[Untitled]

Here is just a short post. Solely because I felt like sharing what’s on my mind.
As I have said before, I reiterate. Music IS my life. It controls my moods and my outlooks – and no, metal music does not make me angry, nor does pop make me happy. A song that I listen to on one day can put me on top of the world, while the next day it can make me so intensely sad. I marvel at this hold that it has on me. In fact, its hold extends to most of humankind. We cannot go a day without hearing music in some form or another, and thank God for that!

I was listening to a new band that my brother introduced me to (1), and it makes me so immensely happy. Their heavy Rock ‘n Roll vibes make me fall in love. I can say that almost literally. It, as clichéd as it may be, makes me believe. In what, I’m not yet sure. But it makes day-to-day living worthwhile. It makes my spirit want to dance (I honestly cringe as I type that, but it is truth!)

I thought back to how many times I’ve said I wish I went to COPA (2). And it’s true. I would LOVE to make music, to let other people feel the same way I do when I listen to a song. Learning and understanding the workings of music would be fantastic, but in a way I believe it could destroy the effect it has on me. Music is somewhat magical. It has energy and vibes that, to me, are comparable to the energy and vibes that humans possess. Learning about it; to make it my job, would be reducing it down to a science. Forgive me if you disagree. This is just a personal opinion on the effect it would have on me. I think it would take away the majesty of it all.

However, music is different for everybody, and I have no doubt that learning the ins-and-outs will just enhance it for others.
And that’s just beautiful.


References or Notes-
(1) Hell Or Highwater.
(2) Campus Of Performing Arts

Hell on the Horizon

I felt like adding a post and I got inspired by my friend, Emma, posting an English essay on her blog. No, mine is not quite as good as hers (she is fantastic), but I enjoyed writing this one. The topic was an idiom we wished. Here goes nothing:

Hell on the Horizon

A hooded figure calls you as you stagger in the rain, past the dark, deserted alleyway.

“Come with me,” it whispers. “I can help you.”

At this point there are many thoughts gushing, like the rain, through your mind. Who is this person and why is she here? What does she want with me? Why is this happening? I should have called my parents to pick me up.

It seems absolutely absurd for a stranger to be reaching out for your hand. However, it is through this strange act of random kindness that the world keeps spinning. Kindness is like breath to a human, chords to a song. It is the sun around which all the planets revolve.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, kindness is found too few and far between. It is used so infrequently that it is now hidden in the dark, away from the view of the world. In the era of the rat race, most people barely have time for themselves, let alone anybody else, and it seems more apparent, that using others to get ahead is the new way of the wicked.

We live in sad times when by first instinct, we see the hooded figure as ominous, dangerous and as a liar.

“What do you want with me?!” you demand in terror. The rain almost drowns out the fear in your voice. With hands shaking you think back to the pepper spray you were supposed to buy.

Hostility. Hostility towards those who reach forward and try to help you when you can’t help yourself. Why are we so afraid to show when we feel weak? Within our sordid society, one is always expected to be perfect. We need to be able to go somewhat like an Energizer Bunny and never wear down. Our emotions are not allowed to wear thin and we are definitely not allowed to take a break from our chaotic schedules.

It is no wonder that our world is constantly at war. Our countries fight for materialistic effects, things that are easily shared, and kill millions in the process. During the War in Iraq alone, over one hundred thousand Iraqi civilians were killed. For what reason?

Bob Marley expresses it the best: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, this world will know peace.”

You take a closer look at the hooded figure. Her cloak is soaked right through. She looks as pale as a corpse and as fragile as a glass menagerie. Her boney hand still stretching out.

Is she dying?

As you debate this likeliness, the pouring rain begins to dissipate.

Death.

It seems inevitable that kindness will one day die out. However, if each and every person in this world makes even a miniscule effort to be kinder and more compassionate, this world will be that much better. The dense fog of gloom will slowly begin to lift, and we will all be able to see the sun more clearly.

You look again, and her hand is still wavering towards you. Persistence.

After waging a war inside of your head, you reach out and take her emaciated hand. You cannot do it alone anymore. The rain slows to a slight drizzle, and you can see the sun peeking out from behind the clouds. Even this frail lady seems a tad more alive. She is not as menacing as she seems.

That hooded figure is kindness, something I aspire to personify, reaching out to hold your hand. To guide you. To help you. For the day when the last person stops caring, is the day when all hell will break loose.

Ramblings

I have decided that I cannot be profound and thought-provoking all of the time and since this is MY blog, and I feel like writing, I am free to ramble on about ANYTHING! What a liberating feeling once you get over the hurdle of, “Well, it’s just not that interesting.”

On Saturday, I went to watch my best friend, Emma, perform a monologue at a ‘V-Girl Rally’. It was all about women empowerment within the world, but more importantly within ourselves. It is mainly being able to be ourselves, and wear what we want, without being looked down-upon or abused by others. The thing that struck me was the enormous response to a question posed by one of the women. “Who here has been physically or sexually abused at some point in their lives? Who here knows someone who has been physically or sexually abused at some point in their lives?” Every girl had their hand raised. Every guy had their hand raised.

This morning I woke up to news about two girls being burnt by two boys in the koppies up the road from my school. A group of friends went up the koppie on Friday night (AT NIGHT?!) and started a bonfire. Two of the boys poured petrol on a girl and set her alight. The other girl got burnt trying to help her. The rest ran away. This was apparently an attempt at a Satanic sacrifice. I am Christian, yet even I know that this is a weak attempt at hiding behind something for their actions. I cannot understand what could possess someone (excuse the pun) to do something so horrific!
I mean, I know I am not perfect. No-one is. But I cannot comprehend how anyone could have the will to rape or murder another. I am almost at a loss for words to describe how repulsed I am at this.

We live in a sick, sick world.

However, I like to try and see the cup as half full. At least there are people who are DOING something (see my last post), just like the ‘V-Girls’ (http://www.v-girls.org/). And seeing my sister, Emma, up there doing what she was born to do, I felt privileged to know someone who DOES something (V-Girl and Animal Anti-Cruelty Rallies). Her monologue inspired me and gave me goosebumps. Luckily I had sunglasses on too, because my eyes were watering with pride. A part of me will go with her to Rhodes next year, where she is destined for great things. I can even envision her psyching up people fight for their rights down there. What a leader for what she believes in.

Anyway, I believe that my need to write tonight has been fulfilled. It may not have been perfect content or grammatically perfect. But it was perfect for me. And right now, that’s what matters.

DO Something!

Having just bought a new keyboard that is actually cool to type on, I figured it’s time to blog again. I haven’t blogged since about May. It seems as if I have had a somewhat, semi-permanent, ‘writer’s block’, which may be the reason why I never started blogging years ago.

I’m now nearing the end of a major chapter in my life. 13 more exams stand in the way of me and the ‘real’ world. Most people will tell you that they are terrified and wish they could stay in High School forever. I’ve heard spurts of wisdom countless times.

“High School is the best time of your life.”

“I wish I could be back in High School.”

“Don’t wish your life away!”

Personally, I can say that overall, I did not enjoy my time at High School. And I don’t believe that this is the common ‘teenage angst’ that everyone goes through during their five year stint. No. I’m not saying that I was unhappy either. I had many good times, laughs, memories, friends and achievements, but I will say that I don’t feel that I really clicked with many people there. There weren’t many that saw the world just as I do.

I look at humanity, and it destroys part of my soul. I look at the way we act towards others and the things we think to ourselves. Such perverse, horrible, tainting acts. I’m definitely not taking myself out of this equation. I am human too. I destroy. I abuse others. I abuse myself. But I do believe that I at least TRY to contrast this negativity by being compassionate to people around me. I TRY to give myself the proverbial ‘slap on the wrist’ whenever I’m being horrible. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t.

I know this is a very pessimistic view on the world. But I fear that this pessimism is rather realism. Not everyone is an advocate of war. Not everyone believes that Japan deserved the tsunami as karma. A lot of people do missionary work to help the victims of poverty. A lot of people donate to charity.

However, a lot of people, and I fear it to be the majority, do NONE of the above. They live their lives indifferently. They do not wish death on other people, nor do they pray for the homeless. They go on in their little boxes, living for themselves. And this is what is sending the world into the downward spiral it began many centuries ago.

The more we live indifferently, the worse the world becomes. Apathy will be the death of us all. There are only a few inherently evil people in this world, and by us doing nothing, we condone their behaviour. By the same token, there are only a few people who go out of their way to counter this. The rest of us are left in limbo. Not doing good things nor doing bad things. (Please note, I think the majority of people are born inherently good, but we just don’t act on it.)

I believe that if everyone put just a little more effort into touching onto that ‘good scale’, big things will happen to this world.

I realise that my ramblings about school may not make any sense. School is where I have been my entire life. It has been my ‘world’. That is where I have lived my moments and the majority of people I know are peers. And it scares me to think that if I can notice the human condition in the 500 odd learners in my school, how far and wide does it spread and how intense can it become? It is an overwhelming and terrifying thought.

Lastly, I’m not trying to be ‘holier than though’. I’m hardly perfect and I know it. I don’t believe that I’m on that ‘good scale’ yet, but I’m hoping that each day I am reaching closer to it.

As clichéd this may sound, we have the power to change the ways of the world. We just need to learn to harness it.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”