Time in a Stolen Bottle

Do you ever feel like time is pointless? You wake up, go about your day and the next thing you know.. it's gone. You're asleep again and you wake up tomorrow.. and you go on and you do the same thing. The days may vary with things you do, but time waits for noone and nothing. It keeps tucking right along, no time to slow down or stop, you gotta go before you're left behind. The days pass by too fast for me.. Enjoying life. That is what we're told to do. "CARPE DIEM!" they all exclaim, but little do they know, as they trot back to their homes and lonley corners, they have not heeded their own advice. Nobody lives for the day, for they must plan for tommorow. That is an essential part of life. We can try to "live for the day," that is as much as we can do, try. A smile a day is all the gratuidy I need from the universe.

As Stephen Vincent Benét says, "Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. "

Simple Guy, Short Blog, Grand Ideas.

This blog that I stumbled into has condensed one od the ideas of my research paper into about 4 sentences. It's simple, to the point, and I like it!

http://clichereality.blogspot.com/2008/10/loss-of-culture-and-identity.html

New in Town? Let's Go See the Cites!!

I've been looking all around and I've found a couple of pretty interesting sources for my topic. For book references, my Ethnic Studies textbook has a lot of interesting articles on the American culture and the assimilation of minoirty groups. I've also found

http://www.psych.umn.edu/courses/spring05/yoob/psy3301/reading%20packet/ethnic%20identity%20in%20adolescents%20and%20adults%20review%20of%20research.pdf
-A review of research on the subject of cultural loss or mistaken ethnic identity in children and adults.

http://www.asian-nation.org/assimilation.shtml
-A site dedicated to Asian youth and their culture, or lack thereof. I find it interesting that it explores the fact that this issue goes deeper than just the Asian community, that it affects us all.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070924104616.htm
-An Article that explains a 3 year study about how children of first generation immigrants are more aware and involved in their culture and how that leads to more of a willingness to interact with other races. If race is understood, it is no longer feared so the difference is race is resolved.

http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/politics/faculty/chandra/ars2005.pdf
-A viewpoint of ethnic identity in a political sense; it looks at its relations to society;s woes as well as prospers.

Carpe Diem, Live for the Day. Tell one person exactly what you think of them. It's fun, liberating, and honest. try it.

The Academic Police?!? Run, Scholar! RUN!

Just kidding guys and girls; we all know that we must never plagiarise in any of our writing. Although plagiarism is a huge part of it, it isn't the only factor in academic integrity. I believe that it's more about the respect for another's idea and creative property than anything. "Giving credit where credit's due." The worst thing in the world is a dishonest person, which can include cheaters or impersonators. To claim someone's or for your own, to take credit for somebody else's work is just plain wrong. ethically and morally. Academic integrity is having enough respect for another peron's creativity and work to give them the satisfaction in being creditted for their work, let it be for being ingenious or just plain stupid. Show some class, cite your sources.

Hours, Will You Marry Me?

For my engagement hours, (ahah get it? engagement? title?) I intend to go to come of the Multi-cultural center's movie viewings as well as participate in the discussions after. I also intend to talk to the minoirty youths I know and even visit my little brother's elementary school (where Nicki works) and observe as well as talk to those kids. It shall be fun.. I'll bring my Pokemon and Yi-Gi-Oh cards.

So, in order to become civilly involved in my topic, I have to find out what my local community is experiencing and doing about the issue of cultural deprivation in our youth. In the days of Pokemon and Batman, it's hard to compete with "superheroes" when all we have are regular human beings, (or everyday heroes in my book.) In my community, there is definitely effort being asserted to inspire kids to follow the ways of their ancestors and learn about their heritage. For example, the Buddhist temple in my neighborhood offers Chinese school on a daily basis and I've heard of many multi-cultural fairs and festivals in my neighborhood., even Sac State has a multi-cultural center and movie viewings to support minority students. I know that many Asian organizations make an effort to put on shows and exhibits during the various Asian New Year Celebrations, but the lure isn't appropriate. They have to compete with Saturday cartoons and new action hero movies. How has our culture become subordinate to the "American" culture? Like every fight in the beginning, it all starts with a dream and leads to momentous results. I say, Let Diversity Ring.

Ethnic Identity: Defined

In my search for a definition for "ethnic identity," I found out that it is undetermined. It is basically up for debate and, more importantly, interpretation. There are many factors that contribute to one's ethnic identity. One can consider historical knowledge of one's ancestry, actual practice of cultural rituals or traditions, knowledge of those traditions, and even fluency in one's native tounge. All in all, it's your own decision to establish what ethnic identity means and how one can be evaluated on whether they have a sense of it or not. I believe that ethnic identity is acknowledgement and respect for one's cultural heritage as well as taking pride in trying to preserve that heritage for future generations. As Curtis says, "Dueces."

What Exactly IS Ethnic Identity?

In reading Jean S. Phinney's "Ethnic Identity in Adolescents and Adults: Review of Research," I learned that the definition for "ethnic identity" is often debated, misconstrued, and confused. There is no set, agreed definition for this term of cultural confusion and I think that it's simply a bunch of social scientists who want to be picky about terms to use and even a hint of greed for glory. Everyone wants to be right so they want to be THE one to have come up with the perfect definition. I think it's a simple fact of knowing what one's heritage is, where their ancestors are from, and what their own particular family has gone through. Choosing whether or not one wants to practice or respect that heritage is a personal decision, I just think everyone should be like me.. Because.. well.. I'm great. haha.. no no.. I just believe in the importance of history. "Full Heart. Clear Eyes. Can't Lose" - Friday Night Lights, The Series.