For just a moment I ask you to picture something in your mind. A pure white room with flowing lace curtains. Hanging from the ceiling is a crystal chandelier. In an elegant fireplace, yellow flames crackle. It is very quiet. The only sounds are the crackling fire and soft classical music playing in the background. A figure is sitting in a comfortable armchair reading a thick, perhaps Victorian, novel; his face is completely relaxed and at ease. For this particular someone, this is a safe haven, where he feels secure and protected. This seeming den of serenity, however, is certainly not where I would be found.
             I am not one to change my preferences just to appeal to pop culture. Although I listen to a multitude of musical styles, punk music happens to be my favorite type. The fast, loud music, its catchy guitar riffs, and the odd clothing fashions make this lifestyle appealing to me. Every once in a while the tracks of pop culture and my own will meet, but those instances are few and far between. This is why my room would be so different than the one that was mentioned in the introduction. My room would have lots of people crammed into a small place -- all together simply because they love the music; not because of an Abercrombie & Fitch poster or MTV. It would have both men and women alike, representing diverse cultural backgrounds. Everyone would accept one another, whether they have body piercings, brightly colored hair, or strange clothing such as a plaid skirt or pants. While I certainly don't agree with everything that is associated with punk rock, I accept it much like!
             an imperfect best friend. That is the beauty of this music scene: it has given me a greater understanding of life. I really don't believe anyone gets along with everybody, myself included; but coming from this background gives me the ability to look past people's undesirable qualities and focus on their positive traits. This is wh...