A second strong opinion in a week.

Yes it's almost a national disaster, two strong opinions in a week, although they both stem from the America vs Islam debate. Yesterday commemorated 9 years since 9/11 and I can still remember exactly how I found out about it, however the memorial this year was marred by the protests for and against the proposed mosque in the World Trade Centre memorial.

I can see where those who are against the building are coming from, out of all proposed ideas for building usage, why was a mosque selected? The protesters have nothing against mosques really, but the idea of having a constant reminder of reason these extremists took so many lives is unbearable and others believe that allowing the mosque to be built shows weakness against Al-Qaeda.

However, I am again on the side of tolerance, maybe this wouldn't be the case if I was a New Yorker, or if I had been there that day, but the way I see it thousands of people die of cancer each year but I doubt a single relative of a victim would protest against a new cancer care unit of a lab to work towards new treatments, and while the circumstances aren't exactly the same, I think the mosque should be viewed as a healing patch, where both sides can learn tolerance of each other, and work together in harmony finally for once.

xxxx

A hard worked girl.

The second half of this week has been shattering, I'm not quite sure why, it's probably an adjustment thing, but it's a shock to the system certainly. On top of this, I've got homework assignments from pretty much all my subjects, but fingers crossed, I shall stay organised these following months.

However, taking inspiration from the catchphrase, work hard, play hard, tomorrow is my unofficial day off and I shall be heading to a youth festival set up by the local council with all my lovely friends, and I'm really looking forward to it, because I've never been before. If you're going, you'll have to find me somewhere in the crowd!

xxxx

A uneventful yet exciting first day.

Today was the first proper day at college, and despite an obscene amount of maths lessons and the sudden loss of any decent break in my timetable, it wasn't too bad, particularly the chemistry lesson I had earlier, where I found an old primary school friend and a new friend too.

The homework slog has begun too, and though I promise myself to keep on top of it, I wonder how much longer it'll last before I get lazy again! Keeping it short today, because I'm struggling to keep the eyelids open after 3 and a half hours of maths.

xxxx

A world full of hateful people.

I woke up today to an awful news story. It wasn't breaking news, and it wasn't a humanitarian disaster. No instead a small Christian church in Florida have decided that the best way to commemorate 9/11 is to have an organised Koran burning. Yes indeed, these "Christian" people have decided that to protest against the Islamic extremists they need to desecrate the texts of an entire religion. Reading further into the article, I am saddened further in that earlier this year an opinion poll found that over half of Americans view Islam unfavourably. Just take a moment to consider that, half the population of one of the largest and most influential nations, has a bias against a religion that shares many values with all the other religions of the world.

It just baffles me that anyone could possibly think this is the right thing to do, or that Islam is evil. People seem to just associate the atrocities that a few extremists have committed with millions of innocent and good willed Muslims across the world. Do they not understand that this is effectively extremist Christianity and they are adding more reasons for the extremists everywhere to attack again?

I'm just wondering now, if I am naive in thinking that this probably wouldn't happen in England? Yes we have our own extremists here in Britain, for example the BNP or UKIP, but do you remember the reception Nick Griffin got on Newsnight? Can you remember the very low numbers they got in the general election? I don't know know what you think, but the British people seem to generally like sticking two fingers up to ridiculous people like that, don't they?

Tell you what, interactive poll time, tell me if you think Britain is generally more accepting than America on the form to the right.

xxxx

A lovely day out with my friends.

To celebrate our last day of freedom (well for most of us!) I invited a selection of friends round to just spend some time together, and we had a fabulous afternoon just talking with each other really. It was really nice to see friends that don't necessarily spend a lot of time together get on as if they did. We didn't do much, but it was a nice way to end the summer, just sitting and appreciating each other. I love them all and I'm not quite sure what I'd do without them.

xxxx

A worst enemy to nobody but myself.

I seem to be bent on making myself unhappy and unsatisfied, by watching a different Pride and Prejudice version but nonetheless Pride and Prejudice. So once again I torture myself by flaunting the perfect fairytale under my nose, despite the knowledge that such a love is impossible in my lifetime. What a foolish girl I am.

xxxx

A very apologetic blog.

First things first, my apologies to all of those who were worried about the blog this weekend, I arrived home late from my Nan's yesterday and technology failed me on the Friday.

Anyways, I had a rather happily disappointing first day, as I had predicted before, I didn't make vast quantities of new friends, mainly because everytime a conversation started between new friends, out tutor would set us onto a new activity, however everyone I caught a few words with were all lovely, so hopefully nobody hates me just yet.

I made up for it afterwards however by socialising with the tried and tested friends who can always be relied on, and together we went for a coffee and then spent the rest of our afternoon on a large basket swing picking out shapes in the clouds, because you know what? We're not adults yet.

xxxx