Reflective Essays

There is something to be said about reflective essays, but most of it is to be said to yourself.

Feminism

I, as shocking as it may be, am a feminist.

I realize the negative connotation that “feminism” has in some circles, as it’s often referred to as man-hating as well as filled with double standards. I disagree with them. Merriam-Webster defines feminism as “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” I stand with that view, and I think that human beings, regardless of biological sex, should be equal on political, economic, and social grounds. By saying I am a feminist, I am not agreeing with those who call themselves feminists and then degrade men and/or create double standards.

This reason I’m making for this post is because of one of the Amazing Atheist’s videos, which was titled “It’s Only Sexist When Men Do It.” He explains that on a television show called “The Talk,” a man’s penis was cut off in an event and they laughed about it. He then points out the hypocrisy in our society that if they were men, laughing about a woman’s breasts being cut off when she asked for a divorce, the way it was received would change massively. I agree with that as well. However, at one point he says this is why he can’t take feminism seriously.

Feminism, or the feminist movement, did not cause them to laugh and it did not create the double standard. The people who claim to be “feminists,” and give into this double standard are not really feminists. By saying laughing at the suffering of a male is any different from laughing at the suffering of a female they then place females and males on two different planes which are not equal, and it hurts the feminist cause when they do that.

Just because a portion of its followers may go about it in an unbecoming or counterproductive way, shouldn’t cause the idea to lose credibility, because the idea isn’t responsible and can’t be because it’s, you know, not a cognitive being, for the actions of the people who advocate for it. It reflects on those individuals only. And it’s not okay to judge an idea based on partial observations of its followers, because it then creates a poor generalization of all of them.

An idea should be judged for its value and credibility.
And individuals should be judged the same way.

Poetry 2 - A Quiet Place

Profound silence sought
in libraries, at home, in public with ear plugs.

Like a nap after a busy day,
or a rest following notes cursorily played.
It is the fountain in the desert.

How can I indemnify myself
from the waves looking to drown me?

Silence comes with death - rather environmental.
When the children go home,
and the shops are closed,
when it is too dark for the travelers to drive.

In a beatless heart.
In a place once crowded
with people and buyers and children; normally playing, screaming.
A vacated city center is the place where silence rings.

Poetry 1 - Carousel & Cake

Carousel,
Holden says you’re life.

An extended arm for a retracted prize,
on the last minutes of a Sunday
night leading into the final business week
of a regretful venture to mask the self-loathing
and hide the disinclination to produce.

The bitter urge to finish your work for them,
to blanket yourself in normalcy – or is it monotony?
I can never tell with synonyms.


Carousel,
won’t you stop?

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The Cake:

"The cake," he said
"is a lie."
I have tried for too long,
and I tread too close to failure,
and stood over too many nauseating heights.

The cake is a lie,
but I did the thing! On the list
of things I needed to do.
Overcame chronic laziness,
and for this?

No.
no, no, no
I don't care.
I will reap, I have worked.

The cake is a lie,
but I have tried.
The cake is a lie,
but I've lost this sweat.
The cake is a lie,
but I have climbed these steps.

Transparent reward.
The cake is a lie,
but everyone wants a slice.