The Press and Media- Out of Control

I’ve tried really hard to refrain from writing about the most controversial issue in the papers today, but it deems itself inevitable. Last week, headline news began bashing on the Armenians about yet another white collar crime- credit card skimming, fraud, identity theft, etc. My problem isn't necessarily with the fact that these crimes are brought to the public's attention, but rather that the suspect's in question are racially defined, which creates certain opinions drafted amongst a people with a definite ethnic attachment.

Over the course of the past 6-10 months, two or three separate articles were published regarding crimes committed by the Armenian race. In and of itself, each article does an expert job at including the ethnic background of the American citizens. The accusations, if true, are not morally or ethically accepted and should be prosecuted to the extent of the law. However, to tie one’s ethnic background to certain crimes should not be tolerated. In fact, this would go as far as being discriminatory towards one race. The suspects of this crime ring were not of one nationality; there were in fact, many other ethnic groups involved.

In this past week alone, the Papers have published a repetitive article about the recent arrests related to credit card fraud, racketeering, etc. The most recent, published on February 20th, was titled "Fighting the 'Power.'" As if one article butchering the Armenian name was not enough, each article to follow, specifically and might I add, falsely, continues to mention the one gang they know to be affiliated to the Armenian race. The latter article discusses, generally, the Armenians and the difficulties they have endured as immigrants. It appears to mean well, but the title is quite frustrating. (Click Here to read the full article) Just because a crime is committed, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is related to that culture's gang, nor should it matter at all.

In comparison to the entire population, Armenians are considered a minority. There are only approximately 7-8 million Armenians all over the world, which comparatively, is a significantly small percentage. In order to understand the sensitivity of this issue one has to understand the pain and suffering this race has endured. In the nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire began to decline, thereby creating internally political ethnic tensions. While Armenian political organizations made demands for proper representation and security from neighboring countries, the Turkic people began to feel threatened and refused to help the Armenian cause. When the Young Turks went to war with several European countries in 1908, they used this warfare as an excuse to wipe-out the Armenians to create an all-Turkic state. In their agenda to reach their ultimate goal, what the Turkish people essentially did was massacre the Armenian nation. They forced millions of people out of their homes and made them walk all the way to the Syrian Desert, only to kill the men, rape the women, and then kill them as well along with their children.  Click here to read more about the Armenians, their history and the most crucial and sensitive topic related to their culture- the genocide.

Armenians have endured a lot of pain and suffering. Aside from the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred in 1915, many have slaved away their lives, while others have been raised as orphans [often in a Turkish home], forced to give up everything they know and who they are- converting from their Christian religion to that of Muslim and learning to speak none other than the Turkish language. Thus, when the media decides to strike against a race, which has a sensitive history regarding discrimination and is as small as this, it is a simple knee-jerk reaction to cause commotion and defend oneself.

Every culture has its positive and negative aspects. There is the good and bad in everything and in everyone. No one is perfect. Again, I am not justifying the actions of anyone who committed a crime or did wrong. I am simply questioning the motives of the media. What is their purpose? Why does it seem like their sole intention is to degrade the Armenian race so much so as to create a sense of hatred towards them by other nationalities? Armenians are as much a part of this nation as any other race, and exaggerations made by the media causing a third-party to stereotype against them can be very dangerous grounds. Let's not forget that discrimination is against the law. True, America gives you the right to freedom of speech, but what the media is doing, is borderline libel, if not an indirect way of discriminating. Action must be taken to stop the madness and stop the hatred. 

If this keeps going on, I believe that people should get together and have the ACLU involved so as to put an end to this verbal massacre.

 

Change is Necessary

Several days ago I heard about a stabbing which occurred in Glendale Hills, where a young man was stabbed 7 times by three others at a house party. Considering an incident like this happens more often than not, my initial reaction was still that of astonishment and bewilderment. Stories like this never fail to surprise the audience, so is that why such violence never stops?

I mean really- I can't see why these issues never get resolved, and how people don't learn from others' mistakes. It's always something- about a girl, money, or just making fun....which ever the case may be, people seem to find the answer in guns, knives and pure violence.

It's true that in the heat of the moment things are said and actions are made, but why does it have to result to using weapons as force? In this case, other substances, such as alcohol, were involved causing the individuals involved to have poor judgment, but is that really an excuse? I think it's more about popularity, and unfortunately in a public setting- a room full of people, who want to find the "coolest cats" on the block- people generally try to outshine one another. Leadership and macho-ism is one thing, but tyranny is on a whole other level. What does the stabber/shooter/killer have to prove? What does he believe his actions will solve? There are a few immature and ignorant people who may believe that this violent person's actions are heroic and "bad-ass," but who cares about this ridiculously absurd formulation of a reputation if that person is going to do time for attempted-murder. Is it worth it?

If you think you're going to go down in history as a bad-boy, who made a life-altering statement, causing people to shrivel just from the sound of your name, then you're sadly mistaken. News flash!!!! They are going to throw the book at you in court. It's happened before, and it'll happen again. You can't just stab/shoot someone, run away, and expect it all to just go away. People don't get off that easily. Victims are seriously injured and hurt, and sometimes innocent people indirectly get involved as well. 

I've asked before, and I'll ask again. Why is it so easy for people to have access to weapons, whether they be guns or knives? Why are measures not being taken to prevent such violent occurrences? Will people ever learn?

Just remember that in the bigger world, everyone is expendable. No one cares about you or your excuses. You did what you did and now you must pay the price and deal with the consequences. Why not try to avoid it all together?

History is constantly repeating itself and not in a good way...

People need to be educated.

Change is Necessary!!!    

Vanilla Sky and Cryonics

So last night I watching Vanilla Sky, and I know what you're thinking- wow, old movie right? Well, when this movie first came out back in 2001, I didn't understand a damn thing. Now, years later, I sat down and really paid some attention. For starters, the movie is really complicated, twisted and taken out of context, so no wonder I didn't get it. You really need to pay close attention to all that's occurring...

Tom Cruise signs a contract with LE (Life Extension) and apparently dreams up his future in the course of 150 years. By the end of the movie however, he is able to come back to life, even though technically he overdosed on drugs and killed himself.

The main purpose of this blog is not to discuss the movie, but rather, cryogenics- the branches of physics and engineering which focus on the study of extremely low temperatures and how materials can and will behave at those temperatures. Amazingly, there are programs out there which allow people to preserve their bodies after they have past away until a time comes along wherein which a cure can be found for the disease that was going to eventually kill them (i.e. cancer, aids, etc.) 

I'm not sure how I feel about this life/bodily preservation option. Apparently, most people who have a very serious disease, such as those mentioned above, are those who choose to freeze their bodies. What I don't understand, however, is that this only occurs after they have actually died. Their bodies have completely stopped functioning, and even thought they get a proper burial, their bodies are placed in a special kind of tube-like container that resembles a casket.

Those who choose to have their bodies preserved through cryonics pay a lot of money to do so, and will never know how long it will take until research discovers a way in which to bring the bodies back to life so as to find a cure. What happens in the meantime though? These bodies are monitored by scientists and researchers, and eventually when a cure is found and they discover how to bring these people back into the world, it will become the greatest invention of all-time. 

Assuming that something like this is even possible, what happens to these people who are brought back to life? Do they dream? Do they remember? And how will they find their place in the world, hundreds of years later? 

There are simply too many uncertain circumstances which cannot be guaranteed, but irregardless, it is still pretty stimulating. 

I don't know... what do you think? 

...Just some rambling thoughts...

Guns, Shootings and Violence

Nervousness and anxiety begins to seep through my skin as I watch the results of violent behavior and capabilities portrayed on the news. Everywhere I turn, I hear about some form of tragedy, and as the stories pile up, it gets worse and worse. In the course of this last week, I heard about 3 or 4 separate occasions wherein which a young teenager was either involved in or simply exposed to a shooting incident. News like this isn't necessarily new, but I can't help but feel surprised each time I hear something like this happening again.

The first heart-breaking incident occured at Columbine High School back in 1999, which I wouldn't classify as a shooting, but rather a massacre, during which two male teenagers went about shooting several students and teachers, killing most, injuring a few, and finally committing suicide. Another similar incident like this took place in 2007 at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in the state of Virginia, where a senior English Major with an anxiety disorder went on a shooting rampage and killed 32 people in the process. This too, ended in suicide. 

Just in this last week alone, however, there have been three instances involving shootings: (1) the Arizona shooting, (2) the Gardena High "accident" and (3) the shooting of an LAUSD Police Officer near El Camino High. Whether the shooting was a result of political differences, an "accident" or just pure hatred, however, the end result is all the same- the death of innocent people. 



Police Officers trying to maintain the situation at El Camino
Real High School, where an LAUSD Police Officer was shot.



The main problem with all of this is that children as young as nine (9) are being exposed to this kind of lifestyle. You hear about it on the news once and call it a tragedy. But to hear it repeatedly on almost a daily basis just makes it commonality. It shouldn't be okay for the younger generation, or better, the future leaders of America, to see occurrences such as these and find them normal, common and expectant. The future of America is practically in their hands, and all they are being exposed to is what these troubled youth's may believe to be an easy solution.

I can't help but ask where all this can stem from? Why is it so easy for someone to walk into a store, pick out a gun, purchase it and walk out? Why is security lacking in so many important places? (i.e schools) History has taught us to be more cautious, but it feels like after the pain of a major tragedy fades, we all go back to square one.

I am torn because I can't seem to find the root for this kind of evil, and as I sit here contemplating, I find myself overwhelmed with questions, thoughts, and concerns. I can't find the right words to express how awful all of this is, and if not prevented, how horrific and depressing it can truly be.  Have we not learned from our mistakes? How many people need to die before we tighten the ropes on security? Why are so many kids in high school troubled, secluded, etc. and why do they find that killing is the only way to be heard [only to then, kill themselves]...? Is there no other way? Can't we offer help?

No one is alone in this world, and everyone is dealing with some sort of dilemma. I guess it just depends on how a person chooses to react to or solve his or her problem. There are many solutions, but killing is for damn sure not one of them.

So many questions, and yet... no answers. Will it ever get better? 

 

In the end, all that is really left is grief



Theories on 2012 and the Zodiac Signs

Ok... I'm not going to lie. I'm a little ticked off about all this Zodiac business. I liked being a Leo. I'm good at being a Leo. It's what I know, it's who I am, it's what I'm best at. Now, centuries later, scientists come around saying there are 13 zodiac signs as opposed to 12? 

We are barely into the new year, and all around there is talk about 2012 and the several theories about it. Is the world going to come to an end? Will we have another Golden Age? Are we going to lose all kinds electricity and technology? Which is it? 

Sound like DejaVu much? All I can think about is  the millennium and how people were preparing themselves for pretty much the same thing- the supposed end of the world. Call me crazy, but in theory, you would assume that if astrologers really knew what they were doing, they would have discovered the 13 "actual" signs of the zodiac years ago. It all seems kinda crazy that all of this is just coming up now all because of 2012.

I've watched a documentary or two about 2012, and how the Earth spinning on it's axis is going to be in such a way so as to come directly in front of the sun, causing solar storms peaking from the sun that can essentially leave us without power and electricity. How good is modern man without this? Another theory called the "Bible Code Theory" predicts the earth is going to be hit by a comet and as a result, come to an end all together. All these theories, however, are not 100% factual, and may or may not have glitches. So, what are we expected to do? Sit back and worry? Go on living as we are? Live in fear? Or tell everyone to get over themselves because we've "been there, done that."

Ironically, the things upsetting me more so than "the world coming to an end," is that for most people, their zodiac signs have changed. I'm not saying that I strictly followed constellations and astrology, but I did follow-up with it from time to time and felt that I could relate to my sign. At this point in time however, I can't help but feel everything is made up. Say I was a firm believer in my sign, and I woke up a few days ago only to be told that technically that's not really my sign. Seems unreal right? Where did all of this come from? Why now? Is it all because of 2012? When the earth's axis changes again, will it go back to what it was? And if that is the case, what does that say about astrology in its entirety? Can anything be proven or are people just wasting time with one theory after another?

So many questions left unanswered...   

Click Here, if your interested in reading more about the many theories revolving 2012