Maybe you can have it all.

Plato takes a much dimmer view of democracy than we normally see in the present era, and this makes his thinking take exception to a comfortable sense that democratic government will usually be the most just and fairest option in politics. The criticism contends that rule by the people will amount too often to rule by the opinions of the majority of a population, and that the majority will often be wrong.  Democracy gives us an incentive, though, to carry on - it gives what seems to be liberation from tyrannical oppression, and so a ‘negative’ freedom from constraint. The account in the Republic works fairly hard, and possibly not entirely successfully, to offer a superior alternative. Better than rule by the wealthiest of the people (oligarchy), or by the most patriotic of the people (timocracy), a utopia should be ruled by those who know the difference between right and wrong in political matters. This role should require both talent and training, and seemingly a screen against corruption, but even if it is an ideal the utopia Plato presents lets us think in clearer terms about what is missing from the systems in which we are finding ourselves during his time and beyond. At the very least, the Republic position is a tool for criticism of what goes on in politics up to the present day. Opinions can sway, and so we might want something more dependable to rule policy making in our society. To back up this sense for the political world, Plato offers a comprehensive and intriguing account of what life in the society of his time has turned out to be like. Like cave dwellers, we have learned how to organize our priorities and concerns from the prevailing notions that surround us in traditional culture. We think and act long the lines we have been introduced to, and approach our lives as best as we can given the options shown to us by everything we have encountered in the culture to this point. Plato does suggest that in general terms we can turn to examine the notions treated as truths by those around us: here it is not just opinions, but really also the deeper beliefs in a person which are our targets. Both can be wrong, and thrown into doubt by Socratic questioning. It might be a bit alienating or uncomfortable to find either our own opinions or beliefs to be false. For Plato the truth is more important, or valuable to life, than the potentially limiting and detrimental allegiance to tradition that he sees in this cave-dweller allegory. But we can throw off our chains and leave the cave after a long enough process of examination has happened. We ultimately as humans will, with some exceptions, want truth more than false comfort and familiarity. The attachment to traditions only goes so deep.

Since the moment I first created this blog, I’ve tried to avoid that all too familiar “I’m frustrated with the opposite-sex” rant……but fuck yo metaphorical couch tumblr.
I’ve got to stop lying to myself. It’s painful to admit, but at heart I’m a relationship kind of guy. I’ve had some wonderful and insightful experiences with dating, but sadly I cannot seem to discover the right girl. Hell, I’m dumb young anyway so I’ve been trying my luck with partying and casual hook-ups as of late, but let’s face it - I ain’t the type of guy women wanna go home with, drunk or sober. I’m a lanky, awkward motherfucker. I suppose I can hold a decent conversation if they genuinely participate (a rarity), but I infrequently make that real connection. I DON’T KNOW WHY! I’m interested in an extremely diverse plethora of activities and subjects. The few women who have loved me know this well, and that’s why they stuck around and committed themselves to me through thick and thin. I quietly formed this personality because looks can’t win people over for me. No… I’ve got to work harder than most to find true love.
Every weekend I go out with friends to the same bullshit parties, with the same bullshit keg lines that take half an hour to grab a fuckin’ half foamy cup of flat Natty Light, in the same bullshit crowded, low-ceiling basements just an inch above my head, that plays the same old motherfucking music that doesn’t encourage dancing. The people are probably what suck the most, besides my beloved buddies. Overly macho “bros” that come solely to fight each other and/or prey on wasted co-ed’s. There’s the nerdy wallflowers (possibly me?) who look like they were forcefully dragged in or settled just because it’s Friday night and we’re in college - so by law you have to get drunk somehow. And of course… the same slutty ho’s dressed in tight black skirts - rain, snow or freezing temperatures because they’re desperate to take cheesy pictures with their nearly identical, personality-less girlfriends, lose a couple games of beer pong and get fucked by the macho bros, whom 95% of the time… they have never met. It’s a terribly dystopic cycle, but I am lured in every time, whether it be peer pressure, boredom or horniness. Usually it’s all three combined. And almost always I return home with that same “I’m not even that drunk and feel defeated, jealous that my boy got laid and pissed that I actually paid 5 bucks for that nut-ass party” kind of mood. I partially deserve it. I don’t learn from the past apparently. As for the girls, I’m usually just a bitch and am terrible at talking to them. Even if I say the (and I quote) “Right Things,” they just aren’t into me purely on the physical level. When it comes to the ladies, it’s impossible to have an in-between. They ALWAYS view me as solely a friend, or a potential boyfriend. Okay… maybe there has been a few middle-ground situations, but it quickly led to one of the two destined paths.
I’m at the point where… if I could be real for a moment… just wanna fuck.
DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNN. That’s right! I said it. Because I’m tired of emotionally investing myself in a person and ultimately getting crushed. The ones I’m authentically interested in seldom feel the same way. Not quite sure why - I know I’d be a fantastic boyfriend… shit they know it too. Butttttttt… I’m too skinny, too nerdy, too artsy, too dark-skinned, and ETCETERA. I spell the full word to show how much emphasis should be placed on this “reasons why I won’t date you list.” Fuck it. Fuck it all.
Basically, women frustrate the fuck out of me. But I digress… I guess in the end they’re losing out on a great guy (so I’ve been told). You may inquire: “But Aric, what about the girls that really loved you that was previously mentioned?” I have several scapegoats for this question, but I’ll go with: “Excellent question pondering reader! You see, unfortunately I refuse to just settle for the occasional girl who actually digs me a lot. From past experiences, I can deduce that I’ll simply end up breaking their heart(s) and I would prefer not to hurt them as so. I’m pretty particular about my choices because I know the feeling of being led on and dumped all too well.”
The comforting thought amongst this all is that I’m young, and honestly not even looking for anything that serious. I suppose that, as well as the previous paragraph is highly hypocritical. But to all those girls out there mentioned… I’ll be laughing at y’all years down the road like “I told you so.” Time to get back on my grizzy and pen that award-winning script that’ll some day sell for millions of dollars. FBG$ :)

While you was blowing X amount of dollars on the bracelet
The sovereign nation of France was opening their files on the UFO phenomenon: i.e. spaceships
This just the facts Jack, may as well face it

Every rhyme I write the seal get cracked in the chapter of revelations
An atom get cracked in the blackness of meditation
Mysterious shit
Call me Jay Dogon, I’m on some Sirius shit
Scholars wonder why do he bust?
Allah blessed me with a Midas-y touch
Everything I lay to hands turn to Ethiopian gold
Shiny and buffed
I got a firm understanding on the minus and plus
So I ain’t got time to argue with a rapper about how he ain’t got rhymes that’s fuckin’ with mines
I’m tryna kill Lucifer
So if I have to break cause a rapper in my face telling me that he “The Great”
You could bet a shiny nickel I’ll blast his mothafuckin’ ass way past Jupiter
You couldn’t be stupider
Fuckin’ with the nuclear
Mayan, Aztec lion
Asiatic black man from Zion
Quetzalcoatl supreme
Letting off steam
Dimethyltryptamine make a man dream
But ya’ll would much rather hear me rappin’ about trash
The size of Erykah’s ass, blunts and cash
We need saving
Minds are consumed with swine, we need bathing

And sing the sky’s the limit, take a hundred dollar bill and make a paper plane.
And try to make a name
And when ya done giving ya all you give ya everythang