Have you ever taken the time to just think? To think about life and the way we live it? The things people do and what's left unsaid? I have always thought about the way life works, wondering all these profound questions. Why some people do what they do, why we say things we don't mean, why we take life for granted.
Recently, over the summer, I saw something that really made me think about the way we live and the actions we take. A fifteen year old boy - Larry King - was murdered for being gay. I know that I don't personally relate to his sexuality choices, but seeing this story really made me think about how a person could do this to a young boy; a boy only in eighth grade for something he can do nothing about: being himself. I don't understand what's going through others' minds when they have the thought to murder or hurt someone in this way. Everyday, thousands of people die for incidents that could easily be prevented. I have met some amazing people in my life who are gay, and I see nothing wrong with it whatsoever. But that's not the point, the point is that the world we live in is stereotypical and criticizes every little thing, and it's only getting worse.
The next night, I was sitting on the couch using my laptop when another story came on the news. It was different this time (Finally, instead of the same news stories repeating themselves a million times), but still the same. Another 15 year old boy was set on fire and left to burn to death by three other boys he attended school with. Luckily, he ran to a nearby pool and put out the flames. His burned face was a red and black moon packed with craters. Whether he survived the fire or not, it's the matter that these kids actually did this and now the burned boy has to live with the emotional memories and scars that linger because of what he went through. Why did this happen? Because he didn't pay the three kids back $40 for a video game. I was completely zoned out about what I was doing earlier on my laptop, so caught up in the moment, like a deer caught in headlights. I was so in shock from hearing another story like the one I heard the night before. I could feel it on my face - the emotions filled with sadness overwhelmed me. I can't even think of words for something like this to express how many things were running through my mind after seeing this and the murder with Larry. It's an emotion that words can not even begin to say. The thought of someone doing this to one another overwhelmed me, and these are just two stories out of millions.
Everybody has a voice, small or large, and every body has the right to be heard. But what if it's true when they say actions speak louder than words. What if even those who speak up with their voice get over-ruled by the actions others take?
I knew my way of thinking had changed just by seeing these two stories. My whole view on the world we live in had changed. I've heard about other deaths, shootings and kidnappings on the news before, but these particular stories spoke to me in some way. A way as if they were two birds, both singing me a different, luring song.
I went on Facebook the next day and sent my friend Zarrita a message telling her what I had seen on the news and I linked the video from Youtube, sending it to her. When she responded, she too was shocked. We probably had over an hour conversation back and forth to each other just talking about how cruel and corrupt the world is becoming. I thought I couldn't do anything about what had happened, seeing that, well, it had already happened. But that's not necessarily true. There's little things we can change with our words and our actions that can make a huge difference in the world. Like not using the word gay out of context and in the wrong way. It's not like gays go around saying, "haha yeah that was so straight."
The thought is a scary one. Thinking about everything that goes on around us, that a lot of us give no pity towards and take the time to realize what has happened. My thought on everything has changed more than I could tell you. I've learned not to judge others or be ashamed of who you are, to live your life every day like it's your last and try to make a difference in life because even the littlest changes, can amount to the biggest.
The Hidden Truth
Have you ever taken the time to just think? To think about life and the way we live it? The things people do and what's left unsaid? I have always thought about the way life works, wondering all these profound questions. Why some people do what they do, why we say things we don't mean, why we take life for granted.
Recently, over the summer, I saw something that really made me think about the way we live and the actions we take. A fifteen year old boy - Larry King - was murdered for being gay. I know that I don't personally relate to his sexuality choices, but seeing this story really made me think about how a person could do this to a young boy; a boy only in eighth grade for something he can do nothing about: being himself. I don't understand what's going through others' minds when they have the thought to murder or hurt someone in this way. Everyday, thousands of people die for incidents that could easily be prevented. I have met some amazing people in my life who are gay, and I see nothing wrong with it whatsoever. But that's not the point, the point is that the world we live in is stereotypical and criticizes every little thing, and it's only getting worse.
The next night, I was sitting on the couch using my laptop when another story came on the news. It was different this time (Finally, instead of the same news stories repeating themselves a million times), but still the same. Another 15 year old boy was set on fire and left to burn to death by three other boys he attended school with. Luckily, he ran to a nearby pool and put out the flames. His burned face was a red and black moon packed with craters. Whether he survived the fire or not, it's the matter that these kids actually did this and now the burned boy has to live with the emotional memories and scars that linger because of what he went through. Why did this happen? Because he didn't pay the three kids back $40 for a video game. I was completely zoned out about what I was doing earlier on my laptop, so caught up in the moment, like a deer caught in headlights. I was so in shock from hearing another story like the one I heard the night before. I could feel it on my face - the emotions filled with sadness overwhelmed me. I can't even think of words for something like this to express how many things were running through my mind after seeing this and the murder with Larry. It's an emotion that words can not even begin to say. The thought of someone doing this to one another overwhelmed me, and these are just two stories out of millions.
Everybody has a voice, small or large, and every body has the right to be heard. But what if it's true when they say actions speak louder than words. What if even those who speak up with their voice get over-ruled by the actions others take?
I knew my way of thinking had changed just by seeing these two stories. My whole view on the world we live in had changed. I've heard about other deaths, shootings and kidnappings on the news before, but these particular stories spoke to me in some way. A way as if they were two birds, both singing me a different, luring song.
I went on Facebook the next day and sent my friend Zarrita a message telling her what I had seen on the news and I linked the video from Youtube, sending it to her. When she responded, she too was shocked. We probably had over an hour conversation back and forth to each other just talking about how cruel and corrupt the world is becoming. I thought I couldn't do anything about what had happened, seeing that, well, it had already happened. But that's not necessarily true. There's little things we can change with our words and our actions that can make a huge difference in the world. Like not using the word gay out of context and in the wrong way. It's not like gays go around saying, "haha yeah that was so straight."
The thought is a scary one. Thinking about everything that goes on around us, that a lot of us give no pity towards and take the time to realize what has happened. My thought on everything has changed more than I could tell you. I've learned not to judge others or be ashamed of who you are, to live your life every day like it's your last and try to make a difference in life because even the littlest changes, can amount to the biggest.