This holiday is just another one "Hallmarked," so to speak, so people can make money and, again, get drunk. This one and Valentine's Day is also pointless. Why should there be one specific day of the year to be overly sweet and celebrate your love for your significant other? Shouldn't that be every day? Why do you need another excuse to just do something special? Isn't spontaneous more romantic anyway? I mean, which would you prefer? I special dinner on Valentine's Day, complete with candles, champagne, and the works, or a special night completely out of the blue to surprise you just because your significant other felt like it? Maybe I'm bitter because I've never actually had someone to call my own when Valentine's Day has rolled around, but I don't believe my feelings would change if I did. It would mean so much more to me if my boyfriend or whoever just surprised me in the middle of October as opposed to the single day of February 14, in which case it wouldn't be much of a surprise anyway because of all the anticipation for holday.
It just seems like every single holiday has lost its meaning. Christmas, especially. It's all about presents and gift-giving and big parties with lots of food, not the birth of Jesus, which is actually funny because Jesus was actually born in June, not December. Go figure.
Easter is supposed to celebrate Christ rising from the dead. Instead, children look forward to baskets of sugary marshmellow rabbits, jellybeans, and dyed eggs brought to them by the Easter Bunny.
Thanksgiving is also another false holiday because we're supposedly celebrating the idea of the pilgrims living in harmony with the Native Americans. But what did we do? We drove them out of their land and slaughtered them because we were selfish murderers and just couldn't rule enough of the world.
People would probably call me a pessimist for looking at the world the way I do. And maybe I am, but I like knowing about the truth rather than being blissfully ignorant and caring only about superficial aspects of life because they're easier to understand and control. Maybe I would be better off ignoring the reality of the world. Maybe I'd be happier. But I know too much now, and want to know more. I like being able to talk to people about things deeper than what clothes I wore when and what color shoes go with what top and how I'm going to do my hair tomorrow. I want to talk about more so when something happens, I'm not completely surprised by it.
As much as I want to understand things, there's still a part of me that believes in something higher. But how does that make sense? Despite everything I believe, I believe it willingly without asking a question. But it's not like I've grown up with my beliefs. I was raised by my parents and their contradictory religion where, half the time, when I asked my questions, the only response they could come up with was, "It will come to you in time." It was a lousy excuse for the real answer, which is, "I don't know and I choose not to think about it because I'm completely happy with remaining ignorant and I don't want to change that." And that is exactly why I couldn't stand going to church. Naturally, I had to think of another excuse to get myself out of going, which was, "They treat me like a child." And that's true, because I was still in Sunday School at age 17, and the woman talked to me like I was 5. She asked me if I knew what a cradle was. No, you stupid whore, I don't know what a cradle is even though I'm 17 years old and probably more literate than half the people my age. I told my dad that, and he agreed to let me do my own thing, mostly because he said he stopped going at 17 as well, but told me that I shouldn't let go of it completely because it's a good thing.
So it's a good thing to ignore all the problems that surround me? No thanks, I don't think so. (But really, that's what my parents' religion taught us.)
Despite the fact that I'm so against society's ideas and lessons, there are still things that I do to fit in. Because, let's be honest, there are some things you really can't get away with. For example, if a woman doesn't shave her legs, it is pretty gross, just because most of us are so used to the idea of a woman's legs being smooth. But other things, such as applying makeup, dying your hair, wearing heels, and getting your nails done, those things can be avoided. As much as I'm against the "ideal image" of women today, there are things I still do, like put on makeup almost every single day, and I do wear heels on the occasion that I want to look "cute" if I'm going out with my friends. However, I do refuse to get those stupid fake nails that so many women get, and I absolutely, positively refuse to sit out in the sun or in a tanning booth for hours on end trying to get my skin to that perfect golden brown. I'm naturally light-skinned, and I prefer not to develop skin cancer anyway, thank you. Besides, did you know that in India, the paler you are the more beautiful you're viewed? I really should move there because I'm one of the whitest people you'll probably ever see. Or close to it, anyway. I could probably play in a vampire movie, actually, and get away with it.
So cheers to 2008. As much as I despise the celebration for it, I am looking forward to new experiences and knowledge. Let's hope I get some things figured out this year, and hopefully meet some new people that I can have real conversations with.
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