Journal Entries
Orange County, but don't call it Halloween
Posted Oct 30, 2002
I'm all for cultural sensitivity. I'm all for expanding the American calendar to include cultural aspects from around the world. What I am NOT in favor of, however, is losing the American holidays in favor of being politically correct. Okay, Columbus Day is a gaffe, since Columbus really didn't actually set foot on the continent, and there's mounting evidence that perhaps we should refer to it, if we must, as Leif Erickson Day. Still insensitive to the Native Americans, since no one really "found" it, they just showed up late. Christmas, which used to be a universal holiday, is no longer pc, and frankly, the religious overtones of it dictate that it shouldn't be. Other religions have different celebrations, and I am all for that. Easter, same thing. A little too Christian for non-Christians to handle, and understandably so.
Halloween, however, is different. I know that some cultures think witches and ghosts and demons and ghouls are bad, icky things. Okay, then say none of those kinds of costumes are allowed. Only costumes without supernatural origins, such as fairy tale characters. But to take Halloween away completely in the name of some politically correct mumbo-jumbo over cultural sensitivity is beyond me. If I have to explain other culture's celebrations to my daughter, then frankly, I don't see what's wrong with expecting another culture to explain Halloween to their kids. I think there are certain things about living in a country that one must expect to have to deal with. If I lived in England, I would certainly expect to participate, or at least witness, Guy Fawkes Day. Does Guy Fawkes resonate with me? No. But should the residents of my adopted town suddenly stop celebrating it to be sensitive to me? Absolutely not. Same with Chinese New Year. The firecrackers and dragons and drums are not something I'm used to, but does that make it bad? No. Should I expect to deal with it? Yes.
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Latest reply: Oct 30, 2002
Sometimes I forget to think
Posted Sep 10, 2002
Sometimes, it takes really embarrassing yourself to realize that what you say on H2G2 can affect others halfway round the world. I have been talking to a wonderfully witty, funny, smart person who I felt would be a perfect fit in one of the many ongoing conversations here in HooTooland. Unfortunately, some rather catty remarks made by myself and others about a new (and inexperienced) researcher turned on us, because this great person is the aforementioned researcher's son. He read what we had said about his father, and was really hurt over the comments we had made.
I feel very badly about this situation, and I, for one, will be a bit more aware of what I say on HooToo from now on. You never know who might read your post.
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Latest reply: Sep 10, 2002
BooHoo for Me
Posted Aug 25, 2002
Okay, I just need to get this off my chest. My other half did not want to move. He made that abundantly clear by a) not packing and b) not trying to save any money. Now here we are in Southern California trying to keep our heads above water financially. (It doesn't help that my father owes me a nice sum of money for my car, or that he doesn't seem to interested in getting it to us.) The other half is a huge emotional and financial drain, and I don't know how much longer I can take it. I really need some relief!
Thanks. I needed that.
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Latest reply: Aug 25, 2002
Driving in California
Posted Aug 9, 2002
Driving in California is, well, an extreme sport. People here see a sign that states the speed limit is 65, and they seem to take that as a suggestion only. Hey, you might want to go 65, but then again, why? If you're doing 65, you might as well do 70, 75, or even 80. Never mind the bumper to bumper traffic, heck, why not just pass that guy on the right? Who cares if he might need to exit in 300 feet.
And why is it that they have to hurry to get to the next red light? My goodness, but what's the rush? You passed me, and now here we are, sitting side by side at the SAME RED LIGHT! Goodness, but that was stupid of you.
And the clean carS! Do these people have nothing to do with their time but make sure their car is spotless? Do they really need to spit shine the tires? And why is it that so many of these people own SUVs when they have never, will never, see an unpaved road in their LIFE? It doesn't snow here, so why do they feel they need to own 4x4s? Is there some secret code about it that I don't understand?
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Latest reply: Aug 9, 2002
Somehow Rejection Ain't So Bad
Posted Mar 16, 2002
Got a rejection letter today from the University of Arizona. Well, I sort of knew THAT! What's funny is that I only applied there to make my mother happy (for one), and because it was free (for two). So really, I don't feel that bad. It didn't have a lot of people I wanted to work with, and I just don't care. I'm in Irvine. Catholic accepted me. I am not too terribly upset, just sort of miffed that the letter included the line "We know this is disappointing to you, and will certainly alter your future plans." What do they know? Apparently, not much! My future plans are, in fact, just fine thank you very much. And not only that, how dare they tell me I'm dissappointed? I could live my whole life without going to Tuscon!
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Latest reply: Mar 16, 2002
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