Owl Blog

The Morally Disabled do not Have Their own Parking Spots

2009-04-14T16:19:00.006-04:00

I have a story to tell you all today.

A couple of weeks ago I was at Starbucks on campus sitting next to the window in front of the table designated for handicapped people.

Sitting at this table were three students studying: two girls and one boy. Walking through the door was a female student using arm crutches.

How do you think this scenario played out? The three students graciously got up, offered her the table and helped her sit down?

False.

It played out like so:
The three students stared at the girl and saw that she had noticed the table she needed was occupied. All three averted their eyes and pretended to be into their work.
After about ten seconds, when the girl with the arm crutches realized they weren't going to get up and offer her the seat. She looked around for an alternative seat only to realize the only table available did not have a chair -- meaning she would have to pull a chair over. This wouldn't be too much of a problem for someone who WASN'T using arm crutches.

Being gifted with a high sense of observation (I rock at people watching), I asked if she was going to sit there and if she wanted my chair. After a couple exchanges of "No you're using it"s and "No I really don't mind"s, I gave up my chair and helped her sit down. Then she went to stand in line.

As I re-situated myself, I heard this conversation take place:

Girl 1: Uh...were we like supposed to get up or something?

Girl 2: [giggle.]

Girl 1: [giggle.]

Boy: I guess...[stares at the girl in line]...oh well I need the space more than she does.

Girl 1 and 2: Hahaha!

The whole time I'm thinking, "Yes, you idiots."

Fact of the matter is regardless of how much they or anyone that sits at that table may need or want the space. That "space" is somewhat reserved for those who are disabled.

Anyone who wants to further technicality might argue, "The label said 'Please offer this table...', not 'This table is only for...'"
To this I would argue: Why would you NOT offer it?
It may not mean that the table must be given up or that sitting at that table and not being disabled will earn you a fine. But where is your sense for humanity?

I felt the weight of my own conscience firsthand the other day in the restrooms.
There wasn't anyone in the bathroom when I went so I decided to use the biggest stall. A minute or two later I heard the door open and some accompanied clanking. I assumed it was a clean up staff. Finishing up, I opened the door and lo and behold it was someone in a wheelchair. Most definitely not the clean up staff.

I felt absolutely terrible and apologized profusely. She was really nice about it and told me she was used to it and she wasn't in a rush to go. She also added that there were times when she really had to use the restroom but wasn't able to because she would have to wait for the person in that stall to finish up. Most of the time they're either having a phone conversation or just staring at themselves in the mirror.
After a couple more apologies and a laugh or two from her, I walked out of the bathroom still feeling sheepish.

We're all guilty of using a table, bathroom stall, and/or seat designated for those who are disabled and for the most part this isn't a crime.

However, it is a crime to your own integrity if you do not get up or leave the seat that designated seat available. Especially when you know that there is someone who could benefit from that area more than you can. After all, some of the people who need it the most did not ask to be in a wheelchair or any other assistance. In some instances wheelchairs and arm crutches are all that they know to help them get around and lead the closest thing to an "easy" life.

This is not a blog to strike compassion and understanding into hearts all over the FAU campuses, but more to raise awareness. These tables and other designated spots were made to ease everyday public life for those who need it. Yet it's not easy finding a spot that's not in use by someone who doesn't need it. Thus making their life a step further from easy or whatever easy is for them.

I personally do not know anyone who is handicapped or disabled. But I am capable of imagining having certain rights and accesses to better accomodate life. Only to have these accesses become unaccessible. Maybe I'm too humanistic or maybe I see it for what it is; unfair. Now if only I can get more people to understand this.

*This is the label on the table at FAU Starbucks.

A black president.

2008-11-05T19:30:00.000-05:00

To the tune of Lil' Wayne's (or whoever wrote it for him) "A Milli"

OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA!

Congrats to Barack Obama on being our nation's first African-American male president! This is a complete milestone for our nation and I'm so glad I was a part by voting and seeing all the campaign work that went into this election. Then January 20th yet again will be another history in the making moment as Barack Obama accepts the presidential position and is sworn into office.

Through all this celebration of our new Mr. President, I do however, have a concern raised in my mind; bandwagoners, ignorance, the media and the bigger picture.

Bandwagoners and Ignorance

"Well, if you vote for Obama all he's going to care about are his people." As terrible as that sounds this is something I've heard throughout the election straight up to the election day. The idiocracy of that statement alone hasn't been able to let me begin to comprehend how the speaker managed to let it slip out of their mouths.

What do you mean "all he's going to care about are his people"?! If we break it down, what do you even mean by "his people"?!
First off, thinking like that must mean that you think all these years and all other forty-three presidents before him must have been there to serve only the 'caucasians'.
Then if you mean by "his people" you mean just blacks, then you are so wrong, his people are AMERICANS. They are all (legal) citizens and all who have a voice and place in America. That's you too, speaker. You are Barack Obama's "people" now.

"Yes! A black president, I can do whatever I want!"
I swear to you all I heard this straight from someone's mouth. Whether or not they were joking it does not matter because there actually ARE people who think like this. I don't even feel the need to go all out here I'm sure you all know where I'm getting at; if you don't...ask someone.

Then we have the people who didn't even vote with no valid reason as to why not, forwarding "Obama won!" text messages or walking up and down swearing McCain should've been the winner. Now, there's no big problem with that, but the problem enters when these people don't even understand, care, and/or know what these candidates stand for!
Bandwagoning is ridiculous point blank. There's not a thing wrong with celebrating or stating opinions, but doing so when you didn't even care to take part in the action or don't even know who is for or againsn't what issues let alone even care to educate yourself on what the issues were and how they'd affect your life; that's just absurd. You wouldn't buy second hand underwear would you? Get your own education and opinions.

The Media

At exactly 11:02 pm I turned on CNN to find that Obama has won the election and they are interviewing (from all the clips i saw) all the black people. They showed an entire Baptist church celebrating and kept showing up clips of EXTREMELY excited blacks...ONLY.
Clicked over to Fox...same thing.
Another news channel...same thing.
Woke up this morning, turned on CNN...the image of a heavy set black lady whose shirt did a poor job of housing her 'goodies' was on the screen. She kept jittering up and down and screaming like a maniac, "OBAMA! OBAMA!" My immediate reaction?

WHY.

Why does the media have to show such clips or show only interviews of blacks. It is more than obvious he won majority vote from blacks we KNOW that it's in every overview.
But what about the little more than half votes from whites that he won! Why not interview one of those people that voted for him it wasn't just black people that voted for him!
By showing clips or interviews of only ONE thing the media is boosting what the ignorant people at home are already thinking!

Now I'm not saying the media is the devil and that we should all boycott the news stations...I'm simply suggesting that we do not take all that we see too deeply.
Here again is the idea of educating yourselves, if you were one of the people that did not agree with Obama's win please make sure your answer is because you don't agree with his point of views on something and not just because you don't agree with his skin color.

The BIGGER picture

Barack Obama's win is a huge stride from the days of slavery and segregation; now America is more than ever a melting pot which is great!
But Obama elected president doesn't just mean something blacks and it should carry more pride for everyone, not just black pride.
Obama's mother was white and from Kansas his father black and from Kenya. The union to concieve our Mr.President says something all on it's own!

Obama elected should mean everything that was thought to be a "White man's job" has now become an anyone-willing-to-work-hard job. It is a remarkable leap for EVERYONE.
This win isn't just for blacks.
It's a win for America as a nation.
A win for Hispanics, Asians, orange people, purple people.
It's a win for the Future.

So don't look at it from only one angle; take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Budweiser, Corona, Miller it's all good...

2008-10-09T19:32:00.002-04:00

...for your hair.

Yes fellow females, beer such as the above listed does a hell of a job to repair damaged locks.
Odd? Well so are many other "beauty tips" that I've tried out and I'm pretty sure one of you have heard of at least one of these interesting and vouched for (by yours truly) tips that are listed below and a handful has probably responded with a "Riiiiiiight" mentality.

SO! To put your concerns and curiosity to rest I share with you all the weird, wacky and "are-you-serious?" tips.

1. Beer: After you shampoo, rinse, repeat and condition your hair, pour a bottle of beer in your hair, work it into your hair as thoroughly as possible, and then rinse. You won't smell the beer in your hair if you rinse properly. Beer helps you repair dead and split ends. Another benefit from this is that it also gives you a nice, thick and full voluminous look. It also gives your hair a kick for shine, and it locks in the moisture very well. Anyone with fine hair (like me) will suddenly be replacing other shine products with beer in their showers.

2. Milk: Vitamin D, 2 percent, fat free, skim milk. It doesn't matter which kind, 'cause in the end you're pouring it through your hair anyway. Why you ask? Because the vitamins in the milk not only does your bones good, but when poured directly onto your hair the vitamins in the milk helps fortify your split ends and makes it RIDICULOUSLY soft after you rinse it out.

3. Powder: your hair. The powder absorbs the natural oils of your hair, so use a powder brush or pad, dust your hairs and flip your hair about. This, however, is not a substitute for taking an actual shower sooo..yeah. Just another quick fix for one of those days when you're rushing and don't have time for a shower.

4. Toothpaste & Visine: Got a lipstick-red pimple that's out to get you? Cool it down with the use of toothpaste or Visine (or any redness-relieving eyedrops). Apply directly on the pimple (amount according to how..vast..your friend is) - it's best used before bed and rinsed off in the morning. This isn't always guaranteed because if you have severe acne, you'll find that this will leave your acnesters quite irritated. However, this a quick temporary fix if you generally don't break out. Toothpase has a chemical cool to it that turn the pimple from Mountain Pimple to Slight Hill Pimple, and the Visine is self-explanatory: It "Gets the Red Out."

5. Heat up your eye lash curlers: Using a blowdrier, heat up your eyelash curlers. But heat them up less than seven seconds, because any more and it will burn...BADLY. Just like a curling iron, the heat of the eyelash curlers will keep those pretty lashes curly. This works especially well for those with really straight eyelashes.

6. Ten minute or less bronzing: Going out for the night? Or just want to splash on a little bit of shine and don't have time to sit in the sun or tanning booth and wait for cancer? Take loose bronzer powder of your choice and mix it in with lotion of your choice. Use as much as you want and apply. Then for those envious shiny legs you see 5'9 models with, enhance your mix and add in baby oil with a little bit of shimmer (or buy the bronzer with shimmer or lotion with shimmer - NOT GLITTER, because you'll hate life if you get the glitter one). Apply the shimmer and baby oil, and this will keep your poles looking smooth and vibrant.

That's all that I pretty much have for you guys. I'm pretty sure there are a lot more different and effective things to try, but I'm writting about ones I can vouch for. One I have NOT tried is Mayo in the hair, so if anyone of you out there are brave enough to try, let me know the results! Until then, try one of the above tips. I hope they worked the same for you as they have for me.

So remember to grab a cold one [beer] the next time you take a shower!

On Your Mark...

2008-09-07T14:37:00.000-04:00

Get set.
Make a decision on what you are going to do with your life. Go!

That's how I felt at times when it came to choosing a major and a future career for myself. Since junior year of high school and with each passing school year at FAU, I feel like I'm in some sort of rush to make these decisions.
My parents don't make it any better. When they are talking to their friends, this is how the conversation goes:

Bragger: So this is your oldest daughter, what's her major? What is she going to do with her life?
Disappointed parent(s): ...we don't...well actually, she doesn't...she likes to write and read.
Me: Yes mom. I am very literate.

Then the friend would mention he or she has a son/daughter/niece/nephew/cat that is going to be graduating with honors and has jobs for as soon as the graduation ceremony is over.

[My parents love me just the way I am… My parents love me just the way I am… My parents love me just the way I am…]

When you're trying to decide your future life goals, keep in mind that whatever it is you decide, don't do it for your parents, family, and/or pets. Do it for yourself. In the end, you're the person living your life and not them. Besides, the people who care most about you like your family and friends, they ultimately want you to be happy.
Also not everyone immediately knows what they want to do with themselves, so you shouldn't feel rushed into finding your calling in life, it’s very normal to not know yet.
There are a lot of many different factors to consider when it comes to choosing a specific field to major in. Amongst those things is whether or not that particular career will offer financial rewards and create stability.
In other words, are you gonna BANK?
However, money shouldn't be your only motivation. This may sound cliché, but money doesn't buy permanent happiness. (Well...) (<- I'm kidding.) The point of higher learning is to take whatever it is that you have a passion for, are really good at or seriously take an interest in, and enhance your skills and/or knowledge. Even though I felt pressured, rushed and completely stressed, I didn't jump in and just grab whatever to fill a blank space just because everyone else had filled theirs. With all that being said, don't stress, take it a day at a time and everything will fall into place. Perhaps sometimes things just don't happen or are realized until they are supposed to.