Are You Eclectic?: The Writings of a Bored College Kid With Nothing To Do At 2 AM

Eclectic. I don't know what that word means exactly but I know people use it to describe anyone who seems to have a genuine personality and enjoys at least one activity that your average Joe would rarely partake in. Lets see what the real word-deciders have to say.

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ec·lec·tic - Show Spelled Pronunciation[i-klek-tik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1.
selecting or choosing from various sources.

2.
made up of what is selected from different sources.

3.
not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems.

4.
noting or pertaining to works of architecture, decoration, landscaping, etc., produced by a certain person or during a certain period, that derive from a wide range of historic styles, the style in each instance often being chosen for its fancied appropriateness to local tradition, local geography, the purpose to be served, or the cultural background of the client.

I indeed do choose from various sources. I enjoy Nas's Illmatic, yet I know almost every Jack Johnson lyric by heart.

This one is interesting. I am made up of my views and opinions and experiences that come from many different sources. I think this one applies to every human being in existence that hasn't been locked in the closet since birth.

I follow many philosophies. The moral teachings of Jesus Christ. The spiritual freedom of Native American belief systems. The compassion of Karl Marx. The realizations of Adam Smith. It makes perfect sense to me to consider the best elements of all systems. No system has ever been perfect. Christianity was established under a well-intended and brilliant foundation (I heart Jesus.), until it turned into a murderous pile of greed and corruption and hypocrisy and destruction. One pompous Pope ordered millions to their death in the name of the God Jesus spoke off. More people have died in the name of religion than any other motive in History, yet I'm supposed to believe Christianity is the only road out of all the shit the world is now in? I don't think so. Religion divides us from what is essentially ourselves. We are a species of logic and understanding and learning, and more than anything observation. If you find a religion to be fulfilling and believe it with your heart to be true I commend you, but only if your values and morality are as strong as your faith. I find much more hope in a person who does not draw such desperate conclusions, however. An example: evolution. When your faith-based belief system forces you to adamantly disagree with truths and evidence supported by all laws of scientific knowledge given to humankind by the God who created everything (including fossils), you lose both my trust and respect. A theory is only a theory until proven true. If the poster of Hendrix in front of me suddenly popped to life, Jimi walked over to me and recalled every act I have ever committed since birth, then said he is the creator of the universe: I might believe in God. Until that happens I will be a respectful skeptic who puts the code of ethics he knows ahead of the meaning of life he surely doesn't.

Well folks,
I am surely not a fancy work of architecture that doesn't fit in.
So I guess all this little activity has taught me…

I am not eclectic.

Priorities

It amazes me the mountainous amount of people
that so willingly
give up three hours of their time
to watch a meaningless football game on TV

when compared to the minuscule amount of people
that so willingly
refuse to give up ten minutes of their time
to cast a meaningless vote on Election Day.

The Art of Eating

It pains me to know that somewhere
There is someone
That for some reason
Published a book called The Art of Eating.

Delicately deciding for all the correct way to eat.
Etiquette.
This fork goes here and is used exclusively for this dish.
But never that dish.
God watches over you.
Your elbows go this way;
Your napkin right here.

Only those lacking a God and respect
And money
Would not purchase this book.

Eat the ribs of another slaughtered mammal
The way the real God meant for us
to consume of them.
Cuisine is not classy
Entrees should not be orderly.
Five human fingers can do more
than a fleet of forks.

Dig in.