“This I Believe” is a project designed to stimulate this sort of thought. The majority of works herein are responses to this basic proposition: what do you believe? Every piece in this issue will attempt to answer in a convincing and creative manner, and I invite all our readers to question their own assumptions just as we did here.

Letter To Readers

The structure, identity, and tone of Unaffiliated is wholly dependent on our audience, who supply the majority of material each issue. This aspect of our creation is not an unfore-seen one. It is, in fact, the fundamental assumption of our endeavor; that you, the reader, will actively engage with the material and opinions on the pages of our magazine and even con-tribute your own ideas.

This process has led some to call our activity a “community-building” one. For me, there is no higher compliment. It was perhaps the lack of community that sparked the idea for the magazine, and if it has helped fill the void that created it, I can do nothing but beam on proudly.

In this special mini-issue, our writing community is knit much tighter than in our usual output. It is entirely the work of one class, namely the senior Philosophy Tutorial taught in the Fall semester of 2009 by Nim Batchelor. I wanted to integrate the philosophical thoughts and works of our class into an artistic medium, and felt that I could do so without harming the integrity of Unaffiliated.

In fact, the usual message need not be tailored specifically towards a more philosophi-cal issue. We named the magazine Unaffiliated partly to have the freedom to create outside boundaries of genre, environment, or medium. In articulating a more philosophically-minded issue, we are simply branching out into that portion of our audience’s collective mind.

All in all, this mini-issue will be a success for me if it resonates with our regular audi-ence. Above all else, the notion of belief is explored in the subsequent pages—an idea both in-nately philosophical and inherently mysterious. Our beliefs are hard to pinpoint; they seem to arise out of thin air and sometimes vanish just as instantaneously. Many don’t stand up well to questioning or logic, while others, despite being accurate and reasonable, have terrible conse-quences of their own.

1

Table of Contents

This I Believe

Nim Batchelor

Katie Griffith

Jim Aguilar

James Bailey

pg. 3

pg. 7

pg. 11

pg. 15

Joey Schmissrauter pg. 19

Kristin Seum pg. 23

Scott Hendrix pg. 27

Eric Kimball pg. 31

Shawn Kennedy pg. 33

Carl James pg. 35

Mini-Meditations pg. 37

This I Believe

One day, after realizing that I was, in fact, merely silently

talking to the ceiling, it occurred to me that I should undertake an

experiment in atheism. I would try to think like an atheist for six

weeks. After that time, I would decide whether to stay with it or

return to my theist upbringing. Seconds later, it occurred to me

that there was no heaven or hell, no angels or demons, no spirits of

any kind. Nor was there such a thing as evil—merely good or bad,

right or wrong, but no evil. Years later, I would learn that there

were extensive and sophisticated philosophical arguments both for

and against the existence of God, but, for me, it was never really

about arguments. The atheistic world view, the naturalistic world

view, or now being a Bright, simply seemed to fit. I was at home.

It made sense. Plus, given the political and cultural turmoil of the

times, it was not surprising to find that there was widespread cul-

tural support for an ideological fraud that was used to manipulate

and control those who were unable to think for themselves. For me,

although the philosophical question was settled, I would struggle

with the social ramifications of my choice for years.

3

This I BelieveNim

Batchelor

Over the years, I have run the gamut from being a “flaming

Atheist” who felt compelled to attack the belief structures of any

Theist who would listen, all the way to being someone who could

care less about the topic and wouldn’t take it up in conversation

with anyone. One day, while talking with a Christian colleague,

I was astonished when she vehemently challenged my suggestion

that it was far easier to live in this culture as a Christian than it was

as an atheist. She was unmoved by the fact that I felt compelled to

teach my children to be “in the closet” about their (lack of) beliefs

when they were in school. She also discounted my pain at being

ostracized and having to endure being told that I am evil in spite of

the abundant evidence that I’ve lived an exemplary moral life. My

astonishment was such that, today, I honestly can’t recall the hard-

ships she recounted. I only know that many Christians are intoler-

ant and hateful in ways that Atheist simply are not. Just as extreme

homophobia is often grounded in sexual insecurity, perhaps some

Christians are intolerant and hateful because of the metaphysical

insecurity they feel as a result of trying to hold a position that has

been rendered implausible by the surrounding scientific culture.

It often seems that their metaphysical perspective is so fragile that

it can’t withstand the mere presence of a dissenting voice or of an

alternative perspective.

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This I Believe

I believe that I have found a way of being an atheist that

enables me to be open to the goodness that emerges in the way that

some Christians are with their Christianity. I also believe that it is

vitally important for Christians to find a way of being with their

Christianity such that they can be open to the goodness that emerg-

es in the way that I am with my atheism. It is wrong and destruc-

tive to judge others based on your own metaphysical insecurities

or even on your own metaphysical certainties. Rather, if moral

judgments are appropriate, they should be made on the basis of a

person’s character and/or their behavior. It is time for Christians

to see that they should stop treating atheists as dangerous merely

because we do not share their metaphysical commitments. This I

believe.

5

Nim Batchelor

This I Believe

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This I Believe

I am lifted towards the light and the music that electrifies and

transcends my body. I relinquish myself to be consumed by the power

of something greater. I am stirred to life by the way the music happen-

ing in front of me unhinges my inhibitions and allows me to experience

life in a nearly metaphysical way. The experience of live music inevita-

bly taps the still, mysterious well of my emotions.

I am surrounded by people towering over me, all dripping in

sweat. I swing curiously and clumsily with the motion of the crowd.

Together with them, I lunge forwards and backwards, sliding against

those in close proximity, and I raise my arms to the sky as though to

give praise for the moment I am sharing in. I sing and shout in unison

with the crowd and against the wailing rifts of the enormous speakers.

I cannot hear my individual voice nor do I want to. It is as though my

individual existence is irrelevant here. I am part of a wave of urgency

to hold onto this moment.

I believe in the power of live music.

7

This I BelieveKatie

Griffith

I believe only live music can form a congregation like this.

There is a contagious energy that is born out of the togetherness. As

the concert progresses, the energy becomes continually embedded

deeper in my being, and in my soul. Here tonight, I am manifested

through the energy; I am the energy. The philosopher John Dewey

would deem my interaction with live music as an aesthetical experi-

ence.

For nearly as far back as I can recall, I have invited live music

into my life. I started attending concerts at an early stage in my ado-

lescence. My inception into the concert-going world began through

the process of begging my mom to transport and chaperone my

friends and I to concerts. I often flashback to myself as the eleven

year old girl that protested the end of her first concert by remain-

ing seated long after the main venue lights went on. I remember the

truths I found in the insistent string of Eddie Vedder’s words, and the

love I felt for every soul-shattering arrangement of rock and roll. It

shook my insides and descended into my stomach like a dark, shiver-

ing liquor. My first live music experience gave me an insatiable hun-

ger for more. When reminiscing about my past, it is no surprise that

many turning points in my life ( i.e. my 18th birthday, the night of my

high school graduation, and countless New Years’ celebrations) were

accompanied by live music.

unaPHiliated

While I have changed and progressed as an individual over the

succeeding years, live music has always remained my unfailing pas-

sion. Currently the homepage for my internet explorer is the website

JamBase, whose slogan is, “Go See Live Music”.

I can neither forget nor replace the aesthetical experience I en-

counter through live music. No matter how deeply I fall for the music

blasting through my computer speakers at home, I will never fall out

of love with the live experience of music. It is of the greatest intima-

cies in my life that will never be lost.

I believe Plato says it best,

“if music be the food of love, play on.”

9

This I BelieveKatie

Griffith

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

To be completely honest, I don’t believe in much. Or maybe it’s

that I don’t hold on to my beliefs very dearly. I expect them to shift

and change over time, and I have no doubt that in several years, my

outlook on the world will be completely different. William James sug-

gested that our beliefs are shown through our actions, and that an

external force has to force doubt upon our beliefs for them to change;

the stronger the belief, the more doubt needed to shake it up.

One of the strongest beliefs for many in this country is that we

are a shining light for the rest of the world—that we are without a

doubt the greatest country in this world. Europe is too old and so-

cialistic, we’re told. Asia, too secretive. Africa and South America, too

poor. Australia, just plain crazy. As for our neighbors, they are mostly

leeching off our greatness, and should feel lucky to have such won-

derful allies so nearby. This is an exaggeration, of course. But skim

through a run-of-the-mill middle school history book and tell me just

how much exaggerating I’m doing.

11

This I BelieveJim

Aguilar

Those who insist on our superiority hardly ever define their

terms; it seems as if our greatness is all-encompassing. However,

we are not the happiest country in the world, nor the healthiest,

the smartest, or even the freest. We have more people in jail than

any other country, and more people uninsured than any other

developed nation. We still undertake various covert military opera-

tions in third-world countries, and are still supporting dangerous

dictators simply to oppose communistic regimes.

When these facts are presented to someone with our great-

ness securely held as one of their most devout beliefs, they gener-

ally resort to our economic status as the wealthiest country in the

world (although they seem to ignore our 12 trillion dollar debt).

They say, regardless of all other statistics, that if you go to school

and work hard, you can make it here. This always rings strange to

me; in other countries, you can “make it” by just being a human.

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Our greatest error has been to substitute an economic theory

into an all-encompassing politico-moral one. Not to mention, our

country is no longer even the most free-market! What was once

meant to spur individuals on to more greatness has now become an

excuse to comfortably ignore widespread social afflictions. How tell-

ing is it that President Obama’s tax plan, which raised the rate on the

richest citizens by four percent, was immediately labeled “socialism”.

The political dialogue in our country (supposedly another sell-

ing point of the greatest-advocates) has been reduced to kindergarten

levels. One representative recently labeled the proposed government

health program, which would cover a measly two percent of our

population, as “the crown jewel of socialism”. Equally disconcerting

is the blind faith Democrats have in their new leadership.

13

This I Believe

As for me, I’m starting to wonder if I wouldn’t be better off

in a country where socialism is not an empty threat of a word, but

rather a description of the altruism present in its constituents. A

country where politicians don’t take stances based on campaign con-

tributions, where educators don’t teach to standardized tests, where

doctors don’t get rich off others’ misfortunes. Are we the great-

est country in the world? I’m not sure, but I don’t plan on sticking

around to find out.

Jim

Aguilar

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

I believe that the human race should not be so judgmental.

What shapes this belief is how I often catch myself constantly

profiling people, something I have concluded is a problem that

most people have, and one that needs to be fixed. I started think-

ing that it really wasn’t fair what I was doing to others, but yet

I still did it. My mother has always told me that it’s what’s on

the inside that counts, so when I choose my girlfriend or wife it

shouldn’t solely be based on how “hot” she is. People are made up

of more than just their appearance, so to hastily make a decision

on just looks can, and does, lead to opinions that are unfounded.

15

This I BelieveJames

Bailey

The ubiquity of people just like me results in a nation di-

vided into categories that are often considered to be irreconcil-

able. White and non-white, Republican and Democrat, rich and

poor, and even universities versus community colleges. These

are all bifurcations that commonly exist in our society. We are

so quick to base our opinions on characteristics that do not truly

matter in the grand scheme of things. It’s not about our labels,

the clothes we wear, the things we have (or don’t have), it’s about

what we have to offer. Businesses these days are focusing more

and more heavily on diversity. Why? Because they realize diver-

sity creates a synergy that otherwise would not exist. Similarly, we

need this elimination of barriers to happen elsewhere in order to

enhance social relations between the people.

I am certainly not arguing that everyone can always get

along, but what I am saying is that we all have something to offer

to each other, and that separation inhibits the interaction between

people. I also have not overlooked the fact that actions speak

louder than words, but our actions are manifestations of what’s

on the inside. We as a nation just need to give people a chance to

be viewed equally.

unaPHiliated

This separation is not only evident in day-to-day activities

such as walking around a college campus or walking downtown

to grab lunch, but also in more serious matters- I noticed it in the

courtroom this summer. Think about a jury, and how they have to

ultimately decide the disposition of a trial. If most of them are like

me, they might have already made up their mind after the opening

statements were delivered. Is that fair? Does this allow for justice

to be served? Similarly, if we’ve already decided that someone is

less intelligent, or not as good looking as we are, then we have not

given him or her a fair opportunity to be treated as we expect to be

treated. We can see a glimpse of the Golden Rule emerging out of

the concepts I’m talking about.

Even though we might disagree with people or might think

that since we fall under different political, religious or social cat-

egories we can’t learn from each other, we can. And this is some-

thing that needs to happen to give others a chance. A chance that

they deserve to have. A chance that some may never have because

we are all so quick to judge. We need to look beyond appearances.

This I believe.

17

This I BelieveJames

Bailey

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

I believe in birth and I believe in death. I believe that life is a

man or woman’s personal aptitude toward renewal of self, and the

human body is what taught me this lesson. Skin dies and is born

again, hair falls out and grows back (right now), and broken bones

eventually do mend. I’ve recently learned that broken fingernails

actually grow back, too. If this body is to be my life, I should remain

under its good counsel and never cease to rethink, rejuvenate and

reorganize myself.

Take that which makes up almost all of our bodies, water,

and makes all necessary bodily functions possible. As a matter of

fact, no life could exist without it.

We can treasure it in many different forms. The most trea-

sured I believe is liquid water, its ability to fill any shape and space,

transmute itself according to that void which encases it. Water has,

along with its life-giving qualities, the ability to snuff out living

creatures that cannot cope with its ravenous deluge.

19

This I BelieveJoey

Schmissrauter

There are no targets for water though, no true destinations

either. It dispassionately moves from the mountain stream, through

tributaries towards the rivers and then the ocean. It is then that wa-

ter concedes to the Sun, and returns to the sky where it is dropped on

the high places of the world. The principal force that once drove the

downhill amble is no longer the master of the cloudy mist, already

blown to far gone places.

The ocean apprises the mystic to me. It belittles me and shuns

me. I look onto its surface and see nothing but a flickering horizon

that to new, untested eyes would appear as the end. But it goes deeper,

and the deeper it goes it seems the less that light can show.

I was told as a child that there was a man that could walk

across the water, and that he was the son of God. There are many that

believe in him as God’s offspring, but I choose not to. I choose to deny

that this ever happened. I choose to be a blasphemous, ocean-wor-

shipping mystic.

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I choose to be a son of the world. Instead of walking on the

surface towards an unattainable horizon, I choose to sink.

I choose to engulf myself in mystery and in possibility. Life

again? Will I be there? Most likely not, but I must look at what I am.

If I am almost all water, I must seek advice from water. I don’t infer

magical qualities to water, but I do consider it a genuine reference

point to support self-understanding. I believe that the self cannot be

concrete; it must always be changing when placed in the void of the

moment. I do not believe that the sum of my parts are my whole,

I can only choose worldly things to conclude what defines me as a

part of this world and this life.

Thus I find that my will should be to always challenge and

change my own self-conception. I feel that this is how I can ensure

I am using the precious time I have effectively within this place, this

time, and this body.

21

This I BelieveJoey

Schmissrauter

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

I believe in the phrase “live every day as if it might be your

last.” I do not necessarily take this statement to the extreme; I don’t

do something outside of my comfort zone every day or take the time

to do something that I’ve always wanted to because while I would

love to do some of those things, it’s not reasonable to think that my

daily schedule will always allow time for other activities. Rather

what I mean by live every day as if it was to be my last, is to make

sure that at the end of the day I have no regrets. I may not have got-

ten everything done, but I am satisfied with my life and the people in

it.

I first decided to live by this philosophy when my grand-

mother died during my junior year of high school. Though she had

been in and out of the hospital many times that year, her death was

still unexpected to me since I had not recently heard of any health

problems. I was immediately struck by the realization that I had not

talked to her in months and that the final time my family visited her,

I did not go with them because I chose to take a trip with friends in-

stead.

23

This I BelieveKristinSeum

Though this was not a situation where I had said something I

later regretted or done anything that I necessarily shouldn’t have, it

still made me reevaluate my priorities and made me more aware that

those you are close to can be gone at any second.

This realization that those you love can be gone so instanta-

neously has had an impact not only on how I wish to live my life, but

also how I actually go about living. I had always heard this statement

before, but never knew the effect it would have on me. It’s not only

that others may be taken away from my life, but that I could also be

removed from theirs. This philosophy to live every day as if it could

be your last has driven me to connect more to those that I am close

with and to make sure that my family and friends know that they are

important and influential in my life. Even on extremely busy days or

times when I’m immersed in work or another activity, I make sure to

set aside at least five minutes every day to talk to my family, though it

may only be a brief discussion about our days.

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My experience with death made me realize that I wouldn’t want someone

close to me to die without talking to them and letting them know what they

mean to me. I believe it’s important not to let those connections you have

with other people fall by the wayside because of distance or busy sched-

ules; you never know when the last time you get to talk to them will be.

This experience also led me to believe that you should never leave

a situation unsettled unless you’re satisfied with that decision indefinitely

because you may not have the chance to change this path you have taken.

If you abide by this idea, you won’t regret anything you said or an argu-

ment you had if the situation was left on good terms. I also believe in

taking opportunities that life presents you with so that life is not wasted

away with “what ifs?” It basically comes down to taking whatever actions

necessary to attempt to live without regrets, though accepting that mis-

takes will be made and thus regret will sometimes be present. I believe it’s

the effort to carry out this principle that is important, though it may not

always be carried out successfully, the attempt will lead to a more fulfilled

and happy life.

25

This I BelieveKristin

Seum

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

I believe that we should all have a good time all the time.

That we should never be bored or displeased with what we are

doing, but in a way continuously seize each moment of the day

through challenging ourselves.

Many people I know bore through their daily activities of

work or chores in order to enjoy themselves after. People associ-

ate a certain feeling or connotation to the physical location of these

activities, and thus anything done that remotely resembles them

will also relate boring or negative thoughts. This is more specifi-

cally seen in the classroom, which many people feel is a place of

learning, and thus hold the association that when they are out of

the classroom they are free to do whatever it is they enjoy to do. It

is easier, maybe freer, to hold such a belief as this, so that one may

only suffer through a few hours of his or her day in order to enjoy

the rest. However, this is not a good way to live one’s life.

27

This I BelieveScott

Hendrix

I did not consider anything such as this until deciding to

major in philosophy, after which I was no longer taking classes that

force students to memorize things for tests and quizzes. What I ex-

perienced was a search for knowledge, found in the discussions and

essays in my philosophy classes. I began to realize that this search

for knowledge was not merely a grade received in class, but some-

thing that was supposed to continue as we left the room and went

on about our day. This recognition allowed me to begin to enjoy the

learning process not only in class – something new – but outside of

class as well. Though most people still do not know I am a philoso-

phy major, they will at least have noticed a greater interest in my

understanding and comprehension of my classes.

This greater interest is part of having a good time all the

time. When searching for knowledge, a person is challenged, and

if that person gives up when the class is over, they forfeit all their

effort and will likely be displeased. By giving up on a subject when

not specifically in the location designated for its study, a person will

likely develop displeasure with that location.

unaPHiliated

This is because as a person leaves the room and “files away”

everything just studied or discussed, they will hinder their own edu-

cation and thus not learn anything, thereby developing a feeling of

doing a great deal of work in the classroom without any benefits

whatsoever – besides possibly a good grade.

I didn’t consider this until I began taking philosophy my fresh-

man year of college. Prior to this, every class had been very black and

white, very cut and dry. Every date was to be memorized, each person

to be associated with a war or year, etc. After entering a discussion-

based class it was easier to view learning in this new light. After expe-

riencing the pleasure of learning or understanding something new, I

wondered what was different about these other classes, or activities at

work or home that I found boring or unenjoyable. The difference, I

realized, came down to the desire to better one’s self and the environ-

ment around him or her.

29

This I Believe

In class, the memorization and quizzes, though perhaps painful,

will present some challenges and develop some knowledge of those facts.

Therefore, challenging a person or giving them new knowledge or insight

is an action or activity that cannot be said to be boring. At home, in doing

chores cleaning, a seemingly routine activity, a person is bettering them-

selves by brightening their own environment.

What I believe is that through challenging one’s self in every aspect

of the day, one may no longer be “bored” or displeased, but will have a

happier life.

ScottHendrix

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

My high school years were spent mostly in a boarding school far

from my home in Hilton Head, South Carolina. This boarding school was

Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, a beautiful school right on Lake

Winnipesaukee, with about 400 students. From my experience there I

learned something that I have held as a core belief ever since. Time is the

most valuable substance at your disposal, so use it extremely wisely. In

an instant your life could radically change and things you normally take

for granted might no longer be there for you. So always spend time wise-

ly and make sure you value every minute of it. When I was attending

school there in my senior year, I decided to drink beer with one of my

dorm mates. We were caught the next morning and promptly expelled,

because the school had a no-tolerance policy on drugs and alcohol.

Within a span of about 24 hours, I said goodbye for the last time to many

of the friends I figured I would have for a lifetime. Only two individu-

als from Brewster have contacted me and seen me since I was expelled

nearly 5 years ago.

31

This I BelieveEric

Kimball

My two best friends when I was at Brewster were Liam and Dean,

and these were the two who kept up with me. While I am glad I still have

their friendship, the complete rupture in time that was those last 24 hours

at Brewster Academy did not leave me with the time to make sure I would

keep in contact with most of the close friends I had at the time. The sheer

distance of the school from my home also made this extremely difficult.

Although most of that part of my life is gone, I will value it forever and the

lessons that I learned in my 3 years in New Hampshire. The biggest les-

son I learned was to make every moment in my life precious, and value it,

because that moment will never come to pass again. Time is something we

have so little of, and I feel that this may sound cliché, but making sure you

spend that time living life to the fullest is one of the most important things

an individual could do. I can’t even begin to say that I have even done this

in my life. Every human being makes mistakes, but stepping back and gain-

ing a perspective on the true value of your time is a very good thing to do.

EricKimball

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

I don’t know if I believe in anything. Sometimes I’m sure, most times I’m not. Fairly certain there’s no god. Fluctuating certainty clouds my mind.

I know I love a girl, but what about her? Or her? Who truly knows what anyone else is thinking?

I know why I smile or frown. I know that the mind can set itself free in any circumstance.

I know I’m tired of bullshit, hypocrisy, and conformity. I love hu-manity, but I worry.

We live to die. We smile even when we cry.

I feel as if life is the foundation of addiction. Everyone goes through the unbridled emotions of life. All the better. Understanding is a more difficult journey but ignorance can be more intoxicating than any drug.

33

This I BelieveShawn

Kennedy

We drink and smoke. We joke and toke. We throw away things that we claim once gave hope.

Where do you go once you reach the summit? After you’ve hit the glass ceilings of life? It’s a fucking trip but we take the ride.

Turn up the beat, dance in the streets and find another lost boy to meet.

We have to recognize the gravity of life. But fuck it: drink up, smoke up, play it again, choose her just one more time, again.

Every where I go I got people I know. I lay on the flow. Think of days past while I light this fire under your ass.

Tell ‘em you love ‘em whoever they are, and think about going just way too far.

That’s why I don’t tie my shoes. Try to tell me what to do.

ShawnKennedy

unaPHiliated

This I Believe

My attention is now drawn to philosophy, and the prioritization of its

pursuit. I have thirsted for knowledge all my life, and I have now found

not its elixir but the means for generating it. When I say that my life

is best served, you (my relatives) can do not but scoff, and for this I do

not blame you. But I do judge you. It is no more the blindfold that has

been put over your face than it is the one you have tied yourself behind

your head where your eyes could not possibly catch you in the act. Yet

the irony of the matter is it was the same one that I had clutched to so

dearly. And so this is the pity I hold for you, because the cover for my

eyes was wrenched off not through my own doing, but incidentally as a

result of both that evil rat race from which I am now free, and the luck

that has followed me always. I guess I am starting to become a believer,

in what though I am still not sure.

35

This I BelieveCarlJames

CarlJames

unaPHiliated

gave up countdowns at age 15 and haven’t been tempted since

having a bout with sincerity

never say never, or completely, or forever

read yesterday’s news in today’s context while leaving room for tomorrow’s unforeseeable possibilities

when is ‘oh well’ a good thing? life cant be all ‘oh well’ or you’ll do nothing. cant be no ‘oh well’ or you’ll do the other nothing.

life is a combination of sames that makes a different too late for us to recognize its originality.

the answers are never the hard parts. the means make the ends and what most people want to accomplish simply takes more than they’re willing to give.

if we were living perfectly, what would we talk about? Maybe perfection sounds like silence. A total peace with oneself would never have to be shared. So who’s keeping the secret?

Mini-Meditationsby Jim Aguilar

37

never say never, or completely, or forever

i wish i knew less people like you. then it wouldn’t be so easy to know exactly what you want to hear.

nice guys dont finish last, they’re just running a different race

a phony hates everyone. he hates those who see right through him because they make him ashamed. he hates those who don’t because of their stupidity. most of all he hates himself because he cant seem to let go. even worse, he’s not sure he wants to.

romanticism is all about distance. why tell someone you love them when you can show them instead?

one time i thought we were all in control of our own lives and destinies. then i remembered how much my life sucks.

I make up pet names for all the girls I’ve slept with. There was tiny dancer, the nosy neighbor. I’m gonna name you strangely unsatisfying.

why be racist when there are better reasons to hate most people?

soon there will be an iphone app that monitors your heart rate. when you die, it will send out a mass condolence e-mail.

unaPHiliated