The Angry White Male

The thing I love about college is how you learn so much at a distance...

And then, all of a sudden, when you are immersed in the brutal world of bills and beer you realize that the world you are studying actually exists.

Today, I met an Angry White Male.

I learned about him in "Gender and Communication."

He lives in the postindustrial world which robs him of any skill or dignity.

He works close to the ground to rub two pennies together.

He thinks black people and women have taken all opportunity from him.

And I do not know whether to feel sorry for him or his ignorance.

Or both.

I probably feel sorry for both.

This Angry White Male
dropped out of college
and was married to Little Debbie.
Then Papa Kroger paid his way through school in 89.
Then he was turned down by the Man
because he was not a minority.
Then he pissed ass (his words not mine no not mine) around the store for the rest of his working years.

Do I feel sorry for him or his ignorance or both?

Quantum Change

I recently finished reading a book called Quantum Change which explores, pyschologically, a certain type of change people experience in which they do a complete 180, become an entirely new person in a matter of minutes. Probably the most classic example of this is Paul's conversion story, although this type of change is not limited to religious conversion.

What was particularly interesting about the stories of change that were depicted in this book was that many of those who told their stories ended up feeling much more interconnected with others following their change experience. They participated much more in acts of compassion and felt a unity with the world not yet felt before.

The book, at times, came close to what I would label as dangerous optimistic progressivism - Like the notition that we are all really good people, but we just have to hope to discover it...yet the book did include a great deal of talk about the role of God or a Higher Power in "quantum change."

I thought the following expcept from the book fits quite well with a ideal (I know that we are all selfish wretches in addition to being capable of good) Christian understanding of purpose, although it was describing simply the phenomenon that ocurred after quantum change for many people:

"...they were the natural result of experiencing, in essence, that love is what we are and what we are meant to be. It is our nature. The vision clashes with modern views of humanity as innately self-serving or a blank slate neither good nor evil. The experience is that we are already and inherently part of-or intimately linked to, or made in the image of, or bearing the seeds of-something named or nameless that is so vast as to defy our imagination and the fundamental nature of which is a love so great that it simply overwhelms our ability to comprehend it" (188).

The Last Two Days Cannot Be Written In Sentences

thunderstorm
frozen dinner
meeting new people
mewithoutyou
expectations and reality
beautiful reality
love
God
smoke
graffitti
fog
excitement
clean carpet
chipotle
I finished Quantum Change! (Ok, that's a sentence.)
boredom
anticipation
great conversation
music
stars
fireworks
bliss

Coldplay: Viva La Vida

The new album is a wonderful soundscape.

I wish it were longer.

I wish they didn't postpone their July 6 show in Cleveland.

I wish they didn't release two of the ten tracks to the public prior to the album's release as a marketing ploy.

But I forgive them.

Redemption! Redemption?

Last night I took a walk with my father (which is one of my favorite things to do during the summer when I have a day off work), and on our walk we ran into a guy my dad met from teaching at COTC.

This man's name is David Hottinger. He has lived in Newark since 1976, and he has abused substances for around 25 years. A couple years ago, he hit rock bottom, served some jail time, and decided that he needed to make a change. He has turned his life around so much so that now he is working for the Licking County Alcohol Prevention Program. He is soon to graduate from Central Ohio Technical College, where he has the respect of many people. In fact, the dean of academics (I think--or some other bigwig) told him that if he had his master's degree she would turn the entire psychology program to him.

David still has a rather coarse vocabulary (although he is an eloquent writer), he still smokes cigarettes, and I am pretty sure most of Newark (or at least the police department) is still trying to shake off some memories of past behavior.

And yet David works with many others who are living like he used to who refuse to give up the booze or the dope or whatever. They repeat unhealthy behaviors, go through programs more than once, go to jail more than once.

How hard it must be to constantly live in a world where you have Redemption! while the others are left with Redemption?

The Human as Habit

Do something everyday for no other reason than you would rather not do it, so that when the hour of dire need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved and untrained to stand the test. - William James

Could the young but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of habits, they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plastic state. - William James

The above quotes are from William James, commonly referred to as the father of psychology. I, because I am not engulfed in patriarchal misconceptions of history, and because I have such good taste, will refer to him as a founder of psychology. (I actually have no clue as to the influence of women in psychology...just thought I'd try to sound like the intellectual clown I am.)

Anyway,

I am trying to blog everyday, not because I think that I have daily doses of wisdom to offer the whole world, but because I believe the process will help me become more thoughtful. Hopefully this habit will move me from claiming to be cerebral to actually attaining a habit that will help me develop as a person.

*And* I am being paid $750 for each post by a blogging company.

Jk.

Homeless Man

Last night, I watched a good portion of a documentary called Homeless Man about the life of Rich Mullins, a phenomenal Christian songwriter and advocate for the poor. It is incredibly moving and I think it is one of the most wonderful expressions about how one can live a life that is Christlike - relevant and helpful to the poor.

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_P8n6eysZ0&feature=related

Another Way of Looking at Life

I just finished reading Galatians last night. In some ways, when I began the book, I was thinking "Man, I am going to be hard-pressed to find relevance for my life in this book." I mean, Paul is talking about circumcision and the relationship between Jew and Gentile, and I was wondering when I was going to run into the "classic" verses.

First of all, let me say that I strongly support careful exegesis--studying something that is confusing oftentimes can be very rewarding. I lived with a theology major for two years...I know that much. Don't decontextualize.

Yet, when I got towards the end of the book, I found some words that were of great use for my daily life. Around the classic recitation of the characteristics of the Spirit, Paul exclaims "If we live by the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit."

I am overly analytical and lazy, which seems to be counterintuitive, so sometimes I simply overlook the fact that I am full of the Holy Spirit if I claim to be a Christian. Blame it on Western rationalization, or blame it on a dull spade of a mind, I just usually prefer to live my life without this memo.

Which just goes to show that I prefer to be my own god. Which is a sin. And which does also not make life that enjoyable.

So, my challenge for the rest of the summer, for the rest of my life really, is to live everyday in light of the fact that I am Spirit-filled--empowered.

Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Self-Control.