Tonight, I learned so much. I don't even know where to start. I guess I just feel like talking and I just like to be heard. First off, tonight, I had some people over. Admittedly, we did a few things that are portrayed as "wrong" by the authorities in society like the government and police officers. More specifically, Authority figures. But who's to say these people are right? Let's say smoking marijuana, for example. Why is this such an alienated drug? Alcohol is completely legal, and it is like the 3rd(?) biggest killer in the US? That's so specific. Drinking AND driving. That high on the charts. And it's completely legal. I think that people have completely alienated right from wrong in some cases, let's say, for example, smoking because maybe the ritual OF smoking is portrayed as bad. But these people like government officials who DECIDE whether or not this is allowed (for the most part), are usually the people who don't understand it. Not to say, some people haven't tried smoking and haven't completely hated it, but maybe these people were the kids in school who did good, and had nothing better to do after school than do homework and succeed. Not to say, that it isn't extremely good for them. Good for them that they can put their mind to their work and do it and get good grades and probably be successful in life. But why does your homework have to have such a huge part in your life? Sure your homework, participation, and maybe ability to learn new things represented in homework is a good example of the specific material and possible work ethic you may display or excel in when you get older and move on in your life, but why is this such a huge factor? Think about it. We spend such a large amount of time in school. Why do we have to do homework when we come home? Because the school says so. Because someone along the way decided that doing some paperwork, that finding the value of 'x' in a hypothetical triangle, for example would cut out the rest of your life for you. Not to say that I don't understand why we have homework, but why is it such a huge part? School work should be done in school. I think that there are two groups of people (for this classification), the ambicious, and (not to be too specific) the people who want to live for the moment and have a good time and question things. Not that they don't coincide, and not that the ambicious don't question things, but I think the people in school (for the most part) who excel, and do good, and get straight A's, and eat up anything that's set in the plate in front of them. I mean, of course it's debatable whether or not the people who do drugs, and don't do their homework, and do things that are against the norm, and things that are portrayed as wrong by society are just failures or not, but who is to decide whether or not this person is a failure or not? I mean, of course I understand the cases where people do things that hurt other people, but when you think about it those are some of the only things that are LEGAL. Say guns for example. Sure, you can get a permit, and get a gun. Almost anyone can. But the gun is legal, and it can take a life in a split second. One thing that's bad about guns is that it only takes a complete second to make a choice you're never going to be able to reconsider. Ok, my point is, this gun, having such a direct effect, can cause someone to act directly on a whim. Let's say you walk in on your girlfriend or boyfriend cheating on you for example. You're obviously going to get angry. Well getting angry releases an enzyme in your brain called hydroxylase that temporarily reduces your IQ. This is when you act on a whim that is usually regrettable. Not to say that guns can't be recreational, but think about it, the government and media has not completely, but almost completely ALIENATED the whole reason things like drugs are illegal in the first place. Most drugs, excluding most hard drugs, are completely recreational, and can even be used in a healthy way. Like let's say marijuana, for example. Marijuana can literally be a CURE for serious illnesses such as bulimia and restlesness. Those of you who made it this far, by now, are probably thinking, what's your point? To be honest, I don't really have one. It just all depends on how you decide to take it in. Back on topic, look at it this way, with a few exceptions, most drugs are completely recreational, and sometimes even cause someone to realize something about themselves they may have never known. I mean take for example, a hallucinogen. Although, I've never done any kind of psychedelic drug, I've done my research. What I'm trying to say is, some drugs can take you to a world that some books, and some ideas, and some rituals never can. It's real to you. It can literally change your brain chemistry. For example, I'll indirectly cite a mushroom trip experience I read up on, the other day. First off, this guy had some amazing points. He was talking about how doing this drug brought back familiar feelings that he had when he was young such as the comfort he felt from his parents always being there, and the security of thinking or knowing for all you know, that your parents knew everything in the world. Your parents were superheroes. To you, it just took a few reassuring words from your parents to comfort you. But as you grow older, especially (embarrassingly enough) for people like me, you maybe become more lonely and depressed knowing that you're maturing, and that things that once interested you like playing outside, and calling your friend on the phone just because, become different for you. For lack of better words, I mean, they will never be the same. Sure, it's arguable whether or not when reminescing about childhood memories, you're extremely overcome with joy, or completely stricken with depression. But there's no telling the difference. And no matter what, what's done is completely done. You can't relive any moment of any day of your life, so you just have to think about now and later. There's no point in worrying or reminescing about the past because, no matter what, the past is the past. Dwelling on things can do two things to you, that come to mind: make you happy, or stress you out. But either way, it's pointless. In a sense, it's all depressing. If it was a happy memory, it makes it depressing because you can't go back and relive it. If it was a depressing memory, it is still depressing, because depending on what happened, it could change who you are forever. It could mold the matured you into something you hoped you'd never be. Maybe i'm being vague, let's use an example. Take being raped for example. Not that you had any say in the assault, but with most people, such a voluntary and vulgar act of crude, haste, and impulse such as that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Who's to say they did anything wrong? Maybe, they're uncle, for example was just feeling a little frisky. And just because they're uncle decided to live for the moment, and act off a bad impulse, it can and probably will completely change the victim's life, for the rest of their life. Just for an impulse that someone else had... That's the cruel reality of this world. As much as you might want to go back in time, you can't. What happens happens. I think that there are more serious things than maybe the things that are alienated by our authority figures. Let's say our headstrong principal, for example decided that you shouldn't have your phone out in the hallway, during passing time. Let's say you did this, and you didn't open it. You just wanted to check the time. The principal comes up to you and says, "give me your phone." Now think for a second... This phone didn't distract anyone, did it? In my school, we have 3 principals total, the principal, and two assistant principals. This principal, who even if they aren't (society's idea of) right in this situation, is right for merely the reason that they are the principal, and you are a minor. What they say goes. Sure, it's not a huge deal to give up your phone, but that's not my point. It goes back to my strong opinion that the principal, which represents society in this instance, has completely alienated right from wrong. My reason for thinking that is, there are 3 principals for let's estimate 1,000 students at my school. That's one principal to every 333 students. Not that there aren't hall monitors, but that's not my point. My point is that there are a lot more important things that the principal could be doing, like let's say preventing a fight, or helping someone with someone homework, or having an intervention with a kid who has some serious problems. But no, they argue with you about your phone. It goes on and on, and if you step back for a second, what's the point? You checked the time. Possibly to get to your next class on time. Not to say that phone's aren't allowed in school for a reason, but when you step back for a second, like I said, where's the wrong in it? I think some people get too caught up in their own bullshit, their power, their ability to get away with things that they become, a manipulative person, themselves. The reason I didn't say bad person, is because I don't really believe in bad people. I believe that there are people that make some bad choices, and if you do the crime, you do the time. But I think everyone deserves a second chance, because some people were brought up not knowing the "norm's" idea of right and wrong. And who's to say that the "norm's" idea of right and wrong is reallly the right way of doings things. Sure, the "norm" is based off how the majority of people act, but who's to say if people do something else another way, even in another place, that it's wrong just because it's not the way we do it, or not what we perceive as right or wrong. Back on topic, this principal, or more importantly, this principal who, in this case, symbolizes our society, is slowly changing. He's alienating what REALLY is right or wrong even BASED off today's norms. It says in one of the most notable documents our history, that EVERY CITIZEN HAS INALIENABLE RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Who's to decide how we pursue happiness??? I mean, as long as it doesn't conflict with someone's life, who's to say you can't smoke a joint here and there? Where's the harm in that? For fuck's sake, alcohol is LEGAL, it it is one of the leading causes of death in the country. But lighting up a plant, merely to make you feel good about yourself and have a good time is alienated, and strongly enforced by the law. Yes, I will be the first to admit that drugs are addicting, but only to those with an addictive personality. I think maybe lack of things to do, or maybe the fascination with exploring other worlds (sure, not other worlds in a literal sense, but if you take this drug, and believe this world is there, then why the hell can't it be?) it's real to you. There's no harm in exploring, for lack of less cliche terms, your inner-self, EXPLORING other worlds, and doing things you've never tried, and more generally, looking at everything from a different perspective. Okay, sure, admittedly, it's a little sad when people feel like they NEED these drugs to escape to, let's say these other worlds, but who's to say you can't experiment? There's always a time and a place, and expanding your mind, if it makes you happy, and it's not conflicting with anyone else's inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (I quote) is NEVER wrong. It can cause you to completely CHANGE your way of thinking of things. Seriously, this sounds extremely hypocritical, especially with me mentioning haste, a few times above, but as hasty as it is, I feel like a changed person. I really do. I feel that after, almost in a literal sense, broadening my horizons (why not? the horizons are there if you want them to be, no one can tell you what is and isn't real to you. No one.) It has caused me to be a completely changed person, for the better. I mean, of course I'm saying that. Of course, I want to think I'm headed in the right direction just like everyone else. But think about it, anything is real as long as it's real to you. No one, not even the smartest theorist in the world can disprove that. But I think that in doing these things (although I have not done much), has caused me to think about things in a different perspective. I don't have a problem, or an addiction. I don't crave getting "fucked up." I just like looking at things from a different perspective. I feel that, mentally, experimenting with the few drugs that I've tried, has made me a stronger, and therefore smarter person. Think about it. Your average wholesome little child who does good in school, and does all their chores, and goes to bed at 8:30 whilst getting tucked in from their parents is obviously smart, but that's society, or the "norm's" idea of smart. I know some people who you wouldn't even want to talk to. You just have to be open minded. Admittedly, I am one of the most judgemental people I have ever met. But you just have to go into things with an open mind, like I said. Back to my point, let's make up a hypothetical kid. Let's say this kid went to juvenile hall when he was young, let's say that this kid made some of what society portrays as "bad" decisions, and you knew them as a big druggie, and that's it. Before you knew the person, society has already brainwashed you that this is a BAD person, when in reality, it's just a person that maybe made some bad choice. But what you have to do, is like I said, go into things with an open mind. You can listen to this kid, and he can completely blow you away. You can never learn this in American history, learning about Abraham Lincoln, or Geometry, finding the side of a length of a triangle. I think that going out and doing things, especially for stubborn people like me, is the best way to learn. Sure, it's nice to know some history, but who gives a fuck if George Washington was the leader of the Colonial Army. You can always learn that. History is history. But I think it's a priority to learn about things that you can apply in real life, like let's say chemistry, for example (so it doesn't sound like I'm completely bagging on school), or some of the ideas of other peoples, like let's say the Mayans for example. Sure, they had some weird ways of doing things, but they predicted solar eclipses THOUSANDS of years in advance, and they didn't have the kind of technology we have today. What I'm trying to say is, going back to the whole point of this rant, if you even made it this far, is that things aren't always what the "norm" cuts them out to be. Just because this kid made some bad decisions, doesn't mean he's a bad kid, and you should hold that over his head. Instead, you should take that with a grain of salt, and get to know him for yourself. Just think to yourself, what if? I mean, this hypothetical kid does some drugs, he's been into some trouble. He's been there, he's done that. He's made his share of, obviously, bad choices. But it doesn't mean that this person doesn't learn from them, and for all you know, they could be smarter than you. You just don't want to listen to what they have to say because they're the "bad" kid. Just because what you don't understand is bad, this kid could never get a chance in life, to meet certain people, to get a job that will make him successful. By going out and doing things, you can learn things that books and school can NEVER teach you. Every generation learns more than the next. Think about it. Most of us are as smart as our parents, already, and, in my case, I'm only 16. How does this happen? Because as time goes on, more things are being discovered, and they're being put into the curriculum, into our classes, into our textbooks, and we're taught about it. Maybe things your parents didn't know about in the past. Not to say, that you can't learn some interesting things that you can't apply in life in school, but what's done is done. History is history. What I'm trying to say, although i'm probably not doing a very good job, is, that society controls our lives, literally. It controls what we do, who we meet, where we end up in life, and how successful we are. But who's to say this hypothetical kid who made some bad choices can't do any of those things better than us? I mean, let's say this kid got in trouble, and got the "bad" label slapped on him because he did some drugs. Well, just because society decided that drugs are bad, which is simply an opinion, and this "bad" label got slapped on him, no one wants to hear what he has to say. No one wants to hear him out. Before he opens his mouth, you think you know what he's going to say. You think he's going to unload a bunch of bullshit on you about drugs, and illegal activities, and all the shit he did to get in trouble. But what if this is one of the smartest kids you know? What if this kid completely (for lack of better words) REVOLUTIONIZES the way you think about things. I mean, just tonight I learned A LOT about myself. I mean, sure, those of you who even got this far, a fraction of you are thinking, who gives a shit? But that's just the kind of person you are. I'm not going to judge you. It doesn't bother me. Just move on. What I'm trying to say is, I admire those who have integrity and can question things and maybe can actually agree with me that society's perspective of "right" and "wrong" is slowly becoming more and more skewed. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong, but what i know, it's not up to a few people who are just the same as us, to decide how we pursue our happiness. I think the real "wrong" things in society deserve some attention instead. Sure, this seems a little themed. "Sure, it's just another kid that's for drugs, and I don't want to hear what he has to say." Believe me. I hear you. I really do. Before I smoked for my first time, whenever it was mentioned, I would always say "Wow, you smoke? That's nasty and illegal." I went into it with a closed mind, and look at me. I changed my mind. I don't have a problem. I'm not addicted. I just wish people would just take a second, and THINK, "What if?" What if these people in authoritative seats of power are wrong? What if this, let's say, politician is against drugs simply because he's never tried them and doesn't understand them. The moral of that example is, you never know until you try. As corny and cliche as that sounds, that applies a lot of places in life. I think that just because these people who, simply because they're in a seat of power, have a strong opinion for or against something, even if they're wrong, are made right, simply because they don't understand, or they got a better job than you. They call this a democracy, but I say if it was a democracy, people would get to choose for themselves how they pursue their happiness. Things are literally, although gradually, MADE "wrong" therefore, usually "illegal" just because Mr. Politician over here has a strong opinion against something he may have never tried. Just because of this opinion based off completely NOTHING is made a fact just because this person works for the goverment. Just because this person controls what flies, and what doesn't. Now, like me, let's say this politician tries a drug with a closed mind. What if it completey changes his perspective? What if it's the best thing he's ever done? The only reason that it's sad for people to get "addicted" to drugs is because it's "wrong" in the eyes of the authoritative figures. But who's to say doing something that makes you happy is necessarily an addiction, just because it's portrayed as "wrong". It's like, let's say playing soccer, for instance. Just because someone has fun playing soccer, and does it a lot, doesn't mean they're addicted. I think that society uses weasel words, to further alienate things that they don't understand, like drugs. Like even take the word drug, for example. It's a word. But you hear the word, drug, and you already think bad things. This is exactly the judgemental mindset that I'm talking about. Sure there are drugs, that are portrayed as "bad" (which, obviously, in my opinion, shouldn't be), but there are good drugs, too. GREAT drugs. Drugs can be a literal remedy. Like headaches, for example. You take some Ibuprofen, and you feel better. That's good, right? You didn't hurt anyone, and you don't have a headache, anymore. But society, once again slapped a label on the word "drugs". Media, and society are just as judgemental if not more judgemental than all of us. Yes, there are some "Bad" drugs, but ANYTHING can be bad. Look in your cabinet for example. Most of you probably have nutmeg. Nutmeg is proven to have psychological effects, although, usually not as enjoyable, sometimes a powerful, and a psychedelic hard drug. Why isn't nutmeg considered a drug? Because most trips you get off of it are bad trips? I mean, it's a widely-known fact that nutmeg has psychoactive effects. But why isn't it illegal? Is it because it isn't a good trip? Well, my point is, nutmeg can be a "big bad drug" if you think of it that way, but it's legal. My point is, sure, some hard drugs have some negative effects on you, but everyone has the right to decide for themselves how they pursue their happiness. When you think about it, anything can be bad. Take a pen for example, that you might find on a politician, or anyone, for that matter's desk. You could stab someone in the neck with this pen, and it could be a weapon. Why isn't it illegal? What the world doesn't know, is that it is almost literally CREATING these bad people, by alienating the things they take joy in. What's so wrong about that? Just becuase you may not condone it, doesn't mean the other person can't live their life how they want. The world is creating these people, by making the attainment of such drugs illegal. If you could go to a dispensor, and pick up your daily marijuana, no one would have a problem, but drug dealers these days feel like they need to have guns, because society made them that way. It's arguable whether or not they shouldn't have a gun, because they shouldn't be selling drugs in the first place, but what if this is the person's forte? Just because it's different than yours, and you don't understand it, doesn't mean it's wrong. To further, reiterate my point, take alcohol for example. Alcohol is legal, and sold in convenience and liquor stores. Think of it this way. There is a devil on one of your shoulders, and an angel on the other. Alcohol is a drug of war. Sure, it's fun, but this drug brings out the hypothetic "devil" in people. So why is it legal over marijuana? I think people are intimidated by the ritual of smoking, and they never take the time to question things and attempt to understand because they don't want to. They're in their little bubble, and they're doing fine, and there's nothing wrong with that. But when these people try to dictate how people live their lives, that is stepping over the line. In this huge rant essay, it seems awfully themed, but my main point is that society's perception of right and wrong, is slowly becoming skewed. I think people in positions of power like that should dedicate their time to doing more important things like helping people, or making the world, literally a better place, by, for example, reducing pollution. I can't tell anyone what to do, and when your mind is closed, your mind is closed. I know how it feels. I made some bad decisions, and ended up in the emergency room two weeks ago. Yes, I regret it, but I learned from it. That's why I strongly believe that sometimes people have to learn things the hard way, whether it's healthy or not, or wrong right. I always learned way better in school if I respected my teacher. One teacher comes to mind. Out of sheer respect for him, I would not talk in class, and I paid attention to what he said. And I actually learned something. In contrast to that, in my math class, I never learned a thing. My math teacher was a little strict, and he would always tell us how to get the variable X from Y, but he would never tell me why. Well, I always need to know why. What's the point of it, if it doesn't make sense to you? You don't just eat food because someone told you to, at some point in your life (obviously very young), you learned what hunger was, and that's why we eat. Same thing.
In conclusion, I think that society has a skewed perception of wrong from right. Smoking marijuana or having your phone our in school, for example, is wrong in the "norm" because society made it that way. Because, either they don't understand it and don't take the time to question it, or are simply losing sight of the end of the tunnel, which, in this case, is the REAL difference between right and wrong. Every single one of us has inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Who are they to decide how we decide to get there?