CEDRIC-CHA.BLOGSPOT.COM: May 2009

Monday, May 25, 2009

#443: I can't help falling in

"I'm gonna do what that guy couldn't- I'm gonna take the plunge... Well, I guess that's not a perfect metaphor since... for me it's falling in love and for him it's... death."

"Actually, that is a perfect metaphor."

Friday, May 22, 2009

#442: Just 'Cause It's '442'

My Dream Team

Iker Casillas
Real Madrid & Spain
Goalkeeper

Daniel Alves
FC Barcelona & Brazil
Rightback

Nemanja Vidic
Manchester United & Serbia
Centreback

John Terry
Chelsea FC & England
Centreback

Joan Capdevilla
Villareal CF & Spain
Leftback

Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United & Portugal
Right Winger

Steven Gerrard
Liverpool FC & England
Centre Midfielder

Andres Iniesta
FC Barcelona & Spain
Centre Midfielder

Lionel Messi
FC Barcelona & Argentina
Left Winger

Andrey Arshavin
Arsenal & Russia
Playmaker

Fernando Torres
Liverpool FC & Spain
Forward

Saturday, May 16, 2009

#441: Say Hello to My Boss

Friday, May 15, 2009

#440: Another Bowl of Jon Foreman

There's something broken with the system.

As a musician, I have a natural aversion to politicians. In fact, I believe in democracy simply because I distrust all politicians equally.

And yet, I have a tremendous amount of faith and belief in humanity. When it comes to folks outside of the power schemes I might even trust people too much. I am ruthlessly idealistic, hopelessly optimistic. I believe the best in people. That's why I have to do something, because I feel that if people knew the truth, they would feel the same as I do. They would feel that something has to be done. They would care and things would change.

President Barack Obama last week requested a $1.5 billion emergency appropriation to deal with a flu outbreak that has killed 3 people in the US. I believe this action was in response to a nation experiencing "what could potentially be the biggest national emergency since Y2K" (genius comparison courtesy of glenn phillips.)

An estimated 300,000 folks have already died in Darfur and we do nothing... $0.00. And three people die of the flu and we spend $1.5 billion to figure things out. $1,500,000,000.00

I understand the need for precautionary measures but this feels like reactionary spending when I am reminded of the 2,500,000 people whose lives hang in the balance in displacement camps? What can be done for them? don't tell me nothing.

Obama: "We can't ignore the genocide in Darfur... We have to do everything in our power to make it stop. We have to act. Now."

Nothing? Years and years go by... and still... nothing...

Our national inaction sends the simple message that a whole crowd of Sudanese souls are not worth as much as an American with the flu. "Surely this is not true!" we protest. And yet our actions speak louder than our words.

There's something broken with the system.

We the people of the United States of America... We are the system. We are the media. We are the government. We are the twittering public. We the people of the United States of America... we own this place. We decide who is President. We pick the next American Idol. Obama our leader, is in many ways a follower of his people. In a state where the vote of the populous determines the next face of the government, a politician must listen to his/her constituents to remain in power. I believe nothing was done for Darfur because Obama doesn't think the public cares about Darfur.

Perhaps we can blame the media- perhaps the public doesn't care because they are uninformed, or at least under-informed? Yes, but in many ways "the news" is simply a vendor trying to sell a product, we tell them (with our viewing, purchasing power) what product sells. Britney, Brangelina, or Bosnia. We choose the news.

And now for the staggering fact: you and I are the problem and the solution.

Read the rest of his blog here.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

#439: A Crystal Post

I arrived home in San Diego early this morning, back from a run of shows up the coast with Switchfoot. The sun is setting over the pacific and my hair is still wet from an evening surf. In the distance I can hear the whistle of the Amtrak from LA heading south. I'm grateful to be home, grateful to have a place to live, grateful to have been given another breath alive on this planet.

But today my thoughts are divided, split between two worlds. As the sun sets over California it begins to rise over Darfur. The same sun. The same planet. Can it be possible that right now, two and a half million people are waking up in camps and refugee camps having been driven from their homes by violent means? Under the same sun, could it be true that almost half a million people have died of starvation, violence, and disease over the past six years in Darfur? Is this true?!

And if this is true, why has the media remained almost completely silent on the issue? Why has our government maintained it's current stance of inaction?

When presidential hopeful Obama was running for office he stated that "We can't ignore the genocide in Darfur. The international community can't turn a blind eye when children are being slaughtered and women are being raped. We have to do everything in our power to make it stop. We have to act. Now."

Nothing has happened.

And yet the sun is still rising over Darfur. And the sun still rises over me. And the sun still rises over capital hill... the same sun.

Today we celebrate mother's day with our moms and grandmothers. My thoughts drift overseas to the mother who is just now waking up, wondering whether she'll be able to give her children anything to eat.

Tomorrow I begin a three day fast for Darfur. Why fast? Because quite frankly, I can't think of a better idea. I reckon the best way to enter into the suffering of a group of people halfway around the world is to start with the basics. These folks are fasting without alternative, for three days I will fast with them.

Have a bowl of Jon Foreman.