VogonFord

. . . again my instinct for self-inflicted punishment rises again. . .

My mom brought up an interesting point last night about the assembly- how is it a diversity assembly? It was about adversity, not diversity. Overcoming problems is not diversity. Although it was definitely better than the option they chose previously (Interpretive dance), it completely deviated from the idea of diversity. It was about forcing into people the idea of overcoming problems in your life. But wait a second- that's ADVERSITY. Regardless of who was speaking up there, that's what it was about. The only difference was the level to which they were overcoming it. Some of them can't do anything about it- take the guy with a speech impediment. He won't ever be able to overcome that, but he can try to make it better. But then there's the molested girl who overcame the problems but retains the scars. The worst ones were the ones who demanded pity.

Here's my question: Did Andrew Carnegie become rich by asking for help? I think not.

Man, this guy is truly unbelieveable. The normal english teacher shpiel is alright by me, but this is just ridiculous. I was complaining in class about the utter hopelessness of the book Kite Runner and how it makes it seem as if happiness is unattainable. Then, to my utter suprise because he seems like such a generally happy guy, he tells me that it is that way because it is meant to be realistic. Now, this is the first time I have ever been told by anyone that happiness is anywhere near unattainable. It really caught me off guard. Happiness to me has never been anything but a guarantee in the future. That holds true to this day because I know that I will work for it. To see someone that considers everything hopeless was just...a shock.

Now it's one thing when people "know" that I will never play major league baseball or go to college on a basebal scholarship. Most would consider these unrealistic goals. But to call life futile as was implied by my teacher's comment was astounding. One of the few times in my life I have ever been utterly incapable of speaking (speaking is something I do in large volumes).

I'm sure I will have more rants later on. This should be enough for now though.

Err...that word in the title was supposed to be dedicate, not contribute. I guess that's what I get for writing at two in the morning. Brains'r all fried.

I enjoy how you fail to mention that this is realism in Afghanistan. I'm sure that all Afghanis have the same access to luxuries you do, Jeff, seeing as you live in Lake Oswego. You're the one who keeps on butting into my face about logical fallacies, maybe you should think about your own. You're ignoring the picture in its reality, especially about the story. Is the story taking place in a country that has an easy-going lifestyle without many worries? Yeah. Does the story come out from the beginning that something is going to go really, REALLY wrong? Yeah. Does the story have much hope when it comes to evading the bad guys? Yeah. One and two are because it is reality IN AFGHANISTAN. Your realities are INCREDIBLY different from the realities there. The book is realistic, just not the reality you're used to.