What is celebrating Christmas? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwide Decorating your house with the traditional image of Christmas (Noel, red boots, abundant Christmas tree, candy canes, etc.) Mom cooking dinner for hours and hours for the family. Having baby Jesus figure at the corner of the room. Pretending to be kind and loving with everyone. Exchanging Christmas presents or lying to children about a man leaving presents overnight. Singing traditional songs along with others.
-I think that people are so hypnotized by culture that they are not aware of their actions. celebrating Christmas is not wrong, but is not right either. It is an idea that was brought upon us many years ago for "community" purpose. the importance of Christmas is communicated generation by generation. If celebrating it makes people happy and it is taken as an opportunity to be harmonically with others then how grandiose it turned out to be. But, if throughout the year until this date people has been hating, destroying, and crying and then hypocritically celebrating Christmas... What are they playing at?
They have been playing the same game we all play before and during Christmas. We are all mediocre and hide it, so that other don't know we are. I call it human nature living under culture. After all it is impossible for us not to live under culture.
What happens if we do not celebrate it?
Those who do not celebrate do not "fit in". Those who do not celebrate it are called heretic, loners, miserable. And those who do not celebrate actually believe that is their reality. Even if it is decided not to celebrate it because there is no profound reason found, that person is it identified as someone who opposes this worldwide holiday. If we do not celebrate Christmas, then our house will not be beautifully decorated. We would not have "that" special dinner. We might not receive presents from family or friends. Life would go on.
-I think that it is not right not to celebrate Christmas, but it is also not wrong. It is simply not celebrating because of any reason there might be. For example: "I have no one to celebrate with", "I see no point", "Too much work for a holiday", "the economy is really bad right now", etc. Either way there is always a reason to celebrate or not to celebrate Christmas. But they all apply to their respective culture.
So, what should we do in this holiday?
Once again people are trapped between two or even more alternatives. It is up to them to decide what to do based on whatever is more convenient. At a very young age we were taught right and wrong. Even if our right and wrong did not match others, we would still think, act, and criticize based on our own, because we are right and they are wrong. Someone who decides to celebrate Christmas thinks is the right thing to do, the normal thing to do. Someone who does not, take for instance a Chinese, thinks is the right thing to do, the normal thing to do. So, which one is it? Do we celebrate it or not?
-I personally think that these type of questions are futile. There is free will in this world after all, even if most people have never experimented it. I think people "should" do whatever they want to do, as soon as they do not spread any malice to others. If it is decided to practice or to celebrate any holiday, then so be it. If it is declared that there is a right or wrong in reality relating Christmas, then so be it. Everything is the way it is, will be, and have been. Whatever decision is made regarding Christmas celebration you will always end up being wrong in some one's opinion.
My Christmas this year...
This year I decided not celebrate Christmas for the first time. I communicated this to my family and they respected my decision. My father and my grandparents are Chinese, so they were not against my decision at any point. My sister wondered my sudden reaction, but she did not opposed it. As a family we agreed to celebrate it in our own way or not to celebrate it at all. The way we performed this agreement was by simply having dinner at an Italian restaurant. It is my sister's favorite restaurant, so she was there to have a longed great dinner with us. I went along to have dinner at a restaurant with my family. My father was there to be with his daughters and enjoy himself during this special night. I did not give any presents to family nor received. We did not decorated our house, or cooked dinner. I saw this night as any other.
I could say that my family sees mostly Christmas as an opportunity to be together, and I am very happy they do so. As for me, I do not want to see Christmas or any other holiday as a reason or excuse to be with others. Or to be kind to others and give presents. Or to go to church and celebrate Jesus birth. I now realize that I am and have been a mediocre too, and I did not like it. However, it is not going to change. Regardless of what I do I will still be strongly influenced by what I THINK is right and act according to it. But, even though the circumstances i have no feelings of regret for not celebrating Christmas and I am still living a good life. From now on I will celebrate any holiday because I chose to celebrate it not because that is what I am supposed to do. Everyday is important, everyday is an opportunity, why wait for a holiday to express your feelings?
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Celebrating Christmas
After discussing Christmas in class and considered all the factors that I have been doing, as a result I began doubting my own existence. Every year I have been celebrating Christmas because I was told to celebrate it in order to have a good life. The three aspects, religion, family, and Santa Claus were involved in my celebration of this holiday. Me and my family have been following these patterns like most of the people. We celebrate it because we have been communicated that it is a very important holiday. I never questioned the importance of it until this Christmas.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Response to "Worker dies...Wal-Mart..Black Friday"
After reading this news, I noticed that Black Friday has a way more of an impact on society than I thought. The report is written in a biased way against the hyperactive shoppers. A man named Jdimytai Damour and four other shoppers were described as the victims of the stampede. People could not wait any longer to purchase products at a very low price! Therefore, they rushed into many workers and people in order to save money. One man died and the other four were injured during this incident. One employee wondered, "How could you take a man's life to save $20 on a TV?" He reflected that any of those people could have also stepped on him. Words such as "unacceptable" and "catastrophe" are used on this report. The biased message in this article was basically saying..."Stepping on other people is wrong!"
Taking responsibility. In reality, responsibility does not exist. Therefore neither does right or wrong. Things are what they are. Responsibility is a linguistic phenomenon and it is also a choice. Sometimes people choose it automatically, others decide taking it based on a situation, while others never choose it. Responsibility does exist in a linguistic domain and people are identified as responsible or not based on the definition of being responsible. Right and wrong are also determined by language, and there are consequences as an outcome in either of these cases, making these WORDS reality for many people. Until people understand that being 100% responsible for everything that happens in their lives, are they enpowered to change the course of their lives. How effective is it to blame others for the things that happen in our lives? How effective is it to do nothing when others are responsible for the misery in our lives?
Most people feel so powerless. The people in this report wanted to hold someone into account for the misfortune they were going through. They wanted to express how miserable they were because of others. They were depending on someone else to make whatever they wanted exist. Reading this article does make me sad because the person that died was not acknowledged in any way by the people claiming care about him. The family of the victim showed selfishness to feel a sense of "being" someone people could talk about, because that makes our reality, communication.
When a person in our lives die... We get depressed, we cry, we get hungry, we eat.
In my opinion, I do think that it was reckless to rush into Wal-Mart when there are many people so close together. I also think that those who might have stepped on others did not consider the circumstances of their actions. However, a man died and four more were injured due to other's actions. So what are those people now according to society? Murderers who are unworthy of life?
Indeed there was an accident and it is complicated to hold specific people accountable, but in this situation rather than focusing on what happened and what can they learn from it, people spend more time blaming others and avoid taking any responsibility.
As for this report, it will influence the minds of many, so that they support the families of the victims and the victims against the many people that rushed in, which will be generally known as residents of Long Island. Readers of this report will be taking sides based on how the article is slanted. Specifically, they might think of the poor man that was killed and the pregnant woman that was shoved and develop a complaint of how rotten human kind is.
This is the outcome of what happened: It is not simply that a man died, and four other were injured, and many people got things at a lower price, but the suffering and idiocy of people! This is an example of the meaning people put into whatever happens, even if it's not their business. Most people have the need to be in someone else's life and feel something for it rather than their own. No one in this report took responsibility over anything. The victims were too focused on sharing how tragic their lives were at that point. Another alternative is that this situation could be seen as a strong sense of brotherhood. "I am there for you as you will be here for me" This report could represent the unity and concern people have with the victims and the family of the victims. Even though it is not of our business, humans are very good at sharing pain and anger with each other. From this perspective the article would become something else; it is all based on the way it is communicated.
Taking responsibility. In reality, responsibility does not exist. Therefore neither does right or wrong. Things are what they are. Responsibility is a linguistic phenomenon and it is also a choice. Sometimes people choose it automatically, others decide taking it based on a situation, while others never choose it. Responsibility does exist in a linguistic domain and people are identified as responsible or not based on the definition of being responsible. Right and wrong are also determined by language, and there are consequences as an outcome in either of these cases, making these WORDS reality for many people. Until people understand that being 100% responsible for everything that happens in their lives, are they enpowered to change the course of their lives. How effective is it to blame others for the things that happen in our lives? How effective is it to do nothing when others are responsible for the misery in our lives?
Most people feel so powerless. The people in this report wanted to hold someone into account for the misfortune they were going through. They wanted to express how miserable they were because of others. They were depending on someone else to make whatever they wanted exist. Reading this article does make me sad because the person that died was not acknowledged in any way by the people claiming care about him. The family of the victim showed selfishness to feel a sense of "being" someone people could talk about, because that makes our reality, communication.
When a person in our lives die... We get depressed, we cry, we get hungry, we eat.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Meaningful Celebrations本当か
What is celebrating Black Friday and El Dia de Muertos meaningfully according to popular culture?
People receive contradictory messages about this event. Is up to them to decide. During this event people can contribute into helping the environment; in other words not consuming as much as usual for one day. This event is also known as buy nothing day for the sake of the planet. This event is very popular because of the great sales offered in almost every store. The name itself could be interpreted as a negative event. Usually the color black represents negative aspects, naming it black Friday could show that regardless of what decision is made by a person there will always be a negative outcome from both sides. For example, if it is decided not to purchase any product, then you will be helping the environment (according to media), you will negatively affect the economy by not investing money into anything, or vice versa. Both methods are considerably insignificant as a person, but considering that large groups of people decide one or the other it has an great impact. People consider their actions meaningful and determine themselves based on them. Giving a title to yourself, such as, the good and caring American or the excessive buyer that will look better than others the next day.
For one day people can get closer to a good and meaningful life easily. They will be able to purchase items in a great deal and represent popular culture. Black Friday involves many factors, but in the term of "shopping", women are known to come first. Are women those who are most negatively impacting the world by purchasing what they do not need. But, don't most men like women who look good!? Men also encourage this pattern by providing the money and agreeing. Regardless of these true stereotypes, who is there to blame? There must be always one who is the jerk. Whatever decision is taken he or she will be a jerk at the end to different people. So, why bother following patterns or stereotypes. Why bother working so hard for an entire life when you will never be enough, according to pop culture? Everyone is more concerned about looking good than self express. Then they live repressed because they cannot be who they think they truly are. Popular Culture "forces" the culture into us.
In Japan, every year in a popular festival a chosen person is carried by 6-8men. On this day, the person they carry will represent the new person model to follow. Everyone should be that way. For example, if a pretty woman is carried then, that woman will appear in a magazine. Then, she will be recognized by a company, who will then hire her to model. Then she will be on T.V sharing how she changed her life from and ordinary pretty girl to a popular model. Then she will have a great number of fans/followers and become a fashion icon. Then someone else will be carried and her minute of fame is over. Another distinction of how popular culture tell us to be is: Have clothing stores by sections. There is the lady's section, the teens section, the child's section, etc. All of them are considerably different from one another. Teens are supposed to look differently than women. It does not matter if a 45 year old woman wants to dress like a 15 year old, she cannot! Otherwise she will no be accepted in society. If we disobey popular culture, then we suffer the consequences of being an outcast.
According to the movie Pump up the Volume, to live a good and meaningful life you need to "Get happy, get a girlfriend, sell a bestseller". In other words in order to be happy you need to get married to an attractive man/woman and become rich and famous. This movie talks about popular culture from a teenager's perspective who is about to step into the world and begin an independent life. The main character is supposed to have great analysis skills and he shares them with other fellows through the radio. He does not dare to speak up in real life and he is "sick of being ashamed" He does not mind "being rejected and rejected" he wont be ashamed. If everyone had the same ideal as this character then they would not be following the corporate messages given. The black Friday would be just another holiday on which people will not take on account because they do not need to improve anything.
Same happens with other events or holidays that are celebrated, for example, El dia de Muertos. In this holiday people celebrate the dead and pray for them. This is a very typical celebration in November 3 carried on in Mexico. People consider this holiday meaningful because the memory of the dead is important to them. Also they belief in life after death, therefore they pray for peace to the dead and to be looked after by their gone beloved one. There are many distinctions that represent this national holiday, and it is very respected by most of the people in Mexico. El Dia de muertos can be easily misinterpreted by many other cultures. It is thought that this holiday is out of the being normal for celebrating death. celebrating using skulls as a decoration and representation of how those look when they are dead does not mean that people are celebrating death. That is just one more corporate message that is once again believed. At some point in history the image of death became a skull with a black cape that comes for you when you die. Why would people celebrate such thing!?
This image contradicts one of the most influential messages, religion. Somehow people managed to collide Death will religion. Both have their own representative image and both are beyond doubt too influential. People is afraid of their own mortality. They do not accept death. However, in this holiday death is considered as something important that everyone must experience. At the same time they are praying to the death to look after them, so that they do not die. People live contradicting themselves and they do not get confused. They do not spend time on thinking: why am I doing this now? People live their lives following and pursuing at the same time. El Dia de muertos is just one more popular holiday that brings many people together, even the dead, to be part of something.
It is communicated that both events are of great importance and should be carried on by everyone in order to fit in. Whatever meaning is added into these celebrations depends on each person based on their own perspective. Personally I add no meaning to any of these nor celebrate them. In my point of view all celebrations have a purpose that could be seen in different ways. And we can even make a decision of whether go along with it or not. That does not change the fact that it is almost certain that they will be celebrated each year and media will make a big deal out of it.
People receive contradictory messages about this event. Is up to them to decide. During this event people can contribute into helping the environment; in other words not consuming as much as usual for one day. This event is also known as buy nothing day for the sake of the planet. This event is very popular because of the great sales offered in almost every store. The name itself could be interpreted as a negative event. Usually the color black represents negative aspects, naming it black Friday could show that regardless of what decision is made by a person there will always be a negative outcome from both sides. For example, if it is decided not to purchase any product, then you will be helping the environment (according to media), you will negatively affect the economy by not investing money into anything, or vice versa. Both methods are considerably insignificant as a person, but considering that large groups of people decide one or the other it has an great impact. People consider their actions meaningful and determine themselves based on them. Giving a title to yourself, such as, the good and caring American or the excessive buyer that will look better than others the next day.
For one day people can get closer to a good and meaningful life easily. They will be able to purchase items in a great deal and represent popular culture. Black Friday involves many factors, but in the term of "shopping", women are known to come first. Are women those who are most negatively impacting the world by purchasing what they do not need. But, don't most men like women who look good!? Men also encourage this pattern by providing the money and agreeing. Regardless of these true stereotypes, who is there to blame? There must be always one who is the jerk. Whatever decision is taken he or she will be a jerk at the end to different people. So, why bother following patterns or stereotypes. Why bother working so hard for an entire life when you will never be enough, according to pop culture? Everyone is more concerned about looking good than self express. Then they live repressed because they cannot be who they think they truly are. Popular Culture "forces" the culture into us.
In Japan, every year in a popular festival a chosen person is carried by 6-8men. On this day, the person they carry will represent the new person model to follow. Everyone should be that way. For example, if a pretty woman is carried then, that woman will appear in a magazine. Then, she will be recognized by a company, who will then hire her to model. Then she will be on T.V sharing how she changed her life from and ordinary pretty girl to a popular model. Then she will have a great number of fans/followers and become a fashion icon. Then someone else will be carried and her minute of fame is over. Another distinction of how popular culture tell us to be is: Have clothing stores by sections. There is the lady's section, the teens section, the child's section, etc. All of them are considerably different from one another. Teens are supposed to look differently than women. It does not matter if a 45 year old woman wants to dress like a 15 year old, she cannot! Otherwise she will no be accepted in society. If we disobey popular culture, then we suffer the consequences of being an outcast.According to the movie Pump up the Volume, to live a good and meaningful life you need to "Get happy, get a girlfriend, sell a bestseller". In other words in order to be happy you need to get married to an attractive man/woman and become rich and famous. This movie talks about popular culture from a teenager's perspective who is about to step into the world and begin an independent life. The main character is supposed to have great analysis skills and he shares them with other fellows through the radio. He does not dare to speak up in real life and he is "sick of being ashamed" He does not mind "being rejected and rejected" he wont be ashamed. If everyone had the same ideal as this character then they would not be following the corporate messages given. The black Friday would be just another holiday on which people will not take on account because they do not need to improve anything.
Same happens with other events or holidays that are celebrated, for example, El dia de Muertos. In this holiday people celebrate the dead and pray for them. This is a very typical celebration in November 3 carried on in Mexico. People consider this holiday meaningful because the memory of the dead is important to them. Also they belief in life after death, therefore they pray for peace to the dead and to be looked after by their gone beloved one. There are many distinctions that represent this national holiday, and it is very respected by most of the people in Mexico. El Dia de muertos can be easily misinterpreted by many other cultures. It is thought that this holiday is out of the being normal for celebrating death. celebrating using skulls as a decoration and representation of how those look when they are dead does not mean that people are celebrating death. That is just one more corporate message that is once again believed. At some point in history the image of death became a skull with a black cape that comes for you when you die. Why would people celebrate such thing!?
This image contradicts one of the most influential messages, religion. Somehow people managed to collide Death will religion. Both have their own representative image and both are beyond doubt too influential. People is afraid of their own mortality. They do not accept death. However, in this holiday death is considered as something important that everyone must experience. At the same time they are praying to the death to look after them, so that they do not die. People live contradicting themselves and they do not get confused. They do not spend time on thinking: why am I doing this now? People live their lives following and pursuing at the same time. El Dia de muertos is just one more popular holiday that brings many people together, even the dead, to be part of something.It is communicated that both events are of great importance and should be carried on by everyone in order to fit in. Whatever meaning is added into these celebrations depends on each person based on their own perspective. Personally I add no meaning to any of these nor celebrate them. In my point of view all celebrations have a purpose that could be seen in different ways. And we can even make a decision of whether go along with it or not. That does not change the fact that it is almost certain that they will be celebrated each year and media will make a big deal out of it.
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