what is fear?

Everyone has their own personal fears. What's the cause of them? Can someone be born with a fear, or does it develop through personal experiences. I'm TERRIFIED of heights, and I really don't want to be. I've been wondering for a while now, the reason for my fear. Some people have bazaar fears, like being afraid of apples, flowers, and even a certain color. according to www.howstuffworks.com "Fear is a chain reaction in the brain that starts with a stressful stimulus and ends with the release of chemicals that cause a racing heart, fast breathing and energized muscles, among other things, also known as the fight-or-flight response. " After reading articles about how fear works, I have found that scientists have MANY different theories, none of them were 100% proven.

Schooling.

Has school become less important to people? I find that the majority of teens are comfortable with not finishing school, and starting off with a part time job. Why is this? I feel as though students get the feeling that a college education doesn't matter. This attitude can come from some parents who say "I didnt attend college, look how successful I am". The truth behind that is times have changed, and now in 2009 a High School Diploma doesn't even mean anything. There is an increasing demand for well educated skilled workers. SCHOOL IS STILL IMPORTANT. Especially in the economy now, you can't expect to live content, when you only have a job. a career is needed.

mixing pot.

America is truly a mixing pot of people religions and cultures. While walking through Manhattan one can see many cultural neighborhoods. From China Town to Little Italy, the fusion of culture is never ending. It's not hard to learn about any culture, because there is access to everything. America is open to things such as cultural foods, clothing, language, museums, architecture and neighborhoods. One important aspect of American Culture is that it openly allows a diffusion of others. Before going to another country one can already be exposed to their language, culture, religion, traditions or any other thing that they would need to know. I'm very proud to live in a country where every culture is allowed to express their beliefs.

adopt from...?

Over the past years adoption has become very popular, especially with celebrities. They have adopted children from other countries, brought them to America, and now these lucky children will grow up in stable and wealthy families. Although adopting a child from a third world country deserves a great amount of recognition, America's children also need homes. America has full orphanages of children waiting to be put into stable homes with families who love them. Before looking into children from other countries, I believe one looking to adopt should look into their own. A changed life is a change life no matter where its taken from.

mixing colors?

Why is it that I find that people are still in awe when they see two different races dating? Today as i was walking home I saw a couple where the man was African American, and the woman was Caucasian. The older man in front of me looked at them with disgust. I was very surprised because in living in such a diverse place like Brooklyn, I wouldn't have thought this would be a problem. It pains me, being bi-racial myself that even now people seem to have a problem with it. It shows that some races still feel superiority over other ones. I wonder when the eyes of society is going to open and see that the infamous word "race" is only another way to divide people. Along with social class, and sex, race has determined a persons worth over the years. It's alarming how ignorance of race still exists.

advanced or lazy?

In 2009 where technology is very advanced. Society hasn't realized how lucky they are to have access to such technology that has developed. From cell phones to iPods, television and even medical technology America is flourishing with technological advances. Technology has become a daily essential, when truly its not needed. These little things that were made too make our lives easier, are taken advantage of. I would like to see a teen today pull out a quarter and use a pay phone. I cannot remember the last time I saw that. Also we are so dependent on television as entertainment. What happened to the old family game night? GONE! Even children lack physical activity because technology has taken over. Lazyness has become the number one issue since these advancements. The old family of values have disappeared since technology has given us the opportunity to have fun all alone.

what is a wish?

Why do we as humans leave things up to chances, wishes, and hopes? Why do we seem to take these things so seriously? Wishing on a star, at 11:11, even blowing our own eyelashes away. We believe that these little superstitions can change our fate. We're all guilty of it. Guilty of wishing for the impossible, leaving something in the hands of this "higher power" who may not, or doesn't even exist. One should stop dwelling and wishing on something to happen. Just take action, do something that takes you a couple of steps closer to what you want. A flaw of humans is that many sit back and wait for their desires to be handed to them, instead of taking control.