Community Organizing: Risks and Rewards

Tonight my roommie and I held a "holiday open house" for all the neighbors in our apartment building. Happily, though we invited outside friends for 'insurance', turns out we didn't need to (but it was great to have a couple more folks to add to some relaxing conversation).

So I guess the risk is...strangers from close proximity see a little bit of how we really live? That's not so bad. Reward: getting even a tiny bit of face time with folks with whom you, like it or not, have a significant and dependent relationship. You're counting on these people to help keep you and your worldly possessions safe, among other things.

Nice thing is, getting to know people this way gives space for another reward: new friendships. Roommie and I are already fantasizing about a building-wide craft night in the Spring! We'll see what happens. (though Lord knows, Maggie don't do no crafts to save her life!)

Christian in the Arts...are there any?

Let me clarify: I'm not only talking about art-ISTS here. I'm talking about people who are professionally or otherwise deeply engaged as leaders within the political and socioeconomic sector called "The Arts." To be sure, this could include folks who are artists or arts administrators or politicians or officers on the board of trustees within arts organizations.

I know I'm not the only Christian dedicated to serving the arts in Pittsburgh. But I do fall to the temptation of 'bad attitude' when it seems clear, in my little world, that my political and spiritual views are truly repulsive to many folks in the very industry I've dedicated my life to! This affects me on a personal level. It's not 'just business' try as I might.

I'm quickly reminded of my experience at Urbana 2006 where I participated in the Arts Track and had the delight of meeting many talented and accomplished arts professionals and students. The most important take-away from it was Dick Ryan's (InterVarsity's regional arts coordinator) advice to find fellow Christians in your sphere and get together regularly, even if only monthly, and even if only to pray. Dick understands the high value of fellowship and community in the arts world, not only as a self-help measure, but as a witness to God's existence. Have I taken his advice yet? Of course not!

Okay, so I acknowledge this solution, but can't make this happen overnight. What's a savvy young Christian arts administrator to do then? Turn to the Internet of course!

This is the extreme tip of the iceberg:

Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA) is having a conference in June for artsy Christian folks. I almost cried watching the homepage web video of all these arts managers sharing their love for God and their love for the arts. It was like a message from the mothership!

Cam Anderson--who I will always remember as the director of my month-long-in-the-woods Student Leadership Training with InterVarsity 13 years ago--has apparently just been appointed Executive Director of Christians in the Visual Arts. How cool!

Okay, not alone. Now that we're feeling better, let's 'go there' with a vintage blog post about conservatives and the role they should play if any at all in the arts marketplace. A taste:

Socially there is also the problem of the lack of interest in the arts among so-called conservatives who persist in seeing Beauty as superfluous, secondary to the material goals of the free market. Just as the left gives lip service to supporting the arts (so long as the arts are seen as good team players), the American right gives lip service to a few complaints that there are no conservatives involved in the arts. Read more...

Okay, I feel your eyes rolling. "Christians are not necessarily conservatives, Maggie. Yours is a political problem." Thoughts?

I don't follow Mary Chapin Carpenter; can't even tell you what songs are on this CD. But I came across this image the other day and immediately made it my desktop background. It is one of the most strikingly beautiful images I've ever seen. I wish I could blow it up bigger for you. Something about the whole composition--from the sweeping typeface to the golden tree radiating from the center--takes my breath away.

Waiting to Exhale

Today I "came out" to one of my co-workers about my stance on gay marriage. Awkwardly and haltingly, I explained that yes, I was like all those black voters in California who voted yes on Proposition 8.

[It's funny how that saying about "what you fear will come upon you" (a marginal reading on an Old Testament verse) comes true sometimes. I'm in Houston, TX at the National Arts Marketing Conference, and I just "knew" this issue would come up at some point.]

My fear? That after being forced to state my position--which of course would be terribly constructed and woefully unconvincing; at best sounding sadly naive--I would be dragged out to the hotel parking lot, reamed out, beaten up, and left under an SUV.

That didn't happen. At least not the second part.

There were three of us women, sitting at a table networking between workshops and the conversation eventually led to this topic. To my relief, it was my colleague who defended me after the other lady accused black people of causing the results of the CA vote. I'm sure this lady thought I'd roll my eyes in agreement, with visible shame. But as cowardly as I am, I could not sit there and allow them to think that. Something in me knew it would only come back to haunt me later (the Holy Spirit, perhaps).

Anyhoo, I felt closer to my friend from work after that moment, realizing it was I who did the thing to her that I feared she would do to me: assume that because she is openly gay and I do not support gay marriage, she would hate and condemn me. In fact, she expressed a little concern that I may no longer want to lunch with her (though I'm pretty sure this was a joke)!

So many emotions: relief and gratitude that God allowed the event to happen without destroying me, surprise at my friend who I regard as even more delightful, mature, and lovely than I did before, anger at Christian brothers and sisters who have made this whole thing harder through cold and hateful actions, annoyance at people who assume that loving the arts means you support homosexuality, fear about how this revelation may yet still affect my relationships at work, and disgust at myself for being so cowardly and self-absorbed.

O Lord! Make me compassionate, strong, loving, and peaceful in this and all things you care deeply about.

We'll be back after these messages...

I'm putting off the bit about my grandmother for a post or two (See Nov. 5), until I have time to do it justice.

Also, a momentary break from politics to share today's Revelation for Self-Actualization:

Self-esteem is earned, not given.

Recently spoke to a friend who happens to be an amazingly accomplished, talented, experienced, and attractive person, and yet still expresses doubt in her gifts and abilities. This is despite their obvious value (HER obvious value) to everyone else. As a fellow first-born, I could totally relate, as I think this problem tends to strike us a bit harder, though it's certainly not limited to a birth order.

Can't remember where I heard the above axiom, but I now believe it to be completely true. I have been blessed to also know people who have an uncanny, unshakable, and truly unpretentious perspective on themselves. But then I'm asking, why can't I be like that? What do they have that I don't?

Self-esteem. An internally-eminating assurance that they're basically 'okay.' At least one significant commonality I can see: people with self-esteem have taken risks and have met with success. Even better, they may have failed, tried again, and then seen success. Perhaps the level of self-esteem is proportional to the level of struggle-induced success one has experienced.

I can say that I have seen this in my own life, too. Areas within which I have observed real results (such as executing a direct marketing campaign and seeing actual $$$ increase), I seem to have true confidence. Other areas (such as jazz singing) where the feedback has been mostly just external praise or even failure, the most I can offer is a false humility (insecurity desperate for more praise/comfort).

Hmmm. I'm not liking the implication of what I need to DO with this insight (take more risks?). So let's go to your thoughts! ;)

Day One

The morning after, random white people were eerily nice to me today:

The older white woman bus driver enthusiastically thanked me for showing her my bus pass upon entry.

The young female barista at Starbucks was noticeably more energetic and talkative. Loudly inquiring, "How are you doing today??" and "Have a great day today, okay?"

On my way out of Starbucks, a middle-aged white man in a gray suit made an effort to head me off at the pass in order to hold the door open for me (and no, he wasn't leering at all).

Then there were at least two random black women, probably around my age or a little older, who caught my eye and exchanged knowing grins with me. This was all before I got to work this morning. It only takes me 30 minutes to get to work (including the coffee run).

You see, Pittsburghers are a polite people. We understand politics is not appropriate small talk with strangers. However, that doesn't keep us from expressing our feelings in other ways!

I won't even tell you about the voicemail I received from my late grandmother (okay, maybe on my next post).

Photo: Central Area School Council Election (BlackPast.org)

The next first day of the rest of our lives

On the eve of this most historic election, thought I'd share a couple things that I recently found helpful, both in informing myself of the issues, and attempting to stay spiritually centered in the midst of it all.

http://vote-pa.org/ Even if you don't live in PA (you can just switch to your state on the same site), it gives a "sample" ballot for your locale and a side-by-side comparison of all candidates on the issues, culled from various sources. I'm guessing most of you don't "need" this for tomorrow, but I think it's a great resource as we go in the future (you mean, Wednesday will not be armageddon?)

http://www.acac.net Click on the PODCAST button on this page and go to our pastor's sermon for 10/26/08 called Guarding Your Soul during Election Time. I must say, it was both convicting and encouraging, a must listen for all of us praying for God's Will in this election and in our own lives.
If for some reason you still do not have iTunes, here is the very unembellished outline: 1) Do not idolize political candidates. 2) Do not demonize opponents. 3) Do not politicize your faith. But listen to the podcast!

Finally, I was reminded by a friend today to pray against the spirit of confusion that continues to try to muddy the issues as well as deceive folks into thinking they can't vote at all.

May God have mercy on U.S.

Who's to blame?

Since my last post, a friend has pointed out to me that just because the plan makes some logical sense, doesn't mean one should put their trust (i.e. $700 billion) in the hands of unproven, politically entangled leaders. Point taken.

After several one-on-one conversations, and reading articles and email discussions on the topic, there is at least one common thing that most all of us "little people" agree on, no matter what our political leanings: 'make the corporate CEOs pay! Do not give any more of our money to these greedy, manipulative pumpkin-heads!' (Sorry, my roommate and I were just talking about the pumpkin bread she made this week.)

I must say I agree. It's a bit of scapegoating, but by all accounts, decades overdue.

But I also do so with trepidation. I mean, who of us doesn't have more than we need? Am I giving all of my disposable income to the poor? Even us little people operate day-to-day with a socially-acceptable level of greediness, I think. Came across this convicting excerpt in The Week magazine (Oct. 3, 2008 issue):

Perhaps we should all look in the mirror, said Dean Calbreadth in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The real culprit in this American nightmare is not the convervative belief in free markets, or the liberal fondness for regulation. It's our national addiction to spending money we don't have. From Wall Street to Main Street and across the political spectrum, Americans long ago stopped believing in the importance of "living within their means." We've grown used to having whatever we want--cars, flat-panel TVs, flashy furniture, pricey clothing, and yes, houses--and figuring out ever-more creative ways to postpone the day that the bill comes due. That ugly day has now arrived.

Your thoughts?

Not actually a 'bailout'

I have felt confused and dismayed by all the financial talk this week. Found these off-the-cuff remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that I found helpful. He apparently tried to explain his plan, which is actually rooted in economic science. Not being an expert, I'm not completely sure where the flaws are, but at least it's explained without political rhetoric. Thought I'd share:

"Let me come to the critical point: I believe that under the Treasury program, auctions and other mechanisms could be devised that will give the market good information on what the hold-to-maturity price is for a large class of mortgage-related assets. If the Treasury bids for and then buys assets at a price close to the hold-to-maturity price, there will be substantial benefits.

"First, banks will have a basis for valuing those assets and will not have to use fire sale prices. Their capital will not be unreasonably marked down. Second, liquidity should begin to come back to these markets. Third, removal of these assets from balance sheets and better information on value should reduce uncertainty and allow the banks to attract new private capital. Fourth, credit markets should start to unfreeze. New credit will become available to support our economy. And fifth, taxpayers should own assets at prices close to the hold-to-maturity values, which minimizes their risk.

"Now how to make this work. To make this work, we do need flexibility in design of mechanisms for buying assets and from whom to buy. We do not know exactly what the best design is. That will require consultation with experts and experience with alternative approaches.

"Second, understanding the concerns and the worries of the committee, we cannot impose punitive measures on the institutions that chose to sell assets. That would eliminate or strongly reduce the participation and cause the program to fail.

"Remember the beneficiaries of this program are not just those who sell the assets, but all market participants in the economy as a whole.

"But finally and very importantly, this is not to say the financial institution should not be reformed. It should be, it's critical. I agree with the Treasury secretary, the Federal Reserve will give full support to fundamental reform of the financial industry.

"But whatever reforms the Congress makes should apply to the whole industry, whether they participate in this program or not. So in summary, I believe that under the Treasury authority being requested, a program can be undertaken that will help establish reasonable hold-to-maturity prices for these assets.

"Doing that will restore confidence and liquidity to financial markets and help the economy recover without an unreasonable fiscal burden on taxpayers. So I urge you to act as soon as possible. Thank you."

Enough Already

Okay. You know I love the Olympics, but in terms of media coverage, I think we need to set some boundaries on:

• Michael Phelps' mom
  
• Beach volleyball (I think the fascination here is, "Hey, I could do that!" Also, nearly naked women in bikinis.)
• Images of President Bush pretending he can play beach volleyball.

A little more weightlifting and archery, please. What are some of your favorite Olympic sports that we hardly ever see?

Olympic Sponsors, Part I

I was intrigued by VISA's rather confident statement in its commercials, that it is the only credit card accepted at the Olympics. So as a marketing-phile, naturally, I questioned: is that really true? And how much does it take to own the Olympics?

As usual in marketing, the answer to the first question is both yes and no.

I love the Opening Ceremonies

I think because it reminds me, ever so faintly: this will be heaven. Every nation and ethnic group, in all their glorious and unique pageantry. But in divine and utterly complete peace, joy--and love for one another. The lights, fireworks, and costumes God will put together will surely dwarf even our most high-tech Olympic ceremonies.


Especially the costumes. Who the heck thought Ralph Lauren should design the US costumes? They were very boring and tres snooty. On the other hand, perhaps they accurately reflect how the US feels about itself right now; uptight.

I was impressed that after Kobe Bryant joins in a photo op with athletes from Bulgaria(?), he shook the guys' hands, and you heard him ask, "How do you say thank you [in your language]?"