My apologies to my friend Captain Black as I have been negligent in posting his
many pearls of wisdom. Take heed both friends and foes of the RLSH movement - you
should learn something from what he says and if you don't then I'm not sure what to
tell you.
<< Start >>
Creative Homeboys, Homegirls & Hometown Security
Who secures our hometowns after the police and private officers are counted? The short list stops at us. We, the general public, are society's last ( and largest ) line of defense, but not in the crazy militia sense that's been making headlines.
One form of hometown security I especially love promoting is creative concerned citizenship, particularly what the media calls the real life superhero ( RLSH ) movement. Comprised of unconventional homeboys and girls of all kinds, we use comic book/pulp fiction as inspiration to lead fantastic lives.
The RLSH approach to hometown security pumps new blood into the veins of community emergency management. After 9/11 you'd think the ranks of part time EMTs; volunteer fire fighters; police auxiliaries and other citizen servers would have swelled to new highs. Even innovations like Community Emergency Response Teams ( CERTS ) tasked with deploying trained citizen search parties are undermanned.
Sadly, after the smoke clears and adrenaline wanes the public ( society's last and largest line of defense y'all ) returns to business as usual. Would-be crusaders return to slaying more mundane dragons: namely earning livings and raising families. Real life superheroes spark great interest in the otherwise unglamorous work of doing good. For free! Out of your own tight pocket! Hometown security needs inspired citizens otherwise our towns become increasingly insecure.
This weekend I provided two very able members of my Street Team to provide security for a hip hop non-profit I've donated to. It uses creative writing and performance as juvenile rehabilitation. This kind of crime fighting is very RLSH-friendly because the founder, himself a former juvenile probation officer and rapper, considered me an ally who knew intimately the power of creativity in public safety. He knew if anyone could honor a last minute staffing request it was Capt. Black. It feels nice having friends like my Street Team with whom you can help save small parts of folks world. Hometown security was served not only by protecting his patrons but also the venue- an American Legion post.
My brand as a RLSH made him seek help so he could safely raised funds to help others- a win win for all involved.
Many members of this Movement have similar stories. Creative hometown security means being an unconventional helper folks can contact. A costumed participant at a walkathon or in commercials for charity can transform apathy into action. Our hometowns have hunger, hopelessness and crime to tackle. If we can inspire and more importantly organize people to see hometown security as extensions of their own then our job is done.
Failing to provide hometown security means eventually failing to provide homeland security... that's where creativity can save the day!
B.L.A.C.K Power Anybody?
I recently posted this status on my Face Book page, " B.L.A.C.K.= BROTHERHOOD.LOYALTY.ABILITY.COURAGE.KINDNESS.- REGARDLESS OF COLOR, ARE U MY B.L.A.C.K. SISTER OR BROTHER? "
B.L.A.C.K. power is what I promote. It's not color based but is based upon the five principles comprising the acronym. It's a code of conduct for people wanting to be more than their resumes. The individual has to decide his place in society, regardless of opposition. When selecting a real life superhero name, I created " Capt. Black " as my contribution to this movement. Obviously I'm Black, but these five principles are common to good folks of any color. While an advocate for inner city safety and success, safety and success anywhere is my overall concern. My bittersweet experience with American racial attitudes informed choosing the " Black " in my Capt. Black brand name in this way. Our fight against racism has involved at least these five principles. They're also present in any group promoting decency and self-development.
The 1960s Black Power movement gave America one definition of this phrase. It fought that era's Apartheid and inspired generations of activists afterward. My definition of B.L.A.C.K. power was born in late 20th century urban challenges and also celebrates anyone using these five principles to combat today's problems. My color has been used as the basis for receiving very evil treatment. It has also been a ringside seat for learning how to fight crime and promote self-development in the shadow of hostile institutions. These are the lessons I share with like minded people who want America to be more than what we see daily.
If you want a safer, more prosperous country for everyone that makes you B.L.A.C.K. in my book.
B.L.A.C.K. power anybody?
Superheroes Aren't Always Costumed
Long before I thought real life superheroes ( RLSH ) could actually exist I contented myself in the exploits of exceptional people without fancy names or outfits.
My list of real life superheroes is always growing and accommodates diverse folks like Alexander Dumas; Toussaint L’Ouverture; Booker T. Washington; Frederick Douglas; Theodore " Teddy " Roosevelt; Douglas McArthur; the Tuskegee Airmen; George Patton; Harry Truman; Paul Robeson; Hosea Williams; Joseph Lowery; Medgar Evers; Noble Drew Ali; the Honorable Elijah Muhammad; Malcolm X; Muhammad Ali; John F. Kennedy; Robert Kennedy; Benjamin Hooks; Colin Powell; Clarence Thomas; Earl Winthorp De veaux ( maternal grandfather ); Gloria Evelyn Wilson DeVeaux ( maternal grandmother ); W.W. Law; Sam Jones; Adeeb Shabazz and others. They may not have the same politics but they inspire me nonetheless. Inspiration comes from many directions and I'm always on the lookout for it. The real world can drain the heart of wonder. It can be a depressing place made even more so by todays headlines. That's where studying great lives famous and not-so-famous helps self-motivation keep going.
Wesley Autrey is one not-so-famous real life superhero who leapt onto a New York subway and shielded someone who'd fallen onto the tracks with his own body! As heroic as when service members throw themselves on enemy grenades to save their comrades-in-arms, I always reflect upon Autrey's astonishing courage.
Google his name and give your spirits a much needed treat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Autrey
Someone like him and everyone mentioned boldly says just how great we can be. Wesley Autrey and the others remind the world real life superheroes aren't always costumed!
Crime fighting for Purpose or Profit
One phase of my stealth " real life superhero ( RLSH ) " activities before the Movement was keeping tabs on suspects and/or declared fugitives. Information gathered was forwarded to the appropriate agency. As a dutiful bounty hunter earning rewards drove this alongside civic duty. I'm not opposed to catching criminals for pay; law enforcement does it every day. Opponents of bounty hunting should be able to magically make policing pro bono and watch officers surge to resign!
RLSH normally don't fight crime for profit. Many feel it's anathema to the Movement's overall altruism. Others reply any monies accepted should be used to fund homeless outreach or equipment needs. Real life superheroes, overtly or covertly, have access to information police would find interesting. As a RLSH whose background includes bounty hunting and security consulting I've made a living from what we usually do for free. Reconciling the two is easy, because I genuinely enjoy contributing to public safety. The bulk of my efforts, stealth and openly RLSH, is freely given.
Deciding whether crime fighting should become a revenue stream is a personal choice. I fight crime for a purpose: to help people help themselves become safer and alternately, persuading criminals to become their higher selves. Self-development is an even more effective crime fighting strategy than patrolling and even RLSH-inspired community coalitions ( RICCs ). The worst crime in my " Crime ISN'T A Civil Right! " conversations and presentation is working against being your better self. That's what drives my activities past, present and future.
Money's nice, but the above reasons are reward enough for me and real life superhero es generally. We fight crime for a higher purpose not merely for profit!
Pardon Me While I save The World
e greatest beauty of the real life superhero ( RLSH ) movement is no permission is needed to become one. There's no board of examiners; background checks or other hurdles to leap.
There are several manuals and one school out there for the preparation of experienced and neophyte RLSH. The point is each of us is free to become his or her vision of what a " superhero " or related figure should be. That's very liberating in a world preaching limits, even when limitation largely contributes to needless misery. We show more conventional concerned citizens that they can make folks sit up and take notice.
He only has to give himself permission to do so.
RLSH philosophy may one day take its place alongside Abraham Maslows hierarchy of needs or even something esoteric like Law of Attraction. real life superheroism celebrates how big individual imagination stretches someones life. We have within our ranks people more weird than even the wildest fictional characters. We also count men and women whose stature approaches being legendary. Such scope is a case study in human potential waiting to be done.
We provide eloquent testimony on how amazing life becomes when someone first gives himself permission.
Or said another way, " Pardon me while I save the world! "
Communication: A RLSH Necessity
You know you're living right when young people ask you for career advice. In a days time two aspiring members of the real life superhero ( RLSH ) movement approached me- the first on line ; the second by phone.
This is an unexpected bonus to living my dream come true: advising others how to do the same... in their own way. Last year saw me regularly e-mail; chat and talk with fellow RLSH.
I've communicated with some of the big names in the Movement. I've done the same with not-so big names and people from related groups. As of this writing I haven't personally met any RLSH but look forward to that footnote in my history. While most of us are solo acts, communication assures success as individuals and as a subculture. I know only too well the highs and lows of visionary living. Toss in this unconventional take on concerned citizenship and there's a definite need for dialog.
This Movement is too precious to hoard to ourselves. Having experienced its scope I know the temptation to be latter day Lone Rangers. Alot of us are the only RLSH within respective city limits. My hope is we'll reach out not only to each other always to more conventional concerned citizens. Whether you're a cyber crusader or actually get out publicly, building rapport helps get the job done. Our impact grows with the amount of relationships created. We're a broad coalition of very creative ( sometimes cantankerous ) folks who use fiction to leverage fantastic results from ourselves and everyone we meet.
Any real life superhero checklist would be woefully incomplete if it doesn't include communication as an absolute necessity.
Communication is a super power unto itself, comforting fellow RLSH and inspiring fellow citizens to become champions in their own right!
-NADRA AKA CAPT. BLACK
URBAN TEA PARTY ADVOCATE
NADRACAPTBLACK@YMAIL.COM ( Pay Pal address ).
http://reallifesuperheroes.org/wiki/index.php?title=Captain_Black
(912) 272-2898
"When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail." - Pearl S. Buck
"The moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out." - James Baldwin
About me.....
- Dragonheart
- I'm a dreamer and perhaps too much of an eternal optimist. I always try to look at the glass as half full. Defiant and ferocious towards those who would seek to unjustly harm others, I speak my mind...for better or worse. Where as some view compassion as a weakness I view it as a strength. I try not to live in the shadows of my regrets because doing so dims the light and the promise of a new day. I do not strive for perfection for this is the quest of fools and denies a man the blessings of humility. The bonds of true friendship and family are to be protected...sometimes by the cunning, stealth, and tenaciousness of a mouse but other times by the wrath and fury of the dragon. I am one and yet I am both. This is my truth.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Fall of a Hero: Rest in Peace Nightcrawler
The Fall of a Hero: Rest in Peace Nightcrawler
It’s rare for me to actually blog about a specific hero, especially one from the wondrous mythical world of comic books but I’ve always been a fan of the X-men. Having been created as a metaphor for the struggles of minorities both racial and religious towards civil rights and a counter to the racism, they were a bold new step in the world of comics. The terms “feared and despised by the world they swore to save” became the common theme of the X-men. All of X-men have died in the line of duty, sacrificing their lives for the dream of Professor Xavier that in many ways mirrors the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr. when he said “he had a dream”. Professor Xaviers dream was that mankind and mutantkind could someday find a way to coexist, to put aside their differences and work with one another for a better tomorrow. Most recently the X-men lost one of their most popular characters, that being Nightcrawler. It was his impact to the X-men and his astounding nobility both in the way he lived and the way he chose to die that moved me to write this blog.
Nightcrawler for those that are unaware of it, was born a mutant with a very bizarre, almost demonic appearance; fine blue-black fur covering his body, two fingers with an opposable thumb on each hand and only two toes, each longer than a normal human being's, on each foot and a third toe-like projection on his heel, as well as pronounced, fang-like canine teeth, yellow eyes, pointed ears, and a 3 1/2 foot long prehensile pointed tail which can support his weight. He also had the ability to teleport, wall crawl, shadow stealth, supernatural agility, and had an untapped but ongoing attunement to magic. He was also a superb fencer.
Perhaps the most intriguing facet of his character was that despite his demonic appearance he was a devout Catholic. When the X-men were implanted with the Brood eggs inside them Nightcrawler spent much to the time praying to God for salvation, even encouraging Wolverine to do the same. When Nightcrawler asked Wolverine, who is an Atheist who he believed in if not God, Wolverine responded by saying “I believe in you Elf”, this response being a microcosm of how all of the X-men drew faith and inspiration from Nightcrawler. At one point in the comic books Nightcrawler even attempted to leave the world of super heroics and become a Catholic priest. This caused a great stir amongst the established religious order and tested them in terms of tolerance. The scriptures said to accept those who come before God with humility and truth and yet many priests and members of the Catholic church found themselves unable to do so, too caught up in what Nightcrawler looked like to care for the noble soul that resided within him. There was also the famous storyline where at the height of anti-mutant sentiment the X-men, especially Wolverine, convinced Nightcrawler to dispense with the holographic projector he used to hide his appearance and walk down the street in his true form. Despite almost being attacked by a scared mob of humans I believe he did so nonetheless. It was this courage and his personal convictions and faith that made him perhaps the most noble and one of the most beloved X-men of all.
In a recent storyline Nightcrawler and Rogue found themselves protecting the young mutant girl called Hope, the supposed Messiah that will usher in the reignition of the mutant race. For those not following comic books, in a fit of madness Scarlet Witch unleashed a wave of reality alteration that shut down the mutant gene across the whole planet, perhaps even the whole universe. Despite this the mutant girl Hope was born, a birth so powerful that it caused the Cerebro mutant finder machine to explode. The mutant named Bishop however, who comes from the future, believes that Hope will lead to the decimation of the mutant race and has chosen to try and kill her. Currently there are less that 200 mutants alive on the planet and unless something it done the calculations say that the mutant race will reach the point of no return in 7 years. So one way or the other, Hope will be the doom or the rebirth of the mutant race. But back to the story..
As Rogue and Nightcrawler stood with Hope the evil human hybrid Sentinel Bastion appeared before the. Bastion is a combined organic merger of the techno virus, the sentinel Master Mold and the sentinel Nimrod from the future. He is perhaps the pinnacle mutant hunting and destroying being and a metaphor for the hatred and intolerance that a person can have against a race, religion, or even physical imperfection that would drive someone to a killer state. A fight occurred and even with Rogue absorbing the powers of at least 6 X-men and using them all at once against Bastion, he soundly defeated her. Then as he reached out to grab Hope a crush her in his hands Nightcrawler made the ultimate sacrifice – he teleported in the way and into Bastions are, thus impaling himself but protecting Hope. Then, in what I believe is one of the most heroic deaths in the history of the X-men he says something to the effect “Dear God, please give me the strength to teleport one last time” and is able to teleport with the little girl Hope to Utopia, the island of the X-men. It was there, on it’s cold rocky shores and with his dying breath that Nightcrawler looked up at Hope and said “I believe in you” and then died.
His death has been a major shock to the X-men. Nightcrawler was always sure if Hope was indeed the mutant Messiah but towards the end he held on to his faith because ultimately that was who he was at heart – a man of profound faith. Wolverine even went so far as to say that he respected Nightcrawler and loved him as family because Nightcrawler “always talked to me as a man and not an animal even if what he said wasn’t what I wanted to hear.” Wolverine then turned to Hope and said “you’d better be worth it.” Harsh words indeed but that is Wolverines nature, his way of expressing how deep his love and friendship with Nightcrawler was.
Pulling away from the comic book storyline but not the underlying theme behind Nightcrawlers passing, his death really had an impact on me. It’s been gnawing at me over the past few days since I found out about it. Nightcrawler held on to his faith when most others abandoned it. He loved a world that would sooner hunt him down as they did when he was born and burn him at the stake as a monster. He looked like a demon but was far more noble and compassionate than most normal humans. When the world feared and despised him, he met that antipathy with courage and love. He inspired others and built them upward to reach for something greater than themselves even as a world full of spite tried to tear him down pretty much every day of his life. Yes he was a cartoon character but cartoon world aside, how many of us can really say that we could be that noble? Most of us in life will never know when we will reach our curtain call so most of us might probably never have a choice to decide how we will leave this world. Nightcrawler knew that his final act of heroism would cost him his life. He knew that what he would be doing would take him away from his family and loved ones. He knew that he was saving the life of a girl who while many thought was the salvation of the mutant race there were some who thought that she would be its end. Despite all of this he acted without hesitation and made the ultimate sacrifice. He chose the way he would die and that was to die a heroes death in one final act of astounding bravery and nobility. True to the way he lived, he died the same way, uttering words of faith and telling a young girl hunted for the majority of her life by villains and monsters of all kinds that “he believed in her”.
Deaths in comic books are rarely final – many who have perished have somehow found there way back to the land of the living. That’s always been the way comic books work. For now however, I find myself thinking about the X-men and feeling a sense of emptiness within them. Nightcrawler was not just a mutant member of the team. In many ways he was their heart, the epitome of their faith in each other and in a dream that seems to be so far away from fruition but one worth fighting and in some cases dying for. For all his monstrous appearance he was anything but a monster – he was a noble man who stood for something even when the world around his screamed for his extermination. Again, taking this to the real world I just have to ask, could any of us ever be this strong?
So to all of you out there who fight the good fight and cast aside the barbs and darts thrown at you even as you carry forth your mission of helping better the world and the people in it gather strength from the character and man known as Nightcrawler. When people laugh at your appearance or look upon you with fear or suspicion do not be afraid to tell them who you are, what you stand for, and that you stand ready to offer them a helping hand when needed. It is an inherently human quality to fear or despise the things we do not understand or we ostracize the unusual or cast odd thoughts to the realm of “gibberish” but in doing both of these things I think we make the world a poorer place. We should all take a page from Nightcrawler, not only in the way he died but the way he lived. We should all strive to be so strong of faith, so resolute in our convictions, and always willing to heal wounded hearts and ease the suffering of those around us instead of taking every opportunity to hurt one another for some form of sick amusement of egomaniacal inclinations ( and yeah, you damn well know who I’m directing this last part to).
God bless you Nightcrawler and as Wolverine would say “we’re gonna miss you Elf.” You were in many ways perhaps the finest of them all. Rest in peace Kurt Wagner, dear friend because you have surely earned it.
It’s rare for me to actually blog about a specific hero, especially one from the wondrous mythical world of comic books but I’ve always been a fan of the X-men. Having been created as a metaphor for the struggles of minorities both racial and religious towards civil rights and a counter to the racism, they were a bold new step in the world of comics. The terms “feared and despised by the world they swore to save” became the common theme of the X-men. All of X-men have died in the line of duty, sacrificing their lives for the dream of Professor Xavier that in many ways mirrors the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr. when he said “he had a dream”. Professor Xaviers dream was that mankind and mutantkind could someday find a way to coexist, to put aside their differences and work with one another for a better tomorrow. Most recently the X-men lost one of their most popular characters, that being Nightcrawler. It was his impact to the X-men and his astounding nobility both in the way he lived and the way he chose to die that moved me to write this blog.
Nightcrawler for those that are unaware of it, was born a mutant with a very bizarre, almost demonic appearance; fine blue-black fur covering his body, two fingers with an opposable thumb on each hand and only two toes, each longer than a normal human being's, on each foot and a third toe-like projection on his heel, as well as pronounced, fang-like canine teeth, yellow eyes, pointed ears, and a 3 1/2 foot long prehensile pointed tail which can support his weight. He also had the ability to teleport, wall crawl, shadow stealth, supernatural agility, and had an untapped but ongoing attunement to magic. He was also a superb fencer.
Perhaps the most intriguing facet of his character was that despite his demonic appearance he was a devout Catholic. When the X-men were implanted with the Brood eggs inside them Nightcrawler spent much to the time praying to God for salvation, even encouraging Wolverine to do the same. When Nightcrawler asked Wolverine, who is an Atheist who he believed in if not God, Wolverine responded by saying “I believe in you Elf”, this response being a microcosm of how all of the X-men drew faith and inspiration from Nightcrawler. At one point in the comic books Nightcrawler even attempted to leave the world of super heroics and become a Catholic priest. This caused a great stir amongst the established religious order and tested them in terms of tolerance. The scriptures said to accept those who come before God with humility and truth and yet many priests and members of the Catholic church found themselves unable to do so, too caught up in what Nightcrawler looked like to care for the noble soul that resided within him. There was also the famous storyline where at the height of anti-mutant sentiment the X-men, especially Wolverine, convinced Nightcrawler to dispense with the holographic projector he used to hide his appearance and walk down the street in his true form. Despite almost being attacked by a scared mob of humans I believe he did so nonetheless. It was this courage and his personal convictions and faith that made him perhaps the most noble and one of the most beloved X-men of all.
In a recent storyline Nightcrawler and Rogue found themselves protecting the young mutant girl called Hope, the supposed Messiah that will usher in the reignition of the mutant race. For those not following comic books, in a fit of madness Scarlet Witch unleashed a wave of reality alteration that shut down the mutant gene across the whole planet, perhaps even the whole universe. Despite this the mutant girl Hope was born, a birth so powerful that it caused the Cerebro mutant finder machine to explode. The mutant named Bishop however, who comes from the future, believes that Hope will lead to the decimation of the mutant race and has chosen to try and kill her. Currently there are less that 200 mutants alive on the planet and unless something it done the calculations say that the mutant race will reach the point of no return in 7 years. So one way or the other, Hope will be the doom or the rebirth of the mutant race. But back to the story..
As Rogue and Nightcrawler stood with Hope the evil human hybrid Sentinel Bastion appeared before the. Bastion is a combined organic merger of the techno virus, the sentinel Master Mold and the sentinel Nimrod from the future. He is perhaps the pinnacle mutant hunting and destroying being and a metaphor for the hatred and intolerance that a person can have against a race, religion, or even physical imperfection that would drive someone to a killer state. A fight occurred and even with Rogue absorbing the powers of at least 6 X-men and using them all at once against Bastion, he soundly defeated her. Then as he reached out to grab Hope a crush her in his hands Nightcrawler made the ultimate sacrifice – he teleported in the way and into Bastions are, thus impaling himself but protecting Hope. Then, in what I believe is one of the most heroic deaths in the history of the X-men he says something to the effect “Dear God, please give me the strength to teleport one last time” and is able to teleport with the little girl Hope to Utopia, the island of the X-men. It was there, on it’s cold rocky shores and with his dying breath that Nightcrawler looked up at Hope and said “I believe in you” and then died.
His death has been a major shock to the X-men. Nightcrawler was always sure if Hope was indeed the mutant Messiah but towards the end he held on to his faith because ultimately that was who he was at heart – a man of profound faith. Wolverine even went so far as to say that he respected Nightcrawler and loved him as family because Nightcrawler “always talked to me as a man and not an animal even if what he said wasn’t what I wanted to hear.” Wolverine then turned to Hope and said “you’d better be worth it.” Harsh words indeed but that is Wolverines nature, his way of expressing how deep his love and friendship with Nightcrawler was.
Pulling away from the comic book storyline but not the underlying theme behind Nightcrawlers passing, his death really had an impact on me. It’s been gnawing at me over the past few days since I found out about it. Nightcrawler held on to his faith when most others abandoned it. He loved a world that would sooner hunt him down as they did when he was born and burn him at the stake as a monster. He looked like a demon but was far more noble and compassionate than most normal humans. When the world feared and despised him, he met that antipathy with courage and love. He inspired others and built them upward to reach for something greater than themselves even as a world full of spite tried to tear him down pretty much every day of his life. Yes he was a cartoon character but cartoon world aside, how many of us can really say that we could be that noble? Most of us in life will never know when we will reach our curtain call so most of us might probably never have a choice to decide how we will leave this world. Nightcrawler knew that his final act of heroism would cost him his life. He knew that what he would be doing would take him away from his family and loved ones. He knew that he was saving the life of a girl who while many thought was the salvation of the mutant race there were some who thought that she would be its end. Despite all of this he acted without hesitation and made the ultimate sacrifice. He chose the way he would die and that was to die a heroes death in one final act of astounding bravery and nobility. True to the way he lived, he died the same way, uttering words of faith and telling a young girl hunted for the majority of her life by villains and monsters of all kinds that “he believed in her”.
Deaths in comic books are rarely final – many who have perished have somehow found there way back to the land of the living. That’s always been the way comic books work. For now however, I find myself thinking about the X-men and feeling a sense of emptiness within them. Nightcrawler was not just a mutant member of the team. In many ways he was their heart, the epitome of their faith in each other and in a dream that seems to be so far away from fruition but one worth fighting and in some cases dying for. For all his monstrous appearance he was anything but a monster – he was a noble man who stood for something even when the world around his screamed for his extermination. Again, taking this to the real world I just have to ask, could any of us ever be this strong?
So to all of you out there who fight the good fight and cast aside the barbs and darts thrown at you even as you carry forth your mission of helping better the world and the people in it gather strength from the character and man known as Nightcrawler. When people laugh at your appearance or look upon you with fear or suspicion do not be afraid to tell them who you are, what you stand for, and that you stand ready to offer them a helping hand when needed. It is an inherently human quality to fear or despise the things we do not understand or we ostracize the unusual or cast odd thoughts to the realm of “gibberish” but in doing both of these things I think we make the world a poorer place. We should all take a page from Nightcrawler, not only in the way he died but the way he lived. We should all strive to be so strong of faith, so resolute in our convictions, and always willing to heal wounded hearts and ease the suffering of those around us instead of taking every opportunity to hurt one another for some form of sick amusement of egomaniacal inclinations ( and yeah, you damn well know who I’m directing this last part to).
God bless you Nightcrawler and as Wolverine would say “we’re gonna miss you Elf.” You were in many ways perhaps the finest of them all. Rest in peace Kurt Wagner, dear friend because you have surely earned it.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Operation: Get That Dress... a Mothers Day Gift story
When a woman wants to drop a hint they are often not subtle at all. So began my quest for Mothers Day which I dubbed Operation: Get That Dress.
It began weeks ago really. A local movie theater me and my beloved go to quite often is situated inside a small
shopping center. Within this small shipping center is a very small store that sells womens dresses, jewelry, and purses. Now what they lack in size they make up for in quality of product. Their stuff is nice. For weeks now my wife has stared at this one dress worn by the center mannequin as we passed by bu it was only last week that she came out and said "Wow that dress is beautiful. I really like it."
Ladies and gentlemen that is what is called...the hook.
So as Mothers Day approaches and we give thanks to those mothers we love I felt that getting this dress would be the best way to show her how much I care. So one week ago from this past Thursday I drove from work straight to the store (without telling her until I was getting there). When I arrived a bit past 6 the store was closed and oddly enough there were no signs in the store or on the door as to what their normal operating hours were. Needless to say I was quite disappointed. I called my wife and spilled the beans - there was her dress, so close and yet so far, staring at me through the glass and I could not attain it. But you see, once this little rat embraces a mission his determination is the stuff of legends. Give up? Yeah, like that will ever happen.
Today I renewed my quest. At 10 AM I drove to the store, thinking that it would be easier to catch them on Saturday. I got there... and they were closed. I waited a bit and then I walked over to the hair dresser across from the dress store and asked when she would be opening. Her answer was "Well they keep odd hours. They come in some Saturdays and other times they don't When they are here however thy are open around 11-11:30 AM." My heart tumbled to despair. Then she gave me her card and said "call me and I will let you know if Chantel, the store owner is there so I can tell her you are looking for that dress." So after waiting about 45 minutes I left and went to the local casino about 2-5 minutes away. I played some blackjack, won about $12 after being up and down and then left, making my way back to the store. When I got to the store...it was still closed.
Now I was getting a bit frustrated. But give up.... of course not.
After waiting a bit longer I asked the security guard and he said "Well they don't always show up at consistent times so I'm not sure what to tell you." Then a small miracle happened and hope was renewed. As I sat on the bench waiting for the store owner to arrive the hair stylist lady came out and said "You know I was moved by your persistence in trying to get your wife that dress. So much so that I called Chantel and told her about it. She says she should be here shortly."
My heart pounded with jubilation.
Fast forward about 45 minutes more and by I was starting to be doubtful again. So I walked into the hair
dresser place and asked if Chantel had given an approximate time she would arrive. She said "No but she did tell me she was definitely coming." As I was walking out of the store and preparing to wait SOME MORE I see a man walking towards the store with a woman. The woman had some keys in her hand and as she got closer to the store she reached out with the keys to open the door to the DRESS STORE!!!! The hair dresser came out and said "Oh Chantel this is the guy that has been waiting for you to arrive." I got up and walked into the store praying that the dress was still available in my wifes size, especially since the mannequin that had been wearing it was now wearing another dress. Chantel smiles at me, apologized for making me wait, and showed me that she did indeed have the dress in the size I wanted. So I whipped out my credit card and paid for the dress (it cost less than I thought so I have enough left over to take my beloved to a nice dinner as well) and left the store with my spirit soaring. I called my wife and said "Honey, mission accomplished." She was quite happy!!!
So my mission to get the hearts of my beloved's desire was complete. It cost me less than I expected, leaving me room to sweeten the gift and I even made an extra $10 while waiting for the store to open thanks to the blackjack tables. All in all it took me about 2.5 hours of waiting and three trips to the store but ultimately my persistence paid off. Now I gleefully await the day that my wife wears the dress as it is both beautiful yet provocative...much life she is...so that I can fully take in the fruits of my labor.
Happy upcoming Mothers Day to all the ladies out there who have struggled and put up with some of the insanity that we guys put them through. And last but not least, go the extra mile for the one you love - if they love you in return they will appreciate it.
It began weeks ago really. A local movie theater me and my beloved go to quite often is situated inside a small
shopping center. Within this small shipping center is a very small store that sells womens dresses, jewelry, and purses. Now what they lack in size they make up for in quality of product. Their stuff is nice. For weeks now my wife has stared at this one dress worn by the center mannequin as we passed by bu it was only last week that she came out and said "Wow that dress is beautiful. I really like it."
Ladies and gentlemen that is what is called...the hook.
So as Mothers Day approaches and we give thanks to those mothers we love I felt that getting this dress would be the best way to show her how much I care. So one week ago from this past Thursday I drove from work straight to the store (without telling her until I was getting there). When I arrived a bit past 6 the store was closed and oddly enough there were no signs in the store or on the door as to what their normal operating hours were. Needless to say I was quite disappointed. I called my wife and spilled the beans - there was her dress, so close and yet so far, staring at me through the glass and I could not attain it. But you see, once this little rat embraces a mission his determination is the stuff of legends. Give up? Yeah, like that will ever happen.
Today I renewed my quest. At 10 AM I drove to the store, thinking that it would be easier to catch them on Saturday. I got there... and they were closed. I waited a bit and then I walked over to the hair dresser across from the dress store and asked when she would be opening. Her answer was "Well they keep odd hours. They come in some Saturdays and other times they don't When they are here however thy are open around 11-11:30 AM." My heart tumbled to despair. Then she gave me her card and said "call me and I will let you know if Chantel, the store owner is there so I can tell her you are looking for that dress." So after waiting about 45 minutes I left and went to the local casino about 2-5 minutes away. I played some blackjack, won about $12 after being up and down and then left, making my way back to the store. When I got to the store...it was still closed.
Now I was getting a bit frustrated. But give up.... of course not.
After waiting a bit longer I asked the security guard and he said "Well they don't always show up at consistent times so I'm not sure what to tell you." Then a small miracle happened and hope was renewed. As I sat on the bench waiting for the store owner to arrive the hair stylist lady came out and said "You know I was moved by your persistence in trying to get your wife that dress. So much so that I called Chantel and told her about it. She says she should be here shortly."
My heart pounded with jubilation.
Fast forward about 45 minutes more and by I was starting to be doubtful again. So I walked into the hair
dresser place and asked if Chantel had given an approximate time she would arrive. She said "No but she did tell me she was definitely coming." As I was walking out of the store and preparing to wait SOME MORE I see a man walking towards the store with a woman. The woman had some keys in her hand and as she got closer to the store she reached out with the keys to open the door to the DRESS STORE!!!! The hair dresser came out and said "Oh Chantel this is the guy that has been waiting for you to arrive." I got up and walked into the store praying that the dress was still available in my wifes size, especially since the mannequin that had been wearing it was now wearing another dress. Chantel smiles at me, apologized for making me wait, and showed me that she did indeed have the dress in the size I wanted. So I whipped out my credit card and paid for the dress (it cost less than I thought so I have enough left over to take my beloved to a nice dinner as well) and left the store with my spirit soaring. I called my wife and said "Honey, mission accomplished." She was quite happy!!!
So my mission to get the hearts of my beloved's desire was complete. It cost me less than I expected, leaving me room to sweeten the gift and I even made an extra $10 while waiting for the store to open thanks to the blackjack tables. All in all it took me about 2.5 hours of waiting and three trips to the store but ultimately my persistence paid off. Now I gleefully await the day that my wife wears the dress as it is both beautiful yet provocative...much life she is...so that I can fully take in the fruits of my labor.
Happy upcoming Mothers Day to all the ladies out there who have struggled and put up with some of the insanity that we guys put them through. And last but not least, go the extra mile for the one you love - if they love you in return they will appreciate it.
Monday, April 26, 2010
So I saw Kick-Ass...
So I decided to finally go see "Kick-Ass" yesterday and I have to say that overall it was a pretty good movie. In light of it often being associated as being a RLSH movie I figured I'd offer my thoughts about the movie. Just some random observations.
1) The opening scene where it shows the guy in the red bird suit falling down the side of the building was rather ironic. When Kick Ass mentioned that he was mentally ill I smiled. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think one of the messages here was "A person with a mental illness can be inspired by anything but that source of inspiration should not necessarily be held responsible for these the ill persons action."
2) Hit Girl stole the show... bottom line.
3) Kick Ass got off way to easy in the end. If I am not mistaken the comic book does not go as soft on him and I really think the consequences of what Kick Ass did should have been a bit tougher.
4) This movie is not a RLSH doctrine or a guide to the functions of the RLSH community. It was an entertaining and at times way over the top movie that just HAPPENED to have some elements of the RLSH workings in it. People who think otherwise are IMHO grasping at straws for the wrong reasons.
5) Alot of people have been saying that "Kick Ass" will inspire people to do stupid and dangerous things. Along the lines of point #1, it's not a movies job to instill a set of morals or ethics in your kids or in anyone for that matter. That job belongs in the hands of a parent or responsible guardian. Believe me if the only source of a kid learning what is right and wrong is taught to him/her by a television set and the parents choose to exist in a state of blissful perpetual ignorance then do not be surprised if the kid ends up doing something dumb or reckless.So to all of those people out there that are ready to blame "Kick Ass" when something bad happens blame yourselves for being stupid enough to make Hollywood the crux of your moral and ethical compass.
6) It was good to see Kick Ass overwhelmed, acknowledging that he was way in over his head. It was very refreshing and honest. His vulnerability, both physical and emotional only made the courage of his actions at the end all the more relevant.
7) Big Daddy and Hit Girl were hardcore vigilantes. It's hard to say "Well I would not have done what he did or made the choice to become what he did" without actually being placed in that situation. I would lik to think that I myself would take the high road but losing ones wife, having your reputation destroyed, being kept apart from ones daughter, ect. That is a lot to lose. So not being in his shoes I'd say they duo definitely went too far. There extremely violent nature is a sharp contrast to alot of costumed RLSH today who patrol. Alot of them get mislabeled as vigilantes but alot of these RLSH are unarmed or armed with non-lethal and legal weaponry like tazers, tonfas, or pepper spray.Alot of RLSVs might disagree with me just to further their hate-ridden agenda but at this point in time their rhetoric, aside from a couple of them, means very little to me.
8) I liked what happened to Kick Ass when he started getting really popular. He was overwhelmed with attention seekers and became a gloryhound... and in the process paid a very heavy price in pain for it. When he saw that he had gotten in way over his head he tried to retreat to the shadows of anonymity and go back to being the same humble barely noticed teenager he had been before. That speaks to the accusations of RLSH being gloryhounds. Those that do what they do for attention and prominence first and THEN to help people have it all wrong. Those who help people first and use prominence or attention from outside sources to FURTHER help people have it all right. Kick Ass showed that sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the moment that we stray from who we are or what we need to be. A RLSH should always stay for the most part humble.
9) The Red Mist was an interesting character and in some ways alot like some of the more unsavory RLSVs I've tangled with. He knew what he was doing, knew that their would be dire consequences for other people in the form of physical and mental trauma...and did it anyways. That moment when he pleaded with his father to spare Kick Ass was also very relevant. It showed that he was naive enough to think that he could calculate the full consequences of his betrayal. It showed that he did not properly understand that in his misguided desire to prove himself that he has underestimated the negativity that followed. I think alot of RLSV's out there say and do things and think, in their arrogance or warped way of thinking, that they will always be able to control the outcome. If history has proven anything it is that this is not the case at all. In the end the Red Mist had a choice to walk away from his fathers dark shadow or embrace it completely. He chose the darkness...and that's too bad.
10) I enjoyed seeing Hit Girl and Kick Ass return to a more ordinary life at the end of the movie. I have never liked the idea of very young kids or teenagers becoming RLSH and i know there are some out there. I don't think that being a RLSH a calling that everyone answers. I think that within all of us there is the same spirit burning in us that inspired Kick Ass to become a superhero. However, the movie showed that when you answer the call before your time or are not as prepared as you should be that things can end badly. I think that some people out there have what it takes to be a true RLSH. There are plenty of examples in the community of this today. Yet whether some embrace the chance to be a RLSH and fail or others succeed, one thing is certain; the RLSH will endure in one form or another. I truly believe there is a place for it in our world. Kick Ass did a good job in demonstrating alot of points that both sides of the coin, the RLSH and the RLSV bicker about all the time. I just hope that regardless of which side you are one that you take the time to see beneath the surface of the violence and over the top action.
And did I mention that Hit Girl stole the friggin show?
1) The opening scene where it shows the guy in the red bird suit falling down the side of the building was rather ironic. When Kick Ass mentioned that he was mentally ill I smiled. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think one of the messages here was "A person with a mental illness can be inspired by anything but that source of inspiration should not necessarily be held responsible for these the ill persons action."
2) Hit Girl stole the show... bottom line.
3) Kick Ass got off way to easy in the end. If I am not mistaken the comic book does not go as soft on him and I really think the consequences of what Kick Ass did should have been a bit tougher.
4) This movie is not a RLSH doctrine or a guide to the functions of the RLSH community. It was an entertaining and at times way over the top movie that just HAPPENED to have some elements of the RLSH workings in it. People who think otherwise are IMHO grasping at straws for the wrong reasons.
5) Alot of people have been saying that "Kick Ass" will inspire people to do stupid and dangerous things. Along the lines of point #1, it's not a movies job to instill a set of morals or ethics in your kids or in anyone for that matter. That job belongs in the hands of a parent or responsible guardian. Believe me if the only source of a kid learning what is right and wrong is taught to him/her by a television set and the parents choose to exist in a state of blissful perpetual ignorance then do not be surprised if the kid ends up doing something dumb or reckless.So to all of those people out there that are ready to blame "Kick Ass" when something bad happens blame yourselves for being stupid enough to make Hollywood the crux of your moral and ethical compass.
6) It was good to see Kick Ass overwhelmed, acknowledging that he was way in over his head. It was very refreshing and honest. His vulnerability, both physical and emotional only made the courage of his actions at the end all the more relevant.
7) Big Daddy and Hit Girl were hardcore vigilantes. It's hard to say "Well I would not have done what he did or made the choice to become what he did" without actually being placed in that situation. I would lik to think that I myself would take the high road but losing ones wife, having your reputation destroyed, being kept apart from ones daughter, ect. That is a lot to lose. So not being in his shoes I'd say they duo definitely went too far. There extremely violent nature is a sharp contrast to alot of costumed RLSH today who patrol. Alot of them get mislabeled as vigilantes but alot of these RLSH are unarmed or armed with non-lethal and legal weaponry like tazers, tonfas, or pepper spray.Alot of RLSVs might disagree with me just to further their hate-ridden agenda but at this point in time their rhetoric, aside from a couple of them, means very little to me.
8) I liked what happened to Kick Ass when he started getting really popular. He was overwhelmed with attention seekers and became a gloryhound... and in the process paid a very heavy price in pain for it. When he saw that he had gotten in way over his head he tried to retreat to the shadows of anonymity and go back to being the same humble barely noticed teenager he had been before. That speaks to the accusations of RLSH being gloryhounds. Those that do what they do for attention and prominence first and THEN to help people have it all wrong. Those who help people first and use prominence or attention from outside sources to FURTHER help people have it all right. Kick Ass showed that sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the moment that we stray from who we are or what we need to be. A RLSH should always stay for the most part humble.
9) The Red Mist was an interesting character and in some ways alot like some of the more unsavory RLSVs I've tangled with. He knew what he was doing, knew that their would be dire consequences for other people in the form of physical and mental trauma...and did it anyways. That moment when he pleaded with his father to spare Kick Ass was also very relevant. It showed that he was naive enough to think that he could calculate the full consequences of his betrayal. It showed that he did not properly understand that in his misguided desire to prove himself that he has underestimated the negativity that followed. I think alot of RLSV's out there say and do things and think, in their arrogance or warped way of thinking, that they will always be able to control the outcome. If history has proven anything it is that this is not the case at all. In the end the Red Mist had a choice to walk away from his fathers dark shadow or embrace it completely. He chose the darkness...and that's too bad.
10) I enjoyed seeing Hit Girl and Kick Ass return to a more ordinary life at the end of the movie. I have never liked the idea of very young kids or teenagers becoming RLSH and i know there are some out there. I don't think that being a RLSH a calling that everyone answers. I think that within all of us there is the same spirit burning in us that inspired Kick Ass to become a superhero. However, the movie showed that when you answer the call before your time or are not as prepared as you should be that things can end badly. I think that some people out there have what it takes to be a true RLSH. There are plenty of examples in the community of this today. Yet whether some embrace the chance to be a RLSH and fail or others succeed, one thing is certain; the RLSH will endure in one form or another. I truly believe there is a place for it in our world. Kick Ass did a good job in demonstrating alot of points that both sides of the coin, the RLSH and the RLSV bicker about all the time. I just hope that regardless of which side you are one that you take the time to see beneath the surface of the violence and over the top action.
And did I mention that Hit Girl stole the friggin show?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Because this bears repeating....
I was reading Tea Krulos blog about the upcoming photo presentation project involving of the RLSH and when I read it I was compelled to repost it here in my blog because IMHO it bears repeating. In many ways Peter Tangen's words captured the spirit of what I have been trying to say for so long about the power and symbolism behind a RLSH's alternative persona and their uniform/costume. Virus was right - he expressed it better than alot of RLSH have in the past. It would be nice if people took some serious time to see beyond the costume and peer into the heart of Peter's words. Some do, some don't, and some do so to certain degrees but we can't expect everyone to see things our way and I understand that. With that being said here is what Peter wrote about the project.
<< Start>>
I’ve been reading these comments with great interest and thought it was about time I added my own thoughts. I’d first like to say that I appreciate all points of view, those posted by heroes and villains alike. I’m not here to defend RLSH or argue with those who oppose them. Instead I’d like to say a few things about this project.
This is a project that tells a story and this is what I believe…
A story that inspires people is worth telling.
I’ve shown the project to about 40 people and each one of them has been inspired to look for opportunities in their own lives to make the world around them a better place. The thirty people who worked on the photo shoot were inspired to volunteer because of the story I told, the owners of companies that provided studio space, equipment and other things did so for the same reason, as have the many people who have contributed to the project since the shoot. The story this project tells hopes to spread this message to a larger audience.
Each of us wants power.
The power to have our voices heard and to inspire others to understand our point of view and hopefully adopt it. As a photographer I use imagery to express what I believe. Many RLSH & RLSV do the same.
The RLSH are in the business of marketing good deeds.
A child battling cancer who met DC’s Guardian has a memory that will last and a hero to look up to. An eighty year old homeless woman meets and dances a waltz with Thanatos, dancing with “death” just weeks before her own passing. A witness to Life helping a homeless person describes her own realization that simple acts can make an important difference in someone’s day, without the mask it would just be another anonymous handout to an anonymous homeless man.
I believe RLSH do make the world a better place.
I’ve witnessed the effect heroes have on the people they help and I’ve seen firsthand the effect their story has on people who hear it. I’ve learned that the power to be heard is not the only power I aspire to as I’ve recognized my own power to help the less fortunate I meet in my day to day life.
As The Crimson Fist says “I’m one guy, I can’t save the world, but I’d like to inspire the world to save itself”. With this collection of photographs I hope to reach people and inspire them. RLSH are the vehicle I’ve chosen to accomplish this goal and I’m proud to know many of them and to call them my friends.
<>
It bears repeating. The RLSH are in the business of marketing good deeds and within these boundaries there will probably be a little self-promotion. However, the desired end result does not change - the RLSH exist to help people on various different levels and way. Sometimes they fail; other times they succeed but the effort is always there.
<< Start>>
I’ve been reading these comments with great interest and thought it was about time I added my own thoughts. I’d first like to say that I appreciate all points of view, those posted by heroes and villains alike. I’m not here to defend RLSH or argue with those who oppose them. Instead I’d like to say a few things about this project.
This is a project that tells a story and this is what I believe…
A story that inspires people is worth telling.
I’ve shown the project to about 40 people and each one of them has been inspired to look for opportunities in their own lives to make the world around them a better place. The thirty people who worked on the photo shoot were inspired to volunteer because of the story I told, the owners of companies that provided studio space, equipment and other things did so for the same reason, as have the many people who have contributed to the project since the shoot. The story this project tells hopes to spread this message to a larger audience.
Each of us wants power.
The power to have our voices heard and to inspire others to understand our point of view and hopefully adopt it. As a photographer I use imagery to express what I believe. Many RLSH & RLSV do the same.
The RLSH are in the business of marketing good deeds.
A child battling cancer who met DC’s Guardian has a memory that will last and a hero to look up to. An eighty year old homeless woman meets and dances a waltz with Thanatos, dancing with “death” just weeks before her own passing. A witness to Life helping a homeless person describes her own realization that simple acts can make an important difference in someone’s day, without the mask it would just be another anonymous handout to an anonymous homeless man.
I believe RLSH do make the world a better place.
I’ve witnessed the effect heroes have on the people they help and I’ve seen firsthand the effect their story has on people who hear it. I’ve learned that the power to be heard is not the only power I aspire to as I’ve recognized my own power to help the less fortunate I meet in my day to day life.
As The Crimson Fist says “I’m one guy, I can’t save the world, but I’d like to inspire the world to save itself”. With this collection of photographs I hope to reach people and inspire them. RLSH are the vehicle I’ve chosen to accomplish this goal and I’m proud to know many of them and to call them my friends.
<
It bears repeating. The RLSH are in the business of marketing good deeds and within these boundaries there will probably be a little self-promotion. However, the desired end result does not change - the RLSH exist to help people on various different levels and way. Sometimes they fail; other times they succeed but the effort is always there.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
More Cool writings from my friend Captain Black
As always an excellent read from my friend Captain Black. He honors the RLSH movement/community with his words of wisdom.
<>
"How to Save the World While Broke."
Crusading millionaires are usually the stuff of heroic fiction. Better financial times saw me donating to local and national non profits as well as paying mortgages; tuition and other major bills for folks. This was in my pre-RLSH days but it always made me feel like one, especially when I paid the rent for a mother on behalf of a charity I actively supported. Another stealth RLSH episode was when I turned the water back on for a young woman in tears sitting on a bench downtown. This was an economic millenia ago but I'm still at it, just on different levels.
Real life superhero ( RLSH ) movement members are usually working-to-middle class folks who often have to save up for good deed purchases. Therefore one of our " super " tricks is " saving " the world while broke. Said another way, we help mankind on an installment plan. I've read about a wealthy RLSH named Peace Man but otherwise most members operate cash strapped as a norm.
Hats off to Florida's Team Justice for becoming a 501 (c) 3 non-profit which allows them to offer tax deductions to donors and pursue grant funds. Other RLSH groups are rumored to be following suit which makes sense when trying to " save " the world while broke.
" Saving " the world while broke involves real sacrifice. Members who distribute food; clothing and other necessities do so out of their own pockets. Last year I took in a neighbor who'd lost his job and apartment in short order. We shared my meager food ( security consulting dried up like everything else in our dollar dry hometown ) and one memorable night I shared an ambulance ride with him after a ( thankfully ) failed suicide attempt. This particular close range episode of "saving " one person's world reached into very tight resources. More importantly, the situation reached deep and touched my heart when we ate because it was an honor to offer him food and shelter.
Most of my RLSH activity focuses on providing motivation and promoting crime prevention. Riding along with a local legend I call The Food Lady gave me another thrill: handing out restaurant quality meals from her job. I've also helped load and unload her van after making distribution runs.
I applaud real life superhero members using bill money and buy folks in major trouble some necessities. I've given away thousands to people in need. " Saving " the world while broke introduces a challenging element to RLSH and other hunger activists. It's a real sacrifice to pay for items others need while your pockets are increasingly thin. Shouldering this sacrifice is as heroic as stopping crimes in progress or visiting school children. As a largely working and middle class movement, regularly sacrificing to help others shows our hearts are in the right place. It's too easy to just spend on ourselves without helping the needy. I do what I can. Capt. Black is known as someone who'll give you something to tide you over. Again, I do what I can.
" Saving the world " while broke explains why some RLSH uniforms are a bit threadbare. "Saving " the world while broke increases what sincerity accomplishes.
Being broke while trying to save our portions of the world is a constant reminder about how we sometimes give until it hurts. It's always easier in the comic books. The rewards in the real world aren't bad either.
"Living the Difference Between Fantasies and the Fantastic"
I've wanted to be a superhero all my life. It's the ONLY "job" I ever wanted. Imagine what a blessing the real life superhero movement is upon discovering others who feel the same? There's a big difference between living fantasies and living the fantastic.
Fantasy is walking into police HQ in full regalia offering your crime fighting services to the chief. Living the fantastic is when, in-your-face activist rep aside, I contacted both the local PD and regional FBI community relations contact. Results? No, I wasn't arrested ( lol ). I did several ridealogs with a public housing enforcement officer and separately with his supervisor- a lieutenant. The regional FBI community relations person; her coworkers and I compiled what became the first FBI Citizens Academy to graduate there. I may be the first RLSH in history with an FBI Citizens Academy diploma, even though they left the " aka Capt. Black " title off my name.
I live the fantastic by carefully stretching reality so it resembles my dreams. The trick is not verging over into delusion. That's how I became a writer; activist and bounty hunter. Fiction served as the motivator for cautious realization of dreams. Fantasy is fine so long as it's kept in perspective. This Movement challenges conventional thinking and can invite harmful flights of fancy if one isn't careful. I carefully live the fantastic and advise others to do the same. The day people lose the will to live their dreams is when they and society die inside. Real life superheroes and other high concept activists keep dreams from flat lining. That's yet another role we serve, playing referee between living fantasies and living the fantastic.
The difference between the two is actually accomplishing things inspired by fiction compared to only doing the same in your imagination. Or worse, letting imagination run wild and becoming a bigger menace than the evils you oppose.
I recommend everyone live the fantastic and demonstrate how dreams become real with open mindedness; effort and balance.
That's my definition of living the difference between fantasies and the fantastic.
<>
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development.
(912) 272-2898. http://www.captblack.info and http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi.
"How to Save the World While Broke."
Crusading millionaires are usually the stuff of heroic fiction. Better financial times saw me donating to local and national non profits as well as paying mortgages; tuition and other major bills for folks. This was in my pre-RLSH days but it always made me feel like one, especially when I paid the rent for a mother on behalf of a charity I actively supported. Another stealth RLSH episode was when I turned the water back on for a young woman in tears sitting on a bench downtown. This was an economic millenia ago but I'm still at it, just on different levels.
Real life superhero ( RLSH ) movement members are usually working-to-middle class folks who often have to save up for good deed purchases. Therefore one of our " super " tricks is " saving " the world while broke. Said another way, we help mankind on an installment plan. I've read about a wealthy RLSH named Peace Man but otherwise most members operate cash strapped as a norm.
Hats off to Florida's Team Justice for becoming a 501 (c) 3 non-profit which allows them to offer tax deductions to donors and pursue grant funds. Other RLSH groups are rumored to be following suit which makes sense when trying to " save " the world while broke.
" Saving " the world while broke involves real sacrifice. Members who distribute food; clothing and other necessities do so out of their own pockets. Last year I took in a neighbor who'd lost his job and apartment in short order. We shared my meager food ( security consulting dried up like everything else in our dollar dry hometown ) and one memorable night I shared an ambulance ride with him after a ( thankfully ) failed suicide attempt. This particular close range episode of "saving " one person's world reached into very tight resources. More importantly, the situation reached deep and touched my heart when we ate because it was an honor to offer him food and shelter.
Most of my RLSH activity focuses on providing motivation and promoting crime prevention. Riding along with a local legend I call The Food Lady gave me another thrill: handing out restaurant quality meals from her job. I've also helped load and unload her van after making distribution runs.
I applaud real life superhero members using bill money and buy folks in major trouble some necessities. I've given away thousands to people in need. " Saving " the world while broke introduces a challenging element to RLSH and other hunger activists. It's a real sacrifice to pay for items others need while your pockets are increasingly thin. Shouldering this sacrifice is as heroic as stopping crimes in progress or visiting school children. As a largely working and middle class movement, regularly sacrificing to help others shows our hearts are in the right place. It's too easy to just spend on ourselves without helping the needy. I do what I can. Capt. Black is known as someone who'll give you something to tide you over. Again, I do what I can.
" Saving the world " while broke explains why some RLSH uniforms are a bit threadbare. "Saving " the world while broke increases what sincerity accomplishes.
Being broke while trying to save our portions of the world is a constant reminder about how we sometimes give until it hurts. It's always easier in the comic books. The rewards in the real world aren't bad either.
"Living the Difference Between Fantasies and the Fantastic"
I've wanted to be a superhero all my life. It's the ONLY "job" I ever wanted. Imagine what a blessing the real life superhero movement is upon discovering others who feel the same? There's a big difference between living fantasies and living the fantastic.
Fantasy is walking into police HQ in full regalia offering your crime fighting services to the chief. Living the fantastic is when, in-your-face activist rep aside, I contacted both the local PD and regional FBI community relations contact. Results? No, I wasn't arrested ( lol ). I did several ridealogs with a public housing enforcement officer and separately with his supervisor- a lieutenant. The regional FBI community relations person; her coworkers and I compiled what became the first FBI Citizens Academy to graduate there. I may be the first RLSH in history with an FBI Citizens Academy diploma, even though they left the " aka Capt. Black " title off my name.
I live the fantastic by carefully stretching reality so it resembles my dreams. The trick is not verging over into delusion. That's how I became a writer; activist and bounty hunter. Fiction served as the motivator for cautious realization of dreams. Fantasy is fine so long as it's kept in perspective. This Movement challenges conventional thinking and can invite harmful flights of fancy if one isn't careful. I carefully live the fantastic and advise others to do the same. The day people lose the will to live their dreams is when they and society die inside. Real life superheroes and other high concept activists keep dreams from flat lining. That's yet another role we serve, playing referee between living fantasies and living the fantastic.
The difference between the two is actually accomplishing things inspired by fiction compared to only doing the same in your imagination. Or worse, letting imagination run wild and becoming a bigger menace than the evils you oppose.
I recommend everyone live the fantastic and demonstrate how dreams become real with open mindedness; effort and balance.
That's my definition of living the difference between fantasies and the fantastic.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development.
(912) 272-2898. http://www.captblack.info and http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Another cool blog post from Captain Black
My crusade isn't always a happy one. Others in the real life superhero movement ( RLSH ) easily echo this sentiment. While I brand myself a " happy warrior " perpetual bliss is far from the case. I wrestle against the confines of the ordinary. The ordinary tells us misery is reality and activism futility. It cautions that crusaders ( caped and otherwise ) are the stuff of comic books and pulp novels, a far cry from what's laughingly called the real world. Struggling against the ordinary is often confused with being delusional. Movement members and the like minded everywhere counter that the worst " delusion " is feeling you can't change your part of the world for the better.
Comic book and pulp novel fiction feed steady supplies of larger-than-life characters to readers hungry for heroic escape. While entertainment for some, observers like me use them as blueprints for a more realized life. The trick isn't to simply recreate what's in their pages. The real trick is releasing the best inside yourself that skeptics, including ones in our mirrors, feel doesn't exist. Daring to be more than your resume also means daring to fail. Big. The trade off is occasionally doing things similar to comic book or pulp novel characters.
Climbing a fire department ladder to assist my 85 year old neighbor was one such moment. Another was initiating and graduating from my hometown's first FBI Citizens Academy. Past bounty hunting exploits before openly becoming a RLSH join the list. Starring as the subject of a student film about my Capt. Black activities adds definite icing on this cake.
RLSH war happily against the ordinary. Not doing so undermines our creative approach to community outreach and crime prevention. While this war isn't always a happy one, our joy is the fruit of escaping the ordinary: ensuring the hungry are fed; the homeless are helped; crime is solved and most importantly, people inspired to shrug off being ordinary, if only for a moment.
When you're an activist of any sort, especially in this movement, warring against being ordinary keeps a smile on not just your face but on those of everyone you meet.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info and http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi
Comic book and pulp novel fiction feed steady supplies of larger-than-life characters to readers hungry for heroic escape. While entertainment for some, observers like me use them as blueprints for a more realized life. The trick isn't to simply recreate what's in their pages. The real trick is releasing the best inside yourself that skeptics, including ones in our mirrors, feel doesn't exist. Daring to be more than your resume also means daring to fail. Big. The trade off is occasionally doing things similar to comic book or pulp novel characters.
Climbing a fire department ladder to assist my 85 year old neighbor was one such moment. Another was initiating and graduating from my hometown's first FBI Citizens Academy. Past bounty hunting exploits before openly becoming a RLSH join the list. Starring as the subject of a student film about my Capt. Black activities adds definite icing on this cake.
RLSH war happily against the ordinary. Not doing so undermines our creative approach to community outreach and crime prevention. While this war isn't always a happy one, our joy is the fruit of escaping the ordinary: ensuring the hungry are fed; the homeless are helped; crime is solved and most importantly, people inspired to shrug off being ordinary, if only for a moment.
When you're an activist of any sort, especially in this movement, warring against being ordinary keeps a smile on not just your face but on those of everyone you meet.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. http://www.captblack.info and http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi
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