Graffin was different than others his age because he was a “punk”.He saw this group as the ones that were rebellious and outsiders.The “rock ‘n’ rollers” didn’t like them and labeled them outcasts.But Graffin just found solace in being with others like him.That is somewhat like me.
As I’ve said before in class or on my blog, I listen to the Jo Bros, Paramore, System of a Down, Vampire Weekend, etc.I like music similar to these bands (I just realized I don’t listen to many individual artists).So I tend to befriend people who listen to the same types of music.Because of the bands I pay attention to, I guess I sort of dress like them (?).Then under that thinking I also hang out with people that dress like me.
So music has shaped my tastes and somewhat defined my personality.My personality and likes/dislikes lead to the people that I like to spend time with.The people I spend time with lead me to other music that I may like.It’s like a never ending circle. It's like the circle... of life........
The library stands tall and sun-drowned across the street from a fire station.The beige building is small for a library but is large enough to hold many memories for three of the middle school children within.
Marco sits across from two girls.He spikes his dark hair up and wears blue contacts but it is easy to see that he is of Hispanic descent.Across the dark wood table is Krystal.Even sitting down, she is shorter than both of her companions but still solidly built.The third child, me, sits next to Krystal.Her face is prepared to smile, as she certainly will soon, for a grin is never far away when she is with her best friends.Her hands rests on the intimidating pile of books stacked on the table in front of her.
Since my two friends seemed content to just sit and stare, I went back to perusing the small section that was the young adult area of the library.I would see an interesting title or an intriguing splash of color and pull the book out for further inspection.Look at the front cover, back cover, inside cover, make a decision: not good enough.Then I would continue my quest for the best fiction novels (often vampyre themed) I could find.
When I had collected two more books, I returned to the table my friends were sitting at.They looked at me, at the books in my hands, at each other, and rolled their eyes.They know me so well.That’s when my other best friend, Jake, joined the table.He’s a werewolf and knows I have a fascination with vampyre books, but he doesn’t mind.As long as I never say that Edward is better than Jacob, he is content to leave me alone.
According to the myths in movies and novels, werewolves are always tall, muscular, and can barely contain their anger.Those are all LIES.Jake is about the same height as me, soft-looking, and generally very goofy.REAL werewolves don’t LOOK like werewolves.
“Hey!” he greeted us.Everyone within a 10 foot radius glanced over at us as if to say “This is a library”.I hit him and whispered to him to sit down. For once, he actually did what I said.
As I told Krystal about the books that I’d chosen, Marco and Jake stared neutrally at each other.They didn’t have the best relationship.“I’m hungry.Can we go eat?”I looked at my other two friends and they shrugged.So I checked out the books that I had, whilst making pleasant conversation with the librarian (everyone who works at that particular library knows me).Then my friends and I headed out into the warm May evening air.
The trees were once again leafy after hibernating and seagulls flew overhead, although the library was not actually near the lake.Or a sea.Smells of fried chicken wings and fries drifted over the business/house lined street of Chicago Avenue.I was looking behind me to see if the Sears tower was visible from that position.That is when Jake proceeded to trip me.Werewolves are so unmanageable.
When I ripped (rip) my pants,
I thought that I had everybody on my side,
But I went and blew it all sky-high.
And now she won't even spare a passing glance
All just because I (rip) ripped my pants. When big Larry came 'round just to put him down,
Spongebob turned into a clown,
And no girl ever wants to dance
With a fool who went and (rip) ripped his pants. I know I shouldn't mope around, I shouldn't curse,
But the pain feels so much worse.
'Cause windin' up with no one is a lot less fun
Than a burn from the sun or sand in your buns. Now I learned a lesson I won't soon forget,
So listen and you won't regret,
Be true to yourself, don't miss your chance,
And you won't end up like the fool who ripped his pants. (rip)
Figured out who this song is by yet? Why, Spongeybobby of course! He is a master musician/singer and deserves to be recognized. This song, "Ripped Pants", is all about feeling ignored by your friends. So you act stupid to get a few laughs, a few hahas. Eventually, the attention can go to your head and you just... rip your pants. But when you take things that far, people start to turn their backs on you. I think we can all relate to ripped pants.
P.S. I knew all the words to this song before I googled them. I regret nothing.
I know that many of you will be surprised that I’m not doing a Jonas Brothers or Paramore or Vampire Weekend song.Well, Vampire Weekend’s songs make no sense and I WAS going to do a Paramore song.But thanks to an unnamed individual (Shiloh), I will be doing a System of a Down song instead.Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I love CHOP SUEY!!!!!! The deciphering begins…..
Wake up Grab a brush and put a little makeup Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup (Hide the scars to fade away the) Why'd you leave the keys upon the table? Here you go create another fable
Voila, the first verse-thingamajiggy.As you might be able to tell, the speaker at the moment seems violent and controlling. The person being spoken to has scars, and the command to hide them leads you to think that the speaker caused them.“Why’d you leave the keys up on the table?” encourages that idea of controlling.This whole section makes me think that the song is about physical abuse.The next part of the songs repeats but the phrase “you wanted to” is added after every line.This phrase makes it seem like the speaker is blaming the abused for anything that might have happened (ex. “You wanted me to slap you!”).
I don't think you trust In my
Self righteous suicide I cry when angels deserve to die
This is the hardest part of the song to decode (Paramore reference, whoo!!).But when looked at it from the perspective of abuse, it makes more sense.The abused person might literally be speaking about committing suicide. Or, he/she believes that letting themselves be abused is somehow righteous or a good deed.Perhaps, he/she loves the person that is abusing them and would rather suffer than turn that person in to the police.The part about crying when angels deserve to die means… I have no idea.The song repeats the first two parts again.Then it’s:
Father, father, father, father Father into your hands, I commend my spirit Father into your hands Why have you forsaken me?
Here we have Bible reference to when Jesus was crucified.Using this particular reference gives the notion that the person doing the abusing is the father of the abuse.
In your eyes forsaken me In your thoughts forsaken me In your heart forsaken me, oh
Just reinforcing the afore mentioned Bible reference. The abusive father has completely neglected and abandoned his child. Tragic….
Brought to you by Charlie the Unicorn 2.What this has to do with this blog: absolutely nothing.But it amuses me so there you go.And while I’m admitting everything, letting it all out in the open, I have something else to say: that movie we watched (I forgot the name) reminds me of Twilight.Yeah, I said it.Those Native Americans live on a rez just like Jacob and them.
Moving on.I don’t really know what we’re supposed to write about but I’m going to assume it has something to do with racism… or bigotry… or something.So I’ll take it from there.
When people think of discrimination in America, the first thing that usually comes to mind is racism against Blacks and Hispanics in the 1900s.But Native Americans were discriminated against as well.When they lived on a reservation their whole lives, they were separated from the rest of the country.Even when living amongst Whites, stereotypes caused people to treat Native Americans differently.
As we’ve read in “Montana 1948”, some people thought that Indians were afraid of doctors because they were used to witch doctors or something like that.It didn’t even occur to Wesley, the dad, that Marie had another reason for not wanting to be treated by Frank.
Prejudice has always existed in society.Some people just don’t like it when others are different from them.
P.S. I don't like bananas. I don't like to eat them and I especially don't like them in my ear.
“THE DOOR is everything!All that once was and all that will be!THE DOOR controls time and space, love and death!THE DOOR can see into your mind!THE DOOR can see into your SOOUULLL!” (Courtesy of Charlie the Unicorn 3).
In this case, THE DOOR is Wikipedia.Really, where would high school students be without Wikipedia?But, on to the topic.
As defined by Wikipedia (see, there was a reason for my tribute), propaganda is “a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position”.And I have an example that might not be very important but just might be perfect.
High School open houses.They are the definition of propaganda.High schools invite prospective students into their midst and try to persuade them to apply (come to the dark side; we have cookies).I’ll use Whitney Young as an example, not that I’m condemning the dolphin habitation.
So.We wait for about an hour until the doors are opened.We walk through the school to either the orange-n-blue bedazzled gym or the orange-n-blue bedazzled auditorium.We hear a speech.And the basics of that speech are “Join us!We’re super awesome! We’ve won AAALLLL these competitions.We have qualified teachers!Etc., continuations, and blah blahs”.Admittedly, we are kinda awesome.But at open houses, you don’t hear about the BAD.You don’t hear about gross lunches, crazy teachers, and any bullying going on.And why would the bad be told?That’s no way to attract buyers- excuse me - students.
Again, I’m not disagreeing with the way that open houses are run.I’m just saying there’s some propaganda-nizing going on.
