Movement mentality vs. Monument mentality

What's brewing soup troopers? This "soup" is inspired from a conversation i had with tig knight (a filmmaker from Birmingham, Alabama-check out his work at www.november14th.ning.com) and were talking about advancing our "movements" that we are doing. My movement is considered the "GO" movement aka "go mode" (i can elabarote on it on another blog). He made a comment about being the "martin luther king" of filmmakers in Birmingham. I can honestly say that tig knight is making a movement with his way of shooting film (shameless plug-he didn't ask for it though lol), but i can't speak for everyone else that uses that word. With the MLK holiday around the corner, I started thinking about how we use the word "movement" and if we are using it right and actually living up to what it means.

Movement has two key definitions. First, let's go to the root word and look up what the word "move" means. Move means to pass from one place to another. A better definition is that it means to advance or progress. The first definition of movement is the act, process or result of moving. The second one is a group of people with a common ideology, whether political or religious come together for a cause. We can all say that Martin luther king came correct with the concept of a "Movement". He wanted people to progress and advance. He had a political and religious theme with common people with his movement. WITH ALL THAT BEING ESTABLISHED-WHY DO WE USE THIS WORD "MOVEMENT" IN VAIN?

I hear so many people saying that they have a "movement", but they are not progressing or advancing!!!! They have bad attitudes and are not focused on nothing but advancing themselves. A movement eventually has people as a part of it....where are your common followers of your movement? How is your "movement" impacting the lives of others? Is your "movement" even impacting anyone? I'll tell you why so many "movements" are at a stop sign...because they are actually having a monument mentality.

A monument is something erected in memory of a person, event, etc., as a building, pillar, or statue. With all that being said-grab your spoons for this soup-some of us are following the monument of a idea then the actual movement of it. Here goes a religious aspect of movement vs. monument example-some churches use their physical buildings as a monument for Christ,but don't even follow the movement of what he did and accomplished. It's so sad to see empty crosses throughout a church, yet no one is ready to sacrifice their life for the gospel. Some churches have alters that say "Do this in remembrance of me" (monument) and they really don't even follow the movement of fellowship and love for all brothers and sisters.

On a political side of movement mentality vs. monument mentality is MLK day. I know so many African Americans that say they love MLK for his "I have the dream" speech, but still hate whites for what they done in the past. How can you celebrate about a man who spoke on non violence, but all you rap about is killing and selling drugs? You got caught up in the monument/idea and not the movement.

I'm not saying that monuments are bad, but we shouldn't idolize them. We shouldn't be caught up with making a "statue" of a good or inspiring idea and admiring it, that we forget why god even gave it to us. When you have a monument mentality...your being lazy and slothful. You can't just sell a couple of cds to your FRIENDS and think you got a movement started.You can't ride the coat tail of someone's movement and not do anything, because all you are is a statue (monument). The funny thing about that is...STATUES DON'T MOVE! I pray that this soup breaks monument mentalities and people really start movements. Remember-this is a movement...so you better move! Spread the soup!