What’s the deal? No, really, what is the deal. By no means do I mean to spend this entire blog talking about two very similar schools, with only small differences in rules, but are sending the same message in all that they do, and representing the same church. Rather I want to talk about this whole, I am better than you crap! I am going to take and set rivalries aside because they are far different. They can be validated by numbers, statistics, and tradition. However, “this is better than that because I said so” is... let me think of the word I want to use to describe it, oh yes, yeah it is CRAP!
First case study. California. I am going to get it off my chest and yes I can say this because I lived there for two years. That place is overrated! And yes I have heard every single argument for it. And let me just say this, you California people need to be more original. You all have the same lame excuses to live there. That thing you hate so much, yeah the white powderer stuff called snow, was created by God, and without it, we wouldn’t have water for a lot of things. That wonderful sunshine, yeah, there are other states that have it! Mountains, beaches, farms, all of that can be found in other places around the US. In and Out, it’s good, but is it the greatest? Depends on what you think. Subjective to the way you like your burger. And so with everything else you like about California. Personally, I like snow. Is that a problem? I don’t think anything is wrong with me, you may disagree. But personally I like snow. I like a few cold months out of the year. I hate smog, and traffic, and thousands of people everywhere I go. If you like that, well, California is the place for you. Do you see what I am saying? To each there own! See what I am getting at? Maybe? Let’s check out another example.
BYU v. BYU-Idaho. Okay, now there is no place in which you could sit down and compare these schools on an even playing field. Let me say this, I have my issues with BYU, and yes sometimes I sit back and say, why did I choose here? What the heck was I thinking? But for some reason I am here at BYU. In terms of education, I can go a lot of other places that have better programs, that fit me better. But BYU is where I decided to come. And so it is with any other University, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. If one school was so much better than the other, why doesn’t everyone just go to that one University? I hear all of you screaming, the acceptance rate. But really, if a University was so great and turned out such great people in all aspects, why wouldn’t we just combine it into one school? We could make the accommodations and room for everyone. But some people strive in huge classes, like at BYU, and others do well in tiny ones, like UVU, or EAU, or any other junior college. BYU has it’s pro’s and con’s and so does BYU-Idaho. Are you better than someone else because you are going to BYU? Or to BYU- Idaho? Not hardly! That is just your school of choice which may offer the best way for you to learn, which is different than my way.
My Mission v. Your Mission - Or any other spiritual experience. Really? Did you really not learn anything from your mission? All that time that you spent studying the Book of Mormon and you are going to argue over who is better? Seriously! Grow up! You missed the whole message of the Book of Mormon. The mission you served, and the experience you had was great for you, and isn’t the right thing for everyone. And back to it, Argentina isn’t better than Mexico, and state side isn’t worth more to the Lord than foreign. So get over yourself and realize you aren’t better than anyone else because of where you served, or leadership assignments, or any of that. The only thing that mattered is how! And the only person who can determine that is the Lord, so don’t even try to begin and talk about how much better you were.
The real true issue of this whole thing can be summed up in one word. PRIDE. Yeah, that is right. Pride. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying don’t be proud of who you are and where you come from. I rather enjoy people who have school and state pride. However, if you can’t stand someone saying, hey I don’t like your state without being offended or upset, you have a pride issue. Yeah, I said it. You are shallow and have a pride issue. If you can’t see that other people may not like what you like without feeling abandoned and alone, you are a bit insecure about yourself. Don’t be so shallow. Like what you like because you actually like it. State what you think, and respect others and what they think. And to think that your stuff don’t stink? Don’t get me started, because it smells a whole heck of a lot worse than you can imagine.
