RE:think

John Smith

I just finished watching an episode of Showtime's "This American Life" that tracked the lives of 7 boys/men named John Smith. They ranged in age from a newborn to a 79. It was a very powerful episode.

You had a 36 year old John Smith learning to be a father and losing his mother to cancer. There was an 8 year old John Smith who loved his Mommy and the attention he got from the girls due to his science project.

There were the adult children of 79 year old John Smith gathered around him as he suffered from Alzheimer's and later losing him. The 70 year old John Smith talking about losing his 25 year old son to AIDS twenty years ago was especially poignant.

It was fun to see Baby John and listen to his parents dreams for him. 46 year old John Smith was reunited with his Marine son back from a tour in Iraq. 23 year old John Smith was trying to find himself and where his life was going after a drug arrest.

I swear I don't think I have felt that lump in throat so many times in one hour. There was something in the life of every John Smith presented that reminded me of myself or someone I know. The joy and the pain that comes from living was incredibly authentic. "This American Life" is my favorite radio show, and I think the TV show is really hitting it's stride now. Plus there are few voices more soothing than that of Ira Glass.

The one thing I took from the whole thing was that you can always love those around you more. The John Smith who lost his mother to cancer talked about how he'd call her every afternoon on his way from work to pick up his daughter. After she passed, he caught himself grabbing the phone, getting ready to dial and remembering there was no way to reach her. He said he just held phone and could think of no one to call. Because there was non one. Powerful.

So hug your honey or roll around in the floor with your little ones. Call your Mom or Dad and tell them you love them. Just love somebody.

Technorati Tags: This American Life,Showtime,Ira Glass

Unity?

I'm off work today so I got to watch the Obama/Clinton "lovefest" live. The reporting and analysis is hilarious. The media wants us to believe these two like each other. Folks, they still do not.

Hillary had the most fake smile painted on her face I've ever seen. Obama spoke for one of the shortest times in many many speeches. And when it was over? Obama went over to place his hand on Hill's shoulder. She may not have realized it, but instinctively she turned and moved away. He had to chase her down!

At the end they went separate ways and did not leave the stage to greet the people together. Obama is not going to share his moment, mobbed by supporters, with Hill.

Unity? Nah, just more smoke and mirrors by the media to help out their boy.

Link: Obama: Campaign proved 'the progress we have made' - CNN.com.

Friday's 80's Video!!!!

This is definitely in my top 5 favorite 80's videos. Byrne is the epitome of "spazz" in this one. I love it. Great song too.

Same as it ever was...

Radiohead!!!

Apparently this is one of those dubbed over goof offs. Funny, I could hardly tell the difference... :)

Chinese Democracy, Finally?

No, I'm not talking about the actual China getting an overhaul, I'm talking about the Guns 'n Roses vaporware we've been waiting for. I'll believe it when I see in a store. But here's to hoping...

Link: Fresh Gn'R Tracks Leak : Rolling Stone.

So Which is It Senator Obama?

On the DC handgun ban in February...

Today he said he said the law goes too far and is not constitutional.

And My Double Crown Bums Me Out Sometimes?

It could be worse. Much worse.

Uncombable hair syndrome

There is a syndrome for everything I guess...

Victory for the Constitution

Feel however you want about guns and gun control, but today the Supreme Court's decision to over turn the D.C. ban on guns is a victory for our constitution.  If we decide to read our constitution however we want and apply it only where we like it or it benefits our agenda, we are in serious trouble. We can not pick and choose.

The Second Amendment reads:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The argument is that the right to guns is only for militias. That is not how most of us read it. We are the People being spoken of here and we are granted this rigt. We can not take snippets of these amendments and apply them to the whole.

What happens to an amendment such as the 14th if States and Municipalities are allowed to do this? Oh wait, we've already seen that.  To this day the 5th amendment is has seen it's share of trouble. The 10th has become a mockery. Want the 6th reinterpreted? Scary stuff people.

Kudos to the 5 justices who saw this for it is and was.

Link: High court strikes down gun ban - CNN.com.

Sorry Jimmy, You're Wrong Again

Just when it seems James Dobson can't stoop any lower, he does. His accusations that Barack Obama distorted the Bible in a speech he made to a liberal Christian group in 2006 is an out and out distortion itself. Listen to Dobson's talk on this issue and you will find him taking Obama's words out of context, rephrases them, and really does, as Obama says, "make stuff up". I will defer to one of my favorite bloggers, Scot McKnight, here. He has the best anaylsis I have read.

Dobson and his companion commentator routinely distorted what Obama was saying by rephrasing and capturing what he said in their own context and for their own agendas. For instance, Obama hypothesized (Dobson didn’t get this) what would happen if we moved all nonChristians out of our society. Even then, he was suggesting, we’d have diversity. Then, Obama asked, if we lived out the Bible which parts would we choose? Would it be Leviticus or Deuteronomy — and he brings up shell fish and stoning one’s son — or would it be the Sermon on the Mount, which Obama stated would be difficult for the Defense Dept to apply. Dobson and his guest got into how the OT laws aren’t for today.

What they miss here is that Obama is talking about how to live in a pluralistic society.

Here are the words of Obama: “Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?” Obama said. “Would we go with James Dobson’s or Al Sharpton’s?”

Dobson’s response here was to use the word “equate” — as if Obama equated the two. Dobson’s show suggested that inasmuch as Sharpton was a racial bigot that he (Dobson) was being accused of that, which is filling in the lines with things Obama did not say. This was an unfair and uncharitable representation of what Obama was saying. Obama was giving two examples, two completely at odds versions of the Christian faith in our world. Obama doesn’t equate the two; he connects the two as two kinds, two ends of a spectrum perhaps. Diversity will still obtain is his point.

My big point is that Dobson is doing Christians, evangelical Christians, and the country a disservice in misrepresenting the intent of Obama’s comments.

Click the link above and read the entire response.

I have to tell you, I am so fed up with Dobson and others of his ilk. I do see them losing some of the power they have had over the years, and that's a good thing both for this country and for evangelical Chrisitians.

And one last thing, Dobson said earlier in the year he wouldn't vote for President after his guy, Huckabee, didn't cut the mustard. So with that said, shouldn't he just keep his mouth shut?

Link: Obama says Dobson 'making stuff up' - CNN.com.

I Had to Laugh, and Then Just Nod My Head

Things White People Like:

Comparing People to Hitler

It’s also critical that you avoid the fatal mistake of getting creative and comparing people you don’t like to other evil dictators, such as Joseph Stalin or Fidel Castro. With few exceptions, white people are actually fond of almost any dictator not named Hitler, and your remark that “this is just like something Mao Zedong would do” will be met with blank stares and possible social alienation. This is because, with the exception of Hitler, oppressive dictators share a passion for many of the things white people love- such as universal health care, conspiracy theories, caring about poor people while being filthy rich, and cool hats. Stick to the script and compare things you don’t like to Hitler, and Hitler alone.

Link: Winner #4