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Cannibalism.	March 19, 2006, 8:50PM
by: gothicXgabby
Recently in my English class, we were assigned to read a 'special interest' book. I chose a so called ''Weird peoples'' book which had never been checked out of my schools library though it had lay there for several years. The Title of the book? Cannibalism, from sacrifice to survival. When it became known of the class what I was reading, it became no shock to me of the reaction. What I wasn't expecting, was the depth of information, and relevancy of this book to todays culture in this 246 page book. Cannibalism has been a well known subject since we were young enough to comprehend the balance of life in death in nature. Perhaps with the exception of a few children, cannibalism usually becomes well aware by age 10. ( Though it is rarely spoke of ) I continued to read the book when I had finished my work in several other classes, and one day, I had the oppritunity to see how much it really mattered to several students who voluntarily stated their beliefs in my History class. It turned into a debate like situation in which I pointed out the most common and well known motives for cannibalism. The results were surprising. One girl in my class stated "She would rather eat her own feces" than feast on a companion should she be stranded some place with human remains her only repast. Several other students received scathing looks from their peers when they admitted they would partake in cannibalism if they were in that situation and they see nothing wrong with cannibalism should it be in a similar predicament. I was surprised to see such a 'hush hush' topic be so openly discussed, argued, and evaluated as if it was nothing more than the local weather. The class ended that day with me perplexed. Cannibalism was such a seemingly quieted subject to me, though I knew alot on the subject, it seemed odd that it wasn't as hushed a subject as I'd thought. I wanted to know what everyone else knew and what everyone else felt on the subject. I continued to read and got very satisfied results from the random chit-chatters of students deep into conversation and the 2 other class debates. The book was almost as pleasurable for me as the interaction. What honestly astounded me as I continued to read on, was that cannibalism happened to be a very broad subject. I found the most common thing that comes to mind when cannibalism is mentioned involves a black cauldron full of khaki clad missionaries boiling with carrots and other assorted vegetables. However, I discovered cannibalism has so much more to it. Cannibalism can be one or more of an array of many different reasons. Hunger, madness, sadism, religion, ceremonies...all plausible reasons for such a grusome (( As thought of mainly by the 'normal' people of the U.S. )) custom. However, can we as Americans ((For all the Americans who will read this )) really say whats ''disgusting'' about other peoples cultures? So a group of african tribes called the leopard people sacrifice a young woman as a right of passage for a man. While we see it as wrong, are we allowed to say its incorrect? I don't think so, but who am I to judge. To conclude, cannibalism is too broad a subject to write a full article on with even only 8% of the information. I would greatly recommend the book to anyone who found this article to peak their interest in the least bit...the title again is "Cannibalism from sacrifice to survival" by Hans Askensay. To anyone who reads it, you're in for a treat.
topic: Essays
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Red, White, and Platelets	March 18, 2006, 3:00PM
by: Tezrian
Imagine giving birth to a little boy, he seems healthy enough. He has his mother’s eyes and fathers face and is loved even though he is covered in blood and other things. He goes in for the routine tests all babies are required to have. When the doctor comes back he says that he has sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder in which blood cells are not circular but sickle shaped. The distorted shape cuts the cells ability to carry oxygen along with other problems. Sickle cell anemia did not have a cure when the boy was born. A few years later a new idea cropped up. By taking stem cells found in umbilical cord blood it could cure different diseases and regenerate dying cells. The idea was accurate and the boy was cured of his sickle cell anemia thanks to stem cell research (Davis, 2005). Laboratories, growing, and harvesting, these words, long ago would have been associated with an evil scientist experimenting with his or her new creation. Now, these words are connected to stem cell research. Stem cells are difficult to obtain because they are only found in a limited number of places. One of these places, and how the stem cells are retrieved, has many pro-life members in an uproar. Embryonic stem cells, along with bone marrow and adult stem cells should be used to benefit society, and this research should be continued without restrictions. One of the foremost arguments against stem cell research is the initial gathering of the stem cells. When stem cells were first grown in 1998 it was a shock to society. Many did not know what to think about this breakthrough in science, while others were in an outrage. The cells had been taken from a human embryo. To normal human beings it does not sound as though it is a major problem. Many people die and leave their bodies to science. Their cells are used in tests for future generations and the advancement of science along with the expansion of knowledge. Those who believe strongly against abortion and fetal tissue research believed that the scientists were taking a life (Hatch, 2005). Pro Life members believe that any cell that has been fertilized is a human being. Therefore, by taking the stem cells from that developing mass of cells and destroying it, what the scientist has done is murder (Wertz, 1999). The extraction of stem cells, however, can be justified. “To say that fetal research causes abortions is a bit like saying that a need for donor organs causes murders (Wertz, 4).” It has been determined that a fertilized egg is not a “human being” until it reaches fourteen days after conception. In these fourteen days it is called a “pre embryo.” Previous to the fourteenth day the scientists are allowed to harvest the stem cells grown. After that certain date it is unwise to harvest because the argument over when a human really is a human begins. The process of extracting the stem cells is known to few. If more knew about the process and how specific the cells can become in the procedure many doubts about stem cells would be cleared up. Possibly even Pro Life members might agree that it is worth using. The first step of the process an egg is taken then the DNA is removed. After that skin cells from the patient are removed and DNA is removed. Then the DNA from the skin cell is placed within the egg. After that is done the blastocyst, egg, is stimulated with either electro current or chemicals. In a three to five day time period the cell divide and multiply creating stem cells. Finally the growing cells are removed and by doing that the blastocyst is destroyed, murdered by those who believe in Pro Life. These life altering cells are placed inside a patient who is suffering from any number of diseases and disorders in the hopes that it will work. Since stem cells have the capacity to form into any cell of the body the possibility of healing are seemingly endless (White, 2005). Eggs that are used can come from any number of sources. Donations, cadavers that were given to science, even the leftovers from processes such as In vitro fertilization, or IVF. Eggs are frozen in storage to be kept for several years before being destroyed to make room for new eggs that are brought in. It is estimated that millions of frozen eggs that are usable are decimated each year. Each of those eggs has the possibility of helping someone. From diabetes to sickle cell anemia, a single egg can create a miracle where they was no hope (National Health Institute). Gene therapy sounds like a futuristic medical process. However, it is being used today to try and cure diseases that have plagued the world for centuries. Many believe that the process of gene therapy will do more harm then good. A single error and the patient could end up in worse shape. The disease could worsen, leading to debilitating results. The worst outcome for a mistake in gene therapy would result in death. There have been claims that there is a high mortality rate for gene therapy. Some say that there is a larger risk for death then the miracle that it promises. For nearly ten years scientists have been working on gene therapy. All of them hope for it to work, nearly ten years to find a way to make it work (Rifkin, 2005). Gene therapy by using stem cells is the miracle that scientists have been searching for. The problem behind gene therapy is the donor genes used in the procedure were not a perfect match. Like any transplant the donor must be just right or the patient receiving the transplant will suffer and the operation rejected. Normally organs will turn black from lack of oxygen being transported and cease to function, while in the case of blood donors would result in death of the patient. Stem cells reduce the risk to a near zero percent fatality rate. This is made possible because of the stem cells ability to be manipulated with the patients DNA into whatever cell is needed in the therapy. The patient technically is using his or her own skin, blood, heart cells in the therapy. The ability to do so decreases any risk of a match being incorrect. The patient’s recovery from his or her disease should be a hundred percent A big issue with embryonic stem cells is federal aid from the government. In 1995 a ban on stem cell funding through the federal government was placed. In 2005 the bill was reviewed and kept in place. An overwhelming majority was against removing the ban on the funding (Meyer, 11). Private funding, however, is still allowed. Many of the companies that have worked with stem cells spent years scraping together money to continue research on the scientific break through. If the government funded the research and the medical projects then more questions could be answered. Questions on whether or not stem cells will cure diseases scientists have been trying to cure for decades. Also questions such as could it cure cancer have been spoken about and hypothesized. The possibilities that stem cells have are enormous. If federal aid was granted and the ban withdrawn then more people could be cured of diseases that they have been suffering with for entire lifetimes. Many babies could be saved from living a life that would have required them to take shots every day, or leave them unable to do what normal children do because of a disease that they had been born with. The government needs to allow the funding to help future generation and the children born, if nothing else (H.R. 810). Another Act pertaining to stem cells was up for review within the House of Representatives. The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 strongly supports the usage of umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells. The stem cells found in the cord can be taken without an egg being destroyed. The Act states that the use of the cells from the umbilical cord can be used to treat the many suffering peoples of the world. It also can be federally funded because the stem cells were not taken from an embryo (H.R. 2520). Besides embryonic and umbilical cord stem cells there are two other types. Bone marrow stem cells are limited in their ability to become different types of cells. These cells include the red, white, and platelet cells in the blood. Being limited in their abilities to change, their usefulness also lessens, but they are still beneficial when dealing with blood disorders. These cells are more difficult to harvest because they are found in the marrow and the procedure is complicated. Also bone marrow stem cells are not condemned by Pro Life members and are accepted. Last but not least, adult stem cells also have the ability to change into many of the cells of the body. These cells are minutely limited in their ability to turn into other cells. Studies show that they are less effective then the embryonic stem cells. They are also much more difficult to obtain and are slow growing. Though after many tests, the cells still have much potential and will most likely be used much more then its embryonic cousin (Caplan). These stem cells are the alternative to embryonic stem cells and Pro Life members are pushing to have these cells be the main cells used to help patients. Eggs, harvesting, and miracle are all words associated with stem cell research. The discovery of these cells was a wonderful thing to happen. The benefits that are possible with these cells can reach as far as the imagination. The curing of illness in thousands is worth the price of a few embryos that are used in the process. These are just some of the many reasons that stem cell research should be continued to be used to benefit the world and all the people that live on it. The ability to save lives should never be forgotten. Miracles such as the boy’s full recovery from sickle cell anemia are far too precious to be kept a secret. The world should be able to experience the joy of a loved ones recovery when they thought death was the only option. References Caplan, Arthur “Research on Human Embryos Can Be Ethical.” Medical Ethics (2000). 15 Nov. 2005. . Davis, D Curing Sickle Cell Anemia. Online. 7 Dec 2005. . Executive Office of the President Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 810 -- Stem Cell Enhancement Act of 2005. 24 May 2005. Online. 8 Dec 2005. . Executive Office of the President Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 2520 -- Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005. 24 May 2005. Online. 8 Dec 2005. . Goldstein, Lawrence “Fetal Stem Cell Research May Improve Medicine.” Technology and Society (2002). 15 Nov. 2005. . Hatch, Orrin G. “Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Ethical.” Medical Ethics (2005). 15 Nov. 2005. . Meyer, Michael J. “Human Embryo Experimentation Can Be Morally Justifiable.” Greenhaven Press (2002). 15 Nov. 2005. . National Institute of Health, “Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Beneficial.” Human Embryo Experimentation. (2002). 15 Nov. 2005. . Rifkin, J “Gene Therapy Is Dangerous to Health.” Greenhaven Press (2002). 8 Dec. 2005. . Wertz, Dorothy C. “Fetal Tissue Research Will Benefit Medical Science.” Greenhaven Press (1999). 15 Nov. 2005. . White, D Pros and Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Aug 2005. Online. 7 Dec 2005. . (If you wish to read the articles and the links do not work, please message me and I will send you the article)
topic: Essays
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Editor's Rant	March 17, 2006, 11:15PM
by: Saturnalia
As one of the Article Editors of this website, I have a few grievances about my job that I would like to address. Most of the articles we receive are of very poor quality, and I, for one, am quite disturbed by the fact that there are those on this site who think it's okay to submit such mediocrity. 1.) It is not okay to submit an article that starts with the words, "Okay, so like..." or anything resembling them. You are not passing notes to your friend sitting next to you in 3rd period. When writing an article, you are addressing a wide audience, so don't get so personal and informal. Also, it makes you look like you're not taking your article seriously. 2.) I never want to see another article written as thus: "i wud lyke u 2 suk my cock...". It's called Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation. Use it. Learn to love it because shit like that gets automatically rejected. 3.) While we're discussing spelling, I must ask a question I have pondered for quite some time. Is your head going to implode if you ever use a spellchecker? No? Then why the fuck don't you people ever use them?! I'll be the first to admit, I don't spell every word right the first time, but if I'm going to display my writing, something that represents me and that I will be judged by, for the whole internet to see, I'm going to damned well be sure that every letter is in its proper place. "Stop judging people! Not everyone knows how to spell!" I've actually heard this before, and more than once. Well, you know what? At your age, you should know how to spell. You make yourself look like a retard, and the people that defend you truly are retards. You're at least 13 years old (have to be to gain membership to this site), yet most of you write like you're in 2nd grade. And don't give me any of this "well it's the skool's falt for not teeching me right" or "i have a lerning disebility" shit. If you didn't learn how to spell right by now, it's your own damn fault for not paying attention. Most public schools suck, this doesn't mean that you can't take matters into your own hands and educate yourself. As for those with "learning disabilities", most of you are full of shit and so are the people who told you that you have a disability. There didn't used to be such a high percentage of learning disabilities as there are now. You know why? Parents and teachers would beat the fuck out of kids for not paying attention in class. End of problem. Your disability is that you're fucking lazy. 4.) Choose unique subject matter! If I see one more article about how stupid Emo kids are or how great they are or how people should stop arguing about it or how people should stop telling people to stop arguing about it, I'm going to go out and kill every Emo kid on Earth just so I won't have to hear about it anymore. We all know the government is corrupt and that the media lies. We don't need a million articles about it to remind us. If you're going to write about politics, try to stick to current events. Failing that, try to write about something that nobody's done yet or that can be of great informative value to the reader. 5.)Don't be afraid to do a little research. It helps make you look like less of a clueless moron. Use Google, or some other search engine. Cite references. Don't plagiarize. 6.) If your article gets rejected, don't bitch about it. Don't come leaving comments on Tonnyx's or my profile saying "How could u reject my article?!? I worked hard on it! I'm gonna tell eon on you!!!" Obviously, you didn't work hard enough, and your petty threats are meaningless. We let a lot of shit slide and if your article was horrendous enough to warrant rejection, it's nobody's fault but your own. Your article will never be rejected because an Editor doesn't like you. Your article will never be rejected because an Editor didn't agree with the subject matter. I'm "Pro-Life", but I've put "Pro-Choice" articles on the front page because I thought they were well written and presented a good argument. There is no bias. There will probably only be about 5 people that will actually read all of the above. Well, hopefully you 5 have learned from it. I know there are intelligent minds meandering through this site. To them, I must say, don't be afraid to shed some light on the literary void we have here. There should be more people submitting articles, and now that you know how not to annoy the editors, there should be a lot more people submitting -good- articles.
topic: Rants
[reply] [28 comments]

Symbology of Hatred	March 16, 2006, 5:58AM
by: OdiuM
A few recent events have caused me to want to vent a little and write this article. I go to university. I catch a bus to campus. Most days I start around the same time, so I’m usually at the bus stop to catch the same timed bus those days each week. As such, I see the other people whose individual routines involve public activities around that time, in the same area as my bus stop, on each of those days. Some of these people include; the guy who owns the paint shop opposite the bus stop, arriving to open up his store; the guy who drives the Tribe of Judah Street Meet van, driving off to set up somewhere to feed the less fortunate; and the old man who walks along the path right past my bus stop, presumably on his way to the shops… It is this old man whose actions have caused me to write this article. I’m usually alone sitting in the bus stop. I sit there minding my own business listening to my mp3 player. At the time in the morning that I arrive at my stop, the sun is usually beaming in and there is no shade for shelter (no, not midday, it’s actually much, much earlier). As such, I usually bring and wear my hat while I’m waiting. Now, I don’t think there is anything extra special about my hat. It’s pretty standard. It’s a black bucket hat… with a white Pentacle on the front (for those who don’t know, it’s a five pointed star with a circle around it, commonly known as a Pentagram). Last week when I was sitting at my stop the old man walks along the path in front of my stop. He looks at me the whole way as he passes and just before he goes past the side of the bus stop shelter he slows down and says “Waiting for the bus?”. I had my headphones in so I didn’t hear what he said clearly, so I assumed, because he was asking something about a bus, that he had asked something like “What bus are you waiting for?”. I answered that I was waiting, and stated my bus number. He then stopped and came closer to me. He stood over me and asked me a whole bunch of questions. He had an accent, and spoke slightly broken English. He saw my bag and asked, “Where do you go to school?”… and I answered university, and he said “Good”. He then asked what university and what course I was doing and I answered. He then said “Good” again. He then noticed my labret piercing, and gestured to his own face and asked “Why did you, how do you get that off?” and I answered that the ball screws off. He nodded and made affirmative understanding noises. He then looked more carefully at my hat – which I believe is the sole reason he stopped – and first asked if I was Jewish (simply, I believe, due to the fact that there is a star in it). I answered that I wasn’t, so he then asked why I had that symbol on my hat. I answered that it is a Pagan symbol. And he stood back, shook his head and pointed at my hat and said something… which I’m not quite sure what it was. From his tone, his body language and the way he was pointing, I got the general gist that he didn’t agree with my hat and felt that it symbolised something bad. He then lent in, and repeated what he had said while he was pointing. He then shook his head and laughed in disgust. Then he finally went away. I was understandably taken back by this encounter. I eventually dismissed it as nothing. Today when I was waiting at my stop, again listening to my mp3 player and wearing my hat, the same old man walked along the path. He didn’t stop this time. He did however look right at me with a quite unmistakably mean face, point at me, and yell something at me while he was walking past. I didn’t catch what it was he yelled due to my music. I am very sure though, that whatever he yelled wasn’t nice. Why is it people feel it is their place to yell at complete strangers, in this obviously extreme way, for no other reason aside from their clothing symbology? What would he have done if a Buddhist, Hindu or Janis wearing their symbol was in my bus stop instead (for those who don’t know, a holy symbol from Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and many other ancient religions was adapted by Hitler to become the Nazi Swastika)? If he hadn’t asked, he never would have known I was a Pagan (I can make this assumption because he thought I was Jewish originally)… he had decided, simply because I wear that symbol, that I was someone who he had due right to abuse. I don’t expect to be threatened by old men as I wait for my bus at the bus stop up the road. Today’s world seems to be in a state of racist/religionist outburst. If you look like you belong to a particular culture or religion, or dare wear the symbol that represents it on your person, then you will most likely find yourself abused or discriminated against in the greater public.
topic: Life
[reply] [17 comments]

A true story.	March 16, 2006, 4:00AM
by: Overrated
It was then, when the full gravity of the situation hit her like a tonne of bricks. It was then when she realized that this was real. She was being raped. He had locked all the doors. She was pinned down by his incredibly strong arms. Couldn't move. Doesn't matter when she says no or stop. He wouldnt listen.Wouldn't matter if she screamed. No one would hear. No one would come. No one could save her now. She fought him, she fought so hard...even though he was much stronger and there was no hope of escaping. She screamed for help...even though there was no hope that anyone would hear. But he ripped her clothes off and forced himself on her, all the while saying he loved her. Telling her to say she loved him back. Forcing her to say it. Slamming her head against the window when she refused. Continuing to slam it until she did as she was told. Finally, she began to see that if she did not succumb to his desires...did not do as she was told...did not let him do whatever he wanted with her...that she may not live to escape that backseat ever...so she laid there. She did what she had to in order to save her life. She sobbed the entire time. She escaped finally when he was through, with a few bruises, a horrid headache and a bleeding lip. Clothes ripped in a few places. Barely able to move or talk from the shock. But he still rapes her every night in her sleep. Tortures her in her nightmares. She will never escape him. Imagine that happened to someone you know. Someone you love. Someone you can't ever imagine being used and abused in that way, to that extent. You can't really, can you? Well, you're lucky. I wouldn't want you to understand, because to fully understand you would have to endure it personally. And I would never, ever wish that upon you, or the person I hate most. Did you know that one in four women have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime? ONE in FOUR. Name off four women in your head right now and ONE of them will be raped/assaulted in their lifetime. Unbelievable. Want to hear something also pretty unbelievable about this story? The girl had dated this guy for TWO years. Thought she knew him pretty well. They had broken up about 5 months ago, kept in touch, stayed friends. Sometimes he would say stuff about how she "owed him one last time." Sex. Sex. Sex. Thats all he ever wanted from her, it seemed. But she never in a million years would have thought that he would come to her school, pick her up and take her to the deserted part of a mall parking lot and rape her. NEVER in a million years. You can think all you want that this would never happen to you, that you really do know all the people in your life. But statistics lead us to believe otherwise. Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim. (http://www.wavaw.ca/informed_myths.php). It happens. But I'm not telling her story just to warn people that rape really does happen. You know it happens. You read about it practically every day in the newspaper...see it on the news. You know it can happen to anyone, at any time. What you don't know, is the rest of her story. And the stories of the 94% of victims who's cases never even make it to trial. Who's rapists never get punished. This girl swallowed her fears and apprehensions and finally told someone what happened. She agreed to go through the horrible testing and agreed to speak with the police and try to file charges. Only 6% of rapes even make it that far. (http://www.wavaw.ca/informed_stats.php) She replayed, revisited the memory over and over, meticulously disecting the crime over and over for the police. She braved the making of the rape kit in the hospital, which exposed and exploited her all over again. All the while keeping in mind that this served a greater purpose. He would never ever do this to anyone ever again. Now the policeman comes to the door, after about a week of investigation. He has questioned everyone- the accused, the accused's friend, the victim, the victims' best friend and mother. He sits her and her own mother down at the table and tells them that the investigation is over and that he will not even bother submitting it to a crown attorney. He says that there isn't even a point in bothering to submit it, because there isnt enough evidence to charge him. The accused apparently seemed sincere when he said the sex was consensual...when he said the victim had no credibility. And hey, there is no proof that the bruises were in fact from the accused. How can they charge him for something they can't even prove? So just like that, it was over. This girl was raped and her rapist never even got a slap on the wrist. He never even got the THREAT of a fucking slap on the wrist. She was never given any kind of restraining order either. And she couldn't get one until he tried to contact her several times and until she could prove that he was a threat to her security. Our fucking legal system and its enforcement is beautiful isnt it? She has lived in fear ever since, waiting for the day when he decides its right to come back and punish her for telling. It needs to end now. And I guess the best I can do to help, is to keep telling her story. Because the more people know, the more people see how wrong it is, the more people will have the courage to stand against it. Although I have seen how horrible a person really can be, I also know how beautiful they can be. I've seen miracles, met heroes. And they're the people who helped this girl through this hell. They're the people who are reading this right now, wondering what they can possibly do to help, to make a change. They're you. <3 thanks for reading. if you have any questions, i will be happy to answer them for you.
topic: Life
[reply] [12 comments]

Homophobia	March 15, 2006, 5:02AM
by: eyesofdread
I know that many people on this site have already expressed their views on homophobia, however due to recent events in my life as well as events that I have witnessed I feel a need to put my opinions about homophobia into words. Being gay myself I cannot help but create an argument that is at least a little bit biased, however I will try. First off, I would like to make it perfectly clear that to hate or dislike a gay person is not a case of homophobia. Homophobia occurs when you hate or dislike someone because they are gay. The reason I feel the need to clarify the above statement is that I often find that a lot of people are too quick to label someone as a "homophobe" purely because they have a disagreement with someone who is gay, sometimes the argument, or disagreement doesn't even follow the topic of sexual orientation. Just as I would take a stand against being labeled as someone who hates heterosexuals based on my dislike for one straight person, I will also take a stand against someone being labeled as one who hates homosexuals because they hate one gay person. No one in this world is loved or even liked by everyone and I believe that if we are to strive to overcome the issue of homophobia we must first understand what it really is. It is my honest belief that no-one should be judged based on their sexual orientation alone. I believe this because regardless of your sexual orientation if you are in a relationship with someone it should be based first and foremost on love. Some may say that in an "ideal" world we would all find a perfectly suitable life partner whom we loved, get married, have children and live out all the conventions of the romanticized heterosexual marriage...however, as I am sure you are well aware, we do not live in an "ideal" world and it has always been my belief that love is not about finding the perfect person, but rather, seeing an imperfect person in the perfect way. We cannot choose who we love and a lot of the time we cannot explain exactly why we love the people we do, we also cannot choose who we lust for. So why judge someone on something that is completely out of their control? I am currently in a relationship with a girl whom I absolutely adore. When she holds me I feel safe and secure, when she kisses me I feel more love than I have ever known and when I look into her eyes I see a promise of loyalty and I know that that’s what she sees in mine. I do not believe that there is anyone in this world who will ever have the right to tell me that this is wrong. Because it seems that we cannot talk about gay rights, without also talking about gay marriages, I feel it is appropriate to discuss the topic in this article. I am not too sure of the history of marriage in other cultures, and so I do not feel that I have the proper right to deviate away from the western society in this point. In the society that we live in marriage was traditionally a means of financial security as well as a religious celebration of the joining of two people into one unit. Because the values of our society have changed so to has the nature of marriage. Today marriage is a celebration of a love so deep that two people are willing to devote their lives to one another, and yes it does come with other benefits in terms of laws etc however it is usually viewed, first and foremost as an announcement of the love shared between two people. I believe that there is a serious problem with the way our current marriage system is structured, and I will use my cousin as an example of this. Two years ago my now 26 year old cousin (who is gay) wanted to get married to his long-term boyfriend. Gay marriage has not been legalized in Australia, and, as you may well imagine getting from here to a country in which gay marriages ARE legal is an expense that not all of us can afford. So, my cousin and his boyfriend remain as the (gorgeous) couple that they are without any official signals that they are advancing any further. At the same time my cousin was in a band with his close (British) female friend, about one year ago this same cousin decides that he wants to move to England because he (and the band) think that they will have a better chance at success in the UK. To avoid the hassle of getting Visa’s and all, he and his female friend get married because by law that means that he has just as much of a right to be in England as she does…in my view this is an absolutely appalling miscarriage of justice. When two homosexuals love each other, and want to celebrate that love with those who care about them then they are unable to do so through marriage, however, if two people of the opposite sex want to get married then they can no questions asked. I am NOT saying that all heterosexual couples that get married are doing so to manipulate the system…that would be a stupid and outrageous claim. What I am saying is that if there is room for these scenario’s to happen within our legal system then something has to change. Marriage should be about love, not gender There are all kinds of people in the world. Some heterosexual’s are “sporty”, some are “arty”, some are “introverted”, some “extroverted”, some are “effeminate” whilst others are more “masculine” the list can go on and on…by this same token there are homosexuals who are considered sporty, arty, introverted, extroverted, effeminate, masculine etc…the same with bi-sexual people, pansexual people, asexual people, what have you. We are all people and we are all able to enjoy a vast range of activities and become mentally stimulated by a diverse range of interests. The point of this article is not to “convert” people to try and make them gay, it is to try and state that we are all people, regardless of gender and sexual orientation we are all living, breathing creatures. Next time you come across someone who is of a different sexual orientation, I urge you to look beyond that one aspect of their personality and make your judgment based upon the true intricacies of their character. It is only by doing this that we will be able to break some of the tension that lay between the different orientations and in doing so we will be able to begin to create a world in which the concept that “we are all born equal” hold true meaning and weight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please note: I am aware of, and do appologise for the fact that this article was aimed mainly at people who are in relationships. This does not mean that I believe homophobia any less serious in terms of single homosexuals.
topic: Life
[reply] [17 comments]

Abortion	March 14, 2006, 10:44PM
by: Vampireofthedamned
It has come to my attention that there has been a series of argumentive things about this lately. So I have decided to put a piece up sepcifically about this, this is also my first Article so please forgive my mishaps. To begin with the entire thing about babies. Both of the sexs take part in making the to be baby, but however the choice is ultimatly up to the mother. Although the father has indeed put the baby inside of her technically speaking, a piece of him is always imbedded into that baby to become really odd about it. But, if the mother is unable or not ready to have a baby there should be no reason moral or not that would stop her from having the baby aborted. In truth, the entire decision SHOULD become a mutual decision but that is not how the cradle rocks. Morally, the mother would most likely become distraught if her male partner had not agreed in getting the abortion if she knew that she had indeed needed to get it in order to save her life. There is indeed no point for the mother to lose her life at a young age to give birth to a being that has not been on the earth long enough to even have a favorite smell, taste or anything. The woman should be more important than the baby in that type of situation. For the male role in abortion, sadly you have no ultimate power in this part. You may indeed be able to make the baby, but that is about where it stops. You can kill the baby in many ways if you were to hurt the mother, or if you were to starve her or something of the general sort. But, the mother could also have the baby without your consent which if you would choose to leave her due to this choice you would end up paying child suppose with a certain % of your paycheck or go to court and actually have to give a specific amount of money every week, month or something of the general genre. But as I have said before, the second that your penis has been inside the vagina you are accepting all responsibilites to take care of a baby, and or pay for the support to take care of both the mother and the baby at the same time(Which would cost more for the record) Now, as I said before, she may not want to have the baby and you do. You have no choice in this, you might be able to persuade her to be able to keep the baby and have it, but in the end the decision is up to her so long as she is not in a state that has outlawed the abortion technique of killing fetus's. If the woman were to have no choice in the matter, and she did indeed die in the procsess the father would have to take the blame for it if she had chosen abortion in the first place, but if she did not have the baby and did indeed kill it; then you might become morally distraught but unfortuntly this part of the birth cyle is entirely UNequal. There is absolutly no sense of equality during this time. That is, unless the mother is taking all of her pain and anger out on you ;) The actual subject of abortion: When they are still able to abort the baby they do not actually kill a real baby, they are killing a fetus which is by standards not a actual living being. Due to this fact, it is entirely humane to kill it technically speaking. and although it has been outlawed in a state to my knowledge that is mainly because of religious beilefs and other such circumstances that I cannot currently remember, But yet again, in all humanitariusm standards, this is entirely legal it is not killing a real live baby. Many people will try to put that image of killing a crying baby into someones mind when they get a abortion. There are indeed many methods where it will not even move but literally just be sucked out and then the deed is done..if your religious go to confession the next day? To end my little article, to anyone religious if this has at all offended anyone I am deeply sorry and shall accept any critisism on the matter. I again apologize now incase I have overstepped any boundaries.
topic: Life
[reply] [20 comments]

The Mentality of Happiness	March 14, 2006, 6:49PM
by: colorofnightfall
Why do you wake up in the morning? If your response to this is that you have no fucking idea and that life is futile and pointless, chances are that’s bullshit and you have a lot to get up for. Here is your disclaimer: This is a piece on mentality. This is not a piece targeting select misanthropic subcultures and this is not out there to target you and make you feel like you ‘just can’t help it.’ This piece is out to get humanity as a whole and their obsession with the glass perpetually being half empty. Life is bleak. The outlook is dismal. Existence is the monotonous repetition of the prosaic actions that drive one’s soul into a black-hole. Why? What gives you the right to say that? Everyone has problems and everyone has to deal with life as it hits them, but a good portion of people are well-adjusted. In fact, it might be said that they are happy. If you are under the age of twenty and you say its because you are depressed for serious, nine times out of ten you are wrong. While this does not prevent it from happening, psychologists are extremely reluctant to diagnose adolescents with any sort of disorder or imbalance due to the natural fluctuation of hormones experienced during this point in maturation. 30%(according to About Teen Depression) of teenagers suffer an emotional problem between the ages of 15-24, but 70% of those with an emotional problem outgrow it as they develop and mature. Suicide is the third most common cause of death among children 5-24. While this is shocking and alarming, remember that numbers can be manipulated to say what the surveyor wants. Taking into account overpopulation, while it is very tragic that teenagers die (I do mean this), consider that the population is growing. While it is unfair that people are constantly writing off teenage angst as hormones, it most often is. We all want understanding but at the same time people will not take you serious if you can constantly mouthing off about how futile your average life it. (If you have clinical depression this article is not directed at you, so you can merely read for entertainment.) I am a happy person. I believe it is due to the outlook I maintain towards everyday life. If you want to tell me that I am happy because I ‘don’t know real pain’ I will match you tit for tat in personal tragedies ranging from the death of my friend in October to the hole I found in my favorite band shirt (I am very attached to that shirt…). And I am not arguing that depression is how many bad things happen to one person because that isn’t at all. Its how you chose to handle those problems. When I wake up tomorrow morning I will not start my day fixed on all the sad baggage that I could carry with me. I might grumble and throw something heavy at my alarm but I will wake up and face the day with my arms flung open and trying to make the morning better. When someone says something rude to me tomorrow, they will be written off and instead I will laugh when I make a paper mustache and my friend tells me ‘You are completely amazing!’ My life is what I make it and when I make it sound blissful and amusing, it’s the same life 3 million high schoolers across America are having. It seems that way because I let it get that way. Instead of pouring clouds and darkness over my life I want it to be happy and I try at it. We are all adapting and growing into ourselves; and that is it exactly. We have yet to live. We are the youth. We are the future. We have the entire world at our fingertips if only we embrace it. We should be jumping at the bit to dive headfirst into the unmolded essence of our future. We shouldn’t be wallowing in self-pity because we are in our primes and no force can reckon with us. When I say this, I realize it takes time and effort. Trust me. I have been low and I have crawled out of the pits of despair but here I stand before you with dreams and hopes ready to take every day head on. People use sadness as a substitute to dealing with problems and adapting their personality. They use their problems to cushion them against life and to rationalize things that should be solved. It is so much easier to cry about a problem then try and fix it. If we look at depression as a hole in the ground, when you fall in it is much harder to get out than it is to just stay down there, unmoving. And the more times you fall and the longer you stay down there the more you begin to think it’s a waste to get up because you will just fall down again. That is unrealistic pessimism. When you constantly say life is a waste you are not even trying to consider all the beauty that is surrounding you and all the joy that is yours for the taking. If there was nothing worth living for people would cease to exist. A perfectly miserable person (really, absolutely disgusting) gave me one pearl of advice. It was that when I fall flat on my ass in the hole of my depression I can wait for someone to help me up but that no one will want to unless I can help myself. If misery enjoys company so does joy. It’s an unfortunate cycle but if you are constantly depressed and pour all you energy into being that way will the blissful wish to spend time with you? If people took the energy they focused into blurring beautiful everyday life to jaded sorrow and trained all their motivation on living to the fullest, they wouldn't need to tell the word of their angst. I know everyone has a hissy fit over depressing and wangsty poetry, but if you purge yourself of that noxious melodrama that way then go ahead. If you are sad do something to make yourself. Listen to a song that makes you happy (one of my favorites is No Rain by Blind Melon), draw something, go jogging, write a story, write an article, write a song, play a video game, read a book, watch comedy central, SOMETHING. I've heard many a person say to me 'I am not pessimistic, I am realistic.' But saying the sky is falling and life as we know it is coming to an end is not healthy pessimism. Being realistic is saying 'Here is the good and here is the bad. Lets see which outweighs the others and go' not 'I don't know why I bother.' A common mentality is 'I'd rather be bitterly pessimistic then ignorantly optimistic.' I hate to break it to you but optimists are not ignorant. They see life coming just like everyone else but instead of letting life trip them up they bite their cheek and say 'on to the next.' And as a side note: there are two things that have been recorded as significantly lowering IQ (which is the mental age compared to the chronological age) are severe head injury and clinical depression. As was previously stated, everyone is allowed their off moments of grief but don't take that and make it into who you are. You are interesting and amazing when you are yourself and when your personality shines like the sun, not when you are repeating the morose words of your predecessors. If depression eats at you like acid and leaves gaps the only way to fill them is with a cement of joy and optimism. Live life with the knowledge you are your own sun. Children living in Kenya where there is rampant AIDS and TB, constant marauding by bandits, and sickly squalor have been seen laughing and living in happiness. Life is not what is handed to you, it is what you make it. Live like you want to be alive.
topic: Advice
[reply] [5 comments]

"Metal" is not Music; It's disgrace.	March 13, 2006, 12:44PM
by: El.phaggot
"Hey! I have an idea. We're all angry teenagers amounting to nothing in the world and doing nothing with our lives. Let's just bash these instruments and scream jibberish into the microphone at the top of our lungs, and add some evil words like Satan or Fuck. Yeah, then we'll be cool." Those are the thoughts of every metal band out there. Nonsense, teen angst and anger. These people are over thirty years old, making millions by being stupid and immature. Look at "Axl Rose". He can't spell the word Axel because he was brought to idiocy with this music. Smart people in Metal bands? Maybe. Give them thirteen seconds of "headbanging" and all they'll be able to say is "ACK! MY NECK!" in-between their conniptions. The fans of Metal are generally children, although some adults never grow out of it. They're quick to anger, and prone to act violently and talk tough. They generally have no wit, and are useless as humans. Dead end jobs and meagre paychecks. Trying to have intelligent conversation is squeezing water from the sun. Alot of these kids think Slipknot, Manson and Murderdolls are "gothic idols". With no understanding of a subculture, how would they know the real idols such as Rozz Williams, or Robert Smith? They don't. These teenagers believe that by claiming to be "goth", they will get more attention. Add that to the list. With so many websites over-run by the Metalhead population, where can one ever find an intelligent source of life again? Forums - 1337 5p34k. MySpace - zOmG gNa CuT mAhSiLf. "VampireFreaks" - "You rated someone a 1, you're deleted.". In closing, I say Metalheads are almost all stupid. There have been some slight indication of a "Mutant Gene", where some actually have intelligence, but as said, this is a Mutant genome. It will most likely appear only randomly in probably 1/10,000 subjects.
topic: Rants
[reply] [16 comments]

The Illusion of Individuality	March 12, 2006, 5:38PM
by: nuclear_carbomb
Ask yourself for me: what does this title, these words; "The Illusion of Individuality”: what do they say to you? Do they stir up some guilt in a dark place inside of you? Are we really lying to ourselves? Do you suffer from it? Are you above it? Are you a slave to it? This is a debate which has always held my interest. What shall we call an individual – someone who is unique and interesting? Someone who merely stands out from most? What is this illusive quality? How is it defined? This speaks to me as something vital to the Darkstarlings community. I won’t name anyone in particular, obviously, but there are a lot of people out there who are not questioning themselves. Not only on this site, but throughout western society, there are people who call themselves individual. They think that they dress differently; they think they stand out, and they’re proud of it. They are special and unique…….. but yet, a cynically quick assessment would lead anyone to believe that in their appearance and music taste, they are identical to their friends in almost every possible way. Let’s not deny it – there are quite blatantly several “subcultures” out there to which it is possible to apply almost any teenager, and increasingly, almost any person to – Emo, Goth, Metal, Punk, Rap, "Preps" (whatever that means) Jocks, etc etc – what are these musical/fashion/trend generalisations, these labels? What do they mean, really? I don’t need to sit here and tell you that “emo” kids in general wear tight jeans, subscribe to Myspace and listen to hawthorn heights, or that “Goths” are generally obsessed with anything Tim Burton produces, own no clothes in colours (British!) other than black, and so on and so on, et cetera et cetera ad infinitium – it doesn’t need to be explained. The real question is; do we walk half-blindly along these paths because we have just found a sector of society with which we automatically agree? Is it merely a grouping of people with similar tastes? Could you call it an artistic movement? Or are we all just trying to find somewhere to fit in with each other? I’m of the opinion there is a mix of people with all these motives within each “subculture”, yet the people on the boundaries are the ones who conform to the stereotype the most. Sometimes we will go with the crowd on a decision in order to get along – but surely this should not run to as deep as who we really are. There’s a more pressing question to this too – are we really defined by the way we look, the things we like and what bands we listen to? Darkstarlings and indeed all profile sites are built on the principle that by writing a profile in which we can list these opinions, we are able to project a reasonably accurate idea of who we really are, and so find people with similar tastes. Often it is much too easy to define ourselves by our answers to these set questions, these lists of bands, films and books, and my pet hate, the “what kind of vampire are you” quizzes. But what does all this really say about ourselves? Surely who we really are is not this collection of opinions, but our values, our feelings, our friends, our relationships – how we love, how we live, and how we die. I have yet to see anyone explain this on an internet site, in speech, the written word, or anywhere else. These concepts are impossible to place into words. In a sense we are all more individual than we could ever wish for. We all have different upbringings, different values, different thoughts, different fingerprints and different heartbeats. Yet in another sense, we are all as one living mass, and we try to group ourselves together. Maybe we should stop defining ourselves and get on with living, but that seems impossible, no-one can change society at a stroke. As strong as greed, strength, anger, sympathy and love, it’s only an instinct of human nature to organise and try to fit in with each other, in the herd, in the tribe, in society – at whatever stage you look at, it’s only the way of nature for this beautiful chaos to organise itself. There are advantages, obviously. In the herd it offered protection. In the tribe it offered security. Now, it’s a good way of identifying people who have similar tastes to your own, and it helps everyone to get along. it gives an amazing sense of belonging and brotherhood with other people you might not even know. These are good things, naturally, and essential for the cohesion of our society. But still, why do we attach ourselves to these generalisations? Why are they necessary? I won’t try and be highminded about it – I probably slot into the “metal” category quite easily – but I’m glad and proud to say I wear plenty of things, enjoy plenty of things, and listen to many bands, none of which fit there at all. (Though if you want to judge whether or not I fit into a neat social pigeonhole, look on my profile) I believe that this can only be a good thing, but I strive to always do and like only what I truly want, and be who I want to be, and not what anyone tells me to like, what to listen to, what life to live and who to be. I’m not saying I always succeed , but I think everyone should look at themselves again, so deep, deep down inside and try to be exactly who they are, and no less. Or do we really want to be one of so many blinded sheep? Postscript - I apologise for the number of rhetorical questions, but there are so many more things to say on the subject, and I hope you can think for yourself. (pretty much the point of the article if you hadn't noticed) And more importantly, some of these are questions which many people out there have been avoiding. Finally, if this article has fucked with your self-image, I can't and I won’t apologise. Don’t be afraid to question yourself, and don't be afraid to deviate from this ridiculus accepted standard of "individuality" to find where you truly belong.
topic: Philosophy
[reply] [14 comments]

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