To everyone out there, a very Happy New Year. The new year gives us all the opportunity to start over it seems, but I think that we should approach every day this way. Every new day we all have the chance to do things that we have ignored or things that we meant to do and never got around to do doing.....or perhaps to stop doing the things that we know we should not be doing.
On another note, I can not even believe that it is 2005. The funny thing is that one of the first things that I think about is that my 10 year high school reunion is in 2 more years. Now that makes me feel old! I wondered about why I thought about that particular aspect of my life and I think it is because my high school years were so formative in the kind of person that I am. Of course, college did that too, but I think that in high school you are in a kind of limbo. You have been going to school with pretty much the same people that you went to elemantary school with and though everyone is growing up, you don't realize it. I mean, it's like 13 years in the same kind of atmosphere, not that many variables. You are essentially coccooned from the rest of the world. But then it comes time to go to college and it kind of throws you off. Everything that you knew changes. In high school, I thought that finals week was hell. Now I would gladly trade some adult problems for a another finals week. Everyone always said to enjoy this time. They said that it wouldn't last (I'd think, whatever they don't know what they are talking about). But now I know that they were right. And I tell younger people that now, but they have heard it from countless other people that their eyes just kind of glaze over and you know they aren't listening to you. I guess it is something that they will realize after it is all over.
But I digress. I'm sure I have depressed everyone out there when all I wanted to say was Happy New Year. Sometimes I can get really long-winded.
I guess you can blame that on my high school English classes.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
South Asia's Tragedy
The disaster that has pummeled South Asia is needless to say absolutely horrific and heart-wrenching. I can not even begin to imagine what those people are going through and where they will find the strength and spirit to go on. My heart and prayers goes out to each and every one of the victims. It is our duty to do all that we can do to help them through this time. Every little bit counts; please don't let yourself think, "Well, I can't really do anything for them from across the world." Visit the Humanity First and Red Cross via the links that I have added and also the countless other organizations that are helping the victims. You can find information for helping the victims and there is something for everyone. Even though these types of disasters have people asking the inevitable, "Why did God allow this to happen," we should not let go of our faith. Understandably, the victims are in no position to just sit there and pray...they are just trying to survive. But we can pray for them if nothng else. InshaAllah, God willing, our prayers will reach them and give them the strength to go on.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
The Pandora Complex
Well, anyone who knows about Greek mythology, probably knows all about Pandora. For those who do not, that is a shame, because Greek mythology (and all mythology for that matter) is truly fascinating! For the un-enlightened ones here is the story of Pandora....a short version of it at least.....
Zeus, the king of the gods, wanted to punish mankind for accepting the gift of fire from Prometheus. So he hit upon a plan that would do just that. He had Hephasetus, the smith-god, mold a girl out of clay and had Aphrodite pose for it to make sure that the girl was beautiful. He breathed life into the clay figure and then invited all the gods and goddesses to greet her and offer her gifts.
The girl received many wonderful gifts, but the two most relevant ones to this story are the gifts that Hera and Hermes gave her. Hermes, the messenger god gave her a beautiful golden box and told her that she must never ever open the box. And then Hera, the queen of the gods, gave her curiosity.
After that, Hermes took her to Epimetheus, Prometheus's brother, and told him that she was to be his wife. She was named Pandora, the all gifted. And so the couple were married and lived happliy ever after....or would have if not for that golden box.
Pandora was constantly thinking about the golden box. She polished it everyday until it sparkled...and even then it seemed to her that the box was mocking her. She thought about opening it, but she always remembered her promise to Hermes to keep it closed.
But the box was tormenting her. She put it in the storeroom, but still found excuses to go there. She buried it in the garden, but even then it was all she could think about.
One night, she went out into the garden. She unearthed it and took out the key. And then she opened it. To her horror, black scaly bat-like creatures flew out. They circled her head and then flew off into the night, hissing and cackling.
With the last of her strength, Pandora shut the lid on the box, trapping the last creature that was struggling to get out. And then she fainted away.
But how did Zeus punish mankind? And what were those creatures? They were the ills of mankind.....diseases, insanity, old age, famine, drought, etc. They flew into homes all over the world, and when the time was right, they attacked, bringing death and pain and sorrow.
And what was that very last creature that did not get out? That was Foreboding. If it had escaped, everyone in the world would know of every misfortune that would happen to them. There would be no hope and thus mankind would be ruined. For man can go through a myriad of endless troubles, but without hope, he cannot live.
Now what does this have to do with my blog, you ask. Well, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Pandora's box as a "prolific source of troubles." I think we all have a certain amount of Pandora in us. We all are curious and we all have troubles. But we also need to realize, through all the troubles and pressures of today's world, that things could be much worse. Sometimes, we ourselves are responsible for our troubles...we need to look beyond the golden box. But if we do get blinded by the golden box, that's all right; after all we are only human. But no matter what, we should always have hope. I am sure that there are people out there who do not agree with me and that's all right. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I welcome them. But even through all of our differences, we should all remember that hope is the greatest gift that we have.
With that said, I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with the world. I think that hope does not have to be an abstract idea. Hope can be found in everything, books, movies, and art, among other things. So this is where I will talk about these things and share my experiences......and I hope that these things will provide some sort of certainty in this uncertain world.
Zeus, the king of the gods, wanted to punish mankind for accepting the gift of fire from Prometheus. So he hit upon a plan that would do just that. He had Hephasetus, the smith-god, mold a girl out of clay and had Aphrodite pose for it to make sure that the girl was beautiful. He breathed life into the clay figure and then invited all the gods and goddesses to greet her and offer her gifts.
The girl received many wonderful gifts, but the two most relevant ones to this story are the gifts that Hera and Hermes gave her. Hermes, the messenger god gave her a beautiful golden box and told her that she must never ever open the box. And then Hera, the queen of the gods, gave her curiosity.
After that, Hermes took her to Epimetheus, Prometheus's brother, and told him that she was to be his wife. She was named Pandora, the all gifted. And so the couple were married and lived happliy ever after....or would have if not for that golden box.
Pandora was constantly thinking about the golden box. She polished it everyday until it sparkled...and even then it seemed to her that the box was mocking her. She thought about opening it, but she always remembered her promise to Hermes to keep it closed.
But the box was tormenting her. She put it in the storeroom, but still found excuses to go there. She buried it in the garden, but even then it was all she could think about.
One night, she went out into the garden. She unearthed it and took out the key. And then she opened it. To her horror, black scaly bat-like creatures flew out. They circled her head and then flew off into the night, hissing and cackling.
With the last of her strength, Pandora shut the lid on the box, trapping the last creature that was struggling to get out. And then she fainted away.
But how did Zeus punish mankind? And what were those creatures? They were the ills of mankind.....diseases, insanity, old age, famine, drought, etc. They flew into homes all over the world, and when the time was right, they attacked, bringing death and pain and sorrow.
And what was that very last creature that did not get out? That was Foreboding. If it had escaped, everyone in the world would know of every misfortune that would happen to them. There would be no hope and thus mankind would be ruined. For man can go through a myriad of endless troubles, but without hope, he cannot live.
Now what does this have to do with my blog, you ask. Well, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Pandora's box as a "prolific source of troubles." I think we all have a certain amount of Pandora in us. We all are curious and we all have troubles. But we also need to realize, through all the troubles and pressures of today's world, that things could be much worse. Sometimes, we ourselves are responsible for our troubles...we need to look beyond the golden box. But if we do get blinded by the golden box, that's all right; after all we are only human. But no matter what, we should always have hope. I am sure that there are people out there who do not agree with me and that's all right. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I welcome them. But even through all of our differences, we should all remember that hope is the greatest gift that we have.
With that said, I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with the world. I think that hope does not have to be an abstract idea. Hope can be found in everything, books, movies, and art, among other things. So this is where I will talk about these things and share my experiences......and I hope that these things will provide some sort of certainty in this uncertain world.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Welcome
Hey everybody....welcome to The Pandora Complex. You may be wondering about the the title...or maybe not. You may be wondering about me...or maybe not. Well either way, I will get to all of that...when I feel like it. For now, this is it...but more is to come.
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