A new year has started and the past year is gone, but during the time it took for one year to end and another to begin, many people died worldwide. Their deaths were not because they were sick or ill. They died because of a disaster.
Bullets and bombs were lead by human hands to destroy someone’s child, hurricanes and tropical storms flooded people out of their homes and a tsunami devastated too many people to count.
My point, we are blessed.
Everyday someone is fighting somebody else for something they want, whether it is a T-shirt or freedom, and it does not make sense. Why do Americans, who have the freedom to do anything, abuse their freedom? A question I should be able to answer, but I cannot. I do not understand why it continues to happen.
But I do know that ignorance is part of the answer and also the lack of knowledge that plagues our community. However, it does not end there. It also plagues the country. People fight out of ignorance, yet we are still blessed. There is no war here. There was no tsunami here. Yet ignorance and complaining is prevalent, and I fail to see the reason why.
We have so much to be thankful for. In this New Year times may be bleak, but we are still here. If you are a black student in any college or university, you have already beaten statistics of the number black high school graduation rate. If you are a black alumnus of an institution, you have beaten more statistics about the rate of minorities achieving Baccalaureate degrees. If you are a black male in college and you have never been to jail, more power to you.
Besides these positive aspects in your life there are many more. First, you are alive, second, you can see, and if you are reading this, you can read.
Sure there will be more ups and downs in your life, there will be death, illness, disease and more natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean you have to fight too.
In the words of Fannie Lou Hamer, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” And I’m tired of my people, this city and this country arguing, fighting and starting wars over meaningless things. Aren’t you? You should be.
This life is a precious life that many don’t get to live. My cousin died when she was only a few minutes old. Another cousin died at the age of six. How many more people do you know who never were able to see their 18th birthday? Think about it. If you don’t know someone personally, you’ve heard about someone.
The Famuan strives for excellence, so should you. Start this New Year off right, if someone says he or she doesn’t like you or your clothing, shake it off and keep going. If a teacher gives you a bad grade on a project, ask them why and do better next time. Don’t do the same work. If your parents say you shouldn’t go somewhere at a certain time, although you may “be grown,” and away from home, they still know what’s right. Ask them why and pay attention.
There is a cliché that says, “I’m too blessed, too be stressed.” If you are here and reading this, believe it, you are. If you don’t believe in a higher power, I urge you to do so. If you don’t, that’s still no reason to act like some of this nation’s leaders: unintelligent.
Make this semester a good one, start it off right.
Robyn K. Mizelle is a senior double majoring in broadcast journalism and psychology. She is the Visual Editor of The Famuan and can be reached at TheTruthShallRise@hotmail.com