OneRepublic's (1R) song "Good Life" has been on repeat in my head lately. When I'm in my car, listening to the radio, if this song comes up, the volume goes up with it. I look ahead onto the road as if looking at a camera in my own music video. Don't worry, I've still yet to have gotten into an accident (God forbid).
The main element that caught my attention with this song was the percussion at the beginning. It feels very driven, almost tribal, and anthem-like. It reminds me of the percussiveness in Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". Songs with percussion like this have a direct connection to my heart, mind, and soul. I come alive. I become contemplative. I think of my life, the lives of others, where we are in time and place, I think about human civilization, and how so many are privileged, and how just as many, if not more, are disadvantaged. A whirlwind of thoughts come through my mind as I connect to the rhythm of such music.
I haven't written a Current Song Obsession (CSO) post lately because though there have been many songs, this one has truly been on repeat lately, and up until now, I was wondering when I'd write my next post in this series which I informally launched with the song "Get It Right" from the TV show GLEE, a song, I feel, very accurately describes my life, my thoughts, and frequently, my actions.
Anyway, back to 1R. Initially, when I listen to songs, I try to find the message in the lyrics, if there happens to be any message. Many times the lyrics can be interpreted at face value. Other times, they may be more metaphorical. It's always up to the songwriter, and what they want to say.
That being said, upon first hearing the song, and particularly the chorus, I thought it was a very spiritual message, an uplifting one, particularly about overcoming some kind of adversity. After watching this lyrics video below, I had to re-evaluate my conclusion of the song's meaning. Did it even have a message? Was it a story? My new conclusion is that in this song, singer Ryan Tedder is describing the success of his band, and how they've traveled throughout the world, but fully enjoying the ride that came with their band's success. Their success has rewarded them with a "good, good life".
As a pop song lover, one of my favorite types of songs are those that teach lessons or tell stories. The lesson could be in a single line of the song, it could be the entire song itself, or anything in between. Many times, if a song has a lesson to teach, the lesson is highlighted just before the chorus is repeated, therefore giving the song a little more impact in its chorus, where much of the emotion of songs are located, and of course, the chorus of a song is where the title is usually found.
When you're happy like a fool
You let it take you over.
When everything is out,
You gotta take it in.
I'm of the opinion that this song, at its core, is a message of finding the good in life. Whether you're traveling, missing friends or family, making sacrifices that keep you out of contact with loved ones, there's good that's always surrounding you. And if you can, you need be aware of it, and "you let it take you over", and then share it with others when you get the chance.
When you live a good life, you can get more out of it when you share the joy it gives you with others, which, in turn, makes everyone's life a little better.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Corpus Christi
I anticipate that soon there will be a big media storm (unless it's already going) over a movie that's to be released soon. It's a movie called Corpus Christi based on a play by the same name by Terence McNally, in which Jesus is portrayed as a gay man, and the movie is set in 1950s Corpus Christi, TX.
*GASP*
Why should such a play make everyone so nervous and filled with homophobia all of a sudden? Were you there in Jesus' time? Even if we go on the Bible, it's never mentioned whether or not Jesus was in a relationship with anyone, except his 12 disciples. We know he taught them through parables the teachings we try to live by to this day, and then later, we know that Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. We don't know if it was a kiss on the lips or cheek, it was just a "kiss". According to the Bible, Judas didn't shake Jesus' hand, pat him on the back, or hug him to identify him for the Roman soldiers, he kissed him.
Many Christians probably loathe the idea of Jesus being depicted as gay. But, for the sake of argument, what if he was? Would it make a difference? If so, how? Would God love his son any less if Jesus was gay? Isn't God's love unconditional? Isn't Jesus' love for us unconditional?
All this movie/play does is portray Jesus in a way that no one has openly or publicly done. This simply challenges our deeply embedded image of him as one of total purity and asexuality (no sexual attraction at all) because our churches don't discuss it, and neither does the Bible. Instead, Christian churches, through their frequent anti-gay stances, maintain and uphold the following portrayal of Jesus: healer, teacher, miracle worker.
I'm pretty sure that when you ask some Christians how they feel about gay people, you'll get a mixed reaction either support or opposition. But if you were to have a discussion about Jesus possibly being gay, it'd suddenly be blasphemous and repulsive. But, why should it be blasphemous and repulsive?
I remember first learning about this play, Corpus Christi, and a church whose services I occasionally attend recently hosted a production. I didn't go because I couldn't afford it at the time. But I'm curious to see Jesus in a different portrayal than the exclusive one we've all learned over the years. I'll admit that when I first heard about this play, I was initially bothered by it. But after giving it careful thought, I drew my own conclusion: If Jesus loves us no matter who we are, what sins we've committed, etc., why should our love for him be any different? How is portraying him as gay blasphemous?
Because it is! It's mockery and repulsive blasphemy to imply that Jesus and his followers were gay!
Do you have gay friends or family members?
Yes.
Does it bother you that they're gay, or do you love them just the same?
No, it doesn't bother me.
But it bothers you to think of Jesus as gay?
Yes!
Why?
Because he wasn't!
How do you know he wasn't? Were you there? Does the Bible discuss anything about any sexual relationship he could've had?
No.
It seems to me that the very idea of Jesus being sexual with anyone in general is what's an upsetting thought to Christians (but thinking of him as gay is even more upsetting because we're taking the most beloved icon in human history and juxtaposing him with one of the most controversial issues of the human condition). Think of him as a sexual being like anyone of us, and Christians start to squirm; think of him as a homosexual, and Christians, even those who support gay people, will cover their ears yelling "LALALALALALALA!" This is because we just want to think of him as the kid born of a virgin, being found in the temple preaching to elders, teaching them, and then we fast-forward to his 30s where he acquired his disciples, challenged religious leaders, forgave sinners, and performed miracles (wedding at Cana, multiplication of loaves and fishes, curing lepers, the blind, the deaf, walking on water, calming the storms, raising Lazarus from the dead, exorcising demons from fellow citizens, and most famously, rising from the dead and ascending into heaven). There are over 20 years of his life the Bible doesn't discuss. What happened in those years?
Do I think Jesus was gay? *shrugs* I have no clue. I think it'd be cool if he was. But that's my whole point: whether he was or wasn't, what does it matter? He died. He rose. Christians expect him to come again and judge the living and the dead. He loves us. We love him. And as long as there's love in a relationship with Jesus Christ, nothing else matters.
*GASP*
Why should such a play make everyone so nervous and filled with homophobia all of a sudden? Were you there in Jesus' time? Even if we go on the Bible, it's never mentioned whether or not Jesus was in a relationship with anyone, except his 12 disciples. We know he taught them through parables the teachings we try to live by to this day, and then later, we know that Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. We don't know if it was a kiss on the lips or cheek, it was just a "kiss". According to the Bible, Judas didn't shake Jesus' hand, pat him on the back, or hug him to identify him for the Roman soldiers, he kissed him.
Many Christians probably loathe the idea of Jesus being depicted as gay. But, for the sake of argument, what if he was? Would it make a difference? If so, how? Would God love his son any less if Jesus was gay? Isn't God's love unconditional? Isn't Jesus' love for us unconditional?
All this movie/play does is portray Jesus in a way that no one has openly or publicly done. This simply challenges our deeply embedded image of him as one of total purity and asexuality (no sexual attraction at all) because our churches don't discuss it, and neither does the Bible. Instead, Christian churches, through their frequent anti-gay stances, maintain and uphold the following portrayal of Jesus: healer, teacher, miracle worker.
I'm pretty sure that when you ask some Christians how they feel about gay people, you'll get a mixed reaction either support or opposition. But if you were to have a discussion about Jesus possibly being gay, it'd suddenly be blasphemous and repulsive. But, why should it be blasphemous and repulsive?
I remember first learning about this play, Corpus Christi, and a church whose services I occasionally attend recently hosted a production. I didn't go because I couldn't afford it at the time. But I'm curious to see Jesus in a different portrayal than the exclusive one we've all learned over the years. I'll admit that when I first heard about this play, I was initially bothered by it. But after giving it careful thought, I drew my own conclusion: If Jesus loves us no matter who we are, what sins we've committed, etc., why should our love for him be any different? How is portraying him as gay blasphemous?
Because it is! It's mockery and repulsive blasphemy to imply that Jesus and his followers were gay!
Do you have gay friends or family members?
Yes.
Does it bother you that they're gay, or do you love them just the same?
No, it doesn't bother me.
But it bothers you to think of Jesus as gay?
Yes!
Why?
Because he wasn't!
How do you know he wasn't? Were you there? Does the Bible discuss anything about any sexual relationship he could've had?
No.
It seems to me that the very idea of Jesus being sexual with anyone in general is what's an upsetting thought to Christians (but thinking of him as gay is even more upsetting because we're taking the most beloved icon in human history and juxtaposing him with one of the most controversial issues of the human condition). Think of him as a sexual being like anyone of us, and Christians start to squirm; think of him as a homosexual, and Christians, even those who support gay people, will cover their ears yelling "LALALALALALALA!" This is because we just want to think of him as the kid born of a virgin, being found in the temple preaching to elders, teaching them, and then we fast-forward to his 30s where he acquired his disciples, challenged religious leaders, forgave sinners, and performed miracles (wedding at Cana, multiplication of loaves and fishes, curing lepers, the blind, the deaf, walking on water, calming the storms, raising Lazarus from the dead, exorcising demons from fellow citizens, and most famously, rising from the dead and ascending into heaven). There are over 20 years of his life the Bible doesn't discuss. What happened in those years?
Do I think Jesus was gay? *shrugs* I have no clue. I think it'd be cool if he was. But that's my whole point: whether he was or wasn't, what does it matter? He died. He rose. Christians expect him to come again and judge the living and the dead. He loves us. We love him. And as long as there's love in a relationship with Jesus Christ, nothing else matters.
Monday, July 9, 2012
I'll help you pack
In an historic vote, the US Supreme Court upheld the controversial Affordable Care Act - aka Obamacare - and some people *ahem* conservatives are pissed. In fact, many conservatives have decided that they're going to move to Canada. (#4 is my personal favorite)
There's only one problem: Canada has free, government-run health care. That's single-payer health care where the government pays for everyone's health care through raising taxes on everyone. And you know what? That's what I want too. I dread going to the doctor because I know I'll have to pay an expensive co-pay. I hope I'll never have to go to the ER because I'll have to shell out money I don't care to spend. But if I have my taxes raised a little more, and I get FREE HEALTH CARE, I'm TOTALLY cool with that.
I can't remember who said this, but the quote goes: "I love taxes. I pay them, and I get civilization in return." Amen.
In all honesty, am I thrilled about how the ACA works? Yes, and no. When it was being legislated, *I* was pissed that there was no public option...because I wanted a public option! That's the primary reason I'm not completely thrilled about it. But do I support Obamacare? ABSOLUTELY! We're already required, by law, to have car insurance. What's wrong with being required to have health insurance?
So, like I said, if the ACA had offered a public option, I probably wouldn't even worry about going with an insurance company. But what kind of healthcare to do I really want? Single-payer health care. I want Canada's health care. In fact, many industrialized countries have it. And they're fine. We're the only industrialized country that doesn't have single-payer health care. Why is that? And the countries with universal health care are not communist. In fact, there are FEW communist countries still in existence, Cuba and China being among them.
So, if you want to move to Canada, I'm only a little jealous, but despite my jealousy, I'll help you pack. Why would I be jealous? Well, for the free health care for one. But also, Frank and I can have our 6-year relationship recognized there too. There, I could legally call him my husband.
Besides, we have yet to witness all the good things the ACA offers. A lot of it won't be implemented until Obama's 2nd term, assuming he gets it.
There's only one problem: Canada has free, government-run health care. That's single-payer health care where the government pays for everyone's health care through raising taxes on everyone. And you know what? That's what I want too. I dread going to the doctor because I know I'll have to pay an expensive co-pay. I hope I'll never have to go to the ER because I'll have to shell out money I don't care to spend. But if I have my taxes raised a little more, and I get FREE HEALTH CARE, I'm TOTALLY cool with that.
I can't remember who said this, but the quote goes: "I love taxes. I pay them, and I get civilization in return." Amen.
In all honesty, am I thrilled about how the ACA works? Yes, and no. When it was being legislated, *I* was pissed that there was no public option...because I wanted a public option! That's the primary reason I'm not completely thrilled about it. But do I support Obamacare? ABSOLUTELY! We're already required, by law, to have car insurance. What's wrong with being required to have health insurance?
So, like I said, if the ACA had offered a public option, I probably wouldn't even worry about going with an insurance company. But what kind of healthcare to do I really want? Single-payer health care. I want Canada's health care. In fact, many industrialized countries have it. And they're fine. We're the only industrialized country that doesn't have single-payer health care. Why is that? And the countries with universal health care are not communist. In fact, there are FEW communist countries still in existence, Cuba and China being among them.
So, if you want to move to Canada, I'm only a little jealous, but despite my jealousy, I'll help you pack. Why would I be jealous? Well, for the free health care for one. But also, Frank and I can have our 6-year relationship recognized there too. There, I could legally call him my husband.
Besides, we have yet to witness all the good things the ACA offers. A lot of it won't be implemented until Obama's 2nd term, assuming he gets it.
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