Propaganda: noun, 1. publicity to promote something: information or publicity put out by an organization or government to spread and promote a policy, idea, doctrine, or cause

(Note: Everything below is personal propaganda, be warned.)

It has come to my attention that many people have subscribed to many different ideologies.  These are sets of beliefs that are used to unite and/or define a social group.  Things such as political parties or religious denominations are ideologies.  I am not against ideologies in general, just how they are used.  Each person finds a few or more ideologies that fit their personalities and then align themselves with them.  Thus, when a particular ideology is attacked that person also feels attacked because everyone feels that he or she (this awkward double pronoun is the result of me not wanting to offend a prominent ideology) have a good reason to believe in his (this is me not caring) particular ideologies and an attack against that is an attack against her (caring a little) judgment. 

It also seems that these ideologies are similar to trendy clothes.  People choose a particular ideology (I’m tired of typing that, from now on they will be renamed refuse) that fits them best like a pair of pants.  This in itself is not so bad, however, when people choose their refuse based on how they look in them rather than how they feel in them more problems are created.  While I am on the subject, choosing your refuse based on what your parents, friends, pastor thinks can be dangerous.  Find out for yourself what you think is true by exposing yourself to the other side by talking with someone from the other side.  Also, choosing a refuse that conflicts with the majority in your location is equally asinine.  Do not use a refuse prove a point or get attention.

(Irony defined: An article against pop culture using a word developed by said pop culture.)

Another issue with the refuse crisis is the wholesale identification with a chosen refuse.  For instance, if I chose to vote for the Republican candidate I must believe in everything the party says, right?  Thus, if my chosen refuse says that capital punishment is right I must think it is right.  If I disagree with even this one point then the entire thing must be a sham and should be rejected.  This situation is often created by debates between differing refuses.  One side lists the beliefs (unfairly of course) of the other and then nit picks at a weak point trying to dismantle the entire system.  This occurs because each side is trying to convert the other to validate their own beliefs.  It makes people uncomfortable to have someone disagree with them.  In our “either/or” thinking only one person can be right.  (Either/or thinking is not always bad, it can get out of hand though.)  Therefore, if you disagree with me and only one of us can be right I want you to join my side to prove how right I am.

The only way this will end is when people stop identifying themselves with a particular refuse.  It is more convenient to sum up your beliefs using this or that refuse, but it is not accurate.  You should find out for yourself what you think about an issue and stand by that.  On that note, be prepared to be wrong.  Be open to the idea that you do not know everything about everything.

(Endnote: If you read this article and see all the traits of the people who have a different ideology than you, I am especially talking to you.  While people are beginning to fit more and more to the stereotypes, they are by no means the sum total of their ideologies.  You should not be so concerned with finding fault in people who disagree with you.)

Hello everyone.

Tonight I have a question that I want you to think about, if you do not mind.  I have no ulterior motives in mind, no point I am trying to reach; I am simply curious as to your thoughts, so please respond freely.  I know in today’s world it feels that anytime someone brings up an issue on morals, or scruples, or whatever you want to call them, they are about to start a debate of some sort.  They want to see who belongs to a red state or a blue state, or some nonsense like that.  I hope that we can leave behind politics and answer how we want to instead of being afraid that to agree with the other side is to admit weakness and therefore complete worthlessness.

Back to the point, I want to ask about human nature.  Specifically, our desire to survive.  I would venture that contrary to popular belief, our desire to live is the most powerful drive we have.  This can be debated, but for the sake of the question, I will let it stand.  My question is (questions are), How far are we willing to let it go?  If it means that someone else must pay a price would we still answer the same?  What if the person who had to pay was the one threatening us?  In an ideal world, we would all be pacifists, willing to allow ourselves to be sacrificed.  Or would we?  Is that the best way?

For instance, if the only way to prevent a fight with a bully every day for a year was to injure him so badly the first time that he would never try again, would you do it? Should you?

I ask this question because I want you to think about yourself.  This question only matters if you fill in the blank with your name and not “mankind” or “humankind” or anything of that sort.  How do you, would you, respond in a situation like that.  I know that you can only really know once you go through something, but project yourself on the other side.  Also, please do not limit yourself to physical violence.  There are many more ways to hurt a person than simply attacking him physically.

I hope that you will respond to this post, at least privately, in some way.