“And no…I won’t get there with ya. I’m going to Canada.”

What if Martin Luther King Jr. didn't die?  What if he was in a coma for 40 years, and woke up to America–and more importantly, black culture–as it is today? What would he say?

"Niggas love to hear themselves talk, but hate to explain…" 

"Usher, Michael Jackson is NOT a genre of music."

More here.

When culture and Christianity collide…

The results can be interesting.

Take last week's American Idol. Mandisa–aka ManDIVA–sang "Shackles" by Mary Mary. She included a spoken-word opening, in which she said:

“This song goes out to everybody that wants to be free! Your addiction, your lifestyle or situation may be big, but God is bigger!” — as quoted in an article on The Advocate's web site.

The fallout from her use of the word "lifestyle" has been ridiculous. I've read plenty of nonsense online. Most of it trashing Mandisa, God, Christianity–and at times, all three.

It seems that plenty of people out there agree with the aforementioned article. In particular, the segment which says:

"…everyone knows that the word “lifestyle” is a code word used by gross, amoral religious jerks who refuse to do what Jesus told them to do (that whole “love everybody” stuff) And their secret definition of the word “lifestyle” is “burn in hell, faggots.” Except it’s not a secret. Maybe someone should tell Mandisa about this." 

Indeed. And while that "someone" is at it, she or he should tell me, and every other thinking Christian.

I never thought I'd write this, because I consider myself to be a fairly open-minded  individual. Nevertheless, I'm just going with how I feel:

When will members of our mainstream liberal culture and all of their bootlickers get over themselves, and try to actually learn a thing or two about the Christian community that they seem so desperate to perpetually insult?

"Lifestyle", as I know it, is a catch-all Christian term. It refers to the way that you are living. Mind you, in a negative sense. People may be caught up in an addiction to drugs or sex. They may run with a rough crowd and be in a gang. They might be involved with any number of criminal activities.  In the Christian world, that is what "lifestyle" refers to. A way of living that isn't right.

But those not in the know remain up in arms. It's as though they're determined to be good and angry about Mandisa's use of that word. I'm paraphrasing, but much of what I've read can be interpreted thusly: "Lifestyle?!? Mandisa said 'lifestyle'! And she's a Jesus freak!! Clearly, she meant to insult gay people!!" Oh yes. Clearly. 🙄 And the pouting continues as I've seen (read) people attempting to offer intelligent definitions of "lifestyle" as used among Christians…"I'm going to be offended whether you like it or not!!!"

To people who think like that, I have only one thing to say.

Grow up. "Lifestyle" is a word. It's not YOUR word. It does not have one solitary meaning–namely, the homophobic one that you choose to give it. It's been used long before someone coined the term "alternative lifestyle". It will exist long after it becomes old hat.

Husband On Strike!

I really feel sorry for with this guy.  When I'm married…I might let my kids spend a night or two in the master bedroom. But only if they're extraordinarily ill and need a high level of care. Other than that…I can't see myself driving my DH away. 

Whatever happened to the sanctity of the marriage bed(room)?

YOU decide.

So. The people at South Park have been taking some heat for an episode of theirs. First Isaac Hayes quit. Now it’s been dropped from Comedy Central. The show in question is called “Trapped in the Closet”. I downloaded it from this site and watched it. (Under “What’s going on now”.)

I haven’t seen South Park in years. But I think the controversy is really interesting. And FWIW, the episode was funny. And a wee bit disturbing. Especially if the “This is what Scientologists actually believe” segment is accurate. 😕

The Bachelor – Still single

 

I wish I could say it was a surprise. 🙄

In the story that I linked to above, Sarah Stone mentions "the baggage that comes from being on this show" (emphasis added) as a factor which contributed to the failure of her "relationship" with Dr. Stork. I'm glad that she said it. It gives me hope that people who actually appear on the show realize what they're getting into. Nothing about The Bachelor is natural. 

Honestly. What do people expect?  Take a group of women, engage them in some rather contrived liaisons with one member of the opposite sex….

I remember it was during either the first or second incarnation of the show that I privately referred to The Bachelor as That Guy and His Harem.

If you want a love that's built to last, at the very least, I believe you need at least two things:

1. Privacy. By this, I do not mean that you should have a "secret" lover that only you and your poodle know about.  But you shouldn't have cameras capable of broadcasting your every move 24-7, either.

2. Exclusivity. Who in their right mind expects to build a lasting relationship while her prospective mate is mixing and mingling with at least half a dozen other women? WHO!?!

The series has run at least….I'm guessing eight times by now.  And out of those, only one of the so-called couples has been successfully married.

I will not deny that I am a bit of a voyeur.  I have been entertained on more than one occasion while watching The Gaggle of Girls and Their Boy-Toy. But in all seriousness, I remain irritated. Shows such as The Bachelor epitomize everything that is wrong with relationships today. Namely, people want quick, easy lovin'. And they expect such an approach to earn them long-lasting, near-fairy-tale results.

True love grows. It is not like the latest microwavable treat–good to go in an instant.

Brokeback’s…Broken.

Well…Maybe not. But they sure didn’t win Best Picture.

I didn’t watch the Oscars last night. Heck, I might as well confess. I’m almost positive that I haven’t seen any of the nominated movies. There was something about last night’s show that made me stay away. Perhaps I wasn’t in the mood for Jon Stewart’s sarcasm. Or maybe I was peeved because Desperate Housewives–or, more importantly–Grey’s Anatomy–weren’t on because of last night’s statuefest.

Yet for some reason, when I woke up this morning, my brain was Oscar-hungry. Who won? Tellmetellmetellme!!!

I tried the local Christian radio station, the hip-hop-rock-whateverteenswant station, and even the local adult contemporary station. No such luck.

Relief came, as usual, from a Toronto-based source. 680 News.

Apparently there was an upset at the Oscars last night. Brokeback Mountain didn’t claim Best Pic. That honor went to Crash.

The little girl inside of me did her happy dance. If I was a betting woman, I would’ve been rich.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not homophobic. While I am well aware of what the Bible says about homosexuality, my line of thinking on the subject does not go to ridiculous extremes.

I was, quite frankly, tired of all of the hype. It was as though people expected Brokeback to win on its gayness alone. Quite honestly in my opinion, from all that I’d seen and heard…At the end of the day, Brokeback Mountain was about an illicit affair. Old hat in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Crash? From what I hear, Crash was a true work of innovative storytelling. A rarity in La-La Land, well worth the price of admission.

Ode to Casey-Jo

Years ago, I nearly ruined my afro by doing a terrible job of cutting it myself. Lucky for me, my mother came to my rescue. As she went about her business with her clippers, she said something that stuck with me.

A haircut shouldn’t look like an apology.

Hilarious, but true.

Those words came to mind as I was taken in by bits and pieces of the Much Music VJ Search last night. I chose to watch because of the previews. They suggested some racial tension might be brewing. (Supposedly Erik used a racial slur against Frank. But from what I saw, no footage was shown (taken?) to back up Frank?s claim.) However, while I came for the promised mini race-war, I stayed for the debacle that was?The VJ Makeovers.

Which brings me to the focus of this entry. Casey-Jo. I have to ask the people at Much one question: What were you thinking? For those who didn?t see it, essentially, these are the basics: The VJ hopefuls were whisked off to a uberchic salon to be transformed for a photo shoot. I?m talking the works: Hair, makeup, clothes.

Clips were deftly interspersed?there was the fashion stylist, the hair stylists, VJ wannabes, etc. Of particular interest was the head hair stylist?er?Visionary, Jie Matar, of Salon Jie (pronounced like a soft, buzzing, “G”). He commented on the wannabe VJs and their attitudes.

Mr. Matar complained quite a bit regarding Casey-Jo. In fact, as far as I could tell, she was the only one he really had anything negative to say about. Apparently, unlike her contemporaries, CJ wasn?t grateful, blah, blah, blah?

Unbeknownst to the people at Jie, given the way they made her look, if I was in CJ?s place, ?grateful? would have been the least of their worries.

Casey-Jo?s haircut was hideous. I don?t care how cutting-edge any fashionista said it was. You know that adage about the right thing at the wrong time?? Well, the right hairdo on the wrong person is just wrong. Period.

Yet the coverage of CJ?s reaction?.I don?t know what to make of Jie?s comments. His minion made CJ look preposterous. Her only consolation? As mentioned on the show, ?Hair grows??

In the end, I applaud Casey-Jo. She strikes me as one who doesn?t believe in putting up with anyone?s crap. Honestly. What did the people at MuchMusic expect her to do? Smile and act nice?

I recognize the footage last night might have been hewn together in an attempt to make Casey-Jo seem like an ungrateful little waif. Instead, it made Jie, and (inadvertently) MuchMusic, seem arrogant and presumptuous. ?I am a styling superstar. You must approve of my decisions, no matter how ghastly I make you look. After all, I am a Big Name, no??

No.

It?s a pity Casey-Jo probably signed a waiver/contract to be on the MMVJS. If it was me?Hmmm….Let’s look at the facts…You made a fool out of me on national television…And your editing team did their best to make me look like a whiny harpy. Failing miserably, I might add.

I don?t know who I would have to get in touch with. But someone would be getting sued.

Just Jesus.

This morning I read this article about Jesus. Made me long for the days when everyone wasn’t determined that he take sides.

Favorite new music video

So I don’t have cable. No MTV. No Much Music. But I do have the internet.

Over the weekend I saw Pink’s “Stupid Girls”. Follow the link. Tell a friend. 😉

All I could say when I saw it is, “It’s about time!”

In this era, when it comes to young women, “stupid” is the new “intelligent”. Somehow it’s cute to appear brainless or ditzy. After all. *batting eyelashes* “How else can a chick expect to empress a guy these days?”

I wish I could tell all the girls across the globe where real beauty lies. It’s not in 10 pounds of MAC make-up, double-d breasts, and a pair of overpriced jeans.

“Remember the truth. It’s all that matters.”

Check out “A Million Little Lies” on The Smoking Gun‘s web site.

I’m watching Oprah now. Can’t help wishing I’d read A Million Little Pieces. James Frey is a real piece of work. As is the representative from his publishing house.

Doesn’t the truth mean anything to anyone anymore?

I mean…I know it does. But Frey’s reaction to getting caught–for lack of a better term–is phenomenal. He seems very calm. Almost to the point of apathy. He doesn’t seem to comprehend the controversy.

Or maybe it’s old news to him, and he’s at the point now where he just doesn’t care.