I recently read a story about "Occupy Gezi" protests, a movement by tens of thousands of Turkish citizens to save the last public green space in Istanbul. Not only are these protesters braving police violence and aggression and standing up for what they believe in, but they are also banding together as a group of people, as humanity, for a common cause, singing, dancing, camping, and facing their fears together.
The media is being controlled and the spread of the news of police aggression blocked, but the people are persisting in their cause, showing, once again, that the power of humanity is close to unstoppable.
This got me thinking about the well established concept of "mob mentality". We've all heard of it. An individual is civilized, calm, and well-mannered. But when many of these individuals get together, and are angry, then they become a ruthless band of crazed lunatics, doing despicable things that they would never even consider doing as individuals.
But I believe that mob mentality has a flip side. I believe that when people get together for something they believe in, they give each other strength, hope, and a level of courage that an individual would never be able to muster. Humans rely heavily on companionship and support, and our confidence and conviction is the foundation for any action. We give each other the strength to produce this action, and it's a positive feedback system: my hand helps you up and yours keeps me standing.
People as a unit can also, clearly, accomplish what a lone person cannot. This provides the stimulus for actual change, bringing me back to my original point: people, together, can accomplish anything.
A person can act. People can change.
I send my prayers to the protesters in Istanbul and hope that all of you reading this will spread the word about their cause.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Fears for the Future
As a young intellectual, I spend a rather large chunk of my time thinking about the future. Like any other girl, I have dreams, visions of what my future will be like, where I will be as an individual and as a member of my society.
I have created a series of criteria that qualify my ideal life partner. They are so exorbitant and ridiculous that I have no doubt that this man does not in fact exist.
My ideal job is always found in a lab. However, in my future, I am easily able to conduct my preferred research without begging for grants because my aforementioned perfect husband also has a considerable fortune.
I also save lives with my work, do charity, volunteer, have a thriving social circle, and am loved and respected by all of my coworkers and peers.
This is my idealistic dream, no, EXPECTATION for the future.
And frankly, I am afraid.
What if this future exists, but I am not good enough for it?
If that man is really alive, why would he choose me? I am as flawed as the next person, so there is nothing that qualifies me for the perfect relationship.
If that job is there, why would I get it? I am not the most intelligent person I know, nor will I ever be. I am not the most talented, nor the kindest, nor the most virtuous or brave. There will always be someone more qualified, more beautiful, kinder, braver, smarter..... so what guarantees me my future? And even if I get mine, what is the cost? Will I be crushing someone else's in the process?
It's always nice to think that the world is carved into a set of snug niches, that everyone has their place and will find it at some point. Some may struggle more than others, but everyone will find their happy place. Sadly, we know that this is not true. Some people live out their whole lives, and die looking back in disappointment.
What if I become one of those people?
More importantly, what means more: finding your happy place, or helping others find theirs?
Maybe helping others is my happy place. I wish life were that easy.
I guess only time will tell. Until then, here's one of my favorite quotes: Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. :)
I have created a series of criteria that qualify my ideal life partner. They are so exorbitant and ridiculous that I have no doubt that this man does not in fact exist.
My ideal job is always found in a lab. However, in my future, I am easily able to conduct my preferred research without begging for grants because my aforementioned perfect husband also has a considerable fortune.
I also save lives with my work, do charity, volunteer, have a thriving social circle, and am loved and respected by all of my coworkers and peers.
This is my idealistic dream, no, EXPECTATION for the future.
And frankly, I am afraid.
What if this future exists, but I am not good enough for it?
If that man is really alive, why would he choose me? I am as flawed as the next person, so there is nothing that qualifies me for the perfect relationship.
If that job is there, why would I get it? I am not the most intelligent person I know, nor will I ever be. I am not the most talented, nor the kindest, nor the most virtuous or brave. There will always be someone more qualified, more beautiful, kinder, braver, smarter..... so what guarantees me my future? And even if I get mine, what is the cost? Will I be crushing someone else's in the process?
It's always nice to think that the world is carved into a set of snug niches, that everyone has their place and will find it at some point. Some may struggle more than others, but everyone will find their happy place. Sadly, we know that this is not true. Some people live out their whole lives, and die looking back in disappointment.
What if I become one of those people?
More importantly, what means more: finding your happy place, or helping others find theirs?
Maybe helping others is my happy place. I wish life were that easy.
I guess only time will tell. Until then, here's one of my favorite quotes: Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. :)
Monday, May 27, 2013
The Company You Keep
We've long heard that our friends make us, and that choosing the right friends is key to leading the right life.
But who are the right friends? We all know that people aren't perfect, so which qualities take precedence over others? Which faults can we forgive due to the presence of virtues?
These are all, obviously, difficult questions to answer. And often, we don't choose the people we become friends with, we just become friends with them. Then, later, we may realize that there are more things about that person that we don't like than we initially realized... have we changed? Have they?
Is it wrong, as a friend, as a person that they trust, to have a change of opinion, to distance yourself from someone that clearly needs you?
I guess it really depends on what you look for in a friend. But often, we don't really know what we're looking for, and then we realize that the friendship was never built to last.
Many people judge others by how they treat them alone. Others judge people by how they treat everyone around them. Some people see only the good, others only the bad. Ok, I'm rambling. I guess my point is, judging people is hard, and we do it so easily and involuntarily, that, more often than not, we lose wonderful, precious people because we can't overlook a simple flaw. And other times, we end up spending our time with crude, mean, people because they have one attractive quality that somehow outweighs all of their horrible behavior.
So, if your friends make you, then you make your friends. That means, like it or not, the people who surround you are a reflection of who you are. So think about how you behave and treat others. And think about how your friends treat others as well. If something needs to be changed, change it. Some flaws should not be ignored, and some virtues should not be overlooked. Let's make a collective effort to be better people. A better society is sure to follow!
But who are the right friends? We all know that people aren't perfect, so which qualities take precedence over others? Which faults can we forgive due to the presence of virtues?
These are all, obviously, difficult questions to answer. And often, we don't choose the people we become friends with, we just become friends with them. Then, later, we may realize that there are more things about that person that we don't like than we initially realized... have we changed? Have they?
Is it wrong, as a friend, as a person that they trust, to have a change of opinion, to distance yourself from someone that clearly needs you?
I guess it really depends on what you look for in a friend. But often, we don't really know what we're looking for, and then we realize that the friendship was never built to last.
Many people judge others by how they treat them alone. Others judge people by how they treat everyone around them. Some people see only the good, others only the bad. Ok, I'm rambling. I guess my point is, judging people is hard, and we do it so easily and involuntarily, that, more often than not, we lose wonderful, precious people because we can't overlook a simple flaw. And other times, we end up spending our time with crude, mean, people because they have one attractive quality that somehow outweighs all of their horrible behavior.
So, if your friends make you, then you make your friends. That means, like it or not, the people who surround you are a reflection of who you are. So think about how you behave and treat others. And think about how your friends treat others as well. If something needs to be changed, change it. Some flaws should not be ignored, and some virtues should not be overlooked. Let's make a collective effort to be better people. A better society is sure to follow!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Respect
It has recently come to my attention that even as society becomes more integrated and accepting, people as individuals are becoming more cocky, egotistic, and selfish. Even as we unite, we are dividing.
I know. You've heard it a million times. But it's traversing all boundaries, including the respect one expects from a friend.
I'm a girl. A lot of my friends are guys. I respect them as people, not as boys, not as objects, and not as eye-candy that exists solely for me to look at.
Then why are my friends and I always the target of sexist comments, suggestive jokes, and crude bets? Why do our male FRIENDS, people we trust and respect and expect the same from, consider it acceptable to have loud debates over our bra sizes and which one of us is the most attractive?
Worst of all, why are they allowed to tell me that it's not a big deal and have society agree with them?It IS a big deal.
I know. You've heard it a million times. But it's traversing all boundaries, including the respect one expects from a friend.
I'm a girl. A lot of my friends are guys. I respect them as people, not as boys, not as objects, and not as eye-candy that exists solely for me to look at.
Then why are my friends and I always the target of sexist comments, suggestive jokes, and crude bets? Why do our male FRIENDS, people we trust and respect and expect the same from, consider it acceptable to have loud debates over our bra sizes and which one of us is the most attractive?
Worst of all, why are they allowed to tell me that it's not a big deal and have society agree with them?It IS a big deal.
Respect is something that’s hard to come by, and it shouldn't be. People without true value systems and real respect for who you are, not what you are will always sink to their baser instincts and begin treating others like objects created for their own fancy.
In fact, society encourages this kind of behavior, and the more leniency you show, the worse it gets. Everyone seems to think that everything around them exists for their observation and purpose alone: that the world exists to please them. And with the egotistic attitude and value systems becoming more and more prevalent in the world, why wouldn't they?
People insist that gender equality exists in today’s society, and comments of this sort are immediately scoffed at as irrational feminism. However, girls and women must become people and not things to be looked at, no matter how briefly the thought occurs. Just being a girl shouldn't make you different from boys. Get your head out of your pants and consider us people, because we are, and until you do, we’ll keep making noise. Real relationships are built on respect. Wisen up mankind.
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