Yes we can; the American Dream. Years of civil rights wars; the American Dream. I have a dream; The American Dream. Nov. 4th sparked a strange time for America. Barack Obama has seemed to bring a new glow to politics. I have never seen so many people so passionate about a politician, certainly not in the last eight tiresome years. Now that America has spoken up for their new leader, will there be change?
I have never had faith in politicians. On their campaigns, they all are going to change the world. They even promise me that I will fall in love and get my drinks for free. It seems so much heavier that words. A wise old lady once told me that my thoughts are my words, and my words are my actions. So, maybe we are on the right track as a country. I spoke of election day above as strange, well historic at least. I know many people took race into account when voting, some for racism and some against. I am glad that the majority of Americans do not look at race as a factor when voting. I think the rest of the world will agree. “What an inspiration. He is the first truly global US president the world has ever had,” said Pracha Kanjananont, a 29-year-old Thai sitting at a Starbucks in Bangkok (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5087886.ece).
I have heard the racist comments, and I have seen the extremist supporters. The doubts and the confidence are all here. The American Nightmare has woken up in panic, calmed itself, and is now laying down to sleep again. Will we have a new American Dream? I hope so, goodnight America.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Trick or Treat? The American Dream. As children wonder the streets, parents worry about cavities and reflective clothes. Halloween creates a mischievous vibe and a time to step outside reality. Costumes let us hide our identity and perhaps do thing we normally wouldn’t do. As night falls the ghouls and goblins come out, I too will be there lurking the town in search of trouble.
Me and my girlfriend were talking about this year’s Halloween boom and how people seem to be more involved in the festivities. She mentioned a few good points that might make the Halloween debauchery more in context. This year the night of the dead falls on a Friday which make it extra exciting. Also, it seems people want to get away from the stressful reality of life. The economic rollercoaster and the historic election both take a toll on the American Dream, and the American reality.
As she rattled off these seemingly simple reasons for the season, I realized the American Dream is really about celebration. We need to feel close to our friends and family. We need to have fun and forget about the weight of the world. As I thought more about the weight of the world I realized that celebration is not just the American Dream, but a worldly dream. So as winter creeps in and holidays come and go be thankful that celebration is in your life. God Bless!
Me and my girlfriend were talking about this year’s Halloween boom and how people seem to be more involved in the festivities. She mentioned a few good points that might make the Halloween debauchery more in context. This year the night of the dead falls on a Friday which make it extra exciting. Also, it seems people want to get away from the stressful reality of life. The economic rollercoaster and the historic election both take a toll on the American Dream, and the American reality.
As she rattled off these seemingly simple reasons for the season, I realized the American Dream is really about celebration. We need to feel close to our friends and family. We need to have fun and forget about the weight of the world. As I thought more about the weight of the world I realized that celebration is not just the American Dream, but a worldly dream. So as winter creeps in and holidays come and go be thankful that celebration is in your life. God Bless!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Art and the American Dream.....
Painting, sculpture, dance, and music; the American Dream. Rock-n-roll, jazz, country, and the blues all were built from the American Dream. Blues is about your woman or your man, blues about having no money, blues about death. The blues were born and raised in America. The first recording of the blues was in 1895, it was George W. Johnson's "Laughing Song." (http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/bluesmusic/a/bluesmusic.htm.)
The blues might sing about hard times but the reason it has become a cornerstone in American history is the feeling behind the artists themselves. The music isn't racist, poor, or lonely. The music can love you jut as much or more than a woman or man. The music won't break your heart or tell you lies. The blues will make you laugh and cry.
I have been blessed with a great job at Drury University as an audio technician at their television station. I get to record, mix, and master many different musical act from around the country and even some from other countries. We had an act from Tupelo, MS perform last week that really gave me faith in the American dream.
This is a link to The Homemade Jamz Blues Band......
http://www.myspace.com/homemadejamzbluesband
The group is made up of three young siblings, all of which are very much in tune with blues music. Their father will sometimes sit in on Harmonica and is the road manager; Mom does the booking and home schooling on the road. At first I did not know what to expect from kids their age. As I did more research and finally met them, I knew that this was a prime example of the American Dream. For years they have been traveling worldwide and doing large media outlets such as the "The Today Show" and even a showcase on NPR. They have also played with some of histories greatest blues artist, like B.B. King. At the ages of 10, 13, and 15 these kids have a long fruitful career ahead of them. This kind of story engulfs the idea of the American Dream, and gives hope to anyone who believes in passion.
Painting, sculpture, dance, and music; the American Dream. Rock-n-roll, jazz, country, and the blues all were built from the American Dream. Blues is about your woman or your man, blues about having no money, blues about death. The blues were born and raised in America. The first recording of the blues was in 1895, it was George W. Johnson's "Laughing Song." (http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/bluesmusic/a/bluesmusic.htm.)
The blues might sing about hard times but the reason it has become a cornerstone in American history is the feeling behind the artists themselves. The music isn't racist, poor, or lonely. The music can love you jut as much or more than a woman or man. The music won't break your heart or tell you lies. The blues will make you laugh and cry.
I have been blessed with a great job at Drury University as an audio technician at their television station. I get to record, mix, and master many different musical act from around the country and even some from other countries. We had an act from Tupelo, MS perform last week that really gave me faith in the American dream.
This is a link to The Homemade Jamz Blues Band......
http://www.myspace.com/homemadejamzbluesband
The group is made up of three young siblings, all of which are very much in tune with blues music. Their father will sometimes sit in on Harmonica and is the road manager; Mom does the booking and home schooling on the road. At first I did not know what to expect from kids their age. As I did more research and finally met them, I knew that this was a prime example of the American Dream. For years they have been traveling worldwide and doing large media outlets such as the "The Today Show" and even a showcase on NPR. They have also played with some of histories greatest blues artist, like B.B. King. At the ages of 10, 13, and 15 these kids have a long fruitful career ahead of them. This kind of story engulfs the idea of the American Dream, and gives hope to anyone who believes in passion.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The American Dream
"One Nation, Under God...", the American Dream. Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931), a Baptist minister, wrote the original Pledge in August 1892 (The Pledge of Allegiance; A Short History
by Dr. John W. Baer, http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm). This pledge has been recited on many occasions by many people in this great country, I remember memorizing the Pledge of Allegiance in kindergarten. It came under scrutiny for the quoted verse above, "Under God", and became a focus of scandal in the 90's but soon blew over. I believe the end of the pledge makes sense of the American Dream...."Indivisible, with Liberty on Justice and All."
I explored the idea of God and the American Dream, and the idea of religion causing so much pain and joy. I asked my boss about the American Dream and I knew he was very active in his church and his faith. I was expecting a sermon and perhaps a invitation to be saved but my judgements crushed my ego and he enlightened me in a different way. He told me the American Dream was the diversity in faith and people. He did not talk down on others or commit any one religion to eternal damnation. He felt blessed to celebrate his beliefs with his family and community. I was quite humbled by this chat with a somewhat stranger. Though he signs my paychecks and give me memos each week, I felt somewhat closer to him and his faith in general...."One Nation, Under God...and the American Dream."
by Dr. John W. Baer, http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm). This pledge has been recited on many occasions by many people in this great country, I remember memorizing the Pledge of Allegiance in kindergarten. It came under scrutiny for the quoted verse above, "Under God", and became a focus of scandal in the 90's but soon blew over. I believe the end of the pledge makes sense of the American Dream...."Indivisible, with Liberty on Justice and All."
I explored the idea of God and the American Dream, and the idea of religion causing so much pain and joy. I asked my boss about the American Dream and I knew he was very active in his church and his faith. I was expecting a sermon and perhaps a invitation to be saved but my judgements crushed my ego and he enlightened me in a different way. He told me the American Dream was the diversity in faith and people. He did not talk down on others or commit any one religion to eternal damnation. He felt blessed to celebrate his beliefs with his family and community. I was quite humbled by this chat with a somewhat stranger. Though he signs my paychecks and give me memos each week, I felt somewhat closer to him and his faith in general...."One Nation, Under God...and the American Dream."
Friday, October 10, 2008
The American Dream
Crumbling farther and farther down the economic tunnel of doom, the American Dream. A landslide of political jargon and invisible money, the American Dream. The reassurance of safety, the American Dream. What will become of the American Dream? The only thing I hear is how things have never been so bad, at least not since the Great Depression. If my junior high education serves me right, the Great Depression was...well, depressing. By 1933, 11,000 of the United States' 25,000 banks had failed(http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/about.htm). Unemployment, soup lines, and foreclosures these don't sound like the kind of things that American dreams of.
My younger brother is 15 years old and is a freshman at Willard High School, a small town north of Springfield, MO. Like most 15 year old boys his life is filled with school, girls, video games, and his rock band in which he plays bass guitar. Of course being in the same room as my Father he gets his fair share of political and economic propaganda, much of which I don't agree with. And the mad hatter of television is also sowing fear into his soft mind and spirit. I wanted to know what he thought about "The American Dream". At first he was reluctant and tried to shake off the question with humor, the usual pitfall in our household. I tightened the screws on his response and he began to squeeze out one line answers. He said he was glad that he did not have to fight in wars if he did not want to. That rang a bell because that dream has not always been, in fact many have died after being sent into the battlefield by their government. He also mentioned how he did not have to worry about food or shelter as many around the world and even in this country do. He clammed up after that and became disinterested but I know his apprehension was more of a reality check of his blessing so I left him alone. It was another outlook of the American Dream that was not a tear jerker but most effective in my book.
My younger brother is 15 years old and is a freshman at Willard High School, a small town north of Springfield, MO. Like most 15 year old boys his life is filled with school, girls, video games, and his rock band in which he plays bass guitar. Of course being in the same room as my Father he gets his fair share of political and economic propaganda, much of which I don't agree with. And the mad hatter of television is also sowing fear into his soft mind and spirit. I wanted to know what he thought about "The American Dream". At first he was reluctant and tried to shake off the question with humor, the usual pitfall in our household. I tightened the screws on his response and he began to squeeze out one line answers. He said he was glad that he did not have to fight in wars if he did not want to. That rang a bell because that dream has not always been, in fact many have died after being sent into the battlefield by their government. He also mentioned how he did not have to worry about food or shelter as many around the world and even in this country do. He clammed up after that and became disinterested but I know his apprehension was more of a reality check of his blessing so I left him alone. It was another outlook of the American Dream that was not a tear jerker but most effective in my book.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The American Dream
The American Dream has allowed me to make a living as an artist for nearly six years. If you work hard for something, you will succeed, that is the American Dream. Now I am finding as time goes by success is measured by so much more than money although money is a large part of the American Dream. The classic rags to riches is a staple to everyone, but now I find the real American Dream is the pursuit of happiness and the journey to success.
Outside these usual cliche you'll find most of the common folks I know. The teachers, the students, the lawyers, and mechanics; they want the American Dream, they are the American Dream. I wanted to know what they consider the American Dream so I talk to a friend and colleague named Ryan Pittman who woks in the service industry. He had the same inspirational jargon that most think of when asked about the Dream of America, he then pause and looked truly inspired. As his eyes perked up he began to say that is son is the American Dream. I began to think that another "our youth, our future" speech was coming, when I remembered that his son was adopted after a long trying process. He explained that a place where a family that can't have children can adopt a child in need of a home is truly the American Dream. This was what I was looking for when I asked, a true life Dream come true.
So yes I can appreciate the memorable speech of a great leader or the history making athlete thanking the press for his opportunities in this great country, but ask your neighbor or boss what their American Dream is, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Outside these usual cliche you'll find most of the common folks I know. The teachers, the students, the lawyers, and mechanics; they want the American Dream, they are the American Dream. I wanted to know what they consider the American Dream so I talk to a friend and colleague named Ryan Pittman who woks in the service industry. He had the same inspirational jargon that most think of when asked about the Dream of America, he then pause and looked truly inspired. As his eyes perked up he began to say that is son is the American Dream. I began to think that another "our youth, our future" speech was coming, when I remembered that his son was adopted after a long trying process. He explained that a place where a family that can't have children can adopt a child in need of a home is truly the American Dream. This was what I was looking for when I asked, a true life Dream come true.
So yes I can appreciate the memorable speech of a great leader or the history making athlete thanking the press for his opportunities in this great country, but ask your neighbor or boss what their American Dream is, you might be pleasantly surprised.
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