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January 13, 2007
Ahhh
Tonight has been really nice. I don't think it's of much interest to anyone else, but it's one of those ocassions where you feel so good you just have to share. The BF and I cooked a wonderful dinner, have enjoyed a romantic evening and a playlist of Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, Bad Company and the Broadway sountrack to The Who's "Tommy." The later is a CD I've been looking for for about a year now. Silly me, I'd completely forgotten that I'd returned it to my parents, and I had spent a long time thinking I'd lost it. Best of all, it seems that (barring any paperwork catastrophes or last minute financial disasters) the BF is transfering to UTC, a move I'm very happy about after two years of semi-long distance with about two hours of the most boring highway on earth between us during the school year. I think he'll be much happier, and I'm happy knowing I'm not the reason for the decision.
Once again, a picture to offset the personal nature of the post. This of my friend Kathryn about a year ago, begining to cut into a cake we left to bake while going on a hike.
Posted by Spike at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2007
Some Thoughts on Religion, Culture, Islam, and Christianity.
One of the classes I'm taking this semester is tackling the study of the Bible and Christian texts from a more historic and literary viewpoint than is typically approached. This has brought up some very interesting disucssion so far, and today was only the first day of class! I think there may be only three non-Christians in the class, and those who are Christian range from the very fundamentalist witnessing variety to kids who go to church ocassionally but don't really find their lives swept up in doing Christ's work. I've noticed that a number of people, regardless of their religious affiliations, have been a little down on Islam. It's no big surprise-- we're bombarded daily with the news telling us all about Iraq, Afganistan, Al Queda. The 5:00 news makes it seem like Muslims will do something unpleasent to anyone who steps in their path, and it's hard not to pick up on this kind of attitude, even if you are only aware of its existance and aren't espousing it.
In response to the number of comments I've heard this semester and last being all down on Islam, I wrote the following post to my class message board. I thought I'd share, because I'm getting downright disturbed by all the anti-Islamic spew flying around. Just to keep you internet folk up to date, the Feiler book I cited is "Abraham: A Journey To the Heart of Three Faiths" by Bruce Feiler and the Pagels book is "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" by Elain Pagels. I think it's clear enough to post to those who haven't read these books, but I apologize if it is confusing after all. Good incentive to check them out, eh? :P
I've noticed a few people have voiced negative opinions of Islam both when it came up last semester and in our discussions so far this semester. There was a point that Feiler made on page 31 that I think is very important to consider before making comments of this sort. "Muhammad believed not that he was founding a new religion but that he was restoring the primordial faith in one God. He also explained that he was bringing this true faith to Arabs, who, unlike their neighbors in the fertile regions of the Middle East, had yet to receive a prophet."
Something that Pagels and Feiler both seem to be hilighting is the effect of a culture on its religion. "Abraham" seeks to understand one of the strongest points Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common-- a single character, Abraham, the founder of monotheism. As Feiler points out, however, most of what we know about this character comes not from records written during his lifetime. Instead, "looking for Abraham meant not just looking at the time he was born; it meant looking at any time anyone retold his story....all three religions joined in this interpretive process..." (26-27).
What we tend to ignore, however, in our critique of Islam, is that it stems from the same root as Judaism and Christianity. The difference is not so much in the basic themes as it is in the details that develop from the kind of political and sociological motives Pagels illustrates as having affected the development of the gospels as we know them today. Feiler notes that "each writer tries to make Abraham speak to his generation, or to his particular target audience" (29). The motives behind different interpretations should not be ignored, because it is of vital importance to understanding how and why different understandings of an idea are used to justify not only different rituals or sects, but political and social actions as well. Understanding that a particular passage or book contains information more related to the human than the divine can help us sift what may be irrelevant to us today from the very foundations of a faith.
I am not denying that many terrible things are done today, and have been done in the past, in the name of Islam and the Koran. Many terrible things have been done in the name of a lot of religions and religious variations. Nor am I saying that I haven't been guilty before of making blanket statements about religions and their relationships with social and political climates. I also don't intend to transfer critique of current events in Muslim nations from a religious critique to a cultural or racial one. I only want to point out that blaming Islam in general for what we see as the faults of Muslim nations is potentially misleading or incorrect, just as much as it is to blame Christianity as a whole for political and social events in America today. There are correlations, yes, between the rise in Islamic and Christian funamentalism and our current global political climate, but it is still incorrect to place all blame on religion when it is a complex mixture of theology, culture, politics, and timing that create current events, and always have. I think this is one of the most important points that Feiler and Pagels make, and that understanding the complex interconnection of faith and culture is imperative for understanding one's own beliefs, whatever they may be.
Posted by Spike at 01:57 AM | Comments (2)
January 08, 2007
Last Day of Christmas Vacay
I'm getting to bed about an hour later than I intended, but I accomplished all my last-minute end-of-break plans.
Today was the BF and mine's two year anniversery, and I am very happy to be starting in on year three. We celebrated via him helping me move back into my dorm (oh, romantic) and hanging out while I did some homework (even more romantic!). We ended up going on a date after all the practical stuff got done, though. We went to the Hunter Museum and I told him lots of stuff about art and then we had dinner at our favorite little resturaunt, Taboulis'.
Hunter Museum has a really neat exhibit right now called "Seeing With Photography" featuring really amazing photographs by a collective of visually impaired artists. There was also another special exhibit that was quite awe-inspiring in a different way, "Turbulent," which was a video instalation by Shirin Neshat. It focused on gender relations in Iranian culture in a very simple, compelling way. A man sings a poem by Rumi to an audience of men on one side of the screen. On the other, a veiled woman waits until he is finished, at which point she sings to her own empty auditorium. It's comments on the gender issues were quite interesting, but what really captivated me was how different her singing (or undulations as the artist's statement explained) was from even the vocal contortions of today's R&B singers. It seemed almost impossible for any human woman to make such sounds. It was truly beautiful.
After the museum and dinner we went home to watch the movie my mom got him for Christmas, Bent. It's an adaption of a play by Martin Sherman, based on true events surrounding the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany. The BF played Horst in a production UTK did last fall, and so it was a lot of fun for both of us to compare not only script and screenplay but directorial choices. He was taking a class on Holocaust literature at the same time, and got quite the overdose on the subject. He learned quite a lot though, especially about the non-Jewish minorities who were persecuted. Some of the info he shared has been quite interesting, such as it was primarily gay men who were taken to concentration camps, as lesbians were not considered much of a threat to population growth. I hope there's never another Holocaust.
Here's a photo I took during a post-show shoot. I only regret not getting a shot of the guy playing Ernst Rom's boyfriend, who appears on stage in a black leather man-thong. It was quite a sight, let me tell you.
Posted by Spike at 01:30 AM | Comments (0)
Parliment Member In Tawain Eats Legislation!
http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/mp-chews-over-issue/2006/05/31/1148956388932.html
Posted by Spike at 12:55 AM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2007
-Eleanor Roosevelt.
The BF and I have been thinking about this quote a lot lately, given that we fell into a bad habit of gossiping too much and not talking about a whole lot but the petty drama that was going on. We made a pact to stop, and since have had a number of delightful discussions, some going on late into the night. It's been incrediably refreshing to remember there are better things to discuss than who did what to whom, and we've learned more about one another in the process.
Our trend continued when we decided to break routine by getting gussied up to go down to Stone Cup and read over coffee. It was a little odd to run into two classmates and a teacher from high school on one of my rare corset-wearing occasions, but we didn't talk for long, much to my dissapointment. The teacher I ran into was one of my favorites, and one of the few at GPS who didn't make me feel worthless and unintelligent. When I saw him I was hoping we would be able to catch up, but it wasn't to be I suppose. He and the two GPS alumns seemed to have gotten together specifically to catch up amongst themselves, and so after a little bit of polite run down it seemed time to make my exit.
Instead the BF and I discussed a really great book I'm reading, Elaine Pagels' "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas." It brings up some interesting points about the value of taking Biblical scripture literaly or accepting and celebrating the many layers of symbolism and meaning. Which acknowledge's god's power more effectivly? I am personally in favor of celebrating the nuances of Scripture, but I seem to be in the minority in that regard here in the Bible Belt, Scopes and all.
Posted by Spike at 06:29 PM | Comments (1)
January 03, 2007
Fun at the Junk Yard
The boy and I went down to a junk yard-- Lockwood Auto Center -- today to procure a window for his van that I accidently caused to fall out. That's right, it just popped out and launched itself at me before shattering on the cold, hard asphalt of the Hobby Lobby parking lot. It was an interesting adventure involving going into a seedy part of downtown. Lockwood was exactly like the boy and I imagined a junk yard would be, complete with cars stacked on top of one another, a tin shack for an office, and a pack of friendly but stinky dogs roaming around and peeing on piles of hubcaps. I eventually had to abandon the boy at the junk yard while I careened around in the van trying to find a gas station with an ATM so we could pay the people selling the window. All was well when I got back, and we got the window for damn cheap. It was disconcerting though when one of the employees girded himself with a rather powerful looking rifle to...I don't know, make the rounds about the place?
Anyways, good people down there if you need cheap salvage car parts.
Also proud of myself for going to the gym and taking on an eliptical trainer. I exercised harder than I have in ages. I've only put in that much effort maybe three times this year. I'm excited about making it a more regular thing, and that'll be harder than the 30 minutes I put in today.
Posted by Spike at 07:51 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
New Years Recap
I've usually gotten tired of surveys, but this one is a nice way to have a record of how the year generally went.
To make up for almost assured disinterest in all this, which I'm really just posting for my own personal record-keeping, here is a picture of an owl I took in my old neighborhood many months ago.
1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Went clubbing, went to Vienna, went through the death of a relative, moved twice in one year, lived in a dorm on campus sucessfully, kissed a few girls.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? If I did, I don't remember what they are. This year I resolve only to gossip less, ignore petty drama, surround myself with people who aren't emotional zeros, and exercise more.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
no
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother. And I'm mad about it.
5. What countries did you visit?
Vienna
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A stable social life and the 50 bucks that my former employer stole from my paycheck.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 30th, when my grandmother died.
Whenever that stupid Mindless Self Indulgence concert was. It was a great concert, but bad company. I ended up being abanndoned by my friends for like 45 minutes to an hour while they went to argue somewhere or something.
Christmas, for being absolutely wonderful.
November the 11th, because that's both the day my grandparents first met, and the day my grandfather had to say goodbye to Geffie at the funeral.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making a 4.0 despite having a social life. Learning that I am not a bad person, or inherantly rejectable.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to find a way to fix a broken friendship with my once-best-friend Kathryn.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
If I did it wasn't worth mention.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I'm not sure. I don't buy much besides books and clothes.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Alex, for always supporting me, listening to me, comforting me, and being really good at cheering me up with surprises like coming home a day early when I need it most. My mom and dad for the same, minus showing up a day early.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Kathryn, for letting her bad qualities out weigh the good.
14. Where did most of your money go?
eatting out, probably.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Mindless Self Indulgence concert, quitting my jobs, awesome trip to Florida for Thanksgiving
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"Dicks Are For My Friends" (it's a long story)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? about the same, probably. Happier in some ways, sadder in others, it balances out.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, almost assuredly.
iii. richer or poorer? Right now I've got a lot saved up but it's about to all get spent on study abroad.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
listening
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
complained to everyone on the face of the earth about Kathryn
20. How will did you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas Eve with my family, and Alex joined us for the pretty important Yorkshire Pudding. Christmas day we went up to his house to join his family for their Christmas dinner.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Just more so with Alex.
23. How many one-night stands?
Nadda
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Heroes, documentaries, CSI.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I think my dislike of Klag has only grown.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Hotel New Hampshire.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Judas Priest, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zepplin
28. What did you want and got?
an Ugly Doll, and a Malfi. I got to meet Megan Bradley, who lives far away in Florida. And I got what I wanted most of all, which is to hear that Alex wants to transfer. Even if it doesn't work out, it's the thought that counts.
29. What did you want and not get?
Can't think of anything
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Marie Antoinette, I suppose. Though it isn't really a fair assesment given how rarely I go to the movies.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 20 and went to dinner with my parents at one of my favorite resturaunts, Tabouli's, in Coolidge Park.
32.What is one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less crazy drama.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Goodwill Victoriana.
34. What kept you sane?
Calling my mom all the time.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alan Rickman.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Harold Ford Jr.'s campaign.
37. Who did you miss?
my grandmother. Kathryn. Alex.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Sarah! My beloved roommate!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." -James Dean.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost
Anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost" -Barenaked Ladies
Posted by Spike at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)