paravanes:meditations

Hollywood has really lost its appeal. Unless there is a new Star Trek film on the horizon, I no longer look forward to knowing what's in the works in major commercial theaters. Why? I am too tired of Hollywood films that continue to depict a single element of the African-American experience while calling these films "historical", "powerful", "educational", and "enlightening." Recently, a friend urged me to see "The Butler", and I wrote back explaining why I wasn't going to see the film. I told him I was tired of seeing African-Americans depicted almost exclusively in subservient roles which did not present an image of people empowered to make material changes in their lives. I told him I am still waiting to see a film on the life of Ida B. Wells-Barnett , or Mary Ellen Pleasant , or Toussaint L'Ouverture . Do you recognize these names?  Why or why not? I told him I acknowledged the true history of African-Ameri...

This statement, made by Jesus while he was engaged in what some might call a “lively conversation” with religious rulers at the temple in ancient Jerusalem, is one of the most controversial statements he made. What does this statement mean? Why is it controversial? The religious leaders engaging Jesus in a discussion about his identity became so angry at the “Before Abraham was born, I am” statement they picked up stones and determined to kill him on the spot. The text says he “hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” You can read the text of the entire debate in the Gospel of John,chapter 8, beginning in verse 12.  Ancient Jewish religious leaders understood the use of the term “I Am” to mean the speaker is making him or herself equal to, or the same as, God. That’s why they became enraged when Jesus said “I Am.” It was considered blasphemy for any person to say they were the same as God. Some would say it was even an outrage because most of us insti...