Silent Planet Op-Ed (Fall 2025)

 What Makes a Moral Right or Wrong in Society?

By Brody M. Arnold

 

A moral is something that all people have. Most people have multiple. Some people have morals that are “good” and some people have morals that are “bad”,  but what makes these morals good or bad?  

A kid breaking a vase and then lying to his parents about it is morally wrong to us, but why is that?. Some people may bring up religion, which is a big factor in why people have their belief system in general. Most religions have laws that are put in place by their god. Laws are a way of preventing people from committing morally wrong things. For example the United States of America has a multitude of laws preventing you from walking out of your house and killing someone, but why were these laws chosen? Whose choice is it to say if something is morally right or wrong? In America most laws are set up based on the Christian faith due to our founding fathers’ faith in Christ.

Almost everyone in society can agree on things being morally wrong, but why can’t they agree on things being morally right as much?. For example I read an article online about how a woman's baby fell off a balcony of an apartment building and a man ended up catching the baby saving its life. The woman then proceeded to sue the man because her baby had a head injury from him catching the baby. Most people would agree that the man did the right thing saving the baby's life even though the baby suffered a head injury. However the mother did not agree hence why she sued the man. I feel that it's hard for people to agree on things being morally right because a lot of people are always looking for things to be morally wrong that they overlook the morally right things.

In Chapter 20 of Out of the Silent Planet, Oyarsa (the overseer of the planet Malacandra) was confused and angered by Weston's actions of killing Hnau and willing to kill Ransom. Oyarsa said if Weston was under Oyarsa's rule he would have been unbodied then and there. This proves that even beings from other planets have morals as long as they have a conscious mind. 

Scientists have tried studying the philosophy on how people's minds get morals, and most scientists don't know the answer to this question; however I have a hypothesis. I believe that people get morals based on if they would want something to happen to them. For example I wouldn't want someone to steal from me so that's why I have the moral that stealing is bad. If my cat was stuck in a tree I would want someone to save him, so saving my cat is morally right to me. I think that's how people classify if things are morally right or wrong in life. I also think that that's why it's hard for some people to believe other people's morals.

 

                                                          Taking What’s not Ours

                                                               

                                                               By Olivia Owens 

 

Over the course of our history, humans have been known to invade many different territories that weren't ours. This has only happened on Earth so far. A good example of this is when the British came to what would be known as America and invaded the Indian territory. But the thought of invading a whole other planet when ours can’t handle life anymore just doesn’t sound right to me.

Humans have not always been the best at taking care of our planet. Because of this, there has already been some talk about eventually travelling to another planet to help the human race 

stay alive. Sounds like a good idea, right? It truly isn’t. Think about it, there might be other civilizations on other planets like Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and so on. What gives us the right to invade other planets when we can't take care of our own? In Out of the Silent Planet, Weston believes that humans should take over Malacandra (or Mars as we know it) to help us stay alive and expand, even though Malacandra had life and established civilizations already. Personally, I don’t believe that we should go to other planets when ours isn’t able to sustain life. 

I’m assuming that once the time comes when people want to leave earth, it will only be the famous, rich, and stronger, more “superior” humans that will get to leave. Does going to another planet to sustain the human race sound like a good idea now? If you’re an average human, like me, you’ll probably get left behind. 

Truly, there’s no point in going to Mars, Venus, Mercury and so on. Every planet and everything will come to an end eventually.                                                                                       

Back to the book Out of the Silent Planet, Weston’s plan isn’t morally justifiable. Why? As mentioned earlier, Weston only wanted to bring the strong and superior. He also thought that they were in the right to take over Malacandra, even though it already had life on it. That’s not morally justifiable at all. I believe that every human is created for a reason. Whether they’re strong, weak, smart, not as smart, short, tall, thin, fat, it doesn’t matter. God created everyone not just to fill up space on the Earth, but to have a purpose. It’s not fair or right that the “average” human being wouldn’t be able to go when Earth ends. Back to a religious view, when Earth does end that means Jesus is coming back. So why would we leave?

I truly hope this plan doesn’t become reality. It’s a bad idea to go to other planets just to most likely ruin it like we have been with Earth. I want to mention, also, that going to other planets with the purpose of studying them is perfectly fine. I think that’s the only reason why we should go to other planets. But, then again, humans have been known to invade territories that aren’t ours. 

 

 

Philosophy And Science: The Symbiotic Relationship

By William J. Floyd

            Isaac Newton made many important contributions to the scientific community. Those contributions wouldn’t exist without Newton having a vague belief in the subject of his future findings. 

One aspect of human nature is to want, or even a need, for proof of our faith in anything. God, himself, gave us the Bible which acts as our evidence that he exists. I specifically remember, as a child, not believing in Santa Claus. That was a strong belief that I possessed and refused to believe otherwise (a feisty five year old? Yes, I was). All my friends (those buffoons) insisted that this overweight bearded fellow existed and brought them their bikes, balls, and baseball bats every 25th of December. One night I found my parents sneakishly setting up this array of gifts, that I’d probably forget about or lose in 24 hours, on the couch in the den. That was all I needed to go to all my moron friends in kindergarten and ruin their childhood many years too early (and I’ll be danged if I didn’t completely enjoy it).

            C.S. Lewis, in his novella Out of the Silent Planet, writes about an outer planet which consisted of lawless and scienceless creatures -- whose names were “hrossa” “sorn”, and “pilftriggi”. These beings had morals (inner beliefs) which acted as their “laws”. There were no written laws based on the philosophy that no one would harm anyone else, so written laws weren't created. Facts were that there were no reasons for written laws due to their beliefs. John McEnroe wouldn’t add a serve or change one if he believed that he could ace any player already.

            The modern combustion engine was created by people who believed that transportation--cars, buses, and motorcycles--were needed for a more productive society. This philosophy led to equations, then principles, then prototypes which would eventually lead to the automobiles we have today.

My philosophy is that every person, no matter the object that is being believed, is constantly yearning for a sense of proof or science that makes his belief more “sound”. Millions of scientists--archealogists, historians-- around the world are spending night and day discovering science that shows proof to this Earth’s many belief systems (Christianity, Judaism, Islam). The multitude of time and money that are spent on these endeavors provides its own type of proof that this overall principle is valid.

C.S. Lewis, in Out of the Silent Planet, refers to a world of creatures that have a belief in one singular leader, “Oyarsa”. While “Oyarsa” is literal and can be seen, the occupants of the planet have a full belief in this leader. That faith provides them a kind of “science” relating to the same types of leaders on other planets and how that system works. 

Santa Claus requires faith, but with all the trackers and gizmos today even I could consider believing in this man (if only to pad the pockets of the Pillsbury Dough Boy). Those gizmos wouldn’t have come along without someone believing in Mr. Claus. I wonder what odd things, that seem impossible now, will be proven in years to come and what might cause people to want proof.

 

Free Will vs Instinct

By Karrington Roberts

Free will can be a very dangerous thing. Humans are granted the ability to have free will. We are conscious when we make our decisions. We do anything we want, and make choices based on what we want. There is a major difference between our independence and instinct. Instinct is acting off of a primal drive and born characteristics. 

The book of Genesis in the Bible says that God made man in his own image. This means that man (humans) are created in a productive and intelligent manner. Animals, on the other hand, are wild and feral. When a lion kills a gazelle, the lion does not feel remorse. The only thing it wants is food. Its impulsive reactions kicked into action and drove it to kill the gazelle. Humans are able to think for themselves– I would like a chocolate donut instead of a glazed, I would like salsa rather than guacamole.. But untamed creatures are stuck in an uncivilized, uncultured world. Unable to act in their own volition, unable to perceive knowledge like the human race. 

Learned behavior is a form of intellect in animals. “Monkey see, monkey do”. A parrot listens to his owner, and copies his speech. The parrot does not understand the words he is speaking, but is only repeating what the owner said. 

So, is free will an advantage or disadvantage? Most people would most likely say that it is an advantage in life. We get to make our own choices. But, what if we make a wrong choice? There are many consequences that follow. With instinct, this doesn’t matter. Our choices are made and decided for us. All we have to do is live. A person could choose to jump off a bridge. This doesn’t mean it was the right choice. This is a very different scenario with wildlife. Their natural tendency would protect them, keeping them from doing anything dangerous. For example, leaping off of a bridge.

We have progressed tremendously in technology far more than any other mammal. Let alone any other species. We have created the internet, invented self driving cars, and even flown to the moon.

Chapter Twenty in the book Out of the Silent Planet, by C.S. Lewis is much like this. Humans thought that they were able to conquer and kill off hnau just because of a technological advantage. The hnau did not have the same advancement as the human race. This does not mean that the humans were better than hnau. And this definitely does not give man the right to force hierarchy and power over them because of distinctions. So what is better? Using free will to advance our race, or use instinct to survive and endure the world?

 

 

 

Burning Cars and Sinking Ships

By Kinley Horne

            Hypothetically, if you were to find yourself pulling up to a car accident where two cars had caught on fire with people inside. Who would you help first? The first car has a five year old little girl, and the second car has a random 30 year old man. Who do you save first? Personally, I’m saving the little girl first, but what if the man in the second car had just discovered the cure for cancer and could save millions of lives. Would this change who you chose to save?

            Everyone has heard the story of the Titanic, and no matter what version of the story you have heard I’m sure you know about the lifeboats, but in case you haven’t due to their lack of proper safety planning there weren't nearly enough lifeboats on the Titanic for the amount of people on board. Therefore when the boat began to sink they had to decide who would get a lifeboat first. They started by filling the lifeboats with first class women and children and then lower class women, children, and first class males leaving almost all lower class males stranded on a sinking ship. 

At the time their actions were justified by tradition and social ideas of hierarchy. However, in the end these traditions ultimately decided who was allowed to live and who was allowed to die. 

It's easy for people, myself included, to look at these moments and say what they would have done differently, but it is a lot harder when you’re the one actually making the decision. We like to believe that we would make the most ethical and logical decision in that moment. When in reality there isn’t anything ethically or logically correct about deciding who will live or die based on how valuable you see their life. 

In C.S. Lewis's book Out of the Silent Planet, Weston, a scientist from earth, is working to overtake Malacandra (Mars) and replace the native species with humans in the event that Earth is no longer liveable. 

He claims that, “Life is greater than any system of morality,” Weston uses this statement as a way to justify the idea of harming others in order to continue the progression of the inferior. While this is extremely wrong and messed up on more levels than one, the harsh reality is that we tend to do this everyday without even realizing it. 

You may hold the door for the girl that has a brand new designer bag, but not the girl who can only afford one outfit for school. We follow these invisible standards of rich over poor, innocent over guilty, and young over old. When truthfully we are all just humans trying their best to make it one day at a time. 

Maybe that's why the story of the Titanic is so famously told through the lifeboats. It was so much more than just a ship that sank. It was a symbol of how we rank others' values when forced to choose, and if we ever do find ourselves dealing with those same lifeboats or burning cars we would realize that there is never a right way to measure the value and worth of someone's life.

 

 

Choice and Systems

By Aubree Freeman

Humans are naturally superior to other species. Although we may not be the strongest, fastest, or biggest, we have the unique ability to possess thoughts in a way that no other species can. Even though a lion could beat me in a fight, a lion couldn’t beat me in a game of cards. We use these thoughts to form a society that is rich with diversity, culture, and deep feelings--feelings that animals cannot. These qualities drive us to create these kinds of systems. Whether it’s law systems, ethical systems, political systems, we follow them everyday without really thinking about it.     

Would you kill someone? No, it’s against the law. What about if it wasn’t? Would you need a reason, or would you kill someone for fun? This is where human morals come into play. Every living person has their own morals. For example, a doctor may be conflicted on whether to save a dying pregnant woman or save her baby. You are not able to tell another person that their morals are wrong, because there is no right or wrong. Every single person believes that their opinions and morals are the right ones. 

A common example of this is loyalty vs. honesty. To illustrate, an employee at a company is the manager's daughter, but she is underperforming. Does the manager stay honest and fair to other employees by firing her, or does he stay loyal to the daughter by letting her work? Whatever your answer is, you think you are right--though, you may disagree with others.

A dog, on the other hand, could kill someone. A dog could attack somebody and not feel remorse. It would not know that what it had done was wrong. Animals lack the complex emotions and relationships that humans hold. Even though people could say that their pet ‘loves’ them, this stems from biological components, such as the release of dopamine. Human love, on the contrary, is very complex and is caused by societal standards, personal history, etcetera, and can be conditional. Animals' feelings are very simple; they are unconditional, predictable, and possess a lack of judgement. 

Something that makes human life so beautiful is art. Music, media, murals. One thing that all art has in common is that it’s manmade. A lizard didn’t sculpt that statue. A parrot didn’t sing that song or write that book. My grandma, for instance, really likes to paint. I remember spending hours watching her paintstrokes. Art and media is what connects every community and culture within the human race. 

In the book Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Louis, a guy named Weston has traveled to a different planet (what we know as Mars) and is wanting to take it over for the continuation of the human race on the chance that Earth ever became inhabitable. However, the natives to these planets have feelings and they are able to communicate with humans, even though it’s through a different language. These beings are not considered animals because of their complex thinking and different cultures within their planet--much like humans. So, this can support how a human’s life, or human-like’s life, is valued more than an animal’s. 

No matter how you look at it, whether it be religion or how progressed we are, humans rule the planet. Some people may say it’s because we were created in God’s image, and some people might say that we are just simply the best species. Our ability to think, question, and create not only shapes our lives, but shapes our world.

 

 

Survival Of The Fittest 

By Kinsley Rhodes 

It’s the year 2317, it’s dangerous. Earth has fallen apart. Humans as a species have one problem, we don't know when to stop. Whether it’s with technology, chemicals, or even factories, we always want more. But what do we do when it's too much? When it gets to a point where earth isn’t safe anymore? 

Say there is another planet, for example Mars. Life there is capable. Would you go to save your species? In C.S. Lewis’ book Out Of The Silent Planet Weston has a plan to move the “more dominant” of the species to the new planet, leaving everyone who wasn't important enough. This plan has one flaw, what determines if one person is greater than the other?

The question that has sat in all of our minds at least once, why not me? People will look at someone and assume everything about them, but in the end you never know. As an example there are two people on a sinking boat, but only enough space for one more person. One is a billionaire who has the nicest clothes and most expensive things, the other is a woman that looks lowerclass. The rich man is the one that gets saved because he looks more valuable. They judged them based on appearance, not knowing the woman had a cure for cancer. 

Weston’s plan is not justifiable because it's based on greed and selfishness. He believes that the dominant or more important people deserve to live, but that thinking ignores the value of every human life. Weston sees himself superior to others and believes he has the right to decide who gets to survive. His plan shows how dangerous it is when power and pride take over. Take this example, Hitler said that the Jews were not as superior to him because they didn’t have the same beliefs as him. Hitler ended up killing many people because he wanted power over them. This proves that saving humanity means nothing if we lose our sense of morality and compassion along the way. 

Do humans even deserve a second chance? If we were given another planet to live on would we really learn from our mistakes, or would we destroy it just like Earth. We have created many things that we thought were good for the planet but really aren't. For instance pesticides. People thought that it was good for Earth but it was actually killing many species. Humans always say they want change, but when the time comes the desire for power takes over. We use resources without thinking of the cost, and hurt others to get ahead. 

If the planet was in actual danger, but leaving and saving the human race only meant bringing the strongest and smartest people, would you do it?  Ultimately, judging on who deserves to live and who doesn't isn't right. Weston's plan in Out Of The Silent Planet represents the worst parts of human nature. True survival isn’t about saving the strong and leaving the weak in order to thrive, it's about saving the good within humanity. So in the end Weston's plan is not justifiable.

What Defines Stronger and Weaker?

By Madison Maddox

            My brother, Greyson, is very athletic and does many sports including baseball, basketball, and football. I, on the other hand, only play one sport, tennis, and am not very athletic. Conversely, my brother is just in regular classes, while I am in Honors classes and have slightly higher grades than him. Although my brother is more athletic than me, I am better in academics.

            Some lower paying jobs like child care workers or personal care aids get paid very little though lots of work and patience is required. Then, there are some higher paying jobs like real estate agents or software engineers that get paid very high for a similar amount of work. Although some do not, I do know that some jobs require more schooling resulting in higher pay. Some jobs' salaries are affected by schooling, though jobs like cashiers and elevator installers both do not require a degree for the job but have an unfair significant pay difference. 

            Clothes like Nike or Under Armour are usually more expensive than some off brand clothes so people would usually rather buy the “better” name brand clothes. Clothes that aren’t name brand or aren’t in style are usually cheaper but do the same job as name brand clothes. Of course we all like to be in style and that is okay, but if you think about it, no piece of clothing is truly better than another because every piece of clothing covers you up, some pieces may just be more expensive than others.

            In a quote by Adolf Hilter, he claims that, “The stronger must dominate and not mate with the weaker, which would signify the sacrifice of its own higher nature.” Adolf Hitler had this mindset that there are two groups, a “stronger” and a “weaker” group of people. A character named Weston from a novella by C.S. Lewis titled Out of The Silent Planet, could also be said to have this same philosophy. Weston thought it was okay to kidnap and use a child named Harry in an experiment of his, because he believed that he was one of the weaker and less worthy of life.

            Hitler believed that Jews were the weaker race although it shouldn’t matter what race someone is, we are all humans. This belief ultimately led to the Holocaust and the genocide of over 6 million Jews. 

            Everyone is different and does many different things. Some people might be academically smarter than others but that doesn’t mean they should be classified as weaker, they just might be more athletic or good at non academic things. Just like this, lower paying jobs are “worse” than higher paying jobs because of the different salaries although every job contributes in different ways. This shows that no matter what someone is good at, or even just what different things are "better" at, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses which definitely shouldn't classify them as stronger or weaker. Every human should be treated equally, like me and my brother, also saying that everything should be treated equally, because no one thing is truly worse than another, everything and everyone just all contributes different things.

 

What Defines Better People or Things from Others?

By Bryn Jackson

            The world now consists of many types of people, just some examples are people who think they are better than others and people who maybe do not. Maybe some people have money or maybe they don’t. This world has defined people by high standards, like having money or not, many different accents, color, or just nit picky things, for too long.

            Take for instance in the 1960s, segregation was a big topic. The colored people were considered uneducated and inferior, while the whites were the superior and dominant. Movies such as Hidden Figures and The Help, which are based on real life events, show that the colored people were full of knowledge. In the movie The Help, there is a scene that shows the colored women teaching the white women to cook and be homemakers. This doesn’t show that one race is better than the other, it shows equality and different races working together, since during that time it was seen as almost forbidden.

With courage people can get a long way in life, like the Jews. They had the courage to continue on with their life when Hitler forced them into concentration camps, but in reality they could’ve stopped trying. Hitler was known for thinking he was better than anyone just because he had power. To Hitler this was right, but humanity knows now that it’s not.

Hitlers ways can be compared to the character Weston, from the book Out of the Silent Planet, written by C.S. Lewis. The way Weston wanted everything was about the same as Hitler. They both thought that one race or being was better than another, and that their own beliefs are superior than others. But that belief was wrong. One begins standard doesn’t define what everyone else shows be like. All beings are different and equal no matter what they're good at, who they are, or what they believe in.

My brother, who is 2, knows how to speak, but he hasn’t learned how to put words into sentences. That doesn’t prove that he is dumb, it just shows that toddlers are less capable of doing things. Same with how my brother is strong for his age. He can pick up heavy things, but my dad, who has at least 45 years on him, can pick up heavier things. That example doesn’t prove one to be better than another, it shows the capability of people doing things is different. Differences shouldn't divide people.

In a classroom students have to decide if a pen or pencil is better? Some students argue that a pen is better because it can come in all sorts of fun colors like pink, purple, teal, or orange. While the others argue that a pencil is better because it can erase mistakes. There's no official statement that says that one is better than another. Both are writing utensils. With the newer technology, lead can be different colors, and pens are coming equipped with erasers. It's all up to your preference.

People who grew up with the mindset that one person or thing is better than another, are wrong, like Weston and Hitler. Nothing defines if someone is better than another. Some people have the ability to do more things than others, like with segregation, the colored couldn’t really do anything unless it was to a lower degree than the whites. Defining people by their flaws doesn’t help any situation. Everything or everyone is equal to some degree.

 

What Defines the Best?

By Elliot Lynch

            Watching a movie from the Redbox machine is a memory that I hold dearly. My mom would take me to the store and surprise me with a “movie night.” We would go shopping for drinks and snacks, and on our way out of Walmart we would stop by the Redbox machine and pick out a movie. Those days were golden. But ever since 2024 those memories have slowly  faded. Now you can get everything on your TV. Apps like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney Plus, allow  endless streaming at your fingertips. Most people will say this is evolution, but in my opinion evolution has taken the very dear moments that I still treasure, and made them a blur of the past.

The summer of 2023 was the summer when our family took a road trip, in our RV, to Washington state. Even though our GPS said it would only take a day and a half, driving straight, it took at least a week. An RV is intended to be an upgraded version of traveling, but in my preference if I’m traveling I want to arrive there in the least time possible. Though society says an RV is “better” for traveling, society can sometimes be wrong.

This position can also apply to people. Hitler and Weston, Weston being a character from the book Out of the Silent Planet, both say that “stronger” people are more valuable. Hitler tried to eliminate an entire race, Jews, off of this idea. He says,“The stronger must dominate, and not mate with the weaker”. This view shows how Hitler tried to get rid of the so-called “weak”. Weston also portrays this quality throughout the book. Weston says,“Our right to supersede you is the right of the higher over the lower” (pg 134). He defines the human race as higher over the Hrossa, an alien formWeston has encountered. He says that we (humans) are superior because of our weapons, houses, social structure, science, medicine, etc. Even though our human evolution has surpassed the creatures, it does not make us higher than them. 

Society establishes a hierarchy based on money, looks and personality. Take an interview for example. If you walk into an interview dressed in your pj’s and thirty minutes late, the chance of getting that job is very low, even if you were the best fit. This applies to many situations in life. Picking teams for dodgeball, deciding on who your friends are, and whether to swipe right or left on your dating profile. Though these attributes may seem important, we should not overall judge people based on society's priorities; just like that one saying , "Don't judge a book by its cover”.

As the human race evolves, and shows how certain traits deviate the stronger from the weaker, you don't have to live by their example. Enjoy the moments without the pressure of the world's opinion on your shoulders. Because next thing you know, dining out, movie theatres, and watching your kid play soccer –from the sidelines– , will just be another Redbox moment, and the little moments like those, will soon disappear.

Romeo & Juliet Op-Ed (Fall 2025)

 When is the Right Time to Get Married?

By Elliot Lynch

            There’s a question on a lot of people’s mind, when is the right time to get married? Some people marry young, like Romeo and Juliet, and others wait for the special someone, even if it takes forever. In my opinion, twenty five is the perfect age to get married. Twenty five is not too young, nor too old, it’s like Baby Bear’s porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, “ just right”.

            In Romeo and Juliet their marriage is taken lightly. For instance, Romeo had an obsession for a girl, Rosaline, one day and the next day he had an obsession for Juliet. Also, Romeo and Juliet both agreed to get married in less than twenty four hours of meeting each other. These examples both show that Romeo and Juliet is not just a sappy love story, but a marriage that was bound to end, one way or another.

Marriage is a pretty great thing. I mean spending the rest of your life with someone you love, doesn't sound too bad to me. Although, there have been some situations where people are much less fortunate. Situations like cheating, financial issues, and marrying too young, are all causes of a marriage to fail. In Romeo and Juliet, their marriage failed because of getting married too quickly.

I know a relationship that ended on bad terms. This young couple had been seeing each other for about a year and soon decided to get married. The wife, only eighteen, had just graduated from high school, only a few months earlier. The couple was together for several years, trying to iron out the wrinkles in their relationship, but had no success. Even though their relationship lasted a whopping seven years, their marriage eventually ended. This story shows that relationships are not to be rushed. Relationships are supposed to be enjoyed and drawn out, in a timely manner.

Marriage is a  big deal, wouldn't you say? It only happens once in your lifetime, for most people. Although, a marriage can end in a flash. Some preventional measures include therapy, consistent communication, quality time, and mutual respect. By taking these baby steps, each and every single day, your marriage is sure to last.

I recall a story, about a couple, who had a relationship that was against all odds. Aretha, Juliet in this scenario, was engaged to a man, who was gone for the time being, for military reasons. While still engaged, Aretha met this new guy in a span of three days. In those three days, Aretha and Eugene, the new guy she met, aka Romeo, got married. The couple was happily married until the day they died. So, this story proves that even though relationships can jump right to marriage, the outcome is not always a separated couple.

In all, marriage is a beautiful part of life. Marriage is a sacred and personal companionship, with the one person who you truly love. However, marriages are not always permanent. There have been plenty of situations where a marriage has failed. Situations like this can be prevented by waiting for the right time. Patience is crucial for a marriage to function properly. So I encourage you to wait for the right time, and when you know that you absolutely want to get married, then the time is right.

 

Is Love at First Sight Real?

By Bryn Jackson

            The definition of love is “strong affection or liking for someone or something.” Love can come in different forms. Some love may grow slowly over time, or some is said to happen in a single moment. This said love is called “Love at First Sight.” Others may tend to disagree and say that the “love” is just a strong feeling of attraction.

            Attraction is when you feel a connection to someone; maybe you like their looks or even their personality. Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet feels an intense attraction to someone. After Romeo's heart was broken by a girl named Rosoline, he laid eyes on a lady named Juliet. Romeo’s sadness went away, and all he could think about was the beautiful lady Juliet. Once Juliet laid eyes on Romeo, she could also feel that attraction. They only had a few moments to exchange small talk, but they knew that they were in love. This little moment signifies that just because you do not really know the person, and all you can judge a person by is their looks, you can be certain that you are in love.

            Leading to someone not knowing much about the other person but knowing that they are going to be in love shows that “Love at First Sight” can truly lead to a lifetime of happiness, even through all the ups and downs. My grandparents have a love story that falls into line with the topic “Love at First Sight.” My grandpa first laid eyes on my grandma when she was at her brother's graduation. At the time, she had just finished 9th grade, going to 10th. After my grandpa laid eyes on my grandma, he leaned over to his mom and said, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.” His mom didn’t believe him and said, “You don’t even know what love is.” During this, my grandma did not even know my grandpa existed.

Around 2 years later, when my grandma was in 11th grade, her boyfriend at that time broke up with her, and my grandpa was not standing too far away. He took his chance and asked her out. Luckily, she agreed, and ever since that moment they have been together, in love, throughout all the challenges that came with it. That one moment, when my grandpa said he was going to marry my grandma, eventually led to a marriage of 56 years and counting.

            Challenges that come with relationships are expected, but Romeo and Juliet’s was a much harder challenge than couples face now. Their families, the Capulets and Montagues, were the more honorable families in the Shakespeare play. They did not see eye to eye, or were more along the lines of rivals. But Romeo and Juliet were certain to be with each other after that first glance. They went behind their families’ backs to be with each other. If they were caught, they could have had a lesser punishment or even faced the death penalty, but they took the risk to be together. This was a big step for love during that time. If people were given that circumstance in today's time, they would take the easy way out, removing the conflicts and penalties.

            Conflicts can hypothetically end in a good circumstance or a bad one. Most people hope for the outcome to end well. “Love at First Sight” might be a saying people throw around, or some people take seriously. At first, I did not take my dad and stepmom seriously when they told me I was not going to be the youngest anymore, I did not want a good circumstance to happen. Growing up, I was told I would always be the baby of the family, but since my stepmom was expecting, I could not be anymore. It hurt more than anything to know my dad was having another child after he promised my mom that he would not. I stayed up late at night talking to myself, saying that I would not have anything to do with him, how I was not going to love him, and how I even was not going to look at him.

            Around 6 months later, I received a call that he was born. That moment changed how I saw him. It made me realize that maybe I would have something to do with him, maybe I would even love him, and hopefully there would have been a good end to it all. But a few days later, when my dad signed me out, I had an intense feeling of happiness. I knew he was in the car, I knew I was going to see him, and I knew that I was going to love him unconditionally. Once I officially saw him, my heart was full. His tiny little body and his little chubby face made me really fall in love with him.

            I just saw him. I did not really know anything about him, what he liked, what his hobbies were, I knew nothing. But that first sight was pure love, like how Romeo and Juliet fell in love. Their love just sparked when they laid eyes on each other. Love comes and goes, sometimes it is for a while, sometimes just for a short bit, or sometimes it can last a lifetime. At the end of the day, love is pure. You can feel love, and “Love at First Sight” is a real thing. Throughout literature and real-life experiences that many people have been through, “Love at First Sight” is there. Maybe you just need to read between the lines.

The Cost Of Rushed Choices

By Madison Maddox

We all know the story of Romeo And Juliet, one of the most popular love stories ever written. This story is not just about love, instead it shows the outcome of how impulsive decisions can have a bad result when no one truly thinks the decision through.

Romeo and Juliet met one night at a party and immediately fell in love. Their relationship, after they met, started moving very quickly throughout the story. The same night they had met, they were already talking about getting married. The only issue though, was that Romeo and Juliet’s families were not too fond of each other. Romeo got news one night that his one true love had died. He thought Juliet was dead, when she truly was not. While in a bad state of mind, he killed himself, making a very impulsive decision.

Though Romeo was grieving his wife, Juliet, and was going through a lot, he made a decision that could not be taken back. A lot of the time when people are upset, we tend to make rushed choices, although sometimes these are not smart to be making. Making these decisions without thinking usually leads to bad things, just like Romeo's situation. If Romeo could have avoided this choice, he would have soon been able to see that his true love was okay and still alive. 

When Juliet finally woke back up, she saw her true love lying dead on the floor beside her. During this moment, Juliet most likely was thinking the same thoughts as Romeo when he was in her position. She definitely was feeling those same strong emotions and was grieving her love, just as he was. Soon after this, Juliet made the same awful impulsive decision Romeo had made minutes before. 

Juliet must have been going through a lot, because I know just how it feels to lose a loved one. Losing a loved one is never easy, it takes a while to recover and truly be okay again. There are some moments where you feel like giving up because it hurts too much, but you must keep going. I know Juliet was feeling so many emotions but instead of taking her life she should have let herself be okay again before making quick decisions when she is not in a great state of mind. 

 I think instead of making impulsive decisions when you, like Romeo and Juliet, are upset or going through a lot or even grieving, must do your best to try and avoid making those decisions that you sometimes cannot take back. Choices like Romeo and Juliet's should definitely be given more thought when you are not in a great state of mind. I think that if you are not okay mentally, that is okay, it is just important to make smart choices, instead of ones you cannot take back. Parts of this play show how important it is to take big decisions carefully, especially when you're not okay mentally. Choices like these take time to think about and require clear thinking.

Love at First Sight

By Kinsley Rhodes 

            “Come on! Get out of bed, we have a party to get to,” Mike said.

            “Ugh I don’t want to,” Caleb whined. “I don’t feel like it.”

            “Get up! I’m not going alone!” he exclaimed. Caleb sat up slouched, still in his clothes from the day before. He looked at Mike like he’d lost it all. 

            “Look, I get your upset. I don't know why Sarah rejected you, but you don't need to get all depressed about her. It’s our senior year, we’re going to college in a couple months. Let’s just enjoy one more party.”

            “I just don’t understand,” Caleb said 

            “I know, neither do I. Hey I heard she was going to be at the party. Why don't we go and you can try to win her back,” Mike said.

            “Fine, I guess I could go,” Caleb said.

 

            They pulled in the driveway, and got out of the car. 

            “Okay, let's go!”  Mike said. They walked up to the house and knocked on the door. After about a minute of waiting the door opened. A girl with long brown hair welcomed them.

            “Hi! Sorry about that,” she said.

            “Ur fine,” Mike said.

            “Well I've got people waiting on me, but my name’s Clara. Hope y'all enjoy the party!” They walked into the house and stood in a rather empty area. 

            “I've never seen her before. Do you know her?’ Caleb asked.

            “No I haven't, why?” Mike responded. 

            “Oh umm no reason,” Caleb said. “Just wanna get to know her.”

            “Okay if you say so,” Mike said, shrugging his shoulders. 

 

            Caleb and Mike were sitting on the couch talking when suddenly he spotted Clara. 

            “Umm hello, are you listening to me?” Mike said.

            “What? Oh yeah , I am” Caleb said.

            “Oh I know it’s Sarah!” Mike said.

            “Yeah … Totally,” Caleb muttered. “Hey I’ll be right back, I'm gonna go get something to drink.” He stood up and started walking towards Clara. 

 

            He was walking through the crowd when suddenly her friend came up to her

            “Hey! I’m so glad you could come,” she said.

            “Yeah me too!” Clara responded. Her friend grabbed her arm and started bringing her to the other room.

            “Come on, I have to show you something,” she said. As they walked away Clara and Caleb locked eyes. A sudden rush of excitement ran through his body. 

            “I need to talk to her,” he whispered to himself. 

 

            He spent the rest of the night trying to approach her.

            “Yo, dude where have you been? I've been looking for you,” Mike said.

            “Just around,” Caleb responded. He glanced across the room to see Clara alone on the porch.

            “Hold on, I'll be back,” Caleb said as he pushed through the crowd. Once he reached the porch he took a breath, wiped his hands on his pants, and stepped forward. 

            “Hey, it’s me again,” Caleb said. She smiled and told him hey. He sat next to her and they ended up talking the rest of the night. By the end of the party it was like a story, they instantly clicked and soon started dating. Some would say it was love at first sight. 

 

Love is as Strong as the Grief of Death.

By Brody Arnold

 

            Love is a very powerful emotion tied to our brain and our heart. Some love is hopeless, some romantic but what all types of love have in common is that they are all very strong feelings. Have you ever loved someone? Not a “crush” real love. Romeo did in Shakespeare's famous play. Romeo is a perfect example of how love is strong if not stronger than death. 

            Most people who have taken a high school level language arts class have heard of Shakespeare's most famous play Romeo and Juliet. Not only does Shakespeare create a very enjoyable play, but he also portrays the message that love can be as strong, if not stronger, than death. I’m obviously not talking about love and death’s strength as if they are fighting. More so I’m talking about the emotional impact that love and death’s grief has.

Many people say or have often heard of the saying “ I’d die for you” or “ I would take a bullet for you”, and most know that it’s tied to love. This is just the beginning of how strong love really is. I mean you literally have people saying they would die just so another person could live. Proving that the love in their heart overcomes the death that they would face.

            Love is so powerful that Romeo or Juliet would have denied their own last names to be with each other. If you have never read the story before you would never understand why this was such a big deal. However, for context, Romeo's family (the Montagues) hated Juliet's family (the Capulets) and Juliet's family hated Romeo's family. If either of the families found out that Romeo and Juliet loved each other, there would be major repercussions for the both of them. However, that didn't stop them from meeting up of course. Love's power drove them to sneak off and meet even though they knew the trouble they would be in if they got caught.

            Death makes its debut towards the end of the play when Juliet and Romeo take their lives. The grief that death causes is so powerful that it can make people do crazy things. Some people spiral into depression, some people may want vengeance, some may even hit rock bottom all because of death’s emotional power.

            Love's power tramples death even though both are very powerful love decimates death in a foot race to a person's mind. Shakespeare makes a prime example out of this using Romeo and Juliet. But first a little backstory. Friar Lawrence gave Juliet a sleeping potion. She then 

Drank the potion and fell asleep in her bed for two days. Everyone thought she was dead including Romeo. When Romeo was informed of Juliet's so-called death he bolted on a horse to her tomb. As he saw her lying “dead” Romeo couldn't take it and drank a poison killing himself, because he would rather be dead than live without the love of his life. Juliet then wakes up from her slumber and sees poor Romeo dead. She tried to drink from Romeo's bottle of poison but it was empty, so she grabbed his sword and killed herself because she couldn't live without the love of her life. Proving twice that love is stronger than death because Romeo and Juliet would have rather been dead than have to live knowing the love of their life is gone.

            Love's strength isn't just with partners either. Shakespeare portrays that love's strength is present in almost every relationship. One of Shakespeare's key examples was when Mercutio and Tybalt were slain. Mercutio and Tybalt fought. Mercutio was then slain by Tybalt under Romeo's arm. Romeo loved Mercutio deeply as a friend. His death enraged Romeo because of the amount of love he had for Mercutio. In fact Romeo was so enraged that he sought out to fight and kill Tybalt to try and avenge Mercutio. Romeo wouldn't have done this if he didn't have a deep strong love for mercutio. The love from his heart made his brain want revenge.

 

Love of the Eyes or Love of the Heart

By Kinley Horne

            People love to talk about love at first sight, when two people see each other for the first time in their lives, and they just know that the other person is “the one.” William Shakespere’s play, Romeo and Juliet is often the perfect example of this. Two teenagers see each other from across the dance floor at a party and within minutes believe that they have found their soulmates, but was it actually true love?

            When Romeo first sees Juliet she takes his breath away with her beauty not by her personality or the kind of person she is. Romeo describes Juliet to have, “Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.” He is saying that Juliet is so beautiful her beauty shouldn’t even be wasted on this world they live in, and Juliet quickly falls for Romeo too with his compliments and charming pick up lines.

            While it’s easy for us to see why Juliet would fall so quickly for Romeo, liking the way someone talks or the way they look isn’t the same as truly falling in love with someone. True love shouldn’t be about looks or compliments, it should be about the way someone treats you, cares about you, and respects you. It should be someone who loves you for you.

            Friar Lawrence was the first person to question whether Romeo and Juliet were actually in love. When Romeo tells the Friar about his new found love at last night’s party, Friar Lawrence counters him with the claim that, “Young men’s love… lies not truly in their hearts; but in their eyes.” He explains to Romeo that he’s not in love with Juliet, he just thinks she’s pretty. 

            I have to admit the Friar does have a point. I mean earlier that same day Romeo was going on and on about Rosaline and how he would never be able to love another girl, and they were never even a thing. However, now that he has met Juliet he’s convinced that he's completely over Rosaline. He even says, while arguing with Friar Lawrence, “Rosaline who?” If Romeo can completely change who he thought he was in love with in less than twenty-four hours, did he ever truly love either girl?

            Another major problem is how fast their relationship was moving, and it makes their relationship appear more like infatuation than true love. The two had barely known each other a full twenty-four hours, and they were already wanting to get married. 

Today, most people wait months or even years before getting engaged, and even though times were different back then, only knowing someone for a few hours still seems kind of rushed to be vowing to spend the rest of your life with them. 

Romeo and Juliet never slowed down though, they acted on every big emotion without even taking a second to realize how it might affect their lives. From the moment Romeo and Julliete met they were infatuated with each other's looks, but neither one of them ever took the time to truly get to know each other and fall in love. 

In the end, Romeo and Juliet’s story circles back to one question; is there actually such a thing as love at first sight, or were they just two teenagers who let appearance, charm, and emotions get the best of them. Shakspere isn’t presenting us with a perfect romance. He is warning us about how quickly our emotions can get the best of us.  Romeo and Juilet started out with nothing more than a glance across the dance floor, but ended in the death of two innocent teenagers. While they are often used as the perfect example of love at first sight, they are actually the perfect example of how real love needs time, patience, and a good foundation.

A Walk Through a Love Story: Things To Be Cautious About In Your Relationship 

By Aubree Freeman

             Romeo saw Juliet and he knew, or rather he thought, that she was the one for him. He could have been right, of course, and they could have lasted. Though, the thing about ‘love at first sight’ is that before you get to know someone, you are only able to fall in love with your image of the person, rather than their character. It is absolutely possible that it can lead to more in depth and serious connection, but love can blind you from seeing who someone really is. It’s like a walk in a forest: there are so many directions you can go, and it's not always the most predictable. However, there’s a multitude of things you can do to try and help your walk go smoothly.

            Love, like all emotions, starts in the brain. Certain chemicals are released when you fall for someone. Dopamine, known as the pleasure hormone, for example, is very existent in the process. This feeling of euphoria and pleasure can be triggered by thinking about or interacting with another person that you are in love with. Oxytocin is provoked by physical touch, whether it be a small brush of your hands or even contact of your lips. It leaves you craving more, almost like you’re addicted. The feeling of love can additionally cause a decrease in serotonin levels--your mood regulating hormone--leading to obsessive thoughts about your partner. This is why you sometimes feel like you can’t stop thinking about someone.  

            In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare wrote about two love interests meeting at a dance, kissing, and falling in love with each other. Their feelings were so strong, due to their drop of serotonin, that they got married the next day, and then ended up killing themselves when they thought the other was dead.

           Although this story is vastly dramatized for entertainment purposes, it still gives a visual of how new love can lead you to make choices that you wouldn’t usually make.

            The ‘honeymoon phase’ is the early stage of a relationship when you and your partner are head over heels for each other. This is when you constantly think about each other, want to hang out all the time, and just don’t believe that anything could go wrong.

            However, this could possibly cause some issues within the relationship. Although this can feel like a very good thing at the moment, believing that your partner is perfect can cause you to ignore flaws that are potentially against your own values, or that could even cause you future harm. Your partner could have a shady job, they could be rude or demanding, they might even hit you and play it off as a joke. It could be any flaw really, and this is also a very common way abusive relationships start. It might be that you don’t notice the red flags, or you just ignore them altogether.

           When Romeo showed up in Juliet’s yard to declare his love for her without her telling him where she lived, instead of finding him creeper or stalker-like, as she would someone she wasn’t into, she didn’t even think twice about it. She didn’t think about how this manipulates his character.

           Once your strong feelings calm down, you start to realize that you are not dating a perfect human. Sometimes, people, especially young teens, will get bored of the relationship and end it once the intense love dies off. This is not the only cause of a break up, but it is a pretty common one. 

            When you commit to someone, you must put in the effort. The feeling of love most likely won’t last forever, but the act of love can. 

             You shouldn’t stop hanging out, you shouldn’t stop complimenting each other, and you should be patient with one another. When you start dating someone, you have to understand that, in most cases, the intense feelings won’t last forever.

             This is why things like cheating happen, when one person in a monogamous relationship violates the others trust, particularly in cases where they are seeking a relationship, either physical or emotional, with another person. This can be when they’re not satisfied with aspects of their current relationship. They may desire extra emotional validation. Other people cheat on their partner because they like the thrill of having to keep it a secret.

            We cannot know if Romeo and Juliet would have separated after the early love stage, or if they would have lived a happy life together forever. There are just so many things that can ruin a relationship, cheating being one of them. Maybe they would’ve grown apart, or maybe Juliet finds out that Romeo doesn’t want kids when she does. 

            Even though you are committed to your partner, you should not make any big decisions that could impact your future, especially if you are young. 

            To give an example, my mother had me as a young teenager early into her relationship with my father early into their relationship. This changed basically her entire life. She dropped out of high school to raise me, and it took away her chance of going to college. Her and my dad ended up separating not long after because they were at different points in their lives. Her having a kid with someone that she barely knew was not a good idea. Although she does not regret having me, she wishes it was with someone she knew and loved well enough to spend the rest of her life with. 

            Another major decision is marriage. Marriage has its legal binds and benefits like joint health insurance, medical decisions, property grants, and a lot of people like the husband/wife title better than the boyfriend/girlfriend title. Marriage usually happens when each person wants to spend their lives together.

Sometimes, if you marry too soon into your relationship, you will not truly know the person that you are bound to, and it can cause major problems and disagreements. Do you know how your partner wants to handle money? Do you agree on if you want kids or not? Do you get along with or even know your partner’s family? There are so many aspects to look out for. However, early marriage can and does last. You just have to know your partner.

            On that note, lots of people wait until marriage to show their true character so that their partner can’t leave as easily. A divorce is messy, and can even cause legal issues. Domestic abuse, lack of communication, or just simply just growing apart can all be causes of a divorce. Maybe once they got comfortable in their marriage, Juliet started using all of Romeo’s money--leading to a divorce. 

            Romance can be a beautiful thing. With Romeo and Juliet, they were so in love and happy together. It’s something that almost everyone desires. However, it’s important to be conscious about your decisions with who you date and what you do with them. Though, even being aware about what you're doing sometimes doesn’t save a relationship that wasn’t meant to be. No matter how much you prepare before your walk, you cannot be one hundred percent sure that you will not encounter a bear.

 

Separate Togetherness

By William J. Floyd

            Magnets too far apart can’t attract. Relationships(similar to the poles of a horseshoe magnet)can be described as opposites attract, but is there a limit to the attraction when physical separation is introduced? Can a relationship be sustained through distance, or does that distance make the relationship grow?

            Romeo, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, is obviously seen as a person drowning in love for his new found partner, Juliet. That attraction wasn’t only sustained, but it was even strengthened through their social separation. But why? Why does a person’s love for another almost always grow deeper/stronger through distance?

The two families from Romeo and Juliet are the Montaques and Capulets. These two bloodlines were pitted against each other throughout the play which caused for the secret that was Romeo and Juliet’s mutual love for each other. 

            Society’s outward appearance of love is togetherness and closeness between two people. Both principles are thrown out the door as you observe Romeo and Juliet’s unique, even weird, relationship.

            This enhanced feeling of love could be explained through an observation of natural human nature. All children, even adults, prefer to do exactly what an authority figure tells him not to do. Humans, when being denied something they want, are inherently curious about that forbidden or hidden thing.

            Humans also like attention. Nothing garners attention more than doing something no one else has done--no matter how stupid. The human brain feeds on ideas and attention. Those “fuels of the brain” empower the mind and soul to create ways and solutions to earn that attention. Romeo and Juliet, in this scenario, loved each other as a way to say, “Look at us! We did this first!”

Love conquers all, no matter how corny. Separation is a bridge crossed by the love for one another. Romeo and Juliet were away from each other for a major part of the play. They were forced to find inventive ways to be able to meet up with each other--which included on Juliet’s balcony and at the church.  They became more drawn to each other the longer they were apart. This is a similar principle used by the music and film industry today. Musical artists like Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen may release an album at the beginning of 2025. That album will be cherished for a while, but eventually people will be in desperate need for another piece of music from their idol. The longer time between releases the more suspense and attraction is created in the fanbase which makes for more album sales and higher profits for the producers when that following music does come out.

Romeo and Juliet possessed a bond like no other. Both always knew the other loved them and wanted, at any time possible, to spend time with them. That simple fact could’ve been the singular reason why their relationship lasted(or it’s at least what I believe). People’s relationships can differ and be stretched lightyears apart, and(unlike magnets)romantic partners can be attracted from anywhere. 

                                           Does Romeo and Juliet Glamourize Suicide 

                                                                By Olivia Owens

            Suicide isn’t a light topic at all. It’s something that happens to millions a year. Most of the time it's younger people (teens) that end up committing. 

            In Romeo and Juliet, the young couple ends up passing away due to suicide. If you haven’t read this story, I'll summarize that scene. Romeo thinks Juliet is dead and poisons himself, but after that, Juliet wakes up and sees that he’s dead, so she stabs herself. 

            I believe that this scene is sort of glamourizing suicide. It seems so sweet because Romeo couldn’t continue living without Juliet and the same thing for her. The problem with this is how easy the play makes suicide seem. 

            Like mentioned in the beggining of this, suicide is a truly horrible thing. Which is why it almost makes me angry that so many movies, books, songs, etc make suicide so normalized. It shouldn’t be normalized ever. 

            Something that never really gets talked about (at least in my opinion) is how badly suicide affects the friends and family of whoever has ended their life. 

            At the end of Romeo and Juliet, the two rivaling families come together after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The families end up forgiving each other and decide to end the rivalry they used to have. 

            Some may argue that Romeo and Juliet killing themselves was sort of a “good thing” because it brought the families together. That’s the only “good thing” that came out of it. Unfortunately, though, the fact still remains that the Capulets lost their daughter and the Monteques lost their son. That can never be undone. 

            This may be a bit of a stretch, but I feel like many teens are influenced by stories like Romeo and Juliet. Maybe more modern stories like it. They may get it in their heads that suicide is what you should resort to when going through a hard time. 

            The two lovers are so quick to end their lives for each other. There were no second thoughts, no hesitancy, they just did it. This is what makes suicide seem so easy, and that’s why teens could be very easily influenced because suicide looks like an easy escape. 

            A point I'd like to make (which is a quote most people have heard) is that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. This basically means that whatever someone is going through, there will always be some sort of resolution, even if it takes a while. 

            I make this point because in Romeo and Juliet, she isn’t actually dead, like Romeo thinks she is. If he hadn't killed himself, they would’ve been able to have a happy ending together. 

            Now, i’m sure Shakespear didn’t intentionally try to make suicide seem like it’s not a big deal. It was a different time that he lived in, and maybe suicide wasn’t seen as something really important that shouldn’t be taken lightly in entertainment media. 

            There are still many modern types of media that do romanticise suicide. It mostly happens in movies such as The Bridges of Madison County, Harold and Maude, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This has angered many people, including myself. 

            So to summarize the point im trying to make, Romeo and Juliet does make suicide seem like a romantic act of love type thing. “Romanticising” and “glamourizing” are two great words for it. I wish that more people could take suicide seriosuly. Because it’s not a light topic, and it should be taken seriously. 

                 

                                                            Death & Regret

                                                            By Fisher Allen

            Death… What does it mean to you? For some it means the end, the conclusion of their lives, the very cease of their existence. Many people dread it, for the “right wrong reason” depending on your beliefs if you know what I mean. However for others it's the everlasting, long awaited reunion with our brothers and sisters, and with God. But all of this to say we, as humans, know that death is eventually going to catch up with us, in a physical sense, now depending on your beliefs, your spiritual embodiment is determined.

            We(not counting everyone) don’t know when our passing will take place,via natural causes, sickness, or even suicide, such like what Romeo and Juliet undertook in the screen play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare; why did they did such a thing? That is beyond me. However I do believe it had something to do with the fact that they believe they couldn’t go on without the other. As the play goes, they both regretted not bearing against the terms of romeo’s banishment, and be with eachother, for romeo was under the influence that juliet died, therefore he committed suicide at juliets side.

Now regret is a whole other matter that is quite familiar to many people. I myself have it weighing on my mind constantly, most of the time it’s regretting things that I had done, but the regret that hits the hardest is the regret of not doing something. Because we are on this earth for only so long, and we don't have a say in when we will pass away, so I wouldn’t advise wasting time thinking about something you hadn’t done before it's too late, and "You must shuffle off this mortal coil." quote Shakespeare. What I find sad is the fact that so many people live their lives in regret before their death, some from not spending enough time with their loved ones before their departure from life, others from something they did that ruined their reputation, and some that stole the life from someone.

Life is here and then it is gone. I believe, within moral and spiritual principles, that life is a drop in the bucket, so live the absolute heck out of it. Just as soon as you’re youthful wishing you were older, you’ll be old near death willing to give anything to get your precious youthful days.

Don’t live your life thinking,” Man, I should have talked to that girl” “ I should have said I love you” “ I should have been there for them”. To be frank, you can “should” for the rest of your life and it won't change a thing;it will only bring regret, just like it was to Juliet for her brief moment alive after Romeo killed himself. I personally suggest listening to Cody Johnson's song “Till You Can’t” because it has really good ties with this theme.

There is a lot of death in Shakespeare’s screen play, and I can guarantee, without a doubt, that Paris’s mother hadn’t a thought in her mind that her son was going to die that day. It's pretty likely that she was full of regret and found she had been at fault for not just that a little bit more time with him. She likely mourned his death for a while. Another character that was killed was Tybalt, as well as Mercutio. Who had started by play, by playfully fighting, which escalated after Mercutio mocked Tybalt, and they brawled in the middle of the street. Eventually Tybalt struck Mercutio under Romeo's arm; Death claimed another, which would soon be Tybalt's turn to join him. See how fast it took goofing off to turn into a death upon both houses? Within both Capulet, and Montique houses/bloodlines.

           

            Now take a second, and ask yourself something, why did they fight? Surely they would have gone about their business had they known it would bear the death of both in the end. So, I present only a few more questions for you, before departure; What will happen to you when death is in company? Where are you going? Did you fulfill your life, living free from regret?