Completely Evil

Previously in class we had been discussing evil. Are people born evil? Is there such thing as completely evil? There was definitely a wide range of opinions. I have developed my opinion of evil through three sources; school (by both observing and learning), the news, and Criminal Minds (the best show ever).
So yes, I do believe that some people are just born evil. There is the argument of nature versus nurture. Nurture would say that someone who grows up in a terrible and unstable environment (maybe a gang infested part of the city) will become a product of that environment and will only know evil as an adult because that is all they have seen. That statement is most certainly valid, but there have also been plenty of people to rise above their environment, not necessarily to become rich and famous, but in the essence of not becoming a killer. Now, I'm not saying that a baby is fully evil. I mean that there has been negative progression throughout their whole life. On the other hand, can a good person just spontaneously become evil at one point in their lives? I do not believe so. There was a lot of discussion concerning Hitler during class. Where as I had always considered Hitler as completely evil, there was belief that he had "redeeming qualities." Now, Hitler was pro animal rights his whole life, but he also tested the cyanide pill he used to commit suicide on his dog first. Not to mention he is a mas murderer. Completely evil. In addition serial killers are born evil. That is the only explanation (besides mental illness) for why someone would ever be driven to continuously kill people. This reminds me of a Criminal Minds episode (the one with the guy with the white beard and the fibonacci numbers and the kids with gas masks). The murder said he was literally born a murderer, it was in his chromosomes. I also think of the character from the Homecoming. Yes, there were factors that influenced him while growing up, but I still think a normal perosn would have just left and never come back. In opposition, terrorists may actually be born good. Then through brainwashing, propoganda, and their elders they are taught to hate and to do such terrible things.
So what defines evil?
1. An intentional disregard or having no respect for others rights
2. The actions people choose will define their "level of evil"
A psychopath may have evil thoughts or a disregard for others, but will not typically act on them. However a sociopath will act on their thoughts. The combination of the two makes the sociopath evil.

I'm Sorry I'm So Needy

Today we in class we read a thesis paper from a 2004 AP student. The topic was gender studies, women specifically. His disaster of an introductory paragraph ended with one of the worst thesis statements I have ever read, I'm not actually sure he knew what a thesis statement was because it was so poorly developed. His credibility was completely destroyed when he spelled "always" as "all ways" and "some" as "sum." Really? You're in AP English? But the point of this is not to bash his writing (although more of that will come). The point of this is to destroy his point that women are too needy. However it is not just the little things in life we are needy about, but freedom, independence, and rights. What more could we want? I would so love to meet this guy. His argument is completely asinine and we didn't even get to the good part yet! "Our neediness makes us selfish." And don't even think about giving us power because we will not be able to handle it, we will have to hand the responsibility over to a man. Forget having a female president, the country would most likely fall into a downward spiral (but I'm sure some of my classmates have different opinions on this). I hope you are catching my sarcasm here because I am getting so frustrated just typing! No man was EVER needy (except when he will do/say anything for sex, I have met plenty of needy high school guys). Except for slaves. Damn these needy people always troubling men with their ambitions of equality. Evidentially women were already living the American Dream. All they had to do was be good mothers and GREAT wives. AND we got to go spend our husband's money all day (that is nice though, haha, except we are quite capable of making our own money to spend). What about going out into the world to seek whatever personal success means to us? And don't even get me started on what the OAHS teacher said about the decline of the morale of the country being contributed to women entering the work force. One I am pretty sure women were in the work force WAY before things got bad. And two ARE YOU SERIOUS!? I am one hundred percent positive that there have been so many amazing women contributions to this country. So the issue at hand here is do men really think like this today? The paper was from 2004, 8 years ago and the teacher quote from 2007, 5 years ago. That is so recent it kind of scares me. Please tell me that so many of my male peers and elders whom I respect don't think like this because if they did I would have some very choice words to say and then I would my associate with them anymore. And I will prove them wrong. Any one who thinks like that, as have so many women before me. It almost seems impossible that men could still think like this! Like why are we even having these conversations? Get real guys. I almost think that it's beginning to get worse. I can't tell you how many women jokes I hear a day. And Alex Wharton is the king of them (yes I am calling him out because it infuriates me)! And I think there are definitely a ton of men today who don't think a woman could be president. Some people ask me when they hear that I am going to USNA if I'm going to be the first woman president. I sure as hell hope not! One it's just not an ambition of mine and two by the time I reach the age requirement we better have some kick ass female as commander in chief! I really enjoyed how many of the female characters in this unit have proved these idiot makes wrong. Especially Laila! In the beginning many of them (Edna and Nora) kind of exemplify the "typical" woman, but then they represent more of a reality (although sometimes to an extreme). I am going to stop before this rant gets worse! But seriously people, grow up!

I will most certainly NOT make you a sandwich!

Since we are on our gender studies unit, I have obviously noticed some problems between men and women. Women like Nora in A Doll House and Miriam in A Thousand Splendid Sun let their husbands treat them like dirt. Miriam knows what she wants, but allows this asshole (excuse my language) brute to rape her and beat her and boss her around. It literally makes me cringe inside. She lives a miserable life. I think that Laila asserted her independence and strength. When everything she loves was ripped away from her, all she had left was the child of the man she loved. So yes, she did agree to marry Rasheed, but she did it for the safety of her child. She let him basically rape her just to protect her baby (all these other moms in this unit would never do that). But she didn’t just sit around doing nothing, she planned to escape. She wanted more for herself; school, true love, freedom, and she is going to do what she has to do to get it. That is admirable. Not this sitting around like you’re worthless crap. On the other hand, Nora’s husband speaks to her like she is five years old and has no mind of her own. If any man spoke to me that way he would not like the words that would come out of my mouth. Although I must admit, she did take on some independence by trying to pay for the trip to save her husband herself, which I admire, and find herself in the end. Then again she just picked up and left her children. But that’s a whole other issue. I mean, what is up with these women in literature just up and leaving their kids. I understand that they never did anything for themselves, but I don’t even have kids and I already know that I will love them will all I have and would never ever leave them. I understand that with these specific time and cultures that this was simply the role of women, but I’ve always been one to try and beat the odds and think outside the box. Today, I think the issue is not as bad, but there is a whole new wave of sexist jokes. “Go make me a sandwich.” “Women belong in the kitchen.” First of all, men know it’s rude and not becoming, but they do it anyway. If a man commanded me to go make him a sandwich, once again, it would not be pretty. But I definitely think that women these days have taken on so much power and independence.