Images of another time?

Over the holidays, while I was sick, I watched a lot of movies when I wasn't sleeping. On Christmas Eve, I managed to catch the last hour of a movie I had not seen in a long time and had forgotten about, Frank Capra's Meet John Doe. I was knocked on my back side and immediately got online to find and buy it. It is the story of Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) who loses her newspaper writing job in a ownership change. She is a single woman who is the sole support of her widowed mother and younger sisters, so in a desperate bid to keep her job, as her last story for the paper she makes up an anonymous "John Doe" letter by a man who claims to be so disgusted with society and how men treat each other that he is going to throw himself off the roof of City Hall at midnight on Christmas Eve in protest. The letter creates huge buzz and the paper decides to keep her on and hire a man to pretend to be "John Doe". They choose an ex- baseball pitcher hobo named John (Gary Cooper) and pay him to go along with it, promising him a one way ticket out of town on Christmas Eve. Soon the corrupt and wealthy new owner of the paper, DB Horton, realizes the power John could have, after he has Anne write a radio speech to capitalize on John's popularity. She crafts a speech promoting the values of understanding, kindness and generosity toward your neighbors and the message gets a huge positive reception.



John tours the country, giving more of these speeches and begins to believe he is "John Doe", inspiring common folk to start clubs and movements aimed at acting on those values in his speeches. What began as a publicity stunt to sell newspapers has become a full fledged movement. DB starts manipulating the movement to jockey for the formation of a third party, which he would head and be the presidential candidate for. He and his friends have intentions that are decidedly not on par with John's and the movement's ideals, so DB squelches the movement and tries to silence John after he discovers DB's plans and tries to reveal them publicly. DB's success at turning the public against him leads John to flee, and on Christmas Eve he climbs to the top of City Hall to martyr himself and fan the flames of the movement to resuscitate it. Ann, who has fallen in love with him, as well as some other "John Doe" supporters, come to City Hall to stop him. They convince him not to jump because, in the words of Ann, "If an idea is worth dying for, it's worth living for."



I was very affected by this film because those values resonate with me too. Did John singlehandedly change the world? No, but he encouraged others to join together and make a difference; to make their world a better place. I was so moved that I bought a collection of Capra films, including Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, You Can't Take It With You, and It's a Wonderful Life. All of these films are appeals to the goodness that lies within men's hearts and aspires to move us to live lives that reflect that goodness. Yes, in today's cynical eye, they may look simplistic, but that is only because we have chosen to make everything so complicated and "sophisticated". However, that doesn't change the fact that when you choose to suspend the jaded notions we hold as true, the ideas in these films are just as powerful today as they were then. They are also just as relevant. If I didn't recognize it myself, seeing the reaction of my 10 year old son to these films would confirm it.



Capra made these films during the Depression, when 25% of the population was unemployed and countless others were under employed or struggling. Everyone was primarily concerned with covering the basics and addressing the simple needs of life. Luxuries were just that and not part of the definition of what constitutes basic survival. That said, you know what the strange thing is? Talk to anyone who lived during that time and they'll tell you, while it was tough, they managed to be happy. They may have daydreamed about the life they saw in movies and magazines, but in reality, they were all in the same boat with their neighbors and found contentment with the overall quality of their lives. The average American toady live a life that only the wealthiest could achieve back then, yet all we do is complain about how tough things are.



Is it that the ideals in Capra's films are quaint, naive notions, or that we have such a skewed sense of what life is about that we can't appreciate them? I believe it is the latter. I highly doubt that a Capra film would ever see the light of day today, much less be a critical and commercial success. But that doesn't mean that we don't need to see these kind of films, hear these kinds of stories, and be affected by them. I will make a point of watching them, and my son with me, when I need to be reminded of what is real and what truly matters in this world.



Do yourself a huge favor. Go to the video store or online and pick up a copy of one of these Frank Capra films. Forget the fact that they are in black and white, are dialogue heavy, and contain no special effects or CGI. I think that, after watching them, you might end up a little sadder and a little wiser, but a lot more hopeful.

In the days things are supposed to change, they stay the same

First of all, Happy New Year everyone! I'm happy to say that I am well and finally back to normal, with just a few sniffles. I hope the holidays and the new year have seen you well.

I am disturbed by what is going on in Israel, even if I am not surprised. The Palestinians started this course by electing Hamas to represent them and by not taking the outrage of Israel in response seriously. When they chose a group to represent them who has the destruction of Israel as one of the tenets in their charter, they made a statement. And by not rising up as a people and holding Hamas accountable and in check, they signalled that they did not disagree with what Hamas was doing. Hamas' leader said over the weekend, as he called for the Palestinian people to rise up, that the actions of Israel in killing Plaestinian children and innocents legitimized the killing of Israeli children and innocents. In this statement, he basically said that the bombing they were conducting and its resulting civilian casualties were not legitimate before, but that now they are because Israel is doing the same thing they have been doing but on a grander scale. Does anyone else see what is wrong with this?

The Palestinians have stood by with their heads in the sand and then as lambs to the slaughter in all this and Israel has done its usual overwrought response which does nothing but create international outrage and reinforces the siege mentality the Palestinians already feel. The actions of both sides are yet another step in the same old dance that has been going on for the last 40 plus years. And yet there is one day supposed to be peace?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. What we have here in this ongoing conflict can only really be described then as insanity. Someone here, whether it be the Palestinians or the Israelis needs to step up and do something different and unexpected. They need to truly commit to the ideal of peace and then turn the other cheek. If Israel, as the superior military force in this conflict, would take the surprising path of offering an olive branch to those Palestinians that are not fighting and their representatives, they could foster ill will toward Hamas within the Palestinians and take advantage of the frustration that they are already feeling toward the situation. But Israel is too invested in its ego and pride to do this. It's got what I call little man's disease; it feels as if it doesn't come out swinging at every little threat, it makes itself a future victim. The truth is the other way around. Every time it swings out at nothing, it paints itself as the man to beat and isolates itself from more reasonable groups and countries. Do you take a gun out to shoot a bee that has just stung you? On the other hand, the Palestinians could show some maturity as a group and say "enough" to Hamas and the groups that continue to make then little more than victims. They could refuse to be defined by their fringe elements and take responsibility for their actions and destiny by acting as a whole in a reaonable group committed to peace. Drop the rocks and hold out their hands, both hands, and indicate that they are ready to see the situation for what it is and make the best of it. Neither group will ever have sole control and possession of the area again, they they need to learn to work together and find a solutionthat addresses the needs of everyone.

The time for peace is here, but it will take a swallowing of pride and ego on both sides for that to happen. I would think that brokering a lasting peace in the face of such past adversity is something, however, to be far more proud of.

Merry Christmas!

I did not disappear off the face of the earth, merely sicker than I have been for a long time. I am, however, finally on the mend and will be up and posting before you know it.

Enjoy the day, enjoy the remainder of the season!

Well, whaddya know?

This is taken from the July 31, 2007 issue of The American Society of Radiologic Technologists newsletter. As everyone, especially thos who are having a hard time right now, can use a bit mor joy in their lives this is certainly food for thought.

Paying taxes and giving to charity appear to stimulate the brain’s pleasure center, according to a new functional magnetic resonance study.
A three-member research team, including a cognitive psychologist and two economists, used fMR to scan the brains of 19 women as they watched their money go to the food bank through mandatory taxation, and as they made choices about whether to give more money voluntarily or keep it for themselves.
Participants were asked to lie on their backs in the fMR scanner for an hour-long session and view financial transfers on a computer screen. The scanner used a super-cooled magnet, carefully tuned radio waves and powerful computers to calculate what parts of the brain were active as subjects saw their money go to the food bank and made decisions on additional giving.
The fMR results showed that when the subjects saw the charity get the money, there was activation in two brain regions: the caudate nucleus and the nucleus accumbens. The activation was even larger when people gave the money voluntarily instead of just paying it as taxes. These brain regions are the same ones that fire up when basic needs and pleasures are satisfied.
Researchers were surprised that the brain's reward center was stimulated even when the subjects did not have a free choice as to where their money was going.
"It reinforces the idea that there is true altruism, where it's all about how well the common good is doing," said Ulrich Mayr, Ph.D., from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore. "I've heard people claim that they don't mind paying taxes, if it's for a good cause, and here we showed that you can actually see this going on inside the brain, and even measure it." The study appears in the June 15 issue of Science.
The study gives economists a novel look inside the brain during taxation, according to William T. Harbaugh, Ph.D., from the University of Oregon.
"To economists, the surprising thing about this paper is that we actually see people getting rewards as they give up money," he said. "Neural firing in this fundamental, primitive part of the brain is larger when your money goes to a nonprofit charity to help other people."
"On top of that, people experience more brain activation when they give voluntarily, even though everything here is anonymous," added Dr. Harbaugh. "That's a very surprising result and, to me, an optimistic one."
Dr. Mayr suggested that neural activation on fMR could help predict which people would give the most money to charity.
“We could call the people whose brains light up more when money goes to charity than to themselves altruists,” he said. "The others are egoists."
The research team noted that the study participants saw their tax dollars going to a food bank. It remains to be seen if the brain responses would have been similar if their taxes had not gone to charitable causes.
By Laurie Volkin and Richard S. Dargan, ASRT Contributing Writers

Seas of change

In the last few days, I have read some disturbing things about global warming; a phenomenon that many fiscal hawks are still saying doesn't exist. The Arctic ice has been melting at an alarming rate and the average temperature has risen in the Northern extremes by anywhere from 5 to 10 degrees. This melting has already caused an environmental impact in that area, as demonstrated by the plight of the polar bear. In other areas, the rising sea has forced residents of two Pacific Islands to be permanently relocated, as well as forcing the relocation of an Alaskan village that has been in existence for 400 years.

But what does it have to do with me, you say. I don't live in a coastal area (but a huge percentage of the Earth's population does). You would be astounded by how important it is that the Arctic environment and waters stay cold. The coldness of the water there is key in the movement of the Earth's tides and the enrichment of the ocean waters, which all marine life needs to survive. The tides help to create air movement and weather patterns. These things are critical to the current and future health of Earth.

How does this happen? Well all the water in the oceans eventually finds its way to the Arctic, where it becomes cold. The warm water stays on top and the cold water sinks, like a giant conveyor belt. I watched a documentary where you actually saw the sea folding- fascinating stuff. This turnover fed the currents worldwide, constantly moving enriched water from one place to another in constant movement throughout the world's oceans. If you raise the temperature of the Arctic and its waters, this folding of cold water under warmer water does not happen. Eventually the Earth's ocean's would become stagnant, which would negatively affect the water quality and the ocean's sustainability of marine life. While you may not eat a lot of fish, many around the world depend on it, and marine animals and plants form a major part of the food chain so it would eventually affect us all.

Take the time to read up on global warming- the potential impact it could have is staggering. Look at how you can do your part in keeping the impact of your daily life to a minimum. Any reduction in greenhouse gasses is a good one and can save you money to boot. Become aware of the environmental views of your representatives and hold them accountable for their votes. Let government and corporations know how you feel about policies and actions that harm the environment. Support the politicians and corporations who try to safeguard the environment with your dollars and votes.

You take care of yourself and your loved ones; don't forget to take care of the planet that takes care of you.

Coming to a country near you...

Over the last few weeks, the middle class in China has been a hotbed of unrest- strikes, protests, and widespread complaints. Over the last ten years, they have gotten used to their standard of living, complete with cars, vacations, gadgets, and meals out with friends. The younger generation has come to see these things as a right. The Chinese are no longer willing to live a life of subsistence; they want more.

China has become yet another country to fall to the lure of materialism, confusing the ability to have "stuff" for rights. They are not protesting for basic freedoms or human rights. Those are secondary. They are unhappy with the government because the government is not doing what they feel is necessary to guarantee their current level of material comfort.

What's the big deal, you say. The big deal is that, like any capitalist economy, the moment human rights and freedoms become secondary to material comfort beyond basic survival, then freedom becomes a saleable commodity. All a government has to do is keep you fat and happy, providing lots of "stuff" to distract you, and they have the right to treat you however they want. It's like waving a shiny object in front of your face to distract you as they get ready to kick you.

Here in the US, we trade money for basic rights every day. We allow companies to pollute our environment and to exploit our open spaces so that we can save a few pennies on consumer goods. We give up our privacy for convenience, with cell phones, EZ pass cards, and shopping and debit cards. We allow corporate interests to dictate our war policies and so send our sons to die on foreign shores. We permit greed for "stuff" to erode love and kindness toward others. We have sold ourselves and our higher ideals for cars, TVs, jewelry, clothes and more and have become so blinded that many of us do not even notice what is going on around us. While I am no conspiracy theorist, I am aware that there are injustices and short changing being done to us everyday without our knowledge.

Over concern with material wealth is a disease and it is spreading. Is it any wonder that societies who have other values do not want anything to do with us? Even why they hate us? While the ideas that founded this country are admirable: equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we have focused almost solely on the pursuit of happiness. And it is not just that pursuit, but how we define happiness that is the danger. Corporate America, in its evolution to multinational status, has spread that material vision of "happiness" far and wide with pinpoint accurancy and effectiveness. Western Europe has long since fallen victim to it, now the East is too. Next, the whole world.

The answer starts with every one of us. We must look at ourselves and our lives and start asking the hard questions. What is it we truly need? What are the things that have truly brought us lasting personal peace and happiness? What are the things that I have that are not necessary to that peace and happiness? What are the things I can do to bring that true peace and happiness into my life and the lives of others? I would be willing to bet that the answers to these questions do not gel with what Madison Avenue has been telling us.

I am not saying that all material things are evil and that we should not be striving for progress. It is only when we can focus on things other than basic survival that we can give time and space to higher principles. What I am concerned about is the unchecked pursuit of these things and the dangerously elevated status placed on them. I refuse to have the value of my life on this earth to be defined by the pile of "stuff" I have accumulated and consumed by the end of it. I am not the sum of my things; I am the sum of my actions and the effect these actions have had on this world. My life is justified by how I have brought more love, compassion, understanding, and kindness into this world.

If you had to write your obituary today, what would you want it to say? How would you want the value of your life to be summed up? What would you want your impact on this world to be?

On the flip side...

Yesterday I wrote about settling and why it should be avoided. Fear of settling leads many in another harmful direction- the pursuit of perfection and living life with blinders on. The most obvious place people do this is in relationships, but it doesn't stop there.

How many times have you spoken with a friend who is in a relationship with someone who is not "perfect", but who is a caring and good person with many suitable characteristics that make for a positive and workable relationship? This friend does nothing but focus on that person's faults and why they aren't "perfect". Maybe they don't earn as much money or is as successful as your friend would like. Maybe they aren't as attractive or as well built as your friend feels they deserve. Maybe they have children from a previous relationship who are imperfect too, or have different beliefs on issues such as religion or politics. Maybe they don't say or do exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. Your friend is so focused on these things that they fail to see what is wonderful about this person and what makes them a good potential life partner. This person's only real crime is that they are not "perfect" and so your friend dumps them, continuing to look for the one person who will meet all their requirements, even though you know that the person they are looking for doesn't exist. In their eyes, anything less than the "perfect" partner is "settling", and that they cannot do!

This is just as true for jobs, houses, cars, friends, material possessions; anything that can be judged and found "lacking". So many are constantly chasing that "something better", not realizing that if they looked with open eyes that "something better" was right in front of them. They are chasing mirages; things that seem real at a distance but are really nothing more than illusions. When I talked about settling, I was discussing when we accept the ideals, motivation, and dreams of another instead of discovering and pursuing our own. I was talking about leading an inauthentic life, one that was not true to ourselves. This is very different from the fruitless pursuit of perfection that does not exist.

There is nothing wrong with sticking to your guns and not accepting a situation that is negative or harmful. In a relationship, no one should have to accept abuse or of any kind, no matter how great their partner is otherwise. No one should have to stand for being demeaned on a regular basis in a job for little pay. Everyone has the right to expect honestly, loyalty, and decency from their friends. But do not confuse the right to have standards for the right to set such a high bar that all who allow themselves to open up to you and let you see their flaws cannot measure up.

The right partner, job, or friend for you will NOT be perfect; there will be flaws and mistakes. But in the end, those flaws and mistakes should pale in comparison with the sterling qualities you see, find and value. A man who is true of spirit and kind of heart, but who might be a few inches or dollars shorter than you'd like could be exactly the right partner for you. The woman whose bust size or personal beauty does not measure up to your ideal, but who does her best to be supportive and accepting of you might just be the one you need. The job with the annoying guy in the cubicle down the hall that gives you the opportunity to stretch yourself and grow may be the one you need to be in at that moment to learn and become the person you are destined to be. The friend who may stick their foot in their mouth sometimes and is not as attentive as you'd like, but who is always there when you really need them, may be the one who is a true friend for life.

Don't blind yourself to what is around you for fear of settling. Look at the people and things around you and judge them through your own clear lens, not someone else's. Nor through a high powered microscope or rose colored glasses, either.

A partner, job, friend, or possession may not be "perfect", but they may be just perfect for you.