My path to redemption is carved by a few sturdy steps surrounded, and vigilantly engulfed by the fragility of whispers and feathers, egg shells and erratic emotions, misplaced passion and misinterpretation. I can not possibly leap fearlessly into truth while cautiously worrying about those who will be too quick to take their own premature critiques and run in the opposite direction so as not to be associated, labeled, or stigmatized for actually finishing what they were seeing unfold before it is falsely retold.
There must be embedded watch words. There must be an advanced warning system ready to sound the alarms, and quickly evacuate everyone before they have an opportunity to open up to a different point of view. I have to use extreme care calling this a movement because they'll think I'm a revolutionary trying to topple the government. I can not say that I am simply trying to learn the lessons of the past because I must be a hippy. I can not say that I care for others because then I'm a socialist. I can not say that our economic foundation is built on superficialities and in-efficiency because there is still a lot of crap that we don't need to be bought in order to get us out of this, and that level of materialism has to be maintained otherwise we will slide back into another recession, and be a tree hugger to boot. I can not say that our nation's value system is in disarray because I would then obviously be un-American. I am neither.
We are going to have to break these grand generalizations down, and meet in the middle for realistic solutions to all of our greatest problems that have been in political litigation for too long. We are going to have to move away from politics and do this on our own (together). Have you ever seen a protest today? Did you notice the relative few, who most likely represented the concerns of millions, be cast as complete extremist nuts? Did you ever see any president come out, and say, "Alright... ALRIGHT... you're right, we messed up, but I made a few calls, signed a couple of papers, and got this mess all straightened out. Thank you for your time and consideration. You can all go home now"?
I never have, but I do see certain videos generate millions of views, and comments virtually over night. I have seen millions follow blogs, people on twitter, and stay connected on other social networking sites. If this is the reality of our "times", then why don't we use the same momentum of each to harness all of those voices, and project them clearly? Protesting, in the traditional sense, still maintains its purpose, but to more accurately represent the voices of the masses, let us choose a new venue to come together in real numbers that can not lie, or be denied.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Establishing the New Times
Just to give some clarity towards my style of thought first: I am very critical. Why? Because more people aren't. I don't mean critical in the sense that I am going to speak poorly about someone's outfit if they don't share my style, or embrace negativity in every superficiality. I am critical of that which hinders us from living more meaningful lives. I warn you now. I will not sugar coat my message. I do not believe in being strictly politically correct. I studied politics, and found that there was not much correct about them. There is no room for racism, or closed minded bigotry, but as desensitized as our society is, it amazes me how quick everyone is to take offense to that which should be easily shrugged off as insignificant. We have successfully dumbed the overwhelming majority of our culture's mindset down to that of a junior high lunch room. At some point, soon, the American people are going to have to grow up.
That being said, I am the founder of the Re-Beats Project. During the conception of the idea I saw, and continually heard, an abundance of problems surrounding our generation, and began trying to sort them out while taking practical approaches to issues that constantly plague us. In my imagination I am alone in a quiet gallery. As I came around the last corner there was a nook with three walls: two long panels to my left (color) and right (black and white) lined with clear snapshots of chronological events, and one big picture hanging at the end in the center of it all. Immediately captivated, and confused by the last image, I never stop for the others. There is a title, "Provincial Division", but no artist's name, or caption. There is no uniform style, not even to the oddly shaped canvas. There is nothing right about it except for the perfectly symmetrical parting of the portraits seas. However, no one is being led down the center to liberation. It is blank. The opposite ends are the convoluted combination of the pictures I had previously passed. They are now cumbersome superimposed layers split, broken, and too disorganized from their original state to even be recognizable. It seems that the original creator lost creative focus, and handed it over to everyone who had no idea of what they were doing, or at the very least no concept of collaboration.
As a nation, we are divided. There is a middle ground, but no one wants to cordially cohabit amongst balance. The change we are all looking will not come from the left or right, and I do not have the patience to wait for politics to correct itself. Therefore, the most efficient path will be to change ourselves first. Maybe then we will be less ready to take offense to those who challenge the pretenses of counterfeit lives built on shallow foundations.
I am growing very critical of the times. We are inundated with, "in these times", "during these hard times", etc. like it is an excuse to complain, and host an apathetic pity party. The main mission of my Re-Beats theory is to establish what moves you, and go do that. I word it this way because it won't happen through stagnation. You have to get up and move, and shake the obstacles off. The new year is coming, and as we reflect on the lessons of former generations, we will see their revelations. If you figuratively find the same gallery I was in; hopefully it will be packed with critics, and you will be forced to take your time in the last corridor leading up to the big disheveled picture. You will see the unmistakable struggles of all of those who refused to settle for the hardships of their current times, and forged the path to their own meaningful lives. In regards to, "the times", the time is now to establish the advancement of... the new times.
That being said, I am the founder of the Re-Beats Project. During the conception of the idea I saw, and continually heard, an abundance of problems surrounding our generation, and began trying to sort them out while taking practical approaches to issues that constantly plague us. In my imagination I am alone in a quiet gallery. As I came around the last corner there was a nook with three walls: two long panels to my left (color) and right (black and white) lined with clear snapshots of chronological events, and one big picture hanging at the end in the center of it all. Immediately captivated, and confused by the last image, I never stop for the others. There is a title, "Provincial Division", but no artist's name, or caption. There is no uniform style, not even to the oddly shaped canvas. There is nothing right about it except for the perfectly symmetrical parting of the portraits seas. However, no one is being led down the center to liberation. It is blank. The opposite ends are the convoluted combination of the pictures I had previously passed. They are now cumbersome superimposed layers split, broken, and too disorganized from their original state to even be recognizable. It seems that the original creator lost creative focus, and handed it over to everyone who had no idea of what they were doing, or at the very least no concept of collaboration.
As a nation, we are divided. There is a middle ground, but no one wants to cordially cohabit amongst balance. The change we are all looking will not come from the left or right, and I do not have the patience to wait for politics to correct itself. Therefore, the most efficient path will be to change ourselves first. Maybe then we will be less ready to take offense to those who challenge the pretenses of counterfeit lives built on shallow foundations.
I am growing very critical of the times. We are inundated with, "in these times", "during these hard times", etc. like it is an excuse to complain, and host an apathetic pity party. The main mission of my Re-Beats theory is to establish what moves you, and go do that. I word it this way because it won't happen through stagnation. You have to get up and move, and shake the obstacles off. The new year is coming, and as we reflect on the lessons of former generations, we will see their revelations. If you figuratively find the same gallery I was in; hopefully it will be packed with critics, and you will be forced to take your time in the last corridor leading up to the big disheveled picture. You will see the unmistakable struggles of all of those who refused to settle for the hardships of their current times, and forged the path to their own meaningful lives. In regards to, "the times", the time is now to establish the advancement of... the new times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)