I Understand

I try not to get political because I am the farthest thing from an expert on anything political, but this might be considered political so, as a warning, the following is ignorant ranting of an unqualified computer owner.

Lately the political buzz is all about illegal immigrants. I can understand why citizens might get upset about uninvited intruders. These intruders are taking advantage of the economical progress, jobs, and generally making fast-food ordering difficult.

But, I don’t think this situation is specific to America right now. I can only assume that any country or people would be frustrated if someone else tried to barge in and introduce foreign diseases, mass murder, and resign to reservations the natives.

Monkeys for Breakfast?

Its true, I have an abhorrence for everything walmart (the lack of capitalization is not a mistake, I hate it that much). I do, however, realize that I cannot escape the demise of capitalist America and have to support evil corporations almost everywhere I go. Regardless I have decided to pick on walmart despite the obvious size difference.

Just because I have not shopped at walmart for years does not mean that I have not bought Crystal Light at a store owned by Kroger, I need my raspberry ice. I probably spent an extra twenty cents for my raspberry ice, but I feel good because I believe I am making my personal stand against everything evil.

My perspective of evil has taken a few hard hits recently. After working for multiple locally owned grocery stores I have become accustomed to finding my own health insurance. I then found out that one of my classmates works for walmart because they offered him health insurance for him and his family (I am sure this was at a cost but probably not as much as my previous employer wanted, eighty dollars a month for a single twenty three year old with no dependants?). Corporate America 1, Independent America 0.

Benefits have given my conscience a hard hit, but I stand strong against walmart. A month ago I decided to acquire a few supplies for a road trip and went to the local camping supply store Out n Back. A bought a new sleeping bag and tent, but the tent was out of stock so they ordered one in for me (one inconvenience of locally owned stores is they don’t have the capital to support a large inventory, no big whoop). After two weeks I called and it was still not in. After two more weeks I got a call from the store apologizing that the warehouse was moving and wouldn’t have the tent for another two weeks and that I could come in and get my money back or another tent. The owner of the store came out to assist my in my choice, and eventually gave me a more expensive tent for the same price because he felt bad about the situation. Would I have received the same assistance at walmart? Hell no. If I could track down anyone at walmart the best they could do is make up a bunch of lies about what they thought was the better tent without any experience to back it up (uh, this tent is has thicker poles and is stronger). Would I have gotten as good of a deal at walmart? Possible. But REI had the same tent for a hundred dollars more than the original price that I got a discount on. So, corporate America 1, Independent America 1.

I am not an economist so I wont suggest any statistics about dramatic inflation or employment, but those I have heard do not speak well of walmart. I will suggest that walmart has another drastic iniquity hiding in its parking lot. As a kid, before I hated walmart, my family and I drove a huge camper across half of America. Because my family is notoriously cheep we spent many (all but one) nights in the parking lots of walmart (because walmart lets anyone in a camper use there parking lot for free, except in Branson). At the time I didn’t realize the impact of this convenience but I visited over a dozen cities including, St. Louis, Lincoln, Kansas City, and Denver yet they all looked the same. This may not be profound but globalization is a problem -epically when you need something specific like pectin but walmart, the only store in town, caries their own generic brand of gelatin, and trust me they are not the same. Corporate America 1, Independent America five million (hey, I make the rules in the game for a change, so suck it walmart).

Fake Teeth

Although the last adjective anyone would think of to describe Utah is open-minded, I believe the specific college I attend is surprisingly tolerant to fresh ideas. I also believe that many fellow students think they are being radical by believing that altering ones body (i.e. plastic surgery) is not kosher because any body is beautiful and let nature take it’s course. Those ideas sound nice, but hold no water in my cup. But my philosophy on body-modification is not pigeonholed to if it makes you feel better about yourself its worth it.

Because I am attracted to women, I will focus on the female body, but because beauty is subjective I assume that these ideas apply to any gender and body type. Is every body beautiful? No, not to me. Just like my appreciation of certain genres of literature, some body types are more attractive and beautiful to me than others. Some might argue that attraction is subjective but beauty is not and everybody is beautiful, sorry, you’re just wrong.

I’m sick of the debasing association body-modifications like plastic surgery have acquired. Some think that everyone that has had breast augmentation is self-centered or egocentric, and yes there is always someone to fill that shoe. But I believe that most people believe their body-modifications are beautifying. A woman can use a doctors like an artist uses a tool. So just like an artist applies a certain tint of a certain color, a women will suggest a doctor change a certain portion of her body a certain way (yes, unlike a body-modifier an artist applies their own paint, but do they make their own paint, brushes, and canvas?).

Those who make drastic body modifications are not the only ones that should be considered artists. Just like some artists use multiple forms of media and others don’t, some women will only eat specific food, stress certain muscles, or even design their hair in a way they believe is beautiful.

Others might argue that the only problem they have with body modifications are the unnatural changes and that breast and lip augmentations make them fake. Fine, does that mean that braces make your teeth fake? Braces, along with bleaching, are unquestionably unnatural yet I have never heard anyone badmouth someone for having straight white teeth.