Obsessed with Conformity

Taking a Swing at Perspective on Haiti

(click image for larger view)

So last week I was looking at some photojournalism on Haiti via Boston.com, and came across this picture. In an instant, the appeal appeared. No, this isn't a real ad for the Red Cross. It's the result of a two frustrated humans who wish they could do more. But even though it isn't an official ad, if you're so moved, we encourage that you consider giving generously to support the human disaster in Haiti by clicking here. Because the Red Cross doesn't yet have a simple web page for their Haiti campaign - as of now it's http://arc3.convio.net/site/PageServerpagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000&s_subsrc=RCO_FrontPagePanel

Fake RedCross/Haiti ad created by Jim Mitchem and Jeff Sutthoff.

The photo is from the Boston Globe's Big Picture section. No, we didn't ask to use it for this speculative piece. Remember, this is fake. The situation is real. 

 

In the Name of Love

If there's one thing all humans know from the moment we emerge from the womb, it's that Love is good. It's as clear and simple at that point in our lives as breathing. As we get older, however, the idea of Love morphs into different things for each of us. For some, Love turns into a lust for power or sex or money or electronics or religion or politics or...you get the picture. But this post isn't about your personal definition of Love. It's about the word Love. The idea of Love. 
 
When you consider how many songs, poems, paintings, movies, etc. were created with the idea of Love as its core concept, we can all agree that this one little word has a pretty huge impact on us. On all of us. Across cultures. 

On April 4, 2009, we conducted a test to see whether Love really could conquer all. And boy, did it. Thousands of people across Social Media tweeted, posted and mentioned I Love You. This blog received over 70,000 visits, and #iloveyou was a top trending topic on Twitter. More importantly, this one innocuous yet powerful act  changed people's lives - if only for a day. Don't believe it? Check the comments below. 

This year we're not conducting an experiment, we're building on momentum. On April 4, 2010  (a Sunday), we ask that you post "I Love You" in your social media circles JUST ONCE. No, we're not asking you to say you Love Social Media, or Facebook, or Twitter, your mother or even your pet iguana for that matter. And we're not asking you to endorse any religion, ethnicity, brand, holiday or any other possible reason you could conjure. We're just asking you to post "I Love You" once in one of your social media streams.  In Facebook as a status, in Twitter as a post, hell - you can even post it in Linkedin if you want (it's a Sunday, so no one is going to think any less of you for spreading such a positive message).

Why Because with all of the shit in the world today we need this. 

We do not seek to own this endeavor in any way. So please, take this concept and run with it. After all, you can't really copyright Love. The only profit we seek is to look into our Social Media stream and see hundreds or thousands of people sharing an emotion that we were all born with - and to remind each other that Love is still the most powerful force on earth.

Among thousands of others, U2 wrote a song about Love for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It just so happens that April 4 is the anniversary of Dr. King's assassination. Again, this initiative is not an endorsement of any group, ethnicity or religion. But it's a damn fine coincidence to spread Love on a day that's scarred with hate. 

Join us on April 4th by using ten little characters to help change the world. After all, there really is no downside. I Love You. 

Become a fan of ILoveYou on Facebook

Follow @sayiloveyou on Twitter. 

Lyrics to 'Pride (In the Name of Love)' by U2

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come, he to justify
One man to overthrow

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

(nobody like you...)

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love...

I am the most powerful person in the world.

I am an American. I live on the East Coast of the United States. I am lucky. This is the greatest country on earth. Not because of what we've accomplished, but rather because of what we stand for. To the rest of the world, we are an experimental sociosystem to gauge whether true freedom is possible on our planet. When we fail, the world fails. But when we succeed...whoa.

Whether or not you agree with our choice for president, the overwhelming positive worldwide reaction to our selection was proof that while we may be bordered by great oceans, we are not alone.

I consider it both a privilege and an honor to represent the human race in this great cultural experiment. I am an American.

Jim Mitchem is a copywriter, father, husband, American and founder of smashcommunications, llc.