Our Identity. Our Values. Our...Cowboys? Yippie Ki-Yay!

Too often are societies judged based upon the common man. They don't take the time to truly see the beauty in each way of living. Everyone is too focused on the negative. The ignorant, the poor, the selfish...no one focuses on the good. Nothing is perfect and the sooner people realize that, the happier our world will be.

Literature helps define cultural identity in a variety of ways. In some ways we can see change, in "How to Kill a Mocking Bird" we see so much prejudice! Just as much as there was back in the day as it is an accurate depiction of those dreaded years.But America has changed. Sure, prejudice is still witnessed here but it's way less than just a few decades ago. Literature also helps relate to America now! In "The Scarlet Letter" we see a woman who committed acts of adultery and how society reacted to her actions. While today there are many more men and women alike committing those same crimes today, they are still treated pretty poorly. Our values in society have changed so much. We've came so far! People of every skin in almost every work place, less unemployment and brighter faces all around.

Not all values have changed for the better though. Sometimes we let technology take us over and run us into the hole of despair! If one is too into catching his favorite T.V. show than to do his homework...that's a problem. Kids and adults alike had their priorities straight way back when. Now priorities are "tweeting" about who Taylor Swift is dating today and "instagramming" what we had for dinner.

In 1992 the first touchscreen phones were made. Thus inventing a canvas for improvement and glory...but has anyone taken it into consideration that maybe we should focus on things such as budget cuts in schools or helping feed the homeless? I guess not...oh well. I guess I'll grab my phone and tweet about my troubles rather than call and donate to a charity or make a useful suggestion to the mayor or volunteer for a clothes drive. Ya know, cause that's how us 'Muricans do thangs!!!

Ah yes, the cowboy. The tough as nails, horse ridin', king of the wild, wild, west! Who doesn't love a good, genuine, hard working man who sticks up for the underdogs? We love to use the cowboy as a symbol of leadership and courage! Whether it be the shoot out at high noon or saving little Timmy from falling down the well, you'd best believe the cowboy will saddle up, swallow his pride, and make a memorable appearance!

Commenting...5% Intelligent...95% Foolishness

After reading an article over life in North Korea, I browsed the comments. The columnist, Olaf Schuelke, explains that the people of North Korea live joyful lives just like us. Even though they're under a different kind of leadership and even though it may seem immoral to us, they eat at restaurants, go to parks, spend time with their families, and are perfectly happy under the standards they're given...so what's there to judge? Well, let's see...

"It makes me wonder what their crime rate is and whether there are gangs, mafia, triads, etc."
"I have no doubt there are good people in North Korea, but they obviously have bad leaders and bad government all the same."

These are two of the comments I found that actually contributed to the article and spiked intellectual conversation. What I find sad is that it took me about 10 minutes to find these and about 5 other decent comments. These quotes are thought out, and for the most part, grammatically accurate! They show interest and polite opinion, no insults were thrown and their language isn't flooding with swear words. The people who wrote comments like these often went by their first name or their full name. I'd imagine that they're very rational people and like to debate rather than argue.

"Ever wondered why the Kim Jong family is getting uglier across the years. Grand-dad was not too bad looking, son became uglier, grand-son the worst looking. Fearful to imagine how Kim Jong-Un's son will look like ! Must be some sort of degenerative mutation due to radiation from nuclear activities!"
"You're an ign0rant fo0l."
"Any civilization that eats dogs is doomed."

And then there are these people...*sigh*...where to begin? Well, they're rude and have bad grammar, but that's a given. These comments are often found in replies to the intellectual ones, which is a shame because it just throws everyone off topic. The people that make these comments often use fake screen names and have discriminating icons (one had the Iluminati sign, what the heck!?) These comments just FLOOD the article and strains it of it's worth.

Overall, if you hunt down the good comments, you'll gain some food for thought, but if you don't want to hunt for 10 minutes...well, then just skedaddle from the comment box all together. The articles are great, but the people taking the time to comment...not so much...

Brutus...that poor soul!

In, "Julius Caesar" Marcus Brutus is the prime example of a good person. He always tries his best, does what he can for people, and is always thinking, but with great personality comes a flaw or two. Poor, innocent Brutus. Brutus' innocence is ultimately his main problem. Because he trusts that everyone is an honorable man, he is often fooled and misguided into his own failure. 

"The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool" ~ Stephen King

As displeasing as it is, the flaws of Brutus are still an issue to many people at this day in age. Oh! The honorable misfortune it is to be a part of the minority in a crowd of jealous simpletons. Being of the right-minded population isn't all it's cracked up to be if you're wanting to believe that everyone is as great as they say they are. A curse it is to have the heart of an angel and the ambition of a lighted candle in a wind storm.

The problem with these select few is that they often have to learn things the hard way. They are blinded by their innocence in such a way that they don't realize their wrongs until it's too late. Brutus was convinced by Cassius that killing Caesar was the right thing to do because he would become a tyrant. Brutus reflected on his morals and agreed to go after Caesar. Brutus was doing it for the good of Rome while Cassius was doing it merely to climb up the social ladder. Later, after the killing, Brutus had lost a friend. A real friend. Oh, the irony.

What comes to mind when I think of trust at this time period is marriage and divorce. If two kind souls marry each other they must have trust in one another. Either one of the spouses is worried that the other is breaking their vows and wants a divorce, or they know the other is being untruthful and insists on getting stepped on because they want to believe that it isn't happening. Marriage should be a giving relation, but it often only ends in bruises and loss of purity. And just like Brutus, you either end up losing a real friend like Caesar or gaining a fake one like Cassius.

In conclusion, our innocence is beautiful, but can cause major problems in terms of trust and friendship. We shouldn't let our hearts think for us; that's what our brains are for.