Good Morning and Welcome to Coast to Coast I'm Joey Macasieb.
Top story today surrounds the new release of the film Fame inspired both by an older film and a stage musical.
While on the surface, Fame may appear to be another attempt at the shallow (and incredibly vile) High School Musical, Fame actually carries a lot more wait and in its music and presentation seeks to convey a message to audiences both young and old. Fame follows the story of a class of high schoolers attending a prestigious performing arts school in New York City. Through the four years covered by the film, we see a tale of strife and good times, of growing and maturing and most of all, learning what it means to be famous. The story of Fame is masterfully told through triumphant acting, dancing and singing giving the audience the feel of watching this story unfold as though it were on the stage.
Throughout the film, the music and story sought to convey a message which I found profound and utterly amazing considering the lack of intelligent film making today. The message of the movie was simple though in other ways complex. Fame tells its audiences to be who you are and always shoot for your dreams no matter what obstacles may seek to impede your path. This message is powerfully told through the movie as we see our young heroes on screen dealing with everything from parental opposition to scam artists.
Fame's core message made me think also on the state of LGBT youth in America today. Growing up as a Gay man in southern California was harder for me than most people may think. Heteronormative imagery and doctrine is still alive and well today and thrust upon American youth causing LGBT youth like myself to often feel as though we are not "normal" in the eyes of society. How does this concept relate to Fame? Fame carries the message of being who you are regardless of how the world or others sees you, an important message to LGBT youth. Though we are bombarded with images of male-female relationships and often condemned in often innocuous ways by our peers, we are just like anyone else. I say to all my fellow LGBT youth you are who you are and there is not a single need to be afraid of that.
My senior graduation ad in the 2008 copy of my high school year book contained a quote which read: "be who you are and say what you will because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind". I challenge our society to think on this quote and to relate it to the modern version of the film. I guarantee the two messages relate to one another quite well.
Thats all for today and remember whether you live on the east, west or gulf coast
THE REPUBLIC PREVAILS
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Someone PLEASE keep the government out of my lungs!
Good Morning and welcome to Coast to Coast.
A brief anecdote, if I may, to begin this morning's discussion. After work monday night, I returned from watching monday night football with my friends and decided I would stop and have a cigarette before retiring to my dorm for the night. What did I smell on the air but the sweet delcious smell of a Djarum Black (a clove flavoured cigarette for those of you unfamiliar with them). One of my friends proceeded to give me one and I asked where he got his pack. He told me where but then reminded me as of midnight tuesday morning, blacks along with any other flavoured tobacco product were illegal.
Now this curious piece of legislation gets me thinking: Just what is congress thinking? Was it not liberal America constantly whining about conservatives "legislating morality" during the Bush Administration.
So what (if any) is the justification for telling people what they can and cannot smoke. For that matter, where does the United States Government draw its rationalization for telling a given industry what it can and cannot produce? The answer is simple: To protect American youth.
Conservatives are as guilty as Liberals in parading American youth around as the answer to various forms of social legislation but this is rediculous, bottom line. According to the bill in congress and recently signed by President Obama, flavoured tobacco products cater directly to young people and this piece of legislation is designed to keep them from smoking.
America when was the last time you saw a tobacco ad showing teenagers or even my seven year old nephew smoking a grape flavoured swisher sweet or a djarum black?
The government needs to learn that it is in no way its job to tell the American people what they can and cannot do. It goes further to say that the current congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Ried must learn that it needs to keep its greedy hands off of American industry. In a recession economy, we should not be punishing multi-million dollar industries like tobacco. Just as a side note, tobacco has been a cash crop of the United States since...well...the colonies?
I would like to close this post by saying one simple thing. You cannot legislate morality. It's just not possible. Government power has grown at an alarming rate since the Bush administration and this constant government intrusion into personal lives needs to stop now.
That is all for today and remember whether you live on the east, west or gulf coast...
THE REPUBLIC PREVAILS
A brief anecdote, if I may, to begin this morning's discussion. After work monday night, I returned from watching monday night football with my friends and decided I would stop and have a cigarette before retiring to my dorm for the night. What did I smell on the air but the sweet delcious smell of a Djarum Black (a clove flavoured cigarette for those of you unfamiliar with them). One of my friends proceeded to give me one and I asked where he got his pack. He told me where but then reminded me as of midnight tuesday morning, blacks along with any other flavoured tobacco product were illegal.
Now this curious piece of legislation gets me thinking: Just what is congress thinking? Was it not liberal America constantly whining about conservatives "legislating morality" during the Bush Administration.
So what (if any) is the justification for telling people what they can and cannot smoke. For that matter, where does the United States Government draw its rationalization for telling a given industry what it can and cannot produce? The answer is simple: To protect American youth.
Conservatives are as guilty as Liberals in parading American youth around as the answer to various forms of social legislation but this is rediculous, bottom line. According to the bill in congress and recently signed by President Obama, flavoured tobacco products cater directly to young people and this piece of legislation is designed to keep them from smoking.
America when was the last time you saw a tobacco ad showing teenagers or even my seven year old nephew smoking a grape flavoured swisher sweet or a djarum black?
The government needs to learn that it is in no way its job to tell the American people what they can and cannot do. It goes further to say that the current congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Ried must learn that it needs to keep its greedy hands off of American industry. In a recession economy, we should not be punishing multi-million dollar industries like tobacco. Just as a side note, tobacco has been a cash crop of the United States since...well...the colonies?
I would like to close this post by saying one simple thing. You cannot legislate morality. It's just not possible. Government power has grown at an alarming rate since the Bush administration and this constant government intrusion into personal lives needs to stop now.
That is all for today and remember whether you live on the east, west or gulf coast...
THE REPUBLIC PREVAILS
Friday, September 11, 2009
A Note to my Fellow Conservatives.
Good Afternoon and welcome to coast to coast I am Joey Macasieb coming to you from beautiful uptown New Orleans.
My top story today centers around reactions President Barack Obama and his policies, more specifically on the health care issue. President Obama addressed congress and the American people regarding the current "public option" on the table in front of congress. The president sought to dispel rumours regarding his administrations healthcare reform plan as well as to persuade the American people that a "public option" is in the best intrests of the American people. During the presidents speech, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) saw fit to stand during the speech and call the president a liar.
While I do not agree with the presidents ideas for a public option on healthcare, I must denounce the actions of Congressman Joe Wilson. Here is my current issue with my fellow conservatives today: childish actions like that of Rep. Wilson will loose us the country again in 2010 and possibly the white house in 2012. Now is not the time for in-fighting rather now is a time for true unity and a return to Republican values.
Its no secret to anyone now that conservatives have lost our way. We have forsaken our core values of small government, individual liberty and support for small business. Now is the time for a return to our traditional values. Its time to reunify and return to supporting a truly free society. Once we accomplish that, we will be able to reclaim our country.
Thats it for today and remember whether you live on the east west or gulf coast
The Republic Prevails
My top story today centers around reactions President Barack Obama and his policies, more specifically on the health care issue. President Obama addressed congress and the American people regarding the current "public option" on the table in front of congress. The president sought to dispel rumours regarding his administrations healthcare reform plan as well as to persuade the American people that a "public option" is in the best intrests of the American people. During the presidents speech, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) saw fit to stand during the speech and call the president a liar.
While I do not agree with the presidents ideas for a public option on healthcare, I must denounce the actions of Congressman Joe Wilson. Here is my current issue with my fellow conservatives today: childish actions like that of Rep. Wilson will loose us the country again in 2010 and possibly the white house in 2012. Now is not the time for in-fighting rather now is a time for true unity and a return to Republican values.
Its no secret to anyone now that conservatives have lost our way. We have forsaken our core values of small government, individual liberty and support for small business. Now is the time for a return to our traditional values. Its time to reunify and return to supporting a truly free society. Once we accomplish that, we will be able to reclaim our country.
Thats it for today and remember whether you live on the east west or gulf coast
The Republic Prevails
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