Bring The Violence

Many readers and friends alike have gathered that some of the things I write are particularly violent, sometimes downright gruesome.  Naturally, this has created a scare where some believe I need to be institutionalized, although I’m actually pretty psyched to see that many have voiced positive reception of my work.

I thought that this would be a good time to address violence in the media, something that I’m quite passionate about.  No, I’m not passionate about violence, more so, I’m passionate about the cultural response to violence.  I suppose it intrigues me more because I frequently listen to music and watch movies that are labeled as violent.  Ever since Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold caused ruckus and moral panic worldwide, violence in the media has skyrocketed to the top of the list of things that must be repeatedly scolded.

Of course, I am a complete opponent to the claim that violent entertainment has anything to do with real-life violence.  It’s an excellent scapegoat that many people love to employ if fingers are pointed towards them for blame.  It’s something that people want to control, kind of like how some people who don’t support gay rights purposely try to make it so couples of the same sex cannot marry.

Quite often, music and television are the usual suspects if any sort of violent tragedy has occurred.  I think it’s interesting that literature, sports, and the country’s most populated religions are never questioned.  If you’re saying that murder in a movie or violent lyrics in a song can inspire somebody to commit violence, what about seeing an image of Jesus Christ on the cross?  Is this not a violent image?  What about sports where children are repeatedly encouraged by their parents to “Kill them” or “Hit them” during friendly competition?

The violence in some of my writings are not there to shock anybody.  The fact is, like some PG-13 movies fail to acknowledge, that when you’re shot with a bullet, you’re gonna bleed.  I’m not expecting 8 gallons of gore to spit out of their wounds, but I enjoy and respect realism.  I hate it when artists have to censor their work just so others will not be offended.  This is what I try to do out of respect for other artists and spectators of art.  I’m not going to censor the violence or any other “offensive” detail for the few people who either cannot stomach it or feel like it is unnecessary.

The best advice I can offer is this: If you’re offended, do not proceed to read and do not cause a scene just because it is not to your liking.  Move on out of respect for the writer if the content does not suit your beliefs or tastes.  Using the gay rights example again, it’s just like how you shouldn’t go out of your way to ensure people who do not share similar beliefs to follow your code.  You may not support gay rights, but then why are you bothering those who share love for one another?  Why are you trying so hard to make sure they adhere to your traditional Christian views on marriage?  The best strategy is to ignore it and move on and read something else.

As a writer, I demand the ability to write how I see things fit, and I would expect nothing but the same from anybody else.  Don’t censor yourself out of fear that a few people out in the world will be upset.  Let them worry about their own art.

Dear College, You’re A Whore

Dear College,

We’re three years into this relationship and you’ve demonstrated your distinct ability to out-whore the most professional Vegas whores. I’ve never come across something so horny and greedy as you are; what a shame that you’re the only legal form of prostitution available in the United States. Your version of goods and services has been sucking everybody dry ever since your conception. You told me that you would guarantee present and future satisfaction in exchange for my money and effort. I thought this was fair enough until I realized you were whoring around with other students on an international level. How much money do you need and why do you need so many people to go in and out of you? Your prostitution empire has grown so large that its impact has surpassed the empires of Spartan kings, saturated with pleasure-seekers.

I always thought we had something special when I chose you out of all the other University whores at my disposal. Your campus was beautiful and full of promise where I can discover my talents as a human being who is floating around in society. It gave me a chance to do what I really love and dispose of what I don’t love. I gave you my blood, sweat, and tears just to satisfy you because I saw you as something more than a whore: I saw you as somebody I’d really love to be with. We became acquainted because I thought we were truly in love. My heart was destroyed when I caught your diseased body bathing in stacks of the population’s hard earned cash. Why do you need all of this money, to improve your image and open up new services? Whatever, whores are quite creative and don’t need stolen cash to operate their brains.

Why not try to love me as I once loved you for a change? My love speaks louder than my money you’ve infected to benefit yourself. This isn’t a dark alleyway between a bar and some strip club, why don’t we express our love elsewhere and without alcohol? I’m glad that you’re willing to teach me something, but what’s with all of the alcohol? Does it improve your image when the population has their spiritual beer goggles on? Are people only willing to enter you as long as they can get plastered at free will?

Eminem was right when he said, “Well I do know one thing though, bitches they come they go.” I’m looking forward to our four years being over, however I’m not happy that I have to then take my business to your whore of a mother, graduate school. Your family business always seems to be doing well, but I’ve come to a realization. I don’t necessarily need your goods and services just to be successful in this world. Just because you’ve installed gobs of information and skills into my brain, doesn’t mean that I’m actually going to amount to anything. I actually have to come 90% of the way and then you can come the remaining 10%. It’s my responsibility to apply myself and not just rely on you for present and future success like so many people do.

Sincerely,

Evan

She’s Beautifully Broken

She’s branded like an animal, experiencing insufferable pain in the hands of inequality. She knows not what she has done wrong, she only knows that she’s being persecuted for being herself. It isn’t uncommon in the history of our existence to notice how often she’s being oppressed. Nobody recognizes that she is a human first and a woman second. Why must she be hurt for the latter, when the real flaws are fully realized in the first? Nobody deserves ill-treatment because we’re all humans first, we all possess a variety of flaws because we are humans.

Surely he has the physical prowess to inflict pain on her body and in her mind, but what she lacks in physical strength she makes up for in spirit. Her spirit overpowers his physical strength as she’s able to overcome the damage while it haunts him for the rest of his life. He wasn’t the least bit concerned about how she’d feel in the aftermath, but is baffled to learn that his mind is taking over his body, torturing him for his crimes while she continues to flourish despite a violent past. Knowing that she has lived another day, her spirit and positivity have grown stronger. The oppressor failed his task, he has failed to break her permanently because her spirit has built her back together.  He’ll live the rest of his life with poisoned memories.

Treat her with utmost respect and nonviolence because you wouldn’t be here without her. She has lived a beautiful life regardless of the violent interruptions. She has lived and gotten stronger each day because of you and for you.

Have faith in her, for she is your Creator. She loves you despite the numerous flaws in your character. Look into her eyes and disregard the color, your reflection should tell you that she’s looking right back at you, watching over her best creation.

New Year, Same Me

New Years Resolutions: A declaration of change for the new year that ultimately is not followed by anyone after a few weeks.

Change is welcome, albeit many people only seek it when a new year is approaching.  After claiming the previous year that they were going to lose a bunch of weight, they gave up two weeks in and decided, “Awh, screw it.  I’ll start again next year.”  Generally, I applaud people who are willing to change something about themselves or how they go about life, yet over the years I’ve grown skeptical of the whole New Years tradition.

Why is it that people are only electing to bring change into their lives around New Years?  The comparison I’m about to make may seem a little out of line, however I feel it matches best to what I’m trying to convey.  After the despicable shooting in Newtown, Connecticut where nearly 30 people lost their lives and many others injured,  a lovely woman named Ann Curry inspired a mass movement called 26 Acts of Kindness, which asks everybody to do one act of kindness in memory of each victim who lost their lives at the hands of Adam Lanza.  On human nature’s part, this is excellent and incredibly unselfish.  My issue lies with the fact that many people seem to only be inspired by tragedies and upcoming holidays to do good for others.  People have effortlessly applied this concept into those dreaded New Years resolutions.  I think it’s fair to argue that if our calendar didn’t start anew every January, a lot of people wouldn’t be electing to change whatsoever.  Would there be an Acts of Kindness movement if there weren’t any tragedies or holidays to consider?  Maybe so, but only very few people would be inspired as many are infatuated with their own well-being.

I have decided that I have no true New Years resolution.  I have come to the conclusion that I need to be myself and do good for others at any opportunity I get.  Change is welcome, but I don’t feel the need to change because then I just wouldn’t be myself, I’d be just as guilty as those who are only inspired by outright disaster to not only think about themselves.

While I would love for all of you to achieve your goals, I implore everyone to not reserve your weight loss goals, personality changes, and what not for New Years resolutions.  Instead, make these your daily goals because New Years resolutions are bound to be broken.  There’s no motivation whatsoever to reach your New Years’ goals because you can always “start again next year.”  Having daily goals will give you the proper motivation you need to succeed.

Happy New Year, everybody!