Perhaps one of the first -and most frustrating- arguments one might encounter when entering into the gender equality debate, especially in criticism of feminism, is that the feminist movement is one that is dedicated to equality in our society. While on one side, those fighting for the awareness of diminished men’s rights are asserting that feminism is the cause of a new imbalance between the sexes, it is common to encounter the feminist voice on vlogs, blogs, in books, comics and in articles claiming that feminism is the best representation of a move toward equality. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it can be difficult to respond effectively to such a stubborn and misguided claim. Why do feminists believe the movement is the fight for equality?

In this article, I evidence why feminism is not about equality, why feminists think it might be, and how the emerging misandry or, at least, gender inequality toward men, is a direct result of this wave of feminism.

So, is feminism fighting for equality? With respect, no, it isn’t. Here’s why.

The fight for ‘equality’ of the first two waves of feminism fought to raise the standing of women in society where there were clear and vast imbalances. Men in all eras of history were also imprisoned in gender roles and forced to live and act accordingly, but it’s right that women’s liberation movements fought for balance in democracy, the right for women to work, earn, own property and shape their own lives. In order to fight for equality, the woman’s rights needed to be elevated to that of a man’s. In that era and political and social climate, fighting for the rights of women was, indeed, “the fight for equality”.

The new wave feminists constantly declare the fight for equality despite glaring oversights. Why? Today’s feminism fights a new and changed Western world with an old definition of what it means to fight for equal rights. Fighting solely for the rights of women was relevant to the first and second wave of the movement that were staring at glaringly biased legislation and cultural values, but in today’s changed world it is not only outdated, but misplaced.

Both genders, as citizens, now have equal rights. There are further developments that deserve attention for each gender, so a campaign should be run by both men and women who, together, tackle highlighted equality issues that affect men and/or women; it would be wrong to fight for, only, the rights of women, as feminism clearly does today.

We heat a room when it’s cold, but there comes a point when the temperature simply needs regulating to maintain a comfortable environment for everyone. To continue heating it, would become too hot. Too extreme. Where this wave of feminism is still cranking up the dial on the thermostat, past 22 degrees to Max Women’s Rights, it’s becoming uncomfortable.

Furthermore, in claiming it is the fight for equality and, yet, only advocating for women, feminists show the movement as stubborn-minded and prejudiced, acting upon illogical, biased and, therefore, extremist values. A movement is its voice in the media, and ours is constantly bombarded with the notion that women are the only oppressed gender while men are the perpetrators of rape, rape threats, domestic violence, cat calling, sexual objectification and with headlines such as ‘a sea of misogyny’, ‘men should just shut up’ and ‘men avoid housework and don’t do their share’. This can only have one outcome: suspicion, dislike and blame toward all men.

As one example, of many, Jessica Valenti is a prominent feminist voice. Writing for The Guardian, her biased, angry and mocking attitude toward men is clearly evident. That The Guardian continues to print her shamefully biased, opinionated and personally prejudiced ‘views’ is questionable on their part. (I do not, of course, condone any written, verbal or physical harassment or abuse).

This biased media position is instigating change upon men and women ‘on the ground’, trying to live their every day lives. From this media, women are ‘finding out’ about the world around them, the men in their lives and attitudes they should adopt. I’ve heard a feminism empowered woman mention that her husband would soon be home from a 14 hour shift, but exclaim, “Why should I have to make dinner just because I’m a woman?”

I know I’m not the only one who can see how wrong that is…and why.

I wish I could concede that this voice is ‘the extreme minority’ deviating from a more moderate form of feminism, but today’s vocal and prominent feminism is the extreme. No branch of feminism condemns it and stands for a more balanced and regulation focused pursuit of equality, by also advocating for men’s rights.

A minority of men are guilty of major sex and abuse crimes, or even harrassment; how dare anyone, or especially the apparent movement for equal rights, imply that the majority of non-offending fathers, who love their children, have no right to voice the discrimination they face in courts, simply because some other men in society are criminally minded toward women? Feminism overlooks significant gender equality issues, contributes to the demonisation of the male and uses that as a further reason for men to be silenced.

“How about more than a billion men who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punch women, who just want to go to work, have some sandwiches, spend time with their children, and don’t do any of the things you’re saying of all Men? It’s stereotyping.” (They are great words, Ben…I stole them. Much love.)

I am an advocate for women’s rights. I have daughters and hate the thought of them facing discrimination, harassment, catcalling…or whatever else. I want to help create a society where they can safely prosper and choose whether they work or keep house, or both. But I have a son too, and I reflect on the discrimination I, and others, face because we are male. I do not want him to experience that which I have seen and felt.

So, I cannot stand by and watch feminism create such bias in our society. Call me an egalitarian, a humanist, an equalalalist (I made that one up), but I am an advocate for men’s rights too…and that means I’m certainly not a feminist.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/H19bzOV7F0g/story01.htm

It was 1859 and Mr. Charles Dickens was oblivious to the fact that he was writing the description to accompany each and every internship offered to mankind.

The gist?

You’re going to experience it all- the joy of your first published work and the worst 42 hours prior to publication.

You’re going to have a moment where you feel wise beyond your years. Then that same day, spill coffee foolishly all over your freshly pressed pants, just prior to your first presentation.

So, you think that your boss is God’s gift to corporate America; only to discover that he’s human and makes mistakes, just like the rest of us? Dickens covered this scenario with belief and incredulity.

Surely, you’ll experience days of light and then, a wee bit of darkness.

You’ll hope for the best and have a day of deep despair. Curse the memo, announcing that the intern (meaning you) jammed the printer, again.

As an intern, your entire career is ahead of you. Then one Tuesday, you’ll sit down at your meek office cubical, only to realize your fellow intern has been offered the coveted (and only) full-time position. Your whole world will feel as if it’s caving in, because this was your sole reason for putting up with this unpaid opportunity.

Hell, the place where you believe the office know-it all is going. Heaven, the time when you’ll have an intern – or shall we say an educated, unpaid barista?

Overall, Mr. Dickens knew a bit about internships. He simply didn’t realize he was penning their anthem.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/Nepl1zsbUwk/story01.htm

1. “Invest in people who invest in you”

This is the time of year when I sit back and reflect on everything that has happened within the past 365 days—the high and low points, the successes and failures, and everything in between. One aspect of my life that I always spend a little extra time thinking about is friendship, both new and old ones. So many questions run through my mind—are these new relationships something meaningful or just temporary? Have I put enough effort into the relationships with old friends? Are there friends who need to be cut out of my life? Friendships are one of the most important things in your life. These people are there to give you support, and a sense of meaning. In this upcoming year, keep in mind these following four quotes about friendship:

2. “Sometimes your circle decreases in size, but increases in value”

Quality over quantity is something that we all need to keep in mind. In high school, I remember that there was so much pressure to have the biggest group of friends; if you didn’t, you just felt like a nobody. Having been part of both big and small circles of friends, it was the smaller ones that felt more meaningful to me. I’m not saying that you can’t have genuine friendships with multiple people; if you do, you’re doing something right! But if you find your inner circle slowly shrinking, it’s not necessarily a bad thing—you are just finding out who is and is not worth being in your life. 

3. “True friends say good things behind your back and bad things to your face”

This is something that I especially want to work on in the upcoming year. It is so easy to talk badly about your friends, even those who you are really close to. Sometimes you just get caught up in bashing them, especially if everyone around you is. And it becomes a problem when you don’t confront them about the things you are saying. We need to sit back and ask ourselves, “If so-and-so is my best friend, why can’t I say these things to their face?” This is where you need to really evaluate your friendship with this person—do you just have a bad habit of bad-mouthing people or is this a sign that your friendship with them isn’t what you really thought it was?

4. “Friendship isn’t about whom you’ve known the longest, it’s about who walked into your life and said “I’m here for you” and proved it”

Those who show their dedication and support to you are the ones worth keeping; they can be your oldest friends, as well as your newest ones. Yes, it is great to have friends whom you have known for many, many years, but if they don’t do anything to prove that they have your best interest in mind, what’s the point? And in turn, you have to reciprocate that same support. I don’t still talk to every single person I was friends with back in my early childhood, but the ones I still interact with are people I will be in touch with forever. And there are people that I have become friends with in the past couple of years who I know will be in my life for a long time. The reason behind this is that we have shown one another that we have each other’s backs.

5. “A strong friendship doesn’t need daily conversation, doesn’t always need togetherness, as long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends will never part”

This is one of the most spot-on statements about friendship. As you grow older, peoples’ lives change, and friends might grow apart in distance. Yes, this physical distance can put a strain on the friendship, but if your relationship is genuine, nothing changes. You’re able to pick up right where you left off. I always find that those who I feel comfortable sitting in silence with are those who are meant to stick around.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/yfLA9jChecE/story01.htm

Being seriously ill happens to most of us one winter or another, but it seems to be a universal truth that getting the flu affects our minds far more than it affects our bodies. How else to explain the same delusional thought patterns that we fall into every single time?

1. You completely forget ever having been sick before.

When the flu first starts coming in, it invokes feelings of complete unprecedence (which is not a word but should be). You can easily remember what your elementary school looked like or quote lines from your favorite show ad nauseam, but for some reason recalling any significant details of your previous bout with the flu will forever elude you. You can’t remember how you dealt with it other than the fact that it sucked really bad.

2. Maybe you’re not sick.

Sure you feel off, but that doesn’t mean you’ve actually caught anything. Maybe you didn’t get enough sleep last night—though you did—or maybe you didn’t get REM sleep because of some prolonged dream you had but don’t remember. Maybe you ate something that didn’t agree with you or you’re stressed out over work. Whatever is happening, it’s not an actual illness. That’s how hypochondriacs think, and they’re crazy.

3. Maybe it’s not the flu.

OK, now there’s no denying that you’re not just “off” but you’re actually sick. Fine. People get sick all the time. Just because you have a cough and/or congestion and/or a stuffed nose and/or a headache and/or a fever doesn’t have to mean it’s the flu. Maybe you just have a really bad cold, which sounds a lot better than having the flu for some reason. Besides, you’ve got too much to do to deal with having the flu.

4. Maybe you’re dying.

Now you’re bedridden, drifting in and out of sleep, and every part of you aches in a different way and is both hot and cold at the same time. Your body is going against forces of both biology and physics. Those are pretty tough opponents! But hold up: You underestimated how sick you were before. You thought it was just a cold and now it’s undeniably the flu. What if you misjudged things again? What if it’s not just the flu but whatever boss-level comes after that? After all, you’ve never felt this awful before in your life. And people die from the flu all the time, even in America! You’ll muse about writing a will before accepting you don’t have the will to write.

5. You have no idea how much to eat.

You know that you’re supposed to “starve a cold and feed a fever,” but your appetite has completely gone to hell. Worse, your body might be at the point where swallowing hurts. Let’s not even discuss the fact that going out to get food is a Herculean task. You have to force yourself to eat, though the thought of food disgusts you. Still, you’re left wondering if you’re eating enough—or enough of the “right” thing, whatever that secret is.

6. You have no idea how much to drink.

You know that you’re supposed to “consume lots of liquids” but have no idea what that actually means. So you decide to judge if you’re drinking enough by the color of your pee. Supposedly, clear pee means you’re hydrated. On the other hand, dark pee means your body is expelling all the disease and gross stuff inside of you. This is when you realize that you’re not an old-timey piss prophet and should probably get back to bed.

7. You revert to the miasma theory of disease.

Thoroughly disproven and discredited, and never believed by you personally—except the last time you had the flu, of which you recall little—the miasma theory of disease posits that illness is caused by “bad air.” Now you become like Howard Hughes, convinced that the virus or bacteria or whatever is causing your flu has suffused the very air around you in your apartment. You can’t very well open a window, given the cold weather. All you can do is imagine that you are basically in an invisible soup of disease that will never clear away.

8. You completely forget ever having been well before.

As your symptoms fade in and out, as days lose meaning due to irregular and yet constant periods of sleep, you start to realize that you’ve gone several days without waking up as a well human being. The dreaded question increasingly begins to assert itself: Is this the new normal? Old people are constantly complaining of aches and pains, and you are constantly aching. Maybe you’re not sick but this is simply how things are now. After all, this is the oldest you’ve ever been.

9. You imagine that first shower is holy water.

When your fever is gone and you’re almost well, that first shower you take is one of the best you’ll ever have in your life. You can feel the sickness being washed away, almost literally, in a catharsis akin to being dunked in a river by John the Baptist himself. Yes, you’ll still have a cough for a week, or the sniffles for a couple of days or so. But you can also hold your head high, having basically conquered a biblical plague singlehandedly.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/zDyKbCWXgug/story01.htm

1. Stop obsessing over people who do not obsess over you.

The texts you didn’t receive back. The calls you never got. I’ve been there and I’ve heard it over and over again. Most of the time we’re not going to figure out why someone didn’t call after what we thought was an almost perfect date, and most likely it’s going to happen more than once. That doesn’t mean we should stop putting ourselves out there. It means we should stop obsessing and hanging onto every word someone says. We need to transfer all of the energy that we spend obsessing over people who don’t care for us onto our goals, onto our passions, and onto things that make us feel empowered all on our own. Too often we feel validated by relationships or the amount of people who want to date us. If we spent as much time caring about our ambitions, our work, and the people who already love and respect us as we do caring about why someone does not, I bet we would all be much happier, with or without someone by our side.

2. Stop obsessing over social media.

The likes. The filters. The quotes that may or may not have been posted about you. We’re all guilty of it. We look for acceptance through likes and posts. What we wind up doing is obsessing over other people and the lives that they’re living or the lives that we think they’re living. We compare ourselves to what and how we see others doing. By playing in this constant social competition we lose our freedom in doing things for ourselves and instead we wind up doing things so that others can see us. We stop living in the moment and start letting pictures depict who we are. Social media is so ingrained in our culture that it becomes almost impossible to take a much-needed break from it. We have this constant fear that we’ll miss out on what’s going on online when we really should fear missing out on what’s going on offline and in the real world.

3. Stop obsessing over past relationships.

It’s human nature to hurt after a relationship ends. We want to be in a relationship that’s insanely passionate and romantic, but unfortunately not every one of them will meet that expectation. It’s important to hurt and reflect on what you’re feeling and why, but it’s not OK to obsess over what you could have done better. We find it far too easy to blame ourselves for failed relationships and point out every little imperfection in ourselves. Instead, we should take some time to process our emotions. Whether that involves talking it out, writing it out, or just taking time to really think about what worked and what didn’t, it will ultimately teach us something that we can carry into our next relationship. Let’s face it—if we don’t know ourselves or what we want, how can we expect someone else to know? Every relationship is a learning experience and we will grow from every one of them. What we can’t do is just run to the next person who gives us attention because it’s an easy way to avoid the pain of rejection.

4. Stop obsessing over the status quo and the path that everyone else is taking.

Sometimes we forget that not everyone shares the same definition of success. Family members, teachers, and the media have drilled the idea of what a successful life looks like into our heads. We’re taught when we’re young that we need to receive good grades in school to get into a reputable four-year college so we can get a 9-5 job that pays well. Then soon enough it’s time to settle down and get married and start having kids. Sadly, success is often measured by how much money we make and “living a fulfilling life” is equated to carefree partying and traveling. The beauty of success is that it means something different to everyone, and we have the ability to define it for ourselves. When we take the time to figure out what exactly success means to us, we can then figure out how to achieve it to live a fulfilling and happy life. The process of figuring this out isn’t easy and it is also very different for each one of us. Some people go on adventures and some people meditate. No matter what we choose, we need to welcome alone time, be comfortable being uncomfortable, and take a break from our busy schedules to give ourselves some clarity. We can’t let others dictate how we want to live our lives. We have the freedom to go off the beaten path without the fear of being looked down upon or judged.

5. Stop obsessing over hooking up.

Often we dwell on the number of people we’ve hooked up with or a so-called “friends with benefits” situation that will never turn into a real relationship. We place more of an emphasis on hooking up than on going out and getting to know someone. We develop attachments to people who in reality we may never want to date or become serious with. By allowing ourselves to get caught up in this “hook-up culture,” we are building a closeness with someone who may never be attainable. As a result, we start to feel rejected when things don’t progress. Once we create this type of relationship, we tend to get lost in it. We get stuck with nowhere to go except into a real relationship or forced to leave the situation altogether. Unfortunately, most of the time there is no fairytale ending to this scenario. Let’s challenge ourselves to get to know someone before jumping into a physical relationship filled with false hopes and unmet expectations. We’ll thank ourselves later.

6. Stop obsessing over the future and the idea that the best is yet to come.

We keep wishing for tomorrow and the thought of how great things will be in a few days, a few months, or a few years. The only time we have is now, and now may be the best time of our lives. Yes, there may be some great days ahead of us, but there also may not. So here’s to not wishing away our days and instead appreciating the people that we have in our lives now who surround us with unconditional love, support, and respect.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/uHgWzAYMV8k/story01.htm

I’m one of those heartless girls who doesn’t cry during movies, and I’ve whipped up a list of what typically goes on in my head when people point this out. Only those who share this lack of emotion with me will genuinely understand. If you do cry during movies, take notes because you’re getting on my nerves.

1.

“How come you aren’t crying right now?” I am sad, believe me. I just don’t cry during movies. I promise I am not a heartless bitch.

2.

Ask me why I don’t cry during movies one more time and I’ll eat your liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

3.

“OMG, we’re gonna watch _______ together. You’ll definitely cry during this one!” I cannot tell you how many times people have tried to get me to watch supposedly tear-jerking movies for the sake of getting me to cry. It never worked. Nice try.

4.

“You have no heart!” Really? Just because I didn’t cry when Jack froze to death or when the fucking dog died in Marley & Me means I have no heart? You should be a psychologist.

5.

Speaking of which, Marley & Me is frequently mentioned when people ask about my lack of tears during movies. No, for the 20,349,587th time, I did not cry.

6.

“Why are you laughing? This is a sad part!” HAHAHA I know but you all look so ugly when you cry that I just can’t help myself.

7.

Once in a blue moon, you’ll talk to guys who’ve confessed that they’ve cried during movies, then they get pretty embarrassed when you tell them that you never have.

8.

“I just don’t understand how you don’t cry during movies!” WELL NEITHER DO I, BITCH. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.

9.

It’s my allergies, I promise.

10.

Best of all, I’ve never had to purposely wear waterproof makeup to a movie theater.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/5NIMW2J69rI/story01.htm

It’s the first day of class and you look up to see the personification of a manly/womanly unicorn of lusty professorial magic. There’s a social stigma attached to engaging in relationships with professors, and sure, maybe it’s not the most responsible course of action. However, I love to flirt, and it’s way more fun when there’s a little danger behind it. I don’t have the best willpower when it comes to resisting the urge to flirt with professors and I confess, I may visit office hours a little more frequently than what is deemed morally or socially appropriate. I also don’t give a damn. When I see a math professor whip out a complicated equation in his head while I’m still struggling with long division, it’s a huge turn-on.

I think it’s time we all just admit that professors are effing hot. They are well-educated, older (which means experienced), and sometimes even wear sexy plaid shirts. (That might just be my math professor from last semester, though.)

I, along with many other students, find myself attracted to professors. I have had this conversation with multiple people and while the teacher thing doesn’t do it for everyone, it is not uncommon for a student to find their teacher the object of imaginary, lust-filled romps through stacks of dusty textbooks, maybe even with a portrait of Ernest Hemingway watching. That is not to say that these romps will ever come to fruition, but regardless, the fantasies occur. I was having a discussion with a new friend and our mutual attraction to professors was brought up. Something she said stood out to me as universally summing up the professor/student thing. “I don’t know, I guess there’s just something about academia that really turns me on.” When phrased in this way, it seems almost irrational to not be into professors.

Some people might think it’s a power/control kind of thing, but for me a lot of it lies in finding an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge in someone. People who still genuinely love to learn are beautiful and rare. When I get down to the root of it, I am attracted to professors not just because of the khakis and button-downs (I could find that in any accountant’s office), but because of the passion they exhibit for whatever subject they are teaching. I have found people who agree with me and people who think I’m a little weird, but I’ll be happily reconstructing a portrait of Kurt Vonnegut’s face out of literary quotes while listening to documentaries about World War II on tape.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/oMfAAVfrnwg/story01.htm

I was in a used bookstore in South Haven, Michigan the first time I picked up a book by Richard Brautigan. I bought In Watermelon Sugar for 50 cents and read the yellow stained pages while I sat on the pier overlooking Lake Michigan. Isn’t it funny how memory works? I can’t remember basic items when I’m out grocery shopping but I can always remember every book I’ve bought or have been given right down to the location and the mood I was in that day. So, I bought the small little book and I instantly became enthralled with Brautigan’s writing style. I loved his sense of humor and the strange, interesting way he looked at the world. I’ve been re-reading some of my favorite poems and chapters from his books over the holidays and thought I’d share with you a few memorable bits I think you’ll like.

---

I will be very careful the next time I fall in love, she told herself. Also, she had made a promise to herself that she intended on keeping. She was never going to go out with another writer: no matter how charming, sensitive, inventive or fun they could be. They weren’t worth it in the long run. They were emotionally too expensive and the upkeep was complicated. They were like having a vacuum cleaner around the house that broke all the time and only Einstein could fix it. She wanted her next lover to be a broom.

---

Love Poem

It’s so nice
to wake up in the morning
all alone
and not have to tell somebody
you love them
when you don’t love them
any more.

---

It’s Raining in Love

I don’t know what it is,
but I distrust myself
when I start to like a girl
a lot.

It makes me nervous.
I don’t say the right things
or perhaps I start
to examine,
evaluate
compute
what I am saying.

If I say, “Do you think it’s going to rain?”
and she says, “I don’t know,”
I start thinking: Does she really like me?

In other words
I get a little creepy.

A friend of mine once said,
“It’s twenty times better to be friends
with someone
than it is to be in love with them.”

I think he’s right and besides,
it’s raining somewhere, programming flowers
and keeping snails happy.
That’s all taken care of.

BUT
if a girl likes me a lot
and starts getting real nervous
and suddenly begins asking me funny questions
and looks sad if I give the wrong answers
and she says things like,
“Do you think it’s going to rain?”
and I say, “It beats me,”
and she says, “Oh,”
and looks a little sad
at the clear blue California sky,
I think: Thank God, it’s you, baby, this time
instead of me.

---

Real Estate

I have emotions
that are like newspapers that
read themselves.
I go for days at a time
trapped in the want ads.

I feel as if I am an ad
for the sale of a haunted house:
18 rooms
$37,000
I’m yours
ghosts and all.

---

Gee, You’re so Beautiful That It’s Starting to Rain

Oh, Marcia,
I want your long blonde beauty
to be taught in high school,
so kids will learn that God
lives like music in the skin
and sounds like a sunshine harpsicord.
I want high school report cards
to look like this:

Playing with Gentle Glass Things
A
Computer Magic
A
Writing Letters to Those You Love
A
Finding out about Fish
A
Marcia’s Long Blonde Beauty
A+!

---

I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone

I was trying to describe you to someone a few days ago. You don’t look like any girl I’ve ever seen before.

I couldn’t say “Well she looks just like Jane Fonda, except that she’s got red hair, and her mouth is different and of course, she’s not a movie star…”

I couldn’t say that because you don’t look like Jane Fonda at all.
I finally ended up describing you as a movie I saw when I was a child in Tacoma Washington. I guess I saw it in 1941 or 42, somewhere in there. I think I was seven, or eight, or six.

It was a movie about rural electrification, a perfect 1930’s New Deal morality kind of movie to show kids. The movie was about farmers living in the country without electricity. They had to use lanterns to see by at night, for sewing and reading, and they didn’t have any appliances like toasters or washing machines, and they couldn’t listen to the radio. They built a dam with big electric generators and they put poles across the countryside and strung wire over fields and pastures.

There was an incredible heroic dimension that came from the simple putting up of poles for the wires to travel along. They looked ancient and modern at the same time.

Then the movie showed electricity like a young Greek god, coming to the farmer to take away forever the dark ways of his life. Suddenly, religiously, with the throwing of a switch, the farmer had electric lights to see by when he milked his cows in the early black winter mornings. The farmer’s family got to listen to the radio and have a toaster and lots of bright lights to sew dresses and read the newspaper by.

It was really a fantastic movie and excited me like listening to the Star Spangled Banner, or seeing photographs of President Roosevelt, or hearing him on the radio “…the President of the United States…”

I wanted electricity to go everywhere in the world. I wanted all the farmers in the world to be able to listen to President Roosevelt on the radio…

And that’s how you look to me.

---

It’s Time To Train Yourself

It’s time to train yourself
to sleep alone again
and it’s so fucking hard.

---

I drank coffee and read old books and waited for the year to end.

---

 Boo, Forever

Spinning like a ghost
on the bottom of a
top,
I’m haunted by all
the space that I
will live without
you.

---

I Live In The Twentieth Century

I live in the Twentieth Century
and you lie here beside me. You

were unhappy when you fell asleep.
There was nothing I could do about
it. I felt helpless. Your face
is so beautiful that I cannot stop
to describe it, and there’s nothing
I can do to make you happy while
you sleep.

---

Probably the closest things to perfection are the huge absolutely empty holes that astronomers have recently discovered in space. If there’s nothing there, how can anything go wrong?

---

Karma Repair Kit: Items 1-4

1. Get enough food to eat,
and eat it.

2. Find a place to sleep where it is quiet,
and sleep there.

3. Reduce intellectual and emotional noise
until you arrive at the silence of yourself
and listen to it.

4.

---

Romeo and Juliet

If you will die for me,
I will die for you

and our graves will
be like two lovers washing
their clothes together
in a laundromat.

If you will bring the soap,
I will bring the bleach.

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Sometimes life is merely a matter of coffee and whatever intimacy a cup of coffee affords.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtCatalog/~3/jCx3CMJHH6k/story01.htm