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Today was an interesting day. Lots of old material, some new material, and plenty of work to boot.
And I might be entangling myself in a faith v. works debate over whether or not Il Presidente can really be considered a Christian. But that's getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning of the day for maximum effect.
So, as many have noticed, today Mr. Bush took the oath of office and became President again. During one of the musical numbers, as I was listening to the Realplayer stream, I recognized the tune - it's a piece we're playing for Campus Band. Took me until the second strain to figure it out, but there was no mistaking it. I zipped off a quick note to our Campus Band director and continued on with my listening. That may have been the warning signal for the stuff to come.
In my e-mail box, someone was asking about the Brita-Vodka trick. Remembering that I had a website, I went back in my journal and produced the URL as the trombone list weighed in on their experiences with the matter. Some were positive, others not so much. Generally, though, the consensus seemed to be that it works. We'll have to try it at some point ourselves, perhaps.
Then, as the Reverend was getting up to deliver the invocation for the Presidential inauguration, my audio feed cuts out, much to my annoyance. So I stop and restart the feed, and nothing, so I wait a few minutes, and the feed's back. Is there some sort of FCC reg that prevents the broadcasting of a prayer on the radio, or did NPR just decide to cut out the invocation? Either way, I'm shocked. I'm very much for religious freedom, and so even if I'm not of the denomination of the speaker, he has a right to be heard.
Still, I kept the feed going and heard some very binding words:
"I, George Walker Bush, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." To which my reply is: "Now Do It." Enough of looking the other way or actively curtailing civil liberties, even if in the name of "Homeland Security". Enough of pursuing agendas that discriminate. Execute the Oath that you have sworn, Mr. President. Prove to us that you can do your job.
Fast forward to being home and having someone post an article on our religious illiteracy, to make the point that religion needs to be taught (teach about religion, not teach religion) in the school system. I think children would be enriched by passing through several mandatory comparative religion courses as they go through the educational system. If we can add to that subcultural and minority cultural education, so that everyone figures out where their stereotypes come from, we'd probably have much better students.
Out of this offshoot, a discussion on Bush Two's handling of Iraq. Probably putting my foot squarely in my mouth, I mentioned the theme of social justice as a teaching of Christ and how Bush Two has been lax in following it. In an either spectacular moment of brilliance or abject stupidity, I said that he followed a faith that was not Christian, because he did not at least make effort to follow all the teachings of Jesus seriously. Those paying attention will notice the beginning of the faith v. works debate, for it is my opinion that faith is insufficient, and that one's works reveal the commitment one has to the faith. Those who make true effort to live the teachings of Jesus may be called his followers. The rest are playing at it, attributing a name to a faith that should be called something else.
So, stupidity or brilliance, there it is. And that has been today for me. I have three things to do tomorrow - drop my paper off for my GSI, get my thesis draft shredded and re-shredded, and pick up my badge and ticket for MMC and the Collage, respectively. Allow me to plug the Collage - if you're in Ann Arbor way tomorrow, you want a ticket to this. It's free, and tickets will be distributed to the public at three p.m. tomorrow. Collage is all sorts of groups of musicians at the University (and soloists, as well) playing all sorts of styles in a nonstop format - when one song ends, the next begins. From jazz to choral to showtunes and experimental pieces, Collage is definitely worth the time and the price of admission (did I mention it's free?). Come see it tomorrow.
And now, to throw up a well-thought, quickly-typed, poorly drawn (as all of them are) comic and go to bed.
And I might be entangling myself in a faith v. works debate over whether or not Il Presidente can really be considered a Christian. But that's getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning of the day for maximum effect.
So, as many have noticed, today Mr. Bush took the oath of office and became President again. During one of the musical numbers, as I was listening to the Realplayer stream, I recognized the tune - it's a piece we're playing for Campus Band. Took me until the second strain to figure it out, but there was no mistaking it. I zipped off a quick note to our Campus Band director and continued on with my listening. That may have been the warning signal for the stuff to come.
In my e-mail box, someone was asking about the Brita-Vodka trick. Remembering that I had a website, I went back in my journal and produced the URL as the trombone list weighed in on their experiences with the matter. Some were positive, others not so much. Generally, though, the consensus seemed to be that it works. We'll have to try it at some point ourselves, perhaps.
Then, as the Reverend was getting up to deliver the invocation for the Presidential inauguration, my audio feed cuts out, much to my annoyance. So I stop and restart the feed, and nothing, so I wait a few minutes, and the feed's back. Is there some sort of FCC reg that prevents the broadcasting of a prayer on the radio, or did NPR just decide to cut out the invocation? Either way, I'm shocked. I'm very much for religious freedom, and so even if I'm not of the denomination of the speaker, he has a right to be heard.
Still, I kept the feed going and heard some very binding words:
"I, George Walker Bush, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." To which my reply is: "Now Do It." Enough of looking the other way or actively curtailing civil liberties, even if in the name of "Homeland Security". Enough of pursuing agendas that discriminate. Execute the Oath that you have sworn, Mr. President. Prove to us that you can do your job.
Fast forward to being home and having someone post an article on our religious illiteracy, to make the point that religion needs to be taught (teach about religion, not teach religion) in the school system. I think children would be enriched by passing through several mandatory comparative religion courses as they go through the educational system. If we can add to that subcultural and minority cultural education, so that everyone figures out where their stereotypes come from, we'd probably have much better students.
Out of this offshoot, a discussion on Bush Two's handling of Iraq. Probably putting my foot squarely in my mouth, I mentioned the theme of social justice as a teaching of Christ and how Bush Two has been lax in following it. In an either spectacular moment of brilliance or abject stupidity, I said that he followed a faith that was not Christian, because he did not at least make effort to follow all the teachings of Jesus seriously. Those paying attention will notice the beginning of the faith v. works debate, for it is my opinion that faith is insufficient, and that one's works reveal the commitment one has to the faith. Those who make true effort to live the teachings of Jesus may be called his followers. The rest are playing at it, attributing a name to a faith that should be called something else.
So, stupidity or brilliance, there it is. And that has been today for me. I have three things to do tomorrow - drop my paper off for my GSI, get my thesis draft shredded and re-shredded, and pick up my badge and ticket for MMC and the Collage, respectively. Allow me to plug the Collage - if you're in Ann Arbor way tomorrow, you want a ticket to this. It's free, and tickets will be distributed to the public at three p.m. tomorrow. Collage is all sorts of groups of musicians at the University (and soloists, as well) playing all sorts of styles in a nonstop format - when one song ends, the next begins. From jazz to choral to showtunes and experimental pieces, Collage is definitely worth the time and the price of admission (did I mention it's free?). Come see it tomorrow.
And now, to throw up a well-thought, quickly-typed, poorly drawn (as all of them are) comic and go to bed.
