Showing posts with label united states. Show all posts
Showing posts with label united states. Show all posts

Say Nothing, Do Nothing, Be Nothing



When is it ever okay to witness suffering and do nothing about it?

I can't help but respond to the response to my call of action, which resounds as a call of apathy.

Much love, and I am excited about the dialogue, but I am saddened because the perspective exhibited in this post is not uncommon. 

It must be comforting to discuss human suffering in the most self-removed and theoretical methods. On both sides of the fence, the self-righteous and the indifferent, at their worst are doing nothing. What fails to happen, regardless of their stance, is an honest engagement with their discomfort. 

Even those who seem to not care at all--and watching the playoffs isn't the only criteria for not caring...in fact, I don't believe anyone gives their all to the struggle until it reaches their doorstep--have not engaged their discomfort.

And if you've seen the aftermath of this fighting and are not uncomfortable at all, then I believe you have breached your contract with civil society.

Of course a conflict between two states boils down to a struggle for power. 

Yes, citizens of a state have an obligation to hold their government responsible.

But, in this day and age, when we are more globally connected then ever, placing the limits to our civil society within our own nation is outdated. 

That line of thinking is isolationist, utterly selfish and provides a slippery slope that potentially justifies inaction when acts of genocide (apparently the only act smartblackboy feels justifies other nations peeking over the fence) occur. 

It is not a matter of doing what's right simply because so many innocent (I cannot help but assume your definition of "innocent civilian" is framed by making the American experience a universal experience) people are caught in the middle of this. Rather, it is understanding that we are far too connected to view this as their problem. 

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Fantasy is Reality



It's been awfully quiet in the digital halls of Art Star recently...


Shout out to my fellow bloggers who have kept the computers putin but it's been over a week and I think I am finally ready to talk about the election.

I'm not here to gloat, nor rub a little extra salt in the wound for the five McCain supporters who read this blog. Ironically, I'm here to talk about how speechless I've been.

We've all fantasized about something. Whether it's money, finding that special someone, or achieving something incredible, we all try to plan out our reaction. 

Two episodes come to mind as I dig through the archives. First, meeting my pops when I was 13. I planned to be really angry, tell him about all the missed birthdays and achievements. Instead, we traded jokes, told stories, and--with my mom there to share the moment--felt the closest I've ever been to having a "nuclear" family. 

I also remember a moment the following year in tenth grade (your boy had smarts!). I had a "Doug" moment and completely botched asking this girl out. I planned it out in my mind, swagger was at a solid 175, and did everything but write a speech, but in the moment I could not find the right words.

The day after the election, I called my Grandma to get her reaction. My grandma came to the United States in the 60s, witnessing progress and brutality, so I wanted to know if she thought she would ever see a day when the President would be darker than she is. 

"No sah, never thought I would live fi see dis."

Funny thing is, I never thought I would either. A part of our fantasies that make them so wonderful is this feeling that reality is suspended. Fantasies are our treasure. Doesn't need to make sense or compromise with our shortcomings. They can just be.

So given this, how could I find the words when on Nov. 4th, the fantasies of formerly enslaved people, a dream for millions who would never live to see it realized, broke the "rules" and became reality? 

In spite of all my planned proclamations, and dreams of running in the streets, I was left pleased and utterly speechless.

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Art Star Projects Barack Obama Next President of The United States of America


At 9:47 p.m. Eastern Time, Art Star would like to be the first major information outlet to project Barack Obama as the next president of the United States of America.

After a careful view of the electoral map, even giving John McCain every remotely concievable state that is still in play - it is impossible for him to win the election (Basically California, Oregon, and Washington won't be anything but blue).

So let us be the first in celebrating the next president of the United States of America - Barack Obama.

We made history tonight.

The first African-American president in the history of the United States.

We wish president-elect Obama every success in his upcoming term - for the good of all Americans.

God Bless Barack Obama and God Bless America.

Love,

Art Star

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Funny Cat Pictures (Art Star's Top Ten Weirdest Things)



This morning someone informed me that "I'm weird".

Well, after that shock of the century, I decided it was about time for another top ten list.

So without further ado:

Art Star's Top Ten Weirdest Things (part 1)

1. Getting Your Penis Pierced

Maybe it is just me but WHY!? When does it become a good idea to put a bar of metal through your johnson? Does it do anything for the girl? Does it do anything for the guy? Does it not hurt as much as it seems it would!? Please if anyone has either gotten the good ol "Prince Albert" or has been with someone who has...leave a comment.

2. Ugh Boots

Commonly referred to as UGG Footwear - these things are just weird. First they have been around for a long time and were practical and useful for people living in COLD climates. Then some poor kids in New York started wearing them because they were cheap and wanted to make a statement. Then celebs in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA thought they were the best thing since sliced bread. So - Uggs became the fashion staple for a certain type of white chick. To top it all off all of this nonsense set off a huuuge trade war between the United States and Australia. Not to mention - UGGs are UGLY. okay i'm done.

3. The United States of America

We are the good guys. We are the best country in the world. We uphold freedom and democracy. Yet, we had slavery til 1867, decide its okay for women to vote in 1920 (we were able to have a world war before a woman got to vote) second class citizens til 1965, disenfranchisement til well that's still happening, we have used the atomic bomb on civilians twice, we have conducted unlawful experiments on our citizens (Tuskegee and MK-ULTRA), assassinated many a foreign leader, but let genocide slide, oh and we have been torturing folk like it's going out of style for the last seven years in our secret prisons around the world.

I love my country. I am a neo-realist. But we are weird.

4. Those "Funny" Kitten Pictures

I won't lie - some of them are really funny. Still, who are the people who are taking all of these? Who was sitting around one day and decided I will catch my kitten in compromising positions, snap a photo, put a caption using internet slang (aka bad misspellings), and then post it on the internet. People with that much free time should do something useful...like write a blog...damn.

Since I know you want to...feel free to post your favorite cat pictures in the comments

5. Furries

Okay, this is a direct result of the #4. I understand many sexual kinks, but I just don't get furries. I mean how do you have sex if you are dressed up in fur suits...? Actually I don't really want to know. Seriously though if you are a furry or if you are friends of a furry - please leave a comment and explain this to me.

To Be Continued...(dum, dum, dum)

Tune in tomorrow for part 2 (and feel free to leave a suggestion of something weird)

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