Things That Anger Me

I make it a point not to use the word "hate." I think it's an awful word that's led to some really horrible and devastating things, and I don't really think that you can really and truly hate anything. Do you have any idea how all-consuming hating something is? Hate means you are more than willing to physically hurt someone, that you would enjoy watching someone suffer. So it really bothers me when someone says "I really hate my teacher" or "I hate it when my phone dies" or some other crap like that because no, you don't hate those things. Sure, your teacher may be a hardass and yes, it is annoying when your phone dies, but those things are nowhere near being worthy of hate. Nothing should be. Using the word "hate" simply means you're too lazy to think of an accurate descriptor.
Hate leads to riots and violence and innocent people dying. Have you seen what's happening in Libya? That's hate. Your teacher docking you points because you slacked off on an assignment is them doing their job. They should not in any way be hated for that. So it's a real pet peeve of mine when people use the word "hate," because it's not just a word, it's an action and a mindset. Hate is meant to put people down and deny them their basic rights. And there are far too many instances of hate that go on everyday.
Which leads me to the inspiration for this post, which I found while procrastinating on Tumblr.

Let me just say that I like Anderson Cooper. You can always tell how dangerous of a situation he is in based on what he is wearing. Normal day? Suit and tie. Somewhat dangerous situation? Casual button down and khakis. In the field covering a fire fight? Child size white t-shirt, because everyone knows that tiny t-shirts will protect you against stray bullets.

Anyway, I love that Anderson Cooper has the gall to say that to this awful woman. And in my opinion, he's right. And I really admire him for standing up for gay people. Anti-gay people really bother me. I really do not understand what is wrong about being gay. yeah it might be considered strange or weird, but there is nothing wrong with loving someone of the same gender. What I find most appalling about this situation is that a pastor of all people, someone who is supposed to be supportive and a voice of God or whatever is advocating, and even arguing for the death of millions of people by saying that "gays and lesbians should "die out." I mean, how horrific of a person must he be to think something like that? The thought that people like that pastor, and like the woman in this clip exist kind of makes me not want to get out of bed in the morning.
The arguments people use for being anti-gay are so stupid and so archaic that I can barely stand it.
For example, people  really think the Bible is a good reference for being anti-gay? Well in the Bible God killed thousands of people, including innocent children. He also told Abraham that if he wanted to keep his covenant, he had to murder his son. And don't even try to use the argument that God saved Isaac at the last minute-- no good or true God would ever ask one of his followers to harm their child. That's just messed up. Sidebar: Can we please stop using the "God" argument in politics? It does not matter if God is on the side of a candidate or not. I don't know if you've noticed, but neither God, nor Jesus, has ever endorsed a candidate and I don't think they will any time soon. The other thing people bring up in arguing against allowing gay marriage is the "sanctity of marriage."The sanctity of marriage? Yeah, I don't really think that ever existed. "Sanctity" means to be holy or sacred, and call me crazy but I don't think waking up next to the same people for 20 years or being listed as the first emergency contact counts as being sacred. Important? Yes. Sacred? No. You think that cute two day marriage Britney Spears had really upheld the sanctity of marriage? Or what about divorce? Does that uphold the sanctity of marriage. Other people say it's wrong to be gay. No it's not. It's wrong to dislike someone or think less of them, or even think that they are going to hell, without even knowing a single thing about them.
The way I see it, gay people should be allowed to do anything straight people can do, include getting married. (Further, why are we so focused on being gay or straight? Can't we just be people?)
So what if gay couples want to get married? Let them! If they want to subject themselves to the same monotonous love life that straight couples are always complaining about, who are we to stop them?
For me, legalizing gay marriage would have two consequences.

1. Gay people will get married
2. The economy will benefit enormously

And that's it. No apocalypse, no fiery vengeance from above or whatever. Just gay people who love each other getting married. And hey, they will pay to rent a church or a venue and pay a caterer and buy flowers from a florist and do all those things that "normal" couples do. Just look at New York, gay marriage was legalized there and the state of New York made 259 million dollars. Yes, I did just say 259 MILLION dollars. Can you image what other states could do with that money? A lot. That's the answer to that question.

And don't even get me started on the raising children aspect of gay marriages, because that's a whole other topic, but I will leave you will two thoughts.

Gay people don't produce gay children, straight people do.

Simba was essentially raised by two men, and he turned out just fine. Think about it.

I realize this post got a little more serious than my past ones, but I couldn't help it. The nerve of Anderson Cooper inspired me.

So please, be tolerant, be nice, and don't use the word "hate."

Leah

P.S- I now have the strong urge to watch "The Lion King".....

Taylor Freaking Swift

So I just spent roughly 4 minutes of my life watching the video for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," and believe me, it was not time well spent. I kept thinking "I should be studying right now" or "this is so stupid why am I still watching this" and my favorite "what am I doing with my life?" Yes, watching a Taylor Swift music video made me question my own personal pursuits. But I still couldn't look away.
Watching that video left me a lot of questions though. Where does she find these guys do date and then dump? And what is she doing that makes all these guys dump her? And honestly, if Taylor Swift, who is arguably one of the prettier people in the world, can't maintain a boyfriend then there is probably no hope whatsoever for the rest of us. My guess is that even though she is gorgeous, she has got some issues. Someone once told me that there is a direct relationship between how attractive a person is and how crazy they are. So while Ms. Swift may appear to be the sweetest country belle around, she's probably knitting matching monogrammed sweaters while planning the wedding two weeks into a relationship. I can't help but feel like she is one of those girls who wants every day she dates to be "the one" or whatever and they will fall madly in love and it will look exactly like one of her music videos. The ones about love, that is.
I mean seriously, the girl has had more storybook romances than Disneyland, which is not only not fair, but is also impossible. Hence the need to go around burning pictures and being incredibly passive aggressive while also brazenly cutting her exes down to size. I will give her that, she has got some nerve to write so many songs about her exes. I think though, that this will back fire on her, if it hasn't already. She will begin to only date guys that want a song written about them. As in they will lead her on, date her for a bit, dump her unceremoniously, then get a song written about them. And then they will be able to brag about it to all their friends. Yeah some people not not like them, but those people are 15 year old girls. The other way this will begin to back fire is that Taylor Swift will simply become undateable. Sure, she will always be beautiful, but soon enough guys will just not want to put about with her and her clinginess, and just won't think it's worth it if they are only going to get a song written about them. So my advice to Ms. Swift would be to calm it down on the boy-bashing songs. If she keeps writing these songs, no one is going to want to date her, and then she won't have any more songs to write, then she will be out of a job. And that's when people start collecting cats. Maybe she could write the jingles for the meow mix commercials. But if you ask me, that's a bit of a step down from selling out arenas and world tours.
But in all honestly, everyone has listened to a Taylor Swift song and been able to relate to it completely, that's why she's so popular. She can never get married though, she would run out of things/guys to write about.
So here's to Taylor Swift, and more importantly, the guys who have dumped her. Without those jerks, we wouldn't have her.

Leah

P.S- Bonjour France! I love your food. And pretty much everything about you.
P.P.S- Can't forget about Malaysia. Although I have to say, seeing you guys in the audience was a little surprising, but I'm very glad to have you. Come back soon, and tell your friends.