So I heard that Americans cannot process context.
The last few weeks have been filled with sadness and tragedy, but it seems as though our citizens, as consumers of the media, will not assign perspective to each event relative to the others.
This morning there is STILL a war in Iraq. Just today 147+ people died from various bombs in Baghdad. Add that figure to the number of victims of our instigated Middle East conflict and it's absolutely horrifying. Now put that story next to the VT shootings. Then let's also take a look at climate change. And finally let's not forget Don Imus, because a story is so much easier to grasp when there's a clear villain.
All of these events are scary and/or sad and/or unfair AND they all require action. I'm not suggesting that each should be rated on a scale of badness, but maybe we can have multiple thoughts in our consciousness and give them varying degrees of weight. I'll offer this - the Iraq disaster has killed thousands, the VT incident killed 33, climate change could kill millions, and Don Imus didn't kill anyone.
Can we ask our news corporations, our media, to serve us with objective focus? Why did I hear nothing for weeks except Anna Nicole and then nothing but Don Imus and then nothing but VT??? This saturation of ONE easy subject after another is infuriating and we are all enablers.
Everyone needs to take responsibility and to challenge oneself to become informed and to use the voice for which we fight so hard to possess.
So I heard this afternoon that I was not selected for a position about which I felt excited.
Interestingly though I am not upset. I am definitely scared for my finances right now because I am in a terrible situation of not being able to truly support myself. My first feeling upon hearing my rejection, however, was relief.
Well that's weird.
I was working so hard to make this happen, but I didn't really want it. This process revealed that I am focused on a career and that I have set myself on a path and my success is going to come from pushing ahead.
I liken it to when you're in horrendous traffic on the interstate and you decide to switch to the right lane because it appears to be moving with greater speed. You guess that you'll get where you need to go a little bit faster. Inevitably it's the wrong choice just about every time.
This was one of those choices. I changed lanes for a hot second. The good news is the left lane is still an option. I just need to put my signal on and move over.
So I heard that being a grownup blows.
No - really there's a lot to be excited about, a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to feel proud of...
There's also quite a bit to be miserable about.
Why do I feel blind-sided by this? I didn't feel sheltered as a kid and I witnessed a variety of adult struggles, but I think I thought that my life would be different.
The even more shocking realization is that not only does being a grownup feel sad, but being a being feels sad. My whole life I have felt sadness. I have also felt love, joy, anger, jealousy, and an array of other emotions. Sadness, however, I have always fought. I have always experienced it and felt the need to actively challenge it - rectify it. The critical flaw in my logic lies in my denial of sadness as its own emotion, valid and whole. It doesn't require fixing or doing or disputing. It requires sitting.
So today I'm sad and rather aware of it. That's all. In the words of a wise yogi, "This is a part of it too." Tomorrow I may be content or I may be thrilled or I just might be sad again. That's all.
So I heard that the DREAMGIRLS movie is off the hook!!! Of course it is.
1. Bill Condon is an awesome director with film credits on Kinsey & Chicago.
2. Really, how could a Motown movie musical be THAT bad??
3. To all the haters out there - I praised Ms. Jennifer Husdon's talent from the very beginning of her season on that trashiest of reality shows, American Idol. Her talent is outrageous and she rocked it each week. Somehow people just didn't get it, but I'm ecstatic to hear that world will see her for the queen she is. I hope this film is huge and that she gets her fair share of the credit. Take that one-trick Fantasia!
Check it out this December when Dreamgirls goes head to head with the horror that is the newest Rocky film. I hope the girls crush him.
So I heard that the Connecticut Democratic voters made a bold move... just barely. In what is being seen as a tremendous revolt the constituents from CT selected Ned Lamont as their Senate candidate with an underwhelming 51.8%. Now don't get me wrong, I am completely pleased with Lieberman's defeat, but shouldn't it have been a bit more striking? I fear that while liberal blogs are giving each other pats on the back for swaying a major election it won't be enough. I applaud them, but I also hope beyond all hope that this is just the beginning of a larger idealogical shift. With progressives only taking the lead by minimal percentage points, the road to victory in the next several election cycles will certainly be challenging.
And lastly, in response to Joe Lieberman's continued pursuit as an independent candidate,
I say please, go ahead, run. RUN AWAY!
get out of here.
It's time. After saturating my brain to a point of total ridiculousness the need for a filtering process has become increasingly apparent. I hope to release my thoughts from the firm grip of my head into the wonderful digital world that has more space to spare than I do.
So I heard that there's a new study that finds teens who listen to
degrading music are more likely to engage in sexual activity at an
earlier age. I say that teens who listen to degrading music are
more likely to TELL you
about their engagement in sexual activity at an earlier age. No
matter where you grow up and who surrounds you during your childhood,
you're either having sex or thinking about it. In the spirit of
transparency I believe that as long as it's safe and consensual, play ball.
So I heard that Lance Bass is NOT gay. In his recent coming out article in People magazine he defiantly asserts to the interviewer that he is in fact not gay. He is, "...also gay." What a bunch of shit. If someone asked Lance if he was a singer, would his answer be no? How about a C-list celebrity? Well he may answer no to that, but that's for a completely different reason. The point is shame and homophobia don't go away when a pop icon from the past decides to come out [and by come out I mean tell the world what they already know]. Instead they can intensify. What a disappointment. I know that Lance wants people to believe that he has no shame and he's happy being gay, but only when you own your sexuality and realize that it's not "normal" will you encourage a culture of true acceptance.
[check out a good example by researching George Michael's recent sexcapades]
