The Summer of George!

Here are some great things to look forward to this summer:

MOVIES:

Prince Caspian (May 16)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 23)

The Happening (June 13)

Wall-E (June 27)

The Dark Knight (July 18)

Honorable Mention:

American Teen (Jon, did you know there was a Warsaw, Indiana docu in the works?)
Religulous (no trailer yet)
Chapter 27
Wanted


MUSIC:

Coldplay - Viva La Vida (June 17)

I have great hopes for this album. But measured, great hopes. Parachutes and Rush were amazing, X&Y, not so much. And while there is always buzz and comparisons and whatnot, I have hopes. It's reportedly only 47 minutes long, and Apple's mom says it's brilliant. The first single drops tomorrow, for free.




MISCELLANEOUS:

Baby Bouse (a boy, in case you hadn't heard) will be here in only three-and-a-half short months. Clearly, the most exciting thing this summer - maybe ever (August 18).

Grrrrr.

This is why I hate stupid people.

This is why I hate church signs.

This is why I hate stupid people and their church signs.

Barack Obama - A Visit, A Question, and A Handshake

Senator and Presidential Candidate Barack Obama came to Muncie, Indiana today. Speaking at a Town Meeting in Irving Gym, he spoke for forty or so minutes before taking six or seven questions from the audience. And I asked the second question!

I'll admit, it wasn't a particularly tough question, or even a perfectly executed question, but I had given it thought, in the off chance that I would actually get to ask a question. Since I'm a committed Obama supporter, I didn't necessarily feel compelled to ask a policy-based question. Instead, being so new to the political sphere, I wanted to get his thoughts/advice/perspective on how we can engage others and encourage them to be active in the political process (that statement just now was far less biased than the actual question in the moment).

All-around good guy Kenny Brown was standing next to me and video taped (on a miniature handheld) the moment for posterity's sake. The video starts a few seconds late, but it covers Obama's entire response, with which, I was generally pleased.

The question I asked was this:

There are many of us, as you know, who are getting active for the first time in politics and being active at the grassroots level. What advice can you give us about how to be competent and confident to spread the word that you really are the real deal and you are going to bring change?

You can also listen to the full audio of the speech here. My question comes shortly after the half-way point.

Afterwards, Kenny and I worked our way up, tried to say a few words, and both got handshakes.

A Candidate's Visit - MLK and RFK

Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 4th, he was shot once and died. That same day, hours before, Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy came to Indiana and would forever tie together the legacy of these two men and our state.

Bobby Kennedy came to Ball State University that morning - he spoke to a capacity crowd in Irving Gym. If you'd like to read (all) or watch (part) of his speech that day, Ball State has provided some of their resources for your browsing.

Robert F. Kennedy at Ball State University

After leaving campus, shortly before boarding a plane at the Muncie Airport, Kennedy was notified of the tragedy of King's death. He appeared visibly shaken - this was a man who five years previously had lost his brother, our President, to an assassins bullet. The question quickly become, what of the planned event/speech in Indianapolis. In a predominantly black neighborhood.

Kennedy wanted to speak to them - he was determined. Indianapolis Police, along with recently elected (now Senator) Mayor Richard Lugar, refused to go with him or vouch for his safety. They escorted him to the outskirts of the neighborhood, and Kennedy, along with the press and his entourage, setup microphones out of the back of a pickup truck without protection.

What followed was Kennedy's greatest speech - and one of the greatest speeches in American History. Where riots broke out in 26 major U.S. in days to follow, with dozens dieing, hundreds injured - it seems that the words of Robert F. Kennedy calmed the rage, assuaged the fears, and comforted the hearts of Indianapolis.

And since we have the perspective of time passed, we know that Kennedy himself was to be gunned down just three months later.

Watch the video - do your best to ignore the foreign-language subtitles. This is the best version on YouTube - the longest and in color. The end includes the audio of Kennedy's assassination (take it or leave it). But seriously, this speech is impromptu, in the moment - powerful, raw, honest. You will tear up - or at least have a profound experience of chills.

So tomorrow, take a moment to remember the times that have come before.





Also check out this movie, free tomorrow at Madame Walker and to be a part of the Heartland Film Festival (thanks for this JPS): A Ripple of Hope

And - officially, American Rhetoric ranks this speech the 17th greatest in American history.