The Problem with Straight-Edge

Let me preface the following with this: Straight-Edge in theory and most often in practice, is an awesome and commendable personal choice. With that being said...

There is a problem with Straight-Edge. Militant Straight-Edgers are the worst kind of self-righteous, finger-wagging dictators. Now, for those unaware of the Straight-Edge movement, it posits the abhorrence of alcoholic substances, drugs, cigarettes, and in some cases, casual, unprotected promiscuous sex. In essence, a strict straight-edger abstains from the previous in an effort to live life drug/alcohol free and stay health and aware. Now, if you know anything about the Punk movement of the Minor Threat song from which the movement originated, you may see the two at odds. The Minor Threat song, "Straight Edge" suggested the need for personal freedom, responsibility and a drug-free, clear headed lifestyle, not one in which a band of mislead youth knock drinks out of people's hands and shame those that smoke cigarettes outside clubs, or caution those that choose a lifestyle unlike theirs to "get the fuck away" from them. Straight-Edgers are often times less tolerant than militant vegans...and that's saying something. I promise to address that during another blog.

I've always wondered, though, why more straight-edge people aren't vegans. I mean, the vegan lifestyle also touts a strict adherence to health, and knowledge as well as personal decision. Though, most straight-edge kids aren't...I guess it would be too extreme.

If I can post it I will, but there's this great interview with former guitarist Brian Baker, now guitarist for Bad Religion, in which he talks about why they wrote the song and how not all of them stuck to it, as well as the fact that creating a philosophy for a group of people to stand by was not their intention.

For your viewing pleasure, here are the lyrics to the aforementioned song:

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's just something I don't need
I've got straight edge
I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

Also, they later penned a song titled, "Out of Step" which had a pretty memorable line:
"Don't drink, don't smoke, don't fuck. At least I can fucking think."

Anyway, it's all food for thought.

Post-Apocalyptic Self-Sufficiency

The best blogging advice is "write your passion." Blogs also tend to be more successful and interesting if there is a particular theme--I think I've found my niche. I'm thinking of keeping my other social-networking blog for more personal items, and this space for one of my passions: self-improvement. This is kind of a misnomer as I see self-improvement as socially-conscious decision making, healthful choices, and doing a little here and there to improve not only our lives but becoming aware of how one may help others.

In the medical field, doctors take an oath to "do no harm." Currently, out society is endlessly pelted with the news coverage of a warming planet, a "Planet in Peril," how to be more "green" how to foster sustainable energy, the benefits of a plant-based versus meat-based diet...etc. Being eco-friendly is the new black and in order to be more compassionate to your fellow citizens and your animal friends, I'd like to express how I try to "do less harm." Here are a few things I do, and a few you can try too to be less socially harmful.

Buy certified Fair Trade products when you can. Fair Trade advocates payment of a fair price and a staple economic self-sufficiency and environmental standards related to the production of a wide variety of products that we use and consume on a daily basis. I have always been a proponent of fair trade, not only because Free Trade is rather exploitative, but because products tend to be organic and healthier. I try to find Fair Trade products whenever I can, and while they are sometimes pricier than their counterparts and slightly harder to find, the benefits are overwhelming. Here are a few I use:

(1) Trader Joe's Organic Fair Trade Breakfast Blend Coffee

(2) Certified Fair Trade Malbec-Merlot (available at Target) this wine tastes like a delightful combination of cherry and dark chocolate (my fellow winos will understand) and won an eco-friendly award to boot!

(3) Maxim Organic Cotton Balls--These are Fair Trade and available at CVS

Another way to behave in a socially conscious manner is by purchasing vegan products. While I abstain from consuming meat of any kind and lean towards vegan myself, this doesn't mean you have to go vegan to use vegan products. Many of the products you use every day unnecessarily contain animal by-products (certain nail polish remover and certain vitamins containing gelatin for no real reason as several brands make the same exact product without it) or are tested on animals. Research shows that nearly all products can be successfully tested without the exploitation of animals. And with the scientific community inching towards more available means of testing such as cloned human tissue (not as icky as it sounds) testing on human skin for products consumed by humans seems to be working better than testing on the cheaper and crueler option--defenseless animals. For more, click here

There are some fabulous make-up companies that are vegan (and some that offer several awesome socially-conscious options:

Urban Decay My personal fave shades are "baked" and "gunmetal"

MAC Cosmetics Let me forewarn you that MAC is severely NOT vegan...though some of its products happen to be, for instance the Sheertone Blush Tints are cruelty-free. Plus MAC started the Viva Glam campaign to raise money for AIDS charities and runs a recycling program as well.

An easy way to identify vegan products at Sephora is by identifying this seal :

While this does not guarantee cruelty-free or vegan, it most-likely is and it DOES ensure that the products have less of all the bad icky stuff I'm talking about and is certified organic. All of this means it's better for the environment and your skin!

An additional way to save the planet (or at least do our part) is by going paperless. I haven't gone completely paperless yet because I'm old fashioned when it comes to bill paying and bank statements (scared of the interwebz!!) but I do pay several bills online and subscribe to a few online versions of magazines instead of getting hard copies. My job also recently went paperless having our pay statements and training materials available online and allowing only direct deposit as a form of payment.

You can find more ways to go green here

If you have ways to help the environment, your fellow (Wo)Man, or animal let me know!

Closed Borders: Yay or Nay? Is It Even That Simple?

So, I was watching a rerun of Boston Legal the other night and a case involved a priest who was on trial for harboring illegal aliens in the sanctuary of the church. I'm all too aware of the controversy and varying opinions on the subject of immigration law, especially being a resident of Southern California. What struck me was the arguments both sides were making. Alan Shore, on behalf of the defense, argued that by convicting his client of harboring who is, in essence, a criminal, she would be deported. The problem with deporting the woman is that she is a mother to an eight-year-old who was born on American soil, and therefore a citizen. Essentially, deporting his mother would either force him to give up his citizenship and flee to Mexico, or stay in the U. S. without his mother. You may see the problem in this. Opposing council, the prosecution, stated that it is illegal to harbor law breakers and since the mother was illegal...well, you see the point. Simply because he is a priest and doing something charitable does not make him any less a criminal. In the end, she was offered a green card in exchange for her testimony against the priest, which she took, and he was convicted. The result isn't really all that important. My question, though, is who is right?

Here is my opinion for what it's worth. I don't think it's fair that anyone traipse in and out of the U.S. (or any country, for that matter) benefit from health care, education, and opportunity but never bother to become a citizen. Further more, I am highly irritated by anyone who spends a great deal of time in a country and never bothers to learn the language. Before any immigrant-rights activists or the ACLU gets on my ass for this, let me express plainly: I wouldn't be allowed to occupy any other country for that length of time (in this case, eight years) without being jailed, deported or punished in some other matter. I cannot work in Canada without a work visa, background check and if I decided to pursue and education there, I would have to become a citizen of at least one year and pass a citizenship test. I cannot go to Mexico and buy property. I can't go to Europe and seek health care, for free, for a period of more than one approved visit. You see my point. In the aftermath of September 11, and the "new" world in which we live, amidst the former President's administration's wire tapping and horrific holding of prisoners without charges (Guantanamo) border control is something that needs to be considered seriously. We need to reevaluate a system that, quite frankly has never worked and make it harder for people to come in to the country illegally and develop a more straightforward way of gaining entrance for those that do want to become legal Americans. I am in no way suggesting that the government not allow not Americans entrance, I'm simply suggesting that those seeking a better way of life or asylum of some nature follow the same rules as everyone else.

There is another problem inherent in the unruly nature and behavior of all those involved. I suppose we cannot kick people out of the United States if we're using illegals, working them to death, living off of their sweat and tears and paying them pennies on the dollar for their work. We cannot have it both ways and there is a lot of blame to go around. We also cannot kick out the parents or guardians of those that are citizens. It is not their fault and in reevaluating the citizenship question, we must take this in to consideration.