By Nicole Demouth

Yes, last week I said that I often lose respect for groups such as the ACLU, NAACP, NAAWP, KKK, and so on. The reason I feel this way is because I prefer to encourage the true individuality of people. In laymen’s terms – do it on your own.

Live in the now. Don’t read pamphlets or sit in seminars. Don’t stare at the television and believe word for word how someone else sees the world. Go out there and learn the ropes yourself. Find out how it feels to be in the wrong or in an uncomfortable situation and soon enough you’ll find yourself in the right one.

It bothers me when I listen to people who relay incorrect and ridiculous information about themselves or others because they’re uneducated, but they watched a debate on television. It bothers me when high profile names come out of their holes when they think us “little people” are in need or in the dark. Alec Baldwin swore he was going to leave the country and that we should too if Bush was elected, but he still hasn’t left. Jesse Jackson is all over Enron, but shouldn’t he be taking care of his baby?

Life is so much easier when you ignore those who cannot make decisions for you and make them yourself. Self-empowerment.

If we researched our history on our own, we just might eliminate even a little bit of the dirt that those who hate us throw around. If we lost out on a job because of what we look like or what we prefer in life, then we could fight whole heartedly for what we deserve. If we encourage our siblings to work hard in high school then they’ll receive scholarships and accept ion letters based on their ability, not their skin or income level. And it would all be derived from the abilities within each of us.

I don’t appreciate these active groups engrossed in politics and money. It’s funny how in organizations that push for equality and unity, there are such vast levels of power. I’m not trying to serve as an anarchist here but these groups that we are attracted to day in and day out are for the good of the man or woman at the top. The KKK even surpass their own ignorance by outranking and ousting each other! Idiots.

AARP, NRA, and AAA are about the extent of the memberships my family, friends and I have had affiliation with in my lifetime. And they’re just add-ons! They save me money, not dignity. I’m extremely happy with that lifestyle. Just as you may be with yours. Still, I received some ignorant emails after last week’s article and well, most of them were pretty unfair. “Like water off a duck.”, seems like a good response to those.
I also commented on protestors last week. I thought I had a good example. Others did not. So tell me pro-protestors (wink, wink), would you rather pick up a steak, season it, throw it on the grill, and produce it to your guests on the deck? Or would you rather stand at the counter, staring at raw meat, chanting at it with your knife in the air – “Cook! Cook! Cook!”.

Don’t expect things to happen – make things happen.