The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Lauren L. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Ten Commandments
A few thousand years ago, ten commandments were set in stone and handed down from on high. The people who witnessed this event were in awe, to say the least. They felt that this clear direction was the ultimate blessing and that nothing would stop them from obeying it.
A couple of days ago, I realized that there are still ten commandments governing our culture today. But they aren't from God. These rules come directly from the naïve minds of the people.
COMMANDMENT #1: "YOU ARE GOD: EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND YOU"
You each have unique desires and goals in your lives. No matter what they are, you should reach for them, even if it means beating up the other guys or putting your friends and family on the backburner or sacrificing your savings. You are god and you do as you please!
COMMANDMENT #2: "LOOK TO WHAT YOU ADMIRE TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS"
That dead rock star knows and feels everything you are going through. Whenever you are down or confused, just go to him and he’ll be there for you, every step of the way.
COMMANDMENT #3: "SAY WHAT YOU PLEASE, WHEN YOU PLEASE, HOW YOU PLEASE"
All those old folks don’t know what they’re talking about. Cursing is great! It lets you vent frustration, it spices up a conversation and it can act as a great crutch for a poor vocabulary. Besides, it’s just freedom of expression, man.
COMMANDMENT #4: "THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME ON EARTH. DO WHAT YOU WANT TO WHEN IT’S EASIEST FOR YOU"
Football games, parties, homework, swim practice, movies, sleeping, and, oh, wait. There’s no more time left. Maybe you can just blow off all of your work and fly to Cabo for a few weeks, party with the locals. You only get one life to live, so live it up!
COMMANDMENT #5: "EVERYONE ELSE IS IGNORANT, ESPECIALLY YOUR PARENTS. DO AND SAY WHAT YOU WANT"
Like they even know what their talking about. Wasting time gluing a million foam peanuts to your bedroom wall looks cool and what makes them the boss of you? It’s your room. It’s your life. Your parents can just f*** off.
COMMANDMENT #6: "IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT SOMEONE JUST SAY IT"
Marcie stole your boyfriend? You think Brian is failing math? Don’t just keep it to yourself, spread the word! Tell everyone you know about how stupid and pathetic those people are and destroy Marcie's or Brian's sole. You’re the only one who matters anyways.
COMMANDMENT #7: "IT’S THE 21ST CENTURY. LET SEXUAL FREEDOM RING"
Please. You think our fathers and mothers who revolutionized sexuality in the 1960’s really fought all that hard so that you can save yourself for marriage!? It would not only deny yourself pleasure, but it would be disrespectful to our mothers and fathers not to share beds before marriage. Hop into the STD-infested deep end. The water’s great!
COMMANDMENT #8: "YOU CAN BORROW WHATEVER YOU WANT, EVEN IF YOU DON’T RETURN IT"
That iPod Touch your roommate has looks pretty great. Too bad you don’t have any money for one. Maybe if you just take theirs for a few hours they won't notice. Besides, if it gets damaged or stolen, you can just lie to cover it up.
COMMANDMENT #9: "A LITTLE WHITE LIE NEVER HURT ANYONE. COVER UP YOUR MISTAKES WITH CAREFULLY DRAFTED WORDS"
So you cheated on your math test. So what? No big deal. Just tell your teacher you were honest. Hide the evidence that you snuck into her desk last Wednesday and she’ll never know the difference. Besides, you don't want to make yourself look bad. You are god and you must always be perfect.
COMMANDMENT #10: "OBSESS OVER WHAT YOU WANT AND FIGHT UNTIL YOU GET IT"
Hey, what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours, right? Not so much. If you can't have it, fantasize about it. Dream about. Desire it with every bone in your body. If you can't have something, you should to fight until you get it. You should have everything you want.
Okay. Seriously? This is how we should live our lives? How are these laws going to make us any happier? Self-indulgence is not the key to lasting happiness: self-denial is. And the only way to heaven is through Jesus, not by fantasizing about the girl next door. Can we seriously consider ourselves good if this is the way that we run our lives? I think we need to bring those original ten commandments back and shake things up. Those were the commandments from someone who was above being human. Those were the commandments from the true and only God. He needs to be our God and His laws need to set the standards in our lives.
