Not Far From the Maddening Crowd

It has been one of the most demanding weeks I've had in a LONG time. It seems I'm not the only one. Speaking to someone in Los Angeles today, we both laughed at our similar experiences -- incredibly pressed.
I suspect this is an economically healthy sign.

My personal craziness aside [though it seems to include a lot more than me] it is a demanding time.

Part of it is that I am working with Discovery Times for three hours of which two will be done in Iraq -- and this is the first time I've ever reviewed a budget in which bullet proof vests are a line item. Jon Alpert and two of his filmmaking group are following the Arkansas National Guard into Iraq, after being with them through the call up and training.
It is demanding, sobering and humbling to know there are filmmakers who see a great human story and are literally willing to risk their lives to tell it.

In the world of film, there is a HUGE conversation raging about Mel Gibson's "The Passion". A woman died in Kansas City of a heart attack during the crucifixion scene. The first half hour of CNN's Newsnight on Ash Wednesday was devoted to various reactions to the film. I haven't seen it yet and probably won't.

Having grown up Catholic I have been left with sufficient [for me] images of the last hours of Jesus' life. I can imagine what Hollywood movie magic could do to give reality to the images drummed into me by Sister Neva.

But what was very interesting to me was that one critic claimed it worked better as a horror movie than as an inspirational one. However, at the end of the day, it is JUST a movie.

In an almost inspired juxtaposition another great noise in the media this week has been President Bush's announcement of his support of an amendment to the Constitution to prevent gays from marrying -- a direct result of the wildness that has been occurring in San Francisco for the last two weeks. An unrepentant Mayor, who is straight, has been issuing marriage licenses to gays and it appears the entire city has mobilized to facilitate what conservatives are calling a flagrant disregard for the law of the State of California.

The individuals who recalled Gray Davis now want to recall the Attorney General because he hasn't been more aggressive in shutting down the operation. The Governor is afraid it will lead to violence in the streets. However, the first hand reports I've had from San Francisco sound like the city is behaving more like the Summer of Love than a city on the edge of riot.

A school friend was married there to the man he has lived with for the last thirty one years and I had tears in my eyes when I read his e-mail announcing it, talking about what it meant to him to actually be able to declare his partner his spouse.

In declaring opposition to gay marriage and supporting a constitutional amendment, President Bush has made a powerful political statement that, if history has taught us anything, cannot be made real in the time he remains in office. It is powerfully [and, for me, thankfully] hard to change our basic document and it generally takes years and YEARS.
So while President Bush proposes a change in the Constitution over gay marriage, I will be more immediately watching how Congress votes on guns while noting that ClearChannel has suspended Howard Stern, America's Shock Jock, for being inappropriate. What, they just noticed? Or is it that their Chairman has to testify to Congress right about now?
And on Thursday, the 26th of February, New York celebrated a grim anniversary. Nine years ago bombs went off in the basement of the WTC, failing to topple the buildings causing the clock begin to tick to 9/11.

It is not surprising to me that against the backdrop of a demanding week, line items for bullet proof vests, a din of views on THE PASSION, a grim anniversary and a cacophony regarding marriage that I find myself yearning for the quiet of our cottage on the creek.