Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The problem with TABOO

We've all be raised to believe that we are endowed with certain inalienable rights, this of course after years of watching is nothing but a lie however. The only right we honestly have is the right to due process in order to facilitate our own agendas. This may come off as a strange way to start off, but I feel it's important that it be stated that this country was originally based on the principle of free speech. Yet over the years after communist red herrings, loyalty oaths, political correctness we've found ourselves in a state of affairs where it is now possible to simply ban a word from conversation in the hopes of providing relief to those who take offense to it.

Two things that bother me about such an action. Words are words. We were all taught the same adage by our mothers, and never have I realized that she is more right. Words can't hurt you, unless you the individual give them cause to. We as a species created language. As such we have power over this substance through which we are able to communicate and damn. This is not to say that there aren't powerful emotions that can be associated with words, but the point I'm trying to make is that, by allowing ourselves to become so emotionally tied to a concept we allow it to govern us. Words are not the masters of our fate, but rather the method and vessel through which we are able to present our fates. By giving power to our own machination, we are doing nothing more than creating a form of self depreciation since we cannot adequately control the product of our own misuse.

The second problem that I see with this concept of taboo is the fact that nothing is ever solved by this. There is no steps toward making amends or understanding. The word is forbidden and therefore discussion can never be taken seriously because too many people deem this unfit for conversation. As a country that was supposed to be built on the principle of free speech this idea of creating a taboo system with our own vernacular is not only disgusting but completely unconstitutional. If we are not allowed to openly discuss and further understand, then steps can never be made to actually heal the wounds. This goes for the case of race issues, sexuality, mental disability. In almost any case there are numerous colorful metaphors to be very basic in their description on how to announce someone's identity. And while I personally won't lie that these words do carry a certain mix bag of emotions, I don't believe that completely closing off the use of them is an acceptable option.

We need to pride ourselves on the desire to be open and willing to discuss, rather than being so quick to dismiss and harbor unwarranted and unhealthy emotional ties to words.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Such a long reprieve

It's been quite a while since I've made any attempt at writing a blog post that I felt it necessary to prove that I was still able to do it. Even now, after I've been staring at this empty space for the better part of half an hour, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the "blogging" type. Regardless of that though, I've made a commitment to myself in some bizarre fashion that I must adhere to.

As such, recently with my sudden change of address and future plans, I've decided to take this little project of mine and alter it's content and purpose to somewhat suit my new state of mind. I've wanted to take this concept past just the form of blogging and possibly stretch it out into the world of a podcast for several reasons. The main of course being the fact that while I'm "trapped" here I need some form of outlet to release my creative mind.

I've begun taking steps towards advancing myself as a writer, rather than just garnishing aspirations and dreams in the back of mind. I'm currently working on a short story that I hope to have published by the years end, as well as work on a play that I might actually try and get performed, provided my family never sees it.

I do apologize for such a long reprieve, I've been trying to get myself into order, but that's proven to be harder and harder. Hopefully things change quickly, and I can begin with something stupendous to put my name to.