I'm On It

(Editor's note: This article was originally published in the Obama era. That name was changed to "Trump". Everything else is exactly the same as it was when it was published, like four years ago. That, in itself, is just sad). Here's the deal. This is just my opinion, so take it all, or some, or none of it, as you see fit. With every passing month, we hear of another shooting, another mass killing or another way for people to hurt each other. Although these things happen around the world, (albeit with an alarming frequency here in the U.S.), I'll direct my thoughts to us here in the United States. People wring their hands over every mass shooting, and with good reason. A tragedy is never easy to suffer. But, if it's a white guy as the shooter, (and it's usually a white guy), our media trots out the "mental health" discussion, so we don't have to take responsibility for anything. The problem becomes one so much larger than oursel

A theater in which I have volunteered over the past few years is having an anniversary. The Theatre of the Republic, the official theater of Horry County, South Carolina, is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a weekend of musical revue shows. They are bringing back actors from many of their most popular shows and highlighting some of the truly great talents of the area. A past actor, someone who, when informed of this, lamented the fact that they were too far away at the time to attend, waxed nostalgic. In glowing terms they wished all the performers only the very best for their upcoming festivities. This made me wonder. I wondered what made the theater arts so beloved, so well-respected and so vehemently defended by its participants - both actors and patrons alike. I admit that I feel it, as well. I just haven't put it to words. So, I resolved to do so. After much reflection, I have determined what it is, for me at least, that makes theater so special.