Yes, I have an opinion. Do you care?

I created a Facebook nearly seven years ago, a very long time ago for someone my age. I was one of the first outside the college community for which it was created. In those seven years, I have watched the Goliath of social networks evolve into the endless abyss of efluvium it has become today. I am finding less and less use for it with each login. I don't care about cats or dogs doing funny things, or people for that matter, or people doing stupid things, or posts that I should share if I really care, or any of the games, or the echain-letters or jokes that have been recycled from the 70s. Perhaps most of all, I am weary of the political and religious aphorisms that require little thought and often have no basis in fact.

I am a learned man. You'll notice I didn't say a smart man. Learned is less subjective. I can objectively share my credentials with you, but in the interest of space and not boring you to tears, I will refrain.Memorizing facts is easy. In fact, there is a school of thought that maintains those whose minds are not cluttered with deep thought find it easier to memorize. I'm not sure I buy that, but it is a school. Nonetheless, deep thought, analysis and critical thinking are not easy. That's why the hoi polloi don't attempt it. Most are too busy finding new funny cat pictures to post. If that sounds condescending, good. I'm angry that more people, at least in this country, don't spend more time in critical thought.

The result is that one's opinions are reduced to the replication of what I like to call bumper-sticker logic. You know what I'm talking about. "Abortion stops a beating heart; Guns don't kill people, people kill people; I'm not rich enough to be a Republican; If you don't believe in God, what if you're wrong?" Ah, if only life were that easy. Life isn't easy, and neither are these issues. They're complex, and require complex thought, preceded by myriad amounts of research. If we were all to invest in that kind of time, a natural discourse would follow that might actually lead to a productive pool of intellectually-founded opinions.

Politicians are likely the most culpable. They are trained by their speech writers to speak in sound bites. While campaigning for the Republican nomination, Rick Santorum proudly proclaimed that cardon dioxide was not dangerous to the ozone. "Just ask the plants." To this day, I am certain he has no idea how sophomoric and insipid that sounds. Nor do the many constituents who cheered his comments. I am not an ecological expert, but I have studied it enough to recognize the absurdity. It's science, not politics. I am picking on Rick Santorum, but I could easily debunk any number of myths propogated by both parties' candidates, speaking about topics on which they haven't a scintilla of expertise.

I, too, have my opinions. Some of them are very potent opinions, based on years of research and contemplation. Friends have asked me, "Why don't you share them then?" I will gladly share my opinions with you if you ask. Just not on Facebook. I can't condense my comments to bumper-sticker size, unless I'm talking about drivers who don't use turn signals or shoppers who pay with a check in the express lane. Those are innocuous topics, and not really controversial.

There are other, more serious topics, that I haven't spent much time researching or comtemplating, simply because they're not important to me. In those cases, I generally withhold my opinion. I might have one, but it serves no purpose to share it if it lacks foundation.

So, I will continue to attempt to add some myrth to the new vaste wasteland that is now Facebook. Maybe it puts a smile on your face, or maybe you just roll your eyes. But I look at it this way. There's sufficient vapidity for all to enjoy. I'll continue to represent the lighter side, and save the heavier discussions for a medium more serious that Facebook.

Oh, yeah, one more thing. When you acquire more information, change your mind sometimes. It's ok.

Norman Vincent Peale Was Right

I'm so glad I didn't write this blog three days ago as I had originally intended. It would have been a vent, a rant, a pity party and an overall downer. I was having a rough week. My show is less than six weeks away, and I was without a costume maker, the other costume I ordered hadn't arrived, and thanks to Otterbein's spring break I felt we were woefully behind our marketing strategy.

Here it is Friday, and I have found the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. In fact, I've shined my own light to blaze a whole new trail. How did I do it? A shear, visceral, good old-fashioned powering through. I was thoroughly wallowing in misery Tuesday, wondering why I had begun this foolish endeavor and asking myself if it was still salvageable.

I think it's important to let yourself wallow once in awhile. If you don't, you're living outside of reality and I think that stifles your intestinal fortitude. I'm not a religious man, so the Peale reference is not entirely apt, but I am a religious believer in positive thinking. It does not stand alone, however. If the positive thinking is not accompanied by positive action, it is rendered inert.

So after the obligatory wallowing, I mustered my courage and got on the phone. After some vigorous calls, texting and even a few emails, we have flyers printed and some distributed, we are days away from printing tickets, I have a costume maker who is eager to have at it, and I even picked up a potential external reviewer for the performance. External reviewers (outside Otterbein) are necessary to legitimize this exercise as scholarship and professional development.

The other costume still has not arrived, but I had reached my attitudinal nadir, and I am now rebounding famously. The costume is a blip right now. It will happen, because I will it to happen. I have worked too hard and too long for this effort to fail. It doesn't matter how you get there. If trusting that God will find a way works for you, then so be it. I rely on the supernatural power that is within me, and that works for me.

So I trudge on like a ground soldier, knowing there will still be myriad obstacles to face. Undaunted, I will survive them all because I choose to. Every one of us has this power. It's up to you to figure out how to tap its resources.

I still have one goal for 2012 that I have yet to achieve, and I'm sorry to inform you that there are only two people on the planet who know about that goal, so I can't reveal it. Unfortunately, I have no control over the outcome of this one, so I must believe with all my heart and trust that eventually my work ethic will be rewarded. And then if it still doesn't happen, I am not a failure. Only the task has failed. And that I can live with.

Countdown to Cinco de Mayhem

I decided to begin the countdown to my show today serrendipitously. However, there must be kismet in the air because there are 57 days left, and I turned 57 in December. I'm taking that as a sign. This is the culmination of more than a year and a half's work, and I can't believe it's almost here. I swear to you that I have never worked harder on a project, so we will see how much sweat equity pays off.

While this will be so much fun for me, it is designed as a learning tool for my students. I am involving students from public relations, broadcasting, theater, and even the music department. My hope is that they will learn by my example what can be accomplished with discipline, hard work and focus.

I can't believe how much has fallen into place. I began to panic about a month ago, thinking I was taking on too much and that I was never going to achieve my original vision. But I have had so much help and cooperation (most of it without pay) that I am now overwhelmed with the generosity instead of the magnitude of the show.

If the vision in my head is anywhere near realized, we will have such a good time on May 5th. I have successfully lost the 20 pounds I needed to get into "fighting shape." I physically run through the show at least once and sometimes twice a day, and I am completely exhausted at the end of the day. It is a superb exhaustion.

I have one costume in hand, another being shipped shortly and two more being made by a theater department student. My PR women are working on flyers and tickets, as well as electronic promotion of the show. You'll notice I'm not revealing much about the content of the show. That is purposeful. Those who do not know me will, I think, be entertained. Even though who know me well, I am certain, will be surprised. Only the people involved in the rehearsals will know the content.

I will continue blogging as often as I can with updates about the show, even though my days are about ten hours of work now. I hope you can attend. Westerville Central seats 750 and my PR pros tell me they will fill the seats. I would love nothing more. This is a bucket list checker-offer. See you there.