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[May. 5th, 2006\|10:26 pm]beckalex
[Tags\|movies, opinion, rant, school]All major papers officially turned in. What's left: a write-up, one more math assignment, and a bullshitted debate. And then finals. But let's not think about that yet.I got bored around 4:30 so I left and saw United 93. Very very good movie. Highly intense. Throughout the whole thing I was secretly hoping that they would be okay, but I knew at the same time that it was completely obvious that they wouldn't be. In the credits I noticed that most of the people in the scenes involving air traffic control towers and military alert centers were actually playing themselves. Quite neat. It mostly just showed what happened versus spewing out a political agenda, which was really nice. I was half-afraid I was gonna get a whole bunch of biased political views shoved down my throat (which happens way too often) but nope. They just showed it as it was...or at least a dramatization of what it was, since no one was actually ON the plane. They could have way too easily taken a biased stance, but they didn't. Kudos to the director, Paul Greengrass. Or whatever his name is.I have ever mentioned how much I absolutely hate crowded buses? I feel so digusting. I feel like I have everyone's sweat, breath, and grime coated all over me. Siiiiiick. I feel all....licey or something now.I think the hunger strike ended today. I thought the idea of the hunger strike was good - all the power to them...but...was it really going to accomplish anything? I don't know if I've gotten cynical or what lately, but I seriously am starting to think that political marches and demonstrations are pretty silly. What do they do in the long run? Sure, a message gets out, but does it change anything? Does it sway those in power who actually make the decisions? Not really. I could probably count the number of times my US history textbook mentions bills being passed soley due to public pressure on my fingers. Besides, what do protestors really know? The only people with the real information are the ones in power who keep it from the public. As a result, rumors get out in various ways of media frenzy and become totally misconstrued and manipulated in ways to fit in with certain public agendas. I don't think things are as black and white as everyone makes it out to be...I'm sure things go into lots more detail that people either just don't know or simply decide not to acknowledge. I'm not AGAINST marches or anything like that - I've been to my share, I know what they're like and all the power to those people. I just don't think they accomplish anything in the long run. I think people need to cool their jets, take a step back, and try to think deeper into matters instead of just swallowing media garbage assumed as facts.And that's the end of my shpeil. Taking an apathetic stance on some stuff is the way to go. It makes you happier in the long run.
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[May. 5th, 2006|10:26 pm]beckalex

[**Tags**|movies, opinion, rant, school]All major papers officially turned in. What's left: a write-up, one more math assignment, and a bullshitted debate. And then finals. But let's not think about that yet.I got bored around 4:30 so I left and saw United 93. Very very good movie. Highly intense. Throughout the whole thing I was secretly hoping that they would be okay, but I knew at the same time that it was completely obvious that they wouldn't be. In the credits I noticed that most of the people in the scenes involving air traffic control towers and military alert centers were actually playing themselves. Quite neat. It mostly just showed what happened versus spewing out a political agenda, which was really nice. I was half-afraid I was gonna get a whole bunch of biased political views shoved down my throat (which happens way too often) but nope. They just showed it as it was...or at least a dramatization of what it was, since no one was actually ON the plane. They could have way too easily taken a biased stance, but they didn't. Kudos to the director, Paul Greengrass. Or whatever his name is.I have ever mentioned how much I absolutely hate crowded buses? I feel so digusting. I feel like I have everyone's sweat, breath, and grime coated all over me. Siiiiiick. I feel all....licey or something now.I think the hunger strike ended today. I thought the idea of the hunger strike was good - all the power to them...but...was it really going to accomplish anything? I don't know if I've gotten cynical or what lately, but I seriously am starting to think that political marches and demonstrations are pretty silly. What do they do in the long run? Sure, a message gets out, but does it change anything? Does it sway those in power who actually make the decisions? Not really. I could probably count the number of times my US history textbook mentions bills being passed soley due to public pressure on my fingers. Besides, what do protestors really know? The only people with the real information are the ones in power who keep it from the public. As a result, rumors get out in various ways of media frenzy and become totally misconstrued and manipulated in ways to fit in with certain public agendas. I don't think things are as black and white as everyone makes it out to be...I'm sure things go into lots more detail that people either just don't know or simply decide not to acknowledge. I'm not AGAINST marches or anything like that - I've been to my share, I know what they're like and all the power to those people. I just don't think they accomplish anything in the long run. I think people need to cool their jets, take a step back, and try to think deeper into matters instead of just swallowing media garbage assumed as facts.And that's the end of my shpeil. Taking an apathetic stance on some stuff is the way to go. It makes you happier in the long run.

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Comments:
I thought my dad was the only person who said "cool your jets." Sometimes, when he's feeling fancy, he says "cool thy jets." Yes, because they totally had jets in medieval times.I don't really want to see United 93... I guess I should though.Have you seen Brick? I saw it this week and it was pretty awesome. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.Agreed. It gives me headaches when I see protestors. A former friend of mine (Brian) was lulled into the ultra-liberal college climate almost immediately after stepping foot onto CSUN soil. He approached me and asked if I was going to participate in one of many war walk-outs that were going on at the time, and I simply said "No". He razzed me a little bit over it, then rudely said that I must not care about the world or something to that effect. I asked him what I ask all people who come off like their shit don't stink..."Oh, you upset over what you saw on TV?"Didn't go over well, but he knew I had a point. I also like the guilt tripping that follows. Fact of the matter is that in every controversial issue, there are TWO sides with their own stories. Let's look at the war(s) real quick. At home, we have the news to go on. Of course they're going to show people spitting on our colors and fighting against our military. That feeds the political climate here. Or maybe they'll show two or three guys in the military who freak out once the shooting starts, so they want to go home and start preaching about how it's not their war, blah blah blah. Yes, that sounds quite harsh, but guess what? That's exactly what I heard from two reliable sources in the national guard and usmc. I just wish people would get over themselves and realize that they really don't know shit. Is that so bad? I dunno. I don't think that we should be completely apathetic, but at least accept the fact that we'll never know the whole truth. Marching and getting worked up over topics we don't know much about just seems silly and a waste of energy to me.

Comments:

I thought my dad was the only person who said "cool your jets." Sometimes, when he's feeling fancy, he says "cool thy jets." Yes, because they totally had jets in medieval times.I don't really want to see United 93... I guess I should though.Have you seen Brick? I saw it this week and it was pretty awesome. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.Agreed. It gives me headaches when I see protestors. A former friend of mine (Brian) was lulled into the ultra-liberal college climate almost immediately after stepping foot onto CSUN soil. He approached me and asked if I was going to participate in one of many war walk-outs that were going on at the time, and I simply said "No". He razzed me a little bit over it, then rudely said that I must not care about the world or something to that effect. I asked him what I ask all people who come off like their shit don't stink..."Oh, you upset over what you saw on TV?"Didn't go over well, but he knew I had a point. I also like the guilt tripping that follows. Fact of the matter is that in every controversial issue, there are TWO sides with their own stories. Let's look at the war(s) real quick. At home, we have the news to go on. Of course they're going to show people spitting on our colors and fighting against our military. That feeds the political climate here. Or maybe they'll show two or three guys in the military who freak out once the shooting starts, so they want to go home and start preaching about how it's not their war, blah blah blah. Yes, that sounds quite harsh, but guess what? That's exactly what I heard from two reliable sources in the national guard and usmc. I just wish people would get over themselves and realize that they really don't know shit. Is that so bad? I dunno. I don't think that we should be completely apathetic, but at least accept the fact that we'll never know the whole truth. Marching and getting worked up over topics we don't know much about just seems silly and a waste of energy to me.