Hey Everyone,

My mom brought up a couple questions I feel I should ask you all.

First, I want you to totally clear your mind, forget about societies opinion, forget about everyone else..and answer.

1) What is a hero to you?

2) Who is your hero?

Comment Below!

-Jimmy Elliott

PS: My recent music addictions are The Downtown Fiction, NeverShoutNever, and 30 Seconds to Mars’ new album, “This is War”. Go listen to all of them because they’re epic!

Today I was doing an interview for a girl named Morgan, for her Worldviews Class. One of her questions was about Abortion.

Here is her question: “What do you believe about abortion?”

Here is my answer:

I’ve never had a “set” opinion on abortion because there are SO many factors to include, and I don’t have all the facts. I believe everyone has a right to be alive, to live, to love, and to learn. I don’t think that right should be taken away from anyone. If you take a babies life, you’re taking away their dreams, hopes, and their opportunity to love.

But, of course I look at it both ways. I’ve been in a situation where a scared rape victim has asked me what they should do (the rapist got them pregnant). I always say that I support & love them either way, but it’s their choice. But, is it possible to relate to what their asking themselves?

Factors like rape victims, teenage pregnancy, sexual abused children, gang rape, etc. really have an impact.

So, I want to know your opinion on abortion. Comment below, but no arguing PLEASE!

Love Always

-Jimmy Elliott

We’ve grown up saying it every morning during school, but is it all FAKE? The Pledge of Allegiance was written Francis Bellamy in 1892, changed four times since than the pledge says…

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”

Someone sent me a link via Twitter that directed to a story about a 10 year old, Will Phillips, who refused to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance during his 5th grade class at West Fork, Arkansas Elementary School. He was protesting the lack of "liberty and justice for all," because of how he saw gays and lesbians being denied rights such as marriage and adoption of children.

This really made me think. I mean we’re grown up to say this ‘pledge’ and swear to a flag…but it’s not true. There is not justice for all. Gays & Lesbians cannot marry someone of the same sex, and SO many other problems making the pledge ultimately fake.

I’m not saying rebel and not stand during the pledge. All I’m saying is think about it more deeply. Is the government basically making us announce this pledge, but it’s all fake-Or, do we blame society for the unequal treatment of others?

So, comment below because I want to know your opinion!

-Jimmy Elliott

Written by Allison Glock on November 25th, RollingStone.com posted an article on the organization To Write Love on Her Arms. These are my thoughts on it… I’m proudly defending TWLOHA(click here for original article).

What started as a huge opportunity for TWLOHA soon turned into a disappointment. Jamie Tworkowski (Founder of TWLOHA) says in the Behind The Scenes video of the article’s photoshoot, “It’s a really special moment for us, It’s exciting to get to share that.” “It’s exciting to think that Rolling Stone of all the bands, of all the stories they can be telling, they are giving some attention to this.”

The article started off with the picture to the left. In my opinion, this portrays God, excluding the fact that the awkward title of the article is “Surfer to Savior” Jamie is not trying to be the savior or God. Plus, it doesn’t look like he’s enjoying it.

The article basically goes on to represent TWLOHA in a way that finds it more about t-shirts, and a teenage trend. I cannot say that Glock, which wrote the article hasn’t suffered with these issues but I can say she’s a terrible writer.

“The organization he founded three years ago, To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), already boasts the largest audience of any nonprofit on MySpace, deluged with more than 100,000 messages — many of them suicide notes — from kids in more than 100 countries.” –You cannot confirm that most are suicide notes, nor are all of their audience kids.

“If you are a bulimic cheerleader, a loner with violent thoughts, a pretty goth girl who likes to make like Lindsay and draw a sharp blade across your arm, chances are that the shrinks and guidance counselors you’ve been sent to see will strike you as full of shit. Tworkowski is the one person who’ll get through to you — through Twitter or Facebook or a rock concert or, if you’re lucky, with an old-fashioned hug.” –Stereotyping others is not the moral thing to do. Also, this represents TWLOHA as more of an online organization which is incorrect, as they travel on tours and such to spread hope.

“The first box of 200 shirts sold out in two weeks. Tworkowski ordered more, and set up a link so people could buy them online. Cash started to roll in — $2.9 million in merchandise sales last year, far more than was necessary for one girl’s rehab. So Tworkowski started TWLOHA, hoping to reach thousands of Renees, all those kids in the world struggling with depression and addictions and self-injury and suicidal urges.” –Not correct, Jamie didn’t start TWLOHA in hopes of finding thousands of Renees or to make cash. He started TWLOHA with no plan at all, he started it out of the love of his heart, not for the love of money. Trust me, I should know being the founder of Holding of Wrist.

“Part of Tworkowski’s genius is that he has found a way to package hope with hoodies, to combine the desperate need teenagers have for connection with their unquenchable urge to shop. As one poster wrote in June, "i love twloha! it has helped me so much. i write love on my arm every day. i have a lot of stuff from twloha too."” –Jamie didn’t want to start a trend. Sadly though, TWLOHA is becoming a trend. Not their fault, it is just random people who think the shirts are cool, and pretend to suffer so they feel they are apart of TWLOHA. Yes, teenagers do have a quench for shopping, and I’m sure that is how TWLOHA is open today, but it’s mostly because of the trend that they un-expectantly created.

“But even the most jaded mental-health veterans who view Tworkowski’s presentation at the conference tend to fall under his spell, middle-aged men and women weakening in the knees as they watch his eyelashes bat up and down, clamoring for TWLOHA tees when he hands them out, tossing them through the air, stadium-style: "Over here, Jamie! Over here!”” –Jamie does not speak for T-shirts, for social networking profiles, for websites, he speaks for the hundreds of thousands suffering in the world, and even than he does not speak for everyone. We all experience pain, it’s mutual.

“"You know, Dad, the whole fame thing?" Tworkowski told his father recently. "I thought this is what I wanted, but I don’t."” “"In the last few years, I’ve had to recognize I was really hurting," he says. "I encourage people not to be alone, but I was living a life that was pretty lonely."” –Jamie, If you’re reading this, I’m not going to say I’m sorry for what TWLOHA has become, because it’s saved thousands of lives. No one wants the whole fame thing. No one wants to be alone. Jamie, you are not alone. Yes, you tell hundreds of thousands ‘You are not Alone’, not I’m telling you because I feel like you need to hear it. I love you, People love you, God loves you, most importantly though…Do you love yourself?

“Tworkowski confesses he has entered therapy and started taking antidepressants. He has realized his own pain is greater than he thought, that what he is really after, like everyone else, is love. He says this with a guilty smile, says it feels, in some way, like a small failure. He frets about the revelation. "I mean, what will people think? I think people look at me and think, ‘Man, his life must be awesome.’ I never grew up thinking this is what my life would look like. But — " Tworkowski drops his gaze, exhales. "I’m a bit of a roller coaster. I want things to be epic," he says quietly. "And everyday life isn’t epic." –Jamie, you take care of your pain. TWLOHA is taken care of by a group of amazing Interns and members! I understand how you feel, If you’re a founder of an organization such as this we’re looked upon to have a ‘perfect life’, a life with no problems’. Truth is, our lives are harder. I agree, it is a rollercoaster. It’s not easy hearing the type of things we hear everyday. Jamie, we’re here for you.

…So that was my short review on Rolling Stone’s article on TWLOHA.

What are your thoughts on their article of TWLOHA? Comment below!

PS: You can now subscribe to my blog and get e-mailed when I post a new blog! Go subscribe under ‘E-mail Subscription’ in the sidebar!

PS2: I posted a blog yesterday reviewing Adam Lambert’s performance at the American Music Awards…Read it here

-Jimmy Elliott

*Warning- This blog post is rated PG, Parental Guidance is suggested.

The world has been talking about it, Twitter users have made it a trending topic, everyone is talking about Adam Lambert’s performance at the AMA’s (American Music Awards).

During his performance, Adam Lambert did multiple things that really set people off.

1) Grabbed a male keyboarder and made out with him

2) Pulled a girls crotch…?

3) Forced a dancers face into his crotch

4) Bumped & grinded with male & female dancers

5) Pulled dancers across the stage on leashes

I never really expected this kind of behavior from Adam, seeing him on Idol he was a really clean cut male performer. I do believe that most of that was planned. According to David, Assistant wardrobe stylist for Adam Lambert’s promo tour which kicks off with the AMA’s said "I’m sure people will be jaw dropping in a very very good way".

I support him 100%! I support that he has finally came out gay to the world, and this finalizes that. It’s not that I don’t support him, because I really do. It’s just this is national television, kids were watching. Honestly, I feel he put a bad rep out there about the LGBT community. Prior to this, the LGBT had the rep of just grabbing people and doing things such as this, now un-supportive hetero’s have just another reason to push their point.

I was on Twitter and saw a bunch of tweets from LGBT community saying things like “Yea Adam, way to represent”, “FREE WILL! WE LOVE YOU ADAM”, “Your an inspiration for representing us”. He can be an inspiration, but does not need to ruin that good moment with dirty dancing putting a bad rep.

I was watching the performance on Youtube tonight and I saw his face at the end, It was  like “What the fuck just happened”……

The performance was so controversial that it was edited off of the west coast AMA’s and he was kicked off Good Morning America.

He makes a good point in interviews after the AMAs, that female artists do this kind of thing all the time. I support him in taking a risk to show the world that performances like that aren’t just meant for heteros but homos too!  

All in all, yes I do support Adam Lambert! Go buy his new album, “For Your Entertainment” because he’s a very talented person. But, I do not support his performance, it’s very sloppy and un-professional. But really, the lyrics speak for the performance, “I’m here for your entertainment”, and “Can you handle what I’m about to do”.

So,

What are your thoughts on Lambert’s performance? Do you support, or not? Or both like me. haha

Leave comments below because I’m interested to know your opinion!

PS: Obviously, I have re-designed my entire blog! Go take a look at the new ‘About Me’ page, I changed it around! Also, I have a new blog coming Friday regarding my thanksgiving. Preview;  I was apart of an organization that fed 4,000 people!

PS2: Go subscribe to my blog! The moment I post a new blog it gets sent directly to your e-mails! You can sign up in the sidebar under ‘Email Subscription’. Yes, even non-wordpress users can sign up!

-Jimmy Elliott

My mom works with an organization called The Giving Heart, which host  Thanksgiving meal for over 3,000 people in the Richmond, Va area for anyone who is lonely over Thanksgiving.

Last year they fed 3,000 people, and this year expecting up to 4,000. Today we 3,375lbs of turkey, 300lbs of flour, etc. from Whole  Foods Market to the Richmond Convention Center downtown.

My mom, along with everyone else on The Giving Heart board works yearly on this project that takes place one day. On Wednesday we make giving bags for those 3-4,000 people.

The best part is Thanksgiving day! Just the image of thousands of people coming together to share a meal, each having a unique story.

So, Anyone is welcome really! So, if you’re feeling a little lonely on Thanksgiving than come on down! I can’t promise you’ll see me because I’ll be running around doing different things, but If you see me, grab me!

Info;

The Giving Heart Thanksgiving Feast

Richmond Convention Center- Richmond, Virginia

11A.M-3P.M | It’s totally free, parking too!

Also, I’ll be blogging the day after Thanksgiving about how it went because it’s truly an amazing experience I’m proud to say been volunteering for over 10 years!

-Jimmy Elliott (@jimmyelliott on Twitter)

PS: For more info visit thegivingheart.org & spread the word!

Black, White, Mexican, or Chinese. Tall, Short, or Midget. Gay, Straight, Bisexual, or Transgendered. Drinker, or Straight-Edge. Smart, or Not. Over weight, or Not. Christian, Catholic, Baptist, Jewish, or Atheist. Athletic, or Not. Strong, or Not. Social, or Not. “Popular”, or Not.

LOOK AT THE CONTRAST…

When I look at those words above I think about EQUALITY.

DIVERSITY.

WE’RE ALL EQUAL. WE’RE ALL ALIVE & HUMAN.

WE’RE ALL DIFFERENT FOR A REASON.

DIVERSITY…IT’S WHY THE WORLD IS UNIQUE. This community is DIVERSE. We have all kinds of people….ACCEPT IT, LOVE IT, EMBRACE IT, SHARE IT.

-Jimmy Elliott (@jimmyelliott on twitter)

 

Today me and three friends decided to hold Free Hugs signs in hopes of spreading the love, or at least making someone’s day brighter.

We started at the mall. Me & Chad got hugs from five girls before we even started. They were telling us how much of an impact that made. It was awesome! Once we started we only got one hug, stayed two minutes, than got kicked out of the mall by security. We weren’t causing a disturbance.

From there we went across the street near a shopping center fountain. We met a nice lady which we spoke with for about five minutes. She was trying to teach her daughter how to spell ‘FREE HUGS’! After that, we got a couple hugs than left to a new location.

We than went to the local movie theater which we first got told to get out of the doorway, he was a nice person though. We stood there for about two hours. Got hundreds of hugs! Had short conversations, group hugs, and a creeper or two.

It was truly radically epic! Just the fact that even if they didn’t give us a hug, that they read the words which were on our signs, “Hope is Real”, “You are Loved”, and “keep smiling, everything’s gonna be okay.”. A smile is all that matters!

HUGE Shout out to my friends Carrie, Sarah, and Chad which stood outside for three hours today JUST to make someone’s day brighter!

-Jimmy Elliott

Hey Everyone,

Sorry I’ve been a bit crazy with posting blogs lately. I posted a blog earlier, “Through Her Eyes, I See Her Pain”, be sure to check it out!

So today I went to a GSA Summit in Richmond, Va. put on by an amazing organization, GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network). I got a whole folder of information, but I wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned and would like to share in hopes on helping you. Basically this GSA Summit was epic! I can’t summarize everything because it was five hours, but here’s important information;

We talked about Day of Silence, which takes place April 16th, 2010! DOS is taking a day of silence in hopes of bringing attention to the silence faces by LGBT students because of harassments in public (and private) schools.

Boundaries is more of a serious issue we discussed. We talked about abuse in relationships, whether that’d be verbal, physical, or emotional.

Not sure about your sexuality, Feel alone? Well call a FREE & CONFIDENTAL teen hotline- 1-800-246-PRIDE; www.youthtalkline.org

I’ve learned that suicide & self-injury ARE NOT in the top ten health issues affecting youth.

1; Youth Obesity | 2; Drug Abuse | 3; Smoking | 4; Bullying | 5;Internet Safety | 6;Child Abuse or Neglect | 7; Teen Pregnancy | 8; Alcohol Abuse | 9; ADHD/STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections | 10; Chemicals in the Environment

We talked about Bullying. How quickly things can go from verbal, than physical, than maybe even murder. How quickly people can change someone’s life to the point of suicide. What about that boy who shot himself with his fathers gun because he was being harassed at school? Is it time for change? Is it time to change the world? How much longer can we wait people? I don’t give a shit if you support the LGBT community or not, this is about LOVE in general. How much better the world would be if everyone just LOVED.

…You Can Save A Life;

When you share a smile across the room…YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE.

When you share a hug with a random person…YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE.

When you post a blog online…YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE.

You have the power to save life’s. This isn’t to sound “greedy”, but I’ve saved lives. You can too!

Summary;

The GSA Summit was awesome! I’ve learned a lot and I hope that maybe this blog can have an impact on someone’s life because EVERYONE deserves to love who they want to! This isn’t about “gayness” or rainbows (even though I won a sticker rainbow today), this is about the feeling of LOVE within a community and hopefully acceptance outside of that community.

PS: I’ll be holding up free hug signs at a local mall on Sunday, so expect a new blog late Sunday night.

Love you all! Keep being radically epic! Keep changing the world with LOVE. It takes one step at a time, but it’s possible!

-Jimmy Elliott

Hey Everyone,

I have a friend named “Ashley”. I met Ashley just this year and already I feel like I have a strong connection to her. She’s a pretty radical person. But…When I look into her eyes it’s like I can feel & see the pain she’s gone through.

After more than a week of debating whether to tell her or not, I confronted her about this. I felt like I had a “duty” to take care of my friends. So even if I was maybe wrong, I told her what I felt.

Come to find out; Last year she was in an what I would call ‘Verbal Abusive Relationship’. This guy called her a whore. This guy broke down “Ashley” to the point of carving his name into her arm.

This is just a small part of a big story I told Ashley. I told her that her story has the POWER to change lives, and is supposed to be heard by the world. She’s gone through a lot. I know she isn’t telling me everything, but that is okay. All in all, she is recovering since than and trying to put her past in the past.

I’m glad Ashley is alive today. I’m happy to know this wonderful and beautiful girl!

So, If you can tell that a person had pain in their life, or can tell that they’re going through something currently, PLEASE PLEASE confront them about it. What good can come from that? You have the power to change lives. YOU use your voice to help others!

HELLO DEAR,

I LOVE & CARE ABOUT YOU!

-Jimmy Elliott (@jimmyelliott on Twitter)

PS: I’ve got weekend plans!

Saturday= GSA Summit in Richmond, Va

Sunday= Going to a local mall and holding up free hug signs with friends. (New Blog coming Sunday!)