Package

A package arrived for me in the mail last week from San Diego, California. I was going to post about it then, but just haven't gotten around to it. Seems that's been a regular thing for me of late:

• something happens in my life
  
• I think, "I should post about this."
• then I don't get around to it
• a week or two goes by
• then I think, "wow, a lot has happened that I should have posted about...but didn't because I was too busy.
• at this point I break down and even though I still have tons of things to do...I post about something.

That's what's happening tonight. I have plenty to do, but I just need to feel as though I'm doing something to keep up with my blog.

Anyways, back to this whole package that I recieved in the mail. It was actually the bracelet that I ordered from Invisible Children. (some of you were probably wondering what Jason's comment about my "cool bracelet" was all about in the last Invisible Children update I posted...well, that's what he was talking about.)

It was funny, because I'm kind of against the whole "bracelet thing." (let me explain). When the original yellow livestrong bands came out I thought, "wow, cool way for people to show support for an organization and support it financially as well." Then it seemed everyone had a bracelet...I mean, to the point where it makes me sick. I was really disgusted when I finally saw bracelets for LDS stuff like CTR and what-not. (nothing against choosing the right and all, but come on people!!! What are you saying by wearing one of those things. I mean, you can purchase the livestrong bracelet for like $1 and guess what? $1 of that goes to the Lance Armstrong Cancer Foundation. All these other bands with their different sayings are sold for like $5 and there's no telling where the money is going. (There are other bracelets out there that do stand for something such as the ONE campaign and such, but for all those other bracelets...) It's just a piece of rubber around your wrist with no more meaning than the words embossed across it...wait, I take that back. There is more meaning than just that. You are saying, "I'm following the crowd, I want to be cool, I'm a part of the marketing machine."

I don't get it. What started out as really cool and a way to express your support for an organization has become a part of the marketing machine and has lost its meaning. It's become just another fad. No longer is it a statement of what you support; it has become simply "trendy."

You can even custom order these bracelets with whatever saying you want. I'm tempted to order one that says something like "I [expletive] these bracelets," "these things are GAY," or something like that.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that "trendy" things are all bad. Heck, my favore pair of jeans could be considered very "trendy" by some I'm sure. It's just that it makes me sick when I see meaningless pieces of rubber around someone's wrist in an attempt to "be cool."

All that being said...yes, I ordered and just recieved in the mail a bracelet from Invisible Children. Why??? Because I think what's happening over in Ugandha is horrible. This bracelet serves as a reminder to me that wicked and horrible things happen in the world and that I need to do whatever I can to help my fellow brothers and sisters who are less fortunate than I am.











For everyone out there reading my blog...I hope you join me on the 29th for the Night Commute no matter where you are. It doesn't matter if you're not in Provo that night. Look up the closest city to where you will be on the 29th and sign up to be a part of something that will change the world.

If you want to know more about Invisible Children just go to the website, do a search of my blog, ask me about upcoming screenings of the film in Provo, check out their podcast, watch the trailers for the movie, check out Invisible Children Provo on myspace, etc.