Just watched PBS’ excellent long-running Frontline — the only televised news magazine that’s still good at this point (thank God for PBS), the episode entitled Secrets of the Vatican. Well done as always. The rampant sex abuse and the ensuing regulatory of cover-ups through the church’s history was shocking, even though like most I was already quite familiar with the rumors.
 
 Besides the fact that the Vatican/ Catholic Church is an extremely powerful & wealthy global empire disguised as a “religion” and has committed innumerable atrocities since it’s formation. After all, what is “The Catholic Church” but the thinly disguised Roman Empire post-the fall of Rome but with a new name? There’s that. And that’s a different story. The argument of whether or not a very profitable corporation that has amassed so much wealth and power through the centuries that it’s considered it’s own sovereign nation-state and country should be allowed to be called a non-profit tax-exempt religion is definitely debatable. But to many it IS still their religion, which we need to respect, no matter how difficult it feels to those of us on the outside.
 
 BUT…If they do really want to “reform” and begin anew to cleanse their soiled reputation as they now claim, then why not let priests get married in order to rid the organization of the primary problem that seems to be causing most of these sex abuse problems? There is absolutely nothing in the bible that states emphatically that this new religion’s leaders need to be unmarried or celibate. And if there is, or they believe there to be, as with many things in that ancient tome, one is sure it can be “up for debate” due to issues of translation.
 
 This inability of priests (and nuns for that matter) to be able to express their God-given natural human desires for love and intimacy seems to be the obvious missing piece in the solution they are looking for. EVEN if it is “the world’s largest closet of secretly gay men” as some insiders claim, wouldn’t it be better for them to just slowly reveal that and still let them marry or at least partner up? All that sexual mental and emotional repression cannot be good for them. Frankly I don’t see how they’ve made it this long. It’s no wonder that there has been so many frequent and rampant sexual abuse incidents reported in modern times. In addition there are reports that the institution is literally on the verge of bankrupcy in the human resource department — i.e. there aren’t enough people volunteering to become priests globally to fill all the vacancies cropping up all over the world. But is it any wonder? Who in their right mind in this day and age would volunteer to be celibate, both physically and emotionally, for the rest of their lives? Anyone who WOULD volunteer for such a thing should surely be suspect. It just isn’t natural.
 
 Having been raised catholic, I understand the ideology that originally created and is still currently used to justify and sustain this primitive law and practice: the priest is meant to be so fulfilled by the “love of God alone” that the position affords him the ability to transcend his human need for love and intimacy from other human beings. But this ideal, despite how noble and valiant, obviously didn’t work in practice. It’s akin to forming a hypothesis before a science experiment begins and then refusing to accept the conclusion and change that hypothesis once the experiment was completed. It’s denial.
 
 There are hundreds of million of people all over the world who still cling to this original form of Judeo-Christianity as their main religion, perhaps simply because it was the first formal incarnation of the once-new religion or perhaps for no other reason than they were born into it and thus it has been thoroughly indoctrinated into their psyche. Perhaps some who still practice Catholicism are intelligent and well thought out individuals who really do believe it is the way the truth and the light for them spiritually. Regardless of the reasons, the fact remains that it still possesses a very large following of believers. Some people love all that ritual and pomp and spectacle that this particular faith tradition offers, regardless of how completely opposite it is of the original teachings of the man and ideas the church was founded on, i.e. Jesus of Nazareth. (Surely Jesus would never don such ridiculous costumes and carry himself in such a hideously ornate and materialistic fashion as today’s popes cardinals and bishops do.)
 
 But because of this very large and present mass of people who still long for their spiritual fulfillment through this institution it is in the Church’s best interest to do its best to atone and make amends for its transgressions throughout the centuries of human history and reform itself in order to continue to provide a spiritual outpost to these people. They obviously have a lot of work to do in this area. Newly elected “Pope Francis” appears to understand this need. But even he probably sees the suggestion to transform the church’s law that forbids priests from marrying a pretty tall order I’m sure. But the question is, can they afford NOT to? How much longer in the modern world we live in can this organization continue to burden itself and it’s clergy with such an outdated and unrealistic rule?
 
 Many Catholics and non Catholics alike will point out that the Catholic Church does a lot of good and charitable acts around the world, from feeding the hungry and housing the poor to providing grief counseling to those in need or spiritual peace and solitude to those with heavy hearts. Though these services are now being more than adequately provided by other religious groups AND non-religious groups in the private sector — NGOs and non-profits abound in the modern world, there is still more a need for these services than we can presently fill. So it is easy to justify the organization’s existence. But not if the cost is greater than the benefit derived by society, e.g. a continued battle with allegations of sexual abuse of and misconduct with children.
 
 This is simply inexcusable. And these men who are guilty of such crimes should be tried and punished according to the law; suspension from their positions or losing their titles is simply not enough. If sexual repression is the primary cause of such acts, which one assumes it is, then let us force upon the Catholic Church the importance of making this change sooner rather than later.
 
 Even if a large majority of them turn out to be gay, as it appears they might be — we don’t often hear of abuse of young girls for some strange reason, but almost always young boys, so be it. The world is now ready to accept these men for who they are. Yes the “problem” is obvious: the Church, as it likes to be called, officially labels homosexuality as “sinful”. But isn’t being blatantly dishonest and deceitful even more sinful?
 
 It certainly won’t be an easy transition. If it is suddenly revealed that tens of thousands of heretofore “holy men of the cloth” come out of the closet and admit to being gay, the Catholic church is going to face a major PR and marketing crisis. They will lose a big chunk of their followers at the outset of such an announcement. But why? Because it is they who started this false rumor that homosexuality is a sin to begin with. But so be it. They started it. They can end it. And eventually they can help cure a major ill in our global society. Sexual orientation prejudice is an aspect of human consciousness that has no place in the modern world. Perhaps the only way to completely rid ourselves of this wickedness is through an organization as large wealthy and powerful as the Catholic Church. They can simply “ordain” it to be no longer true or valid an argument. Now THAT would be real service to others and certainly make more of a positive difference in the world than anything else this waning institution could possibly do.
 
 
 – Posted by The Ambassador using BlogPress on an iPhone

We knew we would be moving back to New York this fall. This Seattle thing was always temporary. I didn’t mind giving up the bi-coastal living arrangement for a spell because I knew it would be for less than a year, and truth be told I don’t care how many celebrities do it, bi-coastal living is just plain hard. In a million different ways. That 13 hour trip door to door became more and more difficult with each flight. So I didn’t minod giving up NYC for a year. But I’ve also missed Manhattan living more than I thought I would. At the same time, I’ve enjoyed living here. Big house. Plenty of land. I have an axe to chop wood and a hunting knife I wear on my belt, a grill, a woodworking bench, a killer bow and arrow set and archery target, a creek and a hot tub, more rooms and bathrooms than we know what to do with honestly, my own recording studio, a game room and yeah even a media-viewing room with an automatic remote controlled large movie projector screen. Our master bedroom is larger than our New York living room; our shower has two shower heads — one for each of us, and a separate bathtub; our walk in closet is about the size of your average New York bedroom. It’s been a blast re-experiencing what house living is like after ten years cooped up in a tiny apt in New York. But with all the amenities it still doesn’t replace city living. Walking straight out of your front door into a thriving metropolis filled with other people and activities and life in full color.

After much talk and thought and brainstorming we decided that it just wouldn’t make any sense to keep this place once we make the move. So we need to start paring down all of the things we’ve collected over the years. Furniture and knick knacks, all the outdoor stuff, the pool table. Hell, even our beloved ping pong table must go. To live in New York City you have to be willing to live with the bare minimum of belongings. Just the two of us and two dogs; new babies if we ever get so lucky. You give up a lot to live in the city. We’ll keep about one-tenth of the things we own if we’re lucky. Probably less.

Ever since we made the decision, I’ve noticed myself paying more attention to everything. To every little thing. Just now I noticed – perhaps for the first time? – the sound that the rain makes falling on the bay window over the kitchen sink. What a loud but pleasant sound it is. Comforting and soothing. In the pitch blackness of night you can almost always spot the white glow of the moon through the skylight that’s raised over our showers. It just sits there shining this magnificent natural light into the bathroom like a beacon or reminder that it’s the middle of night and everyone in the world is fast asleeP, even if it’s an illusion.

I’ll miss these things. And so many more. I’ll miss this grand palace we’ve learned to call home. Each of us grown so accustomed to feeling home here, to making it our home. Watching the moon set and the sun rise over the Cascade Mountain Range every morning from the eastern facing window in our large spacious office. The giant three car garage filled with abandoned kids toys and soccer balls and old stored belongings you can’t quite say goodbye to yet that seems to whisper “you made it. You’re living the American Dream…” Our backyard with its National Wildlife Federation Landmark status, giant evergreens, wild raspberry bushes and vegetable garden. The giant entranceway with its two large front doors that we decorate accordingly during each holiday season as everyone does who lives in suburban America. It’s been special living here. But at great cost to my career. I know that. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make for Princee’s kids.

But it’s coming to an end now. It’s time to get back to the city and leave our little utopian paradise to someone else. We know that. But It doesn’t make it any easier. Even the constant beckoning of the city and all it’s promise of fun culture adventure and glory still doesn’t soften the heartache as I walk each room taking pictures of things we need to start selling if we’re ever going to get out of here. Nope. This house has been home to us for over four years now. Every nook and cranny of it. Every piece of furniture. Sitting huddled up on a sheepskin rug by the fireplace when we lose power or just for the pure romance and fun of it. Feeling like the man of the house in the traditional sense –going around with my tool belt changing light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries, cleaning out the septic tank. Playing house in a way you just can’t in the city.

Sure these memories will be fond and at the same time seem almost quaint once we’re settled back in Manhattan. I’ve lived long enough to be aware of that by now. New York has a way of sucking you into it pretty quickly. With its whirlwind of excitement and adventure. Besides, home is never WHERE you live as much as WHO you’re living with. As long as I’m with Princess Little Tree I’ll feel at home soon enough. But it’s going to be A strange transition. We’ve gotten used to this slow lazy family centered lifestyle. Home cooked meals sitting around this large oak table and family movie nights. A far cry from the wild nights and hustle and bustle of New York living.

Part of me is giddy inside, already screaming “yay!!! Let’s go already!!!” and a part of me feels sad and homesick for this place and it’s numerous amenities, wondering if it’s really worth it, this big move to the small confines of a tiny apartment in a noisy crowded city… It’s ambivalence I suppose. But a good kind. A healthy kind. Everyday people are faced with much worse choices they have to choose between than these. I know that. Though in the moment I still feel a little pinch of sadness every time we list another beloved item for sale on Craig’s List or eBay.

As always more later…

– Posted by The Ambassador using BlogPress on an iPhone 8s Custom

“Eighty percent of all choices are based on fear. Most people don’t choose what they want; they choose what they think is safe.”

~ Phil McGraw

[Caveat: Like nearly everything any of us utter, the above sentiment is only as true as the speaker and perceiver believe it to be. We’ve established that long ago. Besides the absolute basics — I am. I am here. So are you. There are others here. — everything else is a quasi-hypnotic Illusion (delusion if an individual is not aware and has not examined these beliefs) we pretend to be “truth” at a certain time based on collective mass consciousness agreement (the sun is a god. There are many gods. There is only one god. The earth is flat. The earth is spherical. Etc.)

With that said, it is still beneficial, and fun, to explore the various ideas and beliefs that the lot of us put out there into the space that connects us all. The ideas can then be examined and explored, contemplated, agreed or disagreed with, amended or improved. Conclusions can be drawn. Our evolution is served through these conclusions; through a deeper understanding of who we are, where we are and more importantly who we want to be.

As long as we continue to remember that these are beliefs and not truths, because we are deliberately choosing to believe them in the moment because they serve us in some way, and that they can change when or if we decide to change them, all is well. Problems arise when we or others forget this and start believing that something believed is “truth”. Sometimes big problems, like war. Usually the problems are smaller in scope though, like believing things or aspects of ourselves or others or the world are “real” or can’t be changed or are “just meant to be”. “That’s just the way it is” is the common response, along with a sigh, when we’ve temporarily lost our perspective.

As long as we maintain our perspective, recognizing that — no matter how solid or deep or meaningful or real things or ideas seem to us — they’re still just beliefs, we can explore these things freely and hopefully learn in the process. End of caveat.]

Regarding the above idea about fear being a primary motivator, I am not familiar with the author. But I do tens to agree with it. I am not one for percentage statistics. In the bigger picture they’re only useful short term. Very short term. And only in very controlled environments. Statistics of any kind. So saying something like “80% of…” is a quaint notion; naive. Especially a sweeping generalization about the whole human race; any sentence that contains the word “we” or “most people”.

But in general I still agree with the basic idea of it, the intention behind it. Coincidentally i had this realization several times myself recently. A few times over the last few days. Recognizing after deep quiet contemplation certain decisions I have made whose real impetus was fear of something rather than pure desire for the decision itself. It’s VERY subtle though. We don’t KNOW that’s what we’re doing. Acting out of fear. It’s hidden deep beneath the surface. In our sub-sub conscious if you will. It’s only something we can FEEL now and then. It’s a crazy reality when you think about it. Choosing to do or not do something because we are afraid of something else rather than because we want to do it.

But I do believe we can overcome this predilection through deliberately living more deliberately. Sounds tricky. And easier said than done. And I’m sure it is. But I think the key lies in staying centered, grounded, quiet, in contemplation, at tuning to our intuition as often and as much as possible, and maintaining as close a connection with pure Source energy as possible. That way we are more aware of when we are feeling fear. More aware when we are feeling afraid, and more importantly when feeling inclined to act on it.

I know a girl who used to live in fear. 24/7. You’d never know it unless you knew her very well because she came off so bold and arrogant and bossy. But those are dead giveaways to someone who is afraid all the time. One minute she’d be acting like a tyrannical snobby maniac and three hours later she’d be cowering like a little girl, afraid of what people thought of her or if she was doing the right thing… All fear. But dare to suggest to her that she let go of the fear and make decisions based on desire instead and she would go right back into denial and vehemently deny that there was no way in hell that she was afraid of anything. Which would only push her further towards making the same damn decision she was going to make — regardless of how dangerous or illegal or unethical it may have been — just to prove to you that she wasn’t feeling fear.

That’s what we call fear of being afraid. Of people thinking you’re afraid. Fear of fear. So afraid that you can’t even admit you’re afraid. That’s when fear has for the best of you. Controlling you. Weird right? Yet we all possess this tendency to feel that AND to deny its there. We become so accustomed to repressing the fear that we aren’t even aware it’s there most of the time. Frankly I think it’s genetically inbred in us as a survival tool. But that doesn’t make it a good thing.

For this Lent I thought long and hard about what if anything I would give up, or add in. Adding things can be just as challenging and rewarding as giving things up I’ve found. Prayer more often during each day is the closest I came to finding something that really resonated with me. But after ruminating on the quote above and the realizations below, I think I’ll also add this too as a practice for the Lenten season: stay more quiet and grounded, more in tune with how I am feeling — more in FEEL — and really try to catch and discover each and every time I feel that I might be doing something or saying something even or making a decision based on fear or being afraid. Then take a breath and then decide to NOT do that. Ask myself “what do I REALLY want to do?” And choose to do THAT instead. The goal isn’t to get rid of fear. Fear is a healthy character trait to possess. It can keep us and the people we love alive. But the goal is to not let ourselves make decisions out of fear.

They say “do what scares you the most and you may find that you’re rewarded the most in life”. I’m not much for platitudes. Especially not if they compel people to just go off doing stupid things just because they’re frightened of it. But I see the value in the intention behind this one. And let’s face it, our greatest fears often aren’t the things we usually think they are. Getting attacked by a shark, getting raped, going to prison, sky diving etc. Usually our greatest fears are more about people not approving of us or not liking us or our work or our ideas or actions or failing at something even after working hard at it. These are fears I believe we can wrestle control over and even master.

Will keep you posted. Good creating to you too if you have any plans for a Lenten discipline this year. We’re all in this together. Let’s kick butt! (And remember you don’t HAVE to be Christian to take advantage of this very spiritually fulfilling season of a Lent. Just a curious brave and soulful person who wants more out of life than the usual everyday. If that’s you, go for it!)

Peace Love Freedom beauty Truth Love

– Posted by The Ambassador using BlogPress on an iPhone 8s Custom

Read this post by a good friend in NYC earlier today on FB:
 

“Did anyone see the spot this morning on CBS News with Shane Smith of VICE Media? He answered the question, “Why are young people so angry?” by reminding the CBS news team that young people world wide are disenfranchised and have been affected by the economic downturn more than anyone else. He said they are arming themselves now, training and getting ready for the next downturn which they know is coming. Then he said what we’ve seen with Occupy and other protests is going to seem like a picnic compared to what’s coming. Charlie Rose responded by asking him what he thought about Dennis Rodman going into North Korea.. THERE YOU HAVE IT; old people and mainstream media don’t even want to address the real issue. Rose so blithely swept the bomb that Smith dropped into the space off the table and completely ignored the issue. No wonder young people are angry, no one is listening.”
 

 
 I immediately Shared it to get some feedback. I found it to be a near perfect illustration of what’s happening currently. Though I don’t think it’s just “young people”; plenty of folk of all ages see the coming collapse and ensuing battle that’s coming. Essentially a truth/justice versus lies war. People are just sick of a system that is founded on and rampant with untruths and injustice.
 
 I found the feedback interesting. Some folk simply agreed with the aspect about the old “mainstream media doesn’t report on valid news anymore, only celebrities” idea. I wholeheartedly disagree. There are plenty of journalists in both underground/alternative AND mainstream media who could care less about celebrities and care deeply about the same issues that we do. One Commenter who agreed then added a list of names I felt was worth copying here (along with some other valuable ideas she offered):
 
 

Charlie Rose looks so uncomfortable on network TV. He isn’t a talking head or even a journalist…He’s an intellectual…accustomed to extended conversations on PBS…He would never have raised such a stupid non sequitor question on his own show… Network news has always been limited… That said, Fareed Zakaria (sp?) is deep and worthwhile, as is Christiane Amampour (sp?) … Charles Blow in the NYTimes, lots writers in the Daily Beast, New Yorker, C-SPAN…Every generation of young people gets angry… That’s how change happens… That’s how monarchies have been pushed into irrelevance … Through similar protests, young people are pushing dictatorships to fall and embrace difference frameworks of democracy…from Argentina to Singapore and Thailand to the Ukraine and Arab Spring…
 

 
 Another well-meaning commenter offered that “all young people feel angry. We did. That’s how we are able to change things for the better in society. I assume she’s referring to earlier decades, long before our generation, when the police they ran up against were just that, police. But these days we aren’t running up against police anymore, but rather full on storm troopers with helmets and shields and knee guards, covered in metal and heavy plastic and carrying tazers, mace, clubs, stun guns, rubber bullet guns, and even real guns. I responded:
 
 Carol – you’re right in your general thesis. True. But the country has changed tremendously in the last twenty years. This is no longer a free society where the people can enact change as easily as they once did. I’ve been on the front lines of the activist movement for over a decade for a variety of causes. This is a full-on police state now. Women, the elderly, children, teens get arrested, beaten with clubs, sprayed w tear gas and shot w rubber bullets or worse for no reason than just assembling or protesting. Young people — being prone to attend such demonstrations — see these things and realize that there’s not much they/we can do to affect change other than a full on revolt — so they drop out completely. The system is so corrupt and filled with lies and and ass backwards-unfair that they don’t see a choice. So patiently they/we wait for the opportunity when enough people reach that same boiling point. As Smith said this morning, it’s going to be brutal and make Occupy look like a picnic. More akin to Tienamen Square, Egypt or the current protests in Venezuela I’d say.
 
 I can’t say for sure what the first impetus of it will be. Could be anything. And yes, the majority of people in America DO seem to be asleep, totally unaware of the major problems we face as a nation. But there are also plenty of folks who are fully awake and as Smith says above “planning and arming themselves.”
 
 More later. We’re still in the studio recording.
 
 – Posted by The Ambassador using BlogPress on an iPhone 8s Custom

This year’s annual Academy Awards show aired tonight. Except for the few in the world — less than six thousand — who are actual members of the Academy, the event seems to have come out of nowhere. During a time of rushed chaos and crisis geopolitically, and an unnerving uneasiness economically domestically. “Now” certainly didn’t “feel” like the right time for narcissistic glitz and glamor. For lack of a better word there’s just too strong an air of uncertainty in the wind as of late.

And it’s not necessarily new. The last few years the Oscars faced a similar fate; the affair is meant to be the poshest and most glamorous extravaganza of the year — one that all Americans of any race religion class or financial bracket can attend, at least virtually, and ostensibly enjoy (as long as they’re able to pay $150 to $250 a month for cable or satelite TV that is), but due to various unfortunate factors prevailing in the hearts and minds of most Americans, word was last year (and the year before) that the Academy was going to deliberately tone down the event in order to be feel more inline with the theme of the day in society. For the last few years that theme has been either war abroad or economic woes at home, or both. This year was no different.

Though America has slowly extricated itself from the full on mass assault kind of wars it had been participating in in Iraq and Afghanistan, drone strikes by American soldiers on countries like Pakistan and Yemen continue to escalate. At a rate that the rest of the world finds alarming frightening and intimidating. Which they should. But so should we. For if only one thing is certain about this current president’s love of targeted assassinations it’s that it’s only a matter of time before other countries gain access to the same type of weaponry. And with what’s good for the goose being good for the gander, the U.S. doesn’t have long to wait till it too is a target of “justified” drone strikes.

In addition the world in general is on red alert due to troubles in Syria, Libya, Venezuela, Ukraine, and of course Iran, Israel and Palestine. Uncertainty says it best. Granted, most Americans don’t know why troubles in these hotbeds are threatening to us here at home, but that doesn’t help disarm the general tension in the air. For those in the know, the world of today seems like anything but a good day to throw a lavish party to self congratulate oneself for creating entertainment. In fact it feels like the exact opposite of what the world needs now. But unlike a Billy Crystal, Alec Baldwin or even Steve Martin, Ellen Degeneris added a rare and much needed low-key sincerity and authenticity to the affair, a dash of “ah shucks” modesty that is rare to see at such A-lister events.

Then again one would be remiss to not note that there was a genuine lack of A-listers at this year’s Oscars. Unlike in past years Clooney, Affleck, Damon, Denzel, Whalberg, Eastwood, Beaty, Nicholson, and Redford were all absent. As were notables Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz (and husband Benicio Del Toro). The front rows usually reserved for these luminaries, was instead filled with Hollywood’s younger up and comers. Ellen’s constant walks down off the stage and into the aisles seemingly roaming aimlessly amongst the seats of the celebs had a genuine effect of humbling the crowd of nervous self-important contenders. She kept appearing to be attempting to remind every one that “hey we’re all just regular folk here, no matter how royal we feel or believe ourselves to be.” It helped.

So too did some of the acceptance speeches. The first of the evening, Jared Leto’s, was especially noteworthy. Granted, to bring things into perspective they’re accepting awards that they themselves invented to give to themselves, not for life-saving inventions, non-profits or businesses, but for play-acting. So the holier than thou self-importance that’s bestowed upon the affair by the media is more about the money making potential for all involved (the network, the studios, the advertisers, the media who cover the event and the celebs themselves) than anything tangibly transformative for the human race. Some seem to get that. Some don’t, clutching their golden statue as if they had just cured polio and won a Nobel prize for it. Leto gave a shout out to our brothers and sisters struggling in Venezuela and Ukraine AND to all those who have died or are still suffering from HIV and AIDS. Cate Blanchett also gave a memorable speech. But the award for Best Acceptance Speech surely will be bestowed to Matthew McConaughey in times to come. I wouldn’t be surprised if YouTube is already logging millions of views for it. Humble yet strangely arrogant at the same time, moving and interesting, but most of all just very cool.

The anti-slavery cause was also given a boost due to a few wins for the the film 12 Years a Slave, where it was noted that tens of millions of people still live in what we would traditionally consider slave-like conditions. A shocking and hard to believe statistic for our modern times. Brad Pitt once again proved that he is more than just a handsome face by funding and producing yet another important film for the ages.

The sad and surprising sudden deaths of Philip Seymore Hoffman and James Gandolfini lent a touch of palpable sadness to the room, reminding us as death does so well how fragile and precious life is. As did the reminder of the loss of Shirley Temple. Her image also summoned recollections of a world long past, one that was more innocent and trusting than today’s.

The show wasn’t without its weird moments, which came mostly courtesy of Beverly Hills plastic surgeons — this strange brood of myopic hustlers who advise celebs that pulling their face so tight that they look like aliens will make them appear younger. John Travolta, Kim Novak and Goldie Hawn each looked respectively and incredibly Martian-like and frightening. A seemingly random appearance of Judy Garland’s children, Liza Minnelli included, all of whom are old enough to be our grandparents reminded us how old this world of Hollywood has become, especially juxtaposed with the images of a young Garland as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz danced on the big screen. The singer known simply as “Pink” sang beautifully a rendition of “Somewhere over the rainbow”, but if anything it acted as a slightly disturbing reminder of how hard and tough-skinned our society has become; a standard of young doe-eyed Judy Garland was now being performed by a woman covered in tattoos and piercings with the body of a WWE wrestler.

Highlights included a stellar acoustic performance by U2, looking older plumper and moving more slowly but still sounding great ; Bill Murray’s too-cool for school off-script ad libbing where he took advantage of a stage appearance to shout out “we forgot someone: the great Harold Ramis of Caddy Shack, Ghost Busters and Ground Hog Day”; and of course there was Ellen’s now infamous Samsung Galaxy plug where she tries to take a selfie with a handful of otherwise overly self conscious Hollywood celebs — a photo that allegedly crashed Twitter’s servers for a few seconds by getting over a million retweets; this was followed by an even stranger but charming pizza ordering stunt. The entire show, Ellen seemed intent on keeping the evening low key and real — at least as real as something like that can be. After all, it’s Hollywood we’re talking about here, a world that is anything but real.

But somehow it worked. Yes we knew that as the evening of glitz glamor and over-priced films, jewelry and slave-labor made wardrobes dragged on that people were running for their lives, being imprisoned or being killed in places like Venezuela and Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria, Libya and Palestine. But that’s one of the reasons why we love Hollywood and the movies so much. For those of us who can afford it, they help us to forget, even if for just a moment or two. And forgetting is a good thing sometimes. It helps us keep our perspective and our sanity when the rest of the world seems to be losing theirs. They also act as brilliant mirrors of ourselves, reflections of society as a whole. If there was any one meme we could take away from the films that garnered attention at last night’s gala, it was that our society is in a reflective mood, with self discovery and improvement at the forefront of our collective consciousness. In that there is hope.