.

Wiggin really doesn’t care as much about himself as he does about these other kids who aren’t worth five minutes of his time.
And yet this may be the very trait that makes everyone focus on him. Maybe this is why all those stories Sister Carlotta told him, Jesus always had a crowd around him.Maybe this is why I’m so afraid of Wiggen. Because he’s the alien, not me. He’s the unintelligible one, the unpredictable one. He’s the one who doesn’t do things for sensible, predictable reasons. I’m going to survive, and once you know that, there’s nothing more to know about me. Him, though, he could do anything.

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you’re not going to be very happy.

If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time.

If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.

When is culture mixing bad, and how do we keep the respect?
Culture-mixing becomes a bad thing when it is done without respect. How do we stay respectful when using elements of one anothers’ cultures? I think that a good approach is what was already stated above: use these elements in the same way that the persons to whom the thing — whatever it is — is indigenous would use it. Don’t wrap an obi around your dog. Don’t use a turban as a toilet paper cozy. Don’t take sacrament as a hangover remedy. Don’t use a sculpture of the buddha as a tire-stop. Don’t wear a sacred Native American ceremonial headdress to make yourself seem more interesting in your Facebook photos. Don’t describe any textile that is non-white as “tribal” or generically “ethnic”. Don’t dress up as a “Gypsy” or an “Indian” for Halloween. Don’t call traditionally non-white articles of clothing beautiful, but then represent beauty as though it had only a white face. Do watch foreign films, and try new foods, and embrace fashions made in other countries. As long as you aren’t being condescending or inappropriate about it, embrace anything you see fit. Globally, this should be encouraged and appreciated as a means to lend a multicultural and non-white perspective to the idea of “beauty”.

Wearing sweat pants is like saying “I’d rather be sleeping, but since I have to be here, I might as well be comfortable”. Something about that mindset seems a tad pessimistic. I wish more poeple were happy to dress up.

Contrary to popular belief, fashion isn’t superficial. It requires a great deal of talent to accurately execute a theme, as well as dedication to an aesthetic. It’s more than what meets the eye- it’s what meets the mind, and how the mind manipulates its fabric environment. Fashion icons shouldn’t be lambasted for caring about the way they look; they should be lauded for their stylish sagacity.