Maya Angelou's 'Amazing Peace' on the Oprah Winfrey Show

Yes, I watch Oprah. I love Oprah. Okay, so she and I don't share the same political views, and she talks about herself an awful lot on her show, but I just have to bring this up:

As a special holiday treat, Dr. Maya Angelou shares a poem she wrote for the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony. Oprah believes Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem is some of Dr. Angelou's best work yet! The Renewed Voices for Christ Choir join Oprah and Dr. Angelou as they recite this heartfelt holiday message.

Do you see that? A CHRISTMAS poem! They're reciting a poem about the birth of Jesus. And the choir behind them is quoting Jesus: "Peace! Be still."

Jesus!

I am slightly encouraged that a woman of Oprah's calibre would have such a segment on her show. Please, please, watch the video here. My favorite part:

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.
All the earth's tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.

As I was getting ready to go see the Chronicles of Narnia, I watched this on television. What a blessing and a treat.

Matt Smith: Leave Christmas Alone!

One of my daily visits is the LIFE Teen web site, whose webmaster and spokesman is Matt Smith of Real World New Orleans 15-minutes-of-almost-fame.

Smith just posted a short piece called The December Uprising, a quick take on the generic holiday greetings that I, along with many other Christians, have grown despise. There's nothing wrong with a "Happy Holidays" every now and then, but to take away my CHRISTMAS tree is a bit daunting:

How would they feel if I went around renaming their stuff? Actually, that could work out pretty well. I would undo euphemisms that have irritated me for some time. I’ll go to Starbucks and clarify that the title “tall latte” shouldn’t be assigned to the small cup. Then I’d give a more fitting name for the neon-lit streets of “Gentlemen's Clubs”.

The next item of business would be to rename other people’s celebrations and holidays. I've been meaning to get offended by Halloween--the whole thing is offensive. The last thing I need in my life is children dressed like devils and zombies harassing me at my house. Not only that, Happy Halloween sounds so contradictory. How bout we wish one other "Pumpkin Passions" instead?

He brings up the point that I have often been weary of: that Christianity is actually being oppressed, and that it's the last acceptable form of oppression out there. If an atheist is offended by my wishing them a "Merry Christmas," perhaps they need to be a little more open-minded.

Live Blogging at the Wendy's Guy Screening

You can find it here. I worked with my classmate Julie Ruff, who took the pictures while I frantically typed and made many grammatical errors which she corrected.

So, the blogging might be light for a while. Until then:

Live Blogging Tonight

Finals are coming up (my first is on Friday), and I'm starting a new job at Wells Fargo (after four years of working for Randall's) so blogging might be a bit light over the next couple of weeks.

However, tonight I will be live blogging from the screening of The Wendy's Guy, a documentary about Junior, a man who takes orders in a very special way at the Wendy's at the University of Texas Student Union. I will be posting at my group's blog for my journalism class, and will provide a link to it later on tonight. I hope you'll watch.