Please Participate!!!!

Hello,

If you notice in my blog, I speak a lot about equality.  Well, I have decided to do something a little different for my artwork, which emphasizes similarities that everyone has with each other.  I would greatly appreciate as much participation as possible from all around the globe.  The paragraph below speaks to the project that I would like to work on (it is also available on my website= http://trippkristen.wix.com/kristentripp--art#!connections-project/c1rkk), along with a portfolio of my work):

I am a graduate student in Sculpture at Wichita State University.  Part about what I love when I talk with other people is finding out information that has made them the person who I am talking to at that point in time.  We all have had struggles in our life or exciting opportunities that have completely changed our lives or how we see the world or how we see ourselves.  However, we also all see the memes/messages that float around in cyberspace reminding us that we often forget we don’t know everything that a person has been through that has created the person before us and that we should understand that before treating them disrespectfully.  The memes /messages wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t at least a little bit of truth in them.  This brings me to the point of this request.  I would like to get to know you better.  If you have had something in your life, struggles, opportunities, regrets, etc. or anything that you want to talk about, please contact me with your story.  It will be considered anonymous, unless specified otherwise by you.   I am hoping to take everyone’s story that is gifted to me and create sculptures aimed at emphasizing the personal connections we have with others.  This could be a fragment of your life, just one instant or situation or event that you have been through, or it can be an ongoing situation/event.  Photographs of these will be taken and placed on the site, with possible fragments of the letters.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Please send me your story.  E-mail or by letter.  Thank you! :)

My contact information:

Website’s contact me:

http://trippkristen.wix.com/kristentripp--art#!contact/czpl

E-mail:

connections.project.kct@gmail.com OR tripp.kristen@gmail.com

Address:

1434 North Saint Paul St, Apt. 201

Wichita, Kansas 67203

Rights?

I have a two year old nephew and two nieces, eight and nine years old.  I often find myself wondering who and what they will be when they grow up.  Guessing what type of job or field they might end up in is pretty fun, however, guessing how people will interfere in their lives and rights when they get older is not fun.  What if one of them grow up and discover they are homosexual?  Right now, when everyone assumes they are heterosexual, they have all the rights that go along with being a "normal" person, a heterosexual.  They can dream about getting married to the person of their dreams (as long as it is a man for my nieces and a woman for my nephew), but that all comes crashing down if they are actually homosexual.  Even though more laws are passing to help homosexuals out, more can and should be done.  I could care less about the sexual orientation they end up being.  I want them happy because I love them.  I want them to be who they are and be comfortable with who they are.  People say that "gay" marriage isn't a right but if a heterosexual couple were turned down to be married, there would be a fit.  "Gay" marriage is MARRIAGE.  Stop putting "gay" in front of it.  We are all humans.  Be proud of yourself and help others to be proud of themselves.  You are awesome.  Everyone is awesome in their own way.

Racism: Are you part of the problem?

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about racism.  I have heard blacks talking about whites being racists, I have heard whites talk about blacks being racist, I have heard blacks saying Hispanics are racist, Hispanics saying blacks are racists, etc, every possible scenario.  It is true what everyone says.  Why is that?  Why are people still cruel to others?  We are all the same, we are made up of the same stuff.  If a white person gets shot or stabbed, they bleed and face the possibility of death.  If a black person gets shot or stabbed, they bleed and also face the possibility of death.  If a Hispanic or Asian or Native American or any person gets shot or stabbed, they bleed and face the possibility of death.  How is this a difficult concept?  It isn't, we allow our differences to get in the way.  Everyone needs to realize there is only one race: the human race.  Until people see everyone else as equals, regardless of their skin color or traditions or differences of any sort, there will always be hate in this world.  It is pretty sad that this is something we can change, but we are too busy blaming each other for it when if you are placing blame, you are probably part of the problem.  Look at your role in the world and this problem.  Are you helping the situation or hurting it?  We are all equal.  We all deserve to be equal.  Believe it and treat each other, regardless of any type of difference, as brother and sister.  Be a part of the solution, a part of a progressive world and society.

What is Normal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?client=mv-google&hl=en&gl=US&feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=CnOJgDW0gPI&nomobile=1

Everyone who sees this, please watch the video linked above.  I want as many people to see this video as possible, all around the world.  The message isn't just about sexuality. 

The video above replaces the "normal" heterosexual majority with a homosexual majority, as well as questions regarding gender roles and about bullying and severe consequences of it in general.  The video shows a girl who likes boys *gasp!!!!* in a world where everyone has either two moms or two dads.  One of those moms seems to despise heterosexuals, which you can see more clearly when a heterosexual couple moves in fairly close to them.  She even tells her children to walk the other way to school, even though it is twice as long.  Vandalism to the couple's property begin to happen, spray painting "God Hates Heteros" and "it is a sin for a man to lust after a woman.  It is abomination for a woman to lie with a man outside of breeding season.  Any such person harboring lust in their hearts for the opposite sex will burn in Hell."  I got even more angry when the video captured the truth even more successfully when it showed a group of girls shoving her head in the toilet and a teacher seeing it happen and allowed it to happen and even punished her for it: "It's just a phase, you will grow out of it.  Maybe if you find yourself a nice girlfriend they will stop teasing you."  Then later when she had to run for her life from a group of children who caught her and beat her up and told her to kill herself.  She kept receiving texts insulting her, not even being able to escape the bullying in her own home.  Not only that, but her moms fought, arguing about moving was the only way to basically escape the shame of having a kid beat up for being a hetero.  She gets home late, with "Hetero" written in black marker on her forehead and is bleeding from being kicked around.  All of the events in the video are true stories from victims of bullying.  She committed suicide because she couldn't understand why everyone hated her and why she wasn't "normal."

This is despicable.  Our world.  Our people.  The people who do this to others are despicable.  It is not acceptable.  We should not allow this, but we do.  Enough people allow this to happen.  They allow it in our schools, at our work places, and everywhere else.  This video is so powerful because it shows the TRUTH of our world.  Everyone should be outraged by this.  Bullying happens in our schools everyday, and when the child goes home, sometimes it, because of phones or the internet, it doesn't stop.  They can't escape it.  People are people.  It does not matter if they are homosexual, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual.  It isn't a choice either.  They are who they are.  If you disagree with it, fine, but simply disagree with it and don't practice it yourself.  Most of us know how it feels to be bullied.  I was bullied when I was younger.  It made me feel like crap and I dreaded going to school the next day, even though I loved learning.  Teachers and the administration need to step up and do something immediately when they learn of bullying, and they need to make sure it makes a mark on the bully.  However, it isn't just up to teachers and the administration, it is up to the parents and the children of the bully and the bullied and the ones looking on allowing it to happen.  Parents need to teach their children that bullying is unacceptable and they should stand up for themselves and that it isn't ok.  They need to teach their children that they are SO FULL OF AWESOME that the children actually have confidence in themselves to be independent and to stand up for themselves and for others.

I read news articles all the time on the internet about someone else committing suicide because of bullying, regardless of why (because it doesn't matter - too fat, too thin, "wrong" sexuality," too tall, too short, too awkward, dumb clothes, dumb hair, insert what ever insult you have ever received here _____________, and more....), it is unacceptable.  There is always a reason for someone to make fun of someone else.  It is time to evolve as people.  Here is my plea: have confidence in yourself to stand up for yourself and for others and believe with all of your heart you are equal to everyone else on this earth and treat everyone as though they are your friends and equals.  I don't approve of everyone's lifestyles, but it is their choice.  I can offer my advice if I think it is dangerous, but if they don't have a choice, I can offer a couple of ears to listen or a couple of shoulders to cry on or a couple of arms to offer a hug.  These articles I read are about people, just like you, just like me: they are people who have been hurt, either physically, mentally, or emotionally because they are different from other people.  Heck, even people who are mentally challenged are made fun of, who ever gave them a choice to be how they are?  No one.  And, yet, people see it okay to make fun of them, or they see it okay to pity them.  Both are wrong.  See them as full of awesome and they have potential to be more than who they are, if given a chance, if believed in.  If you are someone who thinks it is okay for someone to vandalize someone's property or physically hurt someone because someone is different than you, then YOU are the problem.  Not the person who is different, because we are all different.  If you are someone who is teaching others that being different is wrong, including if you are leader of a church who is teaching this, then YOU are wrong.  If you are a leader of a church, then you know that the god you look up too, regardless of religion, always states that they, the god him/herself will be the judge of the people when it is time.  Do not take on the job of judgment, because it means YOU are a fool.

WE ARE ALL EQUAL.  Be an advocate for PEOPLE, not for men, women, children, homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgenders, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Europeans, etc., but for PEOPLE.  No one should have to experience hatred of others.  If you hate others, then maybe you should question if it is really the others who you hate...or is it the fact you hate yourself?  If you hate yourself, then why?  One shouldn't hate themselves.  Everyone has an incredible story that makes them full of awesomeness because they are unique and can offer the world something no one else can.  Love yourself, love others.  Support equal rights for everyone.

Unfortunately, I am only one person saying this.  Multiples have a greater impact, so if you share the video, share your voice on the subject of equality, WE can make a difference.  Hopefully, we will see it during our lifetime, if not, hopefully, our children will. 

Congrats MN!

I just wanted to post a short congratulations to Minnesota for permitting same-sex marriage.  I was super happy to hear about this.  However, we have so far to go, just in the U.S., let alone around the world.  But I am happy that Minnesota is joining Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa!!! (my state!), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington DC.  I wish it weren't just to permit same-sex marriages, but to just state EVERYONE is equal and that marriage is one of those rights.  I shouldn't complain though, at least it is a step in the right direction.  Decisions like this help to increase my faith in humanity, however, they also remind me that people still believe they are superior to others since we have to pass laws that actually state these.  I would like it if I could start a petition, EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA (prefer the WORLD, but I'll settle for one country at a time) and get as many people to sign it as possible and give it over to congress and say, "See?!" You guys represent us and this many people want this to happen, so make it happen!  Wouldn't that be awesome?  I'll keep dreaming, along with a lot of other people, that one day Martin Luther King's dreams will come true and we can all walk side by side as equals.

Same-sex partners. EQUALITY.

I was on facebook earlier and saw yet another story of a same-sex couple that couldn't visit the other in a hospital.  Some of these couples have been together for 20-40 years that I have read in these articles.  I can't comprehend this.  If we replace in these articles "partner" for "friend" it would read "friend of 37 years."  Who would keep someone who has been a person's friend for 37 years from a friend in a hospital (especially a friend who could be dying)?  Talk about cruel and unusual punishment.  People should be ashamed, our government should be ashamed.  Marriage is about love and friendship.  A man and woman get married because they love each other and are best friends, same with a man who wants to marry a man and a woman who wants to marry a woman.  Equality.  That's what we need.  We should already have it, but we don't.  Why?  Why are people scared of equality?  It is a matter of power.  People have to stomp on others to continue believing they are superior to make themselves seemingly worth more.

Here is a call out: write to your government and make your voice heard: WE WANT EQUALITY FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!  It could be as simple as that.  If everyone sent that simple message to their government, they would have to take action. 

Respect and Social Media

Lately, I have been getting fairly upset about some comments I have been seeing on Facebook.  A simple picture with a math questions concerning order or operations can lead to people calling each other retards or morons.  Just because someone gets a question wrong, doesn't mean people should call them names.  We complain about bullying/cyberbullying with children in school, but we as adults teach them this.  We say it is okay because we do it to each other.  Be respectful.  Plain and simple. Another page I have been seeing a lot of comments is The Tattoo Page.  Yes, people have been submitting photographs of themselves barely clothed showing off tattoos and sometimes the tattoos can barely be seen (or not seen at all), but it doesn't mean one has to be mean about the person or their body.  They can comment, about how it is a tattoo page and they can't see the tattoos, but it is no reason to call them names or be disrespectful toward the person.  How imperfect their body is (weight, how small breasts are, etc.) not important.  Everyone is imperfect and we should be proud of that.  If you want to hate, join the Westboro Baptist Church.  All of their signs have the word "hate" in them.

BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE.  End of story.