Some Direction -- Maybe

The direction of this blog has from its inception been a standing question. What should I focus on? How personal should it be? Should it have a pretty rigid theme or should it be more scatter shot? Should I have an audience in mind or should I treat it like a diary that an outsider might stumble upon in some distant day?

I don't pretend to have answered these questions yet, and I think part of my hesitancy in blogging here owes to that irresolution. I am not consumed by a solitary passion. However, I know that the blogs that most people are drawn to on a daily basis fall into the category of focused and obsessive. Perezhilton is consumed with celebrity and tabloidism. The blogs of political wankers target Washington drama. Pitchfork carries on about popular and independent music. These all have their place, and I enjoy each in its own way. But I don't want to be so narrowly focused -- or rather I fear the claustrophobia and dilution of spirit that such narrow focus might engender.

So, what to do? This is the unresolved question. For now, I will post when I will and I will write what I will and maybe over time some sort of pattern or structure will reveal itself and maybe someone out there will actually care to read what I have to say about whatever I might be inspired to write about that day. (A Faulknerian sentence, if I have ever written one, minus the beauty). I doubt my musing and opining and questioning will draw big numbers, but maybe some of you might be interested in coming along for the ride of discovery.

As Always,

Your Unfaithful Servant

To what extent need we fear attack from without?

I wonder this often. I really have no objective way of determining the answer. I receive my news from a variety of corporate-financed sources and while much of it is left-leaning, I wonder how much of it offers truly valuable insights.

As my man, George W. Bush, or my other man, Stephen Colbert, might say, I will just go with my gut. My gut tells me that the "terrorist" threat is real. It is not purely a bogeyman created by warmongers. My gut also tells me that the problem is exacerbated by the global war we are waging. Most of all, though, my gut tells me that the biggest threat we face is from within.

Our government has been hijacked by religious fundamentalism. While on the face of it this seems to be more an issue with the evolution of the modern Republican party, it has sent shockwaves through both parties. Just yesterday the three major Democratic candidates gathered for a townhall meeting in which they had to discuss their most deeply held beliefs (in Jesus Christ and a Christian God). Wherein, John Edwards took the opportunity to poor his heart out describing how his son's death brought him back to Christ. Hillary and Obama did a dance around the topic, but certainly left little doubt about their Christian beliefs. How much authenticity can one really ascribe to these testimonials?

Insincerity rules the day. We have a team of lawyers leading the pack for the Democratic nomination who have been trained in the myriad ways one can sell water to drowning men. I do not believe for one moment that most of these candidates have any devotion to anything other than their own political promotion and empowerment. I would be willing to be bet that behind closed doors half of these Democrats are resolute Atheists. This dichotomy between personal and public belief has always been alive and well in politics, but there seems like a particular danger in today's climate from even hinting at belief in something closer to our Founding Fathers' Deism.

Fundamentalism has seized control of the media. Moderate Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics and moderates of all other denominations and deviations are effectively silenced by too quietly screaming over the din of fundamentalism. We are at a real risk here of turning into something uncomfortably close to the Taliban of the West. As there is no room for Fundamentalism in the Middle East, there is no room for it here. It is dangerous, backwards, and without justification. Moderation is the only hope for liberation and unity in the world.

There is so much more to be said about this and you will certainly read it in later postings. Hopefully those appear far more regularly now.

Your Unfaithful Servant

Limitless Possibility

One can try so hard to say the right thing in the right way and at the right time that he never says a word. He is silent and paralyzed by the possibility of a misstep -- a single, solitary, crushing misstep. Sadly, both he and we are denied the wisdom and happy accidents of his spontaneous contributions. Yet, for him there is always hope that he will find a voice, and with that voice he will sing the songs of a thousand generations and channel the voices of all that have gone before him and all those who will ever live in his wake. His creative energies always churning and pulsing below the surface, but a fissure never vents even an atom of these magnificent thoughts. Trapped. Somehow, though, his optimism never wanes. He always feels, "Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow..." we'll finally witness the eruption of mind that has been so patiently nurtured in the lonely chambers of his consciousness. An eruption so glorious as to leave history and future forever trembling in its shadow. But inaction leads to inaction, and fear begets terror and slowly his mind turns in upon itself. Months turn into years and eventually segue into forever. Those ideas he cherished with his life's blood become the secrets that shall never be whispered. And in his ever darkening womb he finds the peace that has always eluded him: to exist without responsibility and to die with limitless possibility.

Thanks for reading.

Your Unfaithful Servant

She-Rene Made Me Do It

This is my first foray into these waters and so far the seas are calm. I am not sure what form my musings ultimately will take, but suffice it to say my postings will transform the world (wide web).

Until we meet again.

Your Unfaithful Servant