Come On, Glee

Starting this project again - just for me.

As a musical theater fan and former show choir nerd I was naturally drawn to Glee. The covers of old songs combined with the talents of the likes of Lea Michelle sucked me in along with the masses. I understand why it's popular as the show format is practically my ideal.

Last Fall I stopped watching Glee. The story lines were too much for me. I'm a married woman in her late twenties. I have seen a bit of the world. I know that not everyone shares my beliefs or standards. I know that often when creatives are given a platform in popular media they naturally use it as a personal soap box. Maybe that's the case with Glee. I understand all of that. However, what I can't get past is the fact that 1) I don't feel like it's a good representation of the masses and 2) that it gives kids who wouldn't feel a natural inclination to homosexuality the opinion that trying everything is fine.

My first concern is an age old question - does art imitate life or does life imitate art? They may not have been trying to identify with the masses as every school and community is different. I have a hunch that they were going for some identifiable qualities in their characters and story lines (otherwise they'd have an audience who couldn't relate...and then no audience). I teach high school kids in Sunday School once a week. They aren't trying to sleep with "cougars", getting drunk on the weekends, or dealing with teen pregnancy.  "Duh," you say, "they are going to Sunday School once a week. That should tell you something." To this I say exactly. They go to church and they worry about getting good grades, going to school dances, hanging out with friends, and what I consider other regular high school problems. They are part of the masses but where is their representation except to be mocked and in need of a "New Christianity, where you still pray but get with the times." (Quote from the most recent episode that yes, I did watch to see the tribute to Whitney. It inspired this post and reminded me why I stopped.) Either God is real and his laws true, or they're not. We don't need men (and by men, I include Glee) to update the rules to get with the times.

My second concern may concern readers. I am not homophobic. I am not anti-gay. I know people have same gender attraction just like I have opposite gender attraction. I guess I have to explain this by first saying that I saved myself for marriage - a feat long since considered impossible by popular opinion. Even funnier, I know lots of people who did as well. I think all of that is something to be controlled and contained until you are within the bonds of marriage. How does this fit with my second Glee concern? I think kids having sex in high school is one thing, but making it seem down right old hat to dabble in homosexuality for kicks makes it feel like premature sexuality is not just a temptation but a hobby. Can we really be so casual about something so sacred? Again, I know not everyone believes the same things I do but can we not all agree that seeing these things on TV gives our children the impression that "everyone has sex in high school" and "trying things out is no big deal."

What Glee has forgotten to mention is that along with all the sex comes STDs (especially a high number of partners), lowered self esteem and greater risk for teen pregnancy? Yes, Quinn got pregnant and quickly delivered a beautiful (and probably 2 month old) baby covered in a little bit of jam. Not real life folks. If you want to hear how messy and stinky sex is and how painful and disgusting labor and delivery is and how your body will never be what it once was and how your sleep deprivation will make you forget words (some of which you probably haven't even learned in the first place because you're 16), come see me. I'm happy to tell you all I know.

Until then, I won't be watching Glee or Vampire Diaries or any of the other supposedly "teen" shows with way too much going on. What happened to the Cosby's and their family dinners, home work, and sibling banter? What happened to Urkle and his science experiments?  Or Jessie Spano on Saved By the Bell taking "caffine pills" to stay up and study so she could get into Stanford? Yes, these are dated but I guarantee they have themes that are more consistent with your every day high school kid and don't bother with sex. (Except that one time that the big TV producer wanted to make out with Kelly Kapowski, or is it that he wanted her to smoke after doing the "Say No" ad... I digress.)

So Glee, I love your music but come on.

Choose It

September 24
Choose It.

"It's just the way I am."
"If you don't like what I do, you don't like me."
"I can't help it."

One things is clear, we don't like to take responsibility for our actions. It's someone else's fault; from our spouse to our parents, and even "mother nature." Why are we so scared to take responsibility? Is it because our choices reflect who we "are" and we are afraid to take an honest look at our lives? Reality is, no one's perfect. We all have faults. But we also all have a choice.

We can choose our actions and our reactions. We can choose our friends. We can choose to have no enemys. We can't choose our family but we can choose how to treat them. We can choose our attitude, our lifestyle, our entertainment, our food, our drink.

You can choose right now, today, to change something in your life that you don't like. And it's all you. Choose it.

Technology

September 23
Technology

Right now I am talking to a friend. My friend is far away in Japan and yet I can see her clear as day, hear her like she's in this room. Technology is a miracle in a lot of ways. Some of it's a nuisance. Most of it I could do without. But thanks to Skype, the internet, webcams, and speakers I am hanging out with my friend from thousands of miles away.

Mere Chrstianity

September 22
Mere Christianity

Yesterday a friend lent me a 1971 printed copy of the book "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. You know a book is good when the preface moves you. You know something is good when you find yourself nodding along to ink on paper. You know something is good when every deep sense in you tells you that what you are reading doesn't just make sense, it's true. So many wonderful jewels can be found in this tiny little book.

I am usually speeding through books because I want to know the end of the story or I want to get on to the next series but with this 190 page treasure, I am pacing myself, one chapter a day so I can soak it in.

Miscommunication

September 21
Miscommunication

Have you ever fought with a loved one and realized half way through the fight that you're no longer even talking about the topic but about the way you are talking about the topic?

I think fighting it out once in a while is healthy. Air it out, I say, but do it in love realizing that the outcome you want is not to be further apart, but closer together even if you don't see eye to eye. (And how can you if he's 6'2" and you're 5'4"?)

There's nothing more in the moment than a heated argument. Too bad you mostly fight about the past, things that cannot be changed, or the future, things that you have no control over. All you have control over is yourself and how you react to the fight.

I walked it off (ran it off is more like it) and visited a friend. By the time I got home the fight in us was gone and clarity of thinking reigned. It was all just a miscommunication.

September 20
Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig


Jeff got home from his trip tonight. It was not a reunion of the likes of Twilight or even a sappy chick flick. He put his suitcase in the trunk, got in the car, and gave me a familiar smile. I love his face. I love what he adds to our home. I'm so glad he's back.

Chocolat

September 19
Chocolat

Today was glorious. I ate delicious chocolate in many forms and watch the movie Chocolat for the first time. It was fabulous. I highly recommend it.

I love to be with friends. I love that we can talk openly on a variety of subjects. Everyone needs a sounding board and I am grateful for mine.