A Bright Future?

Today we watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I think it is funny how they wouldn't say his middle name when they first introduced him. That middle name of course being: Hussein. I still find it odd that his middle name is of a man who was such a tyrant in this world who did horrible things and then you have Barack who in my eyes seems to be a good man. He made a very moving speech, but I just can't seem to see all of his ideas coming to life. In all honesty, I feel that he is the man for the job, but I think we are all just too lazy to make changes. As bad as that sounds, I just don't see us going for Smart Cars and Scooters. It is not the American way and I wouldn't expect my fellow Americans to change.

During the President's speech, I kept thinking to myself that this might end in disaster. I almost felt that we were watching the inauguration to see him get assassinated. I know that also sounds horrible, but I am sure there is some ignorant guy out there who has it out for President Obama, I am just thankful that it didn't happen. I think that if Americans see him changing and doing what is necessary, then they will follow suit because it is what is right. Right now, all we need is a real leader and he is the man for that job. He has an amazing stage presence and his words just seem to hit you.

After we watched, I was looking up some sports things and I happened to come across Jackie Robinson. They were comparing our new president to Jackie Robinson and how they both broke color barriers. Then I started thinking maybe I am connected to them too. I haven't broken the color barrier or anything but I do represent what is great about baseball.

Now I promise this is the last of my tatoos, for now. I can now represent Jackie Robinson and Mariano Rivera forever because they both bring a lot to the number 42. It was retired for Jackie but since Mariano still had it, he was grandfathered in and is now the only player to still wear it. It kind of helps that my last name is Rivera and my mother's maiden name is Robinson as well. I feel that I can represent what is great about this country. People over coming obstacles and fighting for what they believe in.

Just Keep Swimming

The semester is moving right along and we have all seen some pretty traumatic events. I think at this point we should all look at the bright side. I feel that if we don't have laughter and let loose once in awhile, none of us would be here. Every one of us came to Eckerd College for different reasons, but most have to do with the campus. We have all been given a great opportunity here, not one that many others get to experience. It's hard to imagine that there can be people here who are miserable, but it happens. I've had my share of trauma over just the last few weeks, but I've tried to just keep swimming and so should you.

Laughter is the best medicine and I think that is what I liked most about Life is Beautiful. He knew that he probably was never going to see his home again, but he kept his son's spirits high as well as the rest of the camp. Whenever we are faced with a traumatic situation, it is important to remember the good times because that is what will give you hope. There's always a way to get back to your happy place, it just takes some imagination.

Movies are a big part of my life and without them, I don't know what I would do. If I am having a bad day, I usually just throw on a comedy I like or an action packed movie. My recent favorite has been Tropic Thunder because it is hilarious, it helped resurrect Robert Downey Jr's career, and everything you think you know about Tom Cruise changes with this: Forget all the scientology stuff, just sit back and enjoy the fact that he is a good actor and that is all that should matter. Just go out there and have fun, because life is too short not to enjoy it.

The Need

Recent discussions have forced me to conclude that we all need to see trauma. It has become a way of life for us and we can't help but sit back and watch. For me, the need to see is so that I can know what happened or how it happened. How is one supposed to move on with their lives if they cannot witness the magnitude of some event? I feel bad for those who did not witness 9/11, not because it is a historical event that changed the nation, but because they may never know how it happened. I couldn't imagine seeing the World Trade Center one day and then my next visit, it's gone. I understand you would have to live under a rock not to know about it, but imagine the trauma you would face if you never knew. At the same time I think we all can agree that we wanted to do something when it happened. We all got that helpless feeling and felt that we could do nothing.

Like us civilians, the military also have a need. These men and women join for a reason: to protect the United States of America at any cost. Every war has been different, but the themes remain the same. They have seen things that no human should ever have to face, but they did it in our honor. When they come back, I feel like they still have that need to be in the shit so to speak. All of this talk about the need to fire a weapon or to kill some one in the name of your country reminds me of the movie Jarhead. These men went to war and none of them got to fire their weapons in battle and then they came back home and their lives fell apart. I think that once you are in a war, there is no coming back. You will never be the same person you once were.

We have talked a lot about memorials and what it can do for someone. The bottom line for me is that we remember those who have lost their lives. If that statue isn't erected or that will isn't formed, then it was all for nothing. We should all be very grateful for what others have sacrificed to ensure our freedom. We talked today about the movie United 93 and how it might have been too soon. We should remember them and the fact that what they did was for the greater good. They could have allowed terrorists to fly that plane into another building, but instead they sacrificed their lives in order to ensure that no more loss would happen. It is the same thing that happened in World War II. We were aware of the magnitude of dropping the atom bomb, but it was for the greater good so that no more blood shed would occur. We had no idea at the time that future generations would suffer, but that is part of the consequences that we will forever live with. Had we not dropped the bomb, Hitler or someone terrible like that would have gotten their hands on it and I wouldn't be typing this blog now.

All of this talk of memorials has made me seek out some of them and here they are:

These images give me a great sense of pride in what this country stands for. The first two tell me that we will not go quietly and you can do whatever you want to us, but we will always come through because this is the U.S.A. You might have done some damage, but we are still here and we will fight back. The last image is a list of names of those lost in World War I and II which put names to heroes. These were everyday people like us that went off to a war and didn't make it back. They might not have made it back but we will all make it if we continue to tell the stories that made this country what it is.

Trauma in the Media

It is amazing how every station you turn on and every movie you see involves some sort of trauma. We found out today that the top two movies in the U.S. domestic involved some sort of tragedy. The first was Titanic which I think relates to all ages and races. We all couldn't help but watch this movie even though we all knew how it ended. I think these kind of movies give us some kind of closure and help us find out how it happened. The movie as sad as it was ended in somewhat happiness. Rose ends up dying an old lady and reunites with those that were lost during the sinking. It is a powerful message that we can live our lives after we lose those dearest to us and hopefully see them in a better place someday.

I feel that movies are a great way to escape reality. Not all movies have to deal with real events and it gives the public a way of forgetting about our own troubles. I find that the least realistic movies are the most inspiring to me. They all have a great message and I can place myself in that movie as fake as it is. What is amazing about fictional movies is that there is no racism and everyone gets along like this scene from Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers: I think this speaks to how we act as people and how we need to put our differences aside.

Newscasters focus on the most traumatic events they can find, but we can't really blame them because it is what we want to see. We can't help but look at what is going on in the world because we can all think: at least it is not happening to me. Our lives might be hectic at times and things might not go our way, but watching the news can make us all feel better about our situations. I know that whenever I have an extra few hours, I sit down and watch a movie. I actually watched Requiem for a Dream earlier for the first time and it really made think how lucky I am. I am not in a situation with an addiction and things really aren't that bad for me.

Growing Up Army

I feel that I am a very privileged individual growing up with a father in the Army National Guard. Some deal with war in very different ways. I personally feel that it is an honor to serve this great country and while it isn't for everyone, we should all still be patriots. The greatest honor any one American can give to a fallen soldier is to remember. I think that Dilios in 300 put it best: It is in movies that I feel like I can contribute by feeling so passionate about what the actors on screen are portraying. There are a million other movies with the same message to fight for what you believe in and remembers those who have fallen.

Going to the museum today really brought back a lot of familar memories for me. The museum itself smelled of the armory where I spent practically half of my life with my dad. He was never sent off to war himself, but had to send his friends overseas to protect our freedom. A lot of those guys became like family to me, no matter what race they were. In the military, it doesn't matter what color, gender, or ethnicity you are. We all bleed the same color and are all defending the rights of this country.

I have never had to face the loss of a loved one due to war, but I imagine it is pretty difficult. Knowing that they sacrificed their lives for the rest of us is something no other man can achieve. To me, dying while protecting your country is the most honorable way anyone can go. I can feel safe because of those soldiers and soldiers like these:


Obviously, being in the military can be very traumatic and it comes with a price. What I would recommend to anyone thinking of joining is to first decide whether you want a family or not. You would be leaving behind a family if you went off to war and it is important to choose one route or the other. I was very fortunate and my father is retired and happy now. Do I agree with our military and political system? It doesn't matter because I am safe and this is still the land of the free and the home of the brave.

September 11th and the Yankees

Individuals deal with trauma in very different ways. I can't sit here and pretend like i understand what the people of the Holocaust went through, but I do remember September 11th. We were a week or so into freshman year of high school when the attacks happened. I remember feeling alone because we were in a new school and while I knew a few people, I didn't know most of them. At the time I lived in Stamford, Ct where you can see the New York City skyline from the beach. On a clear day you could see the Twin Towers, but the days that followed 9/11, all you saw was black smoke.

My father was in the Army National Guard at the time and he was called into action to help clean up the city where those two magnificent buildings once stood. He still won't tell me any of the sites, sounds, or smells, and I can understand why. There isn't one person out there who should have to witness such a tragedy, try to help pick up the pieces, and pretend everything is O.K. I applaud the men and women that have sacrificed their lives to protect ours. It is because of them that we are still free and we owe them everything.

It was during this year that the New York Yankees made it to the World Series and unfortunately lost. The fact that they went out there and played their games in spite of what happened really sent a message to the rest of the world. The Yankees, to me, represent America and going out there and playing tells me that we are free and we will not bow down to any terrorists. Although this video is from 2006, you can still hear the heart of America as the crowd sings God Bless America with Ronan Tynan:


I feel that the Yankees healed our nation and I respect them for that. I also feel that I owe something to this great nation and that is when I decided to get this:


I feel that I represent this great country and a great team all at the same time. It creates a memory of those we lost in the attacks, while not letting our lives revolve around it. It will be a constant reminder that we have lost something before and we have gotten through it. As long as we come together as a nation where nobody has to be alone, then we will get through whatever challenges are sent our way.