And lets get to last weeks rousing question!
1) Is there a point where free speech shouldn't be allowed?
Ahh the age-old question of when to speak up or shut up. According to the Bill of Rights set forth by our fore-fathers millions of years ago, we have the freedom of speech. But what does that really mean?Most people would argue that it means we can say whatever we want to say, and that no one can stop us from opening our mouths. That's all fine and dandy, but is there some invisible line that separates what we can say, and what we can't? Yes the amendment guarantees us the right to blab on and on all day long, but does that mean we should? In modern times, we have seen numerous examples of when the freedom of speech is called into question. One, of course, would be the controversial video ridiculing the Islamic prophet Mohammad, which could have very well caused the deadly attack on the U.S. Embassy in Libya, which took the lives of four individuals, one of them being the U.S. ambassador. Does that cross the line? This individual did exercise his freedom of speech, but at what cost? It further heightened the anti- American feelings in the Middle East, but since we protect that right, no punishment is dealt out.
So can we draw the line on free speech, and, if so, where? The problem with attempting to put limits on freedom of speech is the fierce backlash of opposition which comes with such talk. People think suddenly cry out censorship and they feel that their first amendment rights are being infringed on. If you talk about maybe restricting what people can and can't say, suddenly people go berserk and think that the government is being too controlling and suddenly we're having riots in the street and protesting on the steps of the White House. It's sad really. People are so arrogant that they think they can say anything, without thinking of the consequences. Another example could be with cyber-bulling. Every day, kids are bullied through social media and wireless communication, yet they're "allowed" to say it because its free speech! It may be frowned up, but its not illegal, so people think they can get away with it. So can we draw a line without pissing everybody off? We may never know.
On a slightly depressing note, lately we have been watching a documentary dubbed " The Way We Get By", a documentary recording and exploring the lives of three elderly people who are a part of the Maine Troop Greeters. Within this group, we have Bill and Jerry, both retired from the Armed Forces, and then we have Joan, whose granddaughter is currently shipping off to Iraq as a helicopter pilot. They are all rather old, yet they still have some kick in them. These people dedicate almost all of their precious time to driving to an airport, and greeting troops either leaving the U.S., or returning to it.
The documentary is somewhat somber. It encapsulates a topic that most people aren't comfortable discussing : what happens when we get to that ripe old age? If you were to ask most people now how they envisioned themselves when they are in their golden years, many would envision themselves living these lives of extravagance, and having everything they still have now. Well, let me give you a dose of reality: that will never happen. What most people don't understand in this society where everyone focuses on the young, they don't comprehend the horrors that the elderly go through. 
People don't understand anything nowadays. They think that life will always be full of the people they love, and that they're gonna live for forever. Not.gonna.happen. On top of showing the amazing acts of kindness committed by the Maine Troop Greeters, this documentary shows what being old is like. It shows all the terrible aspects that we don't want to think about. It highlights all the aspects that we push out of our minds : your body breaking down, all your friends dying around you, your children being too busy to see you, losing your husband or wife, being alone... but worse of all... losing the will to live. 
The will to live. When we are young, this isn't something we typically think about because we always have something else to do. We have a purpose because we're doing something. But what happens when you get older? When you're old and feeble, when you can't physically do anything, what then? Do you just sit by and waste the numbered days you have left? Ahh see now I got your attention because I am making you so uncomfortable. See nobody wants to think about that time when you get to the age where you don't know if you're going to wake up the next day or no. Scary right? That's why we don't think about it. We don't think about it because we know where we're going next, and lets just say you won't be seeing much of anything. It may be an uncomfortable subject to discuss, especially when you're so young and you have your whole life ahead of you, but it's something that must be discussed. Because you're not getting any younger. 
So, do you have a will to live? Do you have that special something in your life that makes you get up in the morning every morning, and no, school doesn't count, but something that you're passionate about. Something that makes you smile whenever you're doing it. Maybe you're super passionate about painting, and you become the next Picasso or the next Van Gogh. Maybe you're really dedicated to sports, and you become the next Michael Phelps or Michael Jordan. It can be anything! But it's got to be something. You have to have that will to get up, and live life.
Bill, Jerry, and Joan all said throughout the movie how being a Troop Greeter was what kept them going through their hard times. Bill has found out he has cancer, Joan's grand-daughter is going off to fight in Iraq, and Jerry has just lost his best friend, his dog Flanagan. Yet, having this purpose, this will, kept them pushing forward, despite the hardships thrown at them. To them, having this organization is everything. Without this, they would just be waiting for the day that the light finally goes out. So, what is your will to live? Have you ever thought about what you live for? Maybe you should start, because time slows for no man, and someday you will in your rocking chair out on the porch in the sunlight, and you'll think to yourself, why am I still living?
This has been a very powerful journal entry, because it really gets you thinking about your life and what it means to you, plus it gets you thinking about your future and where you want to end up. Honestly, I know this class is Critical Thinking and Ethics, but we have to get some fun in here somehow! Just putting that Krazyy Thought out there :}. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! It's been great today y'all, but Kit needs to go out into the world and do great things... and by that I mean go to my room and complete the massive amounts of homework I have due for tomorrow. But before I go, i want to leave y'all a question. And the Question of the Day is!....
1) How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
Sorry wrong question :}. The real Question of the Day is...
1) Do most people find their will to live? If so, when?
And with this final question, I bid you a fond farewell. Until next time, this has been Krazyy Thoughts by Kit :}.
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