San Diego Reader

"Scary and Weird"! Wow that is awesome. I mean I have definitely heard "weird" but "scary and weird". I am speechless and flattered and I genuinely mean that.

The comment was in response to a letter I wrote to the Gay and Lesbian Times (since no legitimate media is pushing Todd and his entire campaign is being funded by the big business funded Gay and Lesbian Center corporate cartel where developer and bar money is funneled into campaigns under the guise of "community") regarding their endorsement of Todd Gloria in light of his extensive contributions from a shady missile defense contractor and the President and CEO of Manchester Financial. (http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13257#comments)

I think "scary and weird" means that I care ...and I really really do. Why else would I watch channel 24 and spend so much time blogging. I did do an enormous amount of commenting to the GLT since Todd's biggest cheerleader is famed drag queen, Nicole Ramirez who turned her amateur (at best) blog into a Todd love fest. So I love this comment too... "Does Christine Mann have a job; or does she just sit around and type comments in the Letters to the Editor section of the GLT all day?"

I guess its a curse to care so much in some ways, but com'on, I would love it if everyone cared as much as us psychotic S Dubs (I guess thats our nickname for supporting Stephen Whitburn. )

Think of all the things that would change.

There would be a funeral and a news conference everytime a gorgeous old home or building was destroyed. Any new development would have to have a design concept and use recycled materials. We'd have architects and artists volunteer their time to really plan the community. We'd get public transit! Of course council meetings would be much, much longer because of all the "scary and weird" public comment. But I think that that many people caring that much would be wonderful!

The "scary and weird" thing got me thinking about my heroes--they are very scary and weird--Mike Aguirre, Donna Frye, and I love Ron Paul!!

And then it got me thinking about my friends---I mean if you think Im scary and weird you have clearly not met Sarah Haynes or Leslie Andersen or Phil Chart. They put me to shame with their scariness and weirdness. My family is "scary and weird". My Dad is a heart doctor and doesn't make any money. He has been driving the same Toyota Supra since 1984, because he insists on giving people the care that they need, not the care he can bill for. That is embarrassingly weird.

I mean its tough to put it all into words, but I would like to share w/ you (all 2 or 3 of you that follow my blog) this letter that I wrote to the editor of Rolling Stone because I think it sort of epitomizes where I am coming from w/ all my scariness and weirdness. It was in response to their story criticizing the Burning Man Art Festival that takes place in August for a week.

See, All I am looking to get out of all my work is this: to be treated as a citizen, thats it. I just want to live in a world that treats people as citizens, not consumers: citizens that respect and value each other equally and that work together towards a greater good. That's my "scary and weird" dream.

Dear Matt,

The hairy art snobs and agents of social change running around with no pants on the middle of the remotest desert have something to say to you. I am sorry your experience eluded you, but your impression of us is quite simply wrong.

To suggest that we dont care about anything or dont take a stand on anything---well I just dont think you were paying attention.

On Friday morning I ventured out to the Playa to look at the art with my friend Sara. She took me way out by the temple and showed me a beautiful, but humble memorial that she built for her friend Marla Ruzicka (the Humanitarian killed in a car bomb in Iraq; ironically your cover story on June 2nd, 2005) www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/7371965/the_girl_who_tried_to_save_the_world/ .

They had been in Afghanistan together taking names of civilians that had been killed by the War.

The memorial was next to an art exhibit in which shoes of soldiers in Iraq were laid in a circle. A walkway down the middle led to a giant book filled with pictures and names of people who'd died in the war. I observed people tearfully visit the exhibit and pay their respects throughout the day.

The epiphany about the value of human life evoked by the art was not exclusive to this piece it was evident everywhere.

The idea that we dont care about anything... well I take that quite personally. It is quite the contrary Matt. We care about alot.

You are right to say that it is reactionary.

Burning Man is a reaction.

Its a reaction against the lack of meaning we have fashioned in the post-modern world: a world where we are constantly assaulted by logos, giant billboards, internet spam: a world where your publication could not even exist if it wasnt littered w/ advertisements trying to convince us that if we just buy a cell phone, someone somewhere will give us the love that we need: a world where we are lied to on a regular basis by our government: where we are warehoused in planned communities (which ironically are neither about a plan nor are they about community): a world where we are terrified all the time: where we live paralyzed in fear that we will be punished.

God forbid we should construct some sort of structure without a foundation that people could climb and enjoy a beautiful view, or ride around on an art car dancing and listening to music, or participate in some sort of ritual burn. Someone could be hurt and we could be sued!

God forbid we should express our individualism or comment on our world in an art installation that says ..."You are that Pig".

How dare we blaspheme the consensus reality where everything is carefully regulated for our safety and advertisers magnanimously offer us their products every waking moment of our day to ensure that we never have to want for anything.

It is movement that simply says this is not OK, this is not what we want. We want to live in a world that treats us as citizens, not consumers.

I think if you'd actually been paying attention to the big picture, you would have seen a city that engages the spirit and takes care of its citizenry: a city where art cars will pick you up and give you a ride home: a city where complete strangers will chase down a piece of your trash blowing in the wind to protect the playa: a city where anything you need will be given to you without any expectation of reciprocation: a city where art is not a sterile egocentric demonstration of self, but an anonymous gift to its citizens.

I just dont think you were paying attention Matt.

Certainly Burning Man is not perfect. There are people who go just to prance around naked and indulge in debauchery. However, the majority of us go because it gives us a glimpse into our potential.

For a week we get to realize what its like to live in a world where we are valued for our minds and our spirits: a world created as a gift: purely to inspire us. And maybe it is a bubble, but when people leave, they leave changed as they have seen the way things CAN be.

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