Recently, my family and I watched on Netflix the History Channel’s America, The Story of Us. I recommend this as an entertaining and inspiring overview of our nation’s birth and progression to present day. As Americans, we do have a story and a history that makes us who we are. The huge challenges we face together today require reflection and humility as well as that pioneering can-do attitude we posses.

We can build stuff and solve problems. But, are we willing to sacrifice? With our economy as it is, where is the visionary leadership that made the Transcontinental Railroad, the Hoover Dam, the Interstate System and shot us all the way to the moon a half dozen times and ended the Cold War? As we bicker over small things we are becoming penny smart and pound foolish. Is bailing out Wall Street even close to these other accomplishments?

If we want to stay a great nation, watch this series and see the sacrifice and hubris required. Do we have that still, or have we lost it?

As you may have heard, we are in the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. I confess that the History Channel is one of my favorite pastimes over the years. One film I have seen many times is the 1990 Ken Burn’s Civil War. The story telling style and historical richness of the narrative were a breakthrough and this classic is a must see. But, more importantly the Civil War itself is inarguable the defining moment of our nation and us as a people—we at our best and at our worst.

I am not sure I entirely understand the Civil War, but the more I do the more I get us as a people and culture. We still are a regionally influenced people. However, we became a nation with all of our differing values, nationalities and statehoods because of the war. In fighting with ourselves, we learned that a unified federal state over the ideals of freedom could make our free-thinking ways coexist.

Here are some things today that could not exist without the Civil War:

• Today, we can be Americans and be different colors, creeds and cognitions and be legally equal. (Not always in heart, but in mind at least.) To be American is not about having the same spices cooking in your kitchen as the neighbors.
• We fight cultural wars, but in the end know the cost is too high to win outright. We know there is a limit to the pace of progress, in other words.
• The two-party system in all its imperfections allows us to choose and yet not splinter.  States have rights. But, there are some rights that even the government itself has not right to infringe—at least we hope that is true.
• The war, as one historian claimed in the film, is not over. We still have to fight for freedom—even against ourselves. Civil rights was paid for by the Civil War. It showed us that any rights are not free. Many battles had to be fought and are still raging. Could sex trafficking be one of those we are finally waking up to?

There are many other practical things the war did. Do you have anything you can add or comment on these?

Dear NBC,

I am writing an open letter in conjunction with my 12-year-old son about your TV show “The Cape” which is one of our family’s favorites. It is not often that shows that there is a show our family of four can watch together of this quality. The comic book flavor and episodic narrative work with characters that are neither too dark nor too cheesy, thanks to creator Tom Wheeler and the cast. Martin Klebba is a fave of ours, by the way.

My family had a chance to hear from someone related to NBC that The Cape might be canceled. Oh the horror! There is nothing on your docket of shows that fits the family bill. It would be tragic to remove a show that could grow beyond its current level.

Please read my son’s note:

I like “The Cape” because it’s like a comic book, superhero, family show. You should keep it because its way better than most of your shows. Our family enjoys watching this show and we hope to see a lot more episodes. It reminds me a lot like Batman and Spiderman, which I like.

- Ethan, 12

With respect, please respond. We would love to see this show continue and would be greatly disappointing if it lands on the cutting room floor. To all who read this, please WATCH it and write a note.

Sincerely,

Rich Kirkpatrick
Ethan Kirkpatrick

Here is PART 1 if you have not read that yet…

ABC’s 20/20 ran the story of the murder that happened in my house. Imagine seeing your house with your kitchen, the front of your house and more juxtaposed with crime scene photos and police video of a bloody murder. It was a bit unnerving and proof that allowing the film crew to “reenact” the scene in our home would have been a terrible choice.

Murrieta police and the District Attorney’s office I am sure enjoy the publicity of their success, but as the newer home owner its a bit gruesome and disappointing see how our community allowed the media to exploit the situation. One of ABC’s camera angles showed a document with our full address on it, for instance. My wife had repeated requests for our home to be filmed.

With the man behind bars with a life sentence my house has a story but not the full story told. This neighborhood is a great neighborhood and our city an incredible place to live. We love the house and will live well in it.

The sad news here is how a family and neighborhood were assaulted and how evil destroys. The house is just a house but my prayer is that our family would redeem this house and bless our neighborhood and city. God has my family living here for a purpose.

Here are some bizarre factoids:

• The killer was a devout Jehovah’s Witness and elder in the church (I am a pastor.)
• The public defenders last name is Kirkpatrick
• The day of the filming, we saw the crew filming in a similar house and the crews awkwardness at our glaring at them
• Our house was shown on national TV and my lawn had a brown spot (At least they could have warned me so I could have painted it green!)
• ABC showed very gruesome pictures of the crime scene…flashing the victim’s body into every single cut to and away from commercials and in the footage as a motif. Seriously! (ABC, you SUCK by the way).
• The circumstantial evidence was so huge, the jury took only 3 hours after a full three week trial but all the evidence was circumstantial. (I guess buying life $1M in life insurance, googling ways to kill and not telling 911 about your dead wife first before talking about the supposed break in swayed the vote.)

“Lie to Me”, “Eleventh Hour”, “Fringe” as well as many other TV shows seem to perpetuate the new myth of the super nerd. The hero we seem to want today is educated and intellectual. Look at who is our current president, after all.

On “Lie to Me” the lead character Dr. Cal Lightman is geeky-brilliant in his ability to read the expressions and body language of people and is adamantly infallible. On “Eleventh Hour” Dr. Jacob Hood who is an FBI consultant-scientist quotes off data like the HAL 9200 computer. On “Numb3rs”, the young gifted professor Charles Eppes uses math to solve crime with his brother the FBI agent.

All of these shows celebrate the super nerd. Never before could you be a rockstar for simply being amazing at math! Our culture today worships the “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” investigator Gill Grissom who not only has limited social skills but who’s charm comes from the fact that he is always one step ahead.

Those of us who aspire for rockstar-like fame now may decide to shun guitars and torn jeans for the prowess of coding C++ and expertise in playing World of Warcraft.  Its wrong, but it is what it is.

So, do you give up your guitar for a new motherboard, or what?

I am excited about a new president and the historical nature of how today will represent hope in a post-racial America. In plain English that means we just elected our first black president which is a big deal. Also, I like that our new president can actually put a few words together. No offense to W, but Obama is a rarely gifted communicator.

What are people doing to celebrate? Some will buy cool memorabilia like this action figure to celebrate. I know what I am doing. I intend to celebrate the inauguration live  and come in a bit late to the office to do so. CNN will be my choice because I like Anderson Cooper and their HD.

How are you viewing this historical event? Doing it TV, online, TIVO, or smart phone?

I love the spy-vibe sarcastic dialog and action.  Just plain fun.

What is your summer TV addiction?

Good stuff from The Myriad!  Their video has already been airing on MTV2, and this exposure is warranted.  You can compare these guys to Cold Play. They are that good.

The Myriad is truly a band to listen and watch, after touring recently with David Crowder, Third Day, Switch Foot and now on the road with Eisley.  Their video for their general market release “A Clean Shot” debuts on MTV2 March 20 and will play on the hour every hour.  This video linked here is a behind the scenes preview.  The video that will be released was directed by the award winning Josh Forbes.

Greetings, I am Copper, the DOG.  I reside in the Kirkpatrick home.  My favorite TV show is Heroes, since I feel that I am a hero.  After all, I protect the family with my powers of cuteness and often my owners claim that I look like a stuffed animal come to life. I have chosen to take over my so-called owner’s blog today to share what life is like these days.  Things are not as peachy as they might seem since the 650 mile move from Redding to Temecula.

First, the homeschooling thing must be addressed.  Initially it was incredible to have my pack with me all day–minus the big guy who leaves to some place called "office" each morning.  Being with my pack all day really is boring.  The children are cooped up in one room all day working at computers and reading, drawing, learning and often pinching each other.  I miss having the whole house to myself.  Now, I must behave all day and have no time to hide my growing collection of socks.

The next thing going poorly for me is the insistence from the big guy and his female to watch a TV show call The Dog Whisperer.  I absolutely love that I am going on more walks than ever.  However, do I have to on a choke chain?  Oh, the humanity!  Or, lack of.  My complaint is that I still have to sleep in my crate and get a "shhh" sound every time I want to go my own way.  My owners must realize that I really think I am in charge and these efforts will prove futile.

The last thing I had to go through was a bad case of the flu where both ends were involved.  Imagine, my crate, the carpet, the fact that I have long fur…wow.  You get the picture.  Oh yeah, it lasted for several days.  The only redeeming thing was that I was for a couple days treated as well as my status should reflect.  I got daily baths and fresh meat which helped me tummy heal.

That is all for now.  Really, it is not a bad life.  The little boy might pull my hair, and the girl in the house might squeal at my cuteness every time I enter the room, but this is a good family.  I am happy to care for them and sometimes the perks make a dog’s life worth the vet bills.

Later,

Copper, the DOG