Obssessed With Violence?

Recently I was at the movie theater watching the second installment of the new Batman franchise, The Dark Knight. The movie itself was very good, but it was something that the crowd did that got me thinking. This Batman is very violent and dark, with the late Heath Ledger’s Joker being a psychotic killer out to commit evil just for the fun of it. And he does commit much evil and scatters death across the film. The audience’s reaction to much of this was laughter.

Some of the violence was played for laughs, but not to the extent that I heard laughter erupting from those watching. Of course, the movie isn’t real so no one is really dying, but just the fact that on screen hundreds of people were dying and everyone in the audience seemed to find that the most entertaining was quite disturbing.

Is this really the society of America as a whole? Are we really that calloused to death and violence that we find it funny in any movie that isn’t based on a true story?

There is a new movie coming out shortly entitled Deathrace. It is about a new reality tv show in where the contestants are pitted against each other in a race where the cars are equipped with weapons and the winner is the one who survives. I wonder how close America is to having that become a reality on television screens and not merely a fictional movie.

It’s an interesting thought to be sure. I know sometimes I fall prey to these kind of thoughts as well, and it’s hard not to in this media driven society where death and war is treated just like every other news story. People forget or maybe don’t even know what it means for people to be brutally murdered and taken advantage of by violent acts. That is why I think it is so important to have movies that are based on true stories and show people the real tragedies of violence and war.

So maybe next time you go see that new movie, check yourself and see if you think people dying is funny, because I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who would assure you that it isn’t.

Politics vs. People

I don't understand politics and the things it does to people. To be frank the pickings are mighty slim in this year's election, but I think it provides an interesting case study in how people perceive others. Politics divides people more than almost any other thing in the world and I really don't think it should.

For instance most Christians I know really dislike Senator Obama. It's not just disagreement with his political views, which I disagree with for the most part, but an actual dislike of the man. Has he done anything to warrant this hatred? Sure maybe he's been wishy-washy on issues or said some things that have offended people, but is he an evil man? Maybe to certain people he is, but I really don't think the man is the second coming of Satan.

Actually, the Senator is a very likable man with some very good ideas. Do I think he would make a good President? No, not really, because he does not have enough experience or knowledge of the entire spectrum of things the President has to deal with. However, there have been several speeches the Senator has made and things he has done to reach out to all corners of the populous that make me admire him as a man, not a politician.

On Father's Day the Senator gave a speech imploring young African-American men to stop having babies and then leaving them without a father. A very pertinent message that is truthful and needed in those communities. A little while ago, the Senator spoke about how he feels it is important for children in America to be bilingual, something I agree with emphatically. Yet, the next day on the Rush Limbaugh show, the host was criticizing him and pointing to the fact English is spoken on airlines across the country as a reason against children learning a second language. Why can't conservatives admit that Senator Obama has some good ideas? Would that make them into liberal pawns?

Just because someone has different ideas and even possibly an agenda you don't agree with doesn't mean everything he says is wrong. And it certainly doesn't mean that he should be hated. I understand that it is difficult to find the good in people you disagree with, but sometimes it is necessary. It's hard enough to find good in this world, and condemning everything said by someone simply because you don't agree with them wholeheartedly only makes it harder.

The Bible says we are to love people. Senator Obama is a person. Therefore, we are to love Senator Obama, and maybe if we look at it that way, we can see that although he probably isn't the best choice to lead this country in the future, he has some things to say that are worth hearing.

New Blog

I just created a blog devoted to sports of all shapes and colors. Hopefully, you will see a relatively continuous stream of posts over there because there is always something to talk about in sports. The Velvet Conspiracy will still be here and I will write the more personal/spiritual side of things here and hopefully will write here a little more as well.

Here's the link and it will be on my sidebar as well as a link to my good friend's blog, which you all should read. Enjoy!

http://aflickofthewrist.blogspot.com

Verano

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The steady cadence of the beat moves the feet of my world as I try to spin.

No creo en el jamas.

The voices of time hint at a discovery still hidden.

A sign reads "space available for lease." It's been there for a while.

Fractured songs, holding your hand, watching the heat drip off the buildings.

Can you see it?

I sometimes know when I don't know enough.

"A la devocion a Dios, afecto fraternal, y al afecto fraternal, amor."

Add these things.

The shreds of my consciousness still sometimes produce meaning.

People change, life changes, God stays the same.

I'm glad I'm not the person I was in high school.

I'm going to miss the people I just got to know, and the ones I've known for a while.

Can you believe the summer is halfway over?