At One Point We Arrived Here Illegally Too.

The right to pursue our life's goals and interests is an inalienable right. Our founding father's sought to enable us to be governed by a leadership that keeps chaos and anarchy at bay while not infringing upon our ability to complete what we want in life. The pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness is no easy road. It takes a lot out of us and it sometimes compromises our rational thoughts. Illegal immigration is such an endeavor. When individual's belonging to another country wish for a better life the thought of waiting months, even years to obtain citizenship is too long. We, as citizens of this country by birth have no idea what it is like. We are not on the outside looking in. But once upon a time some of our ancestors arrived here illegally, (they did have a legal charter from the King of England but how do you own land that already belongs to the individuals who are already here?) and as an escape for their religious beliefs. I am of course referring to the pilgrims who landed in Massachusetts.
We all know the story, they were being persecuted for their Puritan beliefs so they decided to gather their livelihood, their families and with the help of investors they decided to ask the King for a charter for land, in what is now Virginia, and they set sail in multiple ships, but they had to condense down into one, the Mayflower, because the other ships were leaking. So, I didn't know all of these details but I found them out, just like I didn't know all the circumstances behind he new law in Arizona against illegal immigrants. The gist of it is that it allows members of law enforcement broad discretion against determining whether or not an individual belongs to this country. In other words, it allows law enforcement to openly and legally stereotype against Hispanics. Despite the fact that the law stipulates that if any individual appears to not belong in this country legally needs to be removed and deported immediately. The problem is that a majority of the individuals living in Arizona are Hispanic and therefore they became the new targets of this law. It is unfair and it needs to be revoked. I understand that the kidnappings that occur in Arizona are for the most part involved with illegal immigrants but this affects every other Hispanic as well. This law was put into action with the best intentions but it appears that its original purpose was just a mincing of words to increase the likelihood of its passage. As a country we need to not be hypocritical because when we arrived we were not supposed to be going any further then the established border between Native American lands and the colonies. But since there was a legitimate reason for the Arizona it appears that it will be around for some time.

Why we Can't Just Leave it to Beaver...

My, my, how we have grown... The "filter" that used to be on television during its golden days has disappeared, and I believe it did when everything went to digital. It was at that point when the basic network channels began to expand the viewers' imagination to the likes of South Park, Family Guy, American Dad, and pretty much any other vulgar show on cable. Shows that were exclusive to the extra costs that cable companies had established, were now becoming available to the common individual. I believe the shows on the  old school channels like KTLA, CBS, FOX, KCAL,etc. needed to become "revamped." So that way shows like Supernatural, House, Two and a Half Men, etc. could attract more of an audience/ keep their audience. What better way to do so than "vulgar" it up? The controversy of saying something on television causes people to talk about it, and then some people who have never seen the show, just might. And then BAM! It becomes an Instant increase in ratings. Even Emeril would be impressed by their initiative to "spice" things up a notch.
Me personally? I believe most shows on television after six are not suitable for children under thirteen. The language gets crude, the situations become more sexually motivated, and it appeases the older, just got off work, audience. If people are appalled that an inappropriate show is on for their kids to see, then plan a family game night or throw on a Disney movie, because things are not going to change any time soon. Just the other day I was watching Two and a Half Men with my dad, now I do not watch the show religiously, but my pops does, and the dorky brother made a sexual inuendo that was borderline... well... blunt and my dad was shocked. I thought it was a pretty slick retort, but my dad said it was... different, to say the least. The times have changed, very drastically, and no longer is Charles in Charge, The Cosby Show, or Leave it to Beaver on primetime.  The "drat," "darn," and "by golly" have been replaced by more eloquent, descriptive words such as, "damn," "crap," or "son of a bitch." People, just like my dad, need to understand that as adults, we are exposed to adult content, and if you don't like it, then change the channel to the Disney channel or Nickelodeon, which ever is your preference... By the way, I hear Nick at night takes folks back to when television was pure and good natured. Boy what a change of pace, huh?

What the Deuce?!?!

Two words, Family Guy. That is enough to illustrate the point of how the media can be sexist, prejudicial, or downright vulgar. No stone is left unturned on that show. There is nothing that is off limits, out of bounds, or left alone. In the amount of time that, that show has been on air it has covered almost the entire spectrum of possible people, groups, media, events, or other phenomena that has occurred. And why has it had such good success? I can only surmise that Seth McFarlane is a comic genius, his material is unadulterated completely mindless humor. This is a definite recipe for success in America.
Most media outlets are like this, they find that this blunt presentation is a winner in the ratings and so it remains prevalent on television. Now Family Guy is not the first to do this, nor will it be the last.
The prejudicial language is monitored because it is on television and even so it is pretty bad. For example on one episode Peter tells Lois that the kids cannot see her hitting/ belittling him because it will ruin his image of dominance. I thought this was a pretty funny statement at the time, but now I realize the seriousness of the joke. Spousal abuse is no laughing matter. My mother was in an abusive relationship with my father, and she left him for it. Call it genetics or visually learned behaviors, but I find that I get aggressive for little to no provocation. "It is just Latin passion" I have been told, but it scares me. I do not want to be like my father. My father is a good hearted man, but he has a mean streak. When the fuse blows get outta Dodge... Recently I have found that my temper threshold is borderline non-existent, I believe my stressful life attributes to this but I do not want to be another abusive asshole in this world. There are plenty already and I do not want to be another statistic.
But the media makes this seem like it is water under the bridge. Like it is no problem. But there is a problem, and I know there is a need sometimes to take things lightheartedly. But this is not a lighthearted matter to some, I do not take it lightly because I witnessed the capacity of spousal abuse and I oppose it. Family Guy is funny and the line is sometimes crossed but I do not take it personal. But I was not the direct victim of spousal abuse, so I cannot fathom what that statement would mean to me if I had been.

My Integrity?... Priceless...

Happiness is overrated. It is always eluding us, once it gets here it never lasts, and we alway seem get it at the most unsuspecting of times. There were days when I would be driving in my car after an exam, or after work and a happy feeling would come over me it was like some huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders.  I would feel indestructible, on top of the world so to speak, and it was amazing. But it was at times like these that I realize no matter how good it is going; things always find a way of balancing out. And so during these times I felt a number of mixed emotions, but happiness was definitely there, yet it wasn't there for very long because reality would reel me back in from my happy-place.
Happiness without sadness would be a pain in the ass. Ask anyone who has seen the movie Pleasantville. A happy-go-lucky world where everything is perfect is comparable to hell, there is no sadness, or pain to juxtapose the happiness and make us realize how special those happy moments truly are.
Now don't get me wrong, happiness is amazing. In that feeling of euphoria we realize what we can accomplish, and how wonderful life truly is. But like I said life has a way of balancing out. When we are put through trials in our life we do not realize the important lessons we are learning until it is over. And, in most cases what we learn isn't what we want to do the next time we need to apply that learned knowledge. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly, we learn from any experience in life, be it our first spelling test, to our complex math exam last week; we learn and we grow from these experiences. But is happiness on par with self-respect? I feel it is no where close and I consider self-respect and integrity to be interchangeable.
A long time ago as a wee lad, my 8th grade U.S. History teacher, Mrs. LaCour told everyone one of us on the first day of class, "Achieving a good grade in your classes should be your greatest goal, but never sacrifice your integrity to achieve that goal." I was thirteen at the time, I had a vague idea of what she was talking about I wanted to do great in school, but something about integrity? What? It was some time later that I realized what she said.
Integrity. It defines us, it is who we are because of what we say or do. How do you want to be remembered? In one of my classes here at AVC I noticed something that was interesting. In one of my classes our teacher would quiz us on material we were supposed to have studied the night before, but not everyone could study the material as thorough as was necessary to ace the quizzes. I sat in the back and I noticed two gentlemen copying the answers from one another, every time. One of them was a guy I knew from previous classes and he often asked me if I wanted a peek. I told him, "No thanks man, I think I got it." Even though there were plenty of times I was like "I am so lost... or... what the heck...?" My integrity, it used to be a loose association of me. And at one point I was someone I didn't want to be. But now? It drives me, it makes me want to be the better man, the best man I can be. My life has been tough, though the happiness never lasts, one thing remains everlasting, my integrity. It is priceless and all mine, and no I will not give it up lightly or anytime soon.