Being Inspired by Others

Being a Socialite

While shopping today I ran into a socialite going on and on about this and that to a friend who seemed utterly disinterested. The socialite's voice alone was annoying. I felt pity for the friend. When I got to the parking lot we were parked next to each other. She was still yapping as she loaded her many bags. The friend stood at the passenger's side. I inched out. "Look what I got" asked the socialite. "What?" replied the friend, from the distance. "A Soul Train T-shirt," she exclaimed. The socialite instantly became a schoolgirl. "Nice shirt," I said. "You can get one online," she said. "I will," I replied. The friend joined us. "Remember Don Cornelius?" she said. "I do," I said. "I just looove Soul Train," said the socialite swooning." "Good day to you both," I said, pulling away. Suddenly, I felt better. Maybe she's not just some yappy self-centered socialite. Well, maybe she is, but at least she looooves cool music.

Being Inspired by Others

"The Flower Duet" from Lakme by Leo Delibes

Being Driven by Fear

Last week U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton ruled that key parts of S.B. 1070 could not be enacted. A rally took place in Arizona to protest the ruling. As I came across the photo below of a Tea Party member spewing hate over illegal immigration, the image reminded me of a scene in 1957 when women screamed at Elizabeth Eckford as she sought to enroll in Little Rock Central High School.



The nature of people do not change. Fear causes us to act out. The question is when will we identify and overcome such fears?



The fear of Mexicans that produced such hate clearly evident in this woman's face is irrational, as was the fear on the faces of the women in 1957.

Being Inspired by Others

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater sung by countertenor Andreas Scholl and soprano Barbara Bonney is divine. Added to this video is the subliminity of Michelangelo's David. When I first saw the Pieta I was in college. I stood there immobilized, silently weeping uncontrollably. It breathes and speaks. It's just the most amazing piece of art. I must have stood at the sculpture for an hour. There was so much to take in, such extraordinary lines from the neck to the clothing to the femur bone to consider.

A lot has been written about Rodin's passion for movement. He must have gotten it from Michelangelo, not to mention Claudel. I seemed to see the scene at Golgotha and hear the words of he who spoke to Mary saying, "Woman, behold your son." The words reverberated again and again in my head as I stood there. He would soon be laid to rest. Michelangelo made this setting real from the tiniest of detail. I was simply in awe. The coupling of the Stabat Mater and the Peita in this video is beautiful.