Sarah Palin, Anti-Intellectualism & Statesmanship

Being from the South, I've long struggled with feelings about intellectualism. My viewpoint is considerably more liberal than many of my relatives back home. At times, some have confessed resentment toward the "liberal elite" and coastal inhabitants, for their generalizations of more conservative southerners in "fly by" cities.

The truth is, most of my relatives have more education than I have. I've never harbored any intellectually superior delusions about myself. Furthermore, I'm convinced that our political viewpoints are closer than any of us would openly admit. However, the constant drumming of 24-hour rhetorical soundbites from the media, keep us focused only on our differences.

This frenzy leaves individual citizens, and more importantly politicians, little time for exploring common ground. Political hacks and also-runs are constantly vying for the next big headline by inflaming the electorate. This keeps their careers secure, and their speaking fees high. This destructive partisan climate makes progress grind to a halt. The opposite of partisanship in not bipartisanship, it is statesmanship...a virtue rapidly waning in our country.

Columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. of the Miami Herald, recently wrote an opinion piece titled Dear Sarah: Say it is So, Run for President. The column was picked up by numerous newspapers across the country. The backlash has been considerable, and I would agree that Mr. Pitts does little more than mire in the muck.

Amidst his satirical and sometimes tasteless rants however, Pitts does articulate an important point. That intellectualism is not something we should revile in a candidate; nor is down-home common sense. They are both important attributes, and both deserve their due consideration. This is precisely the message I have been trying to wrap my head around for some time. Following is the excerpt I refer to:

"No, you [Sarah Palin] represent the latest iteration of an anti-intellectualism that periodically rises in the American character. There is, historically and persistently, a belief in us that y'all just can't trust nobody who acts too smart or talks too good -- in other words, somebody whose ``general persona'' indicates they may have once cracked a book or had a thought. Americans tend to believe common sense the exclusive province of humble folks without sheepskins on the wall or big words in their vocabularies.

I don't mock those people. They are my parents, my family elders, members of my childhood church. I honor their native good sense, what mom called ``mother wit.'' But if it is insulting to condescend to them, it is equally insulting to mythologize them.

More to the point, something is wrong when we celebrate mental mediocrity like yours under the misapprehension that competence or, God forbid, intelligence, makes a person one of those ``elites'' -- that's a curse word now -- lacking authenticity, compassion and common sense."

Quotes of the Day: Robinson and Lincoln

Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one or the other. ~James Harvey Robinson

Honest statesmanship is the wise employment of individual manners for the public good. ~Abraham Lincoln

Playing For Change: Fannie Mae

You may have heard of Playing For Change..."a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race." One of the goals of my blog is to help promote understanding, love, and peace. So, I occasionally feature selected episodes of their journey. You can view the all the episodes I've posted to date here.

The caption for this next performance reads:
"Grandpa Elliott has been delighting New Orleanians and tourists alike with this song from his regular perch at Toulouse and Royal for years. He begins this song the same way he always has, but when the rest of the PFC Band joins in at the first chorus, you feel it in your chest! This is the first live performance song by the PFC Band we have posted for our community to enjoy. It clearly conveys the energy and love this amazing group of musicians shares with their fans each time they perform. We hope you'll join us for one of their shows soon, so you can experience it in person!"

Episode Fourteen: "Fannie Mae: Live in Los Angeles". (5:12)

Clip of The Day: Star Wars 90 Second Synopsis

I posted this on facebook recently. Thought I'd post here as well. This is just too cute. A 3-year old gives us a 90 second synopsis on Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Enjoy!

Happy Valentines Day

There are so many versions of this...Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Chaka Khan, Julie Andrews, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, etc. etc. But for you...no less than two, of my favorite versions. First up, an incomparable Valentine, from the incomparable Sarah Vaughan. (My favorite version):

And now, my favorite version (for the instrumentals), from one of my Top Ten all time favorite movies, The Fabulous Baker Boys. Performed by Michelle Pfeiffer, accompanied by the amazing pianist Dave Grusin. Enjoy!

Hope everyone's day is filled with Love and Joy. Happy Valentines!

Quote of the Day: Bumper Sticker

"What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?" ~Bumper Sticker

Superbowl Commercial Faves

Tried to post these clips on facebook, but they would only link, not embed. So here are my two favorite Superbowl commercials for those who missed them. They also have fullscreen toggles in the corner:

Volkswagen:


And Doritos:

Amidst Despair: Inspiration

Thanks to my friends who've encouraged me to be patient. That inspiration and passion for my blog will return. At least for today, it has.

In the face of every shared experience we've endured as a nation over the past decade, we dare not imagine our country facing the level of devastation witnessed in Haiti. Individually and collaboratively, we reach out to help a nation in despair.

Regardless of social, economic, political or spiritual differences, I hope we can rally as one behind the efforts of the current administration. To give every muscle, every hand, every mind, and every dime we can spare. Of particular note, thanks to the 4,000+ registered nurses taking unpaid leave to travel and volunteer for the relief in Haiti.

Every bead of sweat has impact far beyond Haiti's borders. It is this nature of our common humanity that speaks loudest, to those in the furthest of quarters. Each dollar spent there speaks tenfold, that of one spent in Afghanistan. It speaks about what we value most as a people, as a nation, as an idea.

Taking this moment to turn from our own problems and unite, might give recent wounds to our pride some time and space to heal. And perhaps, close some of the divisiveness we've created amongst ourselves.

Amidst despair, today we look appropriately for inspiration, to someone who was more than a great preacher or a great activist, but a great philosopher. The Quote of the Day:

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift, is approaching spiritual doom." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Holiday Greetings from The Golden Gate

It's been awhile since I posted anything here. I've been taking a small break from the internet. Sometimes I feel caught up in the impersonal connections that we've become accustomed to on the internet. I like to disconnect, and introspect, for awhile.

Tomorrow, I'll be traveling to Oklahoma to be with my family for Christmas. As much as I love San Francisco during the holidays, Christmas-Time is about family, and that is where I belong. Before I go, I thought I'd share some of my adopted hometown's holiday spirit with my limited, but much appreciated audience. Enjoy...and Merry Everything!

This beautiful song is called "Christmas by the Bay" by Tim Hockenberry. The link on the song title is to the album on Amazon. This video has some beautiful photography to accompany the song. (3:44)

Quote of the Day: Muhammad Ali

"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20, has wasted 30 years of his life." ~Muhhamad Ali

Happy Birthday to Bette Midler, The Divine Miss M

If you ever start feeling old, just play this clip of 'The Divine Miss M', Bette Midler. Filmed about a year ago, Bette was 63 years old in this performance. Today, she turns 64. You look fabulous Bette...and we will still need ya...and we will still feed ya...when you're sixty-five! Be sure you watch the very end of the clip.


Bette Midler's early career started out playing the bathhouses of New York City. In an interview years later, she was asked about the friends she made while living there. She replied: "They're dead...they are all dead. I never knew I'd be on such intimate terms with death at such an early age." It's ironic, but somehow befitting that Miss Midler shares her birthday with World AIDS Day. The following clip is from an AIDS benefit in approximately 1994. She sings two of her standards. Very moving. Happy Birthday Bette...and many more.

World AIDS Day: Honoring Pioneers

Typically when we think of AIDS activists, or symbols of the Anti-AIDS movement, Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John and Bill Clinton come to mind. This article takes a moment to honor just three of the less-known, less-celebrated pioneers in the movement, before AIDS activism was fashionable.

Louise Hay: Over three million copies of her book "You Can Heal Your Life", have sold worldwide. But it was in 1985, before supporting AIDS causes was popular, that Louise began a support group known as "The Hayride" with six men diagnosed with AIDS. By 1988, the weekly meeting drew a crowd of 800 people, and had to be moved to an auditorium in Santa Monica. During that time, she wrote "The AIDS Book: Creating a Positive Approach".

Louise went on to establish two nonprofit organizations, The Hay Foundation, and The Louis L. Hay Charitable Fund. Both charities support many diverse organizations, including those dealing with AIDS. Ms. Hay was considered highly controversial at the time she began working with AIDS patients, as were many who fought this highly politicized disease. Hats off to Louise.

Nkosi Johnson: When Nkosi died at the age of twelve, at the time he was the longest-surviving HIV positive child. Born with HIV, he first became widely known in 1997, when a primary school near Johannesburg refused to accept him as a student because of his status.

During his struggle, Nkosi was eventually credited for his huge impact on public perceptions of AIDS/HIV in South Africa. Before his death, he was the keynote speaker at the 13th International AIDS Conference. Nelson Mandela referred to Nkosi as an "icon for the struggle of life". Rest in peace, Nkosi.

Judith Light: Among all of the celebrity activists now out there fighting AIDS, one in particular stands out. Judith Light was not only there in the early days of HIV/AIDS, but has been a long-time supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians. When asked about her passion for AIDS causes she replied: "I'm losing my friends. There's a very real epidemic out there that is preventable and I will not sit by passively and watch my friends die."

Judith's impressive resume includes work with the following causes: The Names Project, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Heart Strings, Northern Lights Alternatives, AmFAR, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, Hollywood Supports, Shanti, and more. She has received numerous awards for her longstanding and devoted commitment to ending this disease. We love you Judith. Keep up the fight.

Quote of the Day: Eskimo Proverb

"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

~Eskimo Proverb

Clip of the Day: Judith Light PSA

Why does Judith Light care about AIDS? Watch and find out:


Here is another great PSA I found on YouTube...chilling:


And finally, this shocking but important PSA from MTV:

News: Uganda's Nazi-Esque Anti-Homosexual Bill

A recently proposed bill in the Ugandan Parliament provides for the following penalties:

1. Alleged homosexuals face life imprisonment or death.
2. Parents failing to denounce a homosexual child, face $2,650 fine, or three years in prison.
3. Teachers failing to report homosexual students, face $2,650 fine, or three years in prison.
4. Landlords suspected of giving housing to a homosexual face seven years in prison.

Just how close to Nazism do these acts have to be, before the international community stands up and protests in disgust? For more on this story, and how you can help, visit The International Humanist and Ethical Union.