It makes you wonder

I suppose this was actually what I wanted to cover in what seemed to be my "emo" post. In my experiences watching some of my romantic comedy animes the one thing that seems to stick out the most in those series is the main male character. The character is a down trodden, yet loveable (I suppose in some respects to some viewers) doofus and still manages to attract women. Strangely enough one of the series popped up in some material I read for one of my history classes. The series is Ah! My Goddess, well the reading actually covered the original movie but the themes present were mostly the same. A little summary of the series: Keiichi is a second year college student who always seems to be screwed over by the world. He has no luck with women and life in particular. However with one phone call he manages to connect to the Goddess Help Line where he summons the goddess Belldandy who is willing to grant him one wish because he wins the favor of heaven for his perserverance in a world that sucks. Well long story short Keiichi wishes for Belldandy to stay with him forever and wish granted let the hilarity begin.

Well that was a fun summary of an anime, if you are interested I have all 50 episodes so give it a watch if you like. Anyways, what seems interesting is that the reading covered gender in the series. Where we see how the meekness and indecisive heart of Keiichi does not match up with what most people consider masculine in society. Yet on the other hand we see powerful female characters such as Belldandy a goddess stepping down from a rank of authority and becoming the perfect girl friend. Even looking into it more is the fact that she sees beyond the expectations of the world for why she is attracted to Keiichi. Simply put, its whats on the inside that counts. The second episode is one that I think anyone whos been screwed over by the world can be encouraged/relate to. Just because you may not be the richest, best looking, smartest or what have you what matters is that you are you. Despite all the weird querks or things about you what matters the most is that people should be who they are since the things that make you unique and your character is what people should see.

If I had to sum up the series in a nutshell its one part academic presentation on gender in society and one part social masturbation. On a social level I wonder why most people don't think like Belldandy. Like I've pounded into the heads of my readers we look too much on the surface, its always first impressions are the most important. I can agree with that, but on the other hand when push comes to shove actions and personality come out when we are presented with challenges. Its only when we do work that people can see what we truly are. On a romantic level I think that some people who give advice on dating should take this to heart. My Dai-Ge's understand this, they know that relationships should have a level of maturity its not so much as to be attracted to someone on a physical level but to know each others strengths and weaknesses and build each other up. It's not all hearts and smiles once two people begin to date each other, its a path of brokeness and tears. When one feels inadequate, the other should support them and make them feel loved in a world that can be so cruel.

It makes me wonder sometimes if people realize this. Most of my roommates for the most part have people of the opposite sex by thier sides. I'm not sure about the exact details on how they're doing or even how it all started for them. One of my roommates in particular, in all honesty and I don't think he reads this and if he does now its my turn to be brutally honest. I really feel bitter about it, he judges me based upon society's rules of how men should approach relationships. It's shallow and ugly there are times I ask why he gets a girl when a good guy like me seems to repel women with my nerdiness and love for anime. Even his girl friend is shallow as well, if you don't remember I mentioned the two of them in another post when they looked at the posters in my room. Thier relationship is basically centered around the fact that its fraternity/sorority ties and the two go drinking and playing beer pong (said roommate also had the "brillant" idea to filter vodka in a PUR water filter). I hate it, if this is what the world wants for two people I will hate the world as well. I understand that the whole concept of dating is the fact that you're trying to find the one person to eventually propose to, but wheres the maturity? It takes a lot to see beyond looks for the opposite sex, but one has to realize that relationships aren't all fun and games like with my roommate. Maybe I have too high expectations but its like my talk with my dai-ge, he knows that I realize that I don't want to get into a relationship simply for "fun" I'm looking for something more. I suppose the whole reason I began to post these feelings I had on relationships was because when I was younger in high school I wanted to be loved. I got love from my family, but the world seemed to hate me for existing. Yet when I came to Long Beach and experienced love from others I really hoped that I would be able to show a girl that I loved her. Yet its difficult for me, so thats why I want to take my time and not rush into things so thats what makes me thankful for my singleness.

All in all we need to be mature when it comes to things like relationships because the world can turn a beautiful thing like love into something ugly. Its a matter of acceptance and perserverance for these things. Beauty lies beyond what we see.