EDHS Contemporary World Affairs

MrsCavalluzzi · Guru

THIS YOU BELIEVE- A FINAL EXAM ASSIGNMENT!

elliskim · Veteran Member

I believe that im a bird because im active and always exploring new places and things. If i had any super power it would being able to fly. And if that was true i would help stop crime so i can give back the the world. i will try to keep world peace even though that will never happen... Its a good goal to shoot for. I might get a part time job delivering pizzas in record time and that will make alot of Americans happy with instant pizza.

Kayli Perry · Veteran Member

My philosophy in life is this: "Love others like you would love yourself." This quote is one of the main themes of the New Testament the Bible, a very important book in my life, as I strive to follow its rules and examples. And although sometimes I slip up, I still hold onto my beliefs at the end of the day.

When I hear that quote, I think of how important it is not to judge. I believe every person has their own set of morals and values and I recognize that theirs may conflict with my own. Because of these differences, I realize I should judge them just because I don't agree. Most peoples life's philosophy comes from how they were raised and their influences. Just because I was raised differently doesn't give me any right to judge someone else. If I did, I would miss out on the opportunity of learning something new, one of the most tragic things people do daily. I also think about how I wouldn't want others judging me, especially if they didn't know me. So I always remember how important it is not to judge.

I think of how important it is to put myself in the other persons shoes. One the best ways not to judge, in my opinion, is to put yourself in the other persons shoes. From the outside, I may not be aware of all the trials and tribulations that person is facing, and that may be the reason for their behavior. They may not have been blessed with the home life, influence or maybe even love that I have had since birth. By putting myself in the other persons shoes, it helps me understand them as a person, and love them as I love myself.

I think of how important it is to be respectful. No matter who I come in contact with, I feel I should always try my best to be respectful. Some people believe respect comes with age, with social status, or character. No matter what the reason, I feel people should be respectful to everyone. As when you hold a person in disdain, you may unintentionally cause a fight and lose a friend. I know I would want respect in any situation, even in a room of people who disagreed with me. Therefore, because I always try to love others as I love myself, I try to always respect others.

I think of how important it is to be compassionate. All of these traits call for compassion. Without compassion, I feel it is almost impossible to love. The world would be so much better if everyone showed compassion to others. Therefore, I always strive to give compassion to others.

This philosophy makes me view myself as a lover. Not a romantic one, but a compassionate one who will try to be there when needed.

Mary Williams · Veteran Member

This I Believe

I believe that everyone should find the time in their day to dance. I dont mean go out and dance, or do a dance routine. I mean, just DANCE. Play your favorite song, and dance to it! Slow dance. Fast dance. It doesnt matter! JUST DANCE. I personally love to dance to some reggae. (Mostly because there is really no such thing as a reggae song that you cannot dance to.) Every day, whether it was good or bad, after school, I go home and dance. I dance like a crazy person. I would probably be a little embarrassed if someone saw me. LOL. But thats the best kind of dancing! Sometimes I dance for one song, sometimes I dance for an hour. And I cant help but just laugh after! Thats why I believe dancing is essential to daily life!!!!! For example, my phone broke today.

I felt extremely SAD! so what did I do? Well, I went down stairs, played my Rastafari station on Pandora, and I DANCED. Well, I did what I call dancing, which is basically jumping around in a circle, waving my arms and nodding my head. I felt AMAZING afterwards. I am still a little upset about my phone, but I dont really care right now. (I just finished dancing, and I thought, everyone should do this! and that is where I got my idea to write this.) Life gets hard, sometimes there is nothing you can do to fix a problem, but you can always try to cheer yourself or another up! (Ok, random example, In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione is realllllly sad, so Harry dances with her. They laugh and she feels better for a second.) My point is, dancing probably will not solve your problems, or make you forever happy, but it can distract you! It can make you smile for a little, or maybe take your mind away from the negative long enough to help you come up with a solution. "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." Robert Nesta Marley (watching videos of him dancing while he performed is probably one of the best things in the world). This may not be directly about dancing, but usually you do dance to music. Just let yourself go when listening to music. The dancing will come naturally.
Feel like dancing? Come dance with me!

aya · Veteran Member

Nature is a very amazing and beautiful existence. Believe it or not, nature effects the way one thinks. That is why people take walks when they're upset. I believe that nature provides people with a calm and peaceful area whether it is just to think or simply enjoy it and its soothing outcome. The fresh air and the natural environment allows people to relax in a way in which nothing, no other place or invention, can. Just seeing the soft wind mingle with the graceful flowers brings one's mind to ease and comfort. I cant imagine how our lives would be without the presence of nature. Not only is it our source of oxygen but also our source for peace and tranquility. It fills our land with beauty and light as well as our minds with comfort and relaxation. Nature can never be replaced for humans need this sense of originality and gracefulness in their busy and burdensome lives.

zach nash · Veteran Member

What goes around, comes around

I believe that you should always follow the golden rule, 'treat others the way you want to be treated.' It is such a simple saying but I feel like it is very neglected by so many people. Think of what would happen if everyone followed this rule, regardless of what mood your in that day. When people do not treat each other the way they want to be treated, it's usually because there stressed, tired, cranky, etc. when people feel this way they usually just want immediate satisfaction so they shove through crowds, make unnecessarily sassy comments, etc. When people do these things all they end up doing is further stressing themselves and others. I once heard a wise-man say, "Don't take anything personally, because it never is" (Mr. Kurzbard). People seem to get easily offended by what other people say, when most of the time they mean no harm. Many times people say or due something that comes off rude, hurtful, disrespectful, etc. but most of the time they don't mean to be harmful. In this class we have seen many events and have tried to remain unbiased and look at things in several perspectives. I think we need to apply this when we are interacting with other people. We need to ask ourselves why other people do the things they do because sometimes people seem to be doing wrong when they actually have good intentions or are just having a bad day. What goes around, comes around. People often mistreat others because someone else mistreated them. This just spreads angry and sadness not only to others, but to themselves as well. Imagine if every body treated each other with respect and kindness no matter what happened to themselves. Imagine how instead of anger and sadness was being spread, we spread joy and kindness. And even if kindness has not been spread to you, that does does not mean you can not spread kindness yourself, which will end up make yourself feel much better knowing that you made someone's day. I challenge everybody to try to just do small acts of kindness for others, and in turn a greater sense of joy will be among us.

kami · Veteran Member

I believe in going to the beach.

A lot of people who know me know that I love the beach, but I'm sure no one knows exactly why. For me it's much more than a place to visit during the summer and walk around like a tourist, it's where most of my dad's childhood stories took place that I just love to hear about. When I hear these stories it makes me feel like I could've seen it with my own eyes; having fun with friends and family, not worrying about anything except for what's going on right now. Just looking around me to see people surfing, bonfires, sunsets, and happy people. It's a happy place.

To me it's not only beautiful on a warm summer day, but when it's overcast too. The orange and pink sunset is beautiful and I never get tired of looking at it but I love the overcast grey clouds over the dark grey-blue water and the cold air on my cheeks. It's beautiful all year round. One of my new year's resolutions is to go to the beach every season so I can take pictures and enjoy my surroundings. I feel like it's a good place to think.

One of my top favorite things about the beach will always be the waves; the way they rise and crash is poetic to me. They come alive whether they're simply saying 'hello' or they're screaming at the top of heir lungs. The way they move reminds me how my mind works.

kristina chaney · Veteran Member

In become a young adult, I have learned that kindness can be contagious. aww

I believe that holding a door open for someone is a small act of kindness that is generally over looked. Holding the door open for someone is something polite and thoughtful that you can easily do for anyone. Whether youre at school, the story, home, or at work, people will appreciate your good manners.

The whole point of random acts of kindness is not to expect anything in return for doing it. In Book Two of Aristotle's "Rhetoric" it is defined as virtue and being "helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped". biggrin

The next way to to spread kindness is to acknowledge others. A simple 'hello' or 'how are you?' goes a long way when someone is having a bad day. Additionally, saying 'thank you' can brighten any ones day.

Now, we shouldn't feel obligated to do things for others, it should just be something that comes naturally. I have found that when I go out of my way to help someone I feel good, not because I was rewarded, but because I was able to make a difference.

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
Scott Adams (1957) Creator Of Dilbert Comic Strip
"Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference." -Helen James

Amber Kennedy · Veteran Member

My philosophy is super simple, but it does come from years of frustrating experience. Be yourself. This is what I believe in, and here's my philosophy:

Being yourself and not caring about what people think of you is truly the best way to go in terms of creating and maintaining the meaningful friendships and relationships that make life truly enjoyable. If you worry about people liking or not liking you, or concentrate on wanting to be popular, your relationships with other people are most likely not going to last. It's going to end up making you feel sad and unhappy with yourself, which is a horrible thing that no one deserves. Everyone deserves to be happy and I can guarantee that if you stay true to yourself, you will have long lasting friendships with people who will love you for you, as well as happiness.

It took me until just last year to learn that. Ever since elementary school, I was trying to dress like, talk like, and act like the people around me so people would like me and I wouldn't be sitting alone in a corner somewhere. And up until last year, I tried way too hard to be like people I had nothing in common with. It was frustrating and miserable. I think it actually caused me to have less friends than I could have had, because people don't really like it when someone is trying way too hard to be someone that they're obviously not.

Ever since I've learned that, I've been happier with myself and happier with the people I hang out with. I actually have friends that I can relate to, which is what every person needs at some point in their life, if not during their dreadful teenage years.

Every person on this planet is unique. That's an awesome thing. It's an idea that should be celebrated. No one should ever have to hide their true selves away in fear that they're not going to be accepted or loved. No matter what there is going to be at least one person whose uniqueness is compatible with yours. Not one person is alone in this way.

Besides, do you know how boring it would be if we were all the same? I don't even want to imagine it. Staying true to yourself really is the best way to live life and I am glad to have finally learned it. It's the key to happiness and something I truly believe in.

-- Edited by Amber Kennedy on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 06:02:10 AM

-- Edited by Amber Kennedy on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 06:05:35 AM

Foley · Veteran Member

This I believe

If I were to believe in one thing, it would be to always be positive. I believe staying positive in a bad situation can make it so much easier to cope with and resolve. This can overall improve your perspective on any situation you look at or go through in your lifetime. Keeping a positive attitude throughout your day can make you and the other people around you that much happier. Youll eventually become so much more happier about the simplicities life gives you. Life gives you every reason to enjoy it and remain happy if you take the time to notice it. There should be no excuses to why you shouldnt be happy. If you obligate yourself to not be happy then youre viewing situations through the wrong perspective.

-- Edited by Foley on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 06:56:53 PM

-- Edited by Foley on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 06:57:45 PM

Sami_THECREATOR · Veteran Member

My belief in life is to be on the side of truth, to always stand with the oppressed against the oppressor.

I do what's right, regardless of the criticism it may receive. They called Dr. King a radical, but if treating all men with respect is radical, than I shall be radical. Too many people think that Dr. King's, Gandhi's, Malcolm's, Jesus's fight is over, the slaves are no longer in chains but they remain in the chains of the ghetto, but I try to carry on their fight. I wan't equality, true equality and I'd die for it. That is why my heart aches when I hear about the struggle of the impoverished, of the oppressed, and of the bound.

Amy Nguyen · Veteran Member

This I Believe: Dreams are Our Freedom.

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who hadnt a clue as to where she belonged in the world. She went about her days going to the village school, maintaining the cottage, and taking care of her responsibilities. If you asked any villager about his opinion of her, he would say, "she's okay. Nothing special." The only excitement to her seemingly banal existence was during the dead of night when the moon was high up, glowing down through her bedroom window. It was there where the little girl could be whoever and whatever she wanted. Imagination takes hold and captivates her in Dream Land, the land of possibilities. She sheds her earthbound disguise and reveals her truly extraordinary self. Here, insecurities and judgments have no hold on her, letting her fly freely. She creates fantasy worlds, personas, and exciting lives where she embraces her inner self. Despite the approaching dawn, the little girl contently lingers in the edge of her dream world, saying her goodbyes and looking forward to the next night. Bundled in her comforting blankets, she yawns and goes about her day the same way she always has, rejuvenated from her dreams and freedom from the boring life in her village. With a slight spring in her step, she breezes past the negativity of the surrounding people who judge her with false impressions. But if you asked any villager what he might think of her, youd realize that his opinion isnt true; the little girl may not look special to others, but to herself shes the most amazing person in the world, for she knows and loves herself for who she is: the ordinary yet extraordinary little girl.

The End.

Banddude · Senior Member

Self-validation is pivotal to finding and accepting who we are.

As human beings of this earth, we will forever search the corners of our individual universes to find who we are. For some, it will be accepting our sexuality. For others, it may come in embracing a new style of life. It can even come simply from choosing a new wardrobe. Regardless of what your path is, we all will travel on a similar voyage at one point in our lives. It will mean nothing, however, if we do not feel validated in our own skin. Simply be who you are, and feel who you are. This ties nicely into accepting yourself. One of the most beautiful things in the world that you can do for yourself is embrace who you are. If that means you dig living in a pink house, you better go get some paint. Just remember, others can't choose who you are, nor can they validate you as you. You get to choose who you are, and you are the only one who can validate that.

-- Edited by Banddude on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 09:11:31 PM

kristiestoermer · Veteran Member

I believe in laughter.

One philosophy I strongly live by is that laughter is the best medicine. I think it is is important to laugh as much as you can and always look at the bright side of things. Laughter has been proven to be beneficial to our health by reducing stress levels, and bringing joy to our lives, even if it is just for a minute or two. A simple giggle can bring a beaming smile to your face in seconds, and a sense of contentment. Laughing helps people to create a positive outlook on life, and to cherish the little moments that someone was able to bring them joy. I enjoy being around people who can always lighten up a situation, or bring some humor into a normal conversion. Funny people leave the biggest impression on me, because I find humor to be one the greatest qualities to have. I choose to surround myself with people who are able to make me laugh all day long and create a positive vibe everyday that I am with them. Happy people live longer, happier lives and a strong contributor to true happiness is laughter. There are times to be serious, and there are times to have fun, and it's the fun times are that are the most memorable. I believe that laughter should be apart of everybodys' lives, and everyone should have someone close who is able to make them chuckle on a regular basis.

Abi G · Member

This i believe

I'm the kind of person that has always been the odd one out. I was raised with my grandparents instead of my mom and dad. At a young age i never really appreciated it because i was mad fun of for not having a real family. As i got older i realized how lucky i was because i could hold a full conversation with an adult from the time i was about seven. Of course living with my grandparents was difficult at times because i wasn't my own person, i was the perfect child my grandma wanted me to be, by the time i was fifteen i knew i wanted to be covered in tattoos and have piercings. People saw this as different and odd, they told me I would be a freak. The thing I learned was to be yourself no Matter what.

Jamina · Veteran Member

This I believe

I believe that you can become a much happier person if you do something great every day. I started this little project as my New Year's resolution and it's called 100 happy days. I found that idea on the internet and I think it's awesome. They started this whole thing because we live in times when super-busy schedules have become something to boast about. You should enjoy and appreciate the moment you are in because that is the key to a long term happiness. Some people are posting a picture every day for 100 days of what made them happy on this day. I don't post anything, I just write it down to myself in a notebook. I must say that it really helps and when you feel like you had a bad day, you still think about one thing that made you happy and this little thing can flip a bad into a good day. I just try to forget all the negative stuff that happened during that day and be thankful for the things that made me happy. I'm sure everyone has anything to be happy about every day; it can be a meet-up with a friend, a very tasty cake in your favorite coffee place, the good feeling of being home with your family after a hard day or a favor you did to a stranger. I really believe that this little project can make a person happier because you'll realize how lucky you are to have the life you have.

derekreilly · Veteran Member

This i believe

I believe in love and passion. Love and passion are what drive people to do great things, they are what compel individuals to do something for themselves, or for others that will make that one significant impact. Whatever it may be that captures your heart; a sport, an activity, an art, a person, the passion you hold is what is going to take that belief to the next level. I believe in love, i believe in finding a love for something that gives you a feeling that is hard to put into words. I believe in a happiness that is the product of passion. An individual happiness derived from whatever it may be that you love is the truest type of happiness, one that cant be taken away, because you made it yourself. I believe in being your own person, and taking your passions to the highest levels. One of my strongest passions is my family and my best friend. And the love i have for them, is like i said very hard to put into words. I believe strongly in doing anything and everything for them, not because it makes me look like a good son, brother, family member, or friend, but because it brings me happiness and they are all my passion in life. I believe in going beyond yourself to make the people close to you smile. I believe it is only right to share your passion and love with the ones who gave it to you in the first place. My passion is to do everything I can for my best friend, because they are the same to me as family, which is my greatest passion. I believe they deserve it all, and doing whatever it takes to make them feel my passion and love, is the greatest passion of them all. I believe in family. I believe in a forever love with the ones we get to share this life with. I think it gives real meaning. Whatever it may be.. find your passion and run with it. because its all yours.

-- Edited by derekreilly on Thursday 22nd of January 2015 03:53:49 AM