Sucess

In class we have been debating over the definition of success. What it means to be successful?  To me being successful doesn't only mean having tons of money and power, because not everyone can do that of course, but i do believe that everyone can have success. So what is it? Everyone has their own definition, and achievements. One of my successes was graduating High School. For some people that may not be a big deal, but for someone with dyslexia, short term memory loss, and ADD it's HUGE. I had a teacher tell me that I didn't have much of a chance getting through high school, and that I would probably never learn at a higher level, yet I graduated with a 3.96 unweighted GPA, and got accepted into a private university. I really enjoyed reading Horatio Alger’s story. So many people get caught up in their situations, and they listen to these lies that tell them that they won’t ever make anything of themselves. In Alger’s passage he tells a story about Dick. A man who wasn’t extremely smart, but he wanted to be something. It was more destiny then hard work, but it was still an inspirational text. I don’t know I’ve just been through a lot, overcame a lot, and I feel on top of the world sometimes. I strongly dislike the people who lie to the unfortunate. For example whoever said that success was being rich, famous, or in power. Heck I’m not either one of those but do I consider myself successful? I sure do.

The Model Family

For years many have agreed that if one doesn’t live with its nuclear family; that being a biological mother and father and the kids that they produce or adopt, than that family is defined as dysfunctional.  I say that this belief is crap, because for one who has the authority to define normality, and two every family has their problems, even the nuclear one. 
There is no such thing as a normal family, because there is no such thing as two families that are exactly alike. Every family has their problems and their triumphs, and for any one person to dictate which families are compatible and which ones are not, in my opinion are the one causing all the problems. It’s just like when the media proclaims that girls have to be a size zero to be accepted and appealing. All girls who do not meet that criterion are considered rejects and revolting which leads to bulimic and anorexic girls. It’s the same thing for families. Everyone that doesn’t fit norm has to tweak and bend their families and after so long they break, hence all the problems in today’s families 
Also it’s impossible to find a family that matches other family completely, because no two people are completely alike. All families are dysfunctional. Yes some are more messed up than others, but there has never been a time where families were perfect. Like Soto’s story his family didn’t match up to the white families that were portrayed on the TV shows. He’s dad was out of the picture, his mom was the one who had to provide, and they were of a Mexican descendant. Which is nothing like the made up family, but in the end Soto and his family where happy the way they were. This goes to show that all families can find there happiness no matter what the predicament is. 

Homosexual Marriages

 
Before actually reading the passages for this week’s assignment I knew that they were going to contain readings on another person’s views of gay marriages. I had every intention to slander this topic, because I am so closed minded when it comes to this matter, to the point that I get so frustrated over debates that I begin to cry.  But after reading Prop 8 Hurt Family – Ask Me How I was somewhat able to empathize with the people in this passage. Although I am strongly against homosexual relationship, I don’t think that one should be punished, or abused because of their life-choices. 
Prop 8 mentioned that houses were vandalized, profound words were yelled across the yard as children played on their front porches, and death was threatened while driving home from work. No matter how much one is against gay/lesbian marriage acts of violence should never be used to express those feelings. Yes I am 100% against homosexuality, but the value of that person remains, and they should have the respect of a human being no matter their love preference. I have several gay friends, and as much as they know that I will no support their relationships, they still know that they can count on me to be a loving friend towards them. To me it’s a hate the sin love the sinner kind of thing. I mean heck no one is perfect, therefore who has the right to pass judgments?  The quote “before you become critical, check your involvement,” came to my head/heart as I was reading and it made me change my mind about my writing.