The State of the Union

 I have been saying, recently, that the United States are gone and there is only America. America was the glistening paradise, Camelot, the land of dreams...was.

For decades Americans have been able to rest on laurels, both rightly deserved and sometimes unjustly taken. None of the following is exhaustive, but they are important aspects of history that are easily glossed over.

Just a little note, I will be breaking one of the first rules of writing about history in that I’m going to use “we” a lot. I know myself and most people that would read this weren’t alive for most (if any) of what I’m writing about, and I know we all don’t like to feel guilty for things that aren’t “our fault.” But the issues, the history, I’m summarizing here continue to affect millions of people- and the majority of Americans still descend from the groups that were at fault...and we do have a responsibility to make reparations and move forward. Particularly since we now know how trauma carries from generation to generation.

The first colonists came seeking religious freedom, a value we continue to hold tightly to today. But some faithfuls, regardless of creed, advocate that their religious beliefs should be law...the very practice being escaped some 400 years ago. 

Our first colonists drove Native Americans from their ancestral lands. Sometimes with compensation...sometimes with violence. These practices continued, for centuries, until through wars and illness and deadly relocations resulted in reservations as we know them today. Even then conversion and cultural assimilation were tactics used to continue to destroy languages and cultures deemed “lesser.” Today we can tout services and programs and scholarships...but few of which are appropriately managed or advertised- and many that come too late to break negative cycles.

Then came the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. And cash cropping. And a death toll and abuses that can never truly be accounted for. Families torn apart and kept in unthinkably horrid conditions. Children taken from their parents- sold- because they were viewed as property. Slave status followed the mother’s, and many owned their own children as a result from rape. “But the Civil War!” “But the Emancipation Proclamation!” Let’s remember share-cropping, a cycle that benefitted former slave owners and kept freed people indebted when they had nowhere else to go and nothing else to their name. Even then it wasn’t enough. Faced with large numbers of men who could now vote for the first time, literacy tests, poll taxes, and myriad other means were enforced to keep those voices silent until 1965.  

Our dedicated forces helped win both World Wars...but not without ignoring the problems for far longer than we discuss in our history classes. Our country was pulled from the Great Depression not by “our bootstraps,” but by profiting from manufacturing arms. We don’t discuss the massive loss of human life in Japan both during and after the atomic bombs were dropped, we discuss the affront to the American people in the attack on Pearl Harbor. We certainly don’t discuss that Russia, one of our strongest allies in WWII, had killed millions of its own people systematically in the 1930s- and continued to do so into the 1950s.

We barely discuss that it wasn’t only Jewish people being targeted by Nazi Germany, but other ethnic minorities as well. We don’t discuss that it was also anyone with disabilities. We don’t discuss that it was also homosexuals. But given our focus on the Jewish population we also don’t discuss that the global population has never recovered. 

Similarly we rarely discuss such unpleasantries that look bad upon reflection: the Chinese Exclusion Act in particular is missed. Japanese internment camps (we say internment because somehow we’ve been led to believe they were different than concentration camps). We don’t discuss non-involvement in things like the Armenian genocide (or any other genocides under the Ottoman Empire) despite acknowledging and providing aid...because we didn’t step in to stop it. 

We don’t discuss United States led imperialism. What we call “Westward Expansion” and “Manifest Destiny” are pretty words to hide the atrocities that resulted in our modern landscape. And this imperialism wasn’t just “at home.” No, we also don’t discuss the occupation of the Philippines until after WWII.That our military presence in Japan has led to a “pro-American” indoctrination and they are still not allowed a standing military. The fact that Hawaii was a recognized kingdom and the US took that too. 

Ask yourself what you learned about US History. Were you told about the Trail of Tears? The Massacre at Wounded Knee? Was it more important to know that each enslaved person gave a slaveholder ⅗ additional vote...or that some people in Europe crossed the sea as an indentured servant? Did you learn about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad? Rosa Parks and her bus seat? Martin Luther King Jr. and pacifist sit-ins? I imagine probably so, but were the reasons why discussed? Were you told that it was about ending segregation? Were you told that until the 1960s many people of color still couldn’t vote? 

The most basic of American ideals was the concept of representation, yet at every turn there have been obstacles for those who weren’t white of European descent. Sure, there were exceptions there too (see: Irish need not apply), but they essentially prove the rule. 

When we discuss “rights,” remember that you do have the right to swing your fist- but that right ends at your target’s nose. You have the right to practice religion, have guns, say whatever you want...but if those ultimately infringe on other people’s rights you should face consequences. 

Americans are at a crossroads, and we have so many possibilities ahead. We’ve left a year that has highlighted so many of the dysfunctions in our country- and those aren’t going away simply because the calendar has moved forward. But we can embrace our history, learn from it, do better by acknowledging our flaws. We can’t change what happened but we can change what’s happening and will happen in the future. 

We can’t take back the last four years with a little “Whoops!” footnote. We can’t pretend that our Capitol wasn’t literally breached by domestic terrorists. We can’t pretend we aren’t culpable for that too because this country has failed each and every citizen by sweeping its failings under the rug and blaming the other party for using the broom even as they hold the rug up for them. 

Some apologist historian out there is already writing about how Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, will not be remembered for the myriad lies, or the lack of decorum, or being impeached (possibly twice)... but as someone who saved America evidenced by the tidal wave of civic engagement and interest in politics and governing. 

This will ignore, of course, the complete lack of understanding many people had for the processes and legalities they questioned if not outright opposed. But they volunteered as a poll watcher for the first time. Some voted for the first time. Some contacted their legislators to make sure their voice was heard for the first time. 

Every problem, every institution we saw highlighted in 2020 has been known, documented, reported on, studied for years. And we’ve failed to correct them at every opportunity. 

Because America believed they were better than and “saving” Native Americans.

Because America accepted completely nonsensical “evidence” that Blacks weren’t human.

Because America rejects education- particularly liberal arts.

Because America allows money and industry to mean more than lives. 

Because America ignores and forgets its blame and seeks to punish those who oppose. 

We can’t continue like this. We can’t keep sticking our heads in the sand and pretending our way is best when our people are going hungry and homeless at rates similar to the Great Depression. We can’t keep saying our “Founding Fathers” got it right- we’ve already decided they didn’t have a full picture 27 times!

We give up certain freedoms to participate in a civilized community. Sometimes this means things like wearing a mask so you and others can all feel comfortable regardless of your own thoughts on the matter. 

When the majority of the country are not accurately represented by their government, something in the process needs reworking. When a system whose founding was calculated on the backs of disenfranchised enslaved people persists and creates misrepresentation, that system needs reworking.

If the premise of the United States, and thus the federal government is the pursuit of life, liberty, and property, then the federal government should ensure equal footing in those pursuits. This means providing things like basic income, healthcare, housing, and -yes- education. Anything beyond is on the individual, and that’s okay. 

When people don’t have to work to live, they are more productive to society. When everyone has healthcare, and thus the freedom to shop, better insurance and provision of services happens. 

Small, local businesses are the heart of what made America, but they are dying under capitalism. The current system continues to allow consolidation of companies under various loopholes, until there won’t be anything left

At the end of World War II the United Nations drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States agreed- but you would be surprised how many times America has found itself in violation. Similarly the Millennium Development Goals...most of which are issues in our own country. 

I can’t cover all or solve any of these problems, obviously. I’m really just here to say that we’re not doing good...and we can’t afford to lie to ourselves about it any longer. 

Supernatural 15.20 (Carry On): The Most Imperfect Perfection

 Let me begin with the most sincere thanks to the cast and crew of this show. It's been an amazing ride and I could spend days writing about what this show means to me and so many others. 

It's because of that devotion the fans are incredibly split on the finale, the episode that resolves the Winchester brothers' tale. Regardless which camp one falls into, based on what's been discussed we all were a little cheated by covid because it taxed the entire production and stifled some possibilities. 

The final episode was always going to be painful, and it was always going to be perfect for the boys...because Jared and Jensen would never allow nor deserve otherwise. 

This finale was a love letter to their start back in season one. We see the boys on their own, fighting vampires- a season one big bad staple, John's journal making one last appearance, Dean's love of pie. The Impala and the open road and even Sam's adorable baby hoodie I would pay money to see held up against the original because that's a laugh we could all use. (There's dozens of other beautiful parallels but the outfits and the "Hey, Sammy" got me bad.)

Jensen should win every award for once again delivering a phenomenal performance. Dean's death was heartbreaking, and the nod to always keep fighting had me ugly crying even harder. 

I think every fan can agree that if they weren't going out together, Dean was always going to die before Sam. Driven home at the time he makes a desperate deal at the end of season two is a simple fact: Dean never wants to live without his baby brother. 

Sure, he tried- made a good go at that apple pie life after Sam jumped in the cage- but that was over as soon as a djinn walked up to him in a bar.

Signs of Dean's depression in 15.20 were subtle, but spoke volumes. His room has usually been a decent compass for Dean's state of mind, and here we see it littered with pizza boxes and beer bottles. A carelessly "made" bed. Finding a dog and allowing it on Baby's leather seats, Dean found some hope...some will. Miracle returning to the bunker as Dean's support, an extra tether and reminder to keep living- even if it's for someone or something else. I think this is important because we saw at the beginning of season 13, very clearly, Sam wasn't enough anymore. There was too much grief and loss and Dean was more than prepared to die then on a relatively simple hunt...to finally break free of the vicious cycle of pain and perceived failure. But not without Sam's say so, because Dean's raison d'etre has always been Sammy. 

The signs of Sam's resignation hinted at from the time Dean spent in purgatory, the way Sam has always seemed to make romantic connections (not solely physical), has hinted that Sam would walk away from hunting...and the only thing keeping him in the life is Dean. (This is where I have to insert some interpretation because I've always felt this was far more a Dean self-deprecating perspective than a sincere narrative).

All this leads to: Dean's final breath after Sam permits is so tragic and beautiful and fitting. 

Similarly, Jack's reshaping of heaven is perfect. The paradise he was always meant to usher in, true free will both on earth and heaven- the Winchester legacy. 

The true nod to the family and love shared by the boys and everyone they knew and saved in life. The orphan they took in and helped raise ascending to protect everything the Winchesters fought for. Castiel assisting as a final declaration of love for humanity, but with clear understanding it was to give Dean what he deserves after his fight.

And the assurance that Sam would be along before he could even miss him.

Sam lives out his life, marrying, raising a child, clearly passing on some kind of knowledge of hunting...living for a new Dean the way his brother always lived for him.

The final scene, Dean greeting Sam in heaven, was the perfect end. The brothers who saved the world time and again FINALLY at true peace. Soul mates ready for a brave new world together with all their family and friends able to live out everything they may have missed in life.

Like I said, the ending was always going to be perfect for the boys. Both spent their final days masquerading as men with reasons, carrying on until laying their weary heads to rest...and heaven was waiting for them. 

So why the vitriol? Well, this has been a 15 year journey and characters change...every author will tell you someone always surprises them. And, well, this ignores a lot of that. 

Because in being a love letter to season one...it places them smack back into the plot they'd fought 15 years to break out of. Because season one was part of Chuck's plan, and the ending he showed Sam earlier in season 15 had a pivotal "one last hunt"...of vampires. With the added salt in the wound of an unresolved John Winchester hunt that fucks it all up for both of them...feels a lot like they didn't win after all.

Dean, for example, was obviously in a different place than season 13- he was trying, even if old bad habits die hard. His story genuinely seemed to be hinting towards retirement, though the general theme of being tired remains. Season 10 we see Dean finally say he's not ready to die, that this life isn't all he is. The questions Dean asked of Jesse and Cesar, in season 11, again suggest far more that he's not tired of life, he's tired of fighting and anger and the betrayals. By the end of season 13 he was legitimately talking about retiring. But Chuck just kept throwing bigger and bigger bads at them and Dean was thrown, once again, into a series of sacrificial motions. Free of that, Dean seemed destined to try really living.

Castiel gives him the tool to firmly reshape his view of himself- the unconditional love from a celestial being asking for and taking nothing. That leads Dean to continue despite the depression; to apply for a job and take in a dog despite disliking them his whole life. He was trying to make all the sacrifice mean something...only to die shortly after? Even with the excuse of losing so called "plot protection" it feels cheap, and cruel. At least give the boy a year, even if we know it never would have been enough. 

But who knows, maybe Dean's life depended on him choosing a throwing star that would distract the vampire and mean a non-lethal impact with the rebar, if any.

Dean's funeral is, to me, one of the biggest travesties. I'm blaming covid because the legendary Winchesters would draw a crowd any day, but Dean made so many connections with so many people. Gave love so freely the whole world could lay claim. Dean deserved the Tony Stark funeral (or heavenly reception) and Sam shouldn't have had to burn him alone.

Leaving Sam to live a life he hinted he no longer felt was for him, to stop hunting and live as he knows Dean wanted him to also feels a bit hollow. It reads like living his life not for himself or his wife or child but for his dead brother...going through the motions until he, too, dies almost entirely alone save for the last Winchester. We see here the Sam Dean never wanted- one that couldn't really move on from him.

Not saying he didn't appear at least somewhat content or even happy, but the imagine of his aged self crying alone in the Impala felt like a common occurrence. 

Then there's the question of all the others. The question of the family that didn't start or end in blood that were absent from Sam's life and Dean's death (except for Bobby). Again, blaming covid but I feel like they could have found a way to use archive footage.

They should have found a way to have Misha there. I doubt Jared and Jensen had much say in the matter but I like to believe they'd have fought for that if able. Because to exclude someone who also gave a solid decade of their life to this, to exclude a character they've time and again acknowledged as their best friend, their third (fourth?) brother, is so hurtful. The few mentions aren't enough, the name carved into the table isn't enough, the exclusion from the "season finale" the week before only makes it worse. I get not wanting to have to address the whole Destiel of it all but I guarantee people would have rather had him there than any real resolution to that. (Less seriously, was Dean wearing Castiel's tie during their interviews because I kinda think he was which is another mild balm on my soul.)

These points are where I think fans feel most betrayed. Because if the rest of the characters, even Castiel, don't matter then it's easy to surmise...the rest of the SPN family doesn't matter either...and most of us don't see ourselves in this episode, getting to say goodbye to the boys through the secondary characters we came to love and relate to.

I have to think they meant this to give us, the audience, that same mandate: Carry On, but in minimizing the finale to the boys and the paths they were on in season one...I think the messages of what made this show so loved got lost.

Personally, it also felt very rushed. I'd have waited two years and watched a 2 hour movie to resolve some of these. Because I think the outline is perfect, but the devil is in the details and since Jack is Lucifer's son, well...they've got work to do.

Miss Jean Louis

Miss Jean Louis- loyal servant to our populist overlord Misha Collins- has been our steady source of unhelpful riddles throughout 2016's round of GISHWHES.

A braver soul than all of us, Miss Jean Louis is full of important, rare, talents. We'll be discussing one of them today: the ultimate nanny.

Now, many consider Mary Poppins to be the epitome of nannydom. But, honestly, Jane and Michael were basically saints when compared to Misha. Somehow, Miss Jean Louis manages to keep him in line and keep all of us informed on the goings on of the behind the scenes world (all while still managing a life and a few charitable organizations on the side- nbd for someone who is clearly a time lord).

So, while each of us is humiliating ourselves in the name of charity (at least that's what we tell our parents) Miss Jean Louis is off doing what time lords do best: taking care of their companions while bemoaning the fact that it's really all their own fault that they're in the mess they are.

So, thanks, Miss Jean Louis, for helping us be successful (and keeping the item count under 200)!

I'm sorry Jesus!!!!

It occurred to me today that I have *never* missed posting in an August since I began this blog. Even though I only had one post in 2013 and only this one so far in 2014, I have always managed to write at least one post during the month of August. That being said, I would like to share a story from my days at the hotel (which ended a year and a half ago):

So, the holidays are really slow at my hotel. We mostly cater to a business crowd so they're all having terrific vacations with their families unlike those of us in the service industry.

Anyway, since it's slow, the computer has to entertain me for hours. Otherwise all there is for me to do is polish silverware and stemware and whatever-other-kinds-of-ware.

Feeling nostalgic, I began looking up some friends I haven't spoken to for a while on Facebook. See- this is what Facebook was created for. Keeping up with people who now live long distances from you.

That being said, I looked up this guy that I knew in high school. Junior year to be exact. That I definitely had a crush on.

Unfortunately, this guy was also studying to be a Catholic priest and was five years older than me.

Basically, I just bitched and moaned about how nothing would ever happen while my friends were all thinking that I'm an idiot. They were so, so right. Looking back, I probably would have shot me if I were them.

The last time I ever spoke to this guy, I was at Taco Bell. Long story short, I poked him with a straw. That was it. I just poked him with a straw and there was nothing more. I was feeling all elated that he chose to sit next to me after I sat away from him.

Apparently I should not have done that.

I later found out that he had decided to take a break from seminary, he had joined right after high school and wanted to make sure it was the right path for him.

It became a running joke that it was my fault he "turned from God." I admit, I always felt kind of bad because what if they were right?! (And if they were, dude! I was only a year away from being legal! Come on!)

Okay, now to the point of this post. I practically need to go to confession if it is "my fault" that he left the seminary.

...Because he now works at a bar, watches Family Guy, Death Note, FullMetal Alchemist, Battlestar Galactica, and Stargate SG-1.

He also listens to Lady Gaga.

Dear God: I apologize.

Small Talk

So funny story, at least I hope it's funny because I laughed an inappropriate amount while thinking it. Today at work (I have left the hotel to join the people of the light once again- goodbye forever night shift!), I was extremely hungry. I'm a bit stupid and forgot to bring a snack to tide me over lunchtime to when I get to go home and eat again.

Anyway, occasionally there's food just sort of sitting in our break room. It's a free-for-all and today I was much more excited to see food in there than I was on Monday. Monday there was week-old cake in the break room. If anyone who doesn't know me is reading this- I dislike cake. Frosting makes me gag and the texture is just...not to be discussed.

Today, though, today there were some muffins in there. Chocolate chip muffins to be exact. This is important information because I'm not just talking about bran muffins or something else that's only appropriate for breakfast- or better yet, never.

So, being of hungry stomach and drastically slowed down mind, I took one of these muffins back to my office.

There's only one problem- I actually share my office with another of my coworkers. So I'm sitting here sneaking bites of this muffin like I'm breaking the law or something. All to avoid one simple thing: small talk.

Because, sometimes, you just don't want to talk about the muffin you're eating.

Small talk revolving around what one is eating is the absolute worst! They'll be sitting there, making observations about your food and the fact that you're eating- possibly even asking you questions like "Oh is that blueberry?" or, god forbid, "Is it any good?"

And the whole time they're speaking at you, you're sitting there chewing, eyes like a deer's in headlights, wondering why the hell you thought you needed this muffin so badly that this penance escaped your mind when you grabbed it.

Anyway, my muffin is almost gone now. I've evaded an awkward conversation...for now.

It just keeps getting better...not!

*Dusts off soapbox* Ahem.

Last year I decided to attempt and be an advocate for a few things that I feel fairly strongly about: people not giving a damn about other people, universal access to clean water, same-sex marriages, etc. Each of these issues is important to me and I would love to take my little soapbox all the way to D.C. to bitch at the people who are being so ignorant about all of it.

But today is a special day. Today I want to rant about legislation that directly affects me. To begin I want to say that I am not as well-educated on this subject as I am on the other issues I've discussed. I don't have a lot of pretty statistics to write down or any fancy and convincing quotations from experts. or anything like that. What I have is a brain and feelings, and I want to have those feelings heard- if only be the internet.

So, let's just get this sort of taken care of right here: I'm going to be ranting about all this extremely terrible legislation involving rape and abortion. And I'm fairly certain this is not going to be pretty.

When I first learned about rape I was told, repeatedly, that it was not about sex. It's about power and control. (Unfortunately for the second part of my ranting, it's still sex, but we'll get to that.) I'm not sure when the psychology of rape was lost on all these politicians, but it seems like they've never heard this concept. I get that some of them may be a little older than this being taught in schools- but why the hell aren't they researching this subject in depth?

Not to mention the biology of it- I know they learned about that. Or at least learned enough to know what sex is and what sex isn't. Unless they're just a bunch of virgins and can't admit it because they have four kids.

Now, what confuses me most about all of this hullabaloo is this idea of "legitimate rape."

Let me say that again: Legitimate. Rape.

As if somehow being raped isn't bad enough, now there's a question about whether or not it was legitimate. "Oh, I'm sorry, it appears your body had an involuntary reaction to this forced act, clearly that was a conscious decision on your part and you liked it.

Or, my favorite, "You were in an area, alone, at night, where you know there would be other people. Why do such a thing when you know something like this could happen?" "Why wear such a short skirt and a tube top unless you wanted some?"

I mean, what? Somehow you are responsible for things your body does, like...oh I don't know, yawning after seeing someone yawn. Sure there's a slight difference because yawning isn't traumatic, nor does it often bring out your fight or flight response. But still- the idea is the same. It's an involuntary response to a stimulus.

And this whole business about "asking for it"? What. The. Hell? Maybe someone, somewhere, has one of those domination kinks where something like this is desirable. But for the majority of us? Uncomfortable, humiliating, and all around demoralizing.

Yes, I'll have a side helping of "my life is shit" tonight. I really needed something truly horrible to happen to me to make everything else in my life look just that much worse.

I love when that happens, don't you? Somehow adding another crappy thing to my life makes everything okay. So of course I would encourage such a thing.

Barf. Just...barf.

And, finally, this whole thing where, if a woman is impregnated during rape it's not actually rape because "the body has natural defenses to stop itself from getting pregnant if it's rape."

Um...what? I think I smell something, and it's not formaldehyde because they clearly skipped biology.

Where do they get this information? Do they live in that world that Katie talks about in Horton Hears a Who where everyone eats rainbows and poops butterflies? Just...no.

Sorry, the body cannot somehow distinguish between forced ejaculate and....happy ejaculate. It's all sent into the body in the same way. A woman has the same chance of getting pregnant during rape that she does any other time sex happens.

There are a lot of things I partially understand. Hell even this new Arizona legislation I'm going to bitch about makes some sense.

What I don't understand, is why this kind of stuff exists in politics. To be so completely ignorant and just plain stupid should not be allowed in the public sphere- and certainly not out there making the laws that govern us. Keep your stupidity to yourself.

Which brings me to my next topic- this new law in Arizona that defines pregnancy as starting at the end of the previous menstrual cycle.

See, this almost makes sense to me. I get that the idea is that the ovum is technically beginning it's maturation. So the potential for life exists. I get it.

But...come on. Really? Unless that egg is fertilized that day, there's no potential for life. Honestly, even if the deal was that it was something ridiculous like "once conception has occurred the pregnancy is considered to have started the first time the female participated in coitus after the termination of the previous menstrual cycle." (Like how fancy that sounded?) See- then at least the potential for conception existed. Still stupid.

And all of this bureaucratic bullshit is focusing on one thing- abortion laws.

I'm not sure if I've said this on here, but I'm pro-choice with a very pro-life mentality. I don't want abortion to exist, I certainly don't want my taxes to go towards it, and I always hope that there's another option for those women to choose.

But God help you if you try to take that right away from women. Because as much as I don't want it to happen- those women are going to make that choice regardless and I want the safest possible environment for them and will defend them


It takes a lot of guts to go through with an abortion. Because every time they go into that clinic, people will insulting them, telling them they are horrible people, and generally making the whole situation even more stressful than it is by default. There's no reason that these protestors should be allowed anywhere near that building.

But this is America. And we're free to do shit like that.

One more time: This is America. Let's try and uphold those values we've been trying to- you know that whole freedom thing?

The most startling thing in all of this is that most of these legislators, the people making laws that affect women and their bodies and mental state, are men.

I honestly cannot think of anything more insulting and horrifying as a bunch of men who don't know basic biology and psychology making laws that affect woman where biology and psychology are important factors. 

So to these men who just want to "protect unborn lives," just...fuck off.  If you're so concerned with the global population go have sex with your wife and your five mistresses and leave the policy-making to someone who understands what they're talking about.

Reading...Or Something Along Those Lines

Alright, so I have a little ranty-rant that I've gone over about 20 times with people in real life, so here I am to bring it to the internet.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I'm usually not a reader, but..." since the horror that is Twilight was unleashed on the unsuspecting masses.

I was standing in a checkout line in Target a few years ago and this woman behind me had a copy of New Moon in her hands. It was the only item she was purchasing. I told her to go put it back before she regretted it.

Her response: "Well, I'm usually not a reader, but these books are really good! It only took me three days to finish the last one."

I imagine this is the mindset of most of the people who really enjoyed the Twilight books, and most of the popular crap out there today. They don't actually read often enough to recognize when bad things are published.

I, less than politely, told her that the first book had tricked her into thinking it was good because it was easy to read. They are actually at a 4th grade reading level- which probably says more about reading habits than anything.

It took me four hours to read each of the Twilight books- that's 16 hours total and I sorely wish that I had that time back.

Don't get me wrong- props to Smeyer for writing four books.My problem is that people are so enthralled with something that's just...not good.

I admit, part of me is probably just really upset that people keep comparing it to Harry Potter. I mean... that's like comparing an apple to a fire-breathing dragon (haha, ironically the cover of the first Twilight book has an apple on it and the first Harry Potter book has a fire-breathing dragon- comparison win!)

The thing about Twilight that's truly tragic is that there's really nothing good that can come from it. There are no good morals or characters to strive to live up to. I mean, really, the protagonist is a blah girl who moves and falls in love with a creepy stalker. She spends most of her time worrying about the fact that she's growing older and won't be attractive to him anymore.

Then she gets married. And has a baby. The end.

For example, Beauty and the Beast has sometimes been mocked as a story about Stockholm Syndrome and all the main character does is fall in love and get married.

Except that at least there's a deeper level in that Belle has to overcome society norms regarding what one should find attractive.

What does Bella do? Falls in love with a "Greek god" figure.

There's also nothing truly original about it. I guess it's kind of interesting that becoming a vampire enhances ones psychic ability- even if it's completely latent when a human. But there's massive potential to recreate well-known mythology and make it something different.

Again- Harry Potter. Rowling managed to create an entire fantasy world that has redefined what we think of wizards and magic.

Even the Percy Jackson series- which I admit I thoroughly enjoyed- managed to revamp the classics and build a new perspective for younger audiences.

Vegetarian vampires are not a new concept. Vampires having psychic abilities isn't new. Vampires being able to go out in sunlight isn't new.

The sparkling is new, but almost not even worth mentioning.

Alright, enough ragging on Twilight. I just needed to get all of that out to get to the main point- Parents really need to start reading books before they let their kids read them.



I'm not saying kids can't think for themselves and choose what they want to read. But seriously- what kids read affects the way they think and act. Do you want your sons to grow up to be stalkers because Edward did it? Do you want your daughter to name-smash your name with her mother-in-law's (okay, worse things could happen, but I think it's stupid so it belongs here)?