'Tis the Season

Just when you thought that religious interest groups couldn't get more out of touch with reality, you have William A. Donahue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights stating that, "Ninety-six percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, spare me the diversity lecture," regarding his opinion that there is no need for the White House to be politically correct in their holiday greeting cards. However, a quick check over at the CIA World Factbook (which, last time I checked anyway, are ostensibly on the side of the American government, and have no mass orchestrated plans to silence Christmas) reveals that at the most seventy-eight percent of Americans celebrate Christmas (and that is a 2002 estimate).

I don't know about you, but I believe there is a big difference between those two numbers, especially when you realize that the remaining twenty-two percent of Americans who don't celebrate Christmas constitutes around 64.9 million people. That's no small change.

Personally, I love Christmas, it is my favorite holiday for many different reasons (the presents don't hurt either), and I also realize the possible hypocrisy of sending out a generic holiday card while claiming to be a born-again Christian (I am referring to the beliefs of our commander-in-chief, not myself, as this was cited in the aritcle I linked to above), but on the other hand, as a general rule (if not simply out of respect for other people's beliefs and a modicum of politeness), I don't write "Merry Christmas" on the cards I give to my Jewish and other non-Christian friends. Believe me, I would love to take any opportunity I can get to criticize the Bush administration, but in this case, amazingly, I have to say that he and his staff (let us not pretend this was an issue decided without any office discussion) made the right choice here. So, happy holidays to all of you and may love and respect for your fellow human be with you at the end of this year.

But Why?

If someone could explain to me the attraction such an action has, when there are so many other things to worry about in the world, I would be most appreciative.

The Man They Call Malcolm

So, apparently I'm a pathological serial killer who likes chain-saws, well at least in Canada anyway. For your enjoyment:

Billy solves his problems by calling up his mom
Heather solves her problems with drugs and alcohol
Daniel solves his problems with a doctor and the law
But malcolm’s got his own way, it’s better than them all

’cause malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
And he never has the same problem twice

Whether it’s a bill or a check arriving late
Rancid marble cheese or a steak that’s second rate
Awful tv programs or a broken elvis plate
Or his fiancée who dumps him because he’s gaining weight

Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
And he never has the same problem twice

And he goes vrrrrrmmm vrrrrrmmm
Problem solved!

-Malcolm by the Arrogant Worms

And I bet you thought folk music was tame drivel that only old people listen to!

Pop Music Observation #1

So I was talking to a friend today about The Beach Boys song Help Me Rhonda, which he had thought for years was Help Me Ronya, and something struck me (well, not anything in this physical world that is): I could not think of any female singer who referenced a boyfriend's name in a love song. I mean, come on, think about it, there are hundreds (actually I suppose its more like thousands if we are talking about published songs and I know if we go into the amateur world we would quickly be talking millions here) of songs by and sung by men making frequent mention of their lovers' names (i.e. Rhonda, Eileen, Mary, Roxanne, Jamie, Alyson, Jessica, Gertrude, ok well maybe not Gertrude, but the list certainly goes on), but the same cannot be said for female singers. The closest I could come up with is Fernando by ABBA, but they aren't an all female vocal group (a band would count though if the guy(s) in it weren't singing, just playing instruments) and I have always imagined that song is about an unattainable love not somebody the females in the group actually had a relationship with. The question then becomes why is this so? Is it because women are just more mature than men and refrain from sharing unnecessary personal information out of consideration for their past and current partners? Or maybe they feel that would be giving the specified personage too much credit or more attention than they deserve? Who knows? Well, hopefully some of you have a guess at it and I would love to hear them. Maybe there is really something to explore here...

Our Selfish Natures

I would like to discuss the nature of selfishness. In so much as we only consider the physical body it is certainly possible (and acted out quite frequently) for a person to selflessly accept physical or materialistic pain and loss for the advantage of their peers. However, as has often been noted no physical act, no matter how altruistic it may appear, can easily be proved to not be selfish on some mental or spiritual level. Though at first this may seem to be a reason to despair about the self-centered failings of humanity I, for my part, see a reason to hope. For as selfish as we may be in our thoughts when we act, it is the very presence of these mental processes which enable us as humans to engage in actions that are physically selfless. As long as we remain acutely aware of our desires and intentions in order not to abuse those around us with our choices it is no sin that we act with good will based on our own experiences in reality. After all, why do you think Jesus instructed us to treat one another as we would desire to be treated ourselves? He was no fool, he knew what it meant to be human.

Some Questions of Late

What is the responsibility of the consumer, if any, in contributing to a morally bankrupt, subversive and polluting market by providing demand and surrendering so much hard earned cash? Are we really all just "Shropshire Sheep"? Don't we have the power to exert our opinion through boycotts and strikes? They worked in past movements of political, social and economic protest, why not now? Couldn't a politically active system of supply and demand reform the market? Are things really so hopeless? Don't we have happiness in our interpersonal relationships? Why is it so difficult to follow and accept the greatest thing we can ever learn, "Just to love and to be loved in return?"

A Defence of Romance, Part I

In our time Romantic ideals can easily seem to be out of place and irrelevant. Rapid technological progress, the growth of the global economy and the mass appeal of online marketing in goods and services all point towards Science (with a healthy amount of capitalistic oversight) as the discipline from which we must obtain our answers for the future. I disagree, for we are also using these new technologies to keep in close contact with distant, and sometimes not so distant, friends and relations, we are making new contacts through our business operations with people all over the world and, in addition, we are effecting an increasingly substantial portion of the world population with matters of newness in all shapes and sizes. Because of this accelerated mass interaction of humanity how we relate and communicate our intentions and feelings are more important than ever.

That is why I suggest a review is necessary of the literary and social Romantic movements from the 18th and 19th centuries. Though, as a student of history, I am well aware that ideologues obsessed with personal vendettas and crusades would take these idealistic notions and warp them into some of the worst crimes against humanity, I believe that it is unfair and academically irresponsible to condemn the Romantic ideals of love, truth, beauty and freedom in the face of these heinous acts of blatant self-interest. In truth these ideals hold above all things the constant recognition and realization of our place in the human family. Since all people become equal upon this consideration it is impossible to justify any form of mass murder, repression or cruel and unusual punishment upon one group of people for the sheer benefit of another community of people under these principles. Quite contrarily, Romantic sentiments lead us to conclusions of peace, a shared love between all neighbors and a determination to better the lots of those more unfortunate than us. Though I will continue to explore these thoughts in relation to broader means of human connectivity I wanted to begin with the very inter-personal example below.

The popular Jim Carey film The Truman Show perfectly exhibits Romantic ideas through Sylvia's enduring adoration of Truman and her supreme faith in her love for him. She has so internalized his imprisonment that not only has she made it her purpose to combat the immorality of Truman's predicament, but has voluntarily enclosed herself in her home, a cell of her own making. It is telling that we never see her leave her abode until Truman finally escapes the confines of his own fabricated world. Without even being told we know she is headed straight for his arms. What better allegory could we hope for to understand how we can seek to act along Romantic guidelines?

"Bar-bie-is-m"

1. A catch all phrase covering any idea that promotes and expresses the hypocritical, anorexically image driven, super-model obsessed nature of popular female youth culture in America. 2. A flippant remark characteristic of said ideas (ie. "Like Barbie, you totally look fat in that mini-skirt, hurry up and change so we can go get McFlurries at Micky D's!").

Calling all Free Thinkers

What Lurks in Its Soul? by David A. Vise

Cry me a river...if you ask me this is some of the most heartening news I have read since I first learned of the success of the American Revolution in elementary school. Without the innovation described in this article, humanity truly would be condemned to the simple repetition of mindless schedules. Besides, I'm not exactly sure why it is, but something about a spirit of rebellion and a willingness to dare the system of conformity prevalent in our time is thoroughly inspiring. So go forth, disrupt normality, find that dare to be great situation and lose yourself in it with abandon. I'll see you in the pit.

A Prologue

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't made a new post the last few days. Everything is fine, but I have been in the process of mentally preparing a multi-part article that I hope to start publishing this coming week. It will be a kind of personal mission statement involving all of my prior learning and experiences. Since not everyone who reads these articles knows me personally I want to make sure my arguments will be clear enough to stand on their own. I can say now that a key element of these articles will be my optimistic belief in the goodness of humanity as expressed through love (of all shapes and sizes). I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you and I am very excited to read any comments you will have. Already I have obtained great joy through this blog so far and I am very thankful for the intellectual stimulation it has provided me. A few unexpected events this weekend have reminded me of the connections that bind all of us and how though you may at times be forgetful of your own past, it does not diminish in any way its impact on the world around you, however small that "world" community may be. It is a genuine comfort to be surrounded by so much kindness while elsewhere in the world many of our brothers and sisters are facing so much suffering. Though I do feel guilty sometimes for the luck of my relatively easy life, I believe that as long as we stay true to ourselves and each other and genuinely make what efforts we can to make a difference then we can always find something to be happy about. As a recent romantic comedy illuminated, "love actually is all around us".

Hamlet for Kids

So last night I was watching The Lion King with some friends and as I have every other time this film comes up in discussion I presented my theory on how it is a retelling of Shakespeare's play Hamlet (And yes I realize that this is the second time Shakespeare has been a subject of my blog, what can I say, I'm in love). My friends seemed to dig it, especially my point that Timon and Pumba are complete adaptations of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Of course, as Disney is wont to do, there are certain elements that are toned down or cut out all together (who needs to see a lioness commit suicide in an animated film?), but for the most part the film is very true to the spirit of its source. Now before anyone else points it out I know that Simba not only defeats his uncle in The Lion King but also goes on to become king rather than meeting the most tragic and gruesome end Hamlet encounters at the conclusion of his story. I believe the reasons for this change, whether justified or not, are relatively obvious since we are dealing with a Disney film.

As Shakespeare was writing a play, indeed a tragedy, in the tradition of the classical Greek tragedies where the big "bummer" serves as the motivation for the audience to ponder the purpose and meaning to their lives it makes complete sense that Hamlet has to suffer a climatic, and in this case the ultimate, fall. For Disney films the target audience is primarily young children and though of course people of all ages enjoy the films they are made with children in mind. In our present time death is not usually seen as an encouraging factor for a growing youth to experience and therefore it would have been counter-productive, if not downright discouraging, to have Simba die at the end of his travails. In addition, pop youth culture, especially since the punk movement, is already incredibly angst ridden and does not require the existential jolt Shakespeare provided in his play.

I also believe The Lion King serves an excellent role in cultural enrichment for simply promoting an interest in the great bard. As with historically based films, the student of history cannot obsess over detail, he or she will be forever disappointed in this way, but instead must be pleased by the growth in interest such Hollywood films bring about and the opportunity they provide to bring a better understanding of a given period to a larger proportion of the population. In conclusion then I would suggest that promoters of culture and literature should be pleased with The Lion King as since its release in 1994 it has promoted an appreciation of fine storytelling, art and literary history in its viewers; who for the most part are presented with all other manner of detrimental and derisive pop cultural junk.

A Question of Faith

For this post I am reposting a comment I made on a friend’s blog which examined the term “blind faith” and its possible oxymoronic nature. His conclusion was that no faith can be blind as our experiences and knowledge plays a part in all our thoughts on belief. Despite agreeing with his general observations I felt there was a need to state that there are still instances today where the term “blind faith” can be said to be true in its intended meaning. At least since the time of the Enlightenment in the Western World reason has been valued over “blind faith”, but, as with many of our cultural characteristics, this belief is not shared by everyone else on Earth.

Though for the most part I agree with you and the other comments regarding the superiority of "true" faith over "blind" faith on this page, there is an area where I must differ from the majority. Since I am unclear as to the origin of the expression "blind faith" I am not sure if my following argument was purposefully intended by the creators of the expression, but I do believe it follows the rules of logic. As has been noted by others our experiences and knowledge have a great effect on our perceptions of faith and belief. And though in that sense no faith is blind, I do believe there are two instances where it can be said to apply.

The first, and we can say "negative", instance is when a person without any reinforcing knowledge or necessarily experiences is a complete advocate of a certain faith. For example, a member of an intolerant and fundamental society, such as the former Taliban, can be raised in such a manner where such "blind faith" is not only expected, but encouraged. For if the use of knowledge and experience were encouraged to validate the faith, the conclusions made would most likely counter the previous convictions held under "blind faith". Remember that the ability to choose our own faith and belief system is a luxury the whole world does not share. This "blind faith" could also refer to the strict obedience demanded in totalitarian regimes where explanations are also not required in order to justify the actions of the state.

The other meaning, which can be said to be the "positive" one, is when a situation demands an instinctual response to a question of faith (i.e. in life threatening circumstances). In such environments there is not a chance to rely on past experiences or thoughts to shape our attitude. For example, I believe it would be safe to say that most of us have this form of "blind faith" in our mothers and other close friends and family members. I can also imagine situations where if one held a "blind faith" in the power of love or the basic goodness of humanity then it could effect your actions.

To clarify my points I would like to restate my two definitions of “blind faith”. For the “negative” version the term “blind faith” is a purposeful exaggeration in order to stress the lack of personal reflection on one’s beliefs. In the “positive” connotation using the term “blind faith” is an attempt to emphasize the ease at which we make certain decisions under incredibly nerve-racking conditions.

The following is a response from a comment on my previous entry that challenges my conclusions on the “negative” connotation of “blind faith” on the basis that since we are all free beings and have the will to choose our own actions there is no such situation where the kind of “blind faith” I described can exist.

In what I wrote I in no way intended to negate the existence of free will. I am a staunch believer in free will and it is at the corner stone of almost every thought I have regarding the world around me. I can see though where my comments could have been interpreted to the contrary. What I would like to make clear is that while yes, we all have the ability to make our own choices (I would say though that the realistic nature of that ability has a lot to do with our relative independence or dependence on others for our livelihood) there are certain situations where it is clear that choosing against the majority will result in unpleasant circumstances if not outright death. And though that does not always morally excuse such an action I would say that I would not judge such a person as evil for following their inclination for survival and nothing more. Of course there is a lot of gray area here and I would understand if you still find what I say objectionable. I do hope though that I have made my point clear and at least achieved a position where we can respectably disagree with one another.

Brevity of Words

Think for yourself, always fight evil with love, never despair and don't forget your multipass, you'll never know when you may need it. I told you I could be random. Enjoy your day.

The Past Remembered

On this coming Tuesday it will have been 590 years since the battle of Agincourt was fought between the army of Henry V of England and the forces of the French dauphin. The result was a decisive victory for the English and the treaty signed in its aftermath had the potential to end the hostilities in what would come to be called the 100 Years War. This was not to be so and the French would end the war being the victors thanks in no small part to the role of Joan of Arc. However, the battle would live on in English memory as a glorious announcement of their national identity and remains so today. A mere two hundred years (give or take a few) after the battle The Artist William Shakespeare would write the history play Henry V, making use of the battle of Agincourt as the climax of the drama. In this form the memory of the battle developed incredibly long legs, most recently being imagined in the 1989 film by Kenneth Branaugh, Henry V.

The movie is breathtaking cinema and well worth a glance. What is also of interest is the way in which the movie has defined all subsequent epic historical dramas of a military nature. To name a few: Braveheart, Gladiator, Troy, Alexander, King Arthur and Kingdom of Heaven. While some are pale imitators at best, if not absolute rubbish, the ones that have succeeded have done so on the grandest of levels. The visceral, realistic style of Branaugh's vision resides in all these productions. But it is not only in this genre where this style has taken off. In fact, I believe it can be argued that if it were not for the 1989 movie the most explosive movie event in recent memory may never have occurred.

Yes, I am referring to Peter Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings. Though of course there are so many elements that make those amazing movies work so well, it is their action sequences, especially the battle scenes in the last two films that elevated them to the status of conquering blockbusters. I am not making this observation to lessen the importance of the many other factors behind this trifecta of artistic brilliance (like maybe the fact that they were based on the best novel of the 20th century), but merely to point out its connection to the films that came before it. Surely Mr. Branagh must be smiling at the dominoes that have fallen.

Music Saves the Day

Despite the large number of albums I have purchased, listened to and absorbed, it is still shocking to me how well the best musical artists can express so much in a three minute burst of sonic melody. It is a wonder sometimes that other artists don't give up in desperation in the face of such competition. Consider it, without even devoting your complete attention to it a song can impart a variety of feelings, thoughts and images to you. It is a wonderful thing indeed for the listener, whatever their mood they can find the appropriate musical therapy, press play and enter bliss for however long they want to forget (or revel in) their current frame of mind. The power of song to do so much in such a short amount of time is a gift that I will treasure for my entire life. In fact, I think I am going to listen to some music right now, U2 take me back.

Discovering Serenity

To jump from post-modernist meditations to reflections on soldier-hood to a recent science fiction film may seem frenetic to some, but you should know now that such leaps of thought will frequently occur on this blog. I intend to keep things mixed up in order to satisfy the meanderings of my own brain as well as to entertain the ever changing attention span of you, the reader. It is fitting that this entry, and not my first, should include my introduction as I encountered the film I am about to discuss at the end of a series of events, not the beginning.

Whether you have heard of the movie Serenity or not, it is most likely that you do enjoy outings to the cinema. I myself am a great lover of movies and since childhood have developed an appreciation for the many nuances of moviemaking. Being brought up on the original Star Wars Trilogy and The Adventures of Indiana Jones it is no surprise that I am very fond of well written campy material, that as well as amusing you serves as a prop to submerse you in a much deeper universe, a different world of action and possibilities, a place playing in stark contrast to the immobility of reality, where many times what you most desire is denied to you not by your own choices, but by the behavior of others. Logically we become frustrated with this environment, we want to be larger than life, to emulate the heroes and heroines we witness on the big screen, making the big push to accomplish the ultimate goal. Whether it be to destroy an Empire, best the Nazis or save the world (and sometimes all three) it is irrelevant what that goal is, the fact that these uber-people know what they want, act on it, and then win is all that matters to us, the audience.

Of course all of this has been said before by countless movie critics, psychologists and students of culture. The reason I am bothering to rephrase the observations of the past is to point out the brilliance of Serenity, and its prequel, the television series Firefly. Both of these productions seize upon that feeling of frustration, the knowing of the truth that you are smaller than events around you, and propels you into a world where the main characters, for once, are all similarly frustrated. But wait, maybe you are wondering where is the escapism in that, what reason should I watch something that reminds me of my daily grind?

The answer is simple, although our crew of men and women onboard Serenity are discouraged by their world they make an active choice to make the best of the situations they encounter. They thereby become great not because of a simple contest between good and evil, but by encountering in themselves the conflict between passivity and the unknown and by each time being brave enough to tackle the mystery presented to them. As in the real world this path is seldom easy and often fraught with loss and suffering, but they are able to achieve a sense of accomplishment that even the powerful but distant forces of The Alliance can never take away from them. And though the plot line eventually reaches into the epic, it is of the same epic nature that our lives can become a part of if we are daring enough to acknowledge the conflicts before us. As a result the crew of Serenity becomes our crew of companions in reality, their voyages become our treks into the perils of the future, their successes and failures are on the level with our own ups and downs. By doing this the creator of Serenity and Firefly, Joss Whedon, has done what many writers consider virtually impossible, and that makes him mighty.

Check out the first nine minutes of Serenity at the link below:
http://www.spike.com/video/2684765

For more information on Serenity and the TV series Firefly, please refer to the following websites:
http://fireflydvd.com/wp/
http://www.fireflyfans.net/

The Soldier's Fate

Is there a redemptive ideal to be found in war and the institution of the military? Does the soldier in battle concern himself with such thoughts? Do his dreams not consist of nightmares of the groaning dead, clawing and fighting their way out of mortality into the lucidity of phantoms struggling to live on in the survivors, desperate not to be forgotten? Does he fear his own death, does he long for it, and will it release him from the most torturous queue conceived by human design? Will there be an image he strives to fit, will he concern himself with some ideological course in order to inspire him and push him towards great feats of soldiery?

Self-Defining Images

The way in which we primarily identify ourselves determines many of our characteristics. It affects our preferred means of communication and how we choose to express our feelings and thoughts. Even the methods we use to solve problems we face on a daily basis are engrained within our identity. Our identity also plays a large role in whom we choose to emulate, consciously or subconsciously, while looking for models of behavior. For example, if one were to primarily see themselves as American (as in the United States of) then when confronted with conflict they may be likely to act out violently in emulation of the way the government of the USA is currently resolving its conflicts at home and abroad. On the other hand, if one were to identify themselves as a member of the larger Christian community (wherein their Christian belief emphasizes the global love of Christ over intolerance of differing religious views and lifestyles) then they would be more likely to act peacefully while resolving the conflicts they encountered. In other words, how we see ourselves is all important. For this reason education is incredibly significant in aiding our ability to understand other people's views of the world and enabling us to transcend the limitations of our own identity when coping with the ever-changing challenges of the world around us.