What Has Happened to Our Conviction?
By: Darren Sproat Apr 15th, 2011Category: Then Life Happens
I happened across a reading of some poetry the other day and I feel I would be doing the world a disservice if I didn’t share it here. I like a lot of the poetry I have read from Taylor Mali but this was different… a whole new dimension is added by Ronnie Bruce in his typographical animation and reading of this peom. Please enjoy.
Poem: Totally like whatever, you know? by Taylor Mali (Poem text follows video)
Animation by: Ronnie Bruce
I am really interested to know your thoughts on this one, or not, like you know? Add a comment.
Totally like whatever, you know?
By Taylor Mali
In case you hadn’t noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you’re saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren’t, like, questions? You know?
Declarative sentences – so-called
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true
as opposed to other things which were, like, not -
have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this;
this is just like the word on the street, you know?
It’s like what I’ve heard?
I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?
I’m just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?
What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down
with the rest of the rain forest?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . .
whatever!
And so actually our disarticulation . . . ness
is just a clever sort of . . . thing
to disguise the fact that we’ve become
the most aggressively inarticulate generation
to come along since . . .
you know, a long, long time ago!
I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.
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About the author
TwitterID: roncdeweijze
It is not a bad thing to be uncertain, and even less ‘not bad’ to show it. However, like Socrates on the streets of Athens, it should be functional and make us self-reflect (it has been said that this has induced self-consciousness and intelligence). Descartes turned uncertainty into radical doubt of everything, to keep what he couldn’t doubt any more, which had to be Truth. Popper likewise only wishes to keep what cannot be falsified, even if we constantly try. And all that to stay as close to Truth as we possibly can, and to speak it. Western culture has experimented with doubting the existence of TRUTH itself, relativizing it even into morality. However that resistance to modernity has ended now. And I don’t mind at all.
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Ron,
Thanks for stopping by, you are entered into our gratitude gift draw for July.
After reading your comment I can honestly say, I don’t mind at all, also.
Darren
TwitterID: lavenderuses
This poem truly relflects modern day society as it is now. Was part of what was being shared this morning in our Sunday gathering. And yet, don’t we all want to know where we are heading, have something to aim for and have a purpose to it all??!!
The famous or should I say infamous “Whatever” attitude pervades the speech and attitude of much of today’s younger generation. And the sadness is there is a hopelessness about that word, an almost inevitablily about it. Like they have already accepted that there is nowhere to go, nothing to aim for and what can they do about anything anyway??!!
I want to be one to give them hope, tell them there is much to live for, aim for and watch as they fulfil the destiny that God has for them….if they would but listen and respond to the Call.
And then today seeing before me young lives transformed, hope restored and lfe worth living all around me. Some have heard and responded. Pure joy.
“Whatever” replaced with what ever the cost, ” you know” gives way to real knowledge of the Truth and True Authority restoring lives and bringing hope to a nation that youth will again rise up and find purpose and peace and “whatever” will fade away into the background and shouts of freedom echo forth once again.
Patricia Perth Australia
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Patricia, you put into words much of what I was feeling as a result of reading this poem… then, when I saw the poem read and put into the typography video above it impacted even more. I love your statement, “Whatever” gives in to “What Ever the Cost”…
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts,
Darren
Declarative sentences – so-called
)
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true
as opposed to other things which were, like, not -
have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
(This is my favorite part, you know?
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Definitely one of my favorite parts, too!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
TwitterID: myguide2office
Wow – totally awesome. I’ve watched it twice and I love the last sentence:
“Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.”
Fantastic and thanks for sharing this here.
TwitterID: DarrenSproat
Hey Stephanie, I have lost count of the number of times I have watched and listened to this… here’s a tip, watch it once taking in every word as it displays on your screen then play it again and lean back and shut your eyes. Thanks for stopping by.
Darren
TwitterID: geokaren
like, totally on-point, right?
I, unfortunately, am a part of this generation of uncertain persons; most everyone my age talks like that, and it is so incredibly embarrassing to own up to calling those people my peers. I found this video a long time ago, and it really stuck with me. I believe in BELIEVING what you are saying and making a claim to. A great speech, funny but also very enlightening.