Is it Time to Boycott San Francisco?

The world has always been full of sick and disturbed people. When a state begins to protect and financially support the very people who undermine it, however, the lines of sanity become even more blurred. Clearly, something is wrong when major American corporations such as Miller support the infamous (and under-stated in name) "Folsom Street Fair" in San Francisco.

For those not aware of the content of the fair, it is a sexually explicit gender-bending event, giving corporate sponsorship to public displays that would normally (and rightfully) put a person behind bars. Participants in the "fair" include numerous homosexual pornography outlets, S&M groups, and the infamous "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," an anti-Christian group who will be celebrating a mock last-supper as graphically portrayed in the Folsolm Street Fair poster for this year.

This is not a bout of prudery or exaggeration on my part... if you are unfamiliar with the fair, you can look at fair pictures posted on the National Catholic League website. (Warning: graphic content.) These are the very same images that the League is sending to the corporate sponsors of the event, in hopes of persuading them to withdraw their funding.

http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1335

Bill Donohue and the Catholic League are organizing a boycott of the festival and the sponsors involved, a boycott being supported by religious organizations of all stripes.

The mocking of a peaceful religion is a cowardly act. For my part, I would like to urge the "Sisters" and their supporters to mock the prophet of Islam next time, just to see the kind of reaction it would bring about. How about placing a picture of Mohamed on their fair posters? Considering their willingness to mock religious belief, and the pronounced anti-homosexual stance of the Muslim world, shouldn't a "courageous" and "liberated" event like to Folsom Fair take equal measure of their foes?

You can't make this stuff up

The famous Roman cynic Petronius in Sienkiewicz's novel "Quo Vadis," upon being questioned for his cynical attitude, replied: "life is ridiculous, and so I laugh."

Life is truly absurd at times, and I often wonder whether things are really getting worse, or the media getting more effective at keeping track of human ludicracy. Take a sampling of the headlines from the past two weeks... (note: these are all real. You can look them up.)

--Woman attacked with sword in argument over puppy.

--CNN reports that "a recent study proves that men prefer women who are "hot." (gee, ya think?)

--Texas court of appeals frees man convicted of beheading his own three children, over "disputed evidence" introduced in his original trial.

--Three diamonds to be created using the carbon from Beethoven's hair.

--Comedian Kathy Griffin tells Jesus to "suck it" after accepting ward. Claims that
her "trophy is her God now."

--German town ditches traffic lights to improve road safety.

--Atheist author Richard Dawkins claims that religion is "child abuse," further
comparing Moses to Hitler and calling the New Testament a "sado-masochistic doctrine."

--Terrorists vow to behead "prostitute" Britney Spears.

--Then, of course, there is the wonderful moment where the "music" business finally caught on to the fact that Britney Spears... well, sucks. Here's hoping they realize that most of them fall into the very same category of un-talent as well.

--Falling Excrement Prompts Court Order for Tree-Sitters

--Mugger picks on blind Judo champ

and, in our most misleading news story of the week:
--"Birth control pill may cut cancer risk." Were this an article in "The Onion," it would likely continue: "neglecting to read the rest of the article, millions of women accosted pharmacy counters around the nation." --> Read the article further, and you will find that the cut is minimal (around 1%) and applying to women who took the pill for a short time. Women who took the pill for over 8 years (as many do) actually had an increased risk. So there you go. Again.

***
Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, often fond of misinformation, this is the world we live in. It is little wonder that so many people build their religious, philosophical, and political viewpoints on skewed perspectives and half truths (which are also full lies.)

I now understand why Petronius liked to laugh as he did.

And thanks to the miracle of media technology, there is now no shortage of ridiculous headlines to make us feel better (or worse) about ourselves.

Form in Music

I'm starting to understand why so many composers have turned to artificial methods of material generation and predefined forms: Taking all the ingredients of a new composition and congealing them into a tasty and well-balanced stew is truly a challenge of epic proportions.

Listening to my recent works amongst well-worn musical sages this summer has revealed new things to me. Older composers, even if they lack in good ideas, seem to often have their proportions just "right." When I hear some of my pieces, I receive great satisfaction from them. Others bring frustration, however, as I can't get over litte things being just...not...right. Slightly too long here, slightly too short there, a bit too much major-triad harmony here... yet it all seemed "right" at the time. What is a well-intentioned composer to do?

My form issues are further complicated by my view on modern music aesthetics: I see no reason why serial harmony can't be mixed with Chopin-esque romantic gestures and the intensity of aleatoric music a-la Penderecki. There's no good reason not to attempt it -- but doing it well remains the major question in my artistic search.

In the end, I must believe that form in authentic art is based more on a natural sense of proportion more than any predefined formula. Hindsight is generally 20/20, and the trick seems to reside in getting things "just right" in the moment, and not upon a 30th re-listening of the recording. I can't seem to revise works after they've ripened, if only because that individual inspiration is no longer present. I can only hope to get better at this aspect of my craft as time moves on... and hopefully before I'm in my 50's.

Who dun fault it be?

I promised myself that I wouldn't write any political blogs while overseas... In general, I've tried to stay away from reading the American news. I even refused to bite when insanity and anti-democracy struck in Iowa. But this, my friends, simply rubs me the wrong way...

Police officers have been suspended in Houston after allegedly distributing a guide called "wacha dun did now?" -- jokingly referred to as a "quick guide to ebonics." To quote the AP report:

The booklet billed itself as a guide to Ebonics, teaching the reader to speak "as if you just came out of the hood." It included definitions such as "foty: a 40-ounce bottle of beer"; "aks: to ask a question"; and "hoodrat: scummy girl."

I'm not sure if any actual racist or demeaning statements were made in the book, or if there were any racist illustrations. If the AP report is to believed, the book is simply an ebonics translation manual. Perhaps it is necessary? Lest I be labeled a racist prematurely, let's look at the following two situations:

A cousin of mine was visiting from Europe, and we were sitting in a cafe. She was learning English, and curious about her environment. Across from us was sitting a table full of young African Americans, clearly having a good (and loud) time. More power to them. When my cousin asked me what they were saying, however, I was honestly at a loss to translate. I had no idea. I simply couldn't understand.

Another time I was taking the bus from Cleveland regional airport to my apartment, when several young African Americans sat down next to me and began an animated conversation. I will honestly claim that despite my best efforts, I could only pick up one in ten words in the conversation. Generally, that one word was the "f" word.

Keep in mind, my parents were immigrants, and I grew up surrounded by dialects and accents -- deciphering the English language in its various forms and misforms is a bit of a specialty of mine. If I can't make it out, is some American-born white-as-they-come officer from the suburbs named Joe Macnamarra going to figure it out?

If only to add insult to injury, I have watched my parents demeaned for their accents more times than I could possibly count. This, despite the fact that they make an effort to actually speak the language of the country in which they live.

Now before you plaster me up as a bigot, let's return to the AP report once again:

It included definitions such as "foty: a 40-ounce bottle of beer"; "aks: to ask a question"; and "hoodrat: scummy girl."

It's accurate. It's true. It's part of a black culture pumped into every television set in America. Are the officers to be punished by simply repeating what they see and hear everyday?

What about the following offering from a San-Fran based hip-hop website?

http://www.riceplate.com/rap/rap.php

Racist?

What about:

www.urbandictionary.com

or even the following site, representing such "artists" as Dr. Dre:

http://www.atr-mixtape.com/cgi-bin/word-search.pl?l=E

Now WHO is the racist?

It is not our place to judge the men and women who put their lives on the line in dangerous neighborhoods every day, let alone the effects of the stress they must go through.

There are bigger fish to fry in this beleagured nation without inventing racism where it is not present.

Eyes on the Prize

Some blessings come unlooked for. Some favors are unwanted. Sometimes -- in the words of Paolo Coelho -- the Universe will do something seemingly harsh to knock us back on track.

Sometimes God is a severe father, yet he is always working for our own good.

When you spend time in the dark tunnel and see the light ahead, only to have it blotted out, it can be a terribly disconcerting experience. For the prayerful, peaceful supplications can become bitter accusations and harsh words. There are times that the words fail, and as you lie awake at night, all you can do is send your groans upwards.

...yet he is always working for our own good.

It's important to recognize those times in our lives when we are called to step back and reevaluate our existence. This has been the context of my summer, one of hard work and much thought. I still have the occasional sleepless night, but things are starting to come into focus.

When Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, I don't think he was encouraging pacifism or wimpiness. If you read the statement in context, it seems that the "strike" that Christ is referring to is a backhand. A dismissive blow, from a (supposedly) higher power.

I think that Christ is really saying: "when you are backhanded and told to desist, then rise and present your other cheek. Insist on being hit with the front of the hand, as an equal."

The other cheek is turned.

The hard work is over for a litte while, and now I have time to take my thoughts to the road. First, to the Northeast coast, where so many great American creative souls have found inspiration and consolation. Then, to Krakow, a seat of Kings and a nest of Poets...I am going to drink deeply of the Christian courage of my ancestors.

(I can hardly afford any of this, but it's exactly what I need at the moment.)

That familiar fire is returning in the pit of my stomach, the eyes are narrowing, yet the anger is diminishing. Focus. Joy. The rest of my energy will be used to embrace the blessings unlooked for. I won't let anger chain me to the spot where I was brought to my knees.

The other cheek is turned.

...and HE is always working for our very greatest good...