Oh School Musicals...

Oh dear. Today I auditioned for my school's spring musical, Into the Woods, and boy did I fail. My drama teacher always tries to get me to participate in the annual plays and other activities that include acting, and I finally agreed to do the fall one-act plays. It was fun, I enjoyed myself, and apparently I did a good job. So, I thought to myself, wouldn't it be fun to do the musical!? Of course! I'd get to spend long hours at school after hours, hang out with all my friends, and act! Yipee! But then with a gasp I remembered that with a musical comes singing... uh oh... I don't generally get stage fright but when it comes to singing I freeze up like an ice sculpture. Well I voiced my concern to my drama teacher, and he spent 15 minutes trying to talk me into it by explaining how he would give me a role without a solo! Everything would be fine and dandy! and finished off his argument with the words "Darling, can anyone in this school actually sing?" (Of course, there are a few good singers, but it's basically true.) Then he calls over my friend Charles (who got the lead role in last year's musical Pippin) and has him describe his experience with the musical, to which Charles replies "Yeah, I was kinda reluctant to audition because I didn't want to sing. So he (my drama teacher) told me he'd give me a role without a solo, so I did it! And then I got the lead..." and my drama teacher immediately exclaims "Yes! See I lied! And I am probably lying right now!" Very reassuring...

Anyway, I handed in my audition form, psyched myself out of my my fear for a couple days and completely put off even looking at the song we were required to sing for the audition, until yesterday... the day before my audition... And I practiced, and I seemed to sing it adequately, I'm not a very skilled singer, so the best I could do. But as today wore on my nerves grew. And as everyone was warming up with our Chorus instructor before we broke up into pairs to rehearse I was actually shaking in fear. Thank god when it came to the actual audition the only people we had to perform in front of were our partner with whom we practiced a specific scene with, the Chorus teacher, and the drama teacher. But as soon as the piano started playing all my preparation flew out the window and I choked. Both times they had me sing. The second time, i got to the last few measures and just stopped singing. I think I saw my Chorus teacher wince. Thank god my acting seemed pretty good, and my drama teacher thinks I am a more than capable actress. But my god, it was probably one of the most terrifying moments of my life...

Inspirational Speech

So a guy came to speak at my school today about the Civil Rights movement and Rev. Martine Luther King jr.

It turns out that he was really close to the Reverend and Rosa Parks, and his life took place at the center of the whole movement. He began discussing political discourse and stated that he is beginning to see signs in the media today that remind him of the start of the Civil Rights movement. He told us about how he went from being raised in a family affiliated with the KKK to a Civil Rights Activist and in part of the story he mentioned that when he was called into the office of the Attorney General of Montgomery, Alabama after attending a sermon of King's to research the movement for a college paper, he was told "You have been influenced by communists." Apparently that was the common explanation for people supporting Civil Rights... Then he highlighted the fact that now, it's common to hear the PRESIDENT of the United States a "communist" or a "socialist". It's outrageous. And the similarities are terrifying.

He said something that really struck me, "Political discourse should reflect respect, or else it is a (hindrance?) to democracy." Because nothing people like Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck say seems to have any hint of respect for their opponent. Don't even get me started about Glenn Beck... our speaker even talked about some points that Glenn Beck has spoken of addressing 'his leadership in civil rights' and how our speaker was appalled to hear someone try to take the credit like that when it is so obviously false.

Also, earlier today I read an editorial in the New York Times by Paul Krugman called "The War on Logic". Much of the article was a little too partisan angry-liberal too me, I don't believe that the way to argue one's point is to just denounce your opponent. One should always maintain respect. Although I admit that I do go off every so often, it's hard to control sheer anger like that. But the last paragraph of the article really made spoke to me.

"Given that their minds were made up from the beginning, top Republicans weren’t interested in and didn’t need any real policy analysis — in fact, they’re basically contemptuous of such analysis, something that shines through in their health care report. All they ever needed or wanted were some numbers and charts to wave at the press, fooling some people into believing that we’re having some kind of rational discussion. We aren’t."

I haven't been able to read McCain's statement that he released yet, but I am eager to. I feel relief at the fact that Obama's former presidential opponent spoke up like that condemning the horrible behavior of late. At least some people in our government have compassion.

Shooting in Tucson

The shooting in Tucson, Arizona this past weekend has been stirring up a lot of talk in the Media and speeches about "Unity". But the far right are not even considering the possibility that anything they said could have compelled this man to attempt to assassinate a democratic congresswoman. I was driving home from school with my Dad the other day, and he brought up something he had heard on the news that day. I can't remember who exactly was speaking, he was a democratic, maybe a governor or a mayor, but they were discussing the shooting and the heated political rhetoric that has been growing more and more hostile as days go by. And he apologized for anything that he might have said that could have played a part in this horrible event. He probably had no reason to issue this apology, but in respect for the victims in the shooting and the recovering congresswoman he said it anyway! I have not hear one utterance from anyone in the republican party like this, they all claim that they did ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong. They may have, or maybe not, but they still won't even apologize for any slight detail they might have said that compelled this man to shoot innocent people. It's about compassion, and these people only have bitter pride.

Sarah Palin of course has been defending herself and her rhetoric as though someone is pointing a gun at her. (Which is the opposite of this situation) There has been talk about this map that she had posted on her website with CROSS-HAIRS over swing-districts with democratic congressmen and such. Since the incident she has removed the picture from her website but before she could take it off Facebook I copied it to my desktop, just in case. (I displayed it above) But she and others have exclaimed how it is ridiculous that this could have caused any effect on the shooter! It may not have effected him, or it may have. But pointing cross-hairs at democratic government officials... this woman is known for shooting moose from a helicopter and plenty of other gun-related issues. Most of her following support the right to own guns, and most of them probably own guns. Anyone with this background who follows this woman blindly could probably see this map as a sign that she wants them 'eliminated'. It's a possibility, I just think that it is irresponsible of someone to reference the act of SHOOTING SOMEONE in their political propaganda.