optimism

as self conscious as i am about having purchased an issue of vanity fair recently, i feel compelled to share what the experience has stirred up. those who know me (and those who don't) can easily guess what might have grabbed my attention about this particular cover (1 of 20 by annie leibovitz). however, the eye-candy was only a ploy to get me to read the quote next to mr. durden's famous face; "a person is a person through other persons; you can't be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships." -archbishop desmond tutu (also pictured). though it was said in quite a different context, this quote initially grabbed my attention based upon its relevance to the work that i do. i have not previously spent a great deal of time conducting fact-finding-missions, etc. to learn the ins & outs of all that is happening in africa (something i'm neither proud nor ashamed of), i've pretty much left it up to bono and the cast of ocean's 13 to do their thing... but i AM glad to have had my curiosity piqued enough to start learning more now. i can't begin to describe here all that is needed and/or all that is already happening related to the great need in africa, and i won't try. but i do urge all, who haven't, to begin learning more. this special issue of vanity fair is a surprisingly good place to start; "this is an emergency-normal rules don't apply. there are no easy good or bad guys. do you think an african mother cares if the drugs keeping her child alive are thanks to an ipod or a church plate? or a democrat or republican? i don't think that mother gives a damn about where that 20-cent pill comes from, so why should we. it can lead to some uncomfortable bedfellows, but sometimes less sleep means you are more awake." -bono.
the thing that struck me most about all of this is the great many ways that all of these celebrities, politicians, business leaders, religious leaders, philanthropists, etc... are not only publicly lamenting the conditions in africa, but have actually designed and begun to implement mechanisms for real change. this is not just an impressive array of spokespersons, they have become a driving force. as trite as it may sound, it is so encouraging to see these -who have so much- to truly find ways to use their celebrity and wealth to make a difference, and create ways for the rest of us to make a contribution, even through buying a little white bracelet, an ipod, clothes, etc.
i realized that, as much as i see myself ultimately as an optimistic person at the core, i had begun to adopt a view of world politics, environmental issues, poverty, etc. that was sort of gloomy in terms of the big picture. this all has given me pause. on a related note, through a conversation on sunday, i learned of some innovations related to transportation. the tesla roadster is an electric car, not a hybrid, and it will kick your ass (0-60 in 4.5 sec). it is being marketed to the ultra-rich right now in order to increase the appeal, and funding needed to develop the technology to be more affordable for everyone else.

this is another recent example, for me, of things moving in the right direction, giving real hope for a better future, rather than watching us slowly (sometimes not so slowly) destroy eachother and ourselves.

finally, as a lovely sonic backdrop for all of this, i highly recommend sufjan stevens' live song majesty, snowbird (supposedly from a forthcoming oregon-themed album). it feels good.