Diversity

The following is a copy of an essay which was written as practice for the NC Writing Test. It is also a lead-in to a more important topic which may be added tonight or tomorrow.
Diversity allowed humanity to survive the perils of this world. Had we not been as diverse as we are, an epidemic could have easily wiped us all out long ago. However, human nature is allowing this benefit to have a negative effect as well. We see those that are different and hate swells up in so many of us. It is truly ironic to hate those of us that are different, because they are only as rare as the rest of us. Nonetheless, human hate must be placed on something, so when we have no other enemies we place it on ourselves. Should our diversity not have a positive effect on society? Our differences in social status, looks, and ideas allow us to thrive, and humanity would fail without this diversity.
If our social statuses were all the same, for example, our society would fail. We need diversity in social status because we need to have some people do some jobs and others do equally important jobs. This specialization allows us to each do what we desire, with little fear of lack of people working in other jobs. If we lost our diversity, we would lose our motivation as well. There would be no reason to try harder, to do a better job, because we would all be left the same regardless in the end. Our social statuses are an important part of our diversity.
We all look different. This is essential also, for if we were all identical physically, we could never recognize one another! However, this part of diversity is now often used negatively as we allow culture to tell us what a person should look like. This definition, what we call beauty, is an intricate veil which shields from vies who a person truly is. We are not what we look like. We should be proud not of how much better we look, but how much better we are. Physical diversity is necessary for the survival of humanity, although it is now often misused. This is the second part to diversity.
Based on how we were raised and what we see around us, we all come to have differing beliefs and ideas. This is by far the least helpful and most harmful part of diversity. Differing opinions cause more arguments than results. They also often cause disunity as people divide themselves based on their views. If we were all to have the same views, life would certainly be much less interesting, but all of the conflicts of this world would be solved. However, since we live in a world of diversity, we are obligated to find our own answers to the philosophical questions we face. We are also obligated to express the answers we find in a way that would not cause more significant disunity. Opinion is the third and final part to diversity.
Our diversity allowed humanity to survive epidemics and plagues, and so we have come to where we are now. Our diversity has taken on another role in today's world. Diversity in social status, physical appearance, and personal opinion has made society what it is. Specialization in jobs allows us to work in a job in a field where we have much interest, and since we are diverse in such interests, we can fill all the jobs we need. Also, ironically, our of our diversity, we have developed a desire to all be alike physically. The current definition of beauty has become an important part of our society as a result. Philosophical and moral opinions change the way our society works as well. Our different opinions organize us into groups that are all seeking what is right. Diversity is the largest factor that affects our world today.

Love

Along with all the other famous holidays, I believe Saint Valentine's Day (see, it already sounds wrong to say even that; it is now known only as Valentine's Day) is being destroyed and its true meaning forgotten. Saint Valentine's Day is a day of love, not a day of lovers. It is a day to express not only a love for your partner, but also a day to express your love to others. As Christians we are called to love our neighbors, both our friends and enemies. I believe Saint Valentine would be ashamed of today's holiday, as we have obviously forgotten the more important half in the midst of this commercialized society.
However, since society has focused only on love for one's partner, I will do the same.
In the Bible I have noticed two viewpoints on love that I find interesting.
(NIV) Song of Songs 7:6 "Oh, how delightful you are, my beloved; how pleasant for utter delight!"
(NIV) 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 "Now I say to those who aren't married and to widows- it's better to stay unmarried, just as I am. But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It is better to marry than to burn with lust."
This is an amazing contrast to me. Except in Song of Songs, it is quite difficult to find a verse which supports love and marriage. Even when Eve is first created, it only says "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." (NIV, Genesis 2:24) Not very supportive, eh? Indeed, the Bible only supports marriage when the alternative is sin. Today's world has forgotten this. I believe this was said because it is easier to focus on God without marriage. If your relationship strengthened your faith in God, Paul may have agreed to marriage without hesitation, but I cannot know. This may also be a case of context, since it is a letter to the Corinthians. It may not apply to the rest of us.
As for love in today's world, it has become twisted. Of course, teenagers have never understood what love is, but the ways they would define it today are more twisted than ever. If a person asks me if I have a girlfriend I answer very hesitantly, because my "girlfriend" does not fit today's definition. If I say yes, several misled and confused questions follow. "Is she cute? Have you ever made out?" These questionings bother me, as even though I want people to know, I would prefer to be the one describing her, rather than answering specific questions. We have never "made out," never kissed, never even held hands. As I said, she does not fit today's definition. I am convinced it is foolish to do such things at the start of a relationship! As with most things in life, the bigger the foundation, the more amazing the building can be. If you don't have a foundation, you leave no room to add on to what you have, and the relationship will fail.
I hear people talk about dating, and they say that they date the "cool people" to be more "cool." That is the strangest thing I have ever heard! Certainly they are not speaking of dating but something else! That is not love, and in the end there will be consequences, but few benefits. In the words of Linkin Park, "In the end, it doesn't even matter." If you haven't noticed, very few adults worry about what they are doing is "cool." Do you really think you will be different?
If you want to determine how true your relationship is, do not look to the present, but the future. Compare how much you think of the present to how much you think of the future in your relationship. A true relationship is one in which you look forward to the next ten years more than the next few weeks.
This Saint Valentine's Day, don't just celebrate your relationship, also pray for it. Nothing can survive without God, a relationship being no exception. If you have a valentine, pray that God will strengthen your relationship and allow it to last. If not, pray that God will guide you to the right person when the time comes, for God answers all prayers in time. I prayed for several years for this, and I believe it has paid off, as two and a half years ago I met for the first time a girl who saw past the surface and into my heart.
Also, do not forget to pray for your neighbors, your friends and enemies. Share your Christian love on this day.
Happy Valentine's Day!
~For Aramaia, my first valentine

Apology

If you have been following this blog lately you may have noticed that several of the recent posts have been quite negative. I am sorry I have not given a positive aspect, if it seems that way, as I do wish to do so. I am not going through tough times in my life, but perhaps in my thoughts. Lately they have been, more often than not, negative. I believe I am going through a period of concern for the world. I will do my best in the next few posts to be positive, or at least neutral. However, I cannot promise that this will be so. After all, I only made this blog to let it all out in the first place. I hope that you still find this interesting.

Cultural Phenomenon

As an assignment in English 10 today, students were told to begin writing an essay on a "cultural phenomenon." Before we started, the teacher asked the class for some examples so that the students would have some ideas.

Foul Language
"Desperate Housewives"
Plastic Surgery
Alchohol
Aids
Open Sexuality
Obesity

All of the above made the list, along with around thirteen other not-so-horrible ones. However there were a few that were pushed by the students to be on the list to which the teacher objected, such as Pornography, which was named several times.
Even though I know all of this to be true, it still shocks me to see this list. It not only proves that these "phenomenons" have become accepted by today's society, but also that tenth grade students are not at all embarrassed to admit it, even to their teachers in school.
This disappoints me! I am ashamed for it seems that today's culture has utterly and completely failed as a positive influence on the world around us. It pains me that the people of this world are no longer concerned about such horrible ideas, thoughts, and media! Yet so many of these people would call themselves Christians, these people that do not try to resist this culture as it slowly destroys us. Hypocrisy runs rampant in today's world.
In saying this I do not mean that all Christians should be perfect, but that they should try to follow God and be more like Him, for he is the only role model we need. I simply oppose those of us who go to church on Sunday but are another person for every other day of the week.
The day of judgement is coming as it always has been, and the Lord is giving us a chance to erase this list and make a new one. After all, we forgot the most important cultural phenomenon of all. Religion.