SOPHISTIFUNK

OK!

Whatever the symbol he'll always be affectionately known as just Prince to me. Nonetheless, The Artist formally known as Prince (try saying that after one too many cosmos) is back on the scene after a three year hiatus. Since performing three hometown shows 7/7/07; the Minneapolis born Rock star is once again conjuring his ultra, violet energy in promotion of his new self-entitled album. You know... watching the posh, funky style & bad ass performance that only Prince can bring to a stage is a welcome guilty pleasure. Well, fans we can look forward to a three night long Prince-fest prior to the album's release Sunday, March 29th! He has consecutive performances scheduled on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from March 26 thru the 28th where he will rock new songs from the album. Prince is a triple-disc set. Each disc has it's own subtitle, Lotusflow3r", "Mplsound" & the third, "Elixer by his Minnesota protégé Bria Valente. Arguably, the album is a much needed musical, monotony-breaker from the current state of events- as the Rock star lashes topics such as the Wall Street bailouts, lyrically coined the phrase "the White House is black", and touches on racial issues in "Colonized Mind" and "Dreamer" (a song inspired by Martin Luther King). Clearly, this triple play is a "must have" in the CD collection. Speaking of current events... penny pinching? Well, aren't we all. Good news! Prince is being sold exclusively at Target stores for a thrifty $11.98! You can't beat it [no pun intended].

MY OPEN LETTER AGAINST FANATICISM

Dear Reader,

We have all heard the doomsday rhetoric in light of this recent election. Religious Fanatics apparently believe President Obama is The Antichrist, a terrorist, and will hand this country over to hell in a breadbasket, if you don't believe in God you're a anti-American and so forth. Whether it's right or wrong, using hate to get your point a cross is in theory sacrilegious to begin with. Like the Devil’s lasso religious fanatics twist & lash scripture around their own words; instilling suspicion & fear into the heart of society. 

First and foremost, neo-fascists such as the Westboro Baptist Church and the like don't listen to reason and mock any and all opposing ideas without the slightest consideration. Speaking of which... God warned “Don’t try to teach a fool. He will make fun of your wise words (Proverbs 17; 9). I also believe we are in the end times and many are reluctant to believe anything but fighting evil with evil is simply evil.  God should not be used for selfish, erroneous reason. So, I can't idly stand by while persons verbally bash someone with (with unsupported religious rhetoric) because of their own personal biases. Religious fanaticism and its evil works is complete hypocrisy and not of God.

Now, regardless of which extreme I think people give Obama way too much credit. He is neither a savior nor a slayer of mankind. He is just a man. Yet, rumored to be THE Antichrist. It's fearful and/or opportunistic ideas like this that provoked the Salem Witch Trials centuries ago.  I beg people to put their fears and speculations into perspective before creating a composite about an individual. Those who bash Obama for supporting abortion rights yet supported McCain are clearly doing so out of personal bias against Obama. Didn't the McCain campaign support abortion and gay marriage as well? Yes. 

We may not agree with certain ideals but it is not fair to infringe upon another person’s right to live his or her life how they see fit. Some find homosexuality as grotesque as child molestation. Fact is homosexuals are adults who choose to co-habitate and marry one another. Neither is being exploited. Fact is no one has a snowballs chance in hell of winning the Presidency of the United States much less other political offices without tolerating ideals and supporting civil law. The oval office is not a place to exercise religious belief systems. How could it be? No one believes in the same thing and we would be in constant discord. No better off than Israel. Instead, it is a place to govern politics and insure the civility of a nation. Now, when aspects of individualism pose harm to other citizens and the security of this nation is it then no longer a personal a civil liberty.

Case in point: 
The local school district is in a shambles. As candidate for Chairman on the Board of Education in your hometown; let’s say you have good intentions and have a host of helpful policy agendas  that could turn the local school system around for the better. You are winning against your opponents. Your plans are welcome yet your community including the students strongly believe students should keep the right to wear regular clothes to school. Personally, you would rather implement uniforms as statically it promotes a safer, more organized school environment. However, this one individual ideal has been a source of community conflict & could cost you your entire campaign thus the opportunity to make those much needed improvements you envision. Hence the old war proverb, “It is better to risk a few than to risk a thousand”. 


How would you go about this delicate situation? How would you make progress in your local school system without self-sabotaging your chance to do so? Which also poses the question; is it right to subjugate your own opinion rather than focus on the greater task at hand? Should leaders tolerate a revolving door on certain civil issues allowing the public to make its own decision per individual? Long before political rights God himself gave man free will – the right to make our own choices. God will not persecute Obama or a leader of any other faction for the decision you made. Consequently, such leaders will have to answer for their own decisions. In and of itself, it is only fair to allow citizens the right to make personal choices in their lives. In fact, not doing so infringes upon the First Amendment rights as Americans, and for any President that would be career suicide as I formally implicated.

As I keep up with news & current events; I observe Barack Obama trying (and I stress trying) to make positive changes in this country despite the constant antagonism. Yet, those who take their opposition above and beyond civility throw salt in the game. Religious fanatics, racists, extremists, and other perpetual faultfinders alike are mischievous; finding reasons to browbeat at every turn thru venomous nitpicking and speculative ridicule. However, I'm willing to bet my rent they’ll be cashing that stimulus check. So far all I have seen is positive attempts from the man to make this country a better place and until I see otherwise I see no reason to question his authority.

Cheryl Williams

EMPOWERMENT - DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED

“Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.”

..is a bittersweet notion but a wise old adage just the same. Often, our heart’s desire(s) seem so close yet far way. We'll daydream, cross our fingers, work, pray, plot, and plan ways to carry out hopes and desires into our lives; others nearly to point of obsession. Whether it drives you mad or gently tugs at you in the wee hours of a restless night; our desires mean a lot to us for they thrive on the very hopes & dreams deemed worthy enough to cling to for dear life. No matter how big or small, rational or idiosyncratic. At last… (echoing Etta James) it happened; pay dirt after haunting the local corner store every night for the past four years. At last your numbers cosmically lined up and won you the coveted million-dollar jackpot! Or maybe you were approved for that sexy, shamelessly horse-powered, boasting all the latest bells & whistles, enough to make your boss blush, dream car. Perhaps it is priceless- like a parents approval, stumbling upon true love after canning the idea, or two lines emerging on a stick after years of infertility issues. In any event, it is like a fantasy-come-true as we stand amazed, shocked or even stupefied.

So, now that we’ve had our emotional high here comes the low-down. After the novelty has worn off we wonder how to handle the upshot...

“Yeah man, don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t change hitting the lotto but some of my family and friends are asking or downright expecting a financial bailout. I don’t mind helping but not to the tune of x-thousands of dollars!” 

"Our baby is a welcome surprise but talk about bad timing. Admittedly, our enthusiasm had waned over the years due to the stress.  We started to believe we were fighting a losing battle and atop it all my husband was just laid off.   That took a chunk out of our joint income so we recently stopped “trying to get pregnant”; at least until things turned around.  Now, I’m pregnant  and we’re barely making the mortgage.”

OK. I think you get the picture. We're not always ready for life's idiosyncrasies but we can certainly learn and adapt. While, facing down monster truck decisions is unnerving it comes with an opportunity to re-access. As reality sets in we ar ponder what really matters in the big scheme of things. Again, healthy hopes can give way to unhealthy delusions of grandeur. Which by the way are fun to entertain but may alter our sense of reality if not duly checked. Of course, not everyone succumbs to tunnel vision and unrealistic expectations. Yet, our desires can inadvertently take a life of its own -- before you know it you’re all wrapped up in the idea itself. Just, beware of giving your desires too much credit (e.g. It will solve all my problems) and try not to lose sight of the real reason(s) why you wanted this or that in the first place.

PURGATORY

Dante shown holding a copy of the Divine Comedy, next to 

the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory 

and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in

 Michelino's fresco.

There was a time when my weekends were purposely choc' full of people & plans. I ran & ran & ran. However, every action has its equal and opposite. Consequently, the weekend came when everyone I usually hang out with was indisposed for one reason or another. Bummer... What I like to call box TV. (Regular stations - no cable) sucked. There was nothing interesting on and I was reluctant to crack open one of my books or play video games; I was secretly pouting about my situation. Meanwhile, boredom felt content to make itself at home as I sat stoic on the edge of my bed. I fumbled for my electronic security blanket (laptop) but to my surprise I wasn't really interested in it either! I laid across my bed and stared at the ceiling fan. The slow twirl of ivory & gold wings invoked the vision of a budding romance, family members patching up old feuds, taking a Jacuzzi soak in the bathroom of the dream home I told myself I could never afford because, and [gasp] dammit! What? I knew better than to fantasize about love! And why am I sitting here like a sucker daydreaming about things that may never change, happen, or make me uncomfortable! It just sucks that much more only to come back to same old conclusions. This is why I stay busy to avoid thinking about dumb shit like this.  Yet, now it somehow felt strangely comforting much less entertaining. It was high time I got a new perspective. There I sat caught between apathy and passion; emotional purgatory.  I’m pretty confident. Right? How did I wind up feeling so caught up? What is this grey area? This fog, this void? Girl, get real... I’d been there for some time but refused to see it. My life was just fine. Not! I still had stuff waiting to be picked up at the baggage claim. I wasn't going anywhere until I owned up to some of my stuff; until we own up to our baggage, it just sits there. No one else is gonna claim it! Being all alone, all weekend forced me to think about those things I had been avoiding. Fine... I decided to humor the ceiling fan & allow my mind to wander into uncharted territory. After awhile I was in the valley. My breathing became shorter & faster, lips began to quiver, and my mind began to race. It was a storm surge of emotions. A fiery scream from the depth of my soul erupted out of my mouth like lava, the damn behind my eyes had broken and the salty waters flooded my face. My earth was shifting. God was there; reminding me of his purposes, molding me again, and renewing my natural resources! Let there be light!  

Purgatory’s not so bad after all.

In theory, emotional purgatory is a place deep within our consciousness that we all find ourselves in from time to time. Usually, when we least expect. Never shallow. It poses profound to outright life-changing ultimatums which seem unilateral in it's nature (due south or north). Basically, are you willing to take the high road or else. I’ve heard it said that purgatory is literally life itself. Indeed a deep concept and arguably goes into a whole 'nether story. Needless to say, scholars have & will continue to try and break emotional and/or spiritual matters down to a definitive science. One you may choose to ponder; but it's not enough time in a day [lol]. Just the same it is a place where we face inner struggles, challenges & ultimately are forced to examine ourselves and make those personal choices which define who we are. Insecurities, fear, depression, denial & hate are all states of emotional purgatory; even love at times. Purgatory's not so bad after all when we take the time to listen & learn from the inner voice within in it. Only then can we evolve as an individual and break free of that mindless oblivion.

REEL INDEPENDENT

PERSEPOLIS (2007) is an irresistible French film portraying the written autobiography of author Marjane Satrapi (pictured below).  Set in the frame of an animated, dark-comedy the audience is made privy to the growing pains and experiences of a feisty, Iranian girl coming of age in the midst of the Iranian Revolution. To me it was vaguely reminiscent of The Dairy of Anne Frank yet delightfully unique in its own right. Aside from the fluent artistic illustrations you learn a good deal about Iranian culture; meanwhile reminded that even though  people differ culturally, fundamentally our needs and desires remain one in the same.  Overall, an educational, heartfelt, original, artistic and thought-provoking gem of a film. 


Awarded: Jury Prize (2007) at Cannes Film Festival  
Nominated: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature 


Did you ever consider making it as a live action film? 

Interview courtesy of Sean Axmaker of www.seanax.com/persepolis
"Not at all because for a subject like that and for the purpose we had, me and Vincent, we wanted the story to be much more universal. I didn’t want it to become a political or
historical or sociological statement, because I’m not a politician and I’m not a historian and I’m not a sociologist. I’m one person and I believe that there is only one thing that is important and that’s the human being, the individual. Individualism is the basis of democracy, without individualism we don’t have any. As soon as you make a movie in a geographical place with some type of human being, then it becomes the story of the Middle-Eastern, far from us: “They’re not us, they’re foreign.” There’s something about the abstraction of the drawing that everybody can relate to because drawing is the first language of the human being, before writing, before even the use of the language. We have so many different kinds of narration in the movie. We have the scenes of normal life, we have the puppet things that are the historical scenes, we have the more realistic scenes, meeting with the guard and all these scenes of the war, etc. The animation became an obvious choice, because otherwise we would have done something vulgar going in the other direction. And that helped a lot."

Get Persepolis and other Discounted Books & DVDs at The Nook!