Parenthetically Yours

Uh...that was awesome

I'll admit, I'm just a little too overwhelmed and over-stimulated to make any witty or obtuse observations about the past few days. There have a been a few things happen in my life that will be recalled with a "I remember what I was doing when such-and-such happened." The death of Elvis, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, the attacks on 9-11, and now the inauguration of Barack Obama. 

But, like I said, my thoughts are still a little scrambled. Lots of cognitive dissonance. I think I'll let my thoughts stew for another day. 

(rw)

A Long Time Comin'

Indulge me for a second. Beyond the politics, beyond the issues, beyond red and blue, history was made last night. The sight of men and women, young and old, black and white, embracing, sobbing told me that this was bigger than issues and, I’m ashamed to say, bigger than I’d realized. In the quiet darkness of the house last night I wept. I wept for a community and a culture that has now been more than symbolically, but literally released to their empowering destiny. Legislation has released them in bits and pieces—a shackle here, a human right there—over the past 100 years. But legislation only gives the potential for opportunity. The real hope for opportunity lies in the everyday interactions between man and woman, young and old, black and white—how we treat our fellow man and the opportunities we give each other. The citizens of our country extended a new level of opportunity, not just to one man or one family but to an entire generation and culture, not just for now, but forever.

My mother was a student at Little Rock Central High School during its historic integration. The stories I’ve heard from her about the private goings-on in classrooms, the hushed conversations, and the barbaric actions of some moronic students have always been a touchstone I return to whenever racial issues surface. It stings me, it always has. And when I hear Sam Cooke sing, it makes me cry. When the president-elect referenced the song in his acceptance speech last night, it was all I could do to keep from standing up in the middle of my living room and shouting “YES!”

I'd love say I voted for him and that I helped create this moment, but I didn’t. I may seem like a hypocrite, like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, but hear me out: I didn’t vote for Obama because it would have been merely a racial vote. I so desperately wanted to see an African-American as president in my lifetime, sooner than later, but I didn’t want to vote for anyone based on the color of their skin. That’s the point—to get beyond race. I voted my conscience on the issues. I’m proud of my vote. I’m also more proud of this country than I’ve been in a long time.

Somewhere in deepest south, one final chain has fallen from the hands and feet of plantation ghosts, releasing them to finally, finally, rest in peace.

I was born by the river in a little tent

And just like the river, I've been running ever since

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

I go to the movie, and I go downtown

Somebody keep telling me "Don't hang around"

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

Then I go to my brother and I say, "Brother, help me please"

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

 

There've been times that I've thought I couldn't last for long

But now I think I'm able to carry on

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

(rw)

Now THAT'S a ticket I can support!

It's from a 2004 photoshoot...but SOOO current I almost want to call it prophetic. Almost.

(rw)

Stop the Madness

The latest financial "crisis," in my opinion (and the opinion of my two favorite financial gurus, this guy, and this guy) is no crisis at all. It's simply the market responding to stupid loaning and borrowing practices by people who should know better. Greed, plain and simple, is the sin here.

I say, if a business makes poor financial decisions, they should pay for their mistakes. I don't care if it's a 300 year-old, multi-national investment bank or a local yogurt shop, the public should never be called on to pay for their bad financial moves. Free markets fluctuate. That's part of the "free" in the market. Bailout or no bailout, the market will respond. 

Sure, the Dow fell more yesterday than any one day drop in U.S. history. But, considering inflation and percentage of the market, it was nowhere near depression era numbers. In two days in 1929, the market fell 23%. Over nearly three years (1929-1932) it lost 89% of it's value. With today's numbers, a 700 point fall is equal to only 6%. That's definitely a bad drop, but not unrecoverable. My goodness, I'm sick of the constant media coverage of it all. It's making people freak out and make short-term decisions. If you have money invested, you'll probably see it go down for a few quarters. You know what you should do? Buy more stock. Why? Because it's a buyer's market. Things will recover. I promise you, in ten years you'll be ecstatic that you were patient and waited it out. In fact, it's already recovered over 245 points as of this writing.

I was talking with my neighbor last night and he said something really revelatory to me. He said if you want to see how the economy is doing, go look at the Target parking lot. It's full.

Folks, don't freak out. These are unstable times, but like my mom said, this always happens right before an election. She has a little more perspective on these things than I do, and I trust her opinion. 

UPDATE: just found this great quote. Bono said, ""It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion dollars to saved 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases."

(rw)

Seven Years Ago Today

Seven years ago today, we were all waking up to a new world because everything had changed. It was the first day of post-911 America. I left the house for the first time, went to my favorite coffee shop and wrote this email to my friends. It's full of melodrama, emotion, and bombast, but those were the elements of the day. I found it not too long ago and thought it would be a good thing to share today. I'd really love to edit it but I'm just going to leave it be. It's amazing how so many things have changed since that day. It's even more amazing that so many things ended up not changing. 

My dear friends:

I awoke with a start to the phone ringing. 

It was nearly 8 a.m. which, if you know me, is when I’m typically deep into REM sleep. I’ve made it a habit to not answer the phone before 10 because it’s usually solicitors or one of my roommate’s co-workers. Anyone who knows me knows not to call before then--plus my friends are still sleeping as well, so I let the machine get it. I laid there restless for a few minutes before deciding to get online and check out some Ebay auctions I’d been bidding on. I had no idea how useless a 20-year-old Puma t-shirt would be to me in the next ten minutes. 

My cell phone began to ring. “Okay,” I thought springing from my bed, “someone is trying to reach me.” I checked the caller ID and noticed it was another roommate calling from his office. A bit annoyed at whatever could be the reason he’d call me at such an ungodly hour. And it turned out to be an absolutely unGodly hour. 

Trace told me to turn on the TV because there had been some kind of attack at the World Trade Center.  “Whatever, I’m going back to bed,” I told him, as if he was making up the whole thing. “Seriously, go wake up the guys and turn on the TV,” he nearly commanded. I switched on the television and as the picture tube warmed up, I began to see the first images of what I could only describe as completely surreal. 

Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson were obviously as stunned as I was. I ran upstairs and woke my two other roommates and told them to come to the living room. I suppose they saw the alarm in my eyes because they jumped up without question to begin what has now become a 32-hour, commercial-free news bulletin. Peter Jennings has shown the most amazing grace, humanity, and composure I’ve seen in recent years and I have stayed with ABC for the most part with the occasional switch to FOX News, Oral Roberts University’s Chapel broadcast on TBN, and CNN.

I don’t really know why I’m writing all of this, other than I wanted to have some sort of record of what this day was like. I’ve prayed a little, although I must admit having found no comfort in it. I know in the logical sense that God has a plan and that this wasn’t part of it. I also know that He can redeem that which was intended for evil and use it to His glory. We’ve seen some of this in the constant calls to prayer, the staggering outpouring of aid from all over the world, and the hundreds of herculean, heroic acts.  

But something has changed. The thin veil of security, wealth, and liberty that we Americans live behind has been ripped apart and replaced with a black curtain of insecurity, despair, and fear. We have become grossly aware of just how vulnerable we are. We are no longer living on impenetrable soil. The irony is that the liberties and freedoms we enjoy are the same ones that allowed these demonized madmen into the country without suspicion. Now it looks like we inadvertently trained some of these to actually fly the airliners that turned into missiles at their helm. That is the price of an open society.

As a Christian, I have no choice but to look at all of this with my spiritual eyes. What does it mean?  Sen. Joseph Biden from Delaware made a statement that has stuck with me. “These men were able to do something no one in the history of the world has ever been able to do, they have united the entire globe.”  It’s a paraphrase, but a compelling thought to anyone who has studied Biblical escathology. Unexpected countries like Russia and China have rallied around the U.S. and have unilaterally condemned the attack along with all of Europe. I don’t obsess about this at all, nor do I know enough of Biblical end-times theology to state for certain, but I recognize the prophetic importance of a unified world army fighting a common enemy in the Middle East, an enemy that is unified in its hatred of Israel.

In a completely unrelated event, I lost a friend who drowned while diving in Jamaica yesterday.

Friends, I love you all and apologize for this email. It’s nothing you haven’t already heard or felt, but I just wanted to jot down my thoughts--probably for more selfish reasons than anything. I encourage all of you to do the same. Write it down. What are you thinking? What has stuck with you? I hope all of you can take thirty minutes or so and just write. Write for the catharsis, and send your thoughts to me. I’m wanting to compile a record of what my friends were going through and thinking these past two days.  I don’t know why, actually.  I just feel compelled to give you all a voice.

I know I’m being melodramatic, but I we’ve all been witnesses to unthinkable horrors. May God infuse this country with His Spirit and bring us to our knees.

(rw)

O MTV, Where art thou?

I don’t even know where to begin with this post, so I’ll just ask—did you see the MTV Video Music Awards last night? I’m still shaking my head. It was, by a great margin, the absolute worst broadcast I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I know what you're thinking. "Worse than Clay Aiken's Christmas special?" Yes. Worse. Katie and I are dumber for having spent the majority of our evening looking at the television in disgust. And not because we don’t “get it.” It was simply embarrassing to watch, like a 50 year-old chubby guy wearing skinny jeans.

Like I said, I don’t know where to begin, so I'll start with the host, Russell Brand.  Yeah, you know the big superstar comedian? Oh, you don’t? Neither does 99% of the United States. Having an underground comic from Europe host was MTV’s (failed) attempt to be uberhip but all it accomplished was proving how increasingly irrelevant the show and the channel has become. Brand's comic character is a self-absorbed, clueless rocker guy. In theory, it makes sense because the audience in Los Angeles for the show was full of those types. The problem (and it’s the problem MTV has had for 15 years now) is that character doesn’t play well, if at all, to the rest of America. He made fun of our president, sexual morality, and told us how to vote. Is there anything more annoying than someone not from America telling us their opinion on our politics? If I have to listen to liberal propaganda, I want to hear it with a New England accent, not an old England one. The saddest thing is that the opening skit with Jonah Hill and Britney Spears was the funniest, most self-deprecating moment of the night. Why didn’t the two of them host? Or Seth Rogan? Or a Ben Stiller/Jack Black combo. Anyone but the fake, unknown rockstar pretending to be subversive. In fact, the only genuinely subversive moment of the show was the ever-classy Jordin Sparks responding to Brand’s comments about the stupidity of virginity. She defended her values and said, “not everyone wants to be a slut.” You go girl. I guess virginity and sensitivity is the new punk rock.

Unlike MTV, there was a little music last night…but again, horrid. There’s a big difference between being shocking and groundbreaking and simply trying to be shocking and groundbreaking. It’s the difference between Nirvana and Tokio Hotel. Or the difference between The Office and The Hills. One is an innate quality, the other is manufactured. Sadly, most every performance fell into the latter category. Even the world-class talents of Rhianna and Christina Aguilera were completely overshadowed by the dark, pretend-scary production. Thankfully, a little band from my zip code stole the night. Paramore were stellar and owned the stage like they were the 1976 Rolling Stones. The swagger, the attitude, the music—it was all there and came off authentic. And they showed up on the red carpet in two tiny Smart cars as opposed to a Hummer limo. Eco-friendly and rebellious at the same time. Franklin, TN in the house!

I think that’s what it comes down to for me: Authenticity. Does it coming from a true, unfiltered place within? Or is it manufactured to simply keep up with appearances? MTV put together one of the most pretentious, offensive, and vapid broadcasts in the history of the medium. Please OH PLEASE let this give rise to a new rebellion—one that values substance over fluff and truth over pretension.

(rw)

Unfaithful

Dear Internet,

I'm sorry. There I said it. I'm sorry for not spending quality time with you lately, but I promise it's not you, it's me.  I know that sounds cliché, but it's true. You've always been there for me and you have done nothing to cause me to stray. But I think it's best to be honest with you, because if we can't be honest with each other (or at least fake sincerity), what kind of a relationship do we really have. So...here's the truth: there's another woman...and a man...and a few teams of them. Yes, it's true...I've been spending all my time lately with Michael Phelps, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Jonathan Horton, Dawn Harper and the entire US Olympic Team and they've got me doing things I would never do before. It's all so exciting! I watched the opening ceremonies (all four hours) with my jaw on the floor and stayed up to the wee hours yesterday to watch table tennis and badminton live. Badminton! And I didn't even know it was spelled badminton until this week! It's bad and I'm afraid only getting worse. I've been crying at VISA commercials and rooting for Russian gymnasts. What? I was a Ronald Reagan/Cold War era kid! How can I root for Russia? As long as they beat China...GO RUSSIA!

I also need to admit that I've been using you, internet. I used you to go here and here. I'm sorry, but I can't promise that I won't do it again. I'm not saying you did anything wrong, but even the Today show is more interesting than you. Is that too harsh? Remember, we promised honesty to each other. And I'm honestly not interested in you. But it's not you, it's me. Maybe it is a little bit you.

Internet, we're not finished, we can work through this. Before you know it, we'll once again be surfing hand in hand to our favorite sites: craigslist, ebay, drudgereport, dooce, consumerist...all the old familiar places. We'll make new memories and have a fresh start. I promise.

I promise I'll come back. But first, the women's water polo team is playing for gold.  Go girls!  U-S-A! U-S-A!  

(rw)

P.S.  I've posted this for all the world to see on Randy Elrod's Watercooler Wednesday post.

The Girl in the Window

Yesterday Katie sent me an email that simply said "Go read Dooce and watch the video." So without hesitation I went to our favorite blog Dooce.com and her post led me to a story from the St Petersburg Times in FL that is one of the more disturbing AND inspiring stories I've ever heard. It's a story about a little girl found by police in complete and utter neglect (repulsive, total forgotten neglect). It's a story about the healing hand of love and the family that adopted her. Here's the link for the video and story. If you don't want the audio or video, you can click here to simply read the story.

If ever there was a family that deserved an Extreme Makeover Home, this is it. Any of my Los Angeles friends have any connections to the producers of that show? Anyone know where this family goes to church?

Love and Hope and Faith are winning in this story. My pea-sized brain is envisioning this spreading like a virus through the internet and seeing the family cared for in a way they've yet to see happen.

Come back tomorrow for stories from the Wisconsin State Fair...but today, pray for this family.

(rw)

Right Wing Nut Jobs

I used to be so bright-eyed and optimistic, then the information age happened. Since I’m a sucker for information, I’ve soaked in it—and nearly drowned in it. See, I have a problem (surprise) and that is I believe everything I read. Maybe it’s because I grew up with such an appreciation for printed words. For whatever reason, if it’s written, I’ll give it consideration.

This, however, does NOT apply to forwarded emails. I unequivocally doubt the validity of any email that has been forwarded to me claiming things like bottled water will give you cancer or that Starbucks doesn’t send coffee to the troops. Neither are true. If you are a frequent forward-er…please spend a few minutes at Snopes.com. The truth will set you free!

But other than that, I believe most things I read. This is a useful habit when it comes to things like reading the Bible, or Shelby Foote, or Johnny Cash’s autobiography. It is not beneficial or helpful in the least, though, when faced with websites about Federal Reserve conspiracy theories, the supposed illegality of a federal income tax, and the positive teachings of Scientology. I read a few pages of this stuff last night and I was ready to stockpile weapons, move to Montana, and hole up until the rapture.

I also made the mistake of watching a few melodramatic “documentaries” by the conspiracy theorist (read: nutjob) Alex Jones. These films are more slanted than an isosceles triangle and make Michael Moore look like an honest filmmaker. You think The Exorcist is frightening? His take on the Illuminati made me want to sleep with the lights on for three days.

I Thessalonians 5 says to “test everything and hold on to the good.” St. Paul was mainly talking about theology and preachers, but I think there can be a broader application here. In today’s over stimulated cache of information, I think Paul’s saying that we shouldn’t be so idealistic and naïve that we accept everything at face value yet not so cynical that we instantly put up an impenetrable wall of doubt. This comes, unfortunately, with wisdom and maturity—two things I’ve yet to master.

Whether we’re reading up on the IRS, the Emergent Church, forwarded emails, or Britney Spears—we have to know how to filter, how to study, yet never ever throw the baby out with the bathwater.

(rw)

Love/Hate

A few months ago I was picking up my favorite hot beverage (short vanilla latte) at our local Starbucks and noticed a small pamphlet called “My Starbucks Idea.” My first reaction was genuine elation, but I’ll get back to that in a few hundred words.

I have a love/hate relationship with Starbucks. We all do. We love the tasty goodness and the predictability, but hate the price. I love the hang and the convenience, but I hate the McDonald-ising of coffee shops. And even though it’s June right now, I’m already excited about the holiday cups in December and how cozy every store is around Christmas. I’m also a BIG fan of Starbucks, the company. They have genius marketing, a moral business plan, take care of their employees (profit sharing, health care, etc), and promote fair trade. Unfortunately, though, they’re becoming the Wal-Mart of the food industry. Because of sheer volume, the quality of the coffee has dropped considerably and they’ve become an easy target for locals-only coffee snobs, intellectuals and anti-corporate city punks, all of which practically defined the original target market for espresso consumers. However, thanks to the Seattle company, Americans are used to paying $3 or $4 for their lattes which has indirectly made it easier for mom-and-pop coffee houses to survive. The non-conformist, anti-sbux consumer will be happy to plop their $4 down at Portland Brew (or Bongo Java or wherever). But I digress.

I’m an idea person and occasionally these ideas will incorporate Starbucks to some degree. So naturally, when I saw the brochure asking patrons to visit www.mystarbucksidea.com, I was overcome with joy. I could just see it—my bank account filling higher and higher as a result of royalties from the scores of genius ideas/advice I would send to the suits in Seattle. Then I read the legalese. Let me sum it up for you: Zilch. Nada. Nothing. You will receive no payment, no royalties, and maybe even no credit whatsoever for your idea. Not even if it makes them millions. Nothing. Basically, it’s an easy way (and an absolutely genius plan, by the way) for Starbucks to get the public to do what their Marketing and Merchandising departments (who no doubt came up with the concept) are paid to do. Except you don’t get paid.

So, here’s my Starbucks idea: Don’t give Starbucks any free marketing or merchandising advice. I’ll keep mine to myself and let another company pay my consulting fee.

As a P.P.S. (a pre-postscript in this case), everyone can get two hours of free wifi at their stores now. See? I hate them…but I love them.

So. Much.

(rw)