A Different Perspective

Last night I was craving something cold. I had just gotten my wisdom teeth out in the morning and had been in a state of aching pain ever since. Since I was taking drugs that would not allow me to drive my youngest brother and I, Stuart, set out on foot for the nearby gas station for some milkshakes. As we were walking away from our dead-end drive he mentioned the stars and how people in the Southern Hemisphere were looking at different ones. I began to think about different perspectives and how even though he and I were staring at the same open sky, we were going down two totally different tracks of thought.

I tried to imagine how he viewed the stars, and what I saw in them when I was his age. I wonder if he wanted to paint them and all their beauty, or if the fascination had already worn off. With two older siblings Stu has grown up a lot faster than I did.

Since arriving to college I have worried a considerable amount more. I used to see the stars as a portal for inspiration when I was a freshman in high school. They allowed my mind to wander to the places I planned on visiting when I was able. Egypt. Brazil. Germany. I was so naive to think that if I simply worked hard enough all of these things would come to me.

Now, the night sky is only an indication that the time is getting late, and if I want to sleep at all I should start writing faster.

Many things about college is like jumping into a freezing cold lake of reality. Some people are prepared, others have not even dipped in their toes. It wakes you up, invigorates you, and numbs you to your core. Sometimes we find it refreshing and necessary, other times it's an unexpected wake up call.

Initially last night when I looked at the stars I did not see them. I was too busy worrying about my final grades, the aching pain of my wisdom teeth, and getting ready for work tomorrow. Like a typical adult I let my worries cloud my vision. Will that never change? Only if I allow it to.

My COMMENTARY of In the Land of Blood and Honey

I have never been a violent person. When I was little I would only get in trouble for what I considered just "spreading the love" but my teachers called "kissing boys". Thus, I have never been interested in violent movies.

Tonight I was led blindly into The Athena to watch In the Land of Blood and Honey.

Red flag #1: The word "blood" in the title. I don't like things involving blood.

Flag #2: It was written and directed by Angelina Jolie. She's a badass and somewhat scary.

Flag #3: Last time I went to a movie at The Athena that I didn't have a pretense for I ended up watching Drive. Drive = VERY scary.

Reflecting on the past five hours I am kind of ashamed that I dreaded this movie because I absolutely loved it. Not only did it keep me guessing the entire time but it had an earth shattering message. Blood and Honey is one of those movies that you think about in the back of your mind for the next week.

You would think as a future journalist I would have walked out of that movie inspired to report on issues like this. Instead I felt guilty. And shocked... very, very, shocked. The Muslim genocide of Bosnia began in 1992. That was the year I was born. That really put things into perspective.

The reasons why I feel guilty are extensive, but here are the top two:

1) I am a able-bodied 19 year old woman. Not a 35 year old mother and wife with a house and mortgage. I have no responsibilities, heck, I don't even have a boyfriend. Why am I not DOING something about this? Why am I content in my safe little bubble of Athens when there is so much wrong in the world?

2) I waste so much time thinking about stupid stuff - especially my "problems". Finals week stress doesn't hold a candle to the genocide of thousands of people.

Alright, I guess I'll step down from my soapbox now. I recommend this movie to anyone who's a pansy like I am. Real life involves death and gore. Good luck on your finals everyone. It could be worse. You could be in the Congo.