There was a time, before children, when I had seen every movie nominated for Best Picture, nearly all the movies nominated for Best Actor, Actress, and Director, and many of the other nominated films.
This year I've seen only 1 of the Best Picture nominations (Slumdog Millionaire) and all 3 of the Best Animated Feature movies. That about sums it up.
I still get away for a few movies now and then and a few of those have nominations: The Wrestler, The Dark Knight, and Tropic Thunder (what the...). Other movies on the list that I’ve seen are Iron Man and Wanted, but technical nominations don't really count.
So even though I am behind on my movies these days, I watched the Oscars - with Sexiest Man Alive Hugh Jackman hosting, a live performance of Jai Ho and hopefully a speech by Mickey Rourke, I wouldn't miss it!
The Set
I loved the set. The stage and seating had a rather intimate feel - the presentation podium was right in the crowd. If you are going to put Brangelina on the front row, you may as well stand Jennifer Aniston only 6 feet from them! This year the sets were actually part of the presentation. Each one changed with the category of awards and related specifically to the category. A clever and artistic idea that worked.
The Host
Hugh Jackman is awfully excited that "the musical is back!" (but do NOT call him gay, his wife will get pissed). I kid. Overall I thought he did a good job, and seemed perhaps underused. His opening number was very good. I also liked his "musicals are back!" song and dance and feel affirmed that Wolverine also likes musicals (cuz, hey, I admit I loved Mamma Mia). Other than the opening and the dance number, I can’t remember anything Hugh did. Perhaps that’s a good host. But it seems he disappeared for long periods of time. I liked Will Smith’s joke that "Hugh is napping somewhere." So my review on Hugh hosting is mixed, though I attribute any poor marks more to him disappearing than anything he did.
The Presentations
The Actor awards this year were presented in the most personal manner that could have been imagined. I loved it. Each nominee was personally introduced by a past winner, and with the stage set-up the people were within feet of each other. More than any other award show, it seemed to actually honor the nominees and not just the winner. Cuba Gooding Jr.’s intro of Robert Downey Jr. was funny. Shirley Maclaine’s intro of Anne Hathaway seemed heartfelt. Overall, a good piece of the evening.
A few presenters were genuinely funny. Tina Fey and Steve Martin were naturals together and had funny material. I enjoyed the Seth Rogan and James Franco bit, but when they added Janusz Kaminski it was hilarious. Seth cracking up at James Franco mangling the winner’s name was so inappropriate and yet so funny. Ben Stiller tried an impression of Joaquin Phoenix and I was with it for awhile, but it went on too long.
The Political Theme of the Night
The Oscars tend to have a political theme most years. Without Bush to kick around, I wasn’t sure what the theme would be this year but it became obvious quickly: Gay and Lesbian Rights. The orginal screenplay winner was Dustin Lance Black for Milk and I found his acceptance speech moving. Sean Penn tried the "shame on you" tactic, but I believe Dustin’s approach will move far more people than copying the church’s usual tactic of shame. But I digress.
What They Wore
Not much to talk about with wardrobe this year. There was no Bjork Swan Disaster, but no one seemed to dazzle either. I’m not sure what Philip Seymour Hoffman was wearing on his head, but it looked like a stocking cap and I thought that a poor choice. My quick pick for worst dressed was Tilda Swinton. If you are going to wear a dress that looks like a bag, you should at least pick a color other than the exact shade of your skin.
Musical Performances
I was highly disappointed in the performances of the 3 nominated original songs. I correctly predicted the winner a couple weeks ago, and maybe I expected too much in its performance. All the right elements were there: the artists, the drummers, the dancers, moving through the crowd, etc. But it seemed flat, uninspiring and the sound through the television was very poor. I’m a John Legend fan, and even his song just seemed off.
The Winners
Mickey Rourke was robbed. When the self-centered Sean Penn gives you a nod in his speech, I think you know you were robbed. Okay, I haven’t seen Milk so I can’t say for sure, but I was shocked that Mickey didn’t get the win. In The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke gave what I would call a complete performance. I’m pretty sure Mickey is in every scene of the movie, he portrays nearly every basic human emotion in a realistic and consistent way, and created a complex character of someone you genuinely like and root for even as he destroys himself with his inability to pull away from his self-destructive choices. I am disappointed he didn’t win. I was going to see Milk anyway, and when I do Sean better be good!
Heath Ledger winning Best Supporting Actor was such a forgone conclusion that they left him out of the In Memoriam montage. It was a sad occasion and I believe he would have had a good shot at winning even without his death.
Slumdog Millionaire won the most Oscars and that seemed appropriate to me. If you’ve seen the movie, the sight of those children actors onstage at the final award was a great moment.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won so many awards that I am, well, curious because that movie just looks strange to me. I look forward to seeing the movie.
Quote of the Night
"Suck on that, Anthony Dod Mantle!" - by Janusz Kaminski, the first cinematographer to ever present an Oscar to the cinematographer that had just won an Oscar.
"You are beautiful, wonderful creatures that have value. And no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you." - Dustin Lance Black speaking to gays and lesbians. Sincere words of love are always powerful.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
"Slumdog Millionaire"
Some time last year I read this interesting article on the slums of Mumbai, India. A fascinating read because of the paradox of the vibrant yet destitute nature of the slum's subculture. The recent movie "Slumdog Millionaire" captures that paradox. The movie has gathered considerable attention and mega award nominations. In my opinion, the movie earns the praise by delivering an original-feeling, creatively-told story of the ancient struggle of the human spirit against the human condition.
The creative centerpiece of the film is a unique story-telling device centered on Jamal Malik playing the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," but the heart is the story of unconditional love. The movie manages to show an unblinking portrait of life in the slum and yet retain the humanity of its characters, for better and worse. I found it a truly remarkable movie weaving together elements of classic tales (an unwavering hero and unconditional love) with modern tales (a conflicted antagonist, brushes of religion, geopolitical reality) with necessary movie elements (memorable acting, excellent cinematography and editing, not to mention a great soundtrack).
I'm probably drawn to it because at its essence it is the story of grace: the unrelenting pursuit of someone and never doubting the infinite value of that person.
It's hard to predict Oscars, but I'll say Song and Screenplay for sure.
The creative centerpiece of the film is a unique story-telling device centered on Jamal Malik playing the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," but the heart is the story of unconditional love. The movie manages to show an unblinking portrait of life in the slum and yet retain the humanity of its characters, for better and worse. I found it a truly remarkable movie weaving together elements of classic tales (an unwavering hero and unconditional love) with modern tales (a conflicted antagonist, brushes of religion, geopolitical reality) with necessary movie elements (memorable acting, excellent cinematography and editing, not to mention a great soundtrack).
I'm probably drawn to it because at its essence it is the story of grace: the unrelenting pursuit of someone and never doubting the infinite value of that person.
It's hard to predict Oscars, but I'll say Song and Screenplay for sure.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Grammy Goes to ...
I love the Grammys. I watch the Oscars to see who wins, but not really anything else. I am interested in who wins the various Grammy awards, but mostly I watch the Grammys for the music performances. Tonight I will try some blogging as the Grammys roll.
The show kicked off with The Greatest Rock Band in History. The performance was not the greatest, but hey I'll never complain about an opportunity to see the boys from Ireland perform, and they do rock. Bono takes off his glasses just to show us he's wearing guyliner. Having worn guyliner before, I have no comment. "Thanks, Walter. Can we get Whitney Houston on the show?"
Whatever Bono asks for, Bono gets. Whitney presents next. Best thing I can say for her: she appeared sober. And trying to stretch her minute on the stage out as loooooong as possible. Jennifer Hudson wins the first Grammy of the night. Great girl and seems to be on a roll with the Super Bowl national anthem and now a Grammy for R&B album of the year. I believe her brother was killed recently, so her acknowledgment of family in heaven was poignant.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson bombed. Not funny and Katy Perry seemed embarrassed to be mentioned by him.
I'm a Justin Timberlake fan, but even he bombs in trying to say something funny here. The crowd seems a little dull.
Al Green is classic and can still sing, Justin does a nice job singing with Al. Casey says, "Al Green makes me smile." We love that song too. Justin advertised Keith Urban and Boys 2 Men would be involved with this number. Keith must be the white guy and B2M the backing vocals. Wow, how B2M have fallen.
Coldplay. Great band. Nice jacket on Chris Martin (if you've seen my new one you'll know why). Jay-Z steps into "Lost" with Chris Martin?! Uh-oh, Coldplay's performance is now the coolest of the night. Chris wore himself there in "Viva la Vida."
Sorry, I've never gotten into Carrie Underwood and tonight is more of the same. Ugly dress and a country song written by a committee. Sugarland just won a Grammy for something. They're a country band that sang a song one time I liked. Best I can do there.
[BTW, DVRs rock. Boys to bed without missing a thing and now I can start skipping the ridiculous commercials anyway]
Song of the Year already? An eclectic choice of songs! All good ones, but it's apples and oranges, really. By the way, the video for that "Chasing Pavements" song is really cool if you've never seen it. Another little tidbit about a song nominee here, I heard Sara say one time that the target of her song "I'm not going to write you a love song cause you ask for it" is not a guy - it was her recording studio who told her that her album needed a love song. Nice one, Sara. "Viva la Vida" wins. More incentive for Joe Satriani to pursue his lawsuit. It's a good song, but not sure I'd call it the song of the year. That album was phenomenal music but just "okay" lyrically. Could have been so much better, oh well. Moving on.
Kid Rock. "Amen." Change really has come to America when white trash is singing about race relations, poverty and war. [FYI, I use the term white trash here in the non-pejorative as used self-referentially by white north Americans with higher socioeconomic status to jokingly describe limitations they sense in their culture] Welcome to the cause, Kid!
Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana!!!!!! OMFG!!!!!!
Taylor kicks Hannah's ass. Pop Collaboration is yet another difficult choice, but the right one is made here. I heard that song only once or twice ever, but I loved it.
Jennifer Hudson is singing. I hope she doesn't make me cry (I'm only on my 2nd beer, I should be okay). Oh no, she's singing "You Pull me Through" - I am verklempt...
Thankfully I now have the Jonas Brothers to drain all emotion from me. Soulless Disney, I ain't feelin' it. The parts where they aren't singing and only the band and Stevie Wonder are playing are okay, as long as I'm not actually looking at three 15-year old, home-schooled white bread boys.
Rock Album Grammy always throws me. I never know what they mean by "rock." Coldplay wins over Metallica, see what I mean?
Katy "bicurious" Perry performs. She's come a long way since her christian artist days, that's all I can say about that. Don't bother kissing a girl on stage, Katy, you'll never top Madonna and Britney a few years ago.
10-time Grammy winner Kanye West? I thought he was always angry that he never wins? Kanye's hair is totally Lionel Richie from the "Hello" video, dude! Well, not curled but that same shape. Not his best work, but I like Kanye. Best New Artist Grammy? Anyone but Jonas Brothers, please... Yeah! Good song, I don't know if her other stuff is good.
Does Morgan Freeman have a fake arm? Miming Michael Jackson? He's friends with Kenny Chesney?! WTF?! I never knew Morgan was gay... I kid! Just because he's friends with a gay guy doesn't make Morgan gay. About 10 years ago Kenny won me over with a song about his grandpa, I give him grace since then.
Record of the Year already? I like spreading these big Grammys throughout like this. Same song that won Song of the Year, right? So it won for the song writers earlier and now the performers and producers. Robert Plant and Alison Kraus are 2 great artists so I guess you can't go wrong there.
The next performance is a great example of something that sounded great in planning but wow what a mess on stage. Don't get me wrong, I love a pregnant rapper as much as the next person, but wow. Kanye, Jay-Z, et al. At least I just realized that MIA's song is on the Slumdog soundtrack.
Paul McCartney takes Kurt Cobain's spot in front of Dave Grohl. Can't be worse than what we just saw. Note to Bono, stop singing before age 66.
Pop Male Vocal. "Say" by John Mayer. Excellent choice.
I'm reminded what I liked about Sugarland, this is that song I couldn't remember earlier, nice song and emotion for "Stay." Hey, the last song was only one letter different. Say now Stay. Wild.
That "Chasing Pavements" song is good. That's one of the funny things about the Grammys. I heard this song a lot a long time ago, haven't heard it in a long time, now I've heard it 3 times tonight.
Radiohead and the USC marching band. Awe. Some. (I wonder what Thom has against wireless mics?)
TI and Justin Timberlake. We kinda like TI around here, the boys are fans of "Whatever You Like" (radio edit, people, please). Ooh, soon as I said that, TI got censored by the live delay. Believe it or not, the song has a positive message and is really good.
Neil Portnow. Every year this guy gets up there and wastes our time. This year he tops that by trying to ride on Barack Obama's coattails. What a douche.
Four Tops' music. 50 years from now, a botoxed Kanye West will be reliving his glory days. Out of respect for that possibility, I don't fast forward.
Josh Groban introduces Neil Diamond. I'd rather hear Josh. Will Ferrell will always be Neil Diamond to me ("my heart and my ass hurt!"). I had a friend who sang "Sweet Caroline" at every karaoke opportunity, and did a great job actually. The crowd acts like they're at karaoke.
RIP, Eddie Arnold. Isaac Hayes died? What did South Park do with Chef?
I really, really like John Mayer. He has respect for music and plays new stuff that sounds like old stuff.
Lil Wayne and Robin "Alan" Thicke. Interesting experiment: will the combination bring up Thicke's cool more than it drags down Wayne's? I believe the result cancels each other out. It's not cool and it doesn't suck. The New Orleans stuff (Terence Blanchard) is cool. I was in New Orleans less than a year before Katrina, and I'd love to go back.
You know Will.i.am wasn't going to NOT mention Obama. Rap Album Grammy to Lil Wayne. How'd he beat the Godfather Jay-Z? Congrats, Lil.
[an aside regarding the new Pepsi commercial, they stole Obama's campaign symbol and now his songwriter?]
Alison and Robert Plant finally perform live for us. I remember Alison Kraus from her bluegrass circuit days in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. I first heard her live when she opened for Garth Brooks in about 1993. She looks better every year. Alison Buttons?
Album of the Year, the biggie. With so much love tonight, it's no surprise that it's "Raising Sand" by Robert Plant and Alison Kraus. I clearly need to listen to this album.
Well, that's it. I think the best performances were all in the 1st half. I didn't get that memorable performance we sometimes have at the Grammys, but a good music show nonetheless. We close the show with Stevie Wonder by himself singing his newest song "All About the Love Again." So on a night to celebrate the best musical art of 2008, we leave with this:
Good night!
The show kicked off with The Greatest Rock Band in History. The performance was not the greatest, but hey I'll never complain about an opportunity to see the boys from Ireland perform, and they do rock. Bono takes off his glasses just to show us he's wearing guyliner. Having worn guyliner before, I have no comment. "Thanks, Walter. Can we get Whitney Houston on the show?"
Whatever Bono asks for, Bono gets. Whitney presents next. Best thing I can say for her: she appeared sober. And trying to stretch her minute on the stage out as loooooong as possible. Jennifer Hudson wins the first Grammy of the night. Great girl and seems to be on a roll with the Super Bowl national anthem and now a Grammy for R&B album of the year. I believe her brother was killed recently, so her acknowledgment of family in heaven was poignant.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson bombed. Not funny and Katy Perry seemed embarrassed to be mentioned by him.
I'm a Justin Timberlake fan, but even he bombs in trying to say something funny here. The crowd seems a little dull.
Al Green is classic and can still sing, Justin does a nice job singing with Al. Casey says, "Al Green makes me smile." We love that song too. Justin advertised Keith Urban and Boys 2 Men would be involved with this number. Keith must be the white guy and B2M the backing vocals. Wow, how B2M have fallen.
Coldplay. Great band. Nice jacket on Chris Martin (if you've seen my new one you'll know why). Jay-Z steps into "Lost" with Chris Martin?! Uh-oh, Coldplay's performance is now the coolest of the night. Chris wore himself there in "Viva la Vida."
Sorry, I've never gotten into Carrie Underwood and tonight is more of the same. Ugly dress and a country song written by a committee. Sugarland just won a Grammy for something. They're a country band that sang a song one time I liked. Best I can do there.
[BTW, DVRs rock. Boys to bed without missing a thing and now I can start skipping the ridiculous commercials anyway]
Song of the Year already? An eclectic choice of songs! All good ones, but it's apples and oranges, really. By the way, the video for that "Chasing Pavements" song is really cool if you've never seen it. Another little tidbit about a song nominee here, I heard Sara say one time that the target of her song "I'm not going to write you a love song cause you ask for it" is not a guy - it was her recording studio who told her that her album needed a love song. Nice one, Sara. "Viva la Vida" wins. More incentive for Joe Satriani to pursue his lawsuit. It's a good song, but not sure I'd call it the song of the year. That album was phenomenal music but just "okay" lyrically. Could have been so much better, oh well. Moving on.
Kid Rock. "Amen." Change really has come to America when white trash is singing about race relations, poverty and war. [FYI, I use the term white trash here in the non-pejorative as used self-referentially by white north Americans with higher socioeconomic status to jokingly describe limitations they sense in their culture] Welcome to the cause, Kid!
Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana!!!!!! OMFG!!!!!!
Taylor kicks Hannah's ass. Pop Collaboration is yet another difficult choice, but the right one is made here. I heard that song only once or twice ever, but I loved it.
Jennifer Hudson is singing. I hope she doesn't make me cry (I'm only on my 2nd beer, I should be okay). Oh no, she's singing "You Pull me Through" - I am verklempt...
Thankfully I now have the Jonas Brothers to drain all emotion from me. Soulless Disney, I ain't feelin' it. The parts where they aren't singing and only the band and Stevie Wonder are playing are okay, as long as I'm not actually looking at three 15-year old, home-schooled white bread boys.
Rock Album Grammy always throws me. I never know what they mean by "rock." Coldplay wins over Metallica, see what I mean?
Katy "bicurious" Perry performs. She's come a long way since her christian artist days, that's all I can say about that. Don't bother kissing a girl on stage, Katy, you'll never top Madonna and Britney a few years ago.
10-time Grammy winner Kanye West? I thought he was always angry that he never wins? Kanye's hair is totally Lionel Richie from the "Hello" video, dude! Well, not curled but that same shape. Not his best work, but I like Kanye. Best New Artist Grammy? Anyone but Jonas Brothers, please... Yeah! Good song, I don't know if her other stuff is good.
Does Morgan Freeman have a fake arm? Miming Michael Jackson? He's friends with Kenny Chesney?! WTF?! I never knew Morgan was gay... I kid! Just because he's friends with a gay guy doesn't make Morgan gay. About 10 years ago Kenny won me over with a song about his grandpa, I give him grace since then.
Record of the Year already? I like spreading these big Grammys throughout like this. Same song that won Song of the Year, right? So it won for the song writers earlier and now the performers and producers. Robert Plant and Alison Kraus are 2 great artists so I guess you can't go wrong there.
The next performance is a great example of something that sounded great in planning but wow what a mess on stage. Don't get me wrong, I love a pregnant rapper as much as the next person, but wow. Kanye, Jay-Z, et al. At least I just realized that MIA's song is on the Slumdog soundtrack.
Paul McCartney takes Kurt Cobain's spot in front of Dave Grohl. Can't be worse than what we just saw. Note to Bono, stop singing before age 66.
Pop Male Vocal. "Say" by John Mayer. Excellent choice.
I'm reminded what I liked about Sugarland, this is that song I couldn't remember earlier, nice song and emotion for "Stay." Hey, the last song was only one letter different. Say now Stay. Wild.
That "Chasing Pavements" song is good. That's one of the funny things about the Grammys. I heard this song a lot a long time ago, haven't heard it in a long time, now I've heard it 3 times tonight.
Radiohead and the USC marching band. Awe. Some. (I wonder what Thom has against wireless mics?)
TI and Justin Timberlake. We kinda like TI around here, the boys are fans of "Whatever You Like" (radio edit, people, please). Ooh, soon as I said that, TI got censored by the live delay. Believe it or not, the song has a positive message and is really good.
Neil Portnow. Every year this guy gets up there and wastes our time. This year he tops that by trying to ride on Barack Obama's coattails. What a douche.
Four Tops' music. 50 years from now, a botoxed Kanye West will be reliving his glory days. Out of respect for that possibility, I don't fast forward.
Josh Groban introduces Neil Diamond. I'd rather hear Josh. Will Ferrell will always be Neil Diamond to me ("my heart and my ass hurt!"). I had a friend who sang "Sweet Caroline" at every karaoke opportunity, and did a great job actually. The crowd acts like they're at karaoke.
RIP, Eddie Arnold. Isaac Hayes died? What did South Park do with Chef?
I really, really like John Mayer. He has respect for music and plays new stuff that sounds like old stuff.
Lil Wayne and Robin "Alan" Thicke. Interesting experiment: will the combination bring up Thicke's cool more than it drags down Wayne's? I believe the result cancels each other out. It's not cool and it doesn't suck. The New Orleans stuff (Terence Blanchard) is cool. I was in New Orleans less than a year before Katrina, and I'd love to go back.
You know Will.i.am wasn't going to NOT mention Obama. Rap Album Grammy to Lil Wayne. How'd he beat the Godfather Jay-Z? Congrats, Lil.
[an aside regarding the new Pepsi commercial, they stole Obama's campaign symbol and now his songwriter?]
Alison and Robert Plant finally perform live for us. I remember Alison Kraus from her bluegrass circuit days in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. I first heard her live when she opened for Garth Brooks in about 1993. She looks better every year. Alison Buttons?
Album of the Year, the biggie. With so much love tonight, it's no surprise that it's "Raising Sand" by Robert Plant and Alison Kraus. I clearly need to listen to this album.
Well, that's it. I think the best performances were all in the 1st half. I didn't get that memorable performance we sometimes have at the Grammys, but a good music show nonetheless. We close the show with Stevie Wonder by himself singing his newest song "All About the Love Again." So on a night to celebrate the best musical art of 2008, we leave with this:
What if someone made a soda
That caused everyone to love each other
Good night!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Singing This Song Makes Me Dance
A new song I've been enjoying lately is "Let it Rock" by Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne. A fun song that combines synthesizer and guitars into driving rhythm, but keeps its hip-hop essence. Not really Rap Rock but could be called Pop Rock Rap. Here's a 70-second (radio-edit) clip:
I also have a new artist I've been enjoying. I've been listening to him for about 6 months, and this week heard him on the radio for the first time. I can't claim credit, though, Pandora introduced us. Pandora: like a Match.com for music fans. With a new album that's getting more support, you may soon hear of Brett Dennen. Here's a sample of his music I first heard about 6 months ago. From the album "So Much More" a clip of the song "The One Who Loves You the Most"
Brett's new album "Hope for the Hopeless" continues his mellow groove but the first single "Make You Crazy" adds an Afro-Beat with great effect, in my opinion. Groovy and upbeat, with culturally progressive lyrics:
Not bad for a red-headed white guy. I hope you enjoy him. His website streams several of his songs.
One more music note, there's no way I can talk about music this month without mentioning that the greatest rock band of all time released a new song. U2's first new song in 5 years was leaked last week so the band released the song on their website. The song and album cover art are HERE. I hope you have Bose speakers for your computer, because the steady beat is very Vertigo. For guys almost 50, they can still rock. I'll have much more to say when the album drops; till then I sit agog and get on my sexy boots...
I also have a new artist I've been enjoying. I've been listening to him for about 6 months, and this week heard him on the radio for the first time. I can't claim credit, though, Pandora introduced us. Pandora: like a Match.com for music fans. With a new album that's getting more support, you may soon hear of Brett Dennen. Here's a sample of his music I first heard about 6 months ago. From the album "So Much More" a clip of the song "The One Who Loves You the Most"
Brett's new album "Hope for the Hopeless" continues his mellow groove but the first single "Make You Crazy" adds an Afro-Beat with great effect, in my opinion. Groovy and upbeat, with culturally progressive lyrics:
Not bad for a red-headed white guy. I hope you enjoy him. His website streams several of his songs.
One more music note, there's no way I can talk about music this month without mentioning that the greatest rock band of all time released a new song. U2's first new song in 5 years was leaked last week so the band released the song on their website. The song and album cover art are HERE. I hope you have Bose speakers for your computer, because the steady beat is very Vertigo. For guys almost 50, they can still rock. I'll have much more to say when the album drops; till then I sit agog and get on my sexy boots...
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Future Needs a Big Kiss
I found President Barack Obama's inauguration speech skillful but not eloquent. It seemed to me that more than once he packed entire policy or value discussions into one sentence. The overall tone was firm but with compassion. Here are my Top Ten most important things Obama said in his inaugural speech:
10. "To those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."
9. "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." [avoids the easy blame of "it's all Wall Street's fault" and includes our personal responsibility]
8. "It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate." [gives heroic value to nurturing a child, an echo of Dag Hammarskjöld as discussed in a prior post]
7. "The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works...Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end." [values substance over political perception]
6. "Our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead...our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint." [strength through humility and true justice, not brute force and exclusive knowledge of "truth"]
5. "With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat." [rolling back nuclear weapons isn't as fashionable as it once was, and I have appreciated Obama's persistent focus on this issue since his first days in the Senate]
4. "Because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace." [draws on our past mistakes as a strength and as reason for hope that the same things can happen in other places of the world that seem hopeless right now]
3. "We will restore science to its rightful place." [nuff said]
2. "A man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. So let us mark this day in remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled." [understated notice of remarkable human evolution and invokes our better nature, not shame]
1. "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals."
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I Can't See What You See When You Look at the World
The terror in Gaza and Israel continues today. More rockets fly in from both sides. Those of us that try to learn of the history and stay current on the cultures, politics and religions of the area can easily throw up our hands and call it impossibly complex. An endless quagmire that only "divine intervention" can resolve. But again it's so easy to sit at safe distances and shrug that only God can fix this. There's nothing we can do about it. Terror and war will always be with us. And poverty and disease. Only the naive believe they can change these inherent evils, believe they can change the world...
I sat today at an all-school assembly for Lee School Elementary. 330 kids in an age range of 6 to about 11. After a program of announcements, recognition and performance, the principal said they would sing in closing "our new favorite song." This brought a stir up from the kids. I was unprepared for what came next. 300 young voices sang "Together we can change the world." Imagine with me the voices of about 300 kids, some strong and clear and some hesitant, together quite a choir singing:
My heart simultaneously soared with hope and sank with sadness. The sweet earnestness of hundreds of kids asking "What if we spoke with one voice, knowing that we have a choice?" The rueful naiveté of a child's belief in our ability to "Change your mind and change your life, set aside the fear and strife, together we can change the world!"
Naive kids. Destined to have their dreams of changing the world shattered. Nearly half of the kids in the room, 156 of them, live at or below 1.5 times the federal poverty level. Forget changing the world, half these kids will be lucky to make it out of poverty! Imagine that, a minority boy in the middle of a midwestern state whose family works merely to survive is singing about changing the world. But maybe... just maybe...
I sat today at an all-school assembly for Lee School Elementary. 330 kids in an age range of 6 to about 11. After a program of announcements, recognition and performance, the principal said they would sing in closing "our new favorite song." This brought a stir up from the kids. I was unprepared for what came next. 300 young voices sang "Together we can change the world." Imagine with me the voices of about 300 kids, some strong and clear and some hesitant, together quite a choir singing:
My heart simultaneously soared with hope and sank with sadness. The sweet earnestness of hundreds of kids asking "What if we spoke with one voice, knowing that we have a choice?" The rueful naiveté of a child's belief in our ability to "Change your mind and change your life, set aside the fear and strife, together we can change the world!"
Naive kids. Destined to have their dreams of changing the world shattered. Nearly half of the kids in the room, 156 of them, live at or below 1.5 times the federal poverty level. Forget changing the world, half these kids will be lucky to make it out of poverty! Imagine that, a minority boy in the middle of a midwestern state whose family works merely to survive is singing about changing the world. But maybe... just maybe...
Thursday, January 8, 2009
We Eat And Drink While Tomorrow They Die
While I concern myself with the new simplifications I'm trying, while I enjoy the comfort and safety of my home, while I play games with my boys ...
An Israeli mother drops to the ground, protecting her boys from a terrorist rocket with her arm... her arm. Look how well trained the boys are, their faces against the bricks, their hands perfectly placed in protection.
While I entertain myself with a football game tonight, while I feel inconvenienced by the weather or my sinuses, while I say goodnight to my boys with the room and night light arranged to get rid of every scary shadow...
A Palestinian boy flees his home from the "righteous" rockets and waits in a strange place bewildered and afraid. Look at his feet on the stone. Imagine the bulk of his sweater and the heft of his body as you give him the hug he clearly needs.
I'll get along tonight because somewhere in the activity of my evening the images will fade. The tears won't be pressing behind my eyes. The goodness of life will again have my attention. But those boys are still out there. At least I hope so...
An Israeli mother drops to the ground, protecting her boys from a terrorist rocket with her arm... her arm. Look how well trained the boys are, their faces against the bricks, their hands perfectly placed in protection.
While I entertain myself with a football game tonight, while I feel inconvenienced by the weather or my sinuses, while I say goodnight to my boys with the room and night light arranged to get rid of every scary shadow...
A Palestinian boy flees his home from the "righteous" rockets and waits in a strange place bewildered and afraid. Look at his feet on the stone. Imagine the bulk of his sweater and the heft of his body as you give him the hug he clearly needs.
I'll get along tonight because somewhere in the activity of my evening the images will fade. The tears won't be pressing behind my eyes. The goodness of life will again have my attention. But those boys are still out there. At least I hope so...
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