The War

Since the beginning of time, people have had to deal with the gruesome results of hate, war and violence, and are entrusted with the task of trying to find an alternative. The War explores how war and violence effect people and possible ways to avoid violence and its harsh aftermath. Violence is a thoughtless way of solving conflicts and distracts people from more meaningful things in life.

Often times violence is a result of mis-communication and ignorance. While, some may think violence is a way to protect freedom and liberty, there are other ways of resolving conflict that do not involve violence. If societies around the world are educated on their differences and taught toleration and compassion, violence would decrease significantly. In The War, the major conflict is between the Simmons, Stu and Lydia, and the Lipnicky children. Due to the fact that none of  the children are educated beyond sixth grade, they find themselves in situations where the only solution they see is violence. For example when the children cannot agree on how to share a tree house they result to all out war with one another. The children grew up not knowing any other way of problem solving beyond violence, if they were taught other ways of coping it would not have resulted in that. The setting of the book is during the Vietnam war. Stephen, the father of Stu and Lydia, fought in the war without knowing where it was cause he was fighting for. If Stephen had been more educated he might have not participated in a fruitless war. If people know how to avoid violence and what war entails, they will not be apt to engage in it and the world will be a better place.
When violence occurs it scars the lives involved because as Lydia says "War is like a big machine that no one really knows how to run and when it gets out of control it ends up destroying the things you thought you were fighting for, and a lot of other things you kinda forgot you had"(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111667/quotes). War leaves regret within people that they spend their whole lives trying to redeem. Traditional views on war are of honor and courage, however those who return from war are plagued with regret and remorse. When Stephen returns from war he is thought of as a deadbeat dad by his children even though he was awarded a Gold Star, and spends the rest of his life trying to redeem himself as a father and a person. Stephen becomes bound to the  war and what he did there, his life will not be complete without redemption from his actions.When Stephen comes home he tries to become the father he wishes he had and tries to teach his children about compassion and tolerance. However, Stephen cannot hold a job because of PTS and spends his time dealing with the nightmares he experiences instead of living the life he wants. He spends his life as a prisoner to his memories of the war which takes him away from his aspirations. In life and especially in war "sometimes all it takes is a split second for you to do something you'll regret the whole rest of your life"(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111667/quotes ). This is why war should be avoided, so people can live their lives and reach their dreams.
War is an unnecessary and avoidable way to solve conflict.If societies are able to put aside their differences and learn to compromise then meaningless wars would go un-fought and people would be able to live their lives without the burdens of war. Due to the tragedies and aftermath of war society should learn to embrace a more peaceful way of resolution.

The Future

"Around here,however,we don;t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward,opening new doors, and doing new things, because we are curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths"-Walt Disney

Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking about the future. My future in particular. I realized that for once, I do not have a plan. My future is an endless sea of possibilities, anything can happen. The wonderful and daunting thing about the future is that you can never know what is around a corner, but you go anyways. Right now I am turning a corner in my life, trying to find the answers to what exactly is around that corner. The truth is though, I do not have the answers.

I do not know where I want to be. I do not know how I will be an individual away from my family. I do not know what I want to do with my life. I do not even know WHO I want to be. I am unsure and confused but excited at the same time. With every decision that I make some doors will close and others will open. However I will never know if I made the right choices and that is the scary yet exciting part of life. I guess part of growing up is learning how to trust your heart and the decisions you make. And to know that it is perfectly OK not to know yet. Yes, eventually I will have to decide on a school and let go of my family and friends. Another thing about the future is that it is dynamic. Nothing is ever set in stone and I am blessed with the task of sculpting my future as I move forward. Nobody else can do that for me.

Just me.

The Golden Rule

Memories are funny. Not in the laughing sort of way but in the way that you never know when they are going to be created. Or how they will impact you. You never know in life when a memory is in the making and how it effects you. In a way your life is a string of memories that make you exactly who you are. Some memories however have the power to define you and impact your life in incredible ways.
My life has had a many defining memories, some as joyous as the birth of my siblings, others bitter like the divorce of my parents. However my most impactful memory happened this summer. It was not an event that changed the way my life was, it changed the way I live it.
I was on a volunteer trip to inner-city Los Angeles. At the start of the trip we took a Prayer Tour of the city. We saw what you would expect in Los Angeles: the infamous Hollywood sign, Universal Studios,  Hollywood Boulevard, the Fashion District, Korea Town and even the Financial District. The final destination of the Prayer Tour was Skid Row. Skid Row is literally blocks and blocks of  people, homeless people. I felt so uncomfortable, like I shouldn't be there. I did not belong there after all, I thought I had nothing in common with them and that in some way they were going to harm me. Then I was told to try and look at each person how I would want to be looked at. It was the ultimate golden rule test. So I looked hard at each person taking in their situation and their appearance and then accepting them in their entirety. One by one, I looked at each person and found walls collapsing in myself. Each of those people did need and want someone to care, regardless of their situation.
From that day forward I try to not pass judgment. I  may fail sometimes but I am trying. This is a memory that has made me who I am and hopefully will stay embedded in my heart and help to define the way I look at the world.