Generation X-tinguished

Self-absorbed, lazy, overly-pop-culture-influenced...I shake my head at the fact that this is PROBABLY the best way to describe the "youth" of the day. Let's face it! What was once seen as the fight to make a living has now become a simple fight to make life BEYOND easy.

Or maybe that's just what the OLDER heads would say. Think about it. Once upon a time, women were known to not only take care of the children, but when the situation called for it (which was OFTEN), you could find them bent over with the baby curdled in their bosom picking peas and corn only to head right in to the house to start cleaning and washing and supporting the husband in the most direct and indirect days.

And oh, let us not forget our men. they were the ones out all day. Entrusted with the financial well-being and safety of the family. The hours with him being away from the house was ALL the comfort the woman needed, that was ALL he needed to do motivate the woman to do what she needed to do.

but nooooooow....

smh. He has to be pulling six plus figures and affiliate with the "best" (which varied by definition according to location). She has to have more of a child-like submission to his existence. Therefore, he's trying to bypass the typical American way of maneuvering through a 9 to 5; he's chasing the get-rich-quick schemes (too many examples to name). And Miss Lady spends her hours at home primping and pampering herself; transforming herself into human bait for the next "baller" that can guarantee her a maid, pretty hair-dos, and shopping sprees.

Normally, I would call it just being motivated and, in some cases, creative. But lately it's become an epidemic to where even pursuing a HIGH SCHOOL education is taboo. Generation X is not the type that really wants to WORK then PLAY, but we seek to PLAY to get PAID.

*Random Fact: An Asian man sue his wife for being ugly and WON!!! (refer to Worldstar HipHop)*

Now, on to the next issue. Suppose these SCHEMES and TRAPS land you in the position in which you want to be: with the baller or with the Barbie. What happens next? You have to maintain this lifestyle, but what's often happening is that we've catapulted off of a trend, and like these trends, our success stories become a thing of the past. It's okay to Live for the MOMENT, but many of us know not how to Invest in the FUTURE.

So guess what baby girl, ManMan is out of a job and unless one of you get to pushing papers or a broom, YOU'LL BE OUT OF YOUR LI'L MANSION. Or, see sir how your HoneyBooBoo's habits have become a "bill beyond your means", she's not going to look so BEAUTIFUL after those thousand dollar spa treatments ceased like your pocket money. Nine times out of ten, you'll be on to the next one. 

Generation X marries more out of CONVENIENCE than our grandparents did. I know all too well of people who are disgustedly divorced or miserably married. I guess that would explain why it's become "okay" to do deal with people in this order:

Sex, Learn, Move with, Baby, Marry, and Dismiss...

Once upon a time, this was considered taboo even in the "non-Christian's" eyes. We have the nerve to wonder why there are so many BASTARD children in the world. What's worse is that we have trouble admitting to the bastards. (It sounds worse than it really is, but still).

With a world of children who hardly gets the chance to know one or both of their parents, how can they progress. No one can move forward without knowing where they stand or from whence they came.

It would be nice to think of us as a generation of individualists, but truth be told, many of us are even too lazy to DREAM let alone PURSUE that dream.

"A man with no dream is one who simply sleeps, and sleep is just one heartbeat away from death." ~English Walker

All I'm saying is that I wish our youth had more VIRTUES in their hearts that VALUE on their minds. I wish love could be more sincere. I wish we could be ourselves without relying on the ever-changing fads of pop culture for approval. Without acknowledging and appreciating ourselves, we will surely diminish by mind, spirit, and soon body.

Local Murder Mystery

The Setting: my mind
The Plot: death
The Cast: me and you
*********************************************************************************
It takes place about two years ago (maybe more) when my definition of the World Wide Web was simply centered around school websites and BlackPlanet. I should have then taken into account the metaphor that I was in DESPERATE need of "learning" one area before trying to slip into something else...But I didn't. With one simple click of the "send" button, I'd made arrangements to meet you.
(Pay no mind to those foolish girls who fell victim to the infamous "cyber mate". I was different and would play this game TOTALLY different.)
My aim was to meet you, seduce you, and use you until nothing was left but dry pockets and arousal. This was the only program that I'd grown to "master", because school had DEFINITELY deserted my concerns. I've always been able to make the grade- no problem. But I was tired of being the prey- I wanted to take the pain that I'd learned so much about from fake engagements to punk mama's boys and bootleg thugs/dope boys to plain-Jane, mundane manipulators and unleash it on you.
But it seemed you latched on like a venomous lake creature and persisted with the unwanted phone calls and requests for visits.
Hmph...I'd pity you foolish boy as I only wanted you when the time suited ME. When your money was right. When I was hungry. When I was bored. SIMPLE JOYS just to get away from the monotony of the small-town life. It made cutting you off EASY; so in my mind, your existence ceased. You were dead to me.
Shortly thereafter, I came I came across "the young and dumb" and the plain old "forgotten". What tangled web I'd woven and found myself displaced from sanity. So far gone had I begun to slip that I felt my spirit slipping also...but that's when you were somehow revived and made your way to break my fall.
Looking back, I visualize my plummet and shiver at the thought. After the resistance, the controversy, the confusion, and the games, you remained. And while honored, this thought made me shiver more- cold with freight actually. Your type doesn't come as "the good Samaritan", and you DEFINITELY won't give anything without a price. So what was this fee that I should pay? You said not a word, but I foolishly gave away my comfort, my sanity, and my spirit- not by request however. Nuh uh...It was me. I was too ashamed of my past and could not believe that someone knowledgeable thereof would or could accept me. Death to the idea of trust. Death to my confidence. Death to my livelihood.
So once again, I closed up and retaliated. Yes. I was that one who had the power to turn mountains into rubble, or to ruin a good thing.
I speak as if I'm solely to blame, but alas, I've taken heed to all that I know. This small town girl and witnessed big time drama. While you are a reflection of all that I love, you are also a reflection of that which once broke me down inside. I want you to ask yourself, where do you see yourself in five to ten years. I know that if I continue down this wavering path, I'll be in an ever so familiar place. Nowhere that I'VE been before, but somewhere frequented by someone special.
trust....Trust....TRUST....TRUST! the words stab at my mind with no remorse. It mutilates my mind and kills me inside. Thus my soul lies here...bleeding....and crying for help in solid darkness.

*********************************To Be Continued********************************

NObama... 2012 Campaign

My ship is sinking (reference Blog #1). I look to my left, and I see a brand new raft floating in the same waters that I'm potentially meeting my fate. To my right, I see a worn and tattered raft in the same vicinity. There is only one raft that is actually attempting to save me. It is the worn and tatter raft. Do I see past the generous efforts that the troubled raft is performing and fight to gain the attention of the "suited" raft? Or do I jump aboard the troubled raft with due appreciation and unlimited faith?
This is the situation that we, as American voters, are in during the 2012 Campaign. (If you're not registered to vote, stop reading and ceased with your opinions NOW.) My goal is to teach the American people HOW TO VOTE!
ADDRESS #1- Now, what were the events that lead us to this point? Generally, we were a nation in trouble, constantly under attack because of our impact and leadership. Am I not right? Honestly, not many people can recall or care to recall the socioeconomic state prior to 2008. Furthermore, not many people are willing to calculate how long it took to get to the state. Having knowledge alone of this information would better formulate votes AND attitudes.
ADDRESS #2- Make a list. No one can deny our nation is not like it used to be. DUH! That implies change. But let's be realistic and weigh the pros AND the cons of its present condition. Stop thinking liking a candidate and think about reality. There are PLENTY of both, but MORE THAN ENOUGH of one.
ADDRESS #3- It is important to be aware of your OWN needs. How is one to know who he or she WANTS in office if he or she doesn't even know what they NEED in life? I'm not talking about vanities such as "I want a new car" or "I want a white president". I'm referring to healthcare, security, education, social rights, etc.
Sadly, not many of us will take into account these factors; thus we'll vote on false pretenses. I could make it easy and post a bunch of facts for you, but would you really read them with an unbiased eye? Highly unlikely, considering that most of you are reading in aims of looking for something NEGATIVE about our current president. Alas, I am simply asking that you re-evaluate your OWN intentions and see the VIRTUES entailed within the VALUE of your vote.
It takes months, even YEARS, to build a mansion. It takes only hours, even DAYS, for it to burn. Now, switch the word "mansion" with "nation" AND DO THE MATH. These elections, be it from a Democratic standpoint or a Republican stare-down, are chopped full of potentially empty promises made based on the naivete, patience, or hopes of the people. There are two ways to play the fool in this election- by not voting at all or voting unknowledgeably.
***Now, that raft may be tattered, but at least it's shown more interest in my well-being than the other party. ***

WORTHY READS: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart: A Cultural Enlightenment

It is often said that books are the gateways to the world. By reading, a person may find

himself or herself in distant lands unimaginable to the mundane mind. They may learn about things never heard of to socially deaf ears. Furthermore, they may open their eyes to an existence of unbelievable things. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart offered all of these factors and more to me. Prior to reading this novel, my knowledge of the African culture was based solely on textbook studies. But because the book is written with such elaborate details, with omniscient view, and with simple terms, it is as if the words of a typical history book were activated and made the African culture and history more

understandable, thus relatable.

A very important factor in creating a convincing and believable story is creating a character or characters to which the audience can somehow relate. A character that I found most interesting was Okonkwo. His character epitomizes the effect that one’s childhood has on his or her future. Okonkwo spent his entire life wanting to be everything that his own father was not. This constructed a barrier in his mind against accepting failure and created a wall around his heart against emotions.

From the number of wives that he had to the stretch of land that he owned and even the number of battles that he had won in his lifetime, Okonkwo symbolizes the mind frame of many people— value, oftentimes, outweighs value. This characteristic of him makes him very relatable. Not many will admit it, but people fight for money, power, and respect and do whatever it takes to obtain it. In Okonkwo’s case, he was respected by his titles, but his tyrant attitude and disregard for man made him unbearable, even in his own home. It mattered to him, nonetheless, because he had the power, ability, and standing that his father did not have.

To further endorse “un-father-like” behavior, Okonkwo showed little to know emotion. The incident that struck me most is the killing of Enkidu— the sacrificed male of the neighboring village who had been staying with Okonkwo and his tribe for several years. The time finally came that the village elders decided that Enkidu should be put to death. Though you’d never hear Okwonko say it, Enkidu had grown to be a part of the family. But instead of the familial love that Okwonko had for Enkidu, it was his thirst for respect and desire to remain emotionless that allowed him to take part in the internally heart-wrenching murder of Enkidu.

The reader may empathize with Okwonko’s character even more when he begins to experience his hardships, or when “Things Fall Apart.” We as a people often overlook our blessings. When presented with obstacles never before seen, we tend to panic and become irrational. We bash the idea of change and shy away from those who accept it as well. We see an example of this when Okwonko returns from his seven year exile in his mother’s homeland; he cannot comprehend how or why his people have allowed the white man to take over. After trying to go against the white man by himself, getting no support, therefore, failing, Okwonko decides to hang himself. It can be argued that he did this, ironically, as a sign of weakness to circumstances or one may say that he did this as a way of proven to the white man how he has caused the crumble of a previously prospering society. After looking at such a character, the reader is left to beg the question: When is respect not enough and is there such a thing as too much respect to the point that it causes stress?

In addition to the latter addressed issue, Things Fall Apart raises many questions but has a variety of lessons to teach ranging from spiritual to mental guidance. Two themes that this novel explores are fate versus free-will and social disintegration.

The main character of Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, is portrayed as a man trying to avoid

“walking in the shoes” of his father. Okonkwo’s father lived carefree, with no reverence

for upholding his word as a man; in the same manner, his father died in debt and with no

respect. Okonkwo’s fight to go against his father’s tattered legacy begs to question the

power of fate versus free will. This “defiant” mentality ultimately affects one’s everyday

routine and the manner in which they respond to various obstacles. “When a man says

yes, his chi says yes also.” This could be the  inspiration for Okonkwo’s over

achievements but can also be the blame for his crass, nonchalant, and harsh personality.

In Okonkwo’s mind, he had definitely turned out to be everything that his father was not.

Ironically, however, upon his death, he had to be dishonorably buried just as his father

was.

One of the pressures that can be assumed to be a cause of Okonkwo’s demise is his social disintegration. As previously mentioned, he was crass, nonchalant, and harsh. He once beat one of his wives during the Week of Peace. On another account, he aided in the death of a boy he had basically raised as his own. It was his heartlessness and disregard for rules which eventually led to his seven year exile when he committed a “female crime” and accidentally killed a village boy. From this point, he met his social decline. The idea that a man who single-handedly built a revered and respectable legacy from the ground up and is driven to a depressing point of taking his own life shows that no one is set in his social group. Reputations, both socially and cultural, must not only be built, but they must be maintained.  

The biggest hindrance between cultures is understanding or lack thereof. People tend to

fear, disregard, and show no appreciation for that which they do not understand. Reading

Things Fall Apart gave a more personable view of African culture (more specifically,

according to the Igbo tribe of the novel). It gives the reader a view of the people’s home

life, spirituality, and beliefs. The second aspect allows us to be view a culture as it is

forced into transition from one set of beliefs into another— represented by the coming of

the Europeans and their religion. Because we can all relate is some way, this novel allows

us to view diversity and, hopefully, embrace these differences.

Apartheid in South Africa: The Center Point of Reform, not Remorse

            In general, Africa has been on the forefront of suffering, despair, and change. It has become the face of deadly diseases. Poverty seems to freely haunt the continent’s families. Furthermore, its socioeconomic situation is constantly undergoing change of some sort. Even Jonathan Draper in his article entitled, “From Liberation to Wilderness: South Africa’s New Journey”, he states more specifically how “South Africa is changing. Events are taking place today which were unthinkable even six months ago.” He continues to briefly address the most memorable events of this nation which includes the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), the talks between the ANC and F. W. De Klerk's government at Groote Schuur in Cape Town, and lastly, the release of Nelson Mandela.

As the president of South African having served twenty-seven unjust years in jail, Nelson Mandela is a name that resonates throughout the minds of anyone with even the slightest knowledge of South Africa’s fight for socioeconomic equality and justice. This fight is referred to as the apartheid (the Afrikaan word for “apartness”) era— the period in history that marks the central point of transition for South Africa. To see the relevance and impact of the apartheid movement, one must first understand the condition of South Africa before the movement, to know the key events of the movement, and to be able to analyze life after the movement.

            The most impacting group of people for Africa was, and still is, the European colonists. Colonists mainly settled in Cape Town in order to supervise passing ships during the piloting period of trade. By the end of the 1650s, European settlers were allotted farmland which in turn caused for more labor. Thus, the Dutch East Indian Company imported slaves from East Africa, Madagascar, and parts of the East Indies. (South African Government Information) Over time, Africa experienced a series of rulers, wars, economic shifts, and cultural invasions. Additional slave trade allowed the VOC to expand further north and east. Despite efforts against it, the group of people called Khoisans fell victim to new diseases, forced emigration, and superior weaponry. This is reflective of what would typically happen all throughout Africa. Its people were undeniably ready for something different, something better, to occur. In chapter one of his text, African Perspectives on Colonialism, A. Adu Boahen states, “By 1880,[Africa] was in a mood of optimism and seemed poised for a major breakthrough” and “appeared to be in its dying throes, and a new and modern Africa was emerging.”  The abolishment and suppression of slave trade seems to have instilled a great deal of optimism in the citizens of South Africa. This illustrates the beginning of an enduring division and increasing tension between European colonists and inhabitants of Africa, or an apartheid. The term “apartheid”, however, was not coined until the 1940’s. (Alonford Robinson, Jr.)

Although the strategy of apartheid actually originated in the mid-17^th century when whites began to settle in South Africa, it was near the end of the 1940s that apartheid was lawfully systematized and was later referred to as “separate development.” The phrase “separate development” refers to the social breakdown of the South African population into a series of four groups. Under apartheid, a person was racially classified as 1) Bantu (black African), 2) white, 3) Coloured (of mixed race), or 4) Asian (Indians and Pakistanis). This legitimization was made possible under the execution of the Population Registration Act of 1950. This act resulted in a series of laws that would later be passed in the 1950s that put a strict limitation on all non-white races. For example, the participation of non-white races became truncated even further; educational institutes and other public facilities were to be segregated; there was generally to be little to no social contact between the races. There were also laws that limited the ability of non-white, native South Africans to own land; this application allowed the white minority to gained ownership to over 80% of the land. (Robinson, Jr.) Apartheid laws sought to limit South Africans’ physical, political, and educational abilities; however, it triggered a surge of energy, an energy that displayed their mental strengths and physical endurance. The opposition of those negative forces of apartheid is referred to as the era of anti-apartheid activism.

Although “that the foundations of anti-apartheid activism stretch back to the  nineteenth-century Cape, or that anti-apartheid can be viewed as part of a coherent humanitarian tradition from which contemporary activists may draw strength and legitimacy”(Rob Skinner 400), Britain’s Anti-Apartheid Movement was not truly acknowledged until the mid to late 1950s, or after World War II. Regardless, it shows a separation of emotion amongst the general European perspective. For these reasons, it was often linked with discussions in regards to decolonization. Additionally, the anti-apartheid movement of the 20^th century is often tied to origins of the anti-slavery movement of the 1800s because of his similarity in tactics such as consumer boycotting. Most anti-apartheid activists were motivated by morale, a new-found sense of Christian values, and, supposedly, by the rise of human rights related activities.

Just like the civil rights movements of the day, the anti-apartheid movement represented a type of social radicalism showing objection to the current state of Britain’s political system. Skinner points out that “an examination of the beginnings of anti-apartheid activism therefore illuminates the way that imperial and colonial issues began permeate into radical politics from the late 1950s, and that it did so in part because anti-apartheid was explicitly regarded as a response to a fundamentally moral issue” (401). Ironically, the anti-apartheid activists weren’t as passive as history has portrayed many civil rights activists to have been. However, the struggles of the two groups seem tantamount and were greeted with the same reaction which oftentimes ended in violence. For this reason, there was a continued pressure from local groups and U.S. governments as well which caused the apartheid power to slowly disintegrate. But whereas the civil rights unofficially ended in 1968, the apartheid movement is documented to have ended in the early 1990s when the Nationalist Party introduced a renewed government and reinstated the ability of black congress. It was in 1994 that the country of South Africa’s constitution was rewritten. With this amendment, a series of the country’s leaders were released from prison, thus marking a new day for South Africa.

What is deemed a long endured struggle for South Africa, a prolonged fight for well-deserved freedom, the post-apartheid era (which is inclusive of today) exhibits a recovering country. Seventeen years later, it is as if the country is still learning to operate sufficiently on its own and is still experiencing what many people consider economic and sociological troubles. Aiden Mosselson argues that “[t]he xenophobic violence of May 2008 is symptomatic of the politics of belonging and contestation for citizenship that has taken root in post-apartheid South Africa” (641). He later quotes I. Chipkin in saying that South Africans are “elusive and amorphous” suggesting the idea that the constant emphasis of inclusiveness and human rights are slowly stripping the people of their true identity. However, one may view South Africa as a baby nation trying to regain its identity. Shortly after the passing of the first anti-apartheid laws of the 1980s, South Africans (and Indians) began to gain access to more resources thus breaking down the heavy confines that apartheid had created. (Daniel Schensul 291) This was remarkable in both the literal and metaphorical sense; it allowed the citizens to regain control of their country. It allowed them to promote a positive change according to their people’s desires and not by the force of others.

It can be easily noted the changes that South Africa has underwent over the decades. Furthermore, it may be

determined that a major player in the continued political, social, and economic development and uprisings is apartheid. Before the official, recorded beginning of apartheid, South Africa suffered through wars, economic rollercoasters, and most memorable, slavery. During apartheid, they struggled with having to reassert the freedom as had been granted to all men in the 1800s. Finally, the years that followed were controversially marked by many events that are arguably signs of the effects of the post-apartheid activism.

Love in the Car: Going the Extra Mile for Pets

Loved ones. Who does this group comprise? Loved ones are considered to be any being that a person holds dear to their heart, thus they do all in their power to protect them. There are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and many more. Amongst that extended group are pets.

Pets are often placed in a category with family and other loved ones for whom we make many sacrifices and into whom we make great investments. Some people buy or build houses and designate rooms for their pets. And according to the ASPCA, people spend approximately $200 on food, approximately $408 on grooming, and approximately $485 in medical costs during the first year alone. Aside from the monetary investments, people make many emotional and spiritual investments into their loved ones, in this case, their pets. And yet, not many pet owners feel the need to enact routine safety procedures on their pets, such as traffic laws. Therefore, I propose that pet owners should use the same traffic laws to help protect not only themselves, but their pets as well.

The risks of inadequate pet safety are equal to that of human safety. For instance, without locking doors, you risk your toddler running outside and getting hurt. Just the same, without the proper restraints, pets may get loose and get hurt as well. Like the owners, pets are beings of life— a life which without proper care may be prematurely or unfairly ended. With all of the money that pet owners spend on getting their pets’ lives insured, they should be able to take it one step further to protect that life because the bond of pets to owner is so impactful.

Think of the importance of this relationship between your pet and yourself. Maybe your pet is the one that keeps you company on lonely nights. Maybe your pet is the one that calms you after a hard day. Maybe your pet is not your “pet. According to the United States Census Bureau, over 45% of households in America have pets. And when the Society of Pet Parents took their annual “Pet, Parents, and Family” survey in 2011, it showed that approximately 29% of these families consists of those who adopted pets because they were not able to have children. So, envisioning your pet as your child, we reiterate the concept of their safety, not only in the home and out in public but when you’re driving as well.

It is when driving that pet owners tend to neglect their pets’ safety the most. The Center of  Road and Highway Safety reports that 80% of pet owners (around 775,800 people) travel with their pets. However, due to pet related distractions caused by animals not being secured in the vehicle, over 6,000 of these pet owners died in crashes and over half a million were seriously or critically injured. You can help mitigate the possibility of these risks by simply applying traffic safety laws to your pet.

General traffic laws that apply in most states are as follows:

•       Each passenger of the front seat must have on federally approved safety restraints.

•       Seatbelt is not required for those who have a medical excuse.

•       Avoid any distractions (anything that defers your attention from the road).

•       Note that not adhering to these and other laws endangers not only your life, but others as well. Therefore, fines are enforced for not abiding by these laws.

These rules help protect both you and your pet.  It reduces financial risk in terms of potential and fatal accidents. It physically creates a restraint for the animal which increases chances of survival in accidents.

Finally, it ascertains that you’re doing the most that you can to protect your pet, your loved one.

Although it is not yet required, make it a practice to put all of your residential pets in a safety harness. Use proper seating for them. And avoid distractions when with them. Take all necessary safety measures to insure the safety of your loved ones. To reiterate the definition of a “loved one”, it is any being that you may hold dear to your heart, whether it is your parents, your spouse, your child, or your pet.

All in the Dress: Dress Code Enforcement for Colleges and Universities

Tap into your memory bank and think about the first day that you actually attended a college class. Somewhere between excited and bored, you’re forced to suffer because you arrived ten minutes early with the intention of impressing your professor. Adversely, maybe you find that you’re panicking and anxious because you’re ten minutes behind schedule; you are positive that your professor is going to pass judgment on you. In either scenario, we find impressions to be of the utmost importance. Your impact is not just a reflection of how and what you say, not is it simply based on how late or early you are. Impressions are greatly influenced by your appearance. Furthermore, generating the right impressions is the key to succeeding in college.

College is not just a place to mix and mingle with and make new friends. Nor is it extended vacation for first-timers out of the house. Just as high school is meant to prepare students for the collegiate world, college is constructed to prepare its students for the post-education and career world. If students are required to put into practice the tasks of their career, they should be required to dress accordingly. It may be argued that students are indeed instructed to dress business like on certain project days; however, in the business world, a person is forever a representation of their workplace and their work. Because it impacts those around in not just a physical way, but in a mental and a physical way as well, all universities and colleges should enforce a dress code that correlates with professionalism and exercises the practice of specific careers.

This should not be seen as an attempt to censure an individual’s freedom of speech. Even Amy L. Trowbridge writes in her article, “Current Psychological Perceptions of Clothing as a Form of Communication in the Business Environment”, that styles of uniforms have changed in order to maintain employee independence. Nevertheless, there should be boundaries set in regards to “professionalism” and “revealing”. Studies have shown that while the more revealing a man or woman dresses does make them more attractive and seductive. Unfortunately, it is the more conservative men and women who are considered more “warm and welcoming”. Having a warmer and more welcoming appearance may make it easier to build liaisons with teachers, attract more potential employers as well, and build a clientele as well.

While people may not shun someone who is dressed down or expletively, M.S Ryan said that “impressions may influence an individual’s desire to initiate, to continue, or to terminate interaction.” Because college is the place where one begins to build the bridges needed to excel in the business world, students should want to be well-prepared and well-represented. Because many students may not be aware of where to start, colleges and universities to set the ground rules for these students to send them on their way.

It's all about standards basically. If we as a people and as educators, lay them out, set them, and explain, I truly feel that the progress and success of our youth would prosper rather than fall victim to the lackluster and lustiness of pop culture.