AP Photos

One of the perks of working at a newspaper is having access to view AP photos from around the world. Thousands of photos come through the wire, and every-so-often I peruse through a handful or two.

It makes me realize that the title of my blog is more of a "glass half empty" mindset than what I had intended. From this Vantage Point, which is really from one angle, one point of view. There are many points of view. I have American-from-the-south point of view, molded from a quarter of a century of upbringing as well as trial and error actions of my own. I've met people visiting my region from other regions, and I've visited other regions of the globe as well.

But the hurt I see in Pakistan, and the Israeli conflicts, and people hurt by earthquakes and floods, mixed with a little bit of the European Champion's League photos as well as rugby and cricket is all more than what I can view merely from my one vantage point.

Makes me realize that there is more out there, but there is one thing I have to remember. I need to remember that viewing the photos from around the world on the AP wire, these photos are the news. There's also the everyday snap shots that don't make it on here from family and friends. There's hurt, we all share hurt in one form or another, but there's also happiness and joy. It doesn't matter what language we speak or village we live in, happiness is happiness, no matter the vantage point.

(A Kashmiri protester throws a stone at a paramilitary vehicle after it was set afire during a demonstration against the Indian general elections, in Srinagar, India, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. The election campaign in India is a multi phase national poll which embraces the elaborate caste system, ethnic groups and historical ties.(AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan).

The Easter Bunny stopped by.

We had a Sunday school class, but through circumstances, it had to be dissolved. It's not uncommon for a young 20something class to be dissolved, so it's okay and my heart isn't too too broken. It just sucks that we have one less venue to see friends.

But today is Easter, and I'm pretty excited about it. It's a holiday, so the whole nation, whether Christian or not, gets some sort of unity. We tend to feel more connected during national holidays, whether that be Labor Day or Halloween.

This morning, we 're meeting up with my side of the family to go to church, then eating some lunch and eventually meeting up with Meg's side to do some much needed rod-throwing. I'd say it was fishing, but God knows I'm a miserable fisherman. I only get the suicidal fish. Most of them know it's my lure, so they avoid it and laugh at me.

Anywho, it's time for me to get a shower and get ready. But the Easter Bunny did come and see us. He got MB a "smart treat" toy where she has to figure out how to get the treat out of the thing. Supposedly it's to make her smarter, but that's not going to happen. The "Easter Bunny" got me Apocalypse Now: The Classified Edition and a great great book, The Annotated Alice. It's Lewis Carol's classic but with professional notes in the margins. It's a beautiful book too. The EB brought Meg a cool personalized library notary stamp that lets her put in her books "From the Library of Megan M. Chapman." It's nice. I also got her a book and Seven Pounds.

But, like I said, shower time. I hope you have a great day, and I hope Tiger pulls it out in this last round of the Masters. If he doesn't, I hope a newbie wins. (Oh, thanks to Joey for the hat. He went to Augusta earlier this week and got me a 2009 Master's hat. It's nice. Thanks).

Column from The Clinton News

~ ~ ~ My column from The Clinton News this week ~ ~ ~

Life's a matter of perspective

By Robert Chapman
Clinton News

I try to piece things in my life together so they'll make sense. My wife is working on her master's degree in history, and I get the honor of proofreading her writings.

When you're doing a research paper or gathering sources for an article, you're always looking for the "I did" statement. How do you know Jim Bob was at the gas station with a gun? Well, when he said, "I was at the gas station, and had the gun in my jacket," that sort of gives it away.

I studied English in school, and trying to find something for a subjective argument is completely different than nailing down that fact.

When you're trying to find some sort of thought-provoking line to capture the milieu of a work, you tend to steer away from those "I did" statements.

Take for instance in Hemingway's For Whom The Bell Tolls. The topic brought up is bigotry: "To be bigoted you have to be absolutely sure that you are right and nothing makes that surety and righteousness like continence. Continence is the foe of heresy."

This statement opens your mind to question of whether bigotry is actually wrong. According to this statement it's not. But if your belief is a fraction off, and you have even one teeny-tiny bit of wrong in your certainty, then you're hateful.

Hatefulness is wrong, like racism: bigotry at its finest.

My freshman year of college was entertaining, to say the least. Each night, all my friends were on the same dorm floor, entertainment was across the hall, gatherings were within walking distance and idle time seemed to be nonexistent. Fun was mine to be had.

Then came the summer.

I was so bored with all my free time. I had only my thoughts with which to fill my time. Sure, books and movies that had been awarded with praises were in the corner of my room, but for the first few weeks I chose to sit. I was so used to the constant "city never sleeps" mentality.

For those of us who have lived in the United States between 1920 and now, we've known some pretty bad times, but we've also known extremely prosperous times and have gotten too attached to that good way of life.

But economics enters, and we're suddenly violated.

Newscast after newscast shows one company imploding while another one is on the verge of a meltdown, and much like my entertaining freshman year, we seemed to have a need to get our fill of bad news. I know I have.

I show up to work every day, and I fall into this hole. What company has capsized today? What shocking story is going to pop up on the Web sites? What bombshell will be dropped in my own work place? And it hits me every time: I'm subconsciously hoping for a walloping bit of drama to rock my relatively normal day.

Sure, we say we're tired of only hearing bad news, but if there were no news, what would we do? It happens all the time.

Think about when Britney Spears went crazy and shaved her head. That was news? No, but that's what the newspapers were talking about. Why? Because, relatively speaking, nothing else was happening.

Is anything absolute? I can't answer that question without instantly being proven wrong.

You have to alter your outlook on life to find the good in everything. I want to be one of those people. It's difficult, but I'm trying.

"There's probably no God"

I read that an atheist group in London has raised funds to advertise on the sides of the double-decker buses. They're even in Seattle. They're slogan: There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

This sort of irks me, not just as a believer and follower of Christ (which is obvious), but for a rather logical reason. I can defend any opinion I have or view I have by saying, "That goes against my religion." But anyone can say that, and with so many different view points circling, I know I feel that way, but I need to have a tangible reason to agree or disagree (Megan hates this simply for the reason that "because" is not an answer that's allowed in our house).

The slogan seems to go against what Atheists believe. Atheists don't believe there's a God, a heaven or a hell. Which is fine. They don't owe any of us anything, so they don't answer to anyone here on Earth. I believe there is one God, a heaven and a hell, but that's fine for me, because (like I said) I have to answer for my own actions, not anyone else's (and no one has to answer for me).

From this idea (them believing nothing exists after we die), why would they waste money on a campaign like this? They're becoming what they supposedly hate: evangelical atheists.

I don't believe "winning souls" happens when strangers knock on people's doors and expect a ten minute window to change someone's life. In fact, Jehovah's witnesses, Mormons and even Baptist door knockers get the same answer from me: "I'm not interested." I'm an equal opportunity heart breaker.

God works how God wants to work. Atheists shouldn't have to worry about how God works because, remember, they don't believe he exists. So why must they try to recruit? Here's what I think. I think they're in the same attention grabbing club the "look at me" Christians belong to. This group is commonly referred to as Pharasis.

Here's a few warning signs to watch for to let some stupidity roll off your back:
- 1. The Gothic Satanist: If you research most real Satanic worshipers, they don't hold vigils or ceremonies. They don't worship Satan like we worship God. They're not trying to get you to be on their side, either. They don't care about anyone else, so they don't bother with anyone else. If you see a Marilyn Manson look-a-like, it's for attention. They might be physically dangerous, but they're probably seeking attention.
- 2. The Rock Star Worshiper: Worship isn't a program (I could go for days on this). It isn't a show. It isn't a production. It's honor. You show me your best "air guitar P&W" and I'll show you my best impression of Cleveland from Family Guy (I've got it pretty much down). Give me something real.
- 3. FAKE: Your favorite book is not the Bible. Church is not one of your interests. Your "curse-replacement words" convey the same subject as the real word. Give me a break. There's no such thing a "Christian" media. Music, fiction, art, movies - these have no soul, therefore cannot enter the afterlife. Plus, most of it sucks. And no one is really a true fan of whatever ball team is trendy at the time. If they are, ask to see their 1983 ticket stub (just thought I'd throw that in there....Go Mets).
- 4. RANDOM: Random acts of kindness are not random. People treat others kindly because they feel compelled to, not because they have to. Compassion is an expression and character trait, not a duty. If you see someone being kind, that's they're "testimony" not the 30 minute speech they'll give you on their front porch. Jesus hung out with drunks and prostitutes. His 12 were fishermen (think about it, you really believe their language was flowery and clean?).

So, Mr. and Mrs. Atheist, give it up. Spend some money on beer or a stripper or something that will actually help the economy. You'd have a bigger impact that way.

Expanding my mind.

May of 2003, I took my senior trip to Belize and Cozumel. The sights I saw were mesmerizing. Just witnessing how the market streets functioned through a form of organized chaos made me rethink the things I knew. Something I know of is one way, yet there it was a different way.

A trip to France with my soon to be wife made me realize that my American sense added with my cultural education of east Mexico was still too narrow. Early in the morning, merchants would sell their fresh fruits and vegetables. Meals weren't something to break up the work day, but rather an experience in themselves. Noon didn't mean mid-day break, it meant the tents were shutting down, and it's time to work hard so the pub or the cafe could be enjoyed in merely a few hours.

Invented in America, but perfected in Europe, the trains were amazing. Location after location seemed to pop up, begging you to get off the train car and explore. Can't speak the language? Doesn't matter. The communication of those who can't use words is beautiful.

But as different as we all are, some white, some black, some yellow, some oblivious, we're not too different. My nose is larger than some one else's nose, but we both smell beignets on Canal Street. Your ears may be larger than mine, but let me know how you like the tunes coming from Beale Street. Larger lips? I bet the cherries from France still taste great. What? Your pigment is darker than mine? I bet we can still enjoy the Virgin Islands and the sands of the Florida panhandle together. You might have different eyes, but what about that Eiffle Tower, Mt. Rushmore, the Pyramids, The Great Wall of China, Red Square, the African savannah?

And we all know songs. We all share songs. I found this video by accident, but it's inspiring. One day, we're going to need a helping hand, so please, darling, stand by me. I'll stand by you.

Meg's new phrase: "Dumb Axe"

Paul Bunyan has nothing on us! We braved the rugged wilderness to follow the road less traveled to camp out underneath the stars. The wife, the dog and myself journeyed 34 miles south to tame the wild wilderness of Rocky Springs camp grounds (ha!).

We took a bit to pack the car, loading up the mountain bike, tent, cooler, foodage, sleeping stuff, wood and an axe. We had MB's spot all ready in the car, but of course she didn't want to sit there. Instead, she relaxed like a spoiled child on the pile of blankets. But once we arrived, the park was surprisingly crowded. At least half a dozen campers were there, one van, a truck and us as the the only tent campers.

MB loved the obstacle course of trees and fallen trees. She had a blast. It was funny to see the fat bulldog act like she wanted to be a lab or golden retriever. I think she was practicing for when BJ wants her to play (like that will ever happen, but she can dream).

Meg and I popped up the tent, got the fire going, and cooked our meal (steak!). We also had some jalapeno and cheese dear meat that we devoured. But the night was fun. I got a good bit into Kerouac's On the Road: The Original Scroll. It's a great book. If you've read On the Road, it's the same story, only instead of reading about Dean, you're getting to hear Jack speak of and speak to Neal Cassady. Like I said, good book.

I told Meg my dream is to pack up the car, drive up to Chicago and trek down Route 66. I don't really thing I'm going to get to do that, but you never know. Maybe one summer.

Any way, we barely missed the rain. We woke up (well, we woke up a few times, but we finally got up) and started to pack everything up. We took some bananas for breakfast, so we were about to eat them when the sprinkles started. The car was loaded just as it picked up a bit. But, like I said, we barely missed it.

But today was the last day of furloughs, but after our announcement yesterday, it's day 5 of 10. Like I said yesterday, I'm thankful I have a job. Some of my friends have been laid off, so I'm glad I have weight to pull, and that I get to.

So, the schedule: I'm going to get more into On the Road: The Original Scroll, lift a bit and nap (I don't sleep well on the ground).

Going Camping

As a vision of hope dwindles, we've been told in quarter number two that furlough number two is in the passenger seat. So, April, May and June must have five days away with no pay. This feels like same old song, same old verse and the same old tired tune.

But maybe something good will come of this. A- at least I have a job, B- at least I have my house and C- at least I have my family.

In a few minutes, when I get off work, I'm heading home to gather my family (well, Meg and MB) and we're heading 34 miles down the Natchez Trace to Rocky Springs to go camping. We were going to go this weekend, but some things didn't pan out properly, so we're going tonight (I'm off tomorrow due to what I thought was my last furlough day. I thought wrong).

So, I'll keep you up to date and maybe even have pictures. This is going to be interesting. Hope we survive.

(If you noticed my "title" is the date, for some reason I can't get the date to show up where it's supposed to. Oh well. Fixed that problem . . . . sort of).