Recently I was reading an article on tattoos, and the fact that they are getting growing acceptance in today's society. NYT Article
The article states: Suddenly it is not just retro punks and hard-core rappers [getting tattoos] who look as if they've tossed over any intention of ever working a straight job.
So who exactly is getting these tattoos? Well look around you. Everyone from teachers, to lawyers, to classmates, to social workers to therapists have tattoos. Jenny Dembrow, an associate executive director of the Lower East side Girls Club, a Manhattan social service agency, stated: "At this point, though, it almost seems as if you’re more outside the mainstream if you don’t have a tattoo.” Ms.Dembrow herself has tattoos, including a prominent vine-like neck and facial tattoo.
Ms. Dembrow's statement of tattoos entering the mainstream brings up an interesting point. At one time, tattoos were considered taboo, especially if you wanted a 'real job'. [I'm not sure who classifieds what as a real job, but that is besides the point.] As aforementioned, at one time it was solely 'retro punks and hard-core rappers' with tattoos. Now, it is considered quite mainstream. the question this brings up is: Does the fact that tattoos are now considered 'mainstream' make them lose any appeal? For some, it can. However, those people are the people who I think should seriously think long and hard about their tattoo, especially if it is for a simple statement of teenage rebellion, or for someone looking to be the center of attention. Don't get me wrong, tattoos can be conversation starters, and great ones at that if the work is well done, worn well, or simply interesting and intriguing. I think many people though are breathing a sigh of relief now that tattoos are becoming more and more accepted amongst their societies and cultures.
Some people however, are still very appalled by the thought of a loved one getting a tattoo, or even seeing tattoos on passersby. I was once present for a dialogue where an elderly man told a university student at her summer job that she "wouldn't get anywhere in life because she had pink streaks in her her blond hair and was covered in tattoos." However, that man did not know that the pink streaks were easily washed out, and the 'covering' of tattoos he was referring to were in fact only 3 - one on her forearm, one on her finger [easily covered by a ring] and once on her upper back, only visible in tank tops.
Another thing that man didn't know? The girl he assumed would be waiting tables for the rest of her life is in a good university, doing well, and a regular community service and hospital volunteer. Moral of this story? Don't judge a book by a cover, or a person by their decisions in bodily decorations.
Let's face the facts: although its refreshing to know that society has made great strides in the acceptance of body modifications, there are still going to be some who refuse to accept the new changes this generation is making more apparent, in bigger way and greater frequencies than some would ever dream of.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
I'm still alive.
I apologize for the age long gap in entries. University has started again, and I've been quite busy this past summer and thus far into the fall semester.
Today I'd like to write about a topic that has been on my mind for quite some time.
The philosophical sense on certainty versus a promise.
Now off the bat, you'd assume [or at least I did] that a promise is an abstract belief, defined by a culture, and that certainty is a type of a priori knowledge that is independent of sense experience [and coincidentally, culture].
However, in philosophy, philosophical certainty - even certainty in general is the ability to lack doubt. Merriam Webster's English dictionary defines certainty [well certain] as: being incapable of failing; an assured mind or action;
Therefore, as implied a philosophical skeptic can never be certain. In one of my courses, a classmate of mine who once described himself of being a skeptic, stated that he was "certain of his knowledge." A statement which, in addition to his previous claim was self defeating.
However, this statement also brought up another question, of personal identity. Derek Parfit, a British philosopher who specializes in Ethics and Philosophy of Mind, raises the following thought experiment:
Like the Nobel Prize Winner, my classmate may have reformed his ideas, (though granted the situation was far less drastic.) but this still leaves us with the question: Can there ever be certainty? Maybe there can be. Maybe there can not be. Possibly, quite possibly, though we need to leave the idea of certainty, and promises for that matter not to be defined by a culture, or other group, but to a person - to each their own.
Today I'd like to write about a topic that has been on my mind for quite some time.
The philosophical sense on certainty versus a promise.
Now off the bat, you'd assume [or at least I did] that a promise is an abstract belief, defined by a culture, and that certainty is a type of a priori knowledge that is independent of sense experience [and coincidentally, culture].
However, in philosophy, philosophical certainty - even certainty in general is the ability to lack doubt. Merriam Webster's English dictionary defines certainty [well certain] as: being incapable of failing; an assured mind or action;
Therefore, as implied a philosophical skeptic can never be certain. In one of my courses, a classmate of mine who once described himself of being a skeptic, stated that he was "certain of his knowledge." A statement which, in addition to his previous claim was self defeating.
However, this statement also brought up another question, of personal identity. Derek Parfit, a British philosopher who specializes in Ethics and Philosophy of Mind, raises the following thought experiment:
Suppose that a man aged ninety, one of the few
rightful holders of the Nobel Peace Prize, confesses
that it was he who, at the age of twenty, injured a
policeman in a drunken brawl. Though this was a
serious crime, this man may not now deserve to be
punished.
[Source: Parfit Reasons and Persons 326 (reprinted in Schick and Vaughn 275).]rightful holders of the Nobel Peace Prize, confesses
that it was he who, at the age of twenty, injured a
policeman in a drunken brawl. Though this was a
serious crime, this man may not now deserve to be
punished.
Like the Nobel Prize Winner, my classmate may have reformed his ideas, (though granted the situation was far less drastic.) but this still leaves us with the question: Can there ever be certainty? Maybe there can be. Maybe there can not be. Possibly, quite possibly, though we need to leave the idea of certainty, and promises for that matter not to be defined by a culture, or other group, but to a person - to each their own.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown. - Charles de Gaulle
Of what is de Gaulle attempting to say? That greatness leads to the unknown? Or conversely, that the unknown leads to greatness? However, like many things in life and life in itself, there is no guarantee.
I've leaned this many times in my short years. In my own opinion, I believe we will all achieve our own version of greatness if we put our mind to it. No one I know wants the same thing.
We do not come from a cookie cutter generation. The1950's are behind us, as is that 'Americana' vision. Granted, now we have our own version and vision of the ideal America, family, etc. This generation though, the generation we are a part of, the generation who has been greatly impacted, as noted by my back tattoo, by the "War on Terrorism" is new and ever changing. Most importantly though, we are all ready for change.
Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation has other ideas. He says: this generation, especially the kids still in high school are America's 'dumbest generation.' That the digital age which our generation has grown up in has 'stupefied us' and is 'jeopardizing our future.' He goes on to say that kids these days do not do much. They don't read, go to museums, do homework, or get involved in their communities. Bauerlein categorizes high school kids into two very distinct groups: the aforementioned, who are putting their own future in jeopardy, and the 'uber achievers', who have great SAT scores, work, volunteer and are pretty much a real life Rory Gilmore. They might actually be considered the 'Americana ideal' of this generation.
The NYT Article
Maybe the generation in which I live is a bunch of underachievers. They can be if that is what they choose. I however, refuse to be one, and strongly believe that you are the author of your own future and life; Make sure the ending is to your liking.
I've leaned this many times in my short years. In my own opinion, I believe we will all achieve our own version of greatness if we put our mind to it. No one I know wants the same thing.
We do not come from a cookie cutter generation. The1950's are behind us, as is that 'Americana' vision. Granted, now we have our own version and vision of the ideal America, family, etc. This generation though, the generation we are a part of, the generation who has been greatly impacted, as noted by my back tattoo, by the "War on Terrorism" is new and ever changing. Most importantly though, we are all ready for change.
Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation has other ideas. He says: this generation, especially the kids still in high school are America's 'dumbest generation.' That the digital age which our generation has grown up in has 'stupefied us' and is 'jeopardizing our future.' He goes on to say that kids these days do not do much. They don't read, go to museums, do homework, or get involved in their communities. Bauerlein categorizes high school kids into two very distinct groups: the aforementioned, who are putting their own future in jeopardy, and the 'uber achievers', who have great SAT scores, work, volunteer and are pretty much a real life Rory Gilmore. They might actually be considered the 'Americana ideal' of this generation.
The NYT Article
Maybe the generation in which I live is a bunch of underachievers. They can be if that is what they choose. I however, refuse to be one, and strongly believe that you are the author of your own future and life; Make sure the ending is to your liking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
