Readers, in a short while (over the next few days) this blog domain will be removed and will be ported over to WordPress. While the transition should be seamless there may be a brief period when the domain will need to be renewed. I will renew it once it expires as it is currently held by a former writer. Once that lapses, I will reinstate it.
In the meantime, this should still be accessible either on: www.blogspot.exdeserto.com or www.wordpress.exdeserto.com. Soon, it will be accessible again on www.exdeserto.com.
Please bear with as this process occurs. Again, I hope to make this as painless as possible.
Planned Parenthood director, Abby Johnson, stepped down after eight years of employment at the abortion mill in Texas. Most newsworthy though, is that she now has become an ardent supporter for the Coalition for Life.
Not since 1982 has an American won the New York City Marathon. This race is one of the most competitive in the world. Traditionally dominated by Africans, Americans have been left nipping at the heels - securing second was the American gold. But Meb Keflezighi changed that today, and I offer a hearty congratulations.
America represents freedom; it represents a chance to succeed. Call it exceptionalism or call it pride - but America strives to be the best. We aren't satisfied with second.
Like many successful individuals, Meb did not not inherit wealth or fame. Born in Eritrea, he became an American citizen and now runs under the red, white, and blue. When I think about this race - particularly how difficult it is to win - I'm thankful this melting pot of American culture is able brings immigrants like Meb that continue to build on the greatness of prior generations. We aren't satisfied with second. And we shouldn't ever be.
Who doesn't like free? Next week, there are a couple concerts here in the Grand Canyon state that may be worth checking out.
Though I by no means wish ExDeserto to be local in scope, from time to time, I will highlight certain events, statutes, or happenings on a related to my geographic backyard. Plus forgive (or indulge) me.
That said, there they are:
: CREATION FESTIVAL: THE TOUR featuring JARS OF CLAY, Thousand Foot Krutch, Audio Unplugged, featuring Mark & Will from Audio Adrenaline with special guests B. Reith, This Beautiful Republic and FM Static Where: Arizona State Fair, Phoenix AZ When: October 31, 2009 Comment: So, reserved seats are $15 - but if you're at the Fair, you'll be able to listen for free. (It does cost money to enter the fairgrounds, and parking... but the concert itself is free). I am a fan of all of these bands.
: Newsboys Where: Pima County Fairgrounds, Tucson AZ When: October 31, 2009 Comment: I grew up listening to Newsboys. They were in Tucson last year, but I wasn't able to make it. There is a suggested donation of $10 (not sure if this is an "or" - but possibly "$10 or non-perishable food donation"). You can still enter without paying so if money as an issue, don't worry about it. (Still, the Newsboys are easily worth a $10 ticket).
I'll probably have something of general relevance later this week about Justice Scalia. He'll be speaking tomorrow with Justice Breyer. Look for it!
The Tucson Citizen a great article critiquing the nutritional content of fast food. It's right on point. It can be a bit of a shocker when one learns that the double cheeseburger from McDonald's contains 47% fat - or the "healthy" salad with dressing weighs in at 37% fat (daily recommended is 35%). So what's the point? Am I just rehashing mindless statistics? There are countless studies that critique the nutritional content of food. Is there anything new?
No. There is nothing new in finding that fast food is unhealthy. Unfortunately though, many Americans sadly cannot seem to truly grasp this concept to the point of actually changing eating habits.
I was talking to a classmate in law school yesterday, and he remarked that businesses reduce its offerings to the lowest denominator that will make a profit. Sad, but true. There is a certain irony to this. The very things we crave can be the very things detrimental to our well being.
So where does this leave us?
I'm certainly no advocate of creating food police. The idea is largely untenable anyway. American's love choices: Burger King or McDonalds? Wendy's or Carl's Jr.? Home cooked meals or going out? Changes in lifestyle come down to personal discipline. And while I don't think it's the government's duty to protect us from ourselves, I am not opposed to modest regulations to channel us in the right direction.
In a dig I suspect Sheriff Joe takes personally, Judge Robert Oberbillig sided with the ACLU and struck down the policy requiring inmates to pay up front for transportation and security to obtain an abortion.
Of course, viewing abortion as a fundamental right, any law will limiting it will be subject to strict scrutiny.
So, instead of requiring inmates to pay for their own abortions, the state must do it. Not to worry, Judge Oberbillig suggests, bill for services rendered can be passed to the inmate.
Can I get a show of hands - how many people actually think inmates will pay? Even Tim Montgomery, the former 100m world record holder (and drug cheat) in prison a whopping $44/month. In other words, the tax payers will be the ones footing the bill on this one.
If Sheriff Joe is known for anything, it's for aggressiveness (among many other things). I'm sure we can (and should) expect a timely appeal. Be sure to follow this one.
For those interested, the case is: Doe v. Arpaio, CV2004-009286
With all this talk about health care and coverage, I can't help but write about of America's moral thermometer as shown on the silver screen. First, I'm not the type to spend gobs of money to see the latest and greatest motion picture masterpieces. When I began contributing to this blog I never imagined writing posts commenting on Hollywood productions. If I happened to only watch the blockbuster "greats" - The Dark Knight or Harry Potter or some other hundred million dollar budget production, little doubt exists that I would post on the topic of "movies." The purpose of Ex Deserto is to foster discussion about the law, public policy, and issues that affect our culture and society. While it would be a stretch to post that some aspect of conservatism could best be understood by an in depth analysis of Batman, no doubt exists that movies are directly relevant in understanding American culture and morality.
Americans love movies. Last year, nearly ten billion dollars was spent at the domestic box office. Our choice of viewings reflect, at least in part, our views toward ourselves, the world, and our social, cultural and political norms. Though beyond the scope of this post, just think about what Sex and the City, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, or What Happens in Vegas says about our view toward sexuality or monogamy.
Culture is relevant. To change the law one must change the culture; as what happens in culture become ingrained in law. The sexual revolution of the 1960s illustrates this; cases like Griswold, Roe, Casey, Romer, Lawrence are its aftermath. Over the next 40 years, America's tolerance level regarding acceptable views of morality has increased dramatically. Consequently, for the nation to regain a centered, principled, and moral outlook, culture - and media - must not be ignored.
While I enjoy movies as much as the next person, I am routinely disappointed by licentiousness portrayed as compliance with social mores. Sadly, many people find such films quite humorous. Borat anyone? Films tug at our emotions; they play to hope, fear, love, abandonment, betrayal, and kindness. They often strike a cord with us because we can relate in some way. But while these pictures play at legitimate feelings, they reflect a broken morality.
How many times has Hollywood played some variation of a plot that involves an unmarried lover's dilemma? Answer: Too often. I scrolled down the movies from the top hits of 2008 and recognized five of the top ten movies than encountered this type of situation to one degree or another (The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones, Hancock, Twilight, Quantum of Solace). Worse yet, I haven't even seen every top ten movie.
Topics once taboo became fad. Hollywood's statement: traditional family values do not garner ticket sales, but sexual passion, struggles, and "liberty" do. And Americans buy into it - literally.
One of the problems is the glorification of the broken at the expense of the ideal. Too often movies not only depict divorce, premarital sex, homosexuality, rebelliousness - they portray it as normal. And since the 1960s, a great portion of America does view this as "normal." No doubt, the depictions and plots certainly promote these ideas as acceptable - not stigmatized.
That being said, not everything that is released on the silver screen ought to be avoided. I'm not so anti-culture as to boycott every film that enters big screen. And like I've mentioned before, I do enjoy movies from time to time. However, I recommend caution after visiting the theatre concession stand and before having ones eyes glaze over during the previews. Conservatives, and particularly the evangelical right, must realize that a battle over culture does exist. Every year it seems, the envelope is pushed to the extreme: violence, sex, and "love."
Still, while yet grassroots, there are counter majoritarian that do promote social values and refuse to bow to the clamor wanton liberality. Religious-based films did not begin or end with The Passion of the Christ. C.S. Lewis' series, The Chronicles of Narnia are also in production. But others exist. Most recently, and one that I tentatively recommend (tentatively - because I haven't seen it) is Tyler Perry's latest released last month: "I Can Do Bad All By Myself." Such movies tackle issues of alcoholism, abuse, but they also show faith and redemption. Tyler Perry's movies, such as the Madea Goes to Jail, like other Hollywood blockbusters, touches on humor, love and the spectrum of human emotions. However, noticeably lacking is the gratuitousness.
Movies are not an end in themselves; they are a form of entertainment and beyond that - they are a mirror into our culture. After taking the temperature of cultural morality, conservatives and Christians must realize not only that hope exists, but a good dose of actionable medicine is needed to bring back down America's feverish state.
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