Christmas With the Conner Family

The Roseanne show was with us for nine TV seasons and in that time many of us became attached to the Conner family. Not since the days of say Good Times had we seen a working family in a sitcom situation, going through real life issues such as living paycheck to paycheck, changing jobs, teen sex, family dynamic, drugs and so on. The show, starring hometown boy John Goodman, made numerous references to St. Louis and Chicago over the years.

Here is a Christmas clip running just under 10 minutes:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiDur1jpI3c[/youtube]

Not their best, although it includes the late Shelley Winters as Nana Mary. Winters was born in St. Louis in 1920.

Below is another clip from another seasons with Roseanne playing Santa in the mall. This clip shows the ongoing struggle between Roseanne and Darlene:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmm7kcgLJ7Y[/youtube]

In the end their relationship is still rocky but they’ve had some meaningful communication.  Nothing earth shattering here, I just love the show.

Letting Go of God

The wonderful Julia Sweeney, perhaps best known from “It’s Pat” on SNL, talks about her explorations of her faith and beliefs in the monologue, Letting Go of God. She did an excerpt, just over 16 minutes in length, on TED:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtIyx687ytk[/youtube]

Ms. Sweeney, raised Catholic, is currently on the Advisory Board of the Secular Coalition for America:

The Secular Coalition for America is the national lobby for atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans. From our office in the nation’s capital, our full-time lobbyist and support staff engage public policy makers and the media to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

Her personal journey is a very interesting story.

How to Not Get Your Ass Kicked by the Police

A very cute little video by the very funny Chris Rock offering helpful tips on ‘How to Not Get Your Ass Kicked by the Police.’   Warning, some strong language:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8[/youtube]

Maybe we should teach this in the schools?

Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight White American Males

This week I’m going to depart from my usual format and bring you some of my favorite items from popular culture.

‘Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight White American Males’ is the title of one of my favorite folks songs, by the wonderful Todd Snider.

Here is a cute non-official video for the song:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si0WTCMrksw[/youtube]

Here are the lyrics (source):

Conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American male.
Gay bashin’, black fearin’, poor fightin’, tree killin’, regioal leaders of sales
Frat housin’, keg tappin’, shirt tuckin’, back slappin’ haters of hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, porn watchin’ lazyass hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, love makin’, pro choicen, gay weddin’, widespread diggin’ hippies like me.
Skin color-blinded, conspiracy-minded, protestors of corporate greed,
We who have nothing and most likely will ‘till we all wind up locked up in jails
By conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American males,.

Diamonds and dogs, boys and girls, living together in two separate worlds
Following leaders of mountains of shame, looking for someone to blame.

Diamonds and dogs, boys and girls, living together in two separate worlds
Following leaders of mountains of shame, looking for someone to blame.
I know who I like to blame:

Conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American males,
Soul savin’, flag wavin’, Rush lovin’, land pavin’ personal friends to the Quayles
Quite diligently workin’ so hard to keep the free reins of this Democracy
From tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, barefootin’ folk-singin’ hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, porn watchin’ lazyass hippies like me.

The song can be purchased on iTunes.

Lots of stereotypes in there. Those of you still around this week, discuss.

If you’re not part of the future then get out of the way

Today I was making a mix CD for a friend and I listened closer to John Mellencamp’s 2001 song Peaceful World. Certainly a peaceful world would be nice. Below is an excerpt from from the lyrics:

Racism lives in the U.S. today
Better get hip to what Martin Luther King had to say
I don’t want my kids being brought up this way
Hatred to each other is not okay
Well I’m not a preacher just a singer son
But I can see more work to be done
It’s what you do and not what you say
If you’re not part of the future then get out of the way

These words ring very true at this time and apply to many things from my personal life, to St. Louis, to the nation and world.

“It’s what you do and not what you say.”
Wow, so true.

To all you St. Louis “leaders” and the religious zealots out there:
You are not part of my future. Get the fuck out of my way!

Steve