Is There Any Life Out There?

Recent events have compelled me to write this next post. More specifically, the motivating factor to write was death. Yes, death. My angle on this is not morbid, but rather one of hope. As I experience personally and peripherally all the death that happens around me, I always ask myself, “Are you getting the most out of life?”

I think that is a question rarely asked and/or overwhelmingly misunderstood. Go on, ask yourself. Are you getting the most out of life? If you think getting up in the morning and going to work/class and doing the same things with the same people in the same places over and over and over is “living”…WOW! Wrong is not an appropriate response. Sad is.

The older I get the more keen I become to my surroundings and the people in my life. I am always enthused by and in awe of people who travel to exotic or non-traditional get-a-ways; not to escape, but because they want to explore and experience something new and inspiring. The same goes for people who, almost effortlessly, have woven life’s necessities with one’s personal passions. Although, I am drained by people who think their immediate surroundings are all this world and life have to offer. My peanut butter and jelly clan. To explain, would you be content to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday for the rest of your life? Doubtful. Yet, a lot of people take that very approach to life. I could also use insulting words like lame, boring, or painfully out of touch to describe that kind of lifestyle, but instead I respectfully mutter to myself things like, “Don’t you think there is something different out there you might enjoy?” or “You do realize there is more to life than what you know.” Hmm, so could the desire to get more out of life be associated with the level of one’s intelligence?

I feel when you stop questioning why things are the way they are or if things could be better or you stop seeking out the unknown for the possibility of peaking a new interest, your life becomes stagnant. The daily grind has got a grip on us all, but why settle for that? Good health, strong family ties, and good friends are the most common “wants” of people, but what if you are lucky enough to have them already? Even more so, what if you don’t have any? What else drives you to seek out happiness and fulfillment? To reference the beginning of this post, if death doesn’t motivate you to always want the most out of life, what does?

You seem to find time and energy to work 40+ hours a week, so why not invest some time and energy into the truer quality of your life? Read a book, see a play, ALWAYS LISTEN TO MUSIC (a little biased, I know), and just simply look for and try different things. Being a resident, not a product, of NEPA, I know it is easy to get wrapped up in the ridiculously absurd way of living that we sometimes adopt as “the norm”, but trust me, there is much, much more out there.

Get busy living or get busy dieing ~ Andy Dufresne

Don't Make It A Holidrag!

Give selflessly, without reservation, without expectation of reciprocation, and sacrifice one’s own desires for the betterment of others. Around this time of year, I sometimes find myself feeling guilty for not being Gandhi-esque. My question is at what point does giving of yourself, which could entail a lot, begin to diminish the sentiment, because one becomes tired, stressed, short tempered, etc due to the weight of daily living and good doing? What is even worse is when one performs such acts of generosity out of obligation rather than true desire.

I almost find it annoying when I see someone spread so thin, yet claiming it is out of the goodness of their heart. I laugh, because when did acts of kindness mean feelings of resentment, exhaustion, and envy towards others who do not do the same? I would rather perform one small gesture of thoughtfulness, without even being acknowledged for it, and feel good about it - before, during, and after it. To me, that is the essence of giving – no expectations of getting something back.

When performing good deeds, but complaining about how much time it is taking out of your life, or dreading the next commitment, or expressing to others, “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.”, that’s obligation. When a person does good, because that is what they feel to do, want to do, without payment or recognition, that’s when a deed truly becomes an act of kindness.

As much as we should give to the less fortunate, help the fellow man, and open our homes to our neighbors, those things cannot happen at the expense of one’s own livelihood. Everyone must enjoy life for themselves. Live life for themselves. If you do not take time to appreciate your own life, you can never appreciate others’. Being exhausted at the end of the day, but feeling good is one thing, but when you stop looking forward to the next day because of things you may have going on in your life….its time for a change.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year!!! And I mean that!

Priorities?

I will be the first to admit when you strip professional sports of astronomical salaries, elitist attitudes, and steroids, there is a powerful sense of belonging felt by fans. When a fan refers to a team as, "My team!", that is not meant to be inferred as ownership, but simply a proud reference of the team one follows, roots for, and in some little way, also contributes financially to through attending games, purchasing satellite packages, and memorabilia.

However, when I get ready to watch what is sure to be an extravaganza in NOLA for the Saints Monday Night Football game, I can't help but wonder, how? I will reiterate, I believe sports can be uplifting and unifying; i.e. watching the Yankees after 911. But in the shadow of such utter devastation, am I the only one who asks how? How is it that the Superdome is ready to go at the tune of $185 million plus, but NOLA still looks as ravished as ever? How is it that such concerted efforts have been put forth to get ready for a football game, but not for the innocent lives affected by Katrina - over 1 million people were displaced.

I am quite confident tonight's game will be a tremendous lift for NOLA and people will have fun and party, but when the game is over...so again will be the attention that NOLA still desperately needs.

The Difference

I am not the type of American who feels all of the U.S.'s views, beliefs, and policies are correct or valid, but I do feel we truly encourage freedom. At times, however, it seems as if freedom and civil liberty are threatened here by our own government, but no one has ever been publicly beheaded for listening to music or if a woman does not cover herself completely when in public.

As the world eyes the UN meetings this week, I can't help but say, "Only in America." I do not mean that in an arrogant or even proud sense, but more so as validation of the U.S.'s history to uphold freedom and liberty. Where else could the heads of these countries meet without incident? Could President Bush ever go, announced, to Iran, Iraq, etc. without being in grave danger? I doubt it. Not only do some of these leaders come to the U.S., but they also have the audacity to insult and berate the President of the U.S. That is why most sane people have no tolerance for the likes of President Ahmadinejad of Iran or President Chavez of Venezuela. They are here and enjoy being free of any harm and free to say whatever they wish. Do the citizens of their countries have the same freedoms? Can citizens of their countries speak out against them without circumstance?

I disagree with President Bush on just about everything, but if the way things are in the above mentioned countries are my alternatives, I'll pass.

Do You Care?

OK, I simply cannot take it anymore! Why is it people like Ann Coulter and the Rev. Jerry Falwell can reach millions of people with their ridiculously, arrogant rhetoric, but the every day people like myself can't seem to find an outlet where our opinions can actually be heard, let alone acted on?

Ann Coulter blasted the Democrats (who I do not think are perfect) for not making a connection between the "war" on terror and the "war" in Iraq. Ummm. Hey! You! Not sure if caught G.W.'s latest press conference, but he was asked that question. And guess what? Come on, guess. I know you are really, really smart....yup! He even admitted there was/is no connection.

And if I have to listen to Rev. Falwell speak about medicine or science as if that was his specialty any longer, I think I may lose my mind. Stick to what you know....milking innocent people of their money via religion. Hey Rev., ever think about doing what you do free of charge? Was Jesus paid for his preaching?

I am open minded enough to listen to people (yes, even the ones I mentioned above), but there has to be a time when one must separate ignorant opinion from fact - even if you disagree. It’s called living in reality.

I challenge Ms. Coulter or the great Rev. to a debate any day! That’s not a threat either. It’s a request. Oh please take on a nobody like myself. Please. Instead of booking venues to speak at where the people are there only as decorations to make you both look like actual human beings, face me somewhere, sometime. You would be reduced to the angry, self centered people your own neighbors probably loathe.

Crimmigrants

Following is the Letter to the Editor I submitted in response to the formation of a group in Hazleton, PA - HALT - Hazleton Area Latino Taskforce. I am sure you have heard of Mayor Louis Barletta and his immigration proposal for Hazleton as he and it have made national headlines.


I am not racist, bigoted, or ignorant to other races, ethnicities, or the human population as a whole. With that written, I feel compelled to respond to the article I read in the Standard-Speaker on Thursday, June 29 – “Hispanics mobilize against city immigration act”.

I am utterly astonished as to how Mayor Barletta’s proposal has become a race issue. Circumstances of why people migrate to the United States should carry no weight on the laws of the land. The issue is with immigrants who come to the U.S. illegally. For those of you who have forgotten what illegal means, allow me to define it: prohibited by law. Do you realize the moment someone enters the U.S. illegally, that person is breaking the law - a law that is meant to protect the “legal” citizens of this nation. How can any intelligent person argue that fact?

Attempting to make an association between this ordinance and the civil rights movement is absurd. The civil rights movement was about ensuring rights and liberties for “legal” citizens. That time was not only a blemish on the American history, but also a success as to the laws and understanding that subsequently followed. The tired rhetoric of claiming hate as motivation is not only ludicrous, but also insulting to residents like me. I do not hate illegal immigrants; I just feel they should not be entitled to anything the U.S. has to offer – except maybe a one way ticket out. Ms. Arias claims she has never heard of undocumented people doing business in the Hazleton Area. The amount of sarcasm building up inside me is overwhelming, but I will ask anyway. Do you know why that is, Ms. Arias? It’s because they are undocumented. As for limited resources here to help immigrants learn the English language, that is just comical. We have a hard enough time teaching English to American citizens. Do you not agree if you were going to relocate to another country legally or illegally, you would at least become familiarized with that country’s cultures and customs and learn the language? A little thing we call assimilation. I ask, what responsibility does the immigrant have in the process of migration?

This is the best one, yet. Ms. Arias stated she has never seen a white person planting and harvesting tomatoes. Really? My wife does. My neighbor does. My in-laws do. Shall I go on? Ms. Arias, statements like that scream ignorance and cheapen any positive motives you may have. As for businesses possibly closing due to this ordinance, I guarantee you that the residents of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, and the United States will make that sacrifice if it means respecting and enforcing the laws of the land.

Mr. Lopez, how can you honestly state that targeting undocumented workers will not help better Hazleton? Would you state the same thing about murderers, drug dealers, rapists, child molesters, etc.? No matter what law, if you break it, you are a criminal. And working within the justice system to curtail or stop crime will always better a community and society as a whole. That is what Mayor Barletta is trying to do. HALT should join Mayor Barletta not fight him.

In the course of ignorance vs. reality, I am sure we can agree that if the U.S. is not meeting immigrant’s expectations, well, I am sure that immigrant’s country of origin is still an option? Or maybe Iraq? Or Yemen? I mean…they seem fun.
Feel free to join my group if you wish – LAWS – Legal Americans With Sense.

Michael Barata
Freeland, PA

Hey stupid, you're wrong!

The utter ignorance shown by so many people on this planet is absolutely mind blowing. I know, I know…welcome to life! I listen to people argue their point about being justified citizens by proclaiming things like, “I am a worker. I am a tax payer. I am a contributor.” However, they all seem to neglect, because they know it will void any and all of their arguments, the fact that they are also CRIMINALS! Yes, I used all upper case. I do so, because apparently that fact has escaped all of these people when discussing this issue. Hypothetical: an individual has a good job, pays taxes, part of a family, donates to charity, and belongs to the local Elk Lodge, but in that individual’s spare time that person likes to kill other people. What’s the difference? Oh, I can hear the rebuttal, “Are you actually comparing illegal immigrants to murderers”? My answer would be yes. But, I am also comparing them to rapists, money launderers, thieves, tax evaders….in short, CRIMINALS! The moment these fine, upstanding individuals stepped into the U.S.A., they broke the law and continued to break it everyday they made no attempt to become a legal citizen.

Forget the “war” on terrorism, business implications, and even the displacement of family members; they are criminals breaking the law every day. We, as a republic, must respect our own laws by, at the very least, enforcing them.