A Word About Jesus
I bet you never thought you'd see this header on my blog. But it's not what you think. It's not even about him. It's about people bitchin' before they have seen or read something controversial.
See this? Short version? James Cameron (he of Titanic fame) is part of a documentary about this tomb that may--or may not--contain Jesus and his assorted family members (including one set of bones saying they belong to Jesus' son.) No one has yet seen the full documentary, which is going to air on Discovery. Which ain't stopping the tempest in the teapot.
But the same sorts of rabid complaints have been raised over The DaVinci Code. Over Harry Potter (Because according to some, yes, children are becoming wizards in droves and devil worshipping because of Harry). The same can be said of nearly ANY book that people want to ban.
Here's the thing, the way I see it, at least. I have reached this age in my life in which I am completely and 100% comfortable in my beliefs on good and evil, magic and sorcery, Jesus and the devil. Faith and dogma. War and peace. Buddhism and Christianity. The death penalty. Darfur. The CIA. Pick a topic, and chances are I have an opinion. If it's not something I have read about extensively, or spent time paying attention to, I will either not form an opinion, or I will form one and keep it to myself while being open to what other people say. But what I will NOT do is have a major opinion on a book, movie or topic without being informed.
I think, whether it's a movie or a book pissing people off, or whatever . . . unless you BOTHER to be informed . . . and unless you READ OR VIEW IT YOURSELF, you have little right to have a fit. And if it's fiction? Like Da Vinci Code or Harry Potter? Allow that it is a STORY, one the author had a right to tell as FICTION.
I had a woman tell me she found The Roofer so offensive she couldn't finish it. And she was MAD. This did not deter her, mind you, from telling me WHY she found not only the book offensive, but my--and I quote--"agenda." But you see, I didn't even BOTHER to engage in debate. Finish the book and THEN let me know if you think incest is fair game for a theme. THEN let me know if you feel I glorified violence or indicted it. THEN you have right to email me your bullshit. But until then? Nope.
Have an opinion. Be pissed off at this new documentary. Be mad about a book. If you want. But before you bash it? Bother to see it or view it.
That's my half a cent anyway. Thoughts?
Peace,
E
See this? Short version? James Cameron (he of Titanic fame) is part of a documentary about this tomb that may--or may not--contain Jesus and his assorted family members (including one set of bones saying they belong to Jesus' son.) No one has yet seen the full documentary, which is going to air on Discovery. Which ain't stopping the tempest in the teapot.
But the same sorts of rabid complaints have been raised over The DaVinci Code. Over Harry Potter (Because according to some, yes, children are becoming wizards in droves and devil worshipping because of Harry). The same can be said of nearly ANY book that people want to ban.
Here's the thing, the way I see it, at least. I have reached this age in my life in which I am completely and 100% comfortable in my beliefs on good and evil, magic and sorcery, Jesus and the devil. Faith and dogma. War and peace. Buddhism and Christianity. The death penalty. Darfur. The CIA. Pick a topic, and chances are I have an opinion. If it's not something I have read about extensively, or spent time paying attention to, I will either not form an opinion, or I will form one and keep it to myself while being open to what other people say. But what I will NOT do is have a major opinion on a book, movie or topic without being informed.
I think, whether it's a movie or a book pissing people off, or whatever . . . unless you BOTHER to be informed . . . and unless you READ OR VIEW IT YOURSELF, you have little right to have a fit. And if it's fiction? Like Da Vinci Code or Harry Potter? Allow that it is a STORY, one the author had a right to tell as FICTION.
I had a woman tell me she found The Roofer so offensive she couldn't finish it. And she was MAD. This did not deter her, mind you, from telling me WHY she found not only the book offensive, but my--and I quote--"agenda." But you see, I didn't even BOTHER to engage in debate. Finish the book and THEN let me know if you think incest is fair game for a theme. THEN let me know if you feel I glorified violence or indicted it. THEN you have right to email me your bullshit. But until then? Nope.
Have an opinion. Be pissed off at this new documentary. Be mad about a book. If you want. But before you bash it? Bother to see it or view it.
That's my half a cent anyway. Thoughts?
Peace,
E
posted by Erica Orloff at 7:11 PM
7 Comments:
This post has been removed by the author.
Stuff like this makes me crazy. I completely agree, DON"T mouth off about it without being informed...but even bigger I think is if you find the subject matter distasteful, why go there?
I mean, did your rabid 'fan' actually read the back of The Roofer before she bought, or did she lug it home expecting Fiddler on the Roof? Yada-da-da-da-daaaa.
Gimme a break!
For the most part, its been my experience that those who protest too much are those who lack strength in their own convictions. If a person was 100% comfortable in their interpretations, would they really give a $hit if Dan Brown made pots of money fictionalizing his interpretation?
Although...I'm not sure there's not some genuine sorcery going on with Rowling. To go from being on the dole to making tons of dough just cuz you put a kid on a broom??? Nah...
And who's to say the bones aren't that of the original John Boy and Mary Ellen? Good Night.
Hi Lainey:
Thanks . . . I think there is an OFF button on my television. There is a debit card I use--or NOT if there is a book I don't agree with. You won't see me spend a dime to read Ann Coulter. But I wouldn't go so far as to say she doesn't deserve to be published. Do I think she is a hate monger? Yes. BUT . . . I have my own filter. I don't need to filter for everyone else, too.
Anyway . . . like I said, the post isn't really about Jesus Christ (whom I consider a man of peace and social conscience). It's about whether BEFORE you see something, you should denigrate a filmmaker.
And another thing (LOL!). I also dislike when people try to make asuumptions on the mind of the author or filmmaker. I don't know James Cameron. He may be a jackass. He MAY have set about to denigrate Jesus. Or he MAY have set out to do a film on an astounding archeological journey regardless of the outcome. And unless a reader wants to come for a weekend and pick my brain, they don't know if I set out to glorify violence or condemn it. I think, if you read The Roofer, it's pretty obvious what I think of that world of violence. But it's not for anyone to psychoanalyze me without proof.
E
For a country built on the premise of free speech, we sure have a penchant for stifling debate. I have some very strong opinions, and I'm confident in them. Which is why I never tell another person to shut up if I disagree with them. The same goes for books or movies or radio shows. I have the power to not read something or to turn the station.
And an interesting point: If you go back in our history and study the greatest champions of free speech, many of them became heroes reluctantly. The Dixie Chicks come to mind.
Hi Louise:
I don't feel the need to convince anyone to believe my way--that is part of growing older, I think. I accept that we are all a sum total of our experiences and so embrace our views with that in mind. But I agree . . . certain topics seem to set people off if there's even the idea of debate or disagreement.
AND . . . there are people who not only don't want debate . . . when they DO debate, it is always with a vile crudeness and nastiness. It gets personal. I'd rather walk away.
E
I'll admit that I occasionally voice an opinion on something I don't know enough about...but if I do, it's always loaded with "if...then" statements and admissions that I don't know enough.
The thing about James Cameron's movie--is it cynical to think the controversy is deliberate? Look at what advance talk did for The Passion of the Christ. In the long run, maybe it's better, because most of those people who are mouthing off now WILL see it. Some of them will go expecting to be proven right and will continue to be morons no matter what they see. Some will go expecting to be proven right and will have their minds changed. Either way, the talk afterward will be a lot different.
I agree that people should be more informed before they start arguing over it. The DaVinci code was a very good example, it was FICTION!!! Not a biography, or a book based on facts!!! He stated it numerous times and I am a catholic and I new he was writing a very good story and I was not upset I just enjoyed the story. Yes he did use some factual things in the book to make it more interesting, but at no time did he say "this is the way it was". I will probably watch James Camerons documentary because I am curious and I want to see what he has found and what proof he is providing to back it up.
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