The Meaning Behind a Gift

How has the meaning behind a gift changed within modern society? Gifts were used in the old days as a form to express ones appreciation for another. But it seems that in today's world gifts are given out of obligation instead of with love.

Much of this obligation surrounding gifts has come from our consumerist society, which markets gift giving as a way of earning another person 'true love'. Mothers and Fathers are forced to provide their children with gifts that live up to the standards of those gifts their child's friends are receiving.

How have gifts become a status symbol in society? Gifts have become status symbols in society because there are now certain possessions that people are expected to have. If a person does not have items like an I-Pod, X-box, Cell Phone, or Computer their status within our material society is in some ways seen as lower.

Children feel the need to own these electronics, because every one of their friends has the same new gadget. The pull towards the newest and brightest new toy has led parents to abandon giving those gifts which their child does not desire. Every kid wants the new X-box, and therefore it must be the best gift a parent could give their child.

I feel that over the coming years, gift giving is going to transform in tremendous ways. Electronics and other such entertaining devices may no longer been seen as gifts, but as common tools that each person is expected to have. Consider cell phones and computers. Once they were luxury items, but they have now become such necessitated tools within society, that it is hard to imagine a time when everyone didn't have one.

Gift giving must slowly meander away from mainstream consumption to maintain its sentimental bearings. If it is not able to do this, I feel all meaning behind the gift will be lost.

Thanksgiving

As the clock has struck midnight here in Phoenix, Arizona it is officially Thanksgiving. I have always found this Holiday to be somewhat contradictory, because it is based on an event that occurred in a much less pleasant and peaceful manner than its modern day portrayal. But there is also a very intriguing quality about Thanksgiving, that has been lost in many areas of present day American society.

The quality that I am referring to is the unity of people. For a day, families, and friends come together to celebrate the concept of community and giving. It is nice to know that we make time for 24 hours of generosity and joy per year.

Thanksgiving gives each of us the excuse, which we seem to need, to embrace our neighbors, friends, and family alike. It is a celebration of the equality of man, and a clear reminder of the inefficiency of Individuality within American culture.

I hope everyone has a joyous celebration today because, for once, we all hold equal standing at the dinner table. We are fellow citizens of a free nation. The next step, is for us to take this day of equality and implement it into our daily lives. I salute all for their Thanksgiving contributions. I thank You for Giving!

The Sadness that Was Jonestown

On November the 18th, 1978 in a small town in South America, a mass (over 900 people in all) suicide occurred. It was a very sad day for humanity, and a clear example of how 'group think' corrals, and can destroy, all those which come across its path.

How can this large of a group be led into such an act of desperation? Jim Jones, who was a master manipulator, and the leader of the Jonestown suicide, painted suicide as a golden option to salvation. Many people who disagreed, and who were not in favor of the suicide, did their best to question Jone's rational. But in the end, the group consciousness (or unconsciousness, in this case) overruled all individual opinions, and the Jonestown suicide (which including around 350 children) took full effect.

It is these sorts of events that remind us of the fragility of the follower. There are many of us within this world, who know no better path than that of a devote student or disciple. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to spread awareness. We cannot allow another catastrophe like this, which was not managed by the government with a firm hand, to take place.

We must take full responsibility as individuals, to recognize when we have dug ourselves into a questionable position, and then to learn and educate ourselves based off of the defining experiences we had. There is no shame when one realizes futility, and decides to make the commitment to personal development, instead of lingering on a path of despair. It is encouraging, however, when people do learn from their life's experiences, and move on towards the next ones.

This cycle of life provides optimism for our future. If we learn from these events, which continually remind us of the horrors of the past, we will never repeat such acts. We will be able to more clearly recognize impostors, those who are interested in power and manipulation, and disassociate with their various, yet creative, practices of fallacy.

Marriage before God, or State?

Has our culture come to a point in the year 2008, where it is socially more important to marry before the State, than as a symbol of two people devoting themselves to each other before god? Marriage within the United States, is a way to legally link yourself to another person, however, it used to be about the cosmic bond that god would supposedly provide for two people. The deep religious views that used to dominate the realm of marriage, and the ceremonial practice of marriage, have become less and less experienced and conclusively forgotten.

Is it even important for marriage to be centered around god anymore? In centering the union on god, there is useful support for the couple during the difficult times of the marriage. God used to act as a backbone for marriage, or in other cases, as a reason to feel guilt because of failed marital practices. But nowadays, the role god plays in wedlock is far different. The role of God in marriage is slowly changing from the central focus of a family, to an ornamental accessory, that brightens the way a family is perceived by the surrounding community.

It is very difficult to see so many failed marriages around us. Each one is very important, and hurtful, to all people who are involved. I hope that this coming generation of prospective wedding planners will have a higher success rate than the last. We'll have to wait and see.

Reaction to Change

Now that Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States, I would like to take a look as to how America is viewed differently by the rest of the world. The first difference that comes to mind is diplomacy. All indications so far, point to a more successful (it cannot be too hard to outdo the last group of decision makers) Foreign Affairs regime under Obama, because other nations problems must be taken into account to fix this global economic crisis.

The fact that such a progressive and idealistic thinker was elected to office must signal change to other nations. The world now knows that the American people, as a whole, are aware of the global damage our country has caused in recent memory. By electing Obama, a decision was made, to listen to those who have been ignored for so long, and to conduct our policies rationally and with detailed planning.

Obama's election was very important to express the immense diversity captured across the United States. It is hard for a nation to be "by the people, and for the people," when, prior to Obama's election, there had yet to be a president who differed from the usual white complexion.

I feel that Barack Obama, in essence, signals the success of diversity. If Barack is to be successful with our country, however, it will be imperative that he turn our diversity, that which separates us from one another, into that which brings us together. If he can do this he will have initiated true change, and the room for growth, as a collection of diverse nations, will be vast. Obama has a few months to prepare for his induction, but when the oval office is officially his, many will expect (like Obama was when he was elected) drastic change, and they will be begging for it to come fast.

A New Commander and Chief

The day has come, and there are problems to be solved. So, now that Barack Obama's outstanding presidential victory is starting to settle in, let's take a look at how our country already is, and must continue to change.

Racial boundaries must begin to diminish. People have been acknowledging the differences between themselves and their neighbors for far too long, so if true change is to take place, prior misconceptions of morality and skin color must be permanently put to rest. It is instead time to start noticing our similarities. We are all citizens of the same powerful, yet struggling Nation. We all live in a world where without immense collective cooperation, and dedication to our revival, we will begin to falter and suffer through larger and more complicated issue.

It is also necessary to re-develop a sense of National pride in the United States. The disengagement of youth from politics (possibly due to our current administration) is hurting our national identity, and our country is floundering for a sake of purpose and motivation. As our new leadership, it will be the job of The President to harness and direct the youth's energy towards the restructuring of American infrastructure.

Our society must be rebuilt around good quality education, efficient and environmentally friendly means of transportation, work forces that are taken care of, and who have potential for individual economic growth, and on entertainment which is less focused on exploiting our material inclinations, and which is more geared towards educating us on world related issues.

As a society, our knowledge base must start to grow as a whole. It must be us, who make the next important scientific and technological discoveries, so that there are opportunities for the up and coming generations to nurture and develop these changes even more.

Change is in the air, so it is time for us to act. This election has forced us to see the problems we are enduring, and the difficulties that still lie ahead. The real test, will be to answer those calls of our noble and beloved President. We are going to be asked for our help, so it will be up to us to follow through and deliver change.

White Supremacy

Is there really still room for racial discrimination? How is it that after nearly 150 years, we are still experiencing the same sorts of hatred against people of African heritage?

In the last few days a story broke about two young-adult white supremacists who were plotting a nationwide killing spree against African Americans. In all, they were planning to kill 88 people (beheading 14 of them) while culminating their spree of killings with an attempted assassination of Senator Barack Obama.

It isn't too often nowadays, that we here such extravagant and outrageous displays of racial hate. These are the sorts of stories that open our eyes to the fact that things have not changed nearly as much as we have thought, and that we have far from eradicated racial prejudices.