Just look at that smile.

We have a European Union and an African Union. We can form an Asian Union, and converge all the unions into a World Union...or something to that effect. That is the vision that has been ingrained in my mind since I heard His Holiness, the Dalai Lama speak at a conference on "Democracy in a Multipolar World" in Prague a few months ago. A “World Union” is a dream of a united society bridging all borders and roadblocks into a world of cooperation, collaboration and unimaginable growth and peace. The Dalai Lama’s words were idealistic and impractical, yet something about his presentation helped me visualize the big picture, the ultimate goal for all international efforts. His Holiness has not preached, but shared his views on democracy and non-violence with students and teachers alike across all nations, religions and cultures. He is a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, a many-time-over honorary scholar. He has been THE leader for the international protest movement against the “cultural genocide” of Tibet, as well as teachings of interfaith harmony and Buddhism. The Dalai Lama defines a public intellectual through his integrity in teaching his world views to the world of academia, but making them accessible to the general public as well.

His Holiness is an emblem of the ability to preserve religion and international diplomacy through interfaith efforts. Yes, America is built on the principle of freedom of religion, but it was also founded on the Protestant work ethic. The key word for making miracles happen according to His Holiness: FAITH. America isn’t that far off. Stephen Mack’s essay on “Wicked Paradox: The Cleric as Public Intellectual” elaborates.

That is, American politics “uses” religion in the sense that it draws something vital out of it, redefining it in the process as something secular, essentially social and not at all dependent on the belief systems of particular faiths. In short, liberal democracy takes from religion what it cannot supply on its own: a deep sense of belonging.

And from this stems the “American Dream”, that anyone can be anything, and contribute significantly to the nation that we have built from the ground-up. The Dalai Lama has taken these concepts and internationalized them. I don’t believe his dedication to religious teachings has inhibited or clouded his ability to effectively convey his diplomatic views. He is merely using faith in general terms as a propeller for world harmony.

His Holiness can indeed be identified as a public figurehead, but he is not limited to such. He is in all ways a public intellectual, yet many suggest that this term is becoming less and less relevant. No, he didn’t get a Ph.D from Harvard and pursue a career of academia and discourse. But he is in all ways a representative of “intellectualism” brought to the public. I believe that there is therefore a demand for the widening of the definition of a public intellectual, which is depicted in Stephen Mack’s essay, “The “'Decline' of Public Intellectuals?”.

Our notions of the public intellectual need to focus less on who or what a public intellectual is—and by extension, the qualifications for getting and keeping the title. Instead, we need to be more concerned with the work public intellectuals must do, irrespective of who happens to be doing it.

You may not agree with the Dalai Lama’s views, but he is the type of individual that we should be aspiring towards, not the rich and famous. America is based on materialism, and the Dalai Lama bases his views on simplicity and contentment. And look what he has accomplished for the world. AND HE IS HAPPY. FILLED WITH JOY. I can vouch for that myself. I have never seen someone speak with such an eminent glow of hope and peace. All the money in the world can't buy that kind of cerebral smile. If only I could move past my own upbringing’s necessity for material wealth and success to go be a monk and teacher. And being referred to as "Her Holiness" wouldn't be so bad either. But I guess caring about that title would negate the whole principle of contentment with bare essentials and simplicity.

For Some, Fame Is Not Enough

An admittedly guilty pleasure of mine has been One Tree Hill on the CW since the inception of the show. It's had its eccentric bumps in plot lines and character development throughout the years, but last week the real life of one actor became more absurd than his characters'.

One Tree Hill's Skills Heading to Prison

What did he do? Classic DUI...embezzlement...NO.

Antwon Tanner (who's name is actually Antwon on the show- Skills is just his nick name) was sentenced to three months in prison after being found guilty of selling social security numbers.

There isn't too much information on where he got those SS numbers to begin with. I mean, he could probably sell some of his co-workers for a pretty penny. Turn them into fake IDs. You know.

What if celebrities started having their identities stolen? They really don't look that different from you or I on the street without the stage makeup, I promise.

So as disappointed as I am in Antwon, he reminded me of something. A family friend, Britney, was in Spain, and with the language barrier, she as a hooded-sunglassed-blonde girl was mistaken as Britney Spears. Let me tell you, she did not have to pay a dime that night.

Antwon, if you did steal Chad and Sophia's ID's you should argue in court that you were selling images and the opportunities for the rest of the public to taste the wonders of fame and fortune that you just so carelessly threw way. Why shouldn't the "common people" be entitled to a better everything? Because society capitalizes on everyone else wanting to do as the celebs do.

I propose a " LOS ANGELES IMPERSONATE THE CELEBRITY YOU LOOK MOST LIKE DAY". see if it gets you anything nice.

Haiti Needs Help...no matter where it's coming from...

In all the devastating stories that are coming out of Haiti, I think the headline that struck me the most was

Police kill man in Haiti over allegedly stolen rice

According to CNN, "Haitian police shot and killed a man they suspected of stealing rice in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince on Thursday, leaving his body on the sidewalk for hours as his family mourned." Later on in the story it said witnesses reported that there was no looting going on at the time.

This man died not as a casualty of the earthquake but as a casualty of the ensuing anarchy that international forces have not had the power to contain.

So celebrities have been forced to take up the slack. Yesterday's headline compliments of MSNBC:

Star power helps garner more Haiti donations

Clooney-led telethon is one way celebrities use fame to aid in disasters

Yes, the leaders of Hollywood are turning the crisis in Haiti into another red-carpet event, but in truth, their help will be far more significant than those who are criticizing their glamorous donation process. If the celebs were donating quietly, they would not be able to raise as much $$ from the rest of society. I spoke with several people who were waiting for this telethon to donate because being a centimeter closer to the fame and beauty of Hollywood via a phone call is so appealing. And I do believe that the celebrities truly are committed to the cause.

Matt Damon didn't wait for the earthquake. He's been trying to raise money for Haiti for a while now.

The point of my first entry: this blog will satirize the tippy tops of the entertainment industry as well as others, but I am not insensitive to the benefits that they add to our daily lives.