ODE TO JOHN STEWART

Dear Mr. Stewart,

                Can I call you Stewee? Or how about John Bon Stewartvi? No? You want ‘the beloved holder of the world’s Stewartship’? But that doesn’t even make sense. I digress…

                Whilst at work this evening, preparing for the next day’s medication regimen for hundreds of America’s finest inmates, I decided to catch up on some recent episodes of your show. I ended up choosing the extended interview with Senator Rubio, as my viewing choice. I just finished the Saga, and am now wanting to talk to someone about it. Since I am in prison, and alone in a deep corner that only gets visited by the next shift 6 hours from now, I only have this blog. I could just talk to myself about it, but I already know what myself is thinking and going to say. Also, if by happenstance, there comes a stray person wandering around lost, and sees me talking to myself; well, they may not let me out. And I am not good at not dropping the soap, if you know what I mean. I digress…

                I was pulling my hair out at times…let me start over. I would first like to give Mr. Rubio props for coming on the show. That alone, truthfully, is impressive. His candor and demeanor were both appropriate and refreshing, and frankly shocking. Although I continue to disagree with the stances he and the republican party hold steadfast to, he at least gave a new perspective on the ideas of the beliefs: Ideas that I do not believe the vast majority of the Republican party hold. His rhetoric was different…even civilized.

                What impressed me about the conversation was you. The idea that you even try to have these conversations is both fantastic and disgusting. Disgusting because you may literally be the only person having them, or fighting for them. Here you are, a very successful, wealthy man (I am assuming you are a man…no judgment either way) who could merely capitalize on comedy and entertainment. But you don’t, and I love it.

                I am taken aback at times when listening to your arguments/discussions about politics, and I think the people you are talking with are as well. You are able to articulate the issues in a way that forces them to, at the very least, step outside of the rhetoric momentarily and realize that there is a sensible opposing  view.

                There was a point in the interview, near the end, when you started talking about the rationale behind another way to accomplish the same goal, prefaced by the idea that putting Romney’s money in to the government could actually help the economy and employ people. During that part, it got quiet for a few seconds, and I could tell that Mr. Rubio heard what you had to say; and it made sense to him. He, of course, didn’t come out and say that it made sense and that you had helped him see a new perspective on things. But I would bet that he did.

                That few seconds of him listening, is why I am appreciative to you for what you decide to spend your time doing. Those little cracks will eventually get bigger, and some day there will be change for the better. Even he admits there isn’t anything of the sort on the senate floor, or across party lines. That is beyond disgusting. And it goes both ways. It’s not like the democrats are sitting on their side, yelling to the Republicans, “Hey guys, come on, just listen. We want to listen to you, too. Let’s figure this stuff out”.  It just isn’t happening.

                And when you called out the president on your show for keeping Mr. Summers aboard….priceless. And correct. He should have been gone. He dove off the ‘change’ wagon, for me, the second he made that announcement. You were right to call him out on that.

                And so, in conclusion, I would like to say thank you to you, Mr. Stewdog, for being an important voice for many of us. I know you get downplayed on your wisdom, because you are a comedian. For some reason, it is difficult for people to take comedians serious. But they can be, and it is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mat

Just the Basics

                I think the best place to start is with the simplicity. Take for example, the constant push from the church leaders to have the members only read certain things. If you have questions regarding the church, you should look at LDS approved websites and writings. Read your scriptures daily and pray daily. This will keep the religion constantly in your mind.

                This is really smart on behalf of the church. If one is constantly thinking only of the ideas put forth by a group, one is mentally going to be building a circle around those ideas. It would be very difficult for a construct other than that of the group thinking to penetrate this barrier. If you maintain this barrier daily, you increase the chances that nothing different can get in. This works positively for a religious group to maintain its members. However, I cannot think of one other area or aspect in which this is a good thing.

                For example, let’s switch the word ‘religion’ with the word ‘surgeon’. If you were needing to have heart surgery, which doctor would you rather have operating on you? A doctor that was taught there is only one way to do heart surgery, and was taught that by the school he attended. Or, a doctor that is open to learning new methods and updating his practice with new technology.

                We can substitute religion for just about any concept or practice, and find that it is not practical to only surround yourself with a basic concept, and refuse to allow yourself to evolve. Maybe that is the problem…religion doesn’t want to introduce evolution in any way in to the practice.

                Mormonism has evolved. The reason it has evolved is because of technology. The church has, and is, fighting furiously to maintain their wall. They are constantly reminding their followers to only view and read and listen to certain approved mediums. The problem for the church is the technology is beating their firewall. People are getting the information from several sources now. Five years ago, it was easy to live the Mormon life in Utah, and never hear the true history of Joseph Smith. Today, it is finding its way in to the bubble. More and more believers are hearing things, and reading things, that they never knew existed. I didn’t.

                The problem that the church is facing here in America, with the believers that were raised in the church, is the difference between what they were taught and what they are now hearing. The myths and rhetoric that the church has given us our entire lives, is now being contradicted differently. Sure, the church is used to attacks on its beliefs. That is a staple for the believers. I would argue that the attacks are food for the soul of the believers: It gives them energy and it makes their faith even stronger, due to the fact that the teaching states that you are doing it right if everyone is against you.

                The difference in the attacks now, is they are coming from the inside. The history is not what they say it was. Period. No one can argue that truthfully anymore. The only thing the church has going for it at this time is to fight to keep the leak at a slow pace. Luckily for them, it takes a long time for believers to think that the truth might not be what they thought it was.

                That should buy them enough time to clean up their things and escape in the night, unnoticed.