THE ART OF THE GODLESS

I was able to catch a snippet of the Michael Medved show on the radio the other day while driving to work. He was discussing Hollywood's fascination with darkness. He stated that even though the real money making movies at the box office are the g-pg rated movies, overall Hollywood tends to produce brooding pictures with dark themes, and not only that but, those are the films that do the best at the Oscars. He was taking calls from anyone who felt like they could explain it, and one guy called in and in my belief hit the nail on the head, and I would like to share what he said.

He is an independant film maker and in summary this was his explanation. Art is a thing of passion. When an artist creates that which is a piece of art, it is something that comes from deep within. And in his belief any piece of art when it is finished will either be a thing of God or a thing of Man. He went on to say that artists in general are afflicted with a certain amount of melencholy, and alot of what is created does reflect the darker side of things. But, in general even in a dark peice of art there is a certain amount of light and hope portrayed....if the artist has a belief in God. Now, if you are an artist with no beleif in God, then what will your art reflect?....The doings of Man,which in most cases is dark. Hence you have Hollywood's obsession with darkness. One only need look at the glamorous Hollywood portrayal of Hunter Thompson's suicide for this evidence.

Well, I thought that was a very poignant statement by the caller. Evidently so did Medved as he had the caller stay on the line in order to be shipped a free copy of Medved's book.

BRAINWASHING

brainwash

v 1: persuade completely, often through coercion; "The propaganda brainwashed many people" 2: submit to brainwashing; indoctrinate forcibly

I have heard people be accused of brainwashing their children when they attempt to bring them up in a certain religion or just a beleif in God. I have often thought about this. My parents are devout in thier religion, and subsequently I believe in God, as does my brothers and sisters. Was I merely brainwashed?

On a topic such as this, how can you determine if you've been brainwashed? The dictionary defines brainwashing as: v 1: persuade completely, often through coercion; or: indoctrinate forcibly.

I guess techincally in many ways perhaps I was brainwashed. My parents forced me to go to church as a child, which would fall under indoctrinate forcibly. And I suppose I was persuaded completely in the end. But was this REALLY brainwashing? I must take to task those who would so piously claim that religion brainwahes people.

I submit that by many definitions I was brainwashed daily in public school as a child, and by Sesame Street, and Mr. Rogers too. All of them spewing forth what they would call "lessons" of society. I was brainwashed that 2+2=4 "But, wait". you say. "2+2 DOES = 4"! So, are we to assume that if it's true, then it isn't brainwashing anymore?

So, that's the question that all of my posturing hinges on. If you are brainwashed to believe the truth,...is it still brainwashing? If the answer is no, then when it comes to a belief in God, who's to say what the truth is anyway? If you accuse me of brainwashing, or being brainwashed to believe in God you are inferring that you somehow have the definitive answer on God's existence, or non-existence. And that, I am afraid you just don't have.

Of course if you answered yes, even if it's with the truth, it is still brainwashing, then You, I fear, are the one who's been duped.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

You always here about prisoners serving their time in prison to "pay back their debt to society". My question is; What have they really paid back at all? Sure it's no picnic to be in prison, but who gets paid back in the end? Certainly not the victims, and definately not society. In the end it is society who pays all around. It is we who end up paying for the incarceration of the criminal for his whole sentence, not only that, but what about government funded rehab programs? And probation programs? It is we, not the criminal who is expected to foot the bill for all these costs.

That's why I am really in favor of chain gangs. Prisoners can REALLY pay back society by helping in road clean-up, ditch digging, etc. It should be mandatory that in prison, you work. And for those too dangerous to be let out of the gate, let them pound rocks all day in the yard, or dig holes and fill them back up.

Now for my main point. What do we do with those senteced to death for the most atrocious crimes against humanity? What do they give back? Even dying doesn't pay back anything. The family and friends of the victim, remain victims themselves long after the execution.

I propose that with tax dollars the government build a replica of the ancient Colloseum of Rome. Sure! You could put it right next to Ceasar's Palace, perfect. Then you take condemned prisoners and force them to battle each other to the death. You not only charge admission, but you also televise it on pay per view. Allow legal betting to placed on the outcome of each match. The proceeds go to running the prisons, and a percentage goes to the family's of the murdered victims. Yes, it does sound barbaric doesn't it? So? Think of the profits to be made here. I bet you would have tons of money. This way the criminal doesn't just die...his actual death serves to "pay back his debt to society" in a real and tangible way. No longer would our tax dollars get mired in prison building and upkeep, the arena could cover all these costs. Think of the deterrent factor too. If you see some guy hacked to death by a battle axe on pay per view, maybe you'd think twice about committing a crime that could land you in the same spot. Just imagine for a moment.

"Let's get ready to rummmmmmmmmmmmmble"! And here we go folks. This could be the fight of the year as both fighters step to the middle of the arena. Ted Bundy is in the best shape of his life, and he's going to need all the help he can get tonight. John Wayne Gasey circles left with his weapon of choice, the mace and chain. . . . .

NO WONDER THEY COULDN'T GET OFF THE ISLAND

I was just sitting here at work guarding stuff, and thought to myself, "That'd be cool if they gave us hammocks at our guard posts". The thought of hammocks made me remember the TV show, Gilligan's Island. Remeber how Gilligan and Skipper shared a hut? I rember you couldn't have an episode without Gilligan falling out of his hammock and landing on the sleeping Skipper below at least once. It made for great hilarity. But, I just thought and had to note this down: The hut was basically empty except for the two hammocks, Gilligan's on top and Skipper's on the bottom, like a bunkbed, if you will. The question that arose moments ago was; WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST PUT THE STUPID HAMMOCKS SIDE BY SIDE? Even a more disturbing question is: WHY DIDN'T I HAVE THAT QUESTION 20 YEARS AGO WHILE WATCHING THE SHOW! That's it.

LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN

Well, here goes. . .my first post on my first blog. Hmmmm. What to say? I feel like I should say something profound, and thought provoking. I will just start out though by commenting that I am excited about this. Hopefully It will be a way for me to meet and interact with others around the world that share my interests. This could be a good thing for me. I have become somewhat of a pest on the paintball forum I belong to, cause I am always stirring the pot on some political issue or another. So, maybe this is what I really needed all along.

Anyway, there we have it. Damn the torepedos....full speed ahead!