Inclusive Lexicon for 500, Please.

A long, long time ago - sometime last year - I was at the Utah Pride Center. I was there to support a friend's tobacco prevention organization to get LGBT young people involved in taking a stand against Big Tobacco. While everyone was standing around the pizza socializing, the conversation somehow shifted to how an individual wasn't afraid of doing something that the rest of the group wasn't willing to do (the details are obviously fuzzy...). This person ended with something along the lines of, "you guys are just p-----s" (Just trying to keep it G rated, but the word is a vulgar term for female genitalia that, today, is used as a derogatory term to tell someone that they are weak, unable, afraid, etc... if that helps figure out what was said). Another person quickly responded said, "let's unpack that word. What about this group is a vagina?"

While said somewhat in jest, the intent was to draw attention and critical thought to a commonly used word that others may find offensive, especially since it attaches a negative meaning (weak, afraid, etc) to an aspect of womanhood. This is similar to other common terms, like "gay" or "retarded." Of all the things to say, why pick something that is demeaning to a group of people? Granted, most people are using these words out of habit or because it is a common/popular term and are not intending to cause harm or dehumanize a group of people. They are used out of innocence or in an effort to fit in. But they often still make others feel uncomfortable and belittled.

Now that we have that established, I want to change pace a little and bring up the response: "Let's unpack that word." I tend to hear this phrase often when associating with "inclusive circles" and those attempting to create safe spaces. It is an effort to dissect a commonly used word or phrase and understand its true meaning and whether it was accurately used in the situation. Perhaps a better, less offensive word, could be substituted: a euphemism. So, when someone says, "that's so gay!" a common response would be, "let's unpack that word... What about this conversation/activity is homosexual? How is this topic dealing with anyone's sexual attraction? Did you mean...?"

You get the idea.

That critical thought is a soft approach to help minimize or remove future offenses. We all want to feel included and not many people want to be outright offensive. So, we talk about things.

And now to my main point: I feel that the majority of my friends and associates who are seeking to be inclusive tend to look past a few offensive words. While being quick to "unpack" how "that's so gay" can be offensive, these people are also quick to use often offensive swear words in their casual conversation and brush it off as "free speech" or "a matter of expression." Many people find swear words offensive, otherwise they would not be categorized as a swear word. Yet because it isn't directly affiliating a descriptive word of a group (i.e., retard) to a negative connotation (i.e., stupid, incapable, broken), it does not need to be "unpacked" and removed from one's lexicon for an unoffensive euphemism. Like I mentioned earlier, generally speaking, most people are not saying these things to be offensive, but many people are offended. Perhaps we can all work on being more inclusive by what we say...?

I hope I am making sense. Is this a valid concern? Is it a valid point of discussion?

Let's unpack this.

Ten Months Later, or, To Share Or Not To Share

It's crazy to think that the last time I posted on my blog was ten months ago. Life was terribly different back then as compared to today - though many of those around me will not recognize the difference in me, my life, or anything else for that matter.

But things are pretty different.

My current feeling goes something like this: a blend of fear, anxiety, excitement, and childish giddiness are burning in my chest, while my stomach turns with a sense of hunger and stirred butterflies. I want to smile. I want to laugh. I want to cry and throw up a little bit. But, I want to talk to someone about the great things of life and the joys of Jesus and the intense aloneness I have felt in the past.

I want to share it all.

And then, of course, that leads me to a greater fear that my words will fall on ears closed and boarded up, a mind unable to understand the excitement and absurdity that is my life. 

The reel-to-reel in my mind plays it out perfectly. I dish it out on fancy plates with silver spoons. It's devoured - with the guest begging for a recipe and the intricacies its existence! And the giddy fear with a side of excitement and a glass of anxiety are no longer kept to myself, but has been consumed and absorbed by someone else. Mutual confusion, euphoria, and honest terror of what the future brings. 

The experience is one for the record books, let me tell you!

The performance in my mind enhances the previous emotions to the point where I am comparable to a teenybopper who just got backstage to her heartthrob's concert.

Yet, without fail, the fear of a miscalculated sentence or a fatefully closed mind overcomes the delight of the played and replayed scene.

What is a troubled soul to do?

If it was anyone else sharing this experience to me, I would be ecstatic to say, "Go for it! What is there even to question!?" But, since it is me who has to do the talking, the faith has yet to overcome the fear.

On a lighter note...

My life is incredible. Aside from the battle waging in my heart and soul as described above, things are going pretty perfectly. I am overcoming odds and challenging systems. And, as cliché as it may sound, The Man Upstairs is all to blame.

If you would have compared the Me of June 6, 2012 to the Me of June 19, 2012, we would be doppelgängers on the outside, but antonyms within. I guess you could say that Who I've Been has claimed vengeance on Who I Am, so that Who I'll Be can rise to fruition. It's like a Hollywood blockbuster. For real. Maybe we could call it September Came.

There is something to be learned in His wise words: "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror." (D&C 10:5) "...Lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God..." (Mosiah 7:19) "...Walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them..." (Leviticus 26:3)

Call it snake oil, call it placebo, call it the Truth of the Universe. Whatever you want to call it, it works more than you would ever begin to imagine. Go ahead, give it a shot. I triple dog dare you.

Confused yet? Good.

PS: Ecstaticism isn't a word. I tried.

This Is Getting Out Of Hand

This week will mark the last leg of The Vagabond Tour... Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. With that said, I still haven't finished writing about the previous adventures. I get writing SO MUCH, that it is exhausting. So, I think I will just do bullet points to finish... That way, everything gets done AND nobody gets exhausted writing/reading (hopefully). Here goes!

Day 25 - July 5:
- Took pictures in Cemetery
- Volunteered rebuilding a home ruined by Hurricane Katrina through the St. Bernard Project.

Day 26 - July 6:
- Volunteered @ same home, this time meeting the owners of the home. What an experience!
- Hit the road to Angleton, Texas to visit with an old friend (shout out to Jovana)! While there we went to dinner, and visited a farm where I got to pet a horse and a cow. So cool!
- Went home and watched Invisible Children's  "Black is for Sunday" Documentary

Day 27 - July 7:
- DROVE! I must brag that I drove from Orange, TX to Angleton, TX to Dallas, TX on one tank of gas... I felt pretty accomplished!
- Visited with the Wisemans (Mission companion)! We watched a documentary on some street artists (Sorry IC). Good stuff!

Day 28 - July 8:
Today was a great day for picture taking, but I didn't take pictures... I drove through a couple dozen little towns that didn't even have a stop sign - let alone a stop LIGHT!
- Met family descendants of Geronimo at a gas station as I was trying to get into Fort Sill (My map led me to a dead end...)! What an honor!
- At Fort Sill, I saw where Geronimo's jail cell was, as well as the burial site of many Native Chiefs, including Geronimo.
- On the road again, I followed Route 66 to Amarillo. Before I made it there, I stopped in Groom, TX to see their infamous leaning water tower and giant cross!

Day 29 - July 9:
- Made it to Albuquerque, NM
- Visited with the Sanders (friend from mission).
- Went to do FREE HUGS, but was rained out... :(
- Visited Old Town, including attending a church service in the oldest church in Albuquerque! Holla!

Day 30 - July 10:
- Woke up early so that I could make it to Thoreau, NM for church - It was a cool little town in the middle of nowhere. Loved it! One of the missionaries there tried to hook me up with his sister.
- Hit the road again and ended up driving through a bunch of forests and national parks in Arizona, trying to get to Mesa. I have some super great family in Mesa that I got to stay with for a while! We played pool and a bunch of card game. Good times for sure!

Day 31 - July 11:
- Visited another friend from my mission (Reidheads)
- Then, my aunt's family came over for dinner, which was a blast. They had thick New Yorker accents. I don't think I have ever heard a real New Yorker accent... and it was great!

Day 32 - July 12:
- Headed off to California
- While stopped by border patrol, I shared some Vagabond Tour flyers and talked about what it was all about. Schweet.
- BEACH!!!

Day 33 - July 13:
- First thing in the morning, I headed over to the Invisible Children office, and had the time of my life. SERIOUSLY. Story time:
When I got there, I visited with my "tour guide" (Holly) and explained the Vagabond Tour. While we were talking, one of the founders (Laren) of IC casually walked by. It was crazy! It was like I just saw a superstar or something! We joked about it, and then were on our way with the tour. Our first stop was the Roadie Intern area, where all the interns were planning the Fall tour. Holly gets everyone's attention and introduces me and explains what I have been doing on the Vagabond Tour. They were all stoked and tried to get me to be a Roadie, while I casually laughed it off... not thinking too much about it. We go on with the tour and I meet a bunch of fantastic people in the various departments. We stop by the shipping department (where all the merch is), and as we are leaving, I ask about getting a new bracelet, since I lost mine in Florida. We go back and I ask them about it... and they commence giving me a TON of stuff! Bracelets, flyers, stickers, etc. So, now I can do stellar major screenings!
Next, we were in the hall looking at pictures of past events, talking about how we both got involved in IC, when another founder (Jason) of IC walks by! This time, Holly stops him and introduces me and tells him about my tour. Not only was he impressed, but he asked if I would be down for an interview! AN INTERVIEW IN AT THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN OFFICE! The next thing I know, I am in a room being interviewed... What is going on?! SO COOL!
But it gets better...
I finish up the interview, and am about the head out, and figured that it would be cool to get some pictures! I ask if I could get a Vagabond Tour picture with the Interns. They agree to it, and we get a way cool picture in the office. Then the thought came to mind to get a picture with Jason and Laren. Holly wasn't sure about it, but decided to take me to find out if it were possible. We go back and... IT WAS. We take the picture, and then Jason explained to Laren what I was doing. We started just talking about random stuff, and then Jason stopped and said, "Hold on, I will be right back." He runs into his office and comes out with a book. He hands it to me and says "This guy is one of my favorite authors, I think you would really like this book." I had recognized it as a book talked about by the founder of To Write Love On Her Arms, Jamie Tworkowski. It was called "Blue Like Jazz." I told him I would check it out, and tried to hand it back. "You keep it." What??? The founder of Invisible Children just gave me his book?! OK?! How cool is this?! Then to top it off, they (along with everyone else in the office) tried to get me to be a roadie. I asked lots of questions, and was ready to do it... Seriously, it all felt like a blur.
A little more conversation was had, and then I was out the door - walking on a cloud. Thank you Invisible Children for such an amazing experience!
- After leaving the IC office, I headed up to San Pedro to see another friend from the mission (Arie Santana).
- We went to the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Blvd, and to the Hard Rock Cafe

Day 34 - July 14:
- Headed to Santa Monica to see the TOMS Headquarters.
- Back into Hollywood, I visited with a friend (who was on Broadway, mind you) for a little bit, and then was on the road again.
- Landing in Las Vegas, I spent the rest of the day and night (till 1:30ish) on the strip with another mission buddy, Sam Tualatamalelagi.

Day 35 - July 15:
- St. George!
- Visited some family (the Rogers)
- Visited a friend, Anna, and played some racquet ball, mini golf, etc. at her family's day spa
- Went to the St. George LDS Temple visitors center and as I walked in, the missionary that greeted me ended up being the sister of one of my missionary companions! What are the odds?! Small world...

Day 36 - July 16:
- Headed north to visit my first mission president and his wife, which was such a great time! Shout out to the Brimhalls!
- Then to Hurricane to visit some family of my neighbors. We even got to go hiking a little bit!
- Lastly, I visited some more family who happened to be in Hurricane as well. Its nice to have everyone so close by!

Day 37 - July 17:
- Woke up early so I could make it to Sandy to hear my second mission president and his wife speak in church. After the service, it was like a mission reunion! There were a TON of missionaries there, and it was great to see them all!
- Then... I drove home.

Today Is THE Day

Day 18 - June 28 (Pt. 2)

TODAY is the essence of The Vagabond Tour. Today was so smooth and perfect and great! After leaving the McDonalds (see previous update), I headed to the Humane Society of Bay County and spent most of my day serving the homeless animals of Panama City. They had some AWESOME animals too. As I took each dog out for a little time outside, it was inspiring to see how each dog had an incredibly unique personality. From the way they interacted with me, their surroundings, the heat, the toys, etc. It just goes to show that though they cannot speak English, they have personalities, emotions, and deserve respect and appreciation. And though they are dogs – animals we interact with often – they are an example that God created all things individually and regardless of the name and shape of the animal, we should treat them all with a sense of compassion and reverence. Thank you Humane Society for helping me increase insight of the Animal Kingdom and how they relate to God’s plan.

After leaving the Humane Society, my next big adventure was at Pier Park. Pier Park is a tourist hot spot in Panama City Beach. It is a giant outdoor mall at one of the piers. I showed up with my FREE HUGS sign, and began walking! I got a lot of smiles, strange stares, hugs, and pictures! I felt like a celebrity as I walked down the street with all the people that wanted to take pictures with me! A few people offered me some money, but I was successful in keeping it in their own pocket… except for one persistent lady. It was a fun time at Pier Park. Good times for sure!

My night came to a close back at the one and only Noah’s Ark Beach Ministry (the place that let me use their shower about a week ago). Almost every night, they have a free concert, so I showed up to show some support! They put on a good show, and they had a nice mini sermon at the end, which was great as well. The quote that stuck with me the most was something like… “We can’t assume people are loved, but we do need to show it.” A lot of times we go through the motions of interacting with those around us as if everyone’s life is perfect, happy, and full of wonderful people.  We assume that people are in great situations at home, work, and school. But in reality, some people don’t feel loved. It is up to us to show love to everyone we come in contact with so that others may feel of their great worth. That they may know that you and God, if absolutely nobody else, loves them.

So go show the love and share the love.

Peter.Moosman.

Update #2

So, I can tell that updates will be inconsistent... so I am going to refrain from weekly updates. Who knows when I will have internet, so I am going to update WHEN I GET THE CHANCE!

Anyway...

Day 8 - June 18:
My last post talked about most of this day, but to recap, I left Winchester, drove through TN, NC, and into GA. In Knoxville, I had a nice conversation and interview with a lady in the parking lot of McDonalds. Come Georgia, I had quite the experience!
I decided to go visit a friend who was serving an LDS mission in Cornelia, Georgia. I had made contact with some people in Cornelia, and they had invited them over around the time I was getting into town. I pulled in, and as I was hiding my car, he ([Elder] Kelton Gubler) pulled up. I ran around the house to avoid being seen, went inside and slipped into a back room. They came in and were visiting with the accomplices when I casually walked into the room.
"Oh, hey guys..."
Kelton does a double take... "PETER?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? Guys, this is my neighbor!"
The look on his face was PRICELESS. He was speechless for the entirety of our visit as well. He would just look over and stare... then shake his head with a big grin on his face. He asked silly questions like, "How did you get here?"
"Uh... my car."
I told him about The Vagabond Tour, took a picture with him, and then it was kind of strange awkwardness... So I asked if I could help them teach or something before I left. Luckily, they let me come!
After spending the rest of the evening teaching a guy named Bruce, we parted ways. It was SO SO SO GOOD to see Kelton again. He is a stellar missionary. A great example of what the Praise Project is all about as well.
So, I take off for Georgia, thinking I was running behind schedule (I was staying with someone from CouchSurfing.org), so I was booking it down the freeway. I get to Atlanta, and he let me know to take my time. Hmmm...! I am glad he did though because of what transpired next.
I figure I better get some gas, so I start aimlessly looking for a gas station. When I find one, I found a lot more than gas! I pull in, and when I get out of the car, I hear some loud rap music. I take a look around and I notice a little shop attached to the gas station called "Black Hollywood Media" in a nice community some would call "the hood" or "the ghetto." I fill up and was sitting in my car texting or something before driving off, when I get a knock on my window. "Whats the Vagabond Tour?"
I get out of the car and explain it to her, giving her a flyer and explaining Invisible Children and The Praise Project. She was impressed because she told me to get a stack of my flyers and follow her. We went to her store (Black Hollywood Media), swapped info, and she put my flyers on the counter to help advertise. SCHWEET! We talk for a while about a bunch of different things, I interview her, and I just hang out for a while in the middle of the hood. It actually felt pretty great - that is, being somewhere unexpected and seemingly "unsafe" but feeling completely comfortable and safe. Some people are completely misunderstood. That is all!
Anyway... When it was time to head out from there, I took of to find my CouchSurfing.com friend, who was finishing up at a party. I showed up, met some people, hung out there for a bit, and then headed to my temporary home. He was also hosting two people from Germany who were visiting the states for a few months. We had some good conversation, and then I dozed off from exhaustion.

Day 9 - June 19:
I slept in an hour or two, and took of to church. I roll in and there was only a car or two in the parking lot... Stake Conference. Luckily, one of the other cars knew where they were going! I was able to follow them far far away to another church building where, oddly enough, a gentleman spoke from my mission! The Stake President in Lexington, Kentucky was called to the Quorum of the 70 and was speaking at the spot I was visiting... SMALL WORLD.
Afterwards, I headed toward Centennial Olympic Park to meet up with an organization I had gotten in touch with online for a Free Hugs event. I showed up, walked around with my sign looking for them... no luck. I found a Marriott down the street and hopped online to see if they cancelled the event. I searched and searched for them online, but nothing. OK? So, I got back in the car and headed to my next destination. Montgomery, Alabama. I met some nice people on the state line who were headed down to help build houses for tornado victims. I would love to find something like that to do while down here.
Funny story: I took the "Mulberry Street" exit and just drove... I took a few turns and noticed a little plaque. I rolled right in front of Martin Luther King Jr.'s home. What are the odds of that?! It was definitely a nice little town and would love to return one day.
Fast forward a bit and I arrive in Chipley, Florida, home of the Nellums family. I was a missionary with Travis Nellums. It was a blast hanging out in that little country town with that crazy family. That night, Travis took me on a tour of Chipley. After 5 minutes,  we were headed home! To close off the night, I showed the Blue Roseline Bracelet DVD from Invisible Children to some of the family.

Day 10 - June 20
What a day! Travis and I drove to Fort Walton Beach, bowled a few games, played a game or two of pool, visited the beach, went to a Native American Temple Mound, and to a FHE potluck dinner. Woot!

Day 11 - June 21 (Today)
We had planned to sleep in, but as hard as I tried to sleep in, I was up before 9am... We drove down to Panama City Beach, walked around Pier Park - where I bought some flip flops (yeah, I cant believe it either...), walked on the algae infested beach (the gulf water is GREEN!), and walked along the main road to look at the attractions. Then we decided to go get something to eat... as we were pulling in to the parking lot of Little Ceasars, my car was acting really funny, and when we got back in the car, I noticed that the temperature gauge was to the top of the scale! We were right down the road from a car shop, so we headed straight there. Right as I was pulling in, the car died... :( Sitting half in the road, and half in the parking lot, I was able to get it started, and rolled up to the building... just as the car started to smoke. Turns out there was about $100 in repairs, but they were able to get it working again! Woot! I was NERVOUS that I was 3,000+ miles away from home without any transportation. Talk about one blessing after another blessing...
Now, I am sitting at a McDonalds. I was in my car, because I didnt want to get kicked out for loitering, but it got so hot that I couldnt stand it. Now it is late and I am outside basking in the warm summer night air. While sitting out here, I was visited by two homeless guys. They were probably in their mid 20s or 30s, and had mouths worse than sailors. We talked for a while, they told some stories of how they ended up on the streets (and how to get free coffee from McDonalds...), and they insisted on showing me youtube videos of heavy metal bands... I considered interviewing them, but I was worried about their language. That, and one of the guys was so baked that he was barely making any sense. The other guy volunteered himself to go to Africa and kill Joseph Kony and the Rebels when I told him about Invisible Children. Needless to say, I hope things work out for them and they are able to clean up their lives!
Well... I guess I better try to find out what I am going to do with my night... Where I am going to stay, and what I am going to do tomorrow! Keep it real! Keep praying! Keep doing good.

Peter.Moosman.

The Vagabond Tour, or, My Life is About to Change Drastically

G'day.

The name's Peter. But you may already know that. I just hopped on to tell you a story about life - my life to be exact. It is an interesting one, and it is about to get a whole lot more interesting. Let me begin.


Hit the rewind button and we are taken back to March-ish. Around this time, I decided that I was going to go on an "extravagant vacation." I wanted to be a beach bum in Florida for a couple months. No responsibility, no due dates, no commitments. Just me, the beach, and... well... me. I distinctly remember mapping out my first draft of my trip on April 2nd. I spent the next month or so dreaming of the possibilities as I traveled the country. The risks, the excitement, and the memories made. I think a good word to describe me at this time was "giddy."

About the second week into May, my mind began to be uneasy about the trip. Not because it was unsafe or unwise to do it, but something I couldn't really describe. Just a simple uneasiness. I prayed a whole lot for direction to know what was needing to happen - whether I should cancel my trip, or plan something else... I wasn't sure! All I was sure of was that I felt God calling me to do something different.

I don't remember the date, but late one night, I couldn't really sleep. My mind had been racing about a bunch of random things. One of those things was how I was being a selfish person for spending so much time and money on this trip for no reason other than I WANTED TO... The next thing I know, I am googling information on Mother Teresa. I found a movie online about her and decided to watch it...

It starts with her as a nun in Calcutta, India. One day, she begins to feel that she should be doing something more... She eventually left her abbey to serve the poor. The rest of her life was dedicated to humanitarian efforts and the betterment of those suffering.

Needless to say, I shed a few tears and had A LOT on my mind. My mind was racing even more than it was earlier! I could no longer go on a vacation. I just could not be that selfish... God wanted me to know that I should be doing something else. I contemplated what that "something else" was for a while after that. It was driving me crazy! Should I donate all the money to a certain cause? Should I put my money into bettering my situation (education, work, etc.) so that I could help with something greater down the road? The praying didn't stop as I tried to figure out what God wanted me to do with my time and money.

One day, I get a little package in the mail. It was the long awaited Tony Bracelet + DVD from Invisible Children. I had been waiting for this for a while now [I had even called Invisible Children a couple times about it]. That night, I popped the DVD in my computer and began watching.

This documentary had a few stories within it. First, it summed up the efforts of Invisible Children and the history of the war going on in Central Africa. Second, it told the story of a man named Tony, whom has been tied to Invisible Children since the very beginning. Lastly, it told of a man named Nate Henn. Nate was a volunteer for Invisible Children. He quit his job and put his life on hold for roughly a year to travel across the US and spread the message of Invisible Children. While on tour, he was able to develop great friendships with Tony and others from Uganda. Well after the tours had ended and Tony had gone back to Uganda, Nate had the opportunity to go to Africa to see his friends. While there, he was caught in a terrorist bombing and was killed.

As the movie ended, I fought through my tears to face the answer that I had prayed for: I need to go on tour: The Vagabond Tour. I revised my trip to hit more major cities, and less of my vacation destinations. I started to create a vision for my summer, in which I would spend each day promoting a cause that can change and save lives. That, I feel, is what God is calling me to do this summer.

Most days, I will be sleeping in my car, eating at the mercy of others, and hopefully sparking a new light in the lives of complete strangers. I will be offering free hugs and thoughtful conversation, I will be showing Invisible Children DVDs as much as I can, and learning A LOT about myself and this huge community that I am wrapped up in. I hope to make a lot of friends along the way, experience a new life, and learn what God wants me to learn from this.

What better way to spend a month of my life? Lets take liberation to a whole new level. See you on the road!

[The Vagabond Tour 2011 is dedicated to Kyle Hutchings and Nate Henn. Their passion for life and service lives on.]

Mass Entertainment, Society, & My Self

Welcome to Part Two of Memoirs of a Latter-Day Rogue: Mass Entertainment, Society, & My Self

-----

Influence. Control. Authority.

Brainwash?

We are living in a world inescapable of media influence. It is everywhere at every moment: Online, on the sides of busses and billboards, on the radio and television, on the clothes we wear and the things we say. Everywhere you look, there are money-hungry giants trying to lure you in. Being everywhere you think they are not, they capture most - hook, line, and sinker. Though I can easily deny being the subject of Mass Media's influence, it would be an obvious fallacy. One cannot live in America and be free of its control. This memoir will take a look into the one of the facets of Mass Media in America: Mass Entertaiment.

PART I: MINIMIZING INFLUENCE, or, WHY I DONT PARTAKE

Just because you can't live without the prodding influence and control of Mass Entertainment doesn't mean we can't minimize it, right?

I don't watch TV or movies (other than an occasional documentary and/or spiritual journey). Many people are floored by this idea, seeing as "watching" is such a mainstream activity. My reasoning behind my abstinence has many motivations which will be explained. Right. Now.

Subliminal Messaging. As much as it sounds like a joke, subliminal messaging is real. Granted, it most likely is not in the form of a man in a monotone voice repeating pleas to purchase a product, being played at such a quiet tone that you can't notice it. Rather, it is the verbal references the actors make. The clothes and styles they are seen in. The products being used or seen - also known as product placement. Product placement is defined as: a practice in which manufactured goods or providers of a service gain exposure for their products by paying for them to be featured in movies and television programs (New Oxford American Dictionary). Corporations pay big bucks to be seen on the big screen. If the stars are seen with a certain product, you can guarantee that product will have a high purchase rates afterwards.

Going back to the verbal references being said by celebrities and the styles they are seen in: How often are those who refrain from such forms of Mass Entertainment referred to as "out of the loop?" Media tells us what is cool to say, do, wear, and have. Just look at the trends in 12-25 year olds to see point proven.

Time Waster. The ultimate time waster is Mass Entertainment. TV, Movies, Video Games, Internet. They suck you in and before you know it, hours of your life are gone - never coming back. Wasted. What is even worse is when people get together to watch movies, thinking that it is building relationships. Since when did sitting in the same room in the dark staring at a box constitute as building relationships. It is shocking when people go on dates to movies. I just don't get it. That is time that could be spent on actually building relationships, getting things done, improving society, etc. But I guess people could say that about blogging... Hmmm...

Money Waster. Any form of Mass Entertainment is expensive.

A ticket to see a movie in theaters: $5 - 10

A purchased DVD: $20 - 30

A purchased video game: $30 - 60

This, to me, isn't even the biggest problem. Yeah, it is shocking that people would spend that much to see a movie on the big screen, but the problem I see is the money that goes into making such media. The money spent on the entertainment industry in one year could solve most of our nation's financial problems. Imagine the lives saved if that money went into prevention and research efforts. Woah. Yet, every time we pay for one of those things, we support the industry - regardless of their motive. 

Creativity Sucker. The more we rely on Mass Media for entertainment, the less we are able to accomplish creatively. When we don't know what to do on a weekend, instead of creating something or working our brain, we sit down in front of the TV, or go to a movie with friends. Instead of having heartfelt and intellectual conversation, how often do we find ourselves just talking about and quoting movies and shows? 

False Sense of Reality / Breeds Hate, Ignorance, and Stereotypes. Many people watch TV and movies to escape the world they live in. They create a new reality based off what they see. Fulfilled stereotypes, obscure views of love and friendship, the commonality of violence, murder, and obscenity. This reality is brought to the real world and perpetuated. If we had no media, I honestly feel that a lot of our struggles would dissipate after the passing of a few generations.

The next problem with this false sense of reality is that people escape to it instead of trying to fix the reality they actually exist in. Matters get worse when they are ignored, which may be one reason why our society is failing - we are avoiding the problem by watching a world that lives "happily ever after."

For the movies that don't end "happily ever after," they are most likely full of violence, greed, deceit, and obscenity. Why is it that we will frown upon the the killing of others, but turn around and pay money to watch the violence and brutality on the screen? Why is it that we frown upon promiscuity and immodesty, but will pay money to watch it on the screen? Why is it that we frown upon racism, profanity, and other forms of obscenity, but will pay money to watch it on the screen? 

Many of these points can cross mediums, from film to music to video games. It takes work to filter through everything to find what you REALLY want, as opposed to what is simply enjoyable. But when has filtering ever been a bad thing? And of course, not every point mentioned applies to all movies and all forms of Mass Media / Entertainment. One can use  their best judgement, make their own boundaries, and use their own filters. This is just my opinion, after all.

[check me out too!]

PART II: FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM

In America, there is an organization called the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This organization is in charge of the rating system for movies. While there are some major benefits to this rating system, there are also severe flaws. A couple that writes for the Deseret News wrote an article dealing with the rating system and its flaws. Instead of re-writing everything, please read the article HERE or HERE. For those who do not desire to read it (though it  is VERY worth your time), here is an excerpt:

"What we hate about the rating system is that it does not take into account the purpose or message or the moral of a movie. Thus wonderful movies with powerful moral messages and true heroes like "Schindler's List" or "The Shawshank Redemption" ... get rated R, while amoral and deeply offensive movies that "call evil good" or that ignore moral questions altogether (or make fun of them), such as the current "Little Fockers," get rated PG-13."

(shout out to Ashlee for showing me this article)

Some content in R rated movies is the same content of hit TV shows like CSI, Bones, Burn Notice, etc., which make me wonder what the justification is to watch it on the TV and not on the Big Screen. I feel that we leave too much of our decision making up to others (MPAA, critics), and not to our personal rating systems (beliefs, values). So the next time you decide on a movie based on its rating, I hope you will rethink and research.

PART III: CONCLUSION

This memoir is not a call to repentance for anyone. It was brought about by the many inquiries of my views on Mass Entertainment, and why I don't watch movies or TV. This is a condensed version of my viewpoints. 

I hope you may find something that rings true within this memoir that will help you shape your own views on Mass Entertainment and in bettering your self. If you have any questions regarding anything mentioned above, feel free to ask.

Thank you and happy Presidents Day.

Senators, Representatives, Can You Hear Us?

I guess in this case, it is more, "can you hear me," but you get the point. Yet, I have talked with many constituents and they agree with the points I wish to relay to you at this time. These points deal with many of the issues that are facing lawmakers of this 59th Legislature in Utah. They are as follows:

Public & Higher Education. I think that it is safe to say that in order to get very far in our society, you need a degree of some sort. One needs education to find success in the eyes of America. That same education that opens the door to success is under attack on every level. Being a current student in a Utah institution of higher education, I know the struggles that students, faculty, staff, and administration face when there "isn't enough money." I have had to sit on the floor during a lecture. I have been the victim of shortfalls that come from the budget cuts. The proposed cut is 7%, but I urge you to do everything in your power to protect that budget.

Schools for the Deaf. Many of us don't know, and never will know, what it is like to be Deaf in a hearing world. Hearing people not only want to assimilate the Deaf into hearing schools, but encourage them to lipread and speak with their vocal chords. Deaf schools are successful in providing a positive learning experience, surrounded by people who can communicate with one another, and who can share and bask in an amazing culture. Please don't take away these schools.

Anti-Discrimination. Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to basic rights, regardless of race, gender/sex, sexual orientation, etc. SB 148 provides addresses the discrimination that is living in our state. Regardless of personal beliefs and values, everyone should be free from hateful and bigoted acts in the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Immigration. I stand with, and support the ideologies in the Utah Compact, which was signed last November. I feel that the majority of immigrants are here for opportunity, growth, and the American Dream, just like the rest of us. If given the opportunity, they would pay state,federal, and income tax, along with any other requirement that it takes to be a citizen of this great nation. Unfortunately, we are living in a broken system and are in dire need of a reform. I don't see the solution in a law that forces people out of our society. I see it in an empowering society. If anything, OUR NATION needs to take more responsibility. After all, it is us who is providing jobs, housing, and other necessities of life for them. Please support a positive and healthy immigration reform, not a hurtful and fear-monging reform.


Tobacco Prevention and Control. This is my pride and joy. For this, I will fight till the bitter end. So many lives are affected by tobacco, both directly and indirectly. Probably the most affected demographic is the youth. This session, a couple bills will strive to protect Utah's youth from this deadly product.
The first: Protecting Children Riding in Motor Vehicles. Children who are in a vehicle with a smoking adult are being hotboxed with air 10x more toxic than what the EPA deems safe. This isn't about property rights. This isn't about parental rights. This is about health and human rights. Nobody should be forced to breathe in that concentrated air, let alone developing youth and children. Please support the health of Utah's children and vote YES on HB 89.
Second: It is obvious that Big Tobacco is targeting teens and kids. Look at their marketing and advertising of their product. Lately, they have been putting out products that mask the harsh burn of tobacco smoke with flavors like cherry, pineapple, and cotton candy. Susceptible teenagers and kids will fall prey to the deadly tricks of Big Tobacco, and so we need to take a stand to protect them. Vote YES on HB 170
Lastly: The Budget. As odd as it is, the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program is constantly on the chopping block. The odd part is that it should be the only one that is safe every year. In 1998, Utah sued the major tobacco companies, and is now in a settlement by the name of "The Master Settlement Agreement." This settlement gives money to Utah every year for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts, along with the costs that tobacco costs the state. Unfortunately, Utah takes this money and puts it nearly everywhere BUT tobacco prevention. Tobacco prevention saves lives and money in Utah. It is too valuable to go. Please fight for its preservation.

I will end now. Know that I can go on and on, but will refrain for everyone's sake. Consider this a "Readers Digest" version. If you need clarification, statistics, etc., please, PLEASE let me know. I care for our beloved state of Utah and have its best interests in mind.

In closing, I want to say thank you for each and every legislator who has fought for the voice of their constituents. I want to thank you for hearing my concern and, in turn, being my voice up on Capitol Hill.

Fight the good fight.

Best Regards,
Peter Moosman

What's In A Name?

Sometimes I get in writing monsoons, and sometimes I get in writing droughts. The past few days have been a drought. Currently, we are in a monsoon. Two posts within 24 hours. Dang.

Now that we have that out of the way...

Though I am up and down on the spirituality meter, I like to think of myself as a spiritual guy. Yeah, I often do stupid things that God would frown upon, but I still have my faith. Most of my posts have at least a mention of something spiritual, and depending on my audience or group of people I am with, I will talk more or less about spiritual things. But when I am staring at a screen with oblivion ahead of me to fill, I feel open and willing to discuss almost anything. Almost. 

[DISLCAIMER: For the non-religious and/or non-spiritual, this post deals with my musing on what I see as spiritual matters. Regardless, I perceive the information presented as beneficial to those on every level of the spiritual spectrum to pull from, whether Atheist, Agnostic, Wiccan, Pagan, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and/or the Religious Zealot. What I mean to say is, just because I mention spirituality doesn't mean you should stop reading. Hopefully you will get something out of it!]

Maybe if I stop going off on tangents, I might eventually get to my main points. Well, spiritual me went to a spiritual class tonight. The spiritual topics got my spirit senses tingling. Let the memoir commence:

Memoirs of a Latter-Day Rogue: What's In A Name?

A name is more than a combination of letters on a birth certificate. A name is a sacred thing. It is your identity. It is how people address you and get to know you. It is the one label that we tend to cherish above all else - One has a sense of fame and utmost value as their name is remembered by peers and acquaintances. Memories, histories, likes and dislikes, hobbies, preferences, and the epitome of THE INDIVIDUAL is wrapped up in a name. 

My name is Peter C. Moosman.

If you want to get down to the nitty gritty, you could say my name is Peter C. Moosman, Child of God and Disciple of Christ, Member of the LDS Faith, Executive Vice President of Salt Lake Community College, Citizen of the United States of America, et al.

Quite the name, eh? The interesting thing is that it is longer (and living). Yup, you got it. It changes constantly. Some of you have probably caught on to what I am saying, while others may be a little confused. Let me explain. 

Every position I hold and every mantle I carry gives me a title - an extension of my name. I have a responsibility to represent it well. It is who I am, regardless of whether it is a weekend or not, whether I am well known or unknown. I can't escape it. 

If, by some miracle, I was to leave the country and visit a foreign land (yeah, I wish!), people would EXPECT certain behavior to come from me as a US citizen. I want people to see my behavior (a positive one, of course) and have a better view of the United States than they did before they met me. Likewise, I want people to have a better view of Salt Lake Community College, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Family of God, and even the Moosman family.

Not only do I have the responsibility to represent it well, but I must also live up to the expectation of the name I hold. When many people hear my name, they ask me if I am related to [insert name here] Moosman. I am told over and over again how I have great parents or grandparents. I do NOT want to diminish the name of the Moosman family and what it stands for: virtue, honesty, integrity, and every other positive characteristic the Moosmans have worked to uphold. 

When I tell people that I am from Utah, I am often asked if I am Mormon. When I say yes, you better believe I am expected to act just as a Mormon would act, including the busting of myths and stereotypes rather than reinforcing them. Every mantle has an expectation. Do I fall short? Do I get by? Or do I exceed expectation and revolutionize the understanding of that mantle?

Lets dig deeper.

My name is Peter C. Moosman.

Peter is greek, meaning "rock." Growing up, I HATED this name... who wanted to be a rock? My friends had names that meant "great warrior" and other amazing meanings, while I was stuck with "a stone." Luckily, as I grew, so did my understanding. I felt that my name became a calling. I was to be a rock: a firm foundation, unmovable and bold. To this day, I think of the characteristics of my name and strive to become a better person because of it.

I was named after Simon Peter, who was one of the first Apostles of Jesus Christ, as found in the New Testament of the Bible. Big deal, right? RIGHT. It is a very big deal. Peter was the chief Apostle and took over the church after Christ was crucified. He was a special man, one to be revered. He was so revered in his day as a Man of God that people would lay their sick and afflicted in the streets, having the faith that if Peter's SHADOW were to touch them as he walked by, they would be healed [Acts 5: 15-16]. He dedicated his whole self to the service of others and the glorifying of Christ. He was humble, he was dedicated, he was compassionate.

Though I will never achieve the capacity of spiritual progression and power that Simon Peter held, I do have a great namesake to be my example. I feel that with the name I hold, I am given a responsibility to magnify the name. Peter is not just a "rock," but an "unmovable, firm foundation, defending truth and goodness in all things. A bold defender of the Faith." Yeah, a big deal.

What does your name mean? How can you find strength, conviction, and goodwill within it?

Yes, the name "Peter" has quite the mantle, but imagine carrying the weight of the name of something greater: Jesus Christ. Whether you recognize Him as the Son of God or simply an influential storyteller, one who carries his name carries a hefty responsibility. This is the King of Kings, Lord of Lord, and Only Begotten of the Father we are talking about! Who wants to put a blemish on His name? Of course, nobody would. Unfortunately, I seem to mess things up more often than not... BUT I try to keep the name clean. When we slip up, we dust ourselves off and try again.

What am I doing with Christ's name...? Like I mentioned above, as I carry the name of Christ, I am given a responsibility to magnify that name. What did Jesus Christ teach? How am I living? Are the two in harmony? I am not just talking about the obvious things about attending church and wearing a CTR ring, but what about dining with the sinners and publicans? Loving the enemies and understanding the unbeliever? Recognizing the royal blood in everyone and cherishing the opportunity to learn, grow, and testify with them. 

To clarify why I am talking about having Christ's name: I believe that by labeling myself as a Christian, and a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have essentially taken His name upon me. "My name is Peter Moosman, Disciple of Christ." Though I do not introduce myself in this manner, I do feel that my actions, character, and countenance should. That speaks louder than any words I could say on the matter anyway.

I hope I am making sense.

Now for the confessions.... I will be the first to admit that I am one of the farthest from "Poster Child" status for the aforementioned principles. It is quite the challenge to maintain perfection, you know?! Seriously though, I have had my fair share of  detours on the road to reflecting the message and morals contained within each name I hold, from the names on my birth certificate to the names I adopt through this seemingly nonsensical life. At times they are glorified, and others they are tainted. Regardless, I have the opportunity to pull from the power-source which is a name. My name. Peter C. Moosman.

Influence

So I promised that I would share with you my superpower [the one I don't already have...].

Maybe it is a really good idea, and maybe it is not, but nonetheless: I want the superpower to be able to allow or disallow any outside influence into my life. What I mean by this is that I want to be able to decide how I am influenced. Right now, everything I see and hear, do and don't do, influences who I am. How people/society/earthlings act towards one another, themselves, et al. Even supernatural forces influence me and my blessed subconscious. For better or for worse, I am a sponge. We are all sponges. Yeah, I said that.

Now, Imagine with me being 100% conscious of EVERY ounce of influence you obtain. I choose, you choose. Timshel. Now, don't get me wrong, I get to choose how I react to certain situations and I get to choose how I respond to people. But try to deny that we are all slaves to our habits. Habits control us. Oft times we are influenced without us even realizing, until down the road we catch ourselves doing the very act. Habit-ed / Addicted.

Or what about the influence of mass media and/or society. A lot of times I think I am my own individual, but then I turn around and see a handful of other people sporting the same style, listening to the same music. Was it my own individuality that decided to act or dress a certain way, or was it subconsciously embedded into my thought process. Woah.

Sleep on that one.

---

Before I sign off (after all, it is midnight...), I just want to say one more thing. Today, we finished off interviews for the Senate. We got some stellar new senators. Unfortunately, we had to turn away a lot of stellar students that would have been stellar senators. Luckily for me, I had the opportunity to make the calls to break the news... Talk about one of the worse experiences. Ever. I hate the fact that I have to turn people away from learning and growing opportunities. Even more terrible: I had to tell someone face to face that they were no longer a senator (after a year of service). Regardless of who was in the right, it has proven to be one of the WORSE EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. It is one thing to call up a stranger on the phone to tell them that they didn't make the position, but it is a whole different game telling a friend, face to face, that they need to pursue different opportunities. Bah. 

To top off the night, I just spent over 5 minutes trying to figure out which would be proper english in the sentences above: "worse" or "worst." I am still unsure! Who came up with this language, anyway?!