3 Prompts - Charlie Blondell

1) Why do you believe in what you believe in? (Can be in any aspect of one's life)

2) Why do we find certain things "attractive"?

3) Is conflict inevitable?

I'd like to speak on prompt 2. I think that as a society, we have placed certain characteristics of people and items up on a pedestal. This pedestal seems to be the bench mark of what we strive to reach and look for. Mainstream is a word used to describe what the majority of people believe is attractive. This implies that there are, of course, characteristics found to be unattractive by the majority, but the exact opposite for a specific or a few specific factions. Still, these things are usually ingrained into our minds as "attractive" because that is what society has told us. This applies very heavily to physical characteristics of humans. Ugly does not exist. It is a make-believe term used to describe what society has told us that we cannot look like. Why should anyone feel worse about themselves because they appear different at a single glance? There are so many things wrong with that sentence. Hollywood, the entire media industry, modeling, advertising, etc... Has ruined how people value themselves and what people believe others think about them. It doesn't just stop at looks. Clothing, shoes, accessories, cars. We are obsessed with materialistic wealth, and for what? It is eye porn. What looks appealing, according to what others have told us looks appealing. Intellect, creativity, complex thought. Our children and adolescents don't value these things. They are focused on the newest Nike shoe or Coach purse. What we find "attractive" actually does not matter at all. The more we start to realize this as a nation and world, the better off, more successful, and more tolerate we will be.