draper with an iphone? must be season 47 of mad men

The Onion could not have written a more dramatic and absurd story than what has happened to the Invisible Children co-founder Jason Russell over the last couple days and weeks. A week ago he was the hero of the world. His organization’s Kony 2012 video became the single most viral video in history recording over 100 million hits in a matter of days. Every news organization and twitterer in the world was singing his praises.

Then just like anything that becomes popular, the counter movement forms. Soon everyone was questioning the finances and intentions of the Invisible Children organization. In fact so many questions and critiques were raised, that the organization released a second video outlining all of their financial information and attempting to clear the air on all of the many questions that people had raised.

I’ve seen both videos and I can say one thing: they are gifted filmmakers and messengers. They know how to present their message and belief in a way that catches people’s eye and inspires them. Afterall in a world that runs off of headlines and 140 character bursts of messages it is an incredible feat in itself that a 30 minute video received such passionate and genuine responses from so many people. 

Today, Jason Russell was arrested for a series of events that are still coming to light. He was at one point naked on the side of a street and made some sort of rude and sexual act the details of which are not quite clear.

Whatever happened, he screwed up. But it doesn’t matter.

And here’s why: we are all human. Just because the man is a gifted orator and professional filmmaker that is capable of spreading a message instantly across the world does not by any stretch of the imagination make him a perfect being.

What happened today is just evidence that humanity is fallen and imperfect. Both because of what Jason Russell did and how people reacted. I have read the most outrageous and slanderous tweets, blogs and posts about how because of what he did today he is somehow the scum of the Earth and far below everyone in terms of his right to respect, privacy and support. He has been unfairly and ludicrously villianized to the level of Joseph Kony: the man he sought to brought to justice in the first place.

If you’ve read this far I have a challenge. Do not click a single link, or read a single article about Jason Russell again. All that you will read is a terrible and poorly guided attempt to burn Jason Russell at the stake for something that happens everyday. He made a mistake, surprise surprise, he’s a human being. Does this somehow make what he had to say less important? No, please separate the man from the message. 

And while we are talking about the message, let me address the issues people have had about the companies financial and organizational integrity. I haven’t given them a cent, but I posted their video and I support their message. Does that make me a ‘slacktivist’? Does it mean that the issue is black and white, cut and dry? No, just as in everything there are always multiple angles and perspectives. Invisible Children presented theirs, and its an important one. There is a man out there who is responsible for unspeakable atrocities and the world should know about him. We didn’t know and now we do. That was their message, and they succeeded. From here the powers at be can decide what the best course of action is. But please stop demonizing the organization for presenting their beliefs. They have been completely transparent with where they spend money and how much money they allot to each part of their organization. If you would rather not donate, then don’t do it. 

This is probably as long winded as the Kony 2012 video, and much less captivating and exciting. But here is the thing: a fallen and sinful person presented an important message. It’s something that happens everyday—in fact it happens every time you post a status or picture (except often the message is even less important). I think if every post you and I made reached as many people and caused as much debate as Russell’s video did you would probably be pretty shocked and mentally affected too. So let’s get off his back and let him recover from something that we know nothing about and should care nothing about. Let’s stand behind the message and encourage people to share similar beliefs that contribute to making the world a better place.

Serve God, love me and mend
This is not the end
Lived unbruised, we are friends
And I’m sorry
I’m sorry

Sigh no more, no more
One foot in sea, one on shore
My heart was never pure
You know me
You know me

But man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing
Oh man is a giddy thing

Love; it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be

There is a design, an alignment to cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

Love; it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be

There is a design, an alignment to cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

Love; it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be

And there is a design, an alignment to cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

jaymug:

Steve Jobs about Creativity

Ok so I genuinely tried to make this list smaller. At first I said, ‘OK favourite 20 albums of the year.’ But then I couldn’t bear to leave some out of the list. And then I couldn’t bear to leave a few more. All in all, it was a fantastic year for music in my opinion. Some albums did not live up to the hype or expectations that I gave them (Although, it is pretty difficult for Radiohead to improve on In Rainbows so I’ll cut them some slack). But then there were tons of bands this year that came out of nowhere and blew me away. I think probably half of the artists on this list I had never even heard of before this year (some as late as a last week). So here is my list, if you ask me tomorrow I would probably change the order around again. But the first at least 10 I would say are my favourites. I think. I dunno. Let me know what you think…

1. Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials

2. Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal

3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

4. Adele - 21

5. Watch the Throne - Watch the Throne

6. Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

7. Lana Del Rey - Video Games EP 

8. Washed Out - Washed Out

9. Head and the Heart - Head and the Heart

10. Death Cab for Cutie-Codes and Keys

 11. The Decemberists - The King is Dead

12.The Dears - Degeneration Street

13. Childish Gambino-CAMP

14. Black Keys - El Camino

15. Theophilus London - Timez Are Weird These Days

16. M83 - Hurry Up We’re Dreaming

17. My Brightest Diamond-All Things Will Unwind

18. St. Vincent- Strange Mercy

19. James Blake-James Blake

20. The Weeknd - House of Balloons

21. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From the Vaccines

22. Noah and the Whale - Last Night on Earth

23. The Roots-Undun

25. Young Galaxy – Shapeshifting

26. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

27. Belle Brigade - Belle Brigade

28. Neon Indian-Era Extrana

29. Boxer Rebellion-The Cold Still

30. Foster the People-Torches

31. Fleet Foxes-Helplessness Blues

32. Hooray for Earth-True Loves

33. Foo Fighters-Wasting Light

34. White Lies-Ritual

35. Radiohead-King of Limbs

36. Lupe Fiasco-Friend of the People

37. Lights - Siberia 

38. Cults - Cults

39. The Rapture-In The Grace of Your Love

40. Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

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