I think we underestimate the messages that child movies can portray. I know that this is not the most recent movie, considering it was made 1995, however, I feel that the message that it sends is timeless. Pocahontas is a Disney movie that I grew up with. The thing that I believe makes it a commonplace is the fact that with practically any Disney movie, when with a group of people, if one person begins to sing part of a song, such as “Colors Of The Wind” from Pocahontas, nine times out of ten, someone in the group will start singing that song with you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve experience this. It’s quite a fascinating phenomenon. Most everyone has seen the popular Disney movies, such as Mulan, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, Hercules, etc.

          “You think the only people who are people, are the people who look and think like you. But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll find things you never knew you never knew. ”

          These are lyrics from the song I mentioned before, “Colors Of The Wind.” I’ve also attached the link to the song, in case you aren’t familiar with it. When putting children in front of screen sending messages as powerful as this, it’s no wonder that children have a tendency to see the good in people. If only those adults putting these films on the television for these children would take a second and listen.

          There’s a quote I’m very fond of. “Ask a child for advice. They may not know much, but they know what is important.”  I’m pretty sure I found it on a random website a long time ago, but its message has stuck with me.  Adults have a habit of letting simple things get too complicated, and ending up with hatred in their hearts.

I think everyone needs to go back and visit their childhood at least once a year for a reality check. It may seem as though things have gotten overly complicated, and nothing but negative images fill the world, but if we take that second to look at things from a child’s point of view, we will see that it isn’t the world that has changed, it’s our faith in it, and it is up to us to get that faith back. 

          I have a friend who is extremely active in the fight for justice for LGBT rights. He is actually gay himself. He participates in several projects and has even had articles in newspapers written about him. After being bullied so much throughout high school that he began to fear for his life, he is now completing the remaining of his school years through a program called “i-school.” There are less in-class requirements, and people are a lot more accepting here, so I hear.

          I’m not sure he knows it, but he is one of the most inspirational people that I know. It’s one thing to have to endure the harsh words and prejudices, but it’s another to be able to actually get up and do something about them. To put yourself directly in that light that seems to keep sending so many burns in your direction, and actually face the bullies. I’ve included a picture that he is very well known for. Though it is a few years old, the strength of the message that it delivers has not altered one bit. His name is Alex Fitzgerald, but he now goes by Fitzy.

          I wish I had enough courage to take on some of the challenges that he has. I’m just in awe when I think of how much he has accomplished – and he’s only 17. He’s a pretty incredible human being, and I just felt as though he deserved this special entry dedicated to him in my blog.

          I met him when he was merely a middle-schooler, trying to figure out who he was. I’ve watched him evolve into a beautiful person, and have seen what people can do when they rise above the hatred and scorn. He doesn’t keep it a secret that he has gone through some pretty rough times—what with alcohol, drugs, cutting, bullies.  Being gay is not a joke, no matter the age. It is who you are, and there is not much else that consumes you when figuring this out. He has risen above it though, and that right there is another reason he is such an inspirational person.

. I’m sure Fitzy will continue to stand for what is right for years to come, and he will possibly even go down in history. He’s already gone down in my book as absolutely sensational and fearless. 

          “You’re so gay.”

          “That’s so gay.”

          “Quit being so gay.”

          I hear the word “gay” being used in various sentences daily, and it gets me every time. I just want to ask the people that use homosexuality as a derogative term how they would feel if someone took something so close to them that paralleled their identity and just exploited it in such a way that tore them apart. Now I know that the people who do this generally aren’t thinking the phrase all the way through, and in some cases are even pro-gay rights, but the same delicacy goes with using the word “retarded” to describe things other than a mentally ill person.

          It just isn’t nice. I heard the phrase used this way a lot more during high school, I’ll admit, but even on campus, I overhear it in conversations as I walk by at least once a week. Sometimes even my friends will use the term. It’s just frustrating, and I guess I don’t understand the appeal.

          According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “gay” is defined as: happily excited; bright, lively; given to social pleasures; homosexual. Nowhere in this definition is negative meaning of the word portrayed. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! The word gay originally means “happily excited,” so shouldn’t such an interesting word be used to describe such things? A lot of people don’t’ know this definition of the word, to be honest. Ever since the word has come to define being homosexual as well, it unfortunately isn’t seen much places except in literature, and young foul-mouthed citizens.