I Can See 39 From Here...

20 years of awesomeness...

Today, somewhere in West Texas, a slew of people I knew in an earlier life are congregating to celebrate two decades since we reigned our little dusty morsel of friday night lights. I assume it was homecoming at San Angelo Central High School. I hope maybe won this time...

Meanwhile, 1100 miles away, my pre-toddlin' son are spending the day playing wrastlin', rakin' leaves and writin' songs off the top of our heads -- these are our three Rs here in beautiful Columbus, Georgia. Our latest musical masterpiece --  "Chocolate, Son".

OPPORTUNITY
Nothing in the world has afforded me opportunity to share everything I've learned on this long journey more than being a Dad to Kai (戒). The way of respect and interest. A loving sensei (先生).

It's the inner-peace I learned from my childhood in Hawaii, the effervescence felt at thirteen when I became "born again" and especially, the universal harmony of an impromptu jam with people you've never met before -- this is movement. This combined result is why I title: SouthernZen.

Each, peace, joy, harmony, movement -- all together, without one slipping away, is how Kai and I spent my 20th class reunion.

One month from today, I will be one year away from my 40th year in this world. Hard to believe and what a gift given!

Class of 1989, I hope your day was as fulfilling as our own.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com, Sean "Rox" Michael Schoff. Eagle Scout. Airman. Artist. Dad.

Two Texans: Why W and I Oppose

For many years, I've been a Republican-leaning voter, yet a staunch opponent of W's integrity as a Man and have voted against his candidacy for both governor of Texas and President of the United States. I'm often asked why I feel so this so strongly... below are my very personal reasons why...

In Fall 1994, I was fresh out of my enlistment in the U.S. Air Force and back in Texas using my G.I. Bill as a full-time working, full-time student at Angelo State U. and our Gubernatorial election was at hand. George W. Bush won against a very popular incumbent Ann Richards. Thank God he was only the Governor. (Realize in Texas the Governor has very little power -- at all.)

Reason One: W, The Forunate Son.
Even at that early time, I knew W's story -- a rich kid with a big mouth and a real Vietnam Era "Fortunate Son" -- that is -- W's dad was a pro-war Senator, yet wrangled a way to avoid combat for his own son. While Poppy Bush supported the deadlock combat in SouthEast Asia for other people's sons, he pulled strings for his own golden child. Fifty-eight thousand of W's peer group did not return.

In everything I was taught, as both a Viet-Brat and "Peacetime" Veteran, I could tell this "Ivy-Leagued, Cowboy Wannabe" possessed little character or integrity beyond his shiny silver spoon. I could feel the presidency for this boy King was on the horizon.

ReasonTwo: W is a Fake and a big Prick.
Despite the many falsehoods he may have muttered, he doesn't know Spanish or English fluently, doesn't have a true grasp or understanding of World History (aside from his obsession with one-word, armchair strategies), likes to buddy up to guys that are actually successful and... have I mentioned he's a big prick?

Reason Three: W finally gets to go to War (with other people's sons).
Before his Presidency, he'd never really been out of country, except to deal with family friends like the Saudi sheiks and close business partners (then, anyway), the bin Ladens. It's a small world, when you're into oil and construction. After 911, we engaged Afghanistan, never meaning to ever end the conflict or catch that pesky neighborhood bin Laden boy. Peace doesn't pay the bills.

Reason Four: W lets us have a bonus war (with other people's sons).
It was clear to anyone that saw beyond W's hype machine, that Iraq was next. Now 5 years later, and we have no way to measure success, because the strategy by our Commander-in-Chief was fundamentally flawed and based in fairytale foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the mess I knew he could create if he was President has become what I believe to be the most caustic U.S. foreign policy mistake --ever... but the U.S. oil companies still have control over Iraqi oil... so, what's the problem?

There's simply nothing left to "win" in Iraq, other than access to crude. We don't "win" Democracies in other countries. Our military deserves a better leader than this oily pud.

Reason Five: W creates a money-hole (Homeland Security & Iraq), privacy hole (Patriot Act) and justice hole (DOJ despotism unfolding).
Big government. Big hassle. All facades to be used for political gain. He's reigned with The Constitution being one of the few splintering speed bumps between American Freedom and his granddaddy's 4th reich (salute, Prescott!)... IMHO. Wonder how many will be pardoned for future crimes before Jan. 20th?

Reason Six: W doesn't realize he's in charge!
Only one person in our country could have made a big difference in Post-Katrina Louisiana. He was in charge of FEMA (under his new Homeland Security), had Lousiana State guardsmen in Iraq, and was slow to react in the face of those corrupt local governments. He's told us his job is "hard work". My only reaction to W's perfect illustration of the Peter Principle: give up and let a responsible adult clean up your mess.

Reason Seven: W leaving office as a Chickenhawk.
See? He's simply not curious enough to realize he's done a shitty job. This, another clear sign that he's a total prick... also IMHO.

For years, I considered myself an Eagle Scout, Republican-leaning voter. After this fiasco, I'd find it very difficult to support any political candidate who can't put PLENTY of distance between themselves and W, America's Fortunate Son -- the antithesis of whom I've become in my life.

peace-
seanrox
an Obama-leaning undecided voter

P.S. We still have our 1st Amendment rights? Right?

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© seanrox.com.

Why I Like The South: Fire barrels, Barbecue and Better

The other day, someone asked me the difference between Texans and people in "The South". From my experience, living in Georgia these last 11 years, I said, off the top of my head...

From my personal experience, if a West Texan shows up at a barbecue and sees someone he doesn't like, he's encouraged to either leave or kick the unknowing offender's ass for entertainment value at some point during the festivities. In contrast, in the South, we dismiss those ill feelings... because barbecue is better, and who would want to screw that up?

Group think works both ways, but I sure do miss that mesquite-fired and rubbed brisket.

NOTE: Mowed the lawn weeds for the first time today after work... layers of leaves became dust and I'm not sure there has ever been a healthy lawn in the front. Out back, I continue to uncover hidden cement garden work under 6 inches of leaves, dirt and vines -- someone spent some time and energy to build what I'm only beginning to discover. It's really cool to finally have a place to love.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.

Polygamy, Prejudice and Cronyism: Things Real People Are Into and How We Learn About It.

Even Twain speaketh: "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Gasp-Tastic 'Gonzo' Media.
Seems in these modern times of communication, the spirits of Mr. Ripley and Hunter S. Thompson have embodied themselves in the form of gasp-tastic 'gonzo' media. Hour after hour of analysis of the freaks living next door. It's the news. Believe it... or not.

Death of the Sitcom
TV analysts express melodramatic outrage and spew blind psychiatric prognosis at the drop of a sensational headline, these modern lurid American stories are stated, re-stated and debated. We are drawn into the minute-by-minute coverage, leaving little interest for our once-revered family sitcom.

Yes, fading are the moaning evenings of half-hour, prime time, cutesy, half-laughs and vanilla spiritual sludge. Today, more and more Americans are discussing current events and sharing their unique perspective on the perverse facets of our very odd world.

Via 24/7 coverage of American Polygamy, Prejudice and Cronyism, exposing our "reality" has possibly changed the theatre of media forever.


CASE #1 : PolygamyFLDS in Eldorado, Texas.

I KNEW IT!
I've driven by that mini-tabernacle hundreds of times heading south from San Angelo where my parents still reside. I always suspected the property could operate some shady operations going on in such a self-righteous structure.

THE FIX?
I hear the authorities have in custody hundreds of girls and children with tales of arranged "spiritual" marriages with grown, married men. How will these people integrate into society after all this out-of-time abuse?

Best case scenario -- I hope modern Mormons step in, take a leadership role and make a difference. America's most popular LDS members, Mitt Romney and Glenn Beck could take the lead in helping these 400+ children. They share many cultural and religious norms with the abused, but I expect both Romney and Beck will most likely distance themselves from these Fundamentals and their problems.

CASE #2 : Obama vs. Prejudice

There are places in America where men feel strongly that an elected black president will give black people in America a fresh advantage over all others. Fortunately for them, it appears to me that Obama lives and thinks on the far side of this ignorance.

It's my take, that this candidate would make key decisions with both The People and Our Constitution in mind which is quite possibly the fairest of all positions. But, of course, what does a graphic designer know?

CASE #3 : Political Cronyism

Presidents make millionaires and wars, but war-time presidents make millionaires into billionaires. EVERYTIME.

Keeping this in mind can help you make your own choice on election day. More on this topic as the election nears.

But... it's important to note Twain also said, "History does not repeat itself. It rhymes."
Whew.

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© seanrox.com.

How the West is Different.

It occurred to me this evening while watching a GPB/PBS documentary on Col. Wild Bill Cody, that I was taught and already knew much about this American figure by the time I completed Kindergarten and first grade at Loy Elementary School in Great Falls, Montana. Yet, I haven't heard anything about him or his massive scale Wild West Show or his importance to The Greater American Story since Spring of 1978. I suppose history and culture are localized.

In my Montana Kindergarten curriculum, there was no concept of slavery or the civil war, but we learned through tribulation that all Americans, including the Native Americans were to be treated with respect and mutual admiration. The concepts of Expo and Trading Post encouraged cultural exchange.

After moving to and from grammar school Hawaii, which shared this similar rich "respect for all men" with a tropical, romantic mystique, I landed in the proud West Texas education system in 1981 -- a very different place.

In San Angelo, Texas, I learned that "life is hard, and if it isn't, you are probably cheating and you'll get caught soon enough". I also learned a lot of Dry Pflueger Wisdom that I dispense to myself upon occasion when I tumble. There's no doubt, I attribute my Texan education to fueling my tenacity to fight for what is right in my heart.

But, sadly, it was also here, during my tween and preteen middle school Texan lessons, I was taught concepts of prejudice, self-righteousness, "zero tolerance" and the homogeneous agenda. If my parents ever wondered at what point everything changed for me, it was West Texas. Looking back, I think my young psyche received a cultural rip. It happens to us all... eventually.

(Onward, the large-scale influences from being a High Schooler in rural England and suburban Tucson in the mid-late 1980s might very well blow your mind, so I'll leave that part out for now.)

Centering back on my original point, Wild Bill Cody hadn't much importance to the West Texas Story nor the Hawaiian Statehood Story, but I know, as someone that has fallen in love with the State of Georgia (where there are regional folks tales as well), all those many stories -- some similar and some contradicting -- are all the many pieces of wisdom shared with me by my teachers and mentors across the world. For this, I believe I have a better understanding of people.

In an America, where we lead entertainment across the globe, it's important to note: Colonel Wild Bill Cody was the first True-American Showman. A pioneer in global showbiz and the postal service, for that matter.

peace-
seanrox

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© seanrox.com.