The Real Me

Prompt: Who are you?

My name is Lauren Register and I was born on March 6, 1989. I have lived in Macon since the day I was born and I hope and pray that I will be able to get out one day. I am a huge football fan so that means that is what my weekends consist of during football season. I am a manager at Chick-fil-a and for the most part, I love it .I am extremely close to my family and I love to spend time with my friends.

My mom is my best friend and I consider myself lucky that she is still living. I thank God each and everyday for that. After I was born, she had to have surgery and I was not able to be around her for the first six months of my life. When I was a toddler, my dad worked two hours away so he stayed with my grandparents during the week and came home every weekend; therefore I wasn’t able to build a great relationship with him. Thankfully, he was able to land a job closer to home and I was finally able to know what it felt like to be daddy’s little girl. I have two older brothers who I have recently been able to become closer to and it feels good to know that they care so much about me. I am glad to have a loving family that means everything to me.

My grandmother played a major role in my life. She was the one who helped raise me the first six months of my life. In 2005, my family and I learned that she had an incurable lung disease and the doctors only gave her another year to live. She had to go on oxygen and eventually could not walk herself up the steps of her house. It was such a shock to learn that she was so sick when she was always so full of life and ready for anything. I remember when we got a call this past February, saying that she was not doing so well. As soon as my family got that call, we rushed to her house to see her, knowing that her time was coming. I remember seeing her laying in her bed, so helpless, and there was nothing that anyone could do. Her funeral was a celebration of her life and I know that she is in a better place now, watching over me.

I have the most amazing friends. Each and everyone has helped me learn something new about myself, but there are two that mean the most to me. I met one of my best friends, Shanna, when I was in third grade. We have pretty much grown up together since then and we have been able to share a ton of memories. The second best friend would be Aubrey. We met in sixth grade and automatically had the best friend bond. I would say we have been through the most together, but with the help of each other, we always get through. These two girls have been there for me through thick and thin and I feel so blessed to have them in my life.

I would consider high school to be the best times of my life so far. I was able to make tons of new friends and also took a part in the one sport that I absolutely love. When I was younger, I was never really able to get into sports because my brothers were always playing baseball, and it was impossible for my parents to be in three places at one time. So when middle school came, I decided to try out for cheerleading. I actually made it and ever since then, I have been amazed. Competitions were always fun, waking up at the crack of dawn, traveling, and seeing other squads routines. I was able to bond with the girls on the squad and we were able to act like fools and look crazy and not care what others thought. These are my most cherished memories of high school. I was able to learn how to be patient and enhanced my ability to work with others.

Each of these people and events that happened in my life, have played a part in helping me to discover who I really am. I am leaving Macon next year to attend Valdosta State University. I plan on majoring in nursing to become an R.N. I am not really sure what will happen from there but I put my trust in God to handle the rest.

Love Story Gone Wrong

Prompt: The Alligator River Story

I know that it is hard to wait for someone you love but if it is real I believe it can be possible. In this story, Abigail needed to wait but did not want to. If she really loved Gregory, she should have waited until the bridge was fixed or just traveled the extra distance. The actions that Abigail and the other characters took, were wrong by betraying trust and love.

I give Gregory a 1 because he had every right to cast Abigail aside. He was hurt by what Abigail did to him but I think he could have been a little more considerate of her situation. This makes me feel that he did not truly love her.

Slug receives a 2 because the only thing he did wrong was beat Gregory. I know that hurting someone is not good, but Slug was just being a good friend to Abigail. He wanted to hurt the person that betrayed Abigail. It is good to have friends you can trust in and are there for you no matter what.

Ivan gets a 3 because he was a bad friend to Abigail. It may have been a difficult situation to deal with but friends are supposed to be there for you the most in a time of crisis. Ivan was wrong for turning his back on Abigail when she needed him the most.

Sinbad obtains a 2 because of his inappropriate behavior. He was selfish and only thought of himself. He would not take Abigail to her true love unless he receive sex in return. This should have been one thing that never crossed Abigail’s mind.

Finally, Abigail receives a 5 for being unfaithful to Gregory for all the wrong reasons. If she really loved Gregory, she could have waited forever to be with him. Instead, she was so eager to be with him right away, that it blinded her love and caused her to make the bad decisions. I think Gregory had every right to cast her away but it was truly unnecessary for Abigail to laugh at Gregory as he was beaten. Her decisions caused the events at the end, and I have no respect for her.

No matter how much you love someone, you should be able to wait for them forever. If Abigail would have waited then she would have ended up with Gregory when the time was right. If you care about someone enough, they will wait on you regardless of how long it takes.

Only God Can Judge You

Prompt: Metaphysical Assumptions

We are taught different values and beliefs throughout life. These values and beliefs cause us to have our own metaphysical assumptions or our own view of the world and its creation. I believe that it is important to have beliefs and our metaphysical assumptions come mostly from our religion. The Greeks believed in separate gods that controlled things such as: love, beauty, eternity, family, and many other things. Although I believe that one God controls the things listed above, the Greeks used many gods to answer their questions on life and understanding the world.

I believe that there is one God who created the Earth and everything beyond it. I believe that he was crucified and died for our sins. Also, that he rose from the dead and was ascended into heaven. One day, he will return to gather those who are believers. I am a huge believer in fate and I think everything happens for a reason. God answers prayers even if they do not turn out like we want them to. It gives me a sense of security knowing that God put so much into creating me and is there to help me when times are tough. We were put on his earth for a purpose and we will serve that purpose with guidance from God. He died for our sins and it is our job to serve him.

It is a never ending question to all of how the world was created. Many are turning to the scientific approach to come up with more logical answers. I do not agree with this at all. I am not saying that science is wrong but I think that it will never be able to explain every question that arises. I would rather believe in my religion than trying to look at it from the scientific point of view.

Many people have different metaphysical assumptions of how the world was created. I respect others opinions but I think it is important to establish your own beliefs. You should not listen to others when it comes to telling you what or what not to believe in. One should establish their own sense of self because after all, only God can judge you.

Evil: Closer Than You Think

Prompt: Blog #2 on Mailer

Evil is defined as something morally wrong or bad and throughout the world today, we are faced with evil. I do not understand why people would want to be cruel to others. Haven’t we all grown up to know the golden rule? Treat others as you wish to be treated. You do not see much of people treating others the way they should and see more acts of evil than good.

Whether I am at school, work, or at home, evil plays a part in my daily routine. People are cruel to me all the time, especially at work. Being a manager, I have to deal with the unhappy customers who approach me in a rude way and then expect to get what they want. I guess that just shows the evil that is inside of them. They are so busy ranting that they do not know how it might affect someone. I just learn to ignore the stubborn people and know that I shouldn’t treat others in a wicked way.

In Norman Mailer’s book, Why Are We at War?, he discusses how Bush uses evil in his speeches and that he uses it as a narcotic for the distressed American public. Bush believes that America is the only hope for the world and because it is slowly falling apart, there is only one solution. That solution is to strive to make America a world empire.

I do not really know if creating an entire world empire is the right decision, but I think any direction towards less evil is the direction we should take. The main concern I have is if Bush supposedly wants to take over the world, how is he going to do it? There is not much time left for him to be in office, and the only way I see him taking over nation by nation is to defeat those lands. The war in Iraq is already causing enough problems and depression, so how are we to react when we have to fight hundreds of others to get power? I support George Bush and his decisions, but I am also open minded to Mailer’s opinions; therefore, I can only hope for the best.

For All the Wrong Reasons

Prompt: Blog on Mailer

Reading Mailer’s essay, I found that he makes many good points to try to explain why America is at war today. One point he makes very clear is why we shouldn’t be at war. I agree because it seems we are now at war for all the wrong reasons.

Mailer points out that most Americans are against the war on terrorism and that all evil is connected. He states that war with Iraq will satisfy our need to get even with what happened on September 11th. He suggests that it will never be admitted, but oil is also a reason we are at war. Also, Mailer says that Americans are violating their religious beliefs as well as the Muslims are violating their Islamic beliefs. Our religious beliefs should not be to get even with violence, but to make peace with one another.

Since the attacks on September 11th, America has been living in fear. Even while fighting this war, Americans still worry about the safety of America in wondering if something tragic will happen again. It seems that we are causing the Iraqi people just as much fear. Does that make us terrorists to them? I would think so. This goes back to Mailer’s point that all evil is connected. Bush seems to think that since the terrorists were from Iraq, that all Iraqi people are evil. This statement is false! I think it is wrong to be causing so much fear among the Iraqis and making them hate us even more.

It is hard to know the real truth behind the war and we Americans will probably never know. We are supposed to be fighting against terrorism, but we are just making it an ongoing battle. Although, killing their innocent people seems like the right thing to do, just to make them see how much pain we went through, could easily be resolved another way to help put a stop to terrorism. We need to think about the Iraqis and remember that all of them were not responsible for the attacks.

So the real question is what are we really fighting for? We shouldn’t be in this war. It seems we are fighting for our way of life, but we should respect that the Muslims have their own way. We have no right to say that their way of life is wrong, just because it doesn’t match up with ours. We should be helping the Iraqis instead of making them live in fear. After all, fear will not win us this war.

College Football: Always Unpredictable
The most important time of the year in my household is the first weekend in September. It is when college football starts and the time to see teams battle it out against each other to see who is the best. Ever since I was a child, I have been brought up to be a Georgia Bulldog fanatic and so it has now become my hobby to not only watch the Bulldogs, but to watch all college football. I spend my Saturday’s with my family and friends, watching good games on the television. It brings entertainment by not knowing what can happen and is one of the few times my family can get together.

The best thing about watching football is the unpredictability of the sport. I never know if the pass thrown will make it to the end zone for a touchdown, or if my team can stop the opponents from getting that first down. One wrong play and the game can take a huge twist. Watching football is fun and keeps me on the edge of my seat, anxiously waiting to see what will happen next.

Growing up in a football crazed family, I have learned the rules and concepts of the game. I remember when my parents would take me to by brother’s football games when he was in middle school. I sat there on the bench with the sun beaming down and sweat dripping down my face, completely clueless of what was going on. My parents, on the other hand, were rooting the team to victory. That was when I started to ask questions and be familiar with what was going on. Since then, I just can’t get enough.

A big factor in football is to know where each team stands in the rankings. People expect for the teams that are higher ranked to beat those who are lower or not even ranked. The game where Appalachian State beat Michigan and Syracuse beat Louisville are good examples of the underdogs beating a ranked team. Games like these cause the rankings to change and make the bowl games important for me to watch, which is how I like to wrap up the football season to see the best teams battle it out for the national title.

Each person in my family is completely different. We all have different likes and dislikes but getting together to watch football on Saturday’s is one think we have in common. It allows time to spend together and hope that the Bulldogs win the game. Also, to watch other games hoping that certain teams lose so the bulldogs can move up in rankings. It is a great feeling to know that your team has won, but very unfortunate if they lose.

Watching college football has influenced my life by providing me with enjoyment and good times with my family. I have learned to cherish these moments since my family is so busy. Growing up being bulldog fanatic, there is nothing more pleasing than to see Georgia beat Alabama in overtime with a touchdown pass!

Homosexuality: Easily Discriminated

Prompt: Human Rights v. Majority Rule

Human rights entitle us to have the basic rights and freedoms that include right to life and liberty, freedom of expression, and equality of the law but in today’s society, many people let the majority rule that out. People included with the majority tend to judge people based on how they look, the way they dress, their religion, or a new issue that has come up within the past several years: homosexuality. Just because someone likes the same sex doesn’t mean that they aren’t entitled to these same rights; however, I do think that is it still ok for the majority to question it.

Since the issue that happened in Miami several years ago where public employment discrimination was trying to be abolished rapidly spread. People of the gay community weren’t hiding their decisions and without behaving out of the ordinary, the public could have knowledge of their sexual preference. With the majority being against homosexuality, could this decrease their chances of getting a job? I don’t think it should. If a homosexual is qualified and wants to teach elementary school then they should be able to. As long as the teacher sticks to the curriculum and doesn’t get the kids involved in their outside life, there shouldn’t be any problem. With the kids being so young, they probably wouldn’t know the difference anyway. They are usually more worried about when it’s time to play or to eat lunch.

Like many others, I have the attitude towards homosexuals that if they don’t bother me, then everything is fine. Although I was brought up that homosexuality is a sin, I don’t like to judge someone just because of their sexual preferences or anything else for that matter. I actually have some gay friends and even gay people in my family. I still love them and accept them for who they are even if I don’t necessarily agree with their lifestyles.

When human rights and majority rule clash, it often leaves people being judged and discriminated against. In the society that we live in today, many people ignore that everyone is entitled to human rights and tend to stick with the majority. I think it will always be a problem but maybe we can fix it by learning not to judge others because of their sexual preference and influence others not too as well.

Terrorism: Can it Now Come to an End?

Prompt: Hijack!

Before the attack on September 11, 2001, many people thought that the policy on terrorism was overstated but now after seeing millions of innocent lives lost on that tragic day, makes people see the terrorism policy in a different way. The United States government has now enforced a strict no tolerance policy on terrorism. Personally, I don’t want to decide whether someone lives or dies and I wish there were other ways besides violence, but in the case of terrorism approaching you, risking a few lives is better than risking a million.

Picture yourself standing on ground zero, and think about all the lives that were lost on that horrific day. That should be your inspiration to not give into terrorism They were people just like us, starting out a regular day, taking kids to school, and going to work their full time job when all of the sudden, tragedy strikes.

“The United States Government will make no concessions to terrorists holding official or private U.S. citizens hostage. It will not pay ransom, release prisoners, change its policies, or agree to other acts that might encourage additional terrorism. At the same time, the United States will use every appropriate resource to gain the safe return of American citizens who are held hostage by terrorists.”

There is a reason that the United States has a policy on terrorism and we should trust that it is to keep us safe. I couldn’t even think twice about giving into the demands of the terrorists. I know that if I were to give in, I would never forgive myself and plus, I would be promoting terrorism and by doing that, the terrorist would know that they could have their way and come back for more and probably with higher demands. That would then lead to more wars and innocent American’s lives being lost.

Could you imagine the war being fought in Iraq were instead being fought in the United States? I hope we never have to experience that for it would be far more tragic than the event of September 11th. That would be another reason for me to not give in to terrorism. I wouldn’t want to be the reason that we started a war in the Unites States and risk losing twice as many lives.

Of course we all wish we could have seen the attacks coming and avoided the event of September 11th, but if we didn’t, we probably would have never been ready if something more tragic were to come along. I often feel that there were even more reasons behind the attacks than we see on television and read in magazines. Now that the U.S. has enforces the policy on terrorism, hopefully the attacks of September 11th were the first major event and the last.

Not only has terrorism become a big issue to the United States, but to other countries as well, such as Great Britain, Canada, Greece, India, and the Philippines to even become strict about their terrorism policies. It’s terrible that the events of 9/11 happened but it has brought us to enforce our laws and take precautions. It has also allowed us to become closer as Americans in the United States to put a stop to terrorism.

Relativist vs. Absolutist: Which one are you?

Prompt: Right or Wrong?

Growing up in today’s society, who is it that tells us what is right or wrong? It is based on our own opinions and the way that we have been brought up and the influences around us. Most if us have probably grown up to be familiar with the Ten Commandments. One thing we are told in these is, “Thou shalt not kill,” which is moral absolutism, but is it okay to do so to keep safe? Is it okay because the government says you can? This is where moral relativism comes to place.

When it comes to killing someone, I am definitely more of a moral relativist. I don’t think that you should kill someone just because they are your enemy, but if it comes to your life being in danger, then you may have no other choice. The war is a big issue today and many people see both ways in determining whether it is right or wrong. I think it is good if it is keeping the country safe but I wish we could work out differences in other ways.

Another issue that I tend to be a moral relativist on is capital punishment. For instance, someone comes into your house and murders your family, I feel that they should be put on death row for doing something so horrible, but if a poor woman were to get caught stealing a loaf of bread and milk for her family, then she shouldn’t be put on death row for trying to do the right thing for her family. More than likely, the grocery store could have afforded to give it away for free anyway.

On the other hand, abortion is a situation where I am more of a moral absolutist. If a young girl were to go out and get raped and end up pregnant, or say a young girl gets pregnant and knows she can’t afford to raise a kid, then they may think that abortion would be the best way out. Maybe to not be reminded everyday about being raped or just trying to forget a mistake. In my opinion, abortion is just like killing a human being and it’s wrong. I feel that there are more alternatives, no matter what the situation.

When it comes to facing these issues, there is no real right or wrong. I find myself taking both sides in being moral relativist and moral absolutist, depending on the situations and that I have come to these conclusions based on the way I have been raised and the influences around me.

My Perception on Selecting True Friends

Prompt: Perception

With being a teenager, I have had many problems learning who my true friends are. I’m sure I’m not speaking for myself , because choosing friends is a big part of growing up. People want to find true friends they know they can count on for the rest of their life.

When I choose my friends, I am very bias on picking those that even out my personality, which would be outgoing, friendly, and humorous, so that we don’t clash with each other. I’m subject to pick those that are trustworthy and honest because without trust, there can be no relationship at all. Also, I like to pick friends that are caring and loyal because I know they will be there for me when I need them no matter what. Picking friends with these kinds of qualities are very important to me.

Friends that betray your trust and lie to you are ways to loose your perception of them being a true friend. When I was in eighth grade, I became friends with a girl that also befriended someone I wasn’t close with. In order to keep both of us as friends, she would say bad things to us about each other so that we wouldn’t become friends. After I learned she was being two faced, she lost all the trust I had in her and my perception of her changed from being a true friend to not being a friend at all.

Being able to select your true friends is very difficult but I guess it’s just a part of life. It’s all a part of going through the ups and downs with the ones you trust, knowing that they are and always will be there for you, and the ones you trusted, those that betrayed you and you know you would never trust again. There is a chorus of a country song by Tracy Lawrence that gives my perception of growing up and knowing who your true friends are. The chorus is, “You find out who your friends are, Somebody's gonna drop everything , Run out and crank up their car, Hit the gas, get there fast, Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far', They just show on up with their big old heart, You find out who your friends are.” As I grow up each and every day I’m still learning who my true friends are, but I’m very thankful for the ones that I already have.

Getting to know me

My name is Lauren Register. I'm eighteen years old and a Freshman here at Macon State. I live with my parents and I have two older brothers. I also have the cutest pomeranian puppy named Rocky that loves to play. I plan to major in Nursing because there is nothing else that I like better than to see people get another chance at life. Once I get my degree in Nursing, I plan to live near Atlanta and work in one of the hospitals in the emergency room. In my spare time I like to read and watch football and baseball. I am a huge UGA fan and I love to watch the Braves.