Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Marianne Williamson

My friend Julie told me that the quote you see to your left was actually spoken by Marianne Williamson! Sooooo - I set out to find out why it has been misquoted for years (apparently since 1994). Also, much to the dismay of teachers everywhere, I always source things instead of just believing what I hear (please don't be offended, Ju - I promise I do this with everything).

So. I researched it out and there is no conclusive evidence either way! REALLY?! On the whole wide world of the Interwebs, there's not a freaking conclusive answer? From researching this out, I'm leaning towards Marianne Williamson, but I can't find the quote from her book that she references (Return to Love is the text which supposedly includes it). However, Nelson Mandela's 1994 inaugural speech text does not include the quote either! I plan on going to the library to figure this all out, but until I get a chance to do that - I just edited the background quote image to not have a source.

I'm glad to know this has happened to others, check out this blog post:
http://www.bartgibby.com/2007/09/19/marianne-williamson-or-nelson-mandela/

To be continued...

.....

OKAY! I got a freaking reference. FINALLY. Back to Photoshop for me!

This quote by Marianne Williamson is from her book, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3 (Pg. 190-191).

There is no textual record that Nelson Mandela ever said this... I wonder who first attributed it to him? I wonder if this is one of those lies that has rippled. You know? Like one random person misquoted it, was embarrassed that they were wrong, but insisted on continuing the lie? I think I did that about a dream I had about spaghetti and meatballs attacking me. I never had the dream, but insisted to my brothers and sister that I had.



Monday, April 28, 2008

Makeover!

I thought the ol' website needed a makeover. I am currently living in a black/white/yellow phase.

Ta Da! Here's what some extremely basic html/photoshop skills can get you.

P.S. The quote on the background image is one of my favorite ever. Nelson Mandela = eternal genius. Here it is (in case you use an RSS reader and don't feel like looking at my new layout):

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

(P.S. Thanks go to my cousin Rachel's Facebook profile for reminding me of it.)



Thursday, April 24, 2008

The God Gap

I recently read some of The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap. Essentially, it discusses the omnipresent stereotype that Conservatives/Republicans are religious/spiritual and Liberals/Democrats are, well, not.

The term "the God gap" was coined in the aftermath of the Kerry/Bush election: "Come Election Day, so many churchgoing Americans cast their votes for George W. Bush that pundits created a new phrase - "the God gap" - to explain their voting patterns. The more often you attended church, the more likely you were to vote Republican."

While I will reserve my rant on that mistake for another day (I think everyone gets enough of that on a daily basis), I read on -

"The arrogant assumption of conservatives that they had a patent on piety was bad enough. But Democrats seemed to buy into this conventional wisdom as well, believing that religious Americans were all conservative." This was not always the case, of course. Democrats were not always viewed as the Godless (or at least the "less moral" of the God-fearing). In fact, "liberals" were most often (and aptly) viewed as the people who cared more for human rights. You know, like women having the right to vote.

"National polls consistently show that two-thirds of Democratic voters attend worship services regularly."

"The tale that remains untold involves the left's response to the rise of the Religious Right... For while the political, religious, and cultural forces that gave rise to the Religious Right formed a perfect storm that was bound to have a significant impact on American politics, Democrats and liberals weren't just passive nonactors who stood by helplessly on the sidelines while it all happened. Instead of pushing back, they chose to beat a retreat in the competition for religious voters and the discussion of morality, effectively ceding the ground to conservatives. The emergence of the God gap represents a failure of the left as much as it does an achievement of the right." (emphasis added)

Throughout my life, I have heard friends and acquaintances mention their affinity for Democratic candidates, but some sort of religious guilt kicks in and makes them feel like they should vote against their personal conscience. But, as the article also mentions, "as recently as the 1960's, religion was a decidedly nonpartisan affair in the United States. Presidents of all political stripes sprinkled their speeches with references to the Almighty." Yes, they did, and most likely they felt free to do so without alienating their constituency.

"The twin disappointments of Vietnam and Watergate led to widespread disillusionment with traditional institutions, and the cynicism tainted religious authority as well. The postmodern argument that advances societies would progress beyond the need for religious practice or belief in a higher power took hold in educated circles and further deepened the divide between secular elites and religious believers." (emphasis added)

Dearest friends - believing in God and following His commandments does not equate to blindly voting Republican. Know the person in whom you're casting your confidence.



Thursday, April 17, 2008

St. Francis House

I take the Orange Line to work. I get off at the Chinatown stop (I work in the Theatre District). Every day, I pass the St. Francis House. Every day, except the frigidly cold ones, there are a whole slew of patrons (a.k.a. homeless folks) hanging out in front. And every day I walk amidst their group. And every day I get some sort of comment from one of those fine people (a.k.a. really creepy dudes).

Last week: "Heeeeeyyyy - I like the way your bag matches your clothes." (I gotta hand it to him - that one was original.)

Friday: "Ssssssssssttttt (supposed to represent that sucking in breath sound)... you FINE."

Today's gem: "Daaaaaaamn girl! You've got some hips on you!"

Lesson learned: If you need a boost of confidence, just saunter by a homeless black man.



Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Going to Texas!

I am returning to my native Texas in late September for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. This is three days filled with 130 bands - back to back rockin' (or folkin' or countryin' or whateverin'). This will be an intense trip - flying in Thursday night. Music all day Friday. Saturday. Sunday. Then flying back on Monday morning. I'm kinda tired just thinking about it, but I miss Austin and all the wonderful peeps I left there. One hundred and thirty bands is a LOT and you know - I have to whittle it down a bit. Here's my list of the stages/shows I'll be hitting:
  • Beck
  • The Raconteurs
  • The Mars Volta
  • Gnarls Barkley
  • Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
  • Erykah Badu
  • N.E.R.D.
  • Tegan and Sara
  • Iron & Wine
  • Band of Horses
  • Silversun Pickups
  • Spiritualized
  • Stars
  • The Octopus Project
  • M. Ward
  • School of Rock (YES!)
If any of you lovely people are at these shows, look for me and say hi. This trip is brought to you by American Airlines, my low income, and Martin (bought my ticket for me! What a sweetheart)!



Michelle Obama on The Colbert Report

This was great - I love the pictures drawn by little kiddos.



Thursday, April 10, 2008

Ghostland Observatory

One of my Top 5 Favorite Bands of all time, Ghostland Observatory, played a show in Rexburg, Idaho. In this interview from my dear Austin, Texas - they mentioned their 99.9% Mormon show. My favorite is Aaron Behrens and his expression when saying: "Those kids really like music." Two of my favorite things coming together? Brilliant.