Year 12 and Counting......

12 year anniversary of my quadruple bypass surgery (CABG)

In the Name of God

When reading the Bible,  a lot of the stories are just that, bible stories, I have seldom thought about how they occur in everyday life.  Do you really experience the story of the tax collector or how Zacchaeus    climbs a ladder to see Jesus?  A lot of the sermons treat the stories as metaphorical.   I was thinking the other day of the pharisees.  The heir-achy of the church.  The learned and holy.  I haven't heard many sermons covering the corruption or delusionment of the governing temple.  You would think that with technology and advanced knowledge that it should not occur in out modern times.

But we have many distortions that I overlook, Later Day Saints, Scientology, Universalism, etc. I always thought it would come from outside the church, through society, and the government.  Not within.  At what point does it consume and take over our basic faith.  At what point do we become self delusional and at what point do we justify everything in the name of God.  

I understand the dynamic in business.  It occurs everyday (so much for my theory on societal advancement).  Profit, greed and ego (power) often overcomes decency.  But it seems like those ingredients are ever-present and are becoming more common in the age of the megachurch.  

Justification in the name of God, discourages evaluation and review.  It labels those who question the proclamation implying a lack of faith.  It is usually followed by a reprimand of unfaithfulness and unchristian like behavior.  There are many warnings in the Bible.  Are we implored to think, evaluate, review, compare, before we leap?

I find it ironic that what is motivating me now is to read the Bible not so much for my faith in Christ, but to research and verify what I'm being taught from the pulpit. That worries me.  It also worries me that more Christians become more suspicious of the established man created church governing institutions.    

What encourages me is that many have not lost their faith, but strengthened as they move away from those established institutions, in the name of God.

Amateur Film Maker

 Then unexpected side affects of a student film maker is that you start looking at tv shows differently.  Id include movies, but as you know, I don't see a lot of them.

Im starting to observe how often they cut to a different camera, how they frame the picture with little or no headroom (thanks Cory), or the type of shot.  What I should be looking at is how they craft the show, the storyline, but that is something im not ready for, yet.  

What disturbs me as I watch season 5 of Mrs. Maisel, I spend more time watching the credits.  Yes, the acknowledgements at the end of the show.  What font are they using, what format, who they are crediting. Yes, I am getting ticked at those shows where they minimize the screen off to the side while they start the next show.  Show me the damn credits.......

Maybe I aspire to be like Chuck Lorre and have note cards at the end of the show with my thoughts of the day.  Like this blog.  I guess Im there already.  Off to watch episode 4 of Mrs. Maisel and read the credits.

Historic Japanese American church nearly loses name, legacy

Our church during the 80s and 90s.

Published June 13th in the Asian American News (ASAMNEWS.com)

 https://asamnews.com/2023/06/13/church-takeover-prevented-japanese-american-history-erasure-southern-california/?fbclid=IwAR3-OOfgXJUHfHFh-rkfDu0me0e84FhHL49u0rmxEhu7kevvW-4J2amk62k

Memorial Day 2023

 

Japanese American Vietnam Era Archives JAVEA

 Long name.  Short explanation, the Interview of Sansei (third generation JA) Veterans of the Vietnam Era.  The Vietnam Era is considered 1960 to early 1970s.  Veterans are defined as anyone that served in the armed forces during that time period.  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Reserves, National Guard, Coast Guard, etc.  Assignment is not a factor, In country (Vietnam) stateside, other countries.

Interviews are conducted according to the Library of Congress Veteran History Project.  We record and document according to their guidelines and submit raw footage to the VHP.  They will edit and post on their website.  

The questions we ask are slightly modified to reflect the JA community.  Some were born in camp, most out of the incarceration resettlement.  We try to cover the community they grew up in, military experience and their repatriation into civilian society.  Benefits (life lessons, VA assistance, etc.), reflections.

It is our attempt to recognize a forgotten or ignored portion of our JA community. The two of us (Don Bannai and myself) are not veterans.  I missed the draft lottery by two months.  But during Vietnam whether you were drafted or fortunate to not be, you were affected. I may have followed the lottery knowing that I was not affected, but they lived it.  

The unexpected benefits of these interviews, is that it has given us a wide perspective of the war.  Some fought in Korea, some stayed stateside, some overseas in Europe, some before the escalation of the conflict.  Some in the thick of it. Each veteran has his unique story and we are trying to preserve those stories.  Already, too many have passed.  And many still struggle with the VA, PTSD and agent Orange.

The interviews are in 20 minute segments, and if at any time they don't feel comfortable with a question, we move on.  Many have said, they have not told these stories to their family, or talked with other veterans.  We hope it helps them move on and provide a history for their grandchildren.

God of Film Making

 I have written about a recent takeover of our old church.  I have volunteered to document the churches congregations reaction to the recent events.  To be honest, it is difficult to keep my emotions suppressed, but in order to help those displaced, I need to maintain neutrality.  In order to tell the story, it has to unfold on it's own and not prompted or directed.  

This I my own philosophy when interviewing people.  Whether it is the Sansei Veterans or displaced church members, the neutrality and inquisitiveness seems to be my most valued trait.  People must trust that they will not be manipulated. 

But with that philosophy, comes an internal burden.  It becomes emotionally draining.  If I do two or three interviews a day, I come home exhausted, both physically and emotionally and requires at least a day of down time. 

Neutrality also comes into play when editing the footage.  Does it reflect their mood and did it alter their views, does it accurately reflect the context of the whole interview.  That is the ultimate burden of trust.  Lets hope that it is maintained.  That is not to say the end product will be liked by all, but you let the chips fall where land without disturbing them.

Editors can be the God of filmaking.  We can manipulate, create, to our pleasure.  The goal for me is to minimize my editorial bias.  Wish me luck.