For my newest post I had written numerous lists about movies. My predictions for the upcoming oscars, who I thought
were snubbed, my list of best acting performances of all time, my favorite movies, you know, nerd stuff. But then today came and with today came a passion in my heart that I have felt so little in the last year. Now it's back.
Today I chose to talk, if ever so briefly, about two men that I consider to be personal heroes of mine. Those men are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama. Here is what I wrote:
I saw a few friends brag about the fact they don't have school today. Let me tell you why you don't have school today.
84 years ago a man was born with a dream. An imperfect man with plenty of personal issues, but still a man of hope, survival, strength, and understanding. We celebrate that man today.
We also celebrate another man, one who opens a new chapter of his journey today. An honest man, sill imperfect but adding to the equation a wonderful husband and father. Today he too has a dream. A dream of an America that unites us instead of dividing us. A dream for the future that celebrates our commonalities, but respects our uniqueness. A dream of a better tomorrow.
Two men have dreams, that's why you don't have school today.
"An individual has not started living until he can rise about the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." ~MLK.
In the process of writing this short diatribe never did I feel like I was being unreasonable, overly political, or controversial, I was merely attempting to remind people that one, today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and two, today was the Presidential Inauguration. Do I feel that we have school off because a President was inaugurated, no, but nevertheless I found it poetic if not deeply meaningful that the Inauguration should fall on this year's MLK Day.
After I wrote this I received praise and thanks and comments of general interest, some were not so well intended, others were simple and respectful, but then my inbox was filled with a large quantity of hate. And while the people responsible know that I have discontinued my belief in politics if they thought their actions and words would put me down, I stand firm and strong and angered as Hell. I will now address a few issues that were raised.
I'm incredibly pissed off right now. For far too long I have sat on the sidelines of much of the national political discourse merely playing it off as stupid and not worthy of my time. Those days are over with. The days of me sitting on the political bench have ended. Some of you may believe I was never really on the bench to start with, but I certainly am no where near it now.
One person, who I respect very much, responded to my post with the line, "If you're going to politicize MLK Day, I feel the need to point out that he was a registered Republican." Although my intention was not to politicize but merely celebrate a holiday and event in this nation's history, I can say that I will politicize it now.
If Martin Luther King Jr was alive today he would be disgusted and appalled by the modern day Republican Party. A party that thrives on deceit, that is based in 'no', that would rather be wrong and strong, then right and weak. A party that marginalizes 47% of Americans. The fact that Mitt Romney made that incredibly ignorant and frankly un-American comment is not what bothers me. It was a political gaffe, one in a string of political gaffes that most Presidential Candidates make. Hell, most Presidents make the same gaffe. Bill Clinton, a man that I believe is the greatest Democratic President ever made his share of political gaffes. Actually what he made were less gaffes and more colossal and monumental stupid statements that followed his even dumber actions. So I have no problem with what Mitt Romney said, I have an issue with the fact that he believes it. He believes in condemning the disenfranchised, the poor, the "weak." His party believes in the same things. That is why they support politics over governmental reform. Why they say no, 100 times more than they say yes. Why the same people that they are disgusted by, Martin Luther King stood up for. If MLK was alive today he would hate the Republican party. If Abraham Lincoln were around, he too, would be disgusted by his party.
And I do mean the party and therefore the party leadership. I harbor no ill will towards Republican voters. Although I cannot believe their choices in who they wish to elect to office, most of the Republican people I know are fine upstanding members of society. They care as much for this country as I do. Dan Anderson and Matt Leopold are as good Americans as anyone else.
A friend of mine immediately politicized the issue of gun control after the Newtown shootings. I was angry and jumped on his back about the problem in this culture is that we look to the political issue before we look at the human, the mourning one. I was wrong. Not because I believed in the human element of the issue, I still contend I was right on that one, but because unfortunately in this country we can no longer wait for the sun to set and rise again before we take action. I watched Gabrielle Giffords shot on national television. I also saw and heard the conversations that occurred after the shooting. Nothing happened. Something must be done today, not tomorrow, not yesterday, today. To a former colleague and friend that I truly respect, Nic Van Putten, I am extremely sorry for getting upset.
The second part of this issue that I wish to address is a simple one. I am not stupid. I am not dumb. I am not ignorant, or selfish, or immature, or mis-informed, or naive. Well I am many of those things but not on this topic. If you wish to belittle my intelligence that is your right but don't expect me to sit idly by and allow you to do so without dramatic repercussions. I am not the smartest one in the room, I have never claimed to be, but I am as smart as you. Not smarter, but nothing less and I ask to be treated with the same respect that I give to you. On certain topics I get it wrong, I speak with so much passion that I overstep my boundaries, but don't you dare try to belittle my intelligence. You should know better.
I have a great respect and adoration for these United States. I also have a great and wonderful respect for those who serve, those who love, and those who care so deeply for this nation. I respect Derrick Gonzalez and Toby Ray who serve in our armed forces, I respect Shane Crone and Nell Shamrell for not being afraid to show who they truly are. I am proud to have met Matt Kopec, Brittni Storrs, Alex Guzman, and Amanda Nelson who work daily to improve this country. I support the love that Sue Diebner, Maggie Willems, Nate Willems, and Phil Munsterman show. I have seen the actions of Leah Cokely, Darren Gage, and Caleb Webb. I have heard the words spoken by Godfrey Hamilton, Karla Moran, and RJ Whitfield. I know of the great work that Chelsea Tremblay, Sam Ross, Benjamin Anderstone, and Yusuf Word have done. To my family I love and respect my brother, Nate, my mother, Abbi, and my uncle, Dan. Each serve this country and the world with kindness and bravery. For Amber Henning helping her father, for Rafay Khalid for helping his friends and family, for Meghan Schimanski for helping her cause. Arjun, and Summer, and Ann, and Dan. Kainoa and Karen. Alex and Matt. And finally to the two strongest supporters on either side of the aisle, to Nic and Danderson. Each of these people are wonderful Americans, each one of these people are ardent patriots, and each of these people believe so strongly in a different tomorrow that they are willing to put in their blood, sweat, and tears in order to make it possible. Many of these people I don't see eye to eye with, but I respect them nonetheless, and I admire their passion for their beliefs.
For a long time I have distanced myself from the political arena. I hate politics and despise the fact that I ever wanted to work in them. But in my hatred of political power I have forgotten my true love for government, for making changes, for helping fuel the revolution for cleaner energy, for a better tax plan, and a stronger healthcare system. Although my outlook has become more optimistic I still harbor great resentment for my old career path. That is no longer the case. I do think that politics and the fuel the media puts on the fire of politics is damning this nation. But I also believe in a brighter tomorrow, one that focuses on our spirit, our ingenuity, and our drive without stamping out individualism, but supporting community. I believe in having a dream and reaching for the stars. I believe in saying yes, more than saying no, and finding ways to compromise without selling the whole farm. I believe that our commonality as humans should bring us together instead of tearing us apart.
Perhaps most of this rant made little sense. Perhaps I am just rambling incoherently (wouldn't be the first time). Perhaps I'm just tired and angry. But to the people who sent me those messages I tell you that your painful remarks have only made me stronger. They have rekindled the fire within my soul. I may only work in theatre but in my field I plan to work for the rest of my life making this nation a better one for future generations. It's time for action.
"Man's inhumanity to man is not only perpetrated by the vitriolic actions of those who are bad. It is also perpetrated by the vitiating inaction of those who are good." ~Martin Luther King Jr.
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