Someday!

Dear Sentry,

I have a dream. A dream that will one day become reality. When my forefathers (and mothers) arrived in the barren and desolate land of Utah (or Ootah, as they say in the Book of Mormon musical), they took to heart the counsel of beard-loving ol' Brigham Young and made their homes in these valleys. They heard the song in their heart (as it wouldn't be recorded and played for over a hundred years) the song "Go West" by the village people. Yes, Sentry, they went west. Why? Cause life was peaceful there. Go west. They went and in the West they settled. Did they complain? I assume so. I am related to them, after all. But did they make do? Yes!

My dream is to one day see Salt Lake City become a place of happiness, tolerance, and paradise (click on link). A city where men can walk around holding hands with other men. Where women can do the same!

Where on every street corner cannons shoot glitter on the hour (it will be a city littered in glitter, I realize, but a fabulous city!) to remind people that the rainbow menace is here to stay!

It will be a place where there is celebrating in the streets! Where gossip is done in the form of musicals!

Yes, Sentry! Just imagine it! Utah: gayest state in the Union! What's this? You lived in San Francisco? Psh, it's Utah where you wanna be. The rainbow flag is the state flag now! They have glitter cannons! What your city doesn't? That's so bland and tragic. Sentry, I see a Utah where the new state flag would be shown everywhere. It would be a city and state that would celebrate love in all its forms.

 

 

Some day this dream will come true, Sentry. Some day I will see the realization of it. Bigotry cannot last. Hatred and misunderstanding will one day yield to love and understanding. Tolerance will surrender happily to acceptance. We will get there. We will be better. Plus, how could anyone deny the opportunity to have glitter cannons to celebrate life? Come on, Sentry, you know you want your presence acknowledged by rainbow flags and glitter!

Your friend,

Traveler

You Know You Want Them

Dear Sentry,

My friend compiled a list of actresses that he liked so I thought I would do the same. If you haven't taken a look at his list, I recommend it. I liked his selection of women! Anyway, my letters have been too depressing lately. So I want to write something cheery! And what better way to cheer my up then to gawk at actresses and singers?

Women. We all love them even if we don't want them, ha ha! So here are twelve women that I like for various reasons.

Rihanna

I have always admired her music. I find Rihanna to be incredibly beautiful, as well. 

Megan Mullally

In my Holy Trinity , Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) is "God the Awesome." I loved her in Will and Grace and find her to be beautiful even years after the end of the show. She is just one of those ladies I'd love to get to know personally! Plus, who wouldn't want a gin-soaked friend that is too stoned to know what's going on around her but aware enough to make sassy comments on your ugly wardrobe? Point made.

 

Tracie Thoms

She played opposite Idina Menzel in the musical "Rent." I loved her in it! She was the only reason I ever watched the "Cold Case" show. That blond chick couldn't hold a candle to Tracie Thoms.

Emma Stone

She was wonderful in "Easy A." I love her voice and the character, Olive, that she portrayed in the movie. I also think she has a quirky beauty to her.

Penelope Cruz

She's a hottie That's all there is to it. And you can quote me on that. Loved her in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

Li Gong

She played in "Memoirs of a Geisha." I recommend watching that movie if you haven't seen it. I just find her amazing.

 

Idina Menzel

I loved her in "Rent," love hearing her voice for "Wicked," and loved her small role in "Enchanted." She is one of my favorite actresses out there. Her voice is wonderful to my eyes :) And she has excellent taste in men (Taye Diggs)!

Julianne Moore

She was amazing in "The Kids Are All Right" and "A Single Man." She's an amazing actress. She's pretty. What more can I say?

Bernadette Peters

I loved her as the Witch in "Into the Woods." She has a fantastic voice! 

Suzuka Ohgo

She plays opposite Li Gong in "Memoirs of a Geisha." Also very beautiful!

Natalie Portman

What can be said about her? She just shines in everything that I've seen her in. I absolutely loved her in V for Vendetta. And I think she is one of the prettiest actresses out there.

Adele
One of the best musicians out there today. Her voice is amazing! Adele, I'd gladly marry you!

 

And this concludes my list of favorite actresses and musicians. Thanks, Sentry!

Your friend,

Traveler

Beauty Part 2

Dear Sentry,

I apologize for the long pause between this letter and the previous one. School has been busy and lots of stress decided to attack me all in one go but that's how life is. If it's gonna rain, it'll pour, ha ha!

So since writing the previous letter to you on my thoughts on beauty, I have decided to focus this letter on what is ugly to me. I don't really think you can fully talk about beauty until you address what is ugly, Sentry. I mean, it's all fine and good to discuss what catches and pleases the eye and mind, but how about what doesn't? I think that it's a good idea to talk about what is not appealing in order to better understand yourself. I hope I don't sound cocky or arrogant in this letter, Sentry. It's not my intention to do so or even remotely come across as that.

What is ugly to me has four major characteristics: arrogance, cruelty, vanity, and a certain type of coercion through the use of guilt. Arrogance, vanity, and cruelty are fairly obvious. So I won't dwell on what they are but rather why I find them unattractive. Arrogance and vanity are an emphasis on the self at the expense of those around the person. I find that so ugly because why would I want to be with someone whose only interest is in them? My experience with arrogant and vain people is that they are friends with you for the most part to use you. I find this utterly ugly. Cruelty is something I just don't want to be around. I can forgive accidental or unintentional cruelty but I cannot forgive deliberate cruelty. Such an act by a person ruins any desire on my part to want to be around them, Sentry, or think they are beautiful. I hate cruelty that's intended to cause harm in another person. A cruel person is truly ugly just as an arrogant or a vain person is to me.

The last characteristic requires a bit of explanation. I fully admit that there are people that are victims in this world, Sentry. We all, at times, can be victims in different situations. That is both understandable and expected. I have only compassion and sympathy for victims. However, I find it truly offensive and ugly when someone uses that sympathy or compassion by twisting it into guilt to force another person to pursue a romantic relationship with them. Using things that you dislike about yourself or others have made you feel a victim over to coerce another person into dating you is ugly to me. Whether they understand what they are doing or not, is not important to me, Sentry. I find it repulsive to do that. If I want to date a person, I want to because I think they are beautiful and not out of pity or sympathy. So, that's why I find this one ugly. It's betraying me when a person does that. Unfortunately, I have had people do this to me, Sentry, but thankfully I have learned that I don't want that in my life.

I need to add an asterisk to the previous sentence by saying that I am not one to want to describe a person as ugly. I would rather avoid such descriptions by saying anything but that about the person. But I admit that if I am going to define ugliness, that I have to think I have met people that were truly this, and that I will continue to meet them.

And that's all I want to say on this, Sentry! Have a good night!

Your friend,
Traveler

Beauty Part 1

Dear Sentry,

The days continue to speed on, Sentry. I can't wait to graduate. I've had fun but I know that it's time for me to move on. Ever have one of those days where you're sick and tired of all that you see around you, Sentry? You feel in the very depths of your being a restlessness and yearning that cannot be quenched by the daily routines and the negativity that exists where you are? No amount of pacifying can ever full quell this yearning that has seeped into every fiber and ounce of your being, eclipsing your very soul? That's how I feel. These past two years have felt like a transitional period and now I'm ready to make that transition is complete. I'm through with being an incomplete being waiting to fully live while pretending I'm nothing more than a dumb beast to be guided and herded about.

(You can never go wrong with a picture of Hugh Jackman)

But enough of that. That day is still some time away and there are other subjects I'd rather talk with you about, Sentry. I want to talk about beauty in this letter and two more. So what do you think makes a person beautiful? Do you prefer blonds or brunettes? Red heads? Do you prefer taller or shorter, bigger or smaller? Aggression or meekness? Adventurous or easy-going? I do not speak of polar opposites but rather of different spectra. What is beautiful for you? Does the body matter more than the mind or matter absolutely over the feelings and thoughts of another person or vice versa? Is youth the only thing that can claim the title of beauty or even old age?

I've thought of this recently and, because it gives me the excuse to post pictures, I want to post pictures of people and ask you, Sentry, to think: what do you find as beautiful?

(I think she is the most beautiful based off her eyes alone)

Do any of those individuals meet your definition of beauty? I have found that I have to separate beauty into different categories. Individuals that I can only visually interact with (stars, strangers on the street, etc.) I will rate purely on a physical basis. Do they possess a vitality or vigorous nature that exudes charisma? I find that beautiful. Slender and bigger people can be beautiful to me if they possess an energy that captivates you. Simply having youthful looks and such isn't always enough though I will always admit that someone is handsome or pretty if they have flawless skin, a dazzling smile, or clearly take care of themselves. But it's not really enough for me

What qualifies as beauty to us when it comes to people? I mean, we all come in different shapes and sizes. It's easy to say that everyone is beautiful in their own special way and I think that's the better answer, but society isn't as mature as that. Youth, slender to muscular build are all characteristics that give a person the description of beautiful. Society's views on what is aesthetic or beautiful changes with the times, as history shows us, but I think there will always be more to it and that beauty is truly a timeless concept.

Sentry, I think beauty lies in the harmony of the different characteristics of a person. Beauty lies in the ability to mix the mind, heart, and body together in a way that expresses beauty in a unique way. Beauty is truly achieved when a person discovers and finds comfort in the expression of exactly who they are, whoever they are be they lovers of science-fiction books and films; ever aware and on the cutting edge of fashion; politically savvy; expressive in the arts; gifted in languages; sophisticated with words or numbers and equations; and so on.

Beauty, I think is on a base level connected to sexual attraction, but on a higher level a recognition of the more positive aspects of the human soul. I think older people, little kids, teenagers, young adults, and middle aged are all beautiful. I think individuals and couples are beautiful regardless of the gender of their partners or how they express their sexuality. So, I ask you, Sentry, are couples beautiful?

I realize this letter is somewhat vague and all of the place. I'll get to my point in the question: what qualifies as beautiful to you? You already know my opinion. I think each individual above is either beautiful or has the potential to be. Beauty to me is, as said before, the totality of all the parts of a person. Enjoy your day, Sentry.

Your friend,
Traveler