I’m losing my religion

People let me paint a picture

you know I ain’t a Christian

I ain’t a Muslim ain’t a Jew I’m losin’ my religion

I speak to God directly

I know my God respect me

cuz He let me breathe His air and He really bless me

- Talib Kweli

This Christianity shtick is tiring on me real quick, real talk.

The more I speak to the people who I considered to be really true to the “religion”, the more I find out about them, some friends, some friends or family of friends, some coworkers, some who work in ministry, the more jaded toward this religion, this rubbish religion based on the most glorious book ever created, I become.

This is not a complaint, or an attack on those people, it is merely a written stream-of-consciousness observation. I love the Lord God with all my heart, mind and soul, I am perfect by no means, but God has maintained a daily place in my life through prayer, the Bible, and other things for about as long as I’ve been able to speak. I personally can speak to the great things God can do in and for a person, which is what makes me extra sad about the state of American Christianity, or the sects of which I’ve been exposed to, today.

It amazes me, first of all, that any one Christian or church that consists of any number of them, can even dare to wade into the political arena. Story time, ya’ll.

04′ election time rolls around, I’m 7 months into the 16th year of my life, going into church when I spy, with my little eye, in the lobby, a pamphlet about the election. Issue #1: political material in a church, sanctioned by the leadership thereof. Imagine the inverse: anti-religious material in the halls of a governmental institution’s walls would set off…. excuse my French, but I know large numbers of these people, a raging shitstorm of Christian fervor in churches from Attleboro to Athens. It’s a simple chart. on the far left, a brief, 5-10 word summation of a hot-button election issue, along the lines of “supports our right to blah blah” with each candidate’s, Kerry’s and Bush’s, boiled down to a Yes or No. Issue #2: hot button election issues can be decided with a yes or no…..since when?! To my knowledge, no candidate is ever asked if he or she supports the consumption of human young, the shooting of the elderly at point blank range, or burning of foreign leaders in effigy. Support of abortion rights is never, even for the most liberal politician, a full stop yes. Because an untempered yes would mean they supported abortion wherever, whatever, for whatever reason, any day under the sun from sea to baby-killing sea. GTFOH. One’s support of  No Child Left Behind, even those who still stand by the ill-planned, perpetual failure of a program, is rarely a full yay or nay.

But we haven’t even gotten to the fun part yet. At the end of a service my pastor, who I love and respect immensely on a personal level, takes out one of these and tells people to “look at this for your guidance on who to vote for, on who is in line with God’s word.” Oh, yeah, did I mention this was printed by none other than Focus on The Family? Cuz it was. The same focus on the family who’s radio co-host had to resign because of an affair, wherein he had started another secret family? Same guys, folks, I BS you not.

People clapped and cheered and Amen’d their sheepish hearts out.

Now, you may say, “Jordan, you’re just pissed cuz Kerry didn’t win!” Not true at all. I’d be mad had they written a  glowing, starry eyed endorsement of John “Friggin’ weirdo if you ever meet me in person” Kerry. The point is that this smacks of voting from/for the pulpit. When other groups, like gays, muslims, pro-choicers, vote for a candidate en masse, the Christian right cries foul, then turns around and does the same thing for the opposite candidate, and invokes the name of God and uses the Bible to assure people of not only their right, but their duty to do so.

Think about it for a second. A man given an arbitrary position of authority in an institution set up in order to worship a GOD stands up and tells people, using this GOD’S words, in no uncertain terms, sometimes mentioning names, sometimes not, who to vote for and why, and no one bats an eye. GOD Himself never steps up to the podium and says “Hey, this is my dude, got to the polls to the 4th and let’s get him in there!” No, never once happened, never will. The practice flies in the face of true democracy. I’m part of a labor union, and even LABOR UNIONS aren’t this forward. A union will endorse a candidate as an entity, however each member is free to vote for whomever they so choose, with minimal sway from superiors in most cases. A church will throw its support behind a candidate, use God’s words spoken to man to back up their claim, and then pray that “righteousness and righteous leaders would be appointed and reign in the land.” If you’ve never been to church, that’s Jesus-speak for “here’s the guy that’s going to allow us more say in the lives of ordinary people, God says so based on Passage A, and now let’s pray to him that we win, cuz he’s on our side, guys!”

Again, GTFOH.

Churches spend tens of millions of dollars on campaigns to shut down bills and propositions, and fractions of the bills spent there goes to OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THESE BILLS AND PROPOSITIONS.

Jesus was clear about what he could get with and what he couldn’t, but I missed the part where Jesus said “If you don’t like homos gettin’ hitched, spend 10 million dollars to stop them from doing so with lies and fear-mongering, but screw ministering to the homos personally, cuz personally, me and my dad could care less where they spend eternity, just make sure they don’t get to marry under the watchful eyes of the law.” I remember Jesus saying “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, give to God what is His.”

Another thing that pisses me off? Hypocrisy. I was recently told by a person I met in the church I had a narrow view of things, for a political, albeit areligious post I had made on Facebook. Something about Republican politicians hating gays, the economy, environment, muslims, blacks, women, poor people, change, anyone not rich and white, basically (a statement I stand by even more). I must remind you this person had made inflammatory comments about a Democrat in the days, weeks, and months before. I was then told by people who were friends, and family, of this one individual, that my opinions had become more important than my relationships. Okay, okay fellas, all well and good. First, because anyone who takes the time to speak to me on more than a basal, condescending level knows that isn’t me at all, and second, because these are the same people who take part in ministries that deal directly with children and youth, telling them the dangers of premarital sex, dating, drugs, alcohol, promiscuity and the like, all while engaging in premarital sex, getting shitty drunk, banging GIs before they ship off, having threesomes and the like. When I remembered that, it suddenly became laughable. I did offend a person who was a great, healthy male Christian influence and remains such in the midst of my fuming, laugh-fueled outrage, and for that I was genuinely sorry. Them other guys and gals who posted comments, sent messages, texts and IMs? They get a KanYe shrug from yours truly. The same people who will smile in your face when you have a new significant other, while throwing him or her under the bus during your relationship, then run to your side like the caring friend when it ends, who also praise and sing and give and minister and take good part in the church? Yeah, give me a break. The church is and will remain an impotent pet of the Republican party until people like the ones I just mentioned, and they know who they are, shape up or get the hell out.

I had a friend of mine tell me they felt hypocritical for arguing their opinion against a differing one, mind you after they had been reasoned into an ignorant corner. This Bible scholar, who adheres to a faith predicated upon apologetics and proselytizing, uttered that sentence as if it were an intelligent thought. I was also told, that because of my differing views on two, count them two, issues, that me and him had different world views. Right, because my opinions on an election and the tokenization of minority foreign children after the worst natural disaster in centuries makes us cards of a completely different suit.

Next one, I had some idiot, some idiot youth pastor, who fails to verbalize original thoughts, unless they’re ones such as these, tell me a few months ago that Obama was wrong to let Muslims speak or have a place in this country because it was a Christian nation. I have news for Christians. Until this place becomes a theocracy, it’s just a nation. A nation that happens to have the largest Muslim population outside of the Middle East. That philosophy also flies in the face of the goals of our founding (womanizing, slave owning, white, landowning) fathers, who founded this place on religious freedom for “Christians, or Musslemen (Muslims)” in the words of Thomas Jefferson. The man owned, and loved to read, the Qu’Ran, for crying out loud. But nope, this man, this man who is responsible for the shepherding of teens and young adults, ignored these facts and continued to spout historical, political and religious falsehoods in his defense  our “Christian” nation. Why? Because the place of ANY other religion in any public forum was an assault on American freedom. Translation = White protestant middle class freedom. Anytime you hear a Republican use the words freedom, freedoms, rights, liberties in relation to words like protect, fight for, defend, just think of it that way. Because, by proof of their voting and law passage record for the last 28 years, that’s what they do. They protect the rights of all upper middle class protestant white “Judeo-Christian” male. The war on drugs? BS. 80% of drugs are done by whites, yet 28% of black males are jailed between 18 and 60 for nonviolent, drug related. war on poverty? BS. We spend 500$ Billion, with a B, on war annually, and a fraction of that number on public education, where programs like music, recess, and others are cut left and right. Black, Hispanic, and some Asian children are continually marginalized and cast aside while schools that don’t need any more help get the help so many cry and beg for. Obama’s doing a great job, but he’s been in for 13 months, and even if he makes it 8 years, 2 Bushes and a Reagan, 20 years, is a lot more than one Obama’s 8. He’s Obama, not Jesus, Christ or Shuttlesworth (ha! I worked that in!)

These are the people, the proud, ragtag, vocal masses who carry their crosses daily for my Lord and savior.

These are the same people who teach abstinence only sex ed in states with the highest rates of teenage sexual activity and pregnancies.

The people who are dogged crusaders against gays marrying and abortion, yet only put a smidgen of a fight when a pastor gives dome to another dude. People who support the death penalty, and deride programs meant to help children, you know, babies outside of their mommy’s tummy, as “more welfare, more redistribution of the wealth of hard working Americans.”

Oh, I’m sorry, because people who need the help of the government now and again (read: niggers, spics, towelheads, faggots) , or even for extended periods of time, can’t possibly be hard working, productive members of society.

In summation, these people, the people whom I speak of and those who identify and agree with you, are the reasons that the church, the mighty mighty church, will have continued issues convincing anyone of a loving, benevolent, caring father God, or of our collective IQ being above 90.

If this kind of stuff makes you Christian, I’m gonna hate heaven.

But, according to the Bible I read, it doesn’t in the least bit.

Oh, one more thing people are sure to love!

I heard a pastor, a SENIOR PASTOR OF A LEGIT CHURCH, say that slave owners weren’t sinning per se, because it was the dominant cultural norm. Ummm, doesn’t the Bible say something about being “in the world, not of the world”?

That must be the colored version, because if this horse’s ass was correct, the real, white version reads “be in the world, not of the world, unless of course, white people are killing, raping, whipping, capturing and  relocating, objectifying and abusing brown, yellow, black and red people. In that case, the Lord sayeth ‘Screw it, everybody else is doing it, might as well get that money and set your family up for years of prolonged prosperity on the backs of those savages, who I obviously don’t give a damn about, because I’m cool with this type of behavior.’ “

I’m not perfect, never will be, don’t think so ever, not even for a second. But, damn.

Happy Nearly New Year!

I’ve been gone, after some consistent blogging earlier in the year. However, this time, it was intentional. I realized something mid-way through the year that I, for whatever dumbass reason, decided not to take hold of and use until September or so.

Fresh Starts are never a bad thing.

That’s why I had to let it rest for a second. Let me tell you why.

Weekend was formed in Winter 08, behind an idea and a budding friendship. We had no experience with one another or our separate but equal kickass creative processes, our habits, moods, personalities or lifestyles. We met, decided it would be fun to work together, and did. Which is a great way to convene, but it takes time to get this right. In the next year, this year, Weekend had grown a considerable amount, if for no other reason because its two halves have experienced a great deal of life in this year. I myself can say that this has easily been the most trying year of my life. Deaths of family and friends, repeated car troubles and two crashes, a broken ankle, a new job, the end of a crappy relationship and the start of a new one, the renewed presence of a pesky ex, changing personal beliefs, styles, friendships, and a revival of my relationships with my mother and sister. Lee’s probably had just as packed a year, but I’ll let him tell it to you, I won’t put him out there like that.

We’ve also recorded a bunch of music (that we won’t post, much to Lee and others’ chagrin, partly because I’m a wonky, picky musician, and I’d like to save it all until we have a 100% completed project to show you)

In this time, we’ve gained a lot of life and intra-weekend experience. So, we’ve put ourselves ahead of the curve in 2010. We’ve got a lot of great things coming up. The Tape, Videos, the resurrection of this blog, Sponsored projects, my renewed love of photography (due to the resurrection of my camera lens, thanks, NIKON!)

I’ll be formatting things a lot differently this new year. Those are all the details I have to offer, as I don’t really know what that format will be, I’m bouncing ideas off of some people, via iChat as I type, actually) and things will be a lot more fun and spontaneous than the tired old “Monday=this thing” way I’ve been doing it. I think I’ll stop forcing myself into updates and post only things I genuinely want to share with you, rather than packing it full of somewhat cool, largely unnecessary tripe to make it look like I tried hard.

Which brings me to part two of this ginormous post.

A lot of people have New Year’s resolutions. I decided this year that instead of a NYR – something people start when the calendar switches numbers, I would take time in 2009 to set myself up for success in ‘10. I’ve done that, and I’m proud to say I’ve compiled quite a list for myself/LW

1. Finish the Tape (which has an awesome title, and whose artwork will be done by two amazing artists, but that’s all I’ll tell you)
2. Stretch My Abilities as a Photographer
3. Read 20 Books by 2011 (roughly 1.25 books/month, a mark I used to eclipse without the need for resolution, but have failed to reach since 2006)
4. Take a Vacation
5. Fully Rehab My Broken Ankle
6. See 10 Live Shows (I always know about them, but my tight schedule, coupled with my hatred of large groups of people, keeps me away)
7. Sing More
8. Record Cover Songs (no Hip-Hop, Country and Rock, Alice in Chains, hank Williams, Billy Squire, all that Jazz)
9. Lose Weight (not high on my list because I was well on my way, until the ankle took place)
10. Stack Paper (to the ceiling? One can only hope.)

What are yours? I’d like to hear this.

Happy New Year, everyone. Be safe and be blessed

Love,

Long Weekend.

Nike Post

Whatup. Been gone for a minute, but it won’t be a long hiatus like some of the others.  Short and sweet, kicks on feet.

Nike Post!

These first ones will hit in the coming weeks as part of the winter roll, they’re inside-out High Supremes. Can’t go wrong with a nice color brown over a white mid. Might rock em with the laces from the beige Bobbitos.

These next quickstrike is coming out sooner, I’m led to believe. Simple, I think Mr. Hiroshi Fujiwara was behind these, but that’s just what i was told. There’s no Fragment symbol anywhere, you be the judge.

 

Bape Online Store

So, apparently, no one told me Bape had an online store. I’m pissed, but I’m telling you. BECAUSE I TELL FRIENDS IMPORTANT SH*T LIKE THIS!!!!! screenshot below.

Glow In The Dark – In Stores Now.

The Book inspired By the Tour. Mmmmmm, music influenced print publishing.

DOOM, Supreme, And Gum Bottom Forces!!!!!!

I Heart gum bottoms. Need to cop these. Simple colorway, but the gummy sole makes them pop, IMO. They drop in November, and that looks to be patent leather! Patent AND gum?! Copped.

The 5th Supreme book is out. it’s got features on RZA, Diddy, Damien Hirst, and others. It drops in Japan on the 26th with a close but unspecified release date over here. If you can read Japanese, head over to Honeyee and try to cop it.

Finally, one of my favorite DOOM songs, since I haven’t heard anything new this week worth upping. This is Fazers, Gheedora style.

Hip Hip Hooray!

Marge, Apple, Yeezy.

Remember the post about Marge posing for playboy? Well, pics have surfaced. Here go two for all you pervs. LOL @ Homer’s shadow.

Second, Apple has reinvented…… the mouse. That’s right. it’s got multitouch function, one button, and a rumored four months of battery life. It’s 69$, it’ll start shipping soon. Head over to the apple site for more info. Dopeness.

And lastly, Yeezy has a book coming with Bill Plympton titled  Through The Wire. They picked 12 of Ye’s songs to chronincle his life, from dropping out of school, to music, to relationships, with Bill covering the artwork. He’s been one of my favorite animators for a while, so this is exciting. Amazon is taking pre-orders, it hits retailers on November 9th.

Supreme, ‘Trane, and Little Richard

Supreme is doing a John Coltrane drop. They hit the states and the online store the 22nd of this month, and Japan two days later. Six Tees, my favorites are posted below.

Moving right along, Little Richard was featured prominently in Family Guy last night. I don’t watch much TV, but the Simpsons-Cleveland Show-Family Guy block is one I’ve vowed to myself to stay up on. Here’s their take on Richard Penniman, bka Little Richard.

Damn, they got him.

Finally, some Trane to close out the post. Here’s Afro Blue

Original Fake and The Best Camera Evar?

New Original Fake Releases for October, featuring, you guessed it, Boobs. But the gloves and the jacket are also pretty dope. They’re out now, so they should pop up at any OF store near you. Peep

Next Up, the Nikon D3s. This may just be the illest camera I’ve ever seen, You can crank the ISO up to 102,000. No, that’s not a typo, one hundred and two thousand. The only negative I’ve read about it so far is the fact that video only goes to 720 and not 1080, which is the norm, but it’s 12.1 MP, and the body looks to be, from all the images I’ve seen thus far, smaller than my D40, which is no giant camera in itself. The major downgrade? The Price. Anyone with this camera has automatically achieved baller status in my book. It’s a cool $5,200 for dat azz. Yeah, that isn’t a typo either. Peep Below

*images from HypeBeast

Marge On Cover of Playboy

Well, Playboy’s subscription numbers have dipped a quarter. So, to attract a younger following, they turned to America’s Mom, Margery Bouvier, bka Marge Simpson. Peep