Depression is Not a Joke

Depression isn't necessarily a "civil rights" issue, but it's definitely a social issue that needs to be talked about and specified.

Depression hits home for me, and talking about this will be difficult knowing that my classmates will eventually read this, and they may look at me differently, for something they never knew about. I suffer from depression and anxiety, it's nothing to be proud about, but it's my reality. My anxiety and depression has definitely become more bearable in the last year or so, but it still makes an unexpected appearance every once in a while.

Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain that effects the way a person sleeps, thinks and feels about him or herself. Depression isn't the same as feeling sad for a day, individuals suffering from depression can't necessarily "pull themselves together." It can last for years, or even for as little as a day.

My depression and anxiety stems from stress. With my anxiety, I over-analyze and over-think things. I worry too much and don't always know how to calm myself down, but like I said earlier, I've been learning how to control these feelings and how to have more control over my disorder than I ever had before.

Anyone can be suffering from depression, and you could be totally unaware. People are harsh, so it's not easy to talk about. I know when I was first "diagnosed", I thought I was crazy. I didn't fully understand what depression was, and I don't tell many people (until now, obviously) because I'm worried that they'll think I'm crazy. It's easy to be insecure in today's world, so you need, and I cannot stress this enough, you need to be inclusive and understanding of everyone.

I went off on a tangent, but the main point of this post was to talk about the social practices with depression. I see way too many tweets about depression being used as an "aesthetic". It's not. Depression is a REAL disorder that REAL people suffer from.

Depression shouldn't be used to "gain more followers" or to receive attention. This is definitely my biggest pet peeve, to use a disorder or disease as a platform for popularity. Be considerate of others, and what they're going through, because you never really know everyone's full "story."

I think therapists also have a stigma attached with them, and frankly I don't know why. It's easier to talk to someone that doesn't necessarily know you, someone that you don't see everyday. Therapists aren't for everyone, so don't take my word, but if you think it may help you, definitely check them out.

My main message was to be considerate, understand what depression actually is, and be supportive. Support and understanding is the main thing that someone who is suffering from this disorder needs. Trust me, I've been there, and I still am sometimes.

If you are someone who is suffering from depression, and you need someone to talk to, feel free to get a hold of me! I'm here for anyone that needs to vent. Let someone know as well, a parent or other adult that you can trust, they may be able to help you.

stay peaceful (and informed)!!

Why Meninism Is Unacceptable

Meninism. A squiggly line appears on the bottom of the word as I type. Not surprising, because it's not a thing. Meninism was a "movement" started by a twitter account. Twitter, not blood, sweat and tears.

I am a feminist, and I don't hate men. When I tell people this, they laugh. As if I'm joking. I'm not. Feminism is serious. I believe in equality between the genders, but also equality between all, men and women of color and different religions. Everyone is included in feminism.

Meninism states that they are advocating for the liberation of men. Liberation. What? Men have been patriarchal figures in the house hold, work force, and nearly every other community and have had superior power and influence over women. To hear them say that they need for fight for liberation makes me sick.

Many women have died for the right to vote, the right to an education, and the right to hold a job. These ignorant boys feel the need to joke about that. Feminism is not a joke.

You may think that we don't need feminism is today's world. What do you say to the 62 million girls that will go without an education this year? What do you think about the millions of girls who are sold into sex slavery and young ages? That's right. We all know it's wrong, but I can't understand why men won't get over their big ego and help the feminists of the world make a difference.

I see boys walking around my school wearing meninist shirts. They probably don't know that they are basically slapping their mothers, grandmothers and the entire female population in the face. They're supporting a twitter account that jokes about rape and constantly says that women should, "stay in the kitchen."

The screenshot of the tweet that you see above is only one example of the many horrific things that this account posts. It's not funny, I can't say it enough. It's disrespectful and inhumane to joke about rape. Rape is NOT ok, period. And to know that many men across the country think that this is ok, is terrifying.

I hope you understand the basis of meninism, and know what you're supporting if you think meninism is a real thing.

stay peaceful (and informed)!!

How do we Teach History? Is it correct?

Two very interesting articles recently fell into my lap thanks to a recent post on the bloghub. It's not surprise that the United States would tend to brush some of our history under the rug, especially the southern most states, such as Texas. I don't have anything against Texas, but there is something wrong with the way they teach their history courses.

How Texas Teaches History is an editorial that was posted in the New York Times by a Dartmouth writing professor. In this article, Ellen Rockmore analyzes how Texas history books use grammatical and writing skills to perceive slavery as a less traumatic event than it actually was, all to make Texas look better in the eyes of their students.

You have to be a certain type of person to agree with slavery, or to try to idealize it and make it seem less brutal than it truly was. I think I began learning about slavery in elementary school, and even then I realized how inhumane and truly horrible it was.

Five million public schools in Texas are using the same textbooks, with excerpts such as these:
"African slaves brought with them knowledge that helped turn the wild environment into profitable farms."

"The treatment of enslaved Africans varied. Some slaves reported that their masters treated them kindly."

These sentences may have some truth to them, not every slave owner was brutal, but a majority of them were not kind men who smiled and helped the slaves. Slaves also brought with them knowledge, but not the right tools for a totally new environment. The word, brought, to me translates planning. Slaves did not get to plan what they would bring with them on their forced migration to the new world.

After this article was brought to my attention I looked at one of the textbooks/resource books we are currently using in my AP United States History Class. This is an excerpt from the AMSCO AP US History book.

"Conditions of slavery varied from one plantation to the next. Some slaves were humanely treated, while others were routinely beaten. All slaves suffered from being deprived of their freedom. Families could be separated at any time by an owner's decision to sell a wife, a husband or a child. Women were vulnerable to sexual exploitation."

I think they did a good job explaining how the slaves suffered, they weren't paid workers, they were forced. And on top of all of that, they were ripped apart from their families, in a new place with no knowledge, and severe punishment from their masters.

Words are powerful, and to use words in a way to diminish the severity and brutality that slaves faced from white Americans is absolutely unacceptable. It makes me angry. We, as a community and world, should realize the mistakes we made and fix them! Education and improvement are the only way to sustain tranquility and as much "peace" as we can.

Take a look at the history books you read, and see if the authors use writing skills to "sugarcoat" horrific historical happenings.

stay peaceful (and informed)!!

Believe it or not, Your Vote Matters!

Today's post is going to go off on a bit of a tangent, but I feel that it's necessary.

The youth of America and quite possibly all over the world has been notorious for being lazy, not paying attention to daily news, and disregarding anything that has to do with our society. A majority of young people are not as involved solely because they don't know how much of an impact that they make.

The 2016 election is going to be the first election that I've ever really "engaged" in. I haven't really understood how interested I am in politics and government practices until this year. I will barely be 17 when the elections take place, so unfortunately, I won't be able to vote.

You may ask how this applies to civil rights, but have no fear, I'm here to let you know. This election is very controversial, we have a hard core (big headed) conservative (cough cough Donald Trump) and a socialist. Two female candidates, one for each party, and another African American.

There are multiple issues that are being addressed in this election, such as immigration, gay marriage and gun control. If Donald Trump is elected president, he has made it clear that one of his main goals is to deport all illegal aliens. What Trump doesn't realize is how unrealistic this is, he also wants to force Mexico into building a wall for us, with their own money.

Mike Huckabee has stated that if he is elected president, he will fight to give back the right of marriage laws to the state. This will take away from many gay couples all over the country.

Your vote matters because you have a right to vote for and protect what you believe in. Many candidates don't target the youth in their campaign, we're not reliable. They won't spend millions of dollars on us, when we don't act like we care. The candidates would much rather spend their money on middle aged, and older citizens who pay attention to the news, and are reliable in their votes.

As millennials, we need to step up and create a voice for ourselves. We need to vote for the candidates who most accurately depict the America that we hope for. Your vote matters way more than you'd like to believe.

Keep up with the news, watch debates and keep tabs on your favorite candidates. When the time comes to cast your vote, know that you made a difference, and many social practices can change and improve because of you.

take a survey at https://www.isidewith.com/ to determine which candidates you mostly agree with

stay peaceful (and involved)!!

Affluenza??

Affluenza, it reminds me of influenza, is it a disease? I typed the word and a squiggly red line appeared beneath it. Strange, huh? Why is this strange? It's strange because it has recently been used to describe the mental state of a Texas teen who recently killed four people while under the influence of alcohol.

It's common knowledge, you don't drink and drive. You don't drink period, until you're 21 (don't count the sip of wine at church every Sunday, that's different.) So I find it incredibly shocking that a teen who was driving while intoxicated kills four people, and doesn't face prison time.

It was June 2013, and Eric Couch and his friends had left his party (no adults were in attendance) to grab snacks at a convenience store. At the same time, Breanna Mitchell who was returning from work had car troubles and pulled off to the side of the road. She stopped in front a house belonging to the Boyles'. Hollie and Shelby, mother and daughter duo, came outside to help Mitchell contact her mother for assistance.

Brian Jennings, a pastor, was returning from a graduation party on that same road. He was traveling with two family friends' kids. Once he saw the car trouble, he pulled to the side of the road to see if he could help, but he told the two kids with him to stay in the car because he would only be a minute.

As all of this good Samaritan work was going on, Couch was flying down the two lane road, going up to 70 miles per hour. Within minutes he would be tipped over in a ditch, three good Samaritans and an unfortunate young lady would have lost their lives. Couch lived, and walked away facing no consequences, except for a session in rehab paid for by his parents.

So what is affluenza, and how did it allow Couch to walk away scotch free? Affluenza, as claimed by the defense in this 2013 case, is the suggestion that Couch was so spoiled by his parents, that he didn't understand right from wrong. I don't know if I'm allowed to curse on here, but I call a bs.

This is not okay!! There's a fine line between common sense and no common sense. It's common sense to not drink and drive, and it's common sense that everyone should face consequences, regardless of their wealth and "social ranking".

Couch should not have walked with only a prescription for rehab, paid for by his parents. Couch was 16 and drinking, which is unacceptable, and he walked away from four counts of vehicular manslaughter.

It's not surprising that parents spoil their kids. And I don't see anything wrong with them having money, they were successful and they worked hard, but Eric Couch did not. I hear to many teens now a day say that they have so much money. They don't! Their parents do.

I find it unacceptable, that in today's day and age, a teen who killed four people while driving under the influence would be able to walk away facing no consequences. Any other teen would have faced consequences, and if affluenza would have been brought up they would have received a laugh in the face from the judge.

Social hierarchy still exists, not as sharply as it has in the past, but it does. It makes me so upset when the rich and the more "well to do" are able to walk away without facing consequences for their actions. I hope we are able to change this. People shouldn't be granted "special consequences" based on their bank accounts.

I hope this brought some more knowledge to you, and I hope you're able to understand that many people receive special privileges based on their social ranking.

stay peaceful!!

Breastfeeding in Public, What's the Big Deal?

In today's society, nearly everything about a woman is sexualized, especially her breasts. This isn't abnormal, women have been told to "cover up" and to not "not reveal too much skin". So many internet posts tell women to get a man's attention they need to leave something to his imagination.

One thing that shouldn't be left to the imagination of society is the sexualizing of women's organs which they need to reproduce. Breasts are simply used to supply newborns with nutrients that they cannot get for themselves. Bottles are not sexualized, so breasts shouldn't be either. They serve the same purpose. In the United States, it is illegal for a woman to be topless, including breastfeeding, in public in 35 states.

So many people are disgusted by breastfeeding, it's natural! I don't think they were complaining when they were hungry infants. We shouldn't subjugate women to restrooms when they're feeding their babies. It's all about comfort. If a woman is comfortable feeding her child in public, she should be able to.

Women have repeatedly been told to cover up. If your shirt was considered "too low cut" you were required to change into a shirt the school nurse gave you. The sexualizing of breasts could have stemmed from men's desires. (Just typing that sentence makes me cringe) Men were only typically able to see breasts during sexual intercourse and so these female body parts became more mysterious.

Women's wishes for equality have sparked many social movements to gain body equality between men and women. Free The Nipple is a film that you can watch on Netflix that strives to empower women. FTN stands against female oppression and censorship.


 The shirt you see to the right is one of Free The Nipples best promotions. I would love to buy this shirt, but I hesitate because I know my mom most likely would not agree with the shirt. The associates at my school would also likely force me to change into something "less vulgar".

These individuals don't understand what Free The Nipple actually stands for. FTN is an equality movement! Why are men, who were not allowed to be topless nearly 60 years ago, able to be topless now? It may not be classy, but they won't be arrested for public indecency.

Another group of individuals that do not fully understand the movement are immature males. These teenagers to twenty something year-olds "support" FTN just because they want to see breasts. They aren't fighting for equality, they're only adding to the fact that breasts are often seen as sexual organs.

I hope this post showed the importance for "clothing" equality!! Spread the word, and fight with us to Free The Nipple and stop the sexualizing of breastfeeding! 

stay peaceful!! 

Columbus Day, is it Really that Grand?

Columbus day is a day meant to celebrate the discovery of the new world, by who other than Christopher Columbus. This day is filled with furniture warehouse sales and parades all over the country, but there's been some debate in the past few years about whether we should even celebrate it at all.

To some people, mostly Native Americans, Columbus Day symbolizes generations of poor treatment, enslavement, and forced migration across the western plains. In all honestly, Europeans were a bunch of fat white men who thought because they wanted North American land, that they deserved it.

We learn about it in social studies class, and it was the first chapter in my AP United States History text book. The founders of the United States and settlers of North America, brought disease and distress upon the Natives, they even expected them to understand. Native peoples had lived in the Americas for thousands of years, they knew the land and were much smarter than the Europeans gave them credit for.

Native Americans and supporters of Indigenous rights have been protesting Columbus day for years. It's not a new idea to abolish this holiday. Natives want to be recognized, they only hold 2% of the population in the United States today, that's ridiculous. Things need to change before people of different cultures are obliterated.


It's 2015, and I hope most of us can comprehend where our founding fathers went wrong. We should know by now (it's common sense, for goodness sake) that we don't discriminate. We need to welcome everyone into our communities with open arms. We need to show support for different cultures and also bring to light these differences that make us who we are, and create each individual community.

Cities such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, Portland, Oregon and St. Paul Minnesota have celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day, a day commemorating the struggles that indigenous peoples have suffered through.

I'm not saying we should not commemorate the wonderful discovery that Columbus achieved, but we should also commemorate the bravery and strength of the Natives who had their home ripped away from them in wars over land rights and power.

Read more about protests & changes being made Here

stay peaceful!!

Sexual Consent Needs to be Taught

Last week California became the first state to require sexual consent classes to be taught in high school. This is a great achievement, and I hope more states across the nation decide to add similar bills.

Sexual consent courses are important because some people still don't comprehend the phrase, "yes means yes and no means no". Young people all across the board, both male and female, are taught about what to do if they're ever sexually assaulted. Young girls are encouraged to join martial arts and self defense classes to fight off any attackers that may come their way. This is terrifying, being told at a young age that you may have to fight off an attacker that won't listen to you.

What scares me the most though, is the fact that we don't have sexual consent lessons. It may be difficult for some to understand the definition of the words yes and no, which is why we need to teach. After all, education is key.

Some Californians oppose the bill because it takes away from students freedoms. I say ba-hum-bug. If learning about sexual consent and possibly avoiding the sexual assault of millions a year takes away from your freedom, by all means, elaborate.

Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted, and 98% of the attackers never face jail time. That's quite scary as well. You can't just teach little kids how to avoid and fight off attacks, that only helps a handful of individuals. You must try to stop the problem from where it starts and not where it ends.

Some individuals don't know the differences between consent and nonconsensual sex. Todays society loves to twist words, and make them mean something totally different. This is just another reason that we need laws in place to ensure education to everyone.

68% of sexual assault cases are not reported to the police. Victims are scared of being shamed. They're asked questions such as, what were you wearing? Were you intoxicated? Were you flirting? IT DOESN'T MATTER!! Rape is rape. The attacker should be reported, and with classes such as the ones being introduced in California, hopefully victims will be more willing and confident to report their abuse and find justice.

I fully support the introduction of these classes in California! I think consent needs to be taught as a first priority and defense as a last resort. If we can stop and prevent the problem from the beginning, there won't be as big of a hassle at the end.

spread some education and stay peaceful!!

My Appearance, My Choice, NOT Yours.

*Warning* This post will be a rant about the social norms that today's society has imposed on young girls and women.

When you open the twitter app, you're never really 100% sure about what you're going to get. But one thing you can be almost certain to see at least once is a post about someone's appearance. More often than not this post will be regarding a female, her clothes, make up and overall appearance which will be critiqued by her peers who lack respect for her.

It's normal to hear that a girls skirt is short, that's a fact. But to say that, "she has not self respect and only dresses like that to impress boys" is unacceptable. Maybe (be careful this may be too crazy to comprehend) she just feels confident in her outfit choice. What upsets me so much about this topic is that the appearance of the young girl is often interpreted by a young man, or the way he may feel. I recently read in another person's blog post that young girls must dress modestly to protect their reputation, and to appeal to boys.

I could honestly not care less about what a male specimen thinks of me. I'm not worried about that right now, I'm only sixteen. I'm applying to colleges and focusing on getting the education I deserve. But to those young women who do care what boys think about them, if someone ever makes you change, leave. You shouldn't have to dress differently because your boyfriend is insecure when you look good. You shouldn't have to change your clothes because the boy next to you can't focus on his government homework while you shoulders are so exposed.

Another issue we see in today's society regarding female appearance is makeup. Whether it's a little bit of eyeliner or a full out contour, people will assume a female is trying to look good for someone. This isn't true. Makeup is fun to experiment with. You can transform yourself, not necessarily because you are insecure but because you want to bring out the features that you love about yourself.

I love makeup, it's fun to mess around with. I can create a smoky eye if  I'm feeling crazy or a bold lip if I want to spice up an outfit. Just because I want to wear a berry lip stick doesn't mean I'm trying to impress Jimmy who sits next to me in math.

A post on the HoustonPress website recently caught my eye. A five year old girl was sent home for wearing a spaghetti strapped dress to school. She was five years old! At this young age we are already imposing the idea that women need to dress modestly to appeal to the needs of the young boys at the school. This is bologna. Why are we already subjecting this little girl to the immense embarrassment that comes from being dress-coded.

What I tried to relay in this blog post was that the societal view of women being modest to appeal to a man's needs is a view that needs to be stopped. We are individuals who have our own aspirations and not all of them are geared towards appeasing men (surprise!!).

Read the post here: http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/the-apparently-immoral-shoulders-of-my-five-year-old-daughter-7372634

stay peaceful

You CAN make a difference!!

I'm just one person, how much of a difference can I really make?

You'd be surprised at how much of a difference you, as one person, can make in today's society. The key to making these differences and standing out is involvement! The advancement of social media in the past few years has helped to push education and interaction among a multitude of individuals who would have otherwise remain unconnected. 

In the past year I've become more educated on social issues I didn't know I was so passionate about. Feminism, education equality, and a voice for everyone are all issues I hold near and dear to my heart. Without the internet I probably wouldn't be as invested in these rights as I am right now.

One of the first things you can do to help advocate for civil rights is donate. Donate, donate, donate! You don't have to give away all of your money, but selecting a few charities that you find deserving and sincere is a great way to feel like you're making a difference, and it's relatively easy. These donations will go to funding for the project you select or will go directly to individuals who need your money to survive.

Get involved! Join clubs and groups to interact with people that have the same passions and social visions as you. By joining these groups you're able to converse about the ideas you have, with people who support the same things as you do.

If you don't know anyone who is as passionate as you, use your voice. By getting word out and increasing education of others, you are spreading awareness. Whether it be ranting about the issue that makes you so mad (ahem, "Meninism") or writing a complete report on the issue you are helping to make a difference.

Anything you do with a positive attitude to help you movement will make a differences, whether by itself or with the help of millions of others. You are one vital person to the cause you're fighting for.

stay peaceful & get involved!!

62 Million Girls

School has taught me how to think on my own, provide arguments for decisions I make, and a foundation for the future schooling I will need to become a pediatric oncologist. 62 million girls around the world don't have that chance.

62 Million Girls is an education initiative launched by President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama. It's mandatory and should be a social norm that every girl, and child, get an education. With an education, girls are more successful in life, are able to earn a better living, and raise healthy and successful families. Without an education, girls are most susceptible to HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and forced marriages.

Let Girls Learn is associated with the Peace Corps. They push for education for girls around the world and ensure a commitment to providing educational supplies and necessities to these young girls, who need it most.

The first step to providing education is to empower leaders. These volunteers are the key to education. They are able to raise gender awareness and increase interaction among different ages. These volunteers will help to get girls excited to learn. I fear that many of these girls have been told that education isn't for them, they've probably been tricked into fearing education. This makes me so incredibly sad.

The second step is involving the community. The community in which these girls live has the highest impact on them. Children follow by example. We follow what our parents do, and what they say, which has a huge impact on our development and overall personality.

The third step is increasing the number of volunteers. Volunteers are what makes this whole movement for educational equality possible. Without volunteers, Let Girl Learn would not be where it is today. We need to get rid of the barriers and fences that hold girls back. We need to empower them to be the best possible person they can be.

I have hope and believe in the project because of the many supporters it has. Search the hashtag 62milliongirls on twitter and you will be amazed. Support, from people all of the United States and the world supporting the necessary movement in equality. Celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Dianna Agron, Usher, and Kerry Washington have tweeted their own stories of education and how 62 million girls deserve the same chance they had.

Some individuals hindering female education say it only benefits women, and will ruin home life. How can education of more girls ruin home life? I can only see the positives. A higher quality of life for families, better job opportunities, which increase income. It doesn't only benefit women, and even if it did, so what? Women have been held back for eternity, subordinate to their husbands, and often getting the short end of the stick when it comes to civil rights and liberties. Education will provide these girls with the gift of thinking on their own, and being their own person.

stay peaceful (and educated)!!

Bryan Stevenson: We Need to Talk About an Injustice

I recently watched a Ted Talk from 2012. We Need To Talk About an Injustice is a shocking and personal speech given by Bryan Stevenson, a human rights lawyer, talking about the struggles that African Americans, and more specifically African American children face in the court system.

Stevenson gives riveting facts about the court and justice system and how the African American race is affected by it. The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with nearly 2.3 million people in jails and prisons. Nearly one out of  every three black men, between the ages of 18 and 30, are in prison, jail or on parole. And in urban communities, such as Los Angeles, Baltimore and Washington, nearly 50 to 60 percent of all young men of color are in jail, prison, on parole or probation.

Stevenson represents children, of all people. He talks about thirteen year-olds being sentenced to life in prison, without parole, for crimes they've committed when their brains aren't fully developed. I understand that a crime is a crime, and consequences are mandatory. But sentencing a thirteen year-old to life in prison comes as a shock to me. My little sister is twelve, I shudder with the thought of only being able to talk to her in a prison visiting room, with guards at every wall. I shudder when I think of how scared she would be, all she would want was to be at home, able to sleep in her own bed.

Race is an undoubtable issue in America today, I feel it always has been. I would like to think, or hope at least, that racism is in the past. But I know it's not. In the 50's, African Americans had to worry about being beaten, lynched or arrested while they were protesting for the right to be equal.

In the talk, Stevenson says that you're 11 times more likely to get the death penalty if the victim is white, than if the victim is black. And you're 22 times more likely to get the death penalty if the defendant is black and the victim is white. This is an injustice!

Stevenson states that, "we have in this country this dynamic where we really don't like to talk about our problems." I wholeheartedly agree with this. Unfortunately, it feels like much of our past and history gets shoved under the rug. We're embarrassed, by our actions, and the actions of our forefathers.

Have you ever done something, something that you know was wrong, even if it's the tiniest thing? It eats away at you, and you can never forget until you just admit what you did was wrong, then you'll be able to move on.

As I've so gracefully stated in a multiple of my other blog posts, education is key to a successful society. When we can acknowledge our wrongs, and plan for better outcomes, the world and the worldly processes with fall into place. Things will be grand and peaceful (as peaceful as they can be) and hopefully we'll all be able to coexist.

I hope you take twenty three minutes and forty one seconds out of your day to watch this inspiring speech, given by an inspiring human being.

"I've come to TED because I believe that many of you understand that the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. That we cannot be full evolved human beings until we care about human rights and basic dignity. That all of our survival is tied to the survival of everyone. That our visions of technology and design and entertainment and creativity have to be married with visions of humanity, compassion and justice. And more than anything, for those of you who share that, I've simply come to tell you to keep your eyes on the prize, hold on." -Bryan Stevenson

stay peaceful!!