Jordan, ‘10

I’m not sure you get my title, but it makes sense to me.  It’s almost a shout-out to other college students like me.  If you want to know what a college playlist is then read the rest of this post.

Every.Student.Has.A.College.Playlist–more normally referred to as a daily playlist (since we all already know we’re in college–though some of us hide that fact very well, especially from adults).  Every student–regardless of what kind of music they enjoy–has one.  Some students carry iPods, others cd players, occasionally we whistle, and at other times we sing out loud with the friends that know the song.  Though this may imply that younger people generationally are isolating ourselves more and more, what it really indicates is that we’re getting closer to a moment of connection.  We are gathering energy for the time when our individual sparks will burst into a cascading fire, creating a new (hopefully better) era.  We’ll have passion again and integrity and strength and sight and spirituality the likes of which will change the world forever.  I strongly believe that this is so.  I see this not only in the overtly restless spirit of younger people today but also in older and younger generations that are fed up with the seeming individual helplessness of recent years. 

A single person canchange the world–whether it’s for the better or worse should not deter others from trying to be as bold.  As Americans we single out the attacks on the Twin Towers as a catalyst that lead to the way things are today, which is true.  I often find myself wondering where the positive momentum went at that time of change?  Why didn’t it show up, if it didn’t get swept under the rug?  Or is it just that we tend to focus on the negative as a species and are only now opening ourselves up to the idea that our positive thoughts and intentions have a lot of power both in our individual lives and in the world?

You may be wondering how I jumped from “music the kids are listening to these days” to positive initiative and change.  Well, there are several types of college playlists, you know.  The type with music is just one of them.  And anyway, if we’re in college for no other reason than to acknowledge our power through education, then what are we here for?  Just to get a job?  Tragic be the day when our “way of life” forces us to get rid of our idealism early so that it does not interfere with our employment opportunities.  You can see it in a number of ways, if you look closely, that the propaganda shoved down our throats by society, the media, and even our peers is nearing its saturation point with the younger demographic.  THAT’S why we listen to our music–music inspires us.  It lets us disappear into a world where we can listen to others and also listen to ourselves.  In that world, we’re not as small, not as marginalized, not as “young” or “foolish” or “misunderstood.”  We’re getting close to scrapping the whole thing–this whole miserable convoluted idea of an American Dream–and creating a new space where our ideas, creativity, initiative and honesty will have great power once again.  I feel a rustling in the leaves and it surely isn’t a breeze that’s blowin’ through. 

Or maybe I only wish this were so.

let’s play,

Jordan

 Also, here is a video that you might like:

Quotes of the day:

“The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.” - Henry David Thoreau

“Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” - Benjamin Franklin

“Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.” - Barbara Ehrenreich

“Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue.  It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and rebellion.” - Oscar Wilde