9/11 cont.

Success!!! Thanks Regal. Fahrenheit 911 is now playing in a local theatre. Now, I'd like to know what prompted this decision as last week the theatre did disclose when or if it would screen this movie. Was it the letters that people wrote or the strength of the movie's box office success? I believe it was the latter, and that's a good sign that this movie will have a tremendous impact on the 2004 election. Michael Moore, love im or hate im, he's changed the way people view their leaders. Now, everyone, go out and see the movie!

Fahrenheit 911-letter to regal

Regal CineMedia Corp.
9110 East Nichols Avenue, Suite 200
Centennial, CO 80112

Phone: 303-792-3600
Fax: 865-922-3188

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing this letter as a patron of Regal Cinemas and as a concerned citizen to ask that Regal Cinemas release Fahrenheit 9/11 in {insert town or city here} as soon as possible. For months, I, along with a large segment of my community, have anticipated the June 25th release of this important documentary. When I learned that Regal Cinemas did not schedule a release date for my community cinema, I was greatly disappointed.

Fahrenheit 9/11, whether you agree with its message or not, is a landmark film. All Americans were impacted by the events of September 11, 2001-and a movie which won the Golden Palms Award for Best Film at the Cannes Festival deserves a wide release. It is critical that members of our community, who were all impacted by 9/11, be given access to the movie without having to drive a couple of hundred miles or wait for the DVD.

In closing, I congratulate Regal Cinemas for having the courage to screen the movie in several theatres across the country and I urge you to bring it to my community as soon as possible. Please make this film available so that we have the choice to either watch it or not; do not abrogate our freedom of choice.

Sincerely,

{ }


cc:
dgurin@regalcinemas.com
mcampbell@regalcinemas.com
amiles@regalcinemas.com
gdunn@regalcinemas.com
pbrandow@regalcinemas.com
barry.brown@regalcinemas.com
rwinograd@regalcinemas.com
robbya@regalcinemas.com
kevink@regalcinemas.com
ddelaria@regalcinemas.com

fahrenheit 9/11

lots to blog. sorry, everyone, i've been on hiatus. Go see Fahrenheit 9/11 if it's in your town. It's not in mine. My next post will be a letter demanding Regal Cinemas to provide its release in my town...

magic, larry, and michael

"The one thing that always bothered me when I played in the NBA was I really got irritated when they put a white guy on me," Bird said. "I still don't understand why. A white guy would come out (and) I would always ask him: 'What, do you have a problem with your coach? Did your coach do this to you?' And he'd go, 'No,' and I'd say, 'Come on, you got a white guy coming out here to guard me; you got no chance.' For some reason, that always bothered me when I was playing against a white guy."

-Larry Bird

First of all, I am a white guy and I'm somewhat miffed at being compared to 'cannon fodder' by Larry the Legend. His comments are probably true. He knows the game first from the perspective of 'The Great White Hope;' second, as an NBA executive Bird makes decisions on hiring and firing (ask Isaiah Thomas) and player personnel, that determines who comes into the league and who goes. He has a broader perspective than he did as an NBA player. His comments reflect an honest assessment of what's out there (mainly black athletes, many from high school)and what's not (white athletes); however, he shouldn't be looking for 'white guys' to fill his former role, he should be looking for the best possible players regardless of race. In no other business would his comments be considered acceptable.

Probably the most offensive part of the interview taking place in the same gym as the filming of 'Hoosiers-' comes when he says that the white corporate audience won't watch the black athletes play. We need to look at these comments closely if we are to measure what he's saying as racist, plain arrogant, or true. I don't think he's racist. It's obvious that Bird respects the black athlete. Interestingly though, he doesn't respect the white athlete. His comments may be true in the absence of great white players (exception: players from Europe, but he comes across as arrogant when he claims that 'white corporate America' wants to support another 'Great White Hope,' just as it supported him during his career. He's saying what many executives would never say, and what only Larry Bird could say-we need white superstars if we are going to stay interested, and he says this in the presence of Magic Johnson along with Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, two black athletes who draw the most comparisons to Larry and Magic of this generation.

Bird's comments might rankle some, but I also think that Magic's knee-slapping laughter comes across as insincere. After Bird makes his statement, you get the sense that Magic makes his remarks about "comments made in barber shops" to both appease what Larry is saying and to project his Afro-American friendly image to his target audience. This also works for Magic in the eyes of the white audience, because he's able to soften things for us while maintaining ties to his black community. Whereas Larry feeds from the corporate trough of 'white corporate America,' Magic at least pretends to come from more home-style roots. But, I'd say that Magic has at least come as far within the same system by agreeing with Larry Legend and his ilk as Larry has gone by being lock-step with it.

Makes me yearn for Michael Jordan, who at least wouldn't pretend that he's critical of the system (ala Bird), or that he's somehow apart from the system (yes, Magic), but instead projects the image of his magnificent bust upon the face of corporate America. While Magic and Bird were perfect opposites, quiet and loud, slow and fast, Michael never really had an opposite, someone who could challenge him. His success (6 NBA titles) gave him complete dominance, and doesn't need to make any apologies- by being himself, we forget about race, and remember him for his greatness. Carmelo and LeBron, again two opposites, how will we remember them?

M's win! 5-4

Finally, a game that leaves Mariners fans (especially me) feeling happy. Maybe I'm just used to listening to the homers praising the efforts or the attitude of the home nine, but I'm a bit shocked to hear the nationals skewering every one of the Mariners' lineup except Ichiro! for a collective slump that borders on malaise. It's just not something that Dave Niehaus et al. are willing to delve into, at least on the radio broadcast. I can't help but notice that Bret Boone looks smaller than he did last year. It makes me wonder if maybe the newly enforced steroid policy taking effect before the season has shrunken his bulk at the expense of his former gaudy stats.

This game leave me feeling good for the moment when my former high school classmate, Randy Winn, plays a significant part in tonight's win. He gets four hits, including his first home run, knocks in Ichiro! with a double in the 9th, then gambles successfully by stealing third on a 3-2 pitch walk to John Olerud, then scores on Boone's single to right. It was a great game by Winnbo; maybe the move back to left field took off some of the pressure that came from playing in Mike Cameron's shadow.

The win breaks up some of the dark clouds and vultures surrounding this team in its most dismal season in some Mariner's fans memory, but it does not change my opinion that management needs to break up this team. Basketball legend and Mariners fan Bill Russell appears in an interview with the ESPN team, and suggests that they are turning the proverbial corner. I disagree. There are far too many corners for this team to turn, and not enough horses to take the team back into contention. There is some hope for this season, however, in that the Angels and A's are not doing as well as expected, and I think that the Mariners can draw closer with continued shake-up of the team. Moving Randy Winn to leftfield (although done for purely practical reasons, as Ibanez gets hurt), bringing up some triple-A talent, and making shrewd deals for talent that can help us win now; these are moves that i want to see Bavasi making.

So, I'm not completely pessimistic about the Mariner's chances for the rest of the season. I just think that they need to blow up or restructure the team as in currently stands in order to turn this abomination into a respectable finish.

He did a 'superb' job

Bush's statement to the press this morning from the Rose Garden conjured the image of the bad sheriff who allows a corrupt band of outlaws to run wild over the poor country folk in a saucy 1950's western.

It's a bucolic scene with birds chirping in the background. He speaks slowly, with a measured tone, but sounds defiant because he's talking to the press. For many people, this marks Bush as a 'straight shooter.' For me, it marks an incredible lack of eloquence.

When he says that Tenet did 'a superb job,' I think to myself, didn't he say that Rumsfeld did 'a superb job' too? To quote the immortal words of Inigo Montoya,

"You keep using that word. I do not think you know what it means."

Maybe this applies to Bush as well. Yeah, he's doing a superb job. But, then again, who's writing the performance reviews?

Democracy in Porltand

(written in early May)
To vote online for our favorite American Idol or live vicariously through cast members as they vote for and against each other on the Survivor series; these actions indicate signs of a thriving Democracy, right? Well, not exactly. But, in a climate where Americans, myself included, sit back and expect the worst from our leaders, how can we expect things to change? The answer occurred to me last weekend as I took to the streets along with about 600 other concerned Oregon residents to form part of a nation-wide effort coordinated by America Votes to register voters for the upcoming November 2004 election.

Rain began to fall as I approached the packed Labor Hall in industrial Portland. The first speaker praised the rain, as it would assuredly heighten people’s sympathy for the volunteers who walked from door-to-door, and directly increase their willingness to register. The speakers were diverse, ranging from Pro-Choice leaders to the President of Portland’s AFL-CIO labor union, Timothy Nesbitt, to Peter Schumann, the founder of the now-powerful grassroots organization, Move-On.org, who wanted us to “just look around and see for ourselves what we were a part of,” to Arianna Huffington, who I remembered as being the author with wacky ideas and too-conservative candidate running for California Governor, who now had seemingly gone the other way. All these radical people in one room, trying to motivate its flock of volunteers to get out there and ‘make history.’ But, the most powerful motivator proved to be the Radical Cheerleaders, a national group that led such cheers as, “We're sexy, we're cute and radical to boot!” They danced, they sang, and they inspired. We took to the streets feeling a part of something and ready to make a difference.

Getting people to register to vote in May? Cynics might argue that it’s still a little too early to start hitting the streets, especially when we’re still in the middle of the Network’s Sweeps Season. But this year is different. Maybe it’s the war, or the recent revelations about prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib, but things are heating up. The Internet makes possible the events that took place on Saturday, where several organizations, including Move-On.org, rallied its members to turn out across the country. Ever since the Howard Dean campaign demonstrated the power of grassroots organizers to excite and stimulate followers, we have seen an effort made by groups such as America Votes to coordinate all grass-roots groups with a common goal-to get out the vote or to ‘get that Bush guy out of office.’ Perhaps that was Dean’s problem. He had the right idea, but he didn’t have the numbers.

I tried not to act like a door-to-door salesman, or a religious proselytizer, who needed to convert as many non-believers to my cause of voting as possible. Instead, I took the even-handed approach; people have to make their own decisions about voting. I’m not going to push them. The first house that I approached, an older woman answered the door. Even though the trainers had told me not to accept invitations, she invited me in and I accepted. It was mid-afternoon, but her house appeared darker than it was outside. A TV dinner lay uneaten on a tray; a television game show announced it was time for the next contestant. The woman wanted to get involved, but she didn’t look like the typical activist. I told her how easy it was. I gave her a few web addresses, had her fill in a form. She thanked me, gave me her daughter’s address down the street and asked me to visit her as well, and let me out the door. It was obvious that this personal connection had done something for her, brought her something that couldn’t be found on the television, or the internet-the power of grassroots organizing. It had done something for me as well.

It had given me a taste of real Democracy.

Divisive Politics in US

In a perfect blog, there would be something for everybody-a community where everyone is welcome, from the sports freaks and NASCAR dads to the news junkies and soccer moms. But, we live in an increasingly sectarian society with political parties split down the middle, where one side cannot really even understand the other. Perhaps this is what our Founding Fathers feared when they warned that the most dangerous element in a 'free' society is the prevalence of factions. Now, politicians are using these factions to their own political advantage, and dividing the people along the way. Perhaps the notion of community itself is an illusion in a 'free society.'

I'd like to think that my blog is open to anyone out there with a web browser and a little time on his or her hands. But, I know that's not exactly realistic considering the tastes of people out there. Part of what's exciting about following the political race or being a part of one is seeing which candidate can attract the greatest cross section of society into his camp. The politician who uses this factor to unite people from different sections of society wins my vote, but mostly politicians use this to divide people and turn them against each other.

Our culture is geared towards hooking and maintaining an audience. Television, radio, and print media know how to create communities of viewers, listeners, and readers and market their product to gain customer loyalty. Our viewing, listening, and reading habits dictate who we are, and most of these habits are shaped by our age, education level, and geography. We are becoming so polarized as a nation that someone who grew up in one of George W. Bush's "Red" states probably cannot understsand or relate to someone who spent much time listening to NPR or does much reading on thenation.com website. For those people, the right has done a pretty good job portraying these "liberals" as absent any deep moral convictions and "traitors" to our country's values. By comparison, we are used to reading that all Republicans and "right-wingers" are religious nuts and extremists. I am almost certain that this is not true, but it helps the dominant voice in one particular market to brand its name apart from the other. Grouping one group against the other is good advertising.

Is it too much to expect that we can all meet on a blog and share different opinions and ideas without casting ourselves all in the same cloth? The media spin on politics ranging from the occupation of Iraq to the 2004 election campaign is so fixed and frozen in one place. Only through dialogue can we share ideas and create new and fresh perspectives on the world and perhaps create a new political party outside the mainstream Dems and Republicans. Just a thought, but we have to start getting smarter as a nation and stop letting the media define the issues for us. We need to come together as a people and demand that leaders represent us instead of divide us.

I would love to talk or share ideas with a "Republican" not to change his or her ideas but to understand where they are coming from. It's not the politicians that will improve our lives, they are used to using politics to divide us. It's we the people that have to overcome our differences and create a better society.

Please feel free to comment.

prison torture

The prison torture cases being reported around the world strikes at the heart of what it means to be an American. We celebrate the warrior accomplishments of the men and women of this country from WWII to the present day on Memorial Day. Those men and women who died for our country and those who lived believed and still believe that America stands for protection from this kind of treatment. We dishonor the service of those Americans and ourselves when we allow this kind of injustice to represent America in the eyes of the world.

First posting-Why Blog? 30th birthday and other matters

'A blog is just one's thoughts written daily into a public forum' But, who's gonna read this stuff anyway? I thought to myself as I surmised the first line of my new blog. Hey, I can do this. I've written a journal most of my life, but as I've grown more accustomed to the digital world and less inclined towards pen and paper, I figured that writing a blog would be a better use of time than surfing the net and reading other people's blogs. It's the practical, but also soul-saving, thing to do. Also, it's my 30th birthday today, and to ensure my life's adventures are recorded for posterity...no, nothing that serious.

There's something about turning thirty that I haven't felt at other birthdays, maybe expectations are increasing and i know that i cannot sit around and be lazy. As my 35 year-old not so much older brother, writer, and fellow Mariner supporter said to me, 'you've gotta use every minute of the day Jeff' and I responded with the usual twenties era defensiveness. But, he's right. Soon, it's gonna happen-I will reach the half-way point of this life's journey (about 35 by Dante's standards)translated into modern English as the 'productive years of my life' and I wanna be ready.

It's kind of my baby, because while anyone can and will become a parent, it's the same with blogging...anyone can and will start a blog. I just want to do it well and maybe someday get noticed. No, I don't expect any awards like 'Blogger of the Year' or any crap like that. What parent rears his child with expectations for others to congratulate him on a 'job well done?' It's a pretty thankless job, but then again, so are most jobs of any value in our society.

So, please be patient Dear Reader, as I develop my style and confidence on this forum. I promise to pursue quality of writing above all and work towards improvement every day if possible. Of course, your happiness and occasional acknowledgement of my work, whether it be critical, praising, or suggestive does matter to me and I would like to hear your comments. Please feel free to drop me a line when you feel so inclined. Thanks. Jeff