Blood Diamond and the New Breed of Action Movies

This weekend, Blood Diamond is showing at the campus theater. Having nothing better - well, more entertaining - to do, I checked it out. While it certainly contains the average action movie fare of the past however many years - explosions, romance, gun fights, and car chases - it also had something much more important. As many know, Leonardo DiCaprio, the pretty boy of Titanic (and to my sister, no, he is not the something more), in it. To my surprise, he was not the protagonist. He didn't even become a "good" guy until the last few scenes of the movie. There were really only three "good guys" in the entire movie: the protagonist, a local fisherman named Solomon (played by Djimon Hounsou) who's only goal is to survive and save his family; an American reporter (Jennifer Connelly) attempting to stop a bloody civil war by exposing the blood diamond trade financing it; and a local teacher working to save child soldiers from their captors, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)

Based loosely on the civil war in Sierra Leone between the government and RUF, Blood Diamond presents villains who, much like the latest Bond villain in Casino Royale, are trying to get rich, not take over the world. The movie also attempts and, in my mind, succeeds at exposing the horrors of the many African civil wars. Child soldiers (see: Invisible Children), the targeting of civilians, the refugee slums, the apathy of the outside world, and western concerns for resources over human lives, are all major themes of the movie.

I highly recommend it and hope that it signals a new era for action movies, movies that have points to make rather than dollars.

Rock on.

Eye of the Storm, Part II

I'm back from my second trip to clean up after Hurricane Katrina. CCF took a group of about fifty people for Spring Break. I'll be making a third trip over Easter weekend for Eggs in the Easy. The trip went very well. There were few injuries (one stepped-on nail, one spider bite, several sinus problems, and two ruptured eardrums, both of which were mine). I hope to have some pictures to post, but I took a film camera down, so I need to get the roles developed. Without any further ado, here's my journal from the week.
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Tuesday: I think we are in a harder hit area this time. Sheds have been flipped off of their foundations, tress pulled up by the roots, and planes flung like children's toys. Yesterday, we spent several hours cleaning up yards untouched since the storm. In one yard, the grass had completely grown over and covered the sidewalk. It was essentially a carpet from one side of the sidewalk to the other. The grass was at least a foot high, with fiberglass, mold, and other random stuff in it. [Looking back, cutting it down was a great idea because it gets rid of the insect problem, but we didn't wear masks, which was the start of the sinus problems for a lot of people.]
While we are in a harder hit area, there is some good news: We have traveled through some of the same areas we were in last time and there is less debris. Today, we cleaned up after an Irish/Italian heritage pride parade and while this seems contrary to the reason for the trip, I view it as a sign that the festive culture of New Orleans is returning. Don't get me wrong, there is still at least five years worth of cleanup to be done and some houses still haven't been touched, but like the Christmas ligts last time, this serves as a glimmer of hope in a dark time.

Wednesday: Today showed me what this trip was about. We spent the afternoon handing out fliers in an impoverished section of the city for a grocery giveaway. Within sight of the Superdome, there is block after block of housing, in poor condition before Katrina, now worse, noting more than four walls and a roof housing entire families. We would pass houses we thought were uninhabitable only to have occupants emerge and ask us what we were handing out. Homeless men came up to us, living in what I consider the slums, to tell us how bad things still were in the lower 9th Ward, only a few miles away.
Despite the poor conditions, people were still smiling. Residents were happy to see us and talk to us. The owner of a local grocery store was so happy to receive the news we brought that the offered to hand out fliers to her customers and let us put up some posters on her building.
I'll admit that I was scared at first. This area is worse than the worst parts of Atlanta, the city of my nightmares. But I was shocked at how friendly the people were and, after an hour, was quite comfortable.
During the morning, we saw some of the mansions of New Orleans, only to be shown the projects in the afternoon. It shocking to think that as uninhabitable as the houses we saw are, that these houses would be considered blessings for the citizens of the slums of third-world countries.
Tonight, the freshmen and the interns got together and had our weekly Bible study. While it was quite untraditional, we sat around in the compound's warehouse and discussed how God was moving us this week. I'm so blessed to have such a group of friends.

Thursday: Today will be a good day. During our morning devotional time, I read Psalm 69. It is incredible how much of it realtes to the storm and the cleanup. We leave in a few minutes to gut hoses and I am so excited about how great things will go that I am literally trembling.
[Post-Work] Today was only a half day, but we still finished nearly an entire house. While we were going to divide up and do two houses at once, the second house was off of it's foundation and from the center of the living room to the external wall, a distance of three feet, the floor dropped a foot and a half. The leaders decided that the structure, sitting on cinder blocks, was not safe to work in.
After the three hours of work, we headed downtown to the French Quarter. The buildings (untouched by flooding), food, and music were amazing. But the stores were like a Mardi Gras version of Gatlinburg. They sold nothing but voodoo dolls, raunchy shirts, and beads. And then Bourbon Street. Bars, strip clubs, and even shops offering "favors" with graphic pictures as advertisements. Most of the advertising methods I thought to be illegal. It was almost as if the city's economic council was made up of frat boys, and I mean that in the worst possible sense. I don't understand how a city known for its great culture can host America's festival in praise of drunkeness and fornication. New Orleans is among the most beautiful cities in the South, but wallows in filth. This being said, the love of Christ is present in the great work being done by the Church in the area and I can only hope that the city will restore itself to its former beauty and go beyond it.

Saturday: We spent Friday working on three different houses and the group I was with got to pray with the owner of our site. It's amazing that after one week of hard labor and poor leadership on the part of CrossRoads missions [for any leaders thinking of a missions trip to the area, I would encourage you to not go through CrossRoads as the leaders are some of the most condescending and uptight people you will ever meet], the group stayed up-beat and energetic.
Today, we are on our trip home and most people have zonked out. This trip has brought us (being about half of all of CCF) together more than anything else could ever do.
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I sit here in my dorm at my computer, enjoying the air conditioning and even the dorm building itself. I hope that I do not fall back into my old complacency. It is so easy to complain about dorm life, but I have spent hours walking around the ghetto and cleaning out mold. I have not been forced to flee the wrath of nature and still have all of my belongings.

Please, pray for the people of New Orleans, the people trying to clean up, and those who were on the trip that we may never forget what we saw and how the Holy Spirit changed us.

Rock on.

Post Script: To read about the first trip, made the weekend before Thanksgiving 2006, see Eye of the Storm.

Photo Courtesy of Jackie Bangma.

On the Road to New Orleans

Spring Break is upon us and so I shall be departing for New Orleans tomorrow morning at 8:30 (but because of the stupid time change, it will feel like 7:30, which to a college student is like 5:30).

This is my second trip down there with CCF. Last time, we were gutting houses and this time, we have no clue where in the city we're going, what we'll be doing, or even what type of building we'll be staying in. Please pray for safe trave and work and that the group will grow closer together.

I will not be posting for a little over a week and hope to have some great reflections for you when I get back.

Shalom,
Drew

mewithoutYou In Concert

There are a few reasons I came to UGA. Not least among them is the Athens music scene. Home to great acts such as the B-52s and REM and rising acts like the local (and increasingly, national) hit Modern Skirts, Athens is among the most varied college towns in the world. It's a very simple equation: Students from all over = Music all over.

It may come to a shock to some that all of last semester, I didn't make one show at the famed 40 Watt Club. Well, tonight, I made up for that, and then some. The 40 Watt is a small club for one of such fame. As I walked up, I saw mwY's famed bio-diesel-powered tour bus with band members having their traditional dinner out in the parking lot. Once I got into the club itself, I noticed that the stage is only two feet higher than the rest of the club (which, given it's size, isn't much of a problem) and provides a very cool "I'm with the band" feeling.

The first act, Aloha, played a stunning thirty minute set. The drummer was amazing - his arms really were a blur. The keyboardist also played the xylophone - not very often seen in any form of rock. The bassist and vocalist, while nothing special, were still very enjoyable.

The second band, Sparta, was one that I had heard of, but not heard. That soon changed. Suffice it to say that their albums will be added to my wishlist. Soon.

The third and final group was the reason I went: mewithoutYou. I enjoyed their first album, [A->B] Life, drooled over their second album, Catch for Us the Foxes, and for the second time ever, went out to purchase their third record, Brother, Sister, on its release date. I have heard very good things about their live shows and was not let down. If anything, I was actually blown away. Vocalist (he really speaks and yells more than sings) Aaron Weiss is the most chaotic frontman I have ever seen. But he plays it off well and it fits in with the style of music (somewhere between "post-hardcore" and bipolar). They played most of their greatest hits and I found myself singing along with every song. Their lyrics are easy to relate to and very creative. Be sure to check out the link on my side bar under "Listen".

The best part is that Invisible Children (listed in the side bar under "Give") was at the show, getting shout outs from both Sparta and mwY as part of the new Natinonal Tour.

Now, having been on my feet sincwe 7:30, I'm off to bed.

An Open Letter and Confession to My Fellow Ecclesia

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are the called out. Christ commands that we show our faith in love. Love for God and love for others. Paul told us not to be of this world. Time after time, the Word dictates that we who are in God, and that only through the grace of his blood, be different. It is time that we live this out.

I must first confess my own short comings. All of the sins listed below our my own and for committing them, I sincerely apologize. It is out of my love for you, my brothers and sisters in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, that I warn you of these.

First, and the root of all, is apathy. It is in our own sinful nature to care only for ourselves. The thinking goes, "If it does not impact my life, it does not concern me in the least." But in the words of the martyr Martin Luther King, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Christ did not and will not stand for injustice. He comes to "preach good news to the poor" and "to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the opressed." Christ protected the adultress, cleared the temple, and forgave those who killed him. To be like Christ, we must fight our own self interest and our own apathy and cange the world.

Second, and very closely related, is greed. I do not need that new shirt or that new CD. It is worth food for fifteen days in Africa or another trinket for me. So instead of providing the basics for others, I cushion my own existence. This extends, though, beyond our affluent lifestyles. It goes on to the everyday spending of everyone. Businesses export jobs to take advantage of lower wages. They overcharge and overpay to maximize on profit. We have a responsibility to support humans worldwide. It is time for us to support Fair Trade and fight against poverty. It is time for us to go out and in the name of God help the poor, in the US and the world. Likewise, the planet belongs to the human race. Respect the creation of God, for he called it good. Support environmentally friendly companies. Pick up trash. Recycle.

We shold set ourselves apart by loving others. We are all sinners, we have all fallen short of the glory of God. Show our equality. Fight prejudice. We can start with our own. The term "gay" has become synonymous with "stupid". While I believe homosexuality is wrong, there is no reason to discriminate agaisnt or degrade those who are, in fact, homosexual, or those who are affeminate. Fred Phelps misrepresents the Lord and accuses God of hatred. We should not follow in his footsteps but instead actively work against him and love all. The crime of genocide is a travesty and it is our job to stand against it. We must follow through on the promise of "Never Again". Nationalism is a plague among the world. We are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God. I may be from Georgia and I may be an American, but this is nothing more than where I live. As such, we should fight for freedom everywhere, not just at homre or for our "national interests".

Brothers and sisters, we are the children of God through the grace of God. It is time to act like it. It will not be easy. Quite the contrary, it will be very difficult and is only possibly through love, given freely through the death and resurrection of Christ. This is our challenge, our calling, our job.

May the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you now and forever.

Rock on.

ICC to Hear Evidence

As reported by the AFP:

The International Criminal Court will hear evidence on whether or not to open an inquiry into the Sudanese genocide. If the judge rules to open the investigation, this will be a very historic case, the first time an investigation is launched into an ongoing conflict. I have not seen anything to indicate that Genocide will be listed among the formal charges, but this is a step in the right direction.

For those who don't know, the ICC is the new embodiement of the International Court of Justice, the legal branch of the UN. In the event that a local government lacks the jurisdiction or ability to hear a case, or refuses to do so, the ICC can step in.

Again, for those who don't know, the US decided to stop referring to the on-going (albeit improving) war in Sudan as genocide.

May the world finally see the tragedy of the Sudanese genocide.

Rock on.

Update as of March 4, 2007: The ICC has ruled that several key Sudanese officials will stand trial. The Sudanese government, however, has refused to turn the suspects over to the court, claiming it will conduct its own investigation into the matter. This, in effect, leaves the court powerless.

Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and Lent

Today is Mardi Gras (or in thirty minutes, WAS). It is the end of the season called Carnival (spelling changes from place to place; the meaning is literally "farewell to meat") it is a period of celebration in which all meat and other items given up for Lent are gotten rid of. Normally, this means that you eat a lot of meat before Ash Wednesday to go without for the next fourty days. Todahy, it's celebrated in the US with the familiar scenes of New Orleans, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Fasching, Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday, whatever you want to call it, is meaningless without the season to follow, though.


Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. The tradition of the mark of ashes come from the tradition observed many times in the Old Testament, in which ashes are thrown over one's head. To those who observe Lent, it is a time of penance. Many give up certain things, good and bad. What is not always done, however, is using what was given up and giving it to God. This is God's challenge to us: if you give up the internet or television, give the time from that to God in helping others, meditation, or time in the Word. If you give up spending on things, give the money over to God.

Christ fasted in the wilderness for fourty days and was tempted. Even for God himself, this isn't easy. But if it was easy, it wouldn't be a sacrifice, would it?

Now is a time to give back to God and look forward to the love of the cross on Good Friday and the glory of the empty tomb on Easter.

Rock on.

A Criticism of Rob Bell, Part Two

Ben Witherington continues his criticisms (though he uses a better term, "wish list") of Rob Bell here.

As previously stated, I am a fan of both authors and the posts have really been stretching my brain.

Shalom,
Drew

A Criticism of Rob Bell

Rob Bell is among my favorite modern (meaning in my lifetime, so the past eighteen years) authors. Ben Witherington is among my favorite bloggers (and since blogging is a modern invention, this means ever). Which is why, when I checked his blog today, I was very pleased to see a post devoted to Rob Bell. Even if it was a criticism.

While I normally ignore criticisms of my favorite authors, college has forced me to think slightly more critically (I blame my philosophy professor). While I still support Bell, having an idea of where his flaws are is always a good thing.

Shalom,
Drew

Post Script: I'll be in Gatlinburg, TN for a CCF conference this weekend. If you're lucky, I may post a few pictures of mullets.

An Open Plea for Darfur

The US Special Envoy to Sudan, Andrew Natsios, has backed off of his claim that the current situation in the Darfur region of Sudan no longer constitutes as genocide. The US has never acted on allegations of genocide.

In 1994, officials were careful to avoid the term to describe the Rwandan crisis, as use of the term requires action. Both President Bush and the State Department have condemned the genocide, but failed to act. Now, while encouraging African nations to contribute peace keepers to the joint United Nation-African Union peacekeeping operation, the US has stepped down.

Please, right your Representatives and Senators and ask for action.

Never Again