The Human Experience

On Tuesday night, I had the fortunate experience to watch "The Human
Experience". A movie about two brothers and their friends, who live in a "half-way" house in Brooklyn... and who travel the world in search of the meaning of life. It was one of the most moving films I have ever seen. It brilliantly answered the fundamental questions of human existence: who am I, how did I get here, why am I here, what is the meaning of life, is there anything after this life? These questions are not answered in the expected "documentary" manner; but rather are answered through the movie which evokes a simple experience common to us all - the experience of human life. This film took an in-depth look at our humanity and the human spirit, through the lens of hope and what was produced was a not only an amazingly influential film but also a wake-up call. A call to realize the sanctity of every life... because each life is an irreplaceable and unrepeatable occurence.
I highly recommend seeing this movie. It is only showing in select theatres right now, but they are hoping for wider distribution. For more informtion, check out their website here.

In light of yesterday...

Although, this blog is particularly devoted to the study of Philosophy and Metaphysics, I felt the need to post something truly hopeful. With the election results still ringing in the ears and hearts of Americans, there was a providential message in the daily readings of the Catholic Mass today.

The first reading was taken from the Letter of Paul to the Philipians (2:12-18)
"My beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me."

The Responsorial Psalm was from Psalm 127: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? "

The Gospel was taken from Luke (14:25-33)
"Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”

The Breakdown:
As St. Paul says: in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, hold on to the Word of LIFE! We are not citizens of this Earth but citizens of the true Kingdom, the one that has no end. As long as you cling to what is truly important, which is the True Messiah, there is nothing to fear.

Is it a coincidence that these are the readings today, I think not!

John Paul II said it throughout his papacy and I feel that it should again be the battlecry: Be Not Afraid! Go out and proclaim the Truth from the Rooftops!

Hope

Many of you may have seen this Obama ad {although the real one has the word Hope - I could not bring myself to post the real one}... I first saw this a couple of weeks ago, but recently have been seeing more and more of them. However, one of my neighbors just added it to the back of her car and as I was driving away this morning, I had to comment...

As a philosophy major, senior year brought with it a thesis requirement. I decided to delve into the subject of Hope as I set out to prove that there was in fact a human virtue of hope. I used "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl as my main source.

Dictionary.com gives one definition of hope: a person on whom one's expectations are centered. In my study Hope can be better defined as the movement of the appetite towards a future good, which though hard to attain is possible of attainment.

In either definition, one could see why the Obama campaign would want to use this as their "slogan". However, if one looks at his campaign and the "rights" he stands for, what future good are we to expect if he were to be our President? In combing through his website one can find catchy little sayings, like "I want to campaign the same way I govern, which is to respond directly and forcefully with the truth,"~ Barack Obama.

Truth, corresponds to reality. How can a man who does not want to respect the lives of unborn children promise to govern with truth or use hope as his endorsement? What higher good will this country ever attain if we continue to kill its future citizens? It seems to me that we should be asking Obama what are his first principles when it comes to governing. It seems to me that based on what he keeps talking about - the Economy seems to be one of them. Economy which by its very nature will constantly ebb and flo {isn't that part of econ101?}... so instead of a higher good {LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness}, we have money?

American Papist has a good conclusion as well as an additional article. Read it here.

Bottom line: I disagree that the Obama campaign is "powered by hope" but is definitely powered by his first principle, money.