Motivation Seminar/Evangelical Meeting Tent

Last Wednesday, I attended a motivation seminar at Bank Atlantic Center in Plantation hosted by Peter and Tamara Lowe. My boss went to them in the past and raved about it. Whatever; company field trip. My expectations were along the same lines as those of a school field trip. Change of environment, mildly interesting, and fueled with sugar and soda in order to keep your energy levels up. The exception was that we were being paid for it; so the seminar garnished a few more brownies points for the "Get Out Of Work Free" card for the day.

That was my expectation. My wishes were that I would actually gain a lot of insight and "insider wisdom" from the industry. What I did not expect was to come out of the day frustrated, uncomfortable, and disillusioned. Sure, there were many good points brought forward, and many talented speakers present including General Colin Powell and Zig Ziglar (who reminded me a lot of my Grandfather with his great combination of wisdom and humour). And before I start listing my gripes, you can reference this article about this seminar (not the same time/location as what I attended; but same song and dance). So what went wrong? I dunno. Several things (that I can pinpoint). Let me list a few - sort of listed in order of importance/negative impact:

1. Peter Lowe and many others referenced the "J." man several times Perhaps I have become "hyper-sensitive" to Xtian preachings; but actually, when I think about it, I am pretty tolerant of Xtian banter on a casual basis. I am in full awareness that American Jews live in a sea of Xtians who have a tenet...a mission to bring in "more sheep into the fold". I have stood at the gas station pumping when a Xtian missionary comes up with their little panthlets. There are Xtians in my office who talk about the goodness of J.C. I even am able to laugh and appreciate some of the religious (as in Protestant Xtian religious) music and comedies from the Black community. However; if I am attending a professional seminar geared towards working professionals in an arena of 40,000 I do mind the Xtian ramblings. Even if Mr. Lowe was willing to just get up their and talk about what J.C. means to him, and how he personally feels that the Xtian faith is a factor of his success; he has crossed the line when he asked the area to "close your eyes; and if you haven't done so already, take the L-rd J__s into your heart...". I was appalled!

While I don't get too hung up or vocal about my own personal politics, it's times like these that I'm glad I am a Democrat. I simply don't trust the thinking of many political conservatives that "right = White, Christian, and Wealthy". While they may be "tolerant" of those who are different - they are the "American Dream". You can applaud diversity and tolerance all you want, but you will remain "the other".

An easy "proof" of this was illuminated in Maurice Berger's book, White Lies. A brillant survey was conducted among White people. They were asked to pretend that they lived in a world where the government (not genes) determined your race. As adults, they got a letter from the government stating that they had made a mistake, and instead of being White, they were supposed to be Black. They had to go in and get their race changed to Black (their "proper" race). But the government said they would be willing to compensate them - if they felt it necessary. The average requested compensation was $10,000,000.00!!! No one declined compensation. What this says is that this "non-racist" White people all felt that being Black was a 'handicap' that they should be compensated for. If this is so, why are the majority of "non-racist" White people oppossed to allotting any sort of preferences and aid to Black people? And they would practically grab up arms if we gave every Black person monetary compensation for the race they were born into! If you asked these people to be transformed into Jessica Simpson, or George Clooney - even without the fame and money, they would probably take that 'as is'. Absolutely brillant experiment and book. When I finish it, I will review it...bli neder.

2. The assumption was there that everyone was interested in how these speakers got rich/successful. While it is true that if you want to become great, you have to study "The Greats". But 8 hours of stories of how you were the most successful, a college dropout, busted the stock market wide open?!?!?! On top of that, the majority of the speakers were selling something else. Like their books/videos, private seminars, software, you name it. It became very apparent just whose 'success' this motivation seminar was for.

3. Stadium mentality. I don't know if there is an official term for it; but I've gone to enough football games to know it when I see it. There is something about sitting in a "room" with 50,000 other people. There is something about the loudspeakers and the feeling of anoynomity and the razzle and dazzle. It invokes the "leming effect". The speakers fed off of that. With all sort of "physical" communicators like pumping up your fist to "break through" you inhabitions; like grabbing the shoulder of your neighbor and leaning to test trust; like dancing to the wipeout - and a slew of other things I did not want to participate in. Not because I'm spiritless, but because such actions was obviously not tzinus. I wrote more notes than anyone, but continued to be a sitting target for the seminar staff/promoters who were walking by and prodding me, "Come on...I have a partner for you right here!" With that smile and that circus player mentality. No regard for my personal comfort or guidelines; just that I was interrupting the flow and not participating.

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I realize that many Jews; even many frum Jews would have been able to sit through that entire seminar and not bat an eye, and be truly motivated by the whole thing. But when I look at how Judaism has changed the focus of my life - it seems totally divergent from the focus of mainstream middle-class America. Sure I enjoy money; sure I want to further my career. But I don't know if I have an "American Dream"; I have a "Jewish Dream" in which 'America' plays a nominal role. In fact, the star of the show is Israel (sorry Colin!). My work is my parnassah; a means to fund my existence and service to Hashem. I do not expect Xtians to keep this same perspective; but even I much as I feel that Hashem gives me every cent that comes my way - I would not bring up that notion at a business seminar. My relationship with the Creator is a personal one. And yes, it does pain me when someone mixes up their spirituality into 'training' that is open to a public audience. That means you did not even think about the considerations of those who do not share your faith.

During one of the breaks, I did notice an older gentlemen who was wearing a yarmulke. He was engaged in busy conversation with fellow collegues. I wish I could have known; could have asked him just how he was getting through all this "motivational talk" peppered with Evangelistic phrases left and right. But I couldn't and just "gave up" and left the seminar 2 1/2 hours early. Well, I was also prompted by the fact that there was no kosher food available - and I was famished.