If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, how much more true must that be for appreciation, because appreciation is a function of what we bring to the equation. What we appreciate says a great deal about us, about everything which goes into who we are as human beings. This diary is about appreciation, under the thesis that appreciation is under-appreciated.
I remember thoughts I had during the school years, when we were tasked with critiquing a piece of work, how so many of my fellow students felt that to criticize meant to find the negative, as much as possible, and then to make that argument as intensely as possible.
More below.
But, what about the good? What about the amazing and the miraculous? When the subject was music, the class might be called music appreciation. But was appreciation ever very effectively taught? Much less learned?
For me, appreciation was always more important than negative or fault-finding criticism. And my appreciation for appreciation has only grown over the years, where now I cherish it very deeply. I try to see things in balance, but if something is special or remarkable, I try to experience that with greater fullness, with a deeper intensity.
At the Cirque production, Alegria, I consciously and intentionally committed myself to taking in the magnitude of the experience. To feeling the real magic of what was happening there, organically, viscerally, with all of my senses, all of my spirit and all of my great capacity for appreciation.
I would like to ask a similar commitment from you as you watch this YouTube video, as you listen to the theme song of Alegria. Let it come into you as fully as you possibly can, the marvel of what these, our fellow human beings, are creating and sharing. They are performers and professionals and they are being paid for what they're doing, but they have also invested a lifetime of hard work and dedication into their performances, and they intend those performances as a gift, as well, to us and to all people with an appreciation for creativity and excellence, for pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve, individually and collectively. And look at the joy in the faces of the audience at the end of the video, and see how they let themselves be touched by Cirque, in turn. That is magic, too. Look at their faces. You can’t tell me there can’t be peace on this earth. In that moment, in that state of mind, there is indeed such peace, living within them, among them. Believing in the possible is one step closer, I think.
Here are the lyrics of Alegria, feel free to read along! (From here.)
Alegria
Come un lampo di vita
Alegria
Come un pazzo gridare
Alegria
Del delittuoso grido
Bella ruggente pena,
Seren
Come la rabbia di amar
Alegria
Come un assalto di gioia
Alegria
I see a spark of life shining
Alegria
I hear a young minstrel sing
Alegria
Beautiful roaring scream
Of joy and sorrow,
So extreme
There is a love in me raging
Alegria
A joyous,
Magical feeling
Alegria
Come un lampo di vita
Alegria
Come un pazzo gridare
Alegria
Del delittuoso grido
Bella ruggente pena,
Seren
Come la rabbia di amar
Alegria
Come un assalto di gioia
Del delittuoso grido
Bella ruggente pena,
Seren
Come la rabbia di amar
Alegria
Come un assalto di gioia
Alegria
Como la luz de la vida
Alegria
Como un payaso que grita
Alegria
Del estupendo grito
De la tristeza loca
Serena
Como la rabia de amar
Alegria
Como un asalto de felicidad
Del estupendo grito
De la tristeza loca
Serena
Como la rabia de amar
Alegria
Como un asalto de felicidad
There is a love in me raging
Alegria
A joyous,
Magical feeling
When was the moment in the evolution of our species that a human being arrived at the concept of doing something for the sake of pure excellence of the endeavor alone? What did that feel like? Seeking excellence in the performance of some task or duty?
For me, this Cirque du Soleil experience is a testament to the infinite nature of human endeavor, and to the power that ideas can have for our species, and for each of us as individuals. You think two people in the world can do what that girl does with the hula hoop? No way. But one human being can do it, and that’s miraculous. How can you sit on your own head as the contortionist can? The Village People can depict letters in their songs, but they cannot make a balanced M with their bodies as our contortionist did.
These athletes and artists have worked their entire lives just to be good enough to try OUT for Cirque. They perform, and are then required to STRETCH. They must raise their game from the best its ever been to a higher, transcendent level. And to then have that be the new baseline. For every performance they ever give.
I hope you enjoyed the Alegria montage video, but please know - no technology can yet do justice to the power and the intensity of being there in the arena when these marvelous artists and athletes perform this show live.
If the show comes anywhere near you, please do everything you possibly can to see it and to share it with your friends and loved ones (and adversaries, too, even, if you would value a possible avenue to 'reach' them).
I have one more thought I'd like to share with you, tonight. Years ago I chose a Jonathan Larson (creator of the Broadway musical, RENT) quotation as my comment sig line on Daily Kos. I have read many brilliant and imminently worthwhile quotations in the meantime, from our species' very finest minds and hearts, and never have I been tempted to change.
Larson wrote: The opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation. For me it is one of the most profound truths I have ever encountered because it offers a real key to peace (and an always available one!), both in insight and in inspiration and challenge. During the time we spend appreciating Alegria, I feel the peace within, and not just from myself, but from everyone there. From the artists and performers. From the spectators, young and old, female and male, black and white, short or tall. The same joy may be read in every face, Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, Israeli or Arab. It just doesn't matter, there, because creativity has no hidden agenda, just a special power to unite and inspire, empower and provide hope. Isn't that the key to peace on earth? Can't it be?
Let the love in you rage.
Joyous.
Magical.
Feeling.
On to tonight’s comments!
Tonight's Submissions:
From pixxer:
AntonBursch has a series of comments, starting here, responding to a must-read diary by Troutfishing.
Scary people in the diary; seen from one who has been there in the comments.
(Ed. Note: Sadly just about all comments in this thread are out of recommendability, but they are still worth reading!)
From SoCalHobbit:
This comment by LaFeminista in her diary "Fight Goddammit" might leave a mark.
From KenM30:
This comment by Jonze says Gulf Clean-Up Workers are basically working for free.
..
From Cedwyn:
This comment by French Imp makes clear that our responsibilities do not end with the election of our politicians.
From bronte17:
ivorybill responds to the issue of it's all about power for James Dobson in Troutfishing's diary Dog-beating Conservative's book on How to Raise Your Daughter
My selections:
uzeromay was one member who made the dialogue in La Feminista's provocative diary so substantive.
Ivan provides an interesting historical perspective to the Obama Administration. I am not agreeing by submitting this, but I do find it thought-provoking.
Top Mojo, excluding the tip jars and usual high mojo comments:
1 The thought of the Republicans with... by markthshark - 136
2 Wonderful post. by fou - 87
3 Citizen involvement in pictures, not hero worship by FishOutofWater - 85
4 From a comment I made the other day re Corexit by Tinfoil Hat - 76
5 54 by Christin - 76
6 3 men make up a movement by LaFeminista - 74
7 I read you and sympathize with you. by TX Scotia - 73
8 Either Warren is appointed or she isn't by WIds - 71
9 Spray the ocean FULL of carcoinogens by xxdr zombiexx - 70
10 Thanks richmonds, I know people like pictures by nyceve - 68
11 No pie, fights, please by Eclectablog - 65
12 As our lifespans have grown longer the diagnosis by Lefty Coaster - 64
13 He's doing so much by Diogenes2008 - 63
14 Riki Ott: Gulf air unsfe by Scarce - 63
15 Thanks, fou by Eclectablog - 62
16 As Keith says by deepsouthdoug - 62
17 Does This Finally Mean by CityLightsLover - 61
18 I have never shirked by LaFeminista - 61
19 This is why corporations are "persons" like us. by TX Unmuzzled - 59
20 even though I read your diary as by Winnie - 58
21 brill by Fogiv - 58
22 The Black Panthers aren't The Black Pathers by se portland - 58
23 I've lived through other Democratic by karmsy - 56
24 The Unbearable Whiteness of Being a Tea Bagger by Avenging Angel - 56
25 Mmmmm, not really. by second gen - 55
26 When they do a program on something you know... by Mark Sumner aka Devilstower - 52
27 7:30 AM Technical Briefing Notes by Tomtech - 52
28 Makes a lot of sense. by French Imp - 52
29 When I get these things by Persiflage - 50
30 6 Words, Declarative Sentence. by Gooserock - 50
31 Just me but... by Tx LIberal - 50
32 Mike Malloy put it best by metal prophet - 50
Top Mojo, everything included (of 15137 comments in the past 24 hours)!
1 Thanks for reading by Lefty Coaster - 442
2 Tip Jar Its a fight not a debate. by LaFeminista - 381
3 Tip Jar by Eclectablog - 332
4 Tip Jar by Scarce - 309
5 Tip Jar by Th0rn - 286
6 Tip Jar by nyceve - 274
7 Tip Jar by FiredUpInCA - 243
8 Tip Jar by Vyan - 233
9 Tip Jar by snout - 185
10 Tip Jar by mark louis - 184
11 The thought of the Republicans with... by markthshark - 136
12 Tip Jar by Jill Richardson - 132
13 Tip Jar by AnnetteK - 125
14 In a brazen capitulation to the dark forces... by KingOneEye - 124
15 Tip Jar by Troutfishing - 95
16 I was so disappointed that the hadron collider by voroki - 92
17 Wonderful post. by fou - 87
18 Citizen involvement in pictures, not hero worship by FishOutofWater - 85
19 54 by Christin - 76
20 From a comment I made the other day re Corexit by Tinfoil Hat - 76
21 3 men make up a movement by LaFeminista - 74
22 A great big thanks to the dKos community by Gulf Watchers - 73
23 I read you and sympathize with you. by TX Scotia - 73
24 Tips to buy some shade by whoknu - 73
25 Either Warren is appointed or she isn't by WIds - 71
26 LOL @ (R) - Coppertone! by GlowNZ - 70
27 Spray the ocean FULL of carcoinogens by xxdr zombiexx - 70
28 Thanks richmonds, I know people like pictures by nyceve - 68
29 No pie, fights, please by Eclectablog - 65
30 I am so sorry for your loss by GlowNZ - 65
Thanks for reading!