Burns Like Liberty

When I was young, it was my perception that if my mind was open to everything I would be subject to anything.  With experiences all my own now, I realize that this is never true.  It is my belief beyond any doubt that the only way not to be subject to anything is to be open to everything.  It is only in this that our minds can create vital questions about who we are, what we believe, and where we are going.

Any thought that has not been exposed to the complete vastness of the world is certainly frail, weak, dependent upon your protection, and therefore not worth having.  Ideas, thoughts, and beliefs are what truly lives within us.  With out them, we are dead, both inside and out.  It is imperative for these ideas, thoughts, and beliefs to be able to stand all by themselves.  They need to be tested, tried, and examined, otherwise any effort will tear them to shreds.  Something as important as a life, which you will remember is wrapped up in our ideas, thoughts, and beliefs, can not be trusted to the strength that lies within our own minds.  Alone, the human mind is weak, feeble.  The strength of the mind, of the soul, is found in a life that is open to everything.  Willing to experience everything, question everything and then hold on to the good and discard that which would merely clutter, and restrict the growth of true ideas, thoughts, and beliefs.

Is all of this to say that we should believe everything we are told by others?  Certainly not!  This defeats the entire purpose.  Nor are we to hold onto only what we desire to believe.  Keeping an open mind allows a clash.  From this battle there can only be one victor.  The result is often not pretty, but in time it will take shape and gain definition.  It is not easy to welcome a battle in our lives.  We are taught to avoid fights and confrontation.  We are told that to challenge is too aggressive, and the last thing you want to be is the aggressor in a fight.  I take this opportunity to say that we are in a battle right here and right now!  Our very existence is a revolution, you are in the midst of it.  Take up you arms and go boldly into the fray.  “This is a revolution, damnit!  We’re going to have to offend somebody!” (John Adams from the musical 1776).  This is an inner battle I refer to, not some pointless war where innocent blood is spilt.  Do not focus on proving others wrong, this fight is a fight to prove yourself right only to yourself.  This battle is not fought between human beings, but between concepts, dogmas, and knowledge.

An open mind does not reject until it has weighed, it will not force a life onto the one who possesses it or on those around it.  An open mind is completely aware of what it believes, though new information may become available an open mind is always founded on reason, assurance, and confidence.  Finally, an open mind does not accept because everyone else does. . .nor does it accept because no one else does.  Life is your own.  If, after everything has been weighed, it is in sync with those around you rejoice for your companionship, and if it is different than anyone in the world dance because you are about to start something new.  If you lack any of this, then your ideas, thoughts, and beliefs are weak and you are barely alive.  It is time for everyone to reevaluate where their lives stand, what they have and what they lack.  The only road to this point is an open mind.  After that we must focus on our beliefs, our unselfish, and strong beliefs, ideas, thoughts. . .Life.

Modesty, Morals, and Horse Crap.

This was my response to a discussion question for my summer course on Dramatic Theory and Criticism.  The question was, "Is there a place for morality in art, most specifically on the stage? If so, who should judge what is and is not morally acceptable? If not, how do we separate pornography from art? Is there a difference?"  It was a very difficult question because I simply am not sure where the answer lies.  What I've written is basically stream of thought.  I tried to be as fair as possible and yet establish a foundation for my beliefs.  No reason for posting on here other than to just share my thoughts and maybe get some of yours.  Rock on!

I cannot help but feel that there is a level of morality that must be represented in art. The question, then, that causes me pain is my justification in this argument. I could certainly cleve to my religious beliefs to support this claim, but that is in no way fair to those who do not adhere to my set of convictions. Likewise I am drawn to the statement that I know pornography when I see it. Once again, not a very strong argument.

If art is, as I stated in the previous discussion, a matter of the artist's purpose and selflessness then perhaps this is where art's moral compass should lie. I even see failure in this however. One could feel passionately about child pornography, and send it to be seen by the multitudes in a selfless way and yet, I think, it would be fair to say that everyone would agree that this is not art and is, in fact, reprehensible in every way.

I think, perhaps, if we look to fulfill what I believe are the three purposes of theatre there might be a mode of defining art, specifically theatre. Theatre, in all cases, should entertain, educate, and enlighten it's audience. Buy stating that theatre should always posses all three of these qualities there is a certain criteria that must be attained. What we would call pornography in this culture does not fulfill all three of these qualities. Although it could be argued that it entertains and even, to a degree, can educate it does not enlighten and is therefore not theatre.

This, as anything in this world, is not perfect. I would then add onto this a need for theatre to be purposeful and meaningful. That is to say that a plays plot, language, spectacle, music, character, and thought should always have a purpose and a meaning and serve the overall intent of the play. Therefore a character, such as a devout priest, would not curse in a play because it would not be in his character and would not serve the plot, but rather hinder it. If this character were to curse there would need to be a specific and clear purpose for it, and then it must be meaningful both to the character as well as the plot. Everything in a play must follow this notion, otherwise incosistancies and a complete loss of message and purpose will be suffered.

Other than these vague concepts I am afraid all I can justify my views with is what I feel is an internal, human right and feeling about what is right and what is wrong. Though what murder is may be argued, there is no question in anyone's mind that murder is wrong. Likewise, along the same lines and as I said earlier, there is a base knowledge in everyone that child pornography is the worst kind of moral infraction. I hope I have been able to share my thoughts and beliefs in a fair and understandable way. Feel free to comment and question as I'm not sure about any of this myself.

Belief?

We live in an age of contradiction.  However, take comfort in knowing that this does not set us apart from our ancestors.  Every age is an age of contradiction.  Every generation seeks peace, but finds war, desires food and plenty but finds starvation and poverty, seeks hope but finds gloom.  The question we put to ourselves everyday is why?  What for?  Where?  How?  I firmly assert that the answer to these questions are within us; a part of us.

When I walk into a Barnes and Noble or Borders book sellers I see books falling off the shelves.  Books on every subject.  The building simply bubbles with energy and excitement that each of these books create.  Despite this electric atmosphere, that feeling disappears the moment I step out of the door.  Why?  Why have we as a nation, as a culture, as a people, and as a race become so apathetic?  

Every United States Presidential election comes with promises of change.  Different taxes, laws, health care, etc.  I boldly put forth this concept:  That it is these promises that are creating this very sense of apathy.  In fact I would contend that it is not even a case of apathy that we suffer from, but rather a case of brainwashing.  Now, up until this point I hope you thought that this was going to be a sensical, serious work.  Do not let the term brainwash scare you though, I do not mean in a conspiratory sense.  For years now the people of this nation have allowed Presidents, Congressmen,  political machines, and lobbyists to tell us what to think.  They stand behind pulpits and proclaim to us what the issues are.  As time progresses for me, I have come to realize that their issues have never been my issues.  

Though historians argue that the founding fathers believed that only the higher class, educated should vote I cannot help but get a sense of complete liberty from the bill of rights.  The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the American Constitution, was developed on a belief that alone the Constitution gave too much power to the Federal Government, enabling it to commit the same sins that were rebelled against just a few years earlier.  These amendments guarantee our rights, that is our abilities and therefore our duties, to speak, believe, think, and do whatever we want.  Perfect, right?

There is one small point that is often overlooked in all of this.  That one point, that one term that is so key to everything the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are built on is that we are required to think of others before ourselves.  Yes, believe and say what you want, but do not impose on or strip away 

the rights of others.  That is a rather tall order, and contradictory to what we have been brought up to believe.  But that one concept of selflessness is bigger than anyone and is the most important of our rights and responsibilities.

The fact, then, that we must face is how to live up to that.  There is no book on this subject.  You will not find a course of action in a job, a lifestyle, or even a religion alone.  There must first come a belief.  When I use the term belief I am referring to a base sense of something.  I once asked a class of eight graders what they believed in.  I received answers from God to aliens to jello.  However, these answers were too vague.  I asked one or two of them to define what is it about God that you believe in?  What is it about aliens that gets you going?  What qualities does jello posses that triggers your reaction?  Each time I asked, I received nothing but a blank and silent stare.  

How can we pretend to have a sense of who we are and what we are about if we cannot even define what it is that we believe in?  Break it down for yourself right now.  What do you believe in?  Break it down to its most basic component.  For example, I believe in God.  I believe in God because of his complete sense of liberty.  Therefore I believe in liberty.  Now, that is not meant to simplify my relationship with God or my faith, but rather provide me with a sense of something I can stand up for.  Though someone may be able to argue the existence of God with me, they will never be able to argue the existence of liberty, because it is a fundamental sense that is within the human spirit.

Belief, then, provides the bedrock that the rest of our lives may be built on.  With a belief defined in our lives we are then at liberty to explore what that means to us and for us, both on an individual basis as well as on a grander scale.  What is to be done next though?  Next comes action.  Belief is listed in the dictionary as a noun, but it is most definitely a word of action.  You cannot believe in something without taking action on it.  If you are not compelled to move, shout, sprint, cry, laugh, or die over what you have decided you believe in, then you do not believe in it at all.  

Am I saying take a militant stance and purvey what you believe in to the rest of the world?  Certainly not!  That would be breaking that elementary concept behind the Bill of Rights, would it not?  Others must come before you.  Other’s beliefs?  No, but other’s right to believe.  Do not waste your time fighting against what others believe, but rather expend you energy wisely fighting for what you believe.  There is no greater fight.

It is this fight that will restore you confidence, for no one knows more about what and why you believe in what you believe in better than yourself.  It will also empower you to take control of what is rightfully, by law as well as by nature, yours.  Seize the day!  No longer are you under the oppression of the Republicans or the Democrats, you can vote for whom ever you want!  Never settle, this is our land, we are the government and though it may feel like we are powerless, that is a lie waiting to be exposed.  Though I would like to expose it for you, I cannot.  You must figure that out on your own.

Huzzah!

Hello my new blogging community!  When Cary suggested this I got super excited.  I have never been a part of a serious blog.  True, I did xanga with the best of them, but it was a life that I never truly lived, though in many ways I wish I had.  

Now, though, I have the opportunity to share the true Jonathan with you all.  I'm very excited to reveal my hopes, fears, dreams, poems, prayers, promises, and beliefs with everyone.  Feel free to comment on anything I post.  Agree or disagree, I'm anxious to get everyone's take on my life.  

Sometimes my posts will be philosophical, other time religious, other time political, and still others will be emotional.  I hope everyone will get out of it as much as I hope to.  Until later then.  Rock on!