Proud to Be An American..

Yesterday, I had a simple and friendly discussion with my relative discussing a sudden topic of a question of racism in the U.S.A. Even though this topic is serious, it later on built up to be a question of philosophy and inner thinking. I would kindly say that I learned a lot from my own words. At the topic of racism, she presented me with an article in the news about a group of  Americans writing on a Sikh temple's walls. Her statement was accurate; however, my own words were streaming out of my mouth, not because I was mad, but because I had pride for my nation, The United States of America. I felt very happy and relieved afterwards because it was the first time I told a few people my own thoughts for more than five minutes.

After my relative told me about this issue, I replied saying that each and every country has its good pros and horrible yet important issues. Clearing my mind's wishes to tell everyone my thoughts, I then described the women rights issue in the Middle East, the Muslim-Indian problem in India, and child abuse in China. Moreover, I covered a topic of people, simply just people. Some groups of people in the past and even in the present are horrifyingly cruel, but most people in every single country share their love and true affection in beautiful unique ways. For example, when my art teacher assigns us projects relating of every religion, she describes them all so beautifully, complimenting their beliefs or customs. However, I encountered a mean woman in a July 4th parade, celebrating the United States' independence. She told my dad to get out of the way, calling us rude and shouting. It was difficult to ignore her at first, but then thinking positively, I told myself to treasure the wonderful people God allows us to meet as well as getting through the cruel ones. The fact of having both kind and terrible people is what makes a nation a nation, a United nation. America is not called "America"; it is called The United States of America. =)

My relative was curious about discrimination during the Civil War, when African Americans were slaves in mainly Southern America. I told her that there were non-African protesters against slavery, including Abraham Lincoln, Bishop Asbury, Mary Lloyd, and William Legge. Additionally, the past remains the past, and every day our country improves as an independent nation. Yes, people did cruel things including mistreating Jews and putting the nations Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia in labor camps, but now we have equality in people and this will still improve in future generations.

Racism is an illusion. If we think about it, it will surely happen and affect our minds. However, ultimately people are people and God created them in this universe to have both love and meaning, not to discriminate others. As every country has  its unique trait, the United States is a country open to people from around the globe, everlasting from the year it got independent, 1776.

                                         

(This song was playing in my mind while I was writing 

this post.... hehe. enjoy)

Characters Who Love Books

In literature and movies, there are numerous amounts of characters who have a love for reading. Some common ones include Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Do you know any other characters that love to read books, and how do we readers or movie watchers know that? 
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Please reply to this question in the comment section below.

Books and Society

Books like the Hunger Games, the Matched Trilogy, Divergent, and The City of Ember are related to mainly future society. The Hunger Games sparks rebellion, while the Matched trilogy talks about acceptance. In the future, some of these ideas can be used to improve technology and other imprortant things. Here is the debate topic: Do you think that dystopian novels (books about future society) can impact our society in later years, or not?

Please respond to this topic with your opinion in the comments below. 

Novels and Books Changing YOU

Around the world, books have changed people's way of thinking about both small and important things. For example, if a good book involves a lot of emotional themes, a person would eventually become a more generous person.

Now, here is a discussion topic: What book that you have read changed your personality as a person, and how did it change you? It can be anything from being more kind, to becoming interested in a hobby which was unknown to you before.

Please respond to this question in the comments below.

Ebooks VS Real Books

The debate of ebooks and books has started ever since reading devices such as the Nook and Kindle came out. It is very important, as it decides your own style of reading. Now, here are some thoughts over them.

Ebooks
Ebooks are ecological because they save trees. They also save a lot of space, and it is perfect for a traveler to take on journeys and far-off places. Moreover, ebooks are cheaper and they save you to a long trip to a bookstore. An advantage is that you can see dictionary definitions right there on your ebook. This way you can completely understand your book with no unnecessary difficulties. However, ebooks certainly lack the idea of a book right in your hands. You don't feel the special weight which makes a book a book. Nevertheless, they are very light and comfortable to hold.

Real Books
Even though real books are more expensive and take up space, they give you a classic feeling. With vivid illustrations and the ability to share it with your friends, I prefer a printed book over an ebook. If you are creative, you can make decorative bookmarks for your book. And if you are social, you can share it with people you care for a lot. Additionally, you have the ability to turn your book pages freshly and enjoy the scent of a new book. On the other hand, they are not very ecologically friendly and they do take up a lot of space.

Although I prefer books over ebooks, ebooks are perfect if you travel very often. However, keep in mind that there is nothing better than reading a real book while sipping a cup of warm hot chocolate. 
=D

Citations (For images):

Producer. "Broadway Books." Http://www.theproducersperspective.com/. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 June 2013.

Http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/. Amazon, n.d. Web. 25 June 2013.