Rants

Rant # 2 : Ignorance

Rant # 2 : Ignorance

Ignorance is not a bad thing. We are all unknowledgeable about something, and that is okay. We're all human. We can slowly learn and experience new things. Here's what annoys me though.

This is a true story, I mean the stuff I'm about to tell you, really happens. You know when you watch those TV shows, about high school and middle school, everything's super dramatic? Well yes, in some ways, it is simply an exaggeration but it does have some truth. Hear me out.

I say this, as a teenager : teenagers going through puberty are the most vicious, cruel human beings you will ever meet. I understand half of it, you know, crazy hormones, identity issues, yeah, it's all difficult. However, there are some things that are just crossing the line.

I live in the deep south, I'm talking everyone's super religious, and sweet tea on the porch kind of south. People in the south are hospitable and polite, but also .... very rude.

Now here's the true story.

One fine day in English class, we were discussing The Odyssey and Greek culture. My class was boisterous and rambunctious.

Our school was quite "ghetto", we'd cause many teachers to quit with headaches, multiple kids sent to juvie, and rundown shiny posters telling saying "Don't do drugs!" or "Don't bring weapons!"

We had many cases of pregnant girls quitting school. Imagine a ruthless, group of people, all troubled in some way. Even the teachers were troubled. Most of the alumni ended up in jail. That was my school. A huge mess where normal people were rare.

I mean the majority of the school seriously thought that homosexuality was wrong and an abomination. They even said I was crazy for supporting gay rights. I was like, well fudge you. That's what I think.

They would all break out in fights every week, ISS (In School Suspension) was always full.

These things happen, oh those crazy kids. (Says a teenager)

Anyway, I'm serious, but more than half the class starts to yell stuff like "STUPID GREEKS!" They start saying things like how the Greeks were totally wrong and stupid.

Now, first of all, how disrespectful to the teacher who's trying to do her job. Second, apologize to Greek people because that is their culture, and you dare have the nerve to insult them like that.

You know the most amazing thing? In a class of thirty to forty, only about five of us were quiet and just listening to the lecture. The rest were throwing a fit.

Do not even get me started on Science class. I swear, it is a nightmare. Here I am, being a good students, taking down notes, while all these people start to mutter under their breath. "This is stupid. What do I need science for? God made everything. I should get an A on this test." Real words. People actually said this stuff.

Look, I'm not against it. I think it's wonderful for having a religion, but it is impolite to try to force it upon others and declare that you're right about everything.

They're just trying to give you another view of looking at things, they're trying to get you educated, and you're just closing off your ears!

Whenever homosexuality was discussed at our school, everyone had to go and preach like it was church.

One girl actually screamed, "God mad Adam and Eve! Not Adam and Steve!" I swear this happened. She yelled this smack in the middle of class. The classroom across the hall could hear us.

Here's another incident. So, my friend came out as a lesbian. I was cool with it, but suddenly the entire school starts to bully her and yell at her like she's some disease.

At our lunch table, my friends were trashing her, and I couldn't hold it in anymore. I ranted at them for the entire lunch period, completely frustrated with their replies. They weren't even truly listening to what I was saying. In their head, they had a stubborn mindset that they were already right. 

Seriously, out of those twenty people that sat there, not one of them was on my side. They were all, "Homosexuality is wrong!"

Looking back on it, they probably weren't my friends.

The worst part was, when my "closest friend" told me to calm down. Don't tell me to calm down! How can I sit here in silence when they were totally trashing my good friend?! I didn't care if they hated me too, I would defend her.

If you're a nice person, I will defend you. I don't care who's talking smack, if you don't deserve to be talked about that way, I will stand up for you, I mean it. What are they going to do? Cuss at me? Hit me?

To my surprise, a few of them did change their minds and were nicer to her.

Still, many of them were still horrid and mean to her.

_______

A few punks at my school were complaing about the quality lifestyle of America. Shut the hell up. What is there to complain about? Oh they found the most ridiculous reasons. What did they know about hardships?

They were middle class teenagers who'd never seen the world outside their protected bubble. Complaining about the quality of food at school? Sure it's bad, just bring your own. At least we won't starve here.

There was an incident in a different country, where after eating food at school, they died. Literally. Passed away. Google it, this seriously happened. It was in the news, but I don't really remember the case or time. It was a while back.

When I started to give them examples of worse countries, like how even in Hong Kong, a major city, there was still ugly sides to it. That there were cage homes, people starved, struggled with poverty. You know what the funniest thing was? They didn't even know where Hong Kong was. I'm serious.

When I told them "Asia," one kid yelled, "Teacher! They're talking about communist stuff!" In that annoying squeaky prepubescent voice.

Like, how could you complain about America? There's running water, even if you're poor, you'll recieve help. If you work hard, you can truly achieve something here. There's equal rights, what more do you want kid?

Perhaps I may have been like them if I haven't traveled around with my parents. Sure, I'm no all - knowing adventurer, but a couple of trips to poorer countries made me fully aware how lucky I was. So then, I had a determination to somehow help people one day.

If you are unsatisfied, then grow up, and try to change it to make things better for everyone, like making new laws. Or trying to do something about it. Express it to people who can make it happen.

I hate it when teenagers complain about politics and government. It's okay, if you really know what you're saying, but I get the vibe they're just saying it for the heck of it. Besides, we can't even vote yet! Worry about those things, when you can actually vote!

______

Food fights really happened at our school.

No! Just no! It's such a waste! Plus, think about the janitor who has to clean it up later! That's so inconsiderate!

If you're not going to eat it, just leave the food alone, don't play with it!