24 August 2008
something short
this link will take you to a video of a song that has a special place in my heart. i know some of you don't care anything about show choir, and that's completely cool. but the performance of "raindrops will fall" by the petal high school soundsations in 2005 was a monumental experience in my life. it is an unbelievable performance. so check it out here.
21 August 2008
my perspective on iraq
nope...this isn't a politically charged crazy-liberal rant...
this is about having perspective on the war in iraq. today i got to talk to my friend sam for the first time in over a year. sam has been serving the united states in iraq as part of the marines for nearly two years. sam was my best friend in middle school and high school at spain park. though we admittedly grew in different directions toward the latter half of our careers there, i still to this day owe much of who i am to our friendship.
sam is a hero. he's a hero of the kind i will never be able to be. i sat talking to him over facebook chat making lame references to video games from our middle school years knowing that what he's experienced has changed his own perspectives on life. and i realize that my experiences have done the same.
do i support the war in iraq?
no.
but i damn well support our troops with all my heart. because to me they have a face. their face is sam.
thank you sam.
this is about having perspective on the war in iraq. today i got to talk to my friend sam for the first time in over a year. sam has been serving the united states in iraq as part of the marines for nearly two years. sam was my best friend in middle school and high school at spain park. though we admittedly grew in different directions toward the latter half of our careers there, i still to this day owe much of who i am to our friendship.
sam is a hero. he's a hero of the kind i will never be able to be. i sat talking to him over facebook chat making lame references to video games from our middle school years knowing that what he's experienced has changed his own perspectives on life. and i realize that my experiences have done the same.
do i support the war in iraq?
no.
but i damn well support our troops with all my heart. because to me they have a face. their face is sam.
thank you sam.
16 August 2008
the clone wars: a review
well it happened...something i never thought would happen again: i saw a new star wars movie in theaters. i figured one day i would see the saga special edition with my children or something like that, but not a brand new movie. but alas, the clone wars opened yesterday, and in true fandom form i dressed up for the premiere. now, for a bit of a review:
the good
two words: ahsoka tano. this little padawan is freaking awesome. she was able to deliver the humor jar jar binks was intended to bring while still being a foil character for anakin. she is truly an adept fighter, and we get to see some new things from her (including the fabled reverse-grip lightsaber stance).
the plot, though a bit sketchy at times, is overall pretty solid. while many will malign the idea of rescuing the son of jabba the hutt, it provides opportunities for anakin to grow through his hatred and to mature in the view of his padawan. the lightsaber battles are exciting as are the new battles seen on christophsis, teth, and in space.
it is excellent to see some of ralph mcquarries original concept designs reincorporated into this movie (like the back of jabba's palace and the markings of captain rex's helmet).
additionally, the role and function of the clone troopers is incredibly well portrayed. we get to see them breaking outside the boxes they were grown in. they fight with courage. that said, it is also exciting to see them die. there is some distinct carnage in this movie, and it makes the clone wars seem more real(ish).
the bad
ziro the hutt. jabba's traitorous uncle is the star wars version of truman capote. it just doesnt translate very well. he/she (hutts are hermaphrodites) speaks basic (english) instead of huttese and is a bit whiny. my jaw literally dropped the moment ziro spoke for the first time. it was painful.
battle droids should not have inflection or question orders. they are droids for the love of god. the only slight redemption (and i mean SLIGHT) is that the super battle droids at least had deep voices here as opposed to the whiny ones from episode 3.
conclusion
great movie. honestly. i really enjoyed it, and i plan on seeing it a couple more times before it comes out of theaters. 3 out of 4 stars in my book. the soundtrack, though not john williams, fits the movie well. it's nice to have a different take on the series. the animation is superb and artistic. i really can't wait for the tv series to begin.
12 August 2008
why do i always do this?
so i commented on someone else's bloggish type thing today. it was a post of a political nature. i really try to stay away from all that because it just never tends to end well. but i did it anyway.
it's no secret that i'm a barack obama fan. i feel like it's pretty obvious from my obama t-shirt to my causes page on facebook. but i'm not like a raging outspoken obama-ite (i mean, i sorta am, but i try not to be in an annoying way). i also have this penchant for defending things/people that i have no real reason to defend...or something like that.
i defend star wars. the books, the movies, even the prequel trilogy. because it is something i love and something that has had a huge impact on me. so i'll defend 360 degrees of star wars to end. i'll concede things like jar jar binks was the most pointless character ever created in cinema. i'll be honest and say that jake lloyd made me want the sand people to kill shmi. but on the whole i'll defend star wars.
that may seem like a terrible example, but it just demonstrates that characteristic in me.
when people make comments about barack obama that are outrageous, many times i'll let them slide. but when people twist the fact that his middle name is hussein or that his last name rhymes with osama so he must be in league with islamic radicals i far too often flip my shit. and so, on this person's bloggish thing i responded. a little heatedly i'll admit. but i can't stand it when people say things out of ignorance. i'll at least be honest enough and admit when i have said something stupid.
but come on people...get over it. there are plenty of other things you can pick at obama about. things that, again i'll admit, are legitimate discussion points. but get over the fact that his middle name is hussein. my last name is german in origin but it doesn't mean i'm a nazi (i know, drastic example but the 'my middle name is allen which sort of rhymes with stalin' example just wouldn't cut it). so let's grow up and debate some real issues.
***disclaimer: if anyone comments on this post and tries to have a discussion or debate about politics, i will not reply. because, as referenced at the beginning, i HATE those discussions in person, much less over the internet...which is again why it frustrates me that i let myself do this in the first place...what a terrible cycle***
it's no secret that i'm a barack obama fan. i feel like it's pretty obvious from my obama t-shirt to my causes page on facebook. but i'm not like a raging outspoken obama-ite (i mean, i sorta am, but i try not to be in an annoying way). i also have this penchant for defending things/people that i have no real reason to defend...or something like that.
i defend star wars. the books, the movies, even the prequel trilogy. because it is something i love and something that has had a huge impact on me. so i'll defend 360 degrees of star wars to end. i'll concede things like jar jar binks was the most pointless character ever created in cinema. i'll be honest and say that jake lloyd made me want the sand people to kill shmi. but on the whole i'll defend star wars.
that may seem like a terrible example, but it just demonstrates that characteristic in me.
when people make comments about barack obama that are outrageous, many times i'll let them slide. but when people twist the fact that his middle name is hussein or that his last name rhymes with osama so he must be in league with islamic radicals i far too often flip my shit. and so, on this person's bloggish thing i responded. a little heatedly i'll admit. but i can't stand it when people say things out of ignorance. i'll at least be honest enough and admit when i have said something stupid.
but come on people...get over it. there are plenty of other things you can pick at obama about. things that, again i'll admit, are legitimate discussion points. but get over the fact that his middle name is hussein. my last name is german in origin but it doesn't mean i'm a nazi (i know, drastic example but the 'my middle name is allen which sort of rhymes with stalin' example just wouldn't cut it). so let's grow up and debate some real issues.
***disclaimer: if anyone comments on this post and tries to have a discussion or debate about politics, i will not reply. because, as referenced at the beginning, i HATE those discussions in person, much less over the internet...which is again why it frustrates me that i let myself do this in the first place...what a terrible cycle***
05 August 2008
the new racism of the south
i will not be so naive to say that there is no longer racism in the southern united states (or the whole united states for that matter). african-americans still encounter barriers in every direction because of the color of their skin and the bad blood that still exists between the them and much of the older white population of the south (and to gross misfortune a larger number of young white southerners than should be tolerated).
however, while still recognizing those issues, i would like to write today toward a new racism that has found footholds in the region of my residence and upbringing. that would be racism against latino people. whether here legally or otherwise, the hispanic population of the united states and especially the south are the target of a new resurgence in overt racism. terms like "wetbacks" and "dirty mexicans" permeate far too much dialog and draw strong connections to the taboo "n" word.
my mind and heart wonder when the day will come when people will be offended by the "w" word (wetbacks for those not paying attention). how many times does history (even such recent history as fifty years ago) have to repeat itself before people realize the wrong in assigning offensive language to those who are different. Faggot, nigger, wetbacks...they're all putrid uses of the english language and demeaning to the people groups which they represent. but further than that they are slanders on humanity as a whole. that one person could call another something that makes them less human is a dark mark against all of us. those who says it and those of us who let them say it.
i think of times in scripture when god threatens to, and some cases does, wipe out those who live in and thrive upon dehumanizing sin. it makes me wonder if we are a people worth saving. and then i have to put my shoulders back, raise my chin and admit that, no, we are not. and to that end it is my duty as a member of humanity to try and change that by living a life that fights for social justice and isn't passive about racism or the dehumanization of anyone.
when people start living that life, i believe we'll all see a drastically different world.
however, while still recognizing those issues, i would like to write today toward a new racism that has found footholds in the region of my residence and upbringing. that would be racism against latino people. whether here legally or otherwise, the hispanic population of the united states and especially the south are the target of a new resurgence in overt racism. terms like "wetbacks" and "dirty mexicans" permeate far too much dialog and draw strong connections to the taboo "n" word.
my mind and heart wonder when the day will come when people will be offended by the "w" word (wetbacks for those not paying attention). how many times does history (even such recent history as fifty years ago) have to repeat itself before people realize the wrong in assigning offensive language to those who are different. Faggot, nigger, wetbacks...they're all putrid uses of the english language and demeaning to the people groups which they represent. but further than that they are slanders on humanity as a whole. that one person could call another something that makes them less human is a dark mark against all of us. those who says it and those of us who let them say it.
i think of times in scripture when god threatens to, and some cases does, wipe out those who live in and thrive upon dehumanizing sin. it makes me wonder if we are a people worth saving. and then i have to put my shoulders back, raise my chin and admit that, no, we are not. and to that end it is my duty as a member of humanity to try and change that by living a life that fights for social justice and isn't passive about racism or the dehumanization of anyone.
when people start living that life, i believe we'll all see a drastically different world.
ibarw
international blog against racism week...what a concept. thanks to amaryah for bringing this to my attention. i'm pretty excited about spending this week blogging on the race relations both in the u.s. and abroad. considering the fact that i did just spend two weeks in africa, i'm looking forward to reflecting on my experience and how it has impacted my view of racism. my last post was an article on integrated and segregated churches.
segregated churches.
does that sound absolutely ridiculous to anyone else? i grew up in two very white churches. i lived in a christian world where everyone had the same skin color. i encountered other races at school, but that just added to my secular perception of race. it wasn't until i began college that i really experienced doing life with christians who weren't white. the worship pastor at my church (thomas) is black.
talk about culture shock.
the first sunday i attended services at mosaic i honestly came away thinking, "wow. that was so cool to see a black guy leading in worship." and then my heart broke because i realized how ridiculous that statement was and how close-minded my church upbringing had been. i should have thought, "wow. that was so cool to see such a passionate man leading in worship." race should never have been the wow factor in that experience.
but far too often that is the case. it was for me. for the first time in my life the people i count as close friends aren't predominantly white. my perceptions on race and how the concept affects christians is different. it's more open.
earlier i mentioned amaryah. if there is one person in my life who has challenged me to challenge all my perceptions on race it is her. she doesn't let me be comfortable. in fact, she is fantastic at making me feel uncomfortable. and it makes me look at things differently. and i'm grateful for her influence in my life and on my thought processes.
so that's my introduction to this week of blogging. i'm pretty excited.
segregated churches.
does that sound absolutely ridiculous to anyone else? i grew up in two very white churches. i lived in a christian world where everyone had the same skin color. i encountered other races at school, but that just added to my secular perception of race. it wasn't until i began college that i really experienced doing life with christians who weren't white. the worship pastor at my church (thomas) is black.
talk about culture shock.
the first sunday i attended services at mosaic i honestly came away thinking, "wow. that was so cool to see a black guy leading in worship." and then my heart broke because i realized how ridiculous that statement was and how close-minded my church upbringing had been. i should have thought, "wow. that was so cool to see such a passionate man leading in worship." race should never have been the wow factor in that experience.
but far too often that is the case. it was for me. for the first time in my life the people i count as close friends aren't predominantly white. my perceptions on race and how the concept affects christians is different. it's more open.
earlier i mentioned amaryah. if there is one person in my life who has challenged me to challenge all my perceptions on race it is her. she doesn't let me be comfortable. in fact, she is fantastic at making me feel uncomfortable. and it makes me look at things differently. and i'm grateful for her influence in my life and on my thought processes.
so that's my introduction to this week of blogging. i'm pretty excited.
04 August 2008
wow...simply wow
this article actually made me cry...i think it's because it hit so close to home...home church that is.
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