"..sometimes the very thing you're looking for is the one thing you can't see"-save the best for last

i feel like crap. i've messed things up pretty bady with stuff i should've been prioritizing, and i've given tons of attention to things i could've put off till later. and now, i can't really do anything about the mess i've made. guess i'll have to wait for tomorrow. anyway, it's been so long since i've written a really honest post, oh maybe i never really did. i mean, i've always written lengthy posts but i never really talked about how i truly feel at the moment, like, things that really bother me and bug me all day long. personal stuff. so now i'm gonna try to do so. before, i used to write my thoughts at the back of my notebooks. of course that always had me panicking whenever teachers asked us to submit our notebooks because, heck, i can't really imagine how i'd act if i found out that my physics teacher read about my love life dilemma. then i also wrote my thoughts on journals that i sometimes left around the house, carelessly, and of course my mom and other people in the house also had glimpses to my innermost thoughts. so as a last resort, i just stored my thoughts on soft copy. and made sure that i put in passwords in all of them. and now, how weird is it, i'm writing my thoughts in this blog, accessible to everyone who goes online. i don't really know who reads this blog anyway, except for my few blogger friends who are kind enough to comment once in a while. and every now and then, a friend would tell me about how she/he read my blog entries, and that would really make me, uh, panick? and my mind would go over the secrets i've written here, or thoughts that i'm quite sure would be criticized. i mean, i don't want to write for other people. i don't want my writing's main reason to be something about impressing other people or whatever, that's the reason why there were times when i took a blog leave or deleted my blogs or posts. see, this is the only thing that i love to do- that actually brings about a product. and at times, all i think of when i listen to music, read a book, or watch a movie, is how what i've heard of, read, or watched could help me in my writing. it's like, writing is my end-all. and i don't want to mess it up. i read columns in the paper and i often end up day dreaming about a career as a writer in a paper that's circulated nationwide. but i'm very afraid about what others will say. and i also have a hard time sharing with other people this dream mainly because for the few times that i've shared it, i just got blank stares and discouragements. heck, now that i'm really being honest, i'm really messing up this post. all those segways are making me forget what this post is all about. okay, so there. i quoted above one of my favorite songs, save the best for last. it's one of the songs in a cd given to me by a.. uh.. i don't really know what he is to me. we've never really been friends, not even classmates. we only had, like, 10 conversations with each other in our entire lives, yet up to now i still think of him- too often, really. i don't know right now where the cd's are, maybe in my closet in my boarding house. he gave me 2 cd's. he gave them in third year, mid-march, i think. and i'm thinking that for others this may not really be that big a deal but for me it is. i don't know why, really. if i could stop it i would, because i had some obligations back then and one of them was to not think of other guys that way. but all that's done now, so there. during the last year in highschool, every time i get home i'd crash in my room and turn the cd player on, and i don't think i ever played other cd's except for the two that the 'cd guy' gave me. i don't love him, hell no, i never even really knew him. the few things i knew about him, though, made me want to know him more but there never was a chance, and right now i'm thinking that maybe that's all good because it's better that i don't really know him that well and like him so much, than know him well and just be disappointed that he's not the guy i thought he is. i don't know if he still thinks of me, but i'm betting half my load [P21.43] that he doesn't. he still knows me, that i'm sure of, but what is that worth? nada. right? oh well.. going back to the song, i just really liked the song 'save the best for last' because 1)the first time i heard it was from the cd, which makes it a lot more special 2)it makes a lot of sense 3)few people know about it and it's rarely played in the stations so when i hear it i'd like to think that it's a sign or something.. and another part of it that i like goes.."it's not the way i hoped or how i planned but somehow it's enough" and come to think of it, that's just what i wrote about a few sentences before.. like how it's good that i don't really knew him that well, like, if you asked me before how i'd like things to go, i'd say that i'd like us to be good friends at the very least. but what happened was we never even really got the chance. the few conversations, text messages, and online messages.. those really weren't how i thought things would go, but somehow they're enough. like, imagine, enough to still create an impact on me even after two years. and maybe you who are reading this right now are rolling your eyes because you think this is not really a big deal, i know i'd think the same way if this wasn't happening to me, but i don't know. my mind's just to stubborn to let this go. so.. after talking about 'cd guy' what else? oh yeah. i'm so nervous about this school year. i'm afraid that i won't have instant friends in the classes i enlisted in. like, in second sem, it was all great because i had friends that i knew from first sem, org, dorm, or whatever, and i'm just afraid that i wouldn't be as lucky as before but what the heck, we all start from scratch right? i mean, all the friends i've made, i didn't really know them before college, but now things are really going well, so maybe i should just see this whole "no block" thing as a good thing, being that i get to meet lots of different people, whatever. i prayed though, and thinking of that i know i'll be okay, i prayed for it. :) like, i'm not really confident that i'll have instant friends or my teacher will be kind enough to give me a grade better than a tres but i do know that whatever section i get in, God has a plan for me there. that's enough for me. oh.. and speaking of friendships.. i have this friend in highschool, and funny why now, things are turning out to be so awkward for the two of us. like, a year ago if you told me that i'll be having second thoughts about calling her, i'd tell you you're crazy.. but now, that's happening! and i just find it so weird, like how fast things can change in a span of one year.. i don't know if i changed, maybe i did, but i don't have the same problem that i have with her with my other highschool friends. so right now i'm guessing that we both changed, and our present characteristics repel.. oh i don't know. i just miss her. and i don't know what to do because it's not like we fought or whatever, i mean, it would be easier to fix if we actually fought- a few sorry's and all's well, but we didn't really fight. things just turned weird, know what i mean? and sorry's won't really fix that, right? so, after i post this i'm gonna hide in my room forever. or maybe not, who can guess anyway who i'm referring to in this post? i mean, the 'cd guy' is quite easy, but the friend's quite hard i think. hehe. whatever. feels good though, to actually talk about stuff that really bother me. it's not like writing them here will make them all better but i guess it's just really therapeutic, to know that maybe someone stayed long enough reading this article to reach this part. hehe. if you're reading this, though, please let me know, please? or if we've never really talked, or if you're 'cd guy' [asa pa!], just don't let me know, i'd just freak out. is this long and honest enough? hm. right now, i'm psyched about that last potter book. yeah! time to share all my theories. okay, just don't tell me that i suck if the book gets released and none of my theories are proven true. and, besides, there aren't my original theories. some though i thought of while reading half blood, some i just came across the net or heard from a friend and i found them quite possible so here are the things that i think will happen.. hogwarts won't open; harry is the seventh horcrux and he'll die; hermione or ron will kill voldemort; that's it! hehe. i just have to keep myself busy while waiting for the seventh book. i don't know if i'll buy it. ati tay's proposing that we share the cost, but i'm not sure.. i mean, it's 1400, so i'll have to shell out 700.. and that's equivalent to, like, 35 cello's doughnuts.. and i'm wondering if the book's worth it. i mean, i could borrow it, but if i don't read it soon then i'll find out about the ending even before i read about it, what with spoiler friends and all.. hehe. so now, i need to decide if i'm willing to give up 35 cello's doughnuts for the seventh and last installment of potter. oh well, i don't know. seems too much. hehe. and now, i just remembered one quote from dumbledore, too lazy to search the exact words on the net, but the thought is like, how it's a lot easier to forgive people when they're wrong that when they're right.. and it's really right, like, how will you deal with a bruised ego and knowing that another person's ideas are closer to the truth than yours? another thing.. i was just browsing through the papers, and there was bad news all over that i didn't even really take time to read each one. and that kind of scared me because getting used to bad news is a sign about how bad things are now. like, a priest said in a sermon about two years ago how news papers and news shows only talk about bad stuff, and he said it like it was a bad thing, like, how bad things are nowadays.. but i think it's actually a good thing that news on shows still tackle bad happenings because if they stopped doing so then that means that bad news isn't news anymore, know what i mean? like, if they started reporting, "peaceful elections in 2 towns in luzon" then would that be really good to hear, even if it was good news? because then it's also said that in all the other towns, the elections didn't go peacefully. slowly, though, transition is taking place. like, as i said earlier, i didn't really pay that much attention to all the bad news, and i'm sure it's not just me who's gotten so used to all the bad news. just scares me though, thinking about how close the whole world is to actually seeing good news more worthy of broadcast than bad news. i don't know. thanks for reading. ^_^

Javan is the best poet ever! I mean, I'm not really into poetry- reading or writing- but when I read Javan's poems, I really fell in love with them. and with love. There's really no one else to fall in love with. [oooh]

Here's a link to his website, it features some of his works. I don't really know if the books are available here because we only got them through my aunt and my sister's friend abroad through e-bay. Still, there are enough poems on his site to convince you that he's the best poet ever!!! Hehe.. and here are a few favorites, make sure you visit his site.. promise you'll enjoy! :)

from 'something to someone'

I thought it funny when they asked
if I felt cheated
now that I've lost you;

for I could have lost you
only if I had owned you
the way I might own a coin.

But you are another person
traveling through life,
and I was lucky
just to have shared a part of your journey.

So how could I feel cheated
when there are so many
who have never known you at all.

***

I didn't ask for it to be over,
but then again,
I didn't ask for it to begin.

For that's the way it is with life.
As some of the most beautiful days
come completely by chance,
but even the most beautiful days
eventually have their sunset.

this is where all this javan craze started. my sister got this as a text message and she googled it and she discovered javan! this one's really nice, it's like the quote, "every song ends, is that any reason not to enjoy the music?" because you can't expect all good things to last forever. and it wouldn't really be good if they did because then they wouldn't be so good anymore. and before you start asking why it ended, you should ask first why it even began..

***

Watching you walk out of my life
does not make me bitter or cynical about love,
but rather makes me realize
that if I wanted so much to be with the wrong person,
how beautiful it will be
when the right one comes along.

***

I've been touched by the morning sun
that chases the night away,
and I've been touched by the gentle words
that love-struck poets say.

And I've been touched by the morning mist
everyone calls the dew,
but it all seems more beautiful
now that I've been touched by you.

this is cheesy. because it rhymes. hehe. but of all the poems that rhyme, this is the sweetest one that doesn't make me want to gag.

***

I don't wish to be everything to everyone,
but I would like to be something to someone.

:)

***

from 'a heart full of love'

If you can just turn
And walk away
And feel there's nothing more
You need to say
And you do not feel a tearing
In your Heart

If you can so easily
Forget about me
And all the things
I tried to be
Then I guess there was really no reason
For you to stay

***

I don't think it was selfish
That I wanted to be with you
That I wanted to share your laughter
That I wanted to protect you from your fears
That I wanted to be a part of your Life

But I admit I had my needs
I needed understanding
I needed someone to hold
I needed someone to talk to

For you can only hold a pillow
For so long
And there is only so much you can say
To a dog

***

from 'meet me halfway'

We should do everything
Within reason
To save a good relationship
But if we are constantly
Trying to save it
It's probably
Not a good relationship

***

see! told you he's good. :)

you are a college student right?! if u
are, u must answer all the questions
honestly...

start!

1. course currently enrolled in?
bs business economics

2.name of university/cOllege?
university of the philippines, diliman (yupi)

3. describe ur campus.
malaki. close to nature. kakaiba (ang mga tao, hehe).

4. do u have vices already?
video city at cello's.

5. how do u find ur classmates/
blockmates?
okey naman classmates, blockmates konti lang kilala ko eh.

6. hu is ur fav teacher as of now?
sir gerry lanuza at sir reuel aguila!

7. do u hve a uniform?
la.

8. if u do, wat is its color?
-

9. describe your bag
blue na shoulder bag.

10. do u bring a kikay kit?
i am the un-kikayest girl ever.

11. do u speak english while inside
the classroom?
depende po.

12. do u miss ur hs friends?
oh yes. and elem friends!!!!!!!

13. hav u ever been in a bar?
what kind?

14. do u find college life easier than
hs life?
depende po. pero generally, hindi.

15. do u think u can make it?
dapat! hahaha!

16. Are you proud of your school?
o syempre po. :)

17. Ever crammed or stayed up late?
yebah! derivatives, deribatibs, ribatibs, tibs.. zzz...

18. Ever lived in a dorm?
yep.

19. Are you a dean's lister?
asa pa. hehe.

20. Which is better, HS or College?
basta magkaiba!

21. What's the best thing about
college?
classes! and the campus. sunken. hehe.

22. Any sanctions?
la po.

23. Where's your University/ College
Located?
diliman, quezon city.

24. Any orgs?
campus crusade for Christ. :)

25. Can you handle ur sched?
oo naman. ay, actually nagdrop ako ng pe ko, naku naman, alas syete, di mo ba naman idadrop yun?

[feeling ko, may nasagutan na ako na similar survey, sinagutan ko lang to kase galing kay suyen at gia, 2 of my favorite friends in the whole wide world! :)]

may i quote..

"every song ends, is that any reason not to enjoy the music?" -peyton, one tree hill


down the memory lane

i cleaned out my room (oh, di nga?). removed the 'memories'. hahaha. really. why just now? it's been over a year. well, i think maybe because for the past months i've only been spending about 3 nights a week here so i didn't really notice the details but now that i've been sleeping in my room for more than a month, well, the details really bug me. like, when i'm not really doing anything, i suddenly get in this 'mushy mode' and think of all the 'what ifs,' and wonder that maybe i made the wrong decision. and i hate how i become when i feel that way, because most of the time, when i'm in my sanest, i actually am sure that i made the right decisions. so now, i'm de-memorying (ha?) my room. hehe. only that got me into senti mood again. but then, maybe this is the last time. i put all the 'memories' in a closet so high up that i can't reach it without standing on a chair, that way i won't have easy access to them. haiii. :'( even if things didn't turn out the way i wished they would about 2 years ago, i'm still grateful for the good times. they're worth remembering, just not everyday. hehe.


deaths

yoyoy villame and kuya cesar (the radio announcer)
hai. la lang. i remember one yoyoy villame song..

Correct pronunciation
Of public institution
Emphasis on public
And not on institution!

^good point.

moving on, life is short. live in a way that you won't regret, in a way that will make your days worth remembering- by you and by other people. and of course, in a way that will make God smile. life is short.


now just a number

every person now just a name
every name now just a number
too soon forgotten
too soon an encore

in the news we hear of countless election-related deaths, then president gma's face flashes across the screen and her voice over saying that we had 'generally peaceful' elections. and that investors are going back to put their money in the philippines because of how proper the elections went. heck, the investors are either extremely stupid or they don't have access to philippine news except for what the administration tells them. people died while doing their jobs, they did not get the protection they deserve. in this life, world class citizens are the ones most deprived of the things that they need. it doesn't always have to be that way. there can be change. but the current administration doesn't see the need for change, because for them the elections were 'generally peaceful' and 'proper.' hell i wonder if they're talking about the same country that i'm living in, because as far as i know, countless families were affected, and justice still seems far out of sight.

warning! super mega long post! :D

noong nakaraang taon, o early this year ata, nabasa ko yung isang princess diaries book, di ko lang alam kung pang-ilan. basta, may part dun na iniisip talaga ni mia kung ano nga bang talento niya, para maging self-actualized siya. ako naman, naalala ko lang ngayon. so, dahil wala naman akong magawa, iisipin ko na lang kung ano nga ba ang talent ko. hmm.. isa isahin ko na lang. pag-awit? hahai jill, maawa ka. hehe. paminsan kapag nakamood ako, at may nagpeplay sa background, nagloloko ako na kinakantahan ko yung mga kasama ko, pero hanggang dun lang, kapag seryosohan na, ayayay. tago na tayo! hehe.. pag-sayaw? nakoww! aawit na ko ng birit songs and all, huwag mo lang akong pasayawin! hehe. pag-talumpati? isa pa to. simpleng reporting nga lang eh nanginginig na talaga ko at napapagalitan na ko sa prof kung bakit ba daw ang bilis bilis kong magsalita. hai. pagtugtog ng musical instrument? hmm. alam kong ninanais ng nanay ko na sumunod ako sa mga yapak ni cecile licad pero kahit 7 years ata kong nag pipiano lessons eh hindi talaga ko natuto ng maayos. i mean, meron naman akong alam itugtog. pamatay nga yung "mr.songwriter," "canon," at "harebell" ko, pero kung yung contemporary at ako pa yung magiisip at wala akong pyesa, ay, patay tayo jan! hehe.. kailangan ko na talagang tanggapin ka kahit anong aral kong magpiano at keyboard eh hindi talaga ako mageexcel. yung iba kase diba, hindi man naglessons pero ang galing galing, yun ang talent. wala naman akong ibang instruments na natry. gitara, drums, bass, hai. nada. hehe. hmm. ano pa bang pwedeng maging talent? pagsusulat? hindi eh, ang pagsusulat kase ginagawa ko lang kapag nakamood ako. kamusta naman english10 grade ko diba? dos? hehe. ayoko kase ng technical writing, gusto ko ako lang nagdidictate ng flow ng isusulat ko, wala ng iba pa. ayoko rin ng gegreydan yung ginawa ko, ewan ko ba. yung kung sa creative writing naman, wala rin. dos lang din ako dun. di ako marunong gumawa ng fiction stories, di ako poetic, usually opinion lang talaga kaya kong isulat, at by the mood pa yon. never pa kong nakasali sa isang school paper, press conference, o essay writing contest. ano pa bang pwedeng iconsider na talent? parang yun lang naiisip ko.. sa arts, di ako marunong magdrowing eh. hanggang pusa lang kaya kong idrowing, isang posisyon nga lang eh. o diba! hehe. hindi rin ako marunong magcross stitch, mag paint, o magsculpt (come to think of it, i've never tried, malay.. hmm.. haha!). naku. kung tutuusin, sa kakulangan (o kawalan actually) ko sa talent, eh dapat todo excell na ako academically, pero hindi rin eh. noong elem at first half ng highschool, may honors naman ako, pero halos sumasabit lang.. na hindi pa rin talaga matuturing ka-proud proud kase nga kung iisipin, sa kawalan ko ng talent eh dapat kumakaripas na sa taas ang mga grades ko. hehe. pano yan? ano na? hindi rin naman ako miss congeniality, maraming nagsasabi na masungit daw ako, na, totoo naman. mahina tolerance ko sa mga epal, maarte, at makulit. hehe. hindi rin naman ako exceptional physically. tulad sa acads, at best i'm just an average gal. hehe. pero, sa totoo lang, okay nako. atlis nasali naman ako sa mga songfest at mass demos nung elem at highschool, hindi naman ako nagkaroon ng bagsak sa card, take one lang naman math17 and math100 ko, 1.8 pa nga gwa ko sa second sem eh! may mga pamatay na mga awit parin naman akong alam itugtog sa piano, at kontento naman ako sa itsura ko, kahit pa kulot ako, may kalakihan at mata, hindi katangkaran, at may constant battle na imaintain ang weight ko sa two digits (na ngayong summer eh 3 digits na pare! at hindi naman dahil tumangkad ako, the increase was manifested horizontally. dyeta mode na dapat!). hehe. kahit masungit ako paminsan ay may mga kaibigan naman ako na tunay na maaasahan. oh, nag player din pala ako sa volleyball nung grade school, though sub lang. hehe. okay naman ako, baka dormant palang yung talent ko, nagtatago, madidiscover ko rin someday. malay niyo, may talent pala ko sa paguunicycle, o pag lunok ng espada, o pag-mamagic sa cards (nakanangsiopao naman jill! bakit puro pang perya naiisip mo!).. balitaan na lang kita pag nadiskubre ko na, kung sino ka mang nagbabasa nito. kung wala ka ring talent, aja sa tin! kung meron na, boo, shoo, layas. haha! joke lang. sa totoo lang, one doesn't really have to be exceptionally talented at something for her to help make the world a better place. sabi nga ni henry van dyke, "use what talents you posses: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." aja! :)

corruption.

a sad, sad word.

i still believe that filipinos are generally good people. deep inside. deep deep deep down. corruption is something we often hear of, pertaining to government officials usually, but on a more personal contact, corruption is also rampant. in the processing of papers, acquiring a driver's license, getting clearances, people in charge of the processing often need, uh, "pampadulas," or else you lose all hopes of ever getting that requirement. i remember one time, about two months ago, my mom and i went to the chinese embassy to process pa's papers. after hours and hours of waiting, the man in charge of the processing informed us that the papers cannot be processed because of an inconsistency in the details. in one of the forms, "sandy" was written in the space provided for the alias, in the other form the space was left blank. we didn't really think of it as a big issue but the man insisted that we need to pay a correction fee of P1000. heck, we gave the money, we didn't get any receipt, and of course, we wanted the process to be over and done with so we can't really do anything anymore. friends, welcome to the philippines. hehe. still. as i said earlier, i believe that filipinos are generally good people, however, it also remains true that no matter how clean and good hearted a person is, once he stays in a dirty environment for quite sometime, it would be hard for him to stay clean. corruption is a vicious cycle that traps countless of souls, with no easy way for them to get out. the way to corruption is an easy one, an effortless road sloping downward, with nothing but benefits on the way. prof monsod said that only 7% of corrupt politicians go through trial, and only 2% are punished for their deeds. so, really, what are the odds of an employee in an embassy of ever getting caught? zilch, nada. the current administration is too busy to even think of helping improve the country's present situation. the current administration is too busy campaigning for a 12-0 (there's no chance in hell that kiram whats-him-name will win over legarda), the current administration is too busy filing libel suits and killing journalists and activists who have enough dignity not to join kiss ass writers and politicians, the current administration is too busy with its own agenda to even take notice of other people doing the same thing that they are doing. though the philippines is a predominantly christian society, people are acting the way members of a godless society do. oh okay, after stealing during weekdays, they go to confess on saturdays, and go to mass sin-free on sundays, then back to stealing on mondays.. heck. if that's the way a spiritual life works, then they are in a win-win situation because if they die between saturday afternoon and monday morning then they go straight to heaven and if they die on a weekday then they still won't be damned as they only have half-a-week's worth of sins on their record. see, God is way different from politicians. God sees everything we do, knows every thought that comes to our minds, and is aware of the real intentions of our hearts. people think that if they confess and go to mass, then everything's gonna be okay. reality is, no matter how many times you confess your sins, if you still have every intention to continue sinning then your words aren't worth a thing. it's hard to make people realize that, though, becaue they're too comfortable in their positions right now. but then, maybe some really don't think that what they are doing is wrong. people in their comfort zones will go miles to justify their deeds and make themselves and other people believe that what they are doing is right and is well within their rights. a thousand a day pocketed is nothing compared to millions and millions of pesos stolen by politicians from our taxes. a few hundred pesos every now and then is just righteously taken because it rather go to a poor person's pocket than the bank account of the big shot mole-y woman in the palace. it's easy to justify deeds that bring lots of benefits, that's the problem. people who stay in a very corrupt place will, sooner or later, adjust to blend in. it's a cycle that's easy to get into, easy to justify, and seems almost impossible to get out. every peso taken by politicians is like a bottle of milk taken away from a crying baby, like a roof stripped of a public school filled with students with the biggest potentials to get our country out of its misery.. after i sigh in dismay with the way our country's turning out to be, all i can do now is pray.

Father,
i pray that the people involved in corruption will come back to You and listen closely to Your commands. i pray for clean elections, and for people to vote wisely. i pray Lord that people will stop being indifferent to the issues concerning our country, because every single person that says "the philippines is hopeless" is a big loss to the country's hopes of recovering. i pray Father for the government officials, that You may guard their hearts especially during the coming days, when they are vulnerable to temptation more than ever. i pray Lord that every vote will be counted properly, and that every seat taken will be taken by a righteous leader. lastly, i ask Father that love for country may be instilled in the heart of every filipino. this i ask in Jesus' Name,
Amen.

ji: bossing, sandali lang, lulutuin pa lang yung order mo.

"Pampanga politics looked hopeless at the beginning of the year when the fight for the governorship loomed as an exclusive match between two well-funded GMA allies—Mark Lapid and Baby Pineda. But the entry of a third figure in the person of the Catholic priest Fr. Eddie Panlilio has changed the whole picture. The charismatic cleric is running on the assumption that the only antidote to cash is conscience. I would have argued that reason is. But given the political realities of Pampanga today, perhaps he is right." -Randy David (Public Lives, PDI, May 6, '07)

randy david, a man greatly influenced by the writings of nietzsche, felt it needed to actually admit that among ed is right- that the only antidote to cash is conscience. nietzsche was a philospher who proposed that man should not be influenced by any other man or being. to be a nietzschean is to be a non-nietzschean at the same time because to be nietzschean is to be influenced by another man's ideas. moving on, nietzsche also goes against dogmatism. any statement made should be subject to scrutiny no matter who said it. i agree with the latter, but not with the first. anyway, what connection does this have with the paragraph i quoted above? some philosophers claim that conscience is brought about not by God but by society, the real dictator of what is good and what is bad. i beg to disagree, though, because as ravi zacharias said, some people regard cannibalism as moral, some people think that having several wives is okay, so from these examples we see that people's perception of what is moral varies so widely that one cannot just agree that universal peace can be achieved if the universal law is made by man and man alone. so, God enters the picture. in our second long exam in social science 2, we were asked to review the article of erich fromm, "the concept of God" where the author described that God may be merely an "x" factor and not a transcendental being. the "x" factor that helps alleviate people from the hardships that they are going through, the "x" factor that acts as a cohesive that helps promote peace and ensures that people will do what is right. my problem with his analysis, as well as with Durkheim's and Marx's, is that although what they said about God is true, that the concept of God helps people be more passive about the hardships they are going through, that it teaches people to be submissive to authority, that it leads people to do good even without anyone looking after them, is that they are reducing God to a mere "x" that is man made, nothing more. thing is, if something can cause such change, if a mere concept can make people act in a way that no other concept, thing, or man can, then isn't it proof that the "x" factor is not really an "x" factor but actually a transcendental being? why reduce it to merely a concept when it is much, much more than a concept? thing is, people want so much to prove that they can make it on their own, that they can set their own rules and they'll be ok, but, reality is, it cannot be done.