Come Monday...If God Is Willing...

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

My wife and I finished watching [If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise] on [HBO] a few hours ago. It is [Spike Lee’s] follow-up piece to his [When The Levees Broke] about the devastation of the New Orleans area by [Hurricane Katrina] in 2005.

To be quite honest about it, Spike Lee can come across as just another mouthy punk at times, but after watching his documentaries, I cannot imagine how anyone could not come away absolutely impressed by his sense of candor and fairness. For he does a marvelous job of showing as many sides of an issue as possible, and If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise is no exception to that rule.

Adding all the more to his latest effort to effect changes for the good of us all are segments about the [Haitian Earthquake disaster] and the [BP Gulf Oil Spill], which is impressive just in an organizational sense. For really good documentaries usually take years to produce while Mr. Lee’s production team was able to incorporate these additional segments in a matter of weeks—maybe even merely days.

Alas, if only our governmental agencies could be so flexible, and this was at the heart of it all. For example after example was shown of this one and that one sitting around and wanting to talk things over when action was critically needed long before.

Yes, ultra-conservative political types point to such things as proof of why much of our government should be dismantled, but what about those who are in desperate need? These are the ones whom the ultra-liberal political types point to whenever confronted with a conservative argument, but where have they been since Katrina hit? For that matter, where are they now with millions of gallons of oil just a-waitin’ to come ashore?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, much is being said. Fingers are being pointed, and blame is being attached anywhere it will stick.

What is that old saying? The more things appear to change, the more they remain the same? Yeah, something like that.

So, where do we go from here? For the same old “stuff” keeps being shoveled from one end of the barn to the other, but the smell remains as strong as ever.

I’m a-tellin’ you, if you aren’t at least somewhat physically ill by the time you finish watching If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise, there is something really wrong with you. For just the scene of a dump truck full of dead bodies depositing its load in an open garbage pit outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti was enough to cause my wife and I to almost retch.

No, not all of the piece is so dark. In fact, we both let out loud cackles a number of times. One of our favorite scenes was a rant with different meanings to BP, and it could be argued that they started it. For BP is meant to stand for [British Petroleum], but in an effort to present a better image for marketing purposes, the company changed it to Beyond Petroleum. Be assured that we both liked what was in that rant better.

The piece actually starts off on a high note. For the first several minutes is dedicated to what a positive impact the [New Orleans Saints] winning [Super Bowl XLIV] had the area, and the piece is even ended with a celebration of the victory. I didn’t feel like celebrating all that much by then, however.

Yes, now would be a good time to try to throw some of the “stuff” I have been spreading here right back at me. For I haven’t been very subtle about pointing to the absolute truth of every matter truly being that our Heavenly Father is in full control of ALL that happens.

Some have preached that the New Orleans area has brought all of their miseries upon themselves with their heathen ways, and that God will continue to curse them until they turn from their wickedness. Be assured that I am not one of them. For the message that I have been given to proclaim is that every disaster is an opportunity to help those who are in need, and woe be it unto all who choose to ignore their plight.

No, I do not see things getting much better anytime soon. For the vast majority of the people we have in positions of power are only interested in staying in power, and the ones who want to replace them are not any better in any significant way that I have been shown.

Nonetheless, we are still without excuse. For the only way to truly help someone is to get as personally involved in their lives as possible, and this starts with individuals truly caring about individuals.

Yes, the government can get in the way of that, and there were several examples of this happening in the New Orleans area in the years after the hurricane hit. Therefore, it would be foolish to not be involved in the political process—even if only by voting, but if we don’t care about our fellowman, why should our Heavenly Father give us leaders who do?

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