Love/Hate
The most sublime paradox I have discovered in life is that people tend to hate the ones they love and love the ones they hate. I know I do, for it is part of the human condition. I guess this is because the two sentiments are polar opposites and opposites tend to attract. The end result is static. This paradox makes it difficult for society to progress. I figure the only way for society to progress and for all races and cultures to see eye to eye is to erase all the hate. In my experience, hate is bred by generalizing or typecasting groups of people. I do it often, but only in jest. Racism, classism, etc. is simply amusing to me. We need to move forward from such archaic ways of thinking. If America wants to wholly fulfill its destiny as the great melting pot we need to think collectively as Americans, not as individuals and groups divided by race and class.
The reason I thought about this love/hate paradox is I watched a film by Adrien Grenier from HBO's "Entourage" entitled "Teenage Paparazzo." It chronicles the life of a 14-year-old paparazzo named Austin Visschedyk and explores the relationship between celebrities and the paparazzi. Like certain paparazzi images and tabloid stories, I have made several entries in this blog that probably offended famous and powerful people. I did not do it out of spite. I did it because our society's obsession with fame, celebrity, money, and power is destroying our hope for the future. Young Americans hold celebrities in such esteem that they aspire to be rich and famous without regard to what these aspirations will contribute to the greater good. In "Teenage Paparazzo," a survey of young adults presented them with a choice of future careers. I don't recall exactly what the careers were, but let's say they were Senator, doctor, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, college professor, and assistant to a celebrity. The majority of the kids responded, "assistant to a celebrity." WOW. Somehow we need to readjust our youths' way of thinking, which is part of the reason I am strongly leaning towards becoming a teacher in the next year or two. This career choice is parallel to the love/hate paradox because I really don't like being a student, but would enjoy the other end of the bargain.
The reason I thought about this love/hate paradox is I watched a film by Adrien Grenier from HBO's "Entourage" entitled "Teenage Paparazzo." It chronicles the life of a 14-year-old paparazzo named Austin Visschedyk and explores the relationship between celebrities and the paparazzi. Like certain paparazzi images and tabloid stories, I have made several entries in this blog that probably offended famous and powerful people. I did not do it out of spite. I did it because our society's obsession with fame, celebrity, money, and power is destroying our hope for the future. Young Americans hold celebrities in such esteem that they aspire to be rich and famous without regard to what these aspirations will contribute to the greater good. In "Teenage Paparazzo," a survey of young adults presented them with a choice of future careers. I don't recall exactly what the careers were, but let's say they were Senator, doctor, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, college professor, and assistant to a celebrity. The majority of the kids responded, "assistant to a celebrity." WOW. Somehow we need to readjust our youths' way of thinking, which is part of the reason I am strongly leaning towards becoming a teacher in the next year or two. This career choice is parallel to the love/hate paradox because I really don't like being a student, but would enjoy the other end of the bargain.
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