those who are born here are welcome to bathe in it. Men stand guard, posted on walls, armed to defend our country from what? People trying to escape places they once called home in order to start new? Of course, there are a few bad people who have implemented fear into America, but it would be wrong to define every immigrant as such. It is exactly what people have been doing to police for years. To people of color. Politicians. Now, immigrants. It is a constant echo in history. 

Build a wall, place immigration bans on countries, and deport those who are here illegally. Alternatively, lets arm our men with documents of the naturalization process, open our doors and welcome immigrants, and get those who are here illegally the help to become a citizen. We must live in unity or die divided. The American dream is no longer success in America, it's surviving in it. 

Happiness Is Everything

euphoric

adjective

characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness: a euphoric sense of freedom.

People say happiness is everything. Generally, the people who familiarizes themselves with this quote have been beaten, broken, and torn to pieces. Whether that be emotionally, physically, or mentally, these people have fantasized about a world of their own where home is a place they rest their head and not a place to hide. It is also possible to infer that these people need a place of their own to recuperate and breathe. It is not unusual for people who have gone through traumatic experiences to carry it with them day-in and day-out. It is also not unusual or shameful for these people to need a place to go in order to alleviate any stress or anxiety. It is easy for people who have been sheltered and have had an easy going life to immediately dismiss the fact that there are people who can't go a week without breaking down. These people are not weak nor is it that they are appalling for wanting to feel safe. Shouldn't everyone deserve to feel safe? These environments are also know as “Safe-Places.” These safe places are ever so criticized by people who don't know what it is like to feel over-whelmed, anxious, or suffocated by the perpetual judgment of our modern day society. I personally do not know how that feel either. However, I can empathize with these victims of fear and sometimes disorder because rather than judge these individuals, as they are already unstrung, we should be helping them tie themselves back together. This nation is too blind to see who a person is and what to do in a situation. When we see someone in an altercation we immediately pull out our cell phones and video cameras. It is rare to see someone approach the situation with a helping hand and a voice of compassion. People also say chivalry is dead but maybe it’s humanity that is dead. Maybe it’s love for all. Maybe we are all too distracted by what is going on in our selfish worlds to be concerned with any other human's problems. We are one month through 2017 and nothing but protests, hate, and divide is flooding our nation. Can we all remember that we are all sons and daughters of another human. We all have people that love and care for us regardless of who we are. We are all seeds from our family tree, growing independent and freely but now-a-days we are all cutting each other down. We take the opinions and ideas of others and rake them into a pile to be forgotten. When, instead, we can use these opinions and ideas to better our world but the world is too confined within what we familiarize ourselves with. 

Most people who are broken familiarize with the quote “ Happiness is everything.”  

Lets come together and salvage what is left of humanity. Come together. Lets all learn #HowToBeHuman1120

Loss of Innocence in Adolescence

The Loss of Innocence in Adolescence

Often times in a young teen’s life, they experience things that could very well alter who they are. Such things could include: violence, drugs, sex, and alcohol. Most of what a child or teen experiences is in participation with friends. Friends are a huge influence on a young teens life, therefor decisions made may not be a decision made alone. Teens can either strive for excellence or plummet to failure. A teen’s decisions are what will determine the outcome. The teenagers of my generation and those to come need to be shown the outcome of a life of poor decisions. The best way to do this is teach a class to young high schoolers, specifically on the consequences of drugs and alcohol. 

Although the last thing a teenager wants to do is take a class on drugs in school, it would be a very vital step in decreasing the amount of teenagers who smoke pot. Not only pot, but if more young students were educated on alcohol, sex, or violence it would surely decrease the numbers in those departments as well. I recently attended a party and as I walked through the door, the smell of weed and the cracks of beer cans made its way to my senses. The crowd you'd expect to see was not there. This party was consumed with mostly 15 year old sophomores in high school. Not only was it disappointing to see but it was also disturbing. It was disturbing to see teenagers who are so young, just past the age described as the “childhood years”, drinking and smoking. The biggest loss is they can never return to that childhood. “They can never "go home" to childhood again. They can never return to that simpler, sheltered, and supportive time.” (Carl Pickhardt, psychologytoday.com, The Loss of Childhood.) 

Aside from the influence by friends, teenagers also are influenced based on their home life. A child with a rough life at home may lash out and try new and consequential experiences. Most troubled teenagers either have divorced parents or mostly absent parents. “Sometimes, just being physically present is not enough. Parents that may be nearby but that are not emotionally invested or responsive tend to raise children that are more distressed and less engaged.” (Bethel Moges, my.vanderbilt.edu, Parental Influence on the Emotional Development of Children.) Teenagers need guidance whether they express it or not. These teenagers can get this type of guidance through teachers in a class, such as the one previously recommended. 

Some people could argue that it is ultimately the teenagers decisions and they are old enough to make good choices. Although this may be true, there are still factors that play into how the teenager makes their decision. For example, a straight A student who's never been in trouble in their entire life tries marijuana for the first time, due to the peer pressure put on them by their friends. This particular case is seen in every high school and every group of friends. Peer pressure is a huge factor in decision making, especially young teenagers who are just entering high school. These teenagers want to make an impression and look cool in front of others, so they fall into this societal trap. 

Part of being human is experiencing new things and allowing yourself to make decisions that will ultimately benefit your chances of survival. A plant and a couple of drinks wont kill you, but the actions that take place afterwards can. Not only does drugs and alcohol change a person and creates a rebellious persona, it can also seriously injure or kill themselves or others. I have known several people that get behind the wheel of their vehicle while high or drunk and sometimes both. Most got home safely. Some of them didn't get home at all. Seven teenagers who's age ranged from sixteen to nineteen died in early 2015 due to a car rollover not to far from our high school. They didn't crash because they were rushing to get home to avoid punishment, they didn't crash due to exhaustion from studying. They crashed because the driver was intoxicated and high. The six others riding in the tailgate were also cross-faded. Not one of them survived because of a poor choice they made. This choice was made because the loss of innocence. Had these kids been educated and shown the consequences of drinking and driving they may have been able to tell their mother goodnight that night. However these kids didn't know any better and ended their life too soon. 

An educated person will know what is a good decision and a bad decision. “By keeping youth off the street and occupied during the day, school attendance may have long-lasting effects on criminal participation.” ( Lance Lochner, University of Western Ontario,The Effect of Education on Crime) These classes can take extra time out of the day during the week to further kids understanding of drugs and alcohol while also keeping them busy, rather than being irresponsible. The potential a class like this has for success in a teenagers life in extremely high. Parents can admit their young high schooler in a class such as this one and document the change in the teenagers personality and decision making. 

Let it be known this information is coming from a high school senior. Someone who has been in the game and knows the current teenage trends and downfalls. These examples have been experienced first hand and it is not a pretty sight in person. These classes can save parents a lifetime of mourning and teenagers a lifetime of prison. It might even just save their lives. Teenagers must be educated on both the consequences and possibilities drugs and alcohol possesses. If such classes existed, the teenage smoking, drinking, and death rate may come to a shocking decrease. Talk to your school districts or school supervisors and get a club started or meetings to ensure that a students can receive the proper education they need in order to sustain their innocence and their lives. 

Be kind. Be Human. Smile.

Definition of human:  having human form or attributes. - Merriam Webster Dictionary. 

It is a given, in order to be human you must have human form.

does every human formed soul know what attributes play into being human?

I asked twenty college students what makes them happy. Most answers consisted of their pets or food. However there was some answers that struck me. 

Before I discuss the answers lets talk about perception. Some qualities can alter how one person sees the world from another. Qualities such as: gender, race, education, and how a person was raised. Gender plays into how we see the world immensely. In a scenario where a man would walk the streets at eleven at night as opposed to a woman, which would be more capable of physically protecting themselves? Now, not to say women can’t defend themselves, but in the eyes of a man or a woman, a man might be more inclined to walk the streets. 

Race might be the biggest factor in the way we see the world. If anyone has watched the news recently or ever, they would see constant news of police vs. Black unarmed civilians. Another example could be Donald Trump on immigration or even patriots against Muslims. The African American community is more inclined to be against police due to the media and the way they perceive the situation. This isn't to say all African American people empathize with the victim nor the police. It does depend on how they were raised. It is also needed to be said that neither “side” is wrong in the way they perceive the world. 

What this world is having troubles with the most is being human. A significant part of being human is understanding that we all in fact are humans. A human dies. Isn't that awful? I didn't mention whether he or she was black, Asian,Mexican,or white. A man or a woman. I did not say what religion. We are classified in every aspect we can come up with, which segregates the human race more and more every day. These protests, murders, and constant differences can be settled with a simple awakening. Wake up. Tap into your minds hardware and rewire your priorities. Is it more important to you that a black man died or that a human died? Is it more important to you to eliminate a suspect via your gun or take extra precautions to keep yourself and another human as safe as possible; regardless of race. 

Three students responded with answers that struck me. 

The first student said “Setting and Achieving goals.” This student then went on to explain how he set the goal to get to America from Mexico and get a college education. He is in the middle of his third year. 

The second student replied with “ seeing or making others smile.” This student battles with depression, not letting any of his family or friends know. He tries everyday to smile and make others smile. 

The third student spoke “peace.” The simplicity of the answer but the deep pit of meaning inside of it. Peace could be peace of mind, a world without hate, or being content in life. 

Merriam Webster Dictionary spoke of human attributes. It is much more than form and attributes. Its perception, communication, peace, and happiness. 

And yet another cliche proves to be true, “All we need is love.”  

Thank You for My Voice

Thank You for My Voice

For the majority of my life, I strolled aimlessly wondering what my passion would be. A passion that no matter my age or limitations could prevent me from excelling in. A passion I could not go a day without thinking about. For four straight years this passions was high school wrestling. I dedicated my energy, time, and diet (most of the time) in order to be the best wrestler I could be. However once I graduated the training stopped. The love for the sport was still there but the passion faded. This, surprisingly, did not make me feel at all sorrowful. I couldn't feel such misery due to the people who gave me the greatest opportunity of them all. My athletic window closed but my door to passion opened. I found my voice. I found a way to escape from the Battlegrounds of everyday life, bunkered in a classroom armed with my pen and my pad. firing my thoughts through the pen, splattering the ink onto my canvas. I used to be a warrior. Going toe to toe with any opponent who would step on the mat. Now I'm an artist. Portraying my words in a poetic process stemming from the deep roots of my brain. I didn't find my voice on my own. 

Four people have granted me this amazing gift. All being experts on this art. The first person credited to my findings is David Foster Wallace. Not only is he an exceptional author he is a master in the art of “teaching you how to think.” The link at the bottom is a commencement speech from Wallace, explaining why it is so important on knowing how to think. His poetic and profound verses provide such a passionate lesson on how to think. Wallace was overwhelmed with the battlegrounds of life. despite his knowledge on how to think he was a victim of his own teachings. He passed away from suicide in 2008.  

The second person that introduced me to literature was John Keating. This iconic character played by Robin Williams showed me the true passions and art behind literature. The sincerity behind this character showed me that the most beautiful minds, are the ones who are most literate and poetic. Keating shows love and passion for writing and also love for his students. He is not just a teacher to these boys, he is a professor teaching the curriculum of life. 

The next two people are the teachers who promoted me from warrior to student, retiring my uniform and granting me my voice. 

Mr. Colletti, my eleventh grade english teacher was John Keating in real life. He made me see in different perspectives, write what I think, and he worried more about content than curriculum. This isn't poor teaching or incompetency. Its passion. Its real. Mr. Colletti introduced me to my voice, and for this I am forever grateful. There are class discussions and lessons I will always remember because it wasn't textbook teaching, it was art. This wasn't any class to me, this was the most important course I took in my entire high school career. This Man’s name will be remembered throughout the rest of my life. 

The final person who has taught me the value of literature is Professor McKelvey. Mr. Colletti Introduced me to my voice but McKelvey taught me style. I can communicate properly but to be able to make my words worth reading is a whole other story. McKelvey has been my professor for my last two English courses and I refuse to have any other professor teach me now. Writing is extremely important. 

I would love to slap a cliché dissolvable quote to express my love for this art but it wouldn't do it justice.

However, there is no other appropriate way to say 

Thank You for My Voice. 

Link to Commencement Speech: https://youtu.be/8CrOL-ydFMI 

Fist in the Air For The Land of Hypocrisy

Slacktivism

“(Sometimes slacktivism or slackervism) is a portmanteau of the words slacker and activism. The word is usually considered a pejorative term that describes "feel-good" measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little physical or practical effect, other than to make the person doing it feel satisfied that they have contributed”

As 2016 gets closer to concluding, pushing us into 2017 the world is falling into “life online.” This phenomenon is creating a world whose social skills rely more on technology as opposed to face to face interaction. One extremely significant policy known as activism, is being thrown into the mix of social media.  This idea has been portrayed in Facebook posts, online petitions, and multiple online communities. The common term to reference this trend is called Slacktivism. Activism used to be portrayed by standing outside the local shopping center with a pen and a paper getting signatures to support a certain cause to marching down the street in peaceful protests and boycotting certain companies. Activism or Slacktivism is now liking and sharing Facebook post, clicking join to an online community or posting a lengthy perishable and tendentious paragraph for their 130 followers. Although their intentions are good, are these online activists actually helping or do they stand for nothing but their ego? Granted, there are online activists that make a difference, but only due to the action that follows.

Banksy is a political street artist. The man with no identity paints very controversial but always truthful paintings on well-known and very visible buildings for the public to see. Banksy posts his work online for non-local citizens to see and it impacts people far and wide. He cannot be considered a slacktivists due to the non-pixelated action he’s committing to.  These warriors who battle in a war armed with their keyboards and shielded by their computer screens will more likely make no difference, as to actually standing ground and fighting back with the real sword and shield. The pen and the paper. The word ACTivism is not spelled this way by coincidence. Take pride in your cause and take it to the streets instead of holding your fist in the air for the land of hypocrisy.

Welcome to Nirvana

 

nir·va·na

[nərˈvänə, nirˈvänə] - a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma.

 

Hi, my name is Colton Anglin. I am an eighteen year old student born and raised out of Peoria Arizona.

The year is 2016.

 Throughout my life, I have faced defeat, victory, struggle, and conquering the overwhelming, nearly impossible, stress induced task of learning how to be human. I introduce to you, lesson one: Human interaction.

I have created a new world of stress and obsession with this question. I have walked corner to corner, going street to street trying to find a perfect example of what it is to be “Human.” From the helpless yet content homeless to the prideful rich, I could not seem to find any traces of human activity. The world we live in is victimized from the weapon in the palm of our hands. The cell phone. Even though now, it’s hard to call it just a phone. This device has been chained to the direct link to the brain and the heart. It has taken our eyes hostage until the number of likes on social media has been presented. It has stitched our lips together and set our thumbs free in order to communicate. This is no longer a phone, this is a weapon. It shoots down our critical thinking and cuts our attention to detail away. This weapon has created a world of alienated people. The human race no longer depends on human interaction to complete tasks or communicate with friends. It depends on social media and texting. This world is plagued with the technology that runs through our veins.

Aside from the didactic metaphors and poetic verses, this is truly a growing issue. I recently was walking through the mall just twenty minutes from my house. I haven’t been there in quite some time but I could not help but notice some changes. One that stood out was there was a new store. An extremely bright and fluorescently lit store with possibly a couple of hundred people in there. There are friendly and conveniently helpful staff members there, that seem as if there are somewhat scripted in what to say. This store is the new Apple store. The only place in the mall to get better ammunition for your weapon. I just couldn’t help but notice the psychological advantage such a prestigious store has over the rest of the mall. A large area to work in. A very bright room. Specialized glass doors that make you feel like you’re walking into a store of the future. I just can’t seem to wonder why we buy into such a dehumanizing product. I too am a victim of this. Maybe we as a human race should devolve our awareness to the world. Go back to talking to each other. Go back to human interaction.

 Unfortunately this will not change. It’s how things are now.

My name is Colton Anglin. I am an eighteen year old student born and raised out of Peoria Arizona.

The year is 1984.