Sergeant Tony's Blog

I probably shouldn’t tell this.

Some things I just ought to keep to myself. But I don’t care who knows. It’s too big for me to keep silent about.

Here’s my little secret.

I loved Wicked.

There I said it. And I don’t care who knows it!

I expected to like the Broadway musical. But I didn’t think I’d love it.

You know how sometimes you hear so much hype about something and you just sort of get a prejudice against it? Even before you know anything about it you say that you’re not going to get caught up in the hoopla. “Oh, such and such can’t be that good!”

On Sunday night, I became a “Wicked” fan. I also fell in love with the actress, Marcie Dodd, as soon as she came on stage. Well, that’s probably not the case. I fell in love, for a lot of reasons, with the character she played. Elphaba, the Wicked Witch. I was mesmerized as soon as she took the stage! Completely smitten!

For those of you who didn’t care for Wicked, didn’t see, or didn’t want to see it, I won’t labor you with a scene by scene summary. But …

“Wicked” is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. It’s sort of the back story of the Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches.

In a 2007 interview, Maguire explained that “the most important thing about the book was not the plot … but the theme.” He went on to say, “The theme is how we demonize our enemies and how we are scared of people who are unfamiliar. We then whittle away their capacity for full humanity in order to justify our being suspicious of them.”

You really ought to read that last paragraph again. And again.

Recently I sat through a religious ceremony and heard the preacher, with arrogant eloquence, declare all of those who didn’t believe as he does, “enemies of God.” Excuse me?? For a moment I had to remind myself that I was sitting in a Christian church, and not at a rally for Islamic fundamentalism. I half expected him to go ahead and label someone like me an “infidel.”

This theme has so captivated my thinking over the past several years that I can scarcely not think about it on a daily basis. Being misunderstood and then being misjudged, vilified, condemned, and alienated for it.

I have learned that I must keep a daily guard posted on my mind and heart so that I don’t do the exact same things. I can be slave and master of the same things I condemn in others. I have to search the hidden places in my own soul for the presence of self-righteousness, arrogance and pride, prejudice, xenophobia, intolerance, snap-judgements, knee-jerk reactions, judgementalism … misunderstanding.

I didn’t know how Wicked would end, but I could feel the tension throughout of “loving” a character so misunderstood and yet unable to rescue. I could feel the knight inside me want to draw my sword and save the damsel in distress. (I sometimes wonder if we men aren’t hardwired to be knights.)

Wicked is a joy for the senses — the music, the singing, the comedy, the drama, the color, the pageantry — and it is a message for the sensible. A candid and clever condemnation of those who condemn. A wicked judgment against those who judge. A call to compassion and understanding for all humanity.

At the end, I enthusiastically stood and applauded … with a tear in my eye … honored to have seen something so magical and meaningful. A moment frozen in the memories I hold dear. Yes, I’m a sentimental sort.

I loved Wicked so much, I’m going to Tulsa next month to see it with friends there!

I hope Marcie remembers me!

Eleka nahmen nahmen!

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TODAY’S BIG THREE

1. David Strong and Nikki Strong (Boot Camper, BNI): Piano’s Flowers & Gifts, 901-345-7670.

2. Rick Owings (Boot Camper): Body Mechanix Theraputic Massage, 3486 Poplar Avenue, (901) 323-1220

3. Cathy Graham (Sometimes Boot Camper, BNI): Grafix Unlimited (website design and lots more!), cgraham@grafixunlimited.com

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CONGRATULATIONS!!

You may have seen the really awesome article in the Commercial Appeal about Leslie Garey’s family business. Leslie is a 0530 Boot Camper! Hollywood Furniture and Hardware has been in their family for 85 years at the corner of Hollywood and Chelsea!! Congratulations Leslie!

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jul/13/focus-hollywood-furniture-and-hardware-standby/

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MOUNT FUJI

Next Thursday, July 23 at 0530! Meet at the U of M in front of the parking garage on Zach Curlin!

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“Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to see the beam in your own eye?”
~ Matthew 7:3

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
Memphis, TN
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com