The Hollywood Holla January 20th 2009

The Hollywood Holla Issue #6
By: Mike James

“What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them--that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works--whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account--to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day--because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.”

-President Barack Obama 1/20/09
 
A distrust of the government was instilled in me in a young age. My father taught me to ask constant questions and to rarely take people by their word, but rather by their action.

I remember the 2004 election like it was yesterday. After voting for John Kerry I returned to the TKE house in Franklin to watch the results with the rest of the uninformed majority. It was the first time ignorance was so vividly clear to me. I knew Bush had cued our country up for four more years of death, destruction and despair.

As the night wore on my opposition grew more aggressive and nihilistic. I began to drink heavier and feel the weight of oncoming defeat.

For eight years now our great country, that we share a supreme love for, has been pimped, raped, abused, robbed, conned, massacred, deceived, disrespected and tarnished.

The Bush Administration has caused more damage to the United States of America than any terrorist organization; natural disaster or foreign country has to date. It is my belief the biggest enemy of freedom was air lifted out of our nation’s capitol as of this afternoon.

My “awakening” into the world that we are living in came with the news of my good friend’s death Army Spc. Luke Frist. He was 20 years old. I had to have reasoning for his death. My government could provide none. I realized with further inquisition that there was no reason for my friend’s death beyond Luke’s own undying patriotism, which had been maliciously exploited by our Commander –in- Chief.

I felt cheated. I took on an “Us against Them” mentality which given the circumstances has become less defensive yet maintained. Today we have all experienced, in my mind, a Democratic Revolution. President Obama has made clear that the doubters and the non-believers will not be present in this revolution. The tide has already turned.

Get on the bus, or get left behind.

The greatest challenges lay ahead of us. But for the revolutionary mind, that is where the fun is had.

I have experienced so much in this journey to Hollywood. I’ve not only been able to provide a comfortable living for myself, full-time employment, good health and a little savings but I’ve thrived. I am eternally blessed to have the grandiose tales that I have to tell. However, on this night, the year of our Lord January the twentieth two thousand and nine, my stories of revelry and debauchery sound immensely inappropriate.

It is important to note the gratitude that we should all share not for this victory that is felt for the election of our President. We should be grateful for the opportunity at victory. We are a long way from the great national exhale. The road ahead will be unsure, frustrating and sometimes terrifying.

In the way our nation was unified by a message of hope we should solidify that ideal with a dedication to the message of persistence and resilience. Because if there is anything we can count on with the state or our nation, the state of our world and the state of each other’s own home’s is that it will get worse before it gets better.

We are all high on the euphoric waves of change. The idealism of true democracy, where everyone of any religious belief, gender, race or sexual orientation is granted his or her unalienable rights that is granted to them by God has been reawakened in our country. People dance in the streets across the world. T-shirts, hats, bobble heads and sex toys have been made in Obama’s image to celebrate this great man’s achievement.

I have but one question to ask…

Where will you be when “The Great Come-down” begins?

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”

-Thomas Paine

I have read as much of Thomas Paine’s work as I can find. I admire and aspire to be the man that Thomas Paine was (or at least how I have imagined him to be). He was a true American Revolutionary. Even among his peers of radicals he was branded a radical. A “wild man” whose certainty of his own beliefs penetrated any social more of the times, he would not yield to counter opinion.

I have crafted a similar path for myself in Hollywood. I am currently writing a comedy series entitled “Stealing Channel Seven”. As the days and the months go on I learn more. The more I learn, the more impossible I find that my dream is. It doesn’t deter me in the slightest bit. It only gets more fun. I will sell a script. I will sell many scripts.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s. I had an amazing cruise with my family and an incredible time in Vail, CO.

I hope this message finds everyone well.

My favorite author tortured himself for years with Fear & Loathing at the prospect of the Death of the American Dream. His paranoia and defiant attitude lit a fire in me that burns brighter than ever today. Unfortunately, the Good Doctor took his own life before he was able to witness this day.

My experience has taught me that the American Dream is not dead. My experience has also taught me that the American Dream was not birthed in Washington. It has nothing to do with our government, nothing at all.

It has everything to do with that the simple fact that we are Americans and our grandfathers, fathers and sons died for something they believed in. In the many wars, whether justified or unjustified, our country has fought.

Americans are natural revolutionaries. Our nation was founded on violent revolution and it was imbedded in our nation’s DNA.
Enjoy this honeymoon but be prepared. Not to be prepared to take back what was promised to us would be out of character.

With Love and Respect,
 
Mike James