Monday Mashup #2: Six Witnesses

The Monday Mashup is an experiment, designed to get my creative juices flowing. I get a random word and a random number, and I write a list based on that mashup. I’m not going to require myself to make the list perfect or expert–just requiring myself to do it consistently. At least for now.

This week’s mashup: Six Witnesses

1. The movie. Let’s get the obvious one out of the way: Harrison Ford + Kelly McGillis + Lukas Haas = Witness, a 1985 film about a young Amish boy (Haas) who witnesses a murder, and a cop (Harrison)’s undercover adventure trying to protect the boy and the boy’s mother (McGillis).

2. Jehovah’s Witnesses. Did you know that Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the earth will never be destroyed or depopulated? I’m fascinated by religious beliefs and practices (hence why one of my BAs is in Religious Studies), and I’m curious about how this belief syncs up with (or doesn’t sync up with) the current push for greener practices. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that push is unnecessary, because the earth will withstand whatever we thrust upon it, or do they see it as a means to ensuring that the earth won’t be destroyed? Fascinating.

3. Human rights. Peter Gabriel (yep, that one) launched Witness.org, a group using video and online technologies to “open the eyes of the world to human rights violations.” Throw that one into your arsenal of examples for the next time someone says the time we spend on the internet has no redeeming value.

4. You can’t handle the truth! Being a witness in a courtroom is rarely similar to the dramatic portrayals we see in the movies. But that’s usually the only background people have when they actually have to go to court and be a witness. So if it’s not like what you’ve seen on TV, what is it like? The Iowa State Bar Association has a nice guide on what to expect as a witness. Some of the tips given (stick to the facts, ask for clarification rather than guessing what someone just asked you, admit what you don’t know) are good for conversing in general, not just being on the witness stand.

5. Earth Witness Mudra. The “earth witness mudra” is depicted in this photo by the Buddha’s right hand, extended and pressing the earth. It symbolizes the moment when the Buddha attained enlightenment, and called upon the earth goddess to bear witness of his enlightenment. The left hand is in the mudra of meditation, which symbolizes method and wisdom joining together. Also, I like the pink and light blue in this photo–more whimsical colors than you typically see in religious artwork, no?

6. Cyndi Lauper. Her “Time After Time” is an instantly recognizable classic, and even her cheeky “She Bop” (the meaning of which was lost on me until only about three years ago when a friend became appalled that I called myself a fan but didn’t know) gets the occasional nod in the 80s flashback clubs. But one of the lesser-played but great tracks on her album fits with this week’s mashup, and therefore, I present her song “Witness.”

If you liked this post, you might also dig:

• Monday Mashup #7: Six Fares
• Monday Mashup #3: Ten Expressions (5 That I Loathe & 5 That I Love)
• Monday Mashup #5: Three Choices I Make Each Day
• Monday Mashup #1: Eight Remedies
• Childhood Trauma, Brought on by Sneezing