My Crazy Times

I realize I’m a week behind with this bit of news, but last night I watched Craig Ferguson’s monologue from Monday Feb. 19th. Seriously, I was quite stunned with the passion and honesty with which Ferguson spoke, sharing his own struggles with alcohol. It’s well worth the time to watch this clip if you haven’t seen it already.

Here are a couple articles written about Ferguson’s monologue. I found the L.A. Times article interesting; suggesting that Ferguson may have caused major harm to his career and claiming that because these people “signed up for the fame, they have to put up with the jokes.” Should that really be the case though? This is a difficult decision because celebrities can do some ridiculous things, but then I think of ridiculous things I may have done today. Then again perhaps they’re on different scales?

Here are the articles and the clip from The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS:

What’s wrong with Britney jokes?

Resist making fun of others

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By: Holden Jeerson

“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire

Unless you’ve been holed up in a shack in the middle of nowhere for the past few months, I’m sure you’ve seen the Michael Richards tirade where he repeatedly used the word “nigger” to verbally attack a couple of hecklers during one of his stand-up routines. Richard’s spectacle has resurrected the debate concerning the use of this word, especially it’s use by entertainers.

I’m all for debate and discussion, I believe that is how true change can come about. But the direction this debate is beginning to take is quite concerning. On February 1st, the beginning of Black History Month, Leroy Comrie, a Queens NY Councilman, along with others held a press conference to urge the passing of a “symbolic” non-binding resolution urging New Yorkers to “abolish the n-word”. What, you might ask, could I find concerning about a “symbolic” non-binding resolution? Well, first I find it a complete waste of time, energy and money to pass a “symbolic” non-binding resolution. Those people who still choose to use this word as an instrument of hate do so because of a lack of love in their hearts. This issue of the heart cannot be changed by a “symbolic” non-binding resolution.

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By: Joel Henderson

As far back as I can remember music has played a significant role in my life. Now I don’t play an instrument, except for that disastrous few months in grade school I attempted to learn the trombone, and I’ve only sung a few times in front of people and was given a charitable “A” for effort. Up until a few years ago my interaction with music was simply what I heard on the radio and then out of nowhere I was surrounded by talented musicians. Many of the original members of M.C.T. have talent coming out their pores (see: Banner), and it was through M.C.T. that I became to know Matt and Trish Nelson, the husband and wife duo who make up New Love Over.

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Yesterday this young senator from Illinois officially announced that he will be running for the office of President of the United States. M.C.T. will have more to say on this later as we work to post an election feature so that we all make an informed decision for the next election. Right now though, I just wanted to share one thought concerning this particular candidate. Many have already said, and I’m sure will continue to beat this drum that Obama does not have the experience a person needs to be President. I wonder though if another career politician is exactly what America needs. Look at the experience our current President had prior to his administration. When Bush steps out of office it will be 20 years that either a Bush or Clinton has ran this country and perhaps what we need is a fresh young start. Remember Kennedy didn’t have much experience before he was President, lets just pray our country has matured enough that another young President doesn’t meet the same end.

Visit Barack Obama’s website to watch the video of his announcement.

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I heard this audio clip this morning on the radio of an interview CNN had with Charlize Theron concerning the documentary East of Havana, which she co-produced. Honestly, the documentary sounds interesting. It’s about the Cuban Hop-Hop movement and the obvious struggles the artists face under a dictatorial government. So far, so good that is until Ms. Theron compares the lack of freedom in Cuba to the lack of freedom here in America.

Many people I’m sure are or will be outraged at her remarks, she’ll be made fun of and ridiculed on conservative talk radio, hell I wouldn’t be surprised if people started to boycott her movies, but all I could do was shake my head in disappointment and then laugh at her not-so-subtle attempt at changing the subject. I don’t agree with what she said but I think I understand the place where those sentiments come from. This is why most celebrities need to stop trying to make controversial political statements and just stick to creating movies, preferably good ones. Censorship is an extremely important issue and has and will continue to come under attack here in America, but to compare America to Cuba…that’s a bit over the top.

What is most unfortunate is that, what will probably be a good documentary will be overshadowed by these flippant remarks.

Here’s the clip…

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By: Ashlee Wright

So, maybe I’m a little behind, but I received an article today via Sojourners from an op-ed piece in the Baltimore Sun that included a quote from a debate that occurred in October of 2004 on CNN in which the Rev. Jerry Falwell said:

“You’ve got to kill the terrorists before the killing stops. And I’m for the president to chase them all over the world. If it takes 10 years, blow them all away in the name of the Lord.”

Maybe it’s just me, but that lingo doesn’t sound much different than the terrorists’ themselves. It sounds like the crusades, genocide of Native Americans and colonization. It sounds like so many times in Christian history when we have chosen violence ‘in the name of the Lord’.

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