I kinda wanna leave this blog at that, choose ur own adventure type but my negativity could make it extremely difficult to prove that I Love u, us, and all that we are and all that we can and should be. If I explain the reasons for my "hit list" above (the travel agencies, cameras flawed designs & p.e.t.a) it may shed some light on our greatness, lol hopefully.
1. Travel Agencies: Now I understand the greatness and the magnificence of certain places, The Great Wall of China, The Pyramids, and (greater than all) The Via Dolorosa but the affection that's paid to all of our awe inspiring locations throughout this globe is inordinate as hell. All those bricks (The Wall of China) is impressive architecturally but theirs no way at all that that structure is more interesting or compelling than the million lives it took to build it or the million that died while making it or the "barbarians" that it was built to protect the people from. Would you rather know the story of how one of those bricks that came to be and where it went in the wall or would you rather know the story of the man that molded the brick? What he wanted for his daughter, how he treated his mother and what mad him laugh? And The Pyramids have always (thankfully) invoked mystery, passion, even controversy, and tourism dollars (lol) but is the shape and size of those structures any more enticing than their historical implications, their understandings of astrology (I'm still a follower of The Christ so don't take it to far here lol) and how those with knowledge of certain things always seem to manipulate most of the masses (fuckers)? The Via Dolorosa (the path that The Son of GOD walked towards HIS sacrifice for our sins) is probably the most appropriate destination for both of the reasons that I'm addressing with this in that I definitely understand why one would want to visit but I also think that the ONE that draws us to wanting to go there may probably be the ONE that's most disappointed with our respect of certain (kinda worship) places more than we admire the co-creators of those spots. Get it? I mean, I admire the Sistine Chapel but I've already seen far more beautiful chapels... I've seen folks persevere for their dreams, seen babies turn the lives around of hopeless thugs, seen folks get off of drugs...yeah the Sistine Chapel is cool but it just doesn't do the same thing for me.
2. Cameras: The reasons that I'm gonna list for this one will be a little shorter (ur welcome lol, I kinda went on a tangent with that last one huh, no apologies). Sense I take pictures it's kinda hard for me to separate myself from the shots I take but theirs usually a story behind 'em. I mean aesthetics can be "fulfilling" for lack of a better word but once again we are so much more than what we can look like, than what we can create. The reasons that certain pictures grab us attest ta this. Theirs nothing to eye appealing of a picture of a proud dad walking his daughter down the aisle but it can grab ya, the picture of a lil boys face when he makes contact with bat on ball during his first at bat ain't really that impressive visually but you may like it and I wont bring up all the telling images burned on the faces of those that have found bodies of loved ones torn from war....ain't nothin appealing to the eye about that but it should move you. Our stories are whats profound, it's our stories that connect us, and it's our connections that can save us.
3. p.e.t.a Sighhh You may read my Fuck p.e.t.a. statement and assume that I don't care about the "ethical" treatment of animals (lol) but I do. And I think the story of Mike Vick (I hate puttin his name out there) can unfortunately be seen as an example of what in the world is so effed up about that organization and it's passionate supporters. Sure I think it's weak and cruel as hell to drown a dog that lost a fight, that's some real coward shit on a lot of levels. And yeah, I care about the dog but I don't care about it anywhere near as much as I care about the condition of the man's mind and heart that did that foolishness. I wont go on about peta but if you look up any of the criticisms of peta online or elsewhere (by animal lovers or folks less passionate about the treatment of animals) you'll easily find what a dramatically inordinate organization it is. Where is the "peta" for child sex slave trafficing? Wheres the widely known celebrity response aimed abruptly against that heinousness? What about child starvation? What about the communities of people that die of malnutrition while living in the worlds most nutrient rich continent? This list can go on and on and me listing it sounds to "soapboxish" and the truth of it all becomes drastically watered down.
So this was a long blog (regrettably) and I just wanted to encourage you, wanted to share some thoughts and attempt to prove that we are connected, that we can be strong, that we can be beautiful and dramatic stories meant to inspire others....so, take the chance or stick to ur hustle but do whatever it takes to prove your Great(ness). The World is waiting.
