Victor Johnson | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Member since Jan 28, 2015

Contributions:

  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 03/11/2019 at 12:42 PM
    In response to Rick Burns:

    Women should absolutely be celebrated. Today. Every day. And whether you are male, female, white, black, gay, straight, Republican, Democrat, you should applaud this and embrace it.

    Celebrating someone, women in this case, can only be a positive thing. It does not affect you in any negative way whatsoever. Not even the slightest. When someone else accomplishes something, we should celebrate their accomplishment(s) along with them. When we react in a negative way, it usually means that we are insecure about our own selves,

    Misogyny is not limited to any one political mindset. It still exists across the board. And though it probably wasnt your intention, your letter is a perfect illustration of why its so important to feature and celebrate women as The Source did. Please listen to the new CD by India Arie, Worthy. And celebrate a woman, any woman, today, and every day.

    Victor Johnson
  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 09/05/2017 at 1:30 PM
    Re: California Plates

    I find that very disheartening as well. And the reality is, I think it extends much further than notes being left on cars. There is an attitude of unkindness towards anyone who is labeled a "transplant". And I find that very unfortunate.

    I lived in Atlanta, GA for nearly twenty years (I was born in Tampa, FL). I moved to Bend in
    2014 when I accepted a job at a non-profit preschool. I developed a strong, dynamic music/arts program, that made a big difference in the lives of young children, many of them under-privileged and from broken family situations. Unfortunately, I was laid off this past August, due to severe financial setbacks on the part of the school.

    Despite that, I have continued to be very involved in the Bend music/arts community. In 2015, I recorded a full-length CD at Soundsmith Studios in Bend, featuring many songs written for victims of tragedy, but also music deeply inspired by the natural beauty of Central Oregon. After releasing BT, I have continued to write music including a song for the victims of the Paris attack (J'adore la France), a song honoring the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor (Sweet December Day), and most recently, On This Train, a song featured here on the Source Weekly, inspired by and dedicated to the Portland train attack victims. Over this period of time I have lived in Bend, I have become devoted to writing and sharing music that promotes healing, love, and forgiveness, and celebrates divine beauty. I even wrote a song called "Heaven" inspired by the natural beauty here in Central Oregon.

    "Heaven, heaven is on earth
    Softer than the morning sunrise
    Sweeter than a lullaby
    Lovelier that the springtime
    Gentle like mountain streams
    Lay me down in silent rhapsody
    Heaven fill my dreams"

    My main avenue to share this music - posting videos on FB. I have developed an audience there, where I receive hundreds, and even several thousand views. However, in Bend itself, in the town where I live, I've found very little opportunity to perform or share what I do. I was slated to open up for Leon Russell, back in December of 2015...but when he passed away in November, that went to naught.

    I am still doing preschool music one day a week - at a local Bend preschool. I love working with children who are 3-5 or even younger. They still possess a magic and innocence, and accept each other for who they are. Sure, there is some occasional drama but they don't care where anyone is from, or that they come from a different background. This is the way we are born. But we lose that quality when we are cold and unkind to each other, just because we come from different places. The song "Heaven" is also about loving our child within...because everyone, no matter how old they are, is a child who just wants to be loved.

    "Heaven fill my dreams, be my light
    My saving grace, guide my heart
    Heal my soul, help me to see
    That I can learn to love
    The child inside of me"

    I have become a member of the music team at Bend Unity, where I have been singing for over a year now. What I love about Unity, is that everyone is accepted, regardless of where they are from, regardless of their religious beliefs/background, regardless of where they stand politically. Everyone is loved simply for being who they are. Are we achieving that same thing in Bend? Or are we creating division between ourselves? Even on a community Facebook page like I Love Bend! I see and read so much hostility directed towards each other, and a constant paradigm of us vs them. That is not sustainable and not what Bend aspires to be - a place of genuine friendliness.

    I am still struggling to find another position that is sustainable, where I can use my divine gifts, that will support me in my endeavors to make a difference in the world, and to provide a good life for my 7 year-old. The most important message that Bend, the state of Oregon, this country, and the world need to learn is that it matters what happens to other people. Other people matter. Whether we know them or not, whether they are different from us or not, and whether we have any obvious connection to them or not. We are all connected on a deep level. From the words of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, who is being celebrated this weekend in Grants Pass- "Tell everyone on this train I love them". We are all on this train together.
  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 07/27/2017 at 11:09 AM
    Re: “Bad Timing
    Another sad example of not caring about what happens to other people. No one is disposable though apparently Deschutes County seems to think they can just sweep them away and not deal with what is a real concern. As if that makes everything alright. It does not...at all.
  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 07/24/2017 at 9:22 AM
    Re: “Eclipse Encounters
    Not stupid at all. Historically, there has always been a surge in human trafficking and related issues surrounding major events like the Super Bowl. Do some research before making ignorant comments.
  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 07/08/2017 at 12:47 PM
    This has nothing to do with pornography or sex and everything to do with freedom of expression. If you don't want to participate, then don't. But what you're projecting into this says more about your dirty mind than anything else. The human body is a beautiful thing and should be celebrated. Simply being unclothed is not equivalent to sex. Remember...it's not all about YOU.
  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 07/08/2017 at 12:11 PM
    Re: “
    This has nothing to do with pornography or sex and everything to do with freedom of expression. If you don't want to participate, then don't. But what you're projecting into this says more about your dirty mind than anything else. The human body is a beautiful thing and should be celebrated. Simply being unclothed is not equivalent to sex. Remember...it's not all about YOU.
  • Posted by:
    Victor Johnson on 07/08/2017 at 12:01 PM
    Re: “
    The human body is a beautiful thing. This has nothing to do with pornography or sex and has everything to do with freedom of expression, and celebrating the divine beauty of being human. If you don't want to participate, it's simple....don't. But anything you're projecting says more about your own dirty mind than anything else. Being unclothed doesn't automatically equate with sex. What are you going to attack next, life drawing classes?