Post Info // super fun stuff.
Bowling For Columbine…
I just watched the film, “Bowling for Columbine.” It is a documentry by Michael Moore on America’s infatuation with guns and violence. It was tagged as a “funny movie.” However, i found it a very sobering movie and a really troubling depiction of the state of America. I didn’t really realize that other countries like Canada, England, Germany, France, Austrailia and other major countries had amazlingly less numbers of gun-related deaths than here in America (and the strange thing is that they have a similar number of guns - and R rated movies, violent video games and rock music, etc). The numbers were anywhere from 40-300 comared to 11,000+/year in America. Truly staggering. What is the difference here than other places?
He took a good stab at the American media, which builds a huge amount fear into us here. He seemed to argue that in other countries, the media was not the same. Not knowing the media in other countries i can’t know for sure. But, i do know that the media here is in the business of alarming us to any and every thing that might cause us harm. From Y2k, to diets, to airport security, to cell phones, to just about any regular everyday thing, it seems that according to the media, we are just about always on the verge of being killed, hurt or whatever at any moment.
I am glad I saw this movie. Not totally sure what to think of it. Not like i am going to start picketing outside the local gun shop. I think maybe I’ll just work a little harder at trying to see “God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
Holly said...
104/5/04 8:55 PM | Comment Link |
You are right, the mainstream media does it’s best to alarm American’s and others in any way they can. But I do think the mainstream media also consists the Hollywood media, movie producers and film makers, like Michael Moore. Just some food for thought…
Todd Hiestand said...
204/6/04 9:39 AM | Comment Link |
good thoughts holly. i is seems clear to me that each news outlet/hollywoood director/etc. has an agenda in their reporting and/or film making…the hard part trying to figure out what that agenda really is…i’ve come to the conclusion there really is no “objective” news.
Kathy said...
304/8/04 11:56 AM | Comment Link |
Todd, the violence in the world today is sickening. But whether it is someone beating his fellow man to death with a pipe; as was done recently in Fulujah, or stabbing someone to death with a knife, or shooting someone to death with a gun…dead is dead. If someone wants someone dead, one doesn’t necessarily need a gun to do it. It isn’t the instrument that kills, it is the person holding that instrument.
Here’s a fact that you won’t hear from Michael Moore. The most trigger-happy country in the
world? South Africa. Number two, Columbia.
USA ranks 8th.
Certainly being 8th is nothing to be proud of… but there is too much of this “let’s constantly put down America” mentality. It is sad enough that the mainstream media has adopted this mentality but when it is so prevalent in the post modern church, I am compelled by conscience to challenge it.
Kathy said...
404/8/04 11:57 AM | Comment Link |
Todd, the violence in the world today is sickening. But whether it is someone beating his fellow man to death with a pipe; as was done recently in Fulujah, or stabbing someone to death with a knife, or shooting someone to death with a gun…dead is dead. If someone wants someone dead, one doesn’t necessarily need a gun to do it. It isn’t the instrument that kills, it is the person holding that instrument.
Here’s a fact that you won’t hear from Michael Moore. The most trigger-happy country in the
world? South Africa. Number two, Columbia.
USA ranks 8th.
Certainly being 8th is nothing to be proud of… but there is too much of this “let’s constantly put down America” mentality. It is sad enough that the mainstream media has adopted this mentality but when it is so prevalent in the post modern church, I am compelled by conscience to challenge it.
Todd Hiestand said...
504/8/04 1:15 PM | Comment Link |
Kathy, I totally agree with you, no matter how someone dies (whether a gun or not) it is a tragedy. And, not to stick up for Michael Moore (because my only impression of him has been that movie - i unbelievably had never even heard of him before i saw it) but i think that though he was arguing that guns were in fact a problem, he really seemed to make a strong point that i some, not all, other countries that have just as many, if not more guns, there is not as much as a problem with them shooting each other.
Also, i agree that we can’t get into the “putting down America” thing and i don’t think the “postmodern” church as a whole is guilty of that. But, on the same hand, we have to be careful that we make America out to be this perfect place that we are not allowed to be critical of in a constructive way. Let’s face it, America is a great place to live and we have freedoms here that are amazing. But, we need to be careful not to label America as God’s chosen country that has the solutions to all the worlds problems. I think sometimes the American church has married itself too much to “Americanisn.” There is most definately a very important place for American Patriotism, in fact, I see it mandated by God. But, we need to be sure to keep in mind that “our Kingdom is not of this world.” It’s not an either or (like some on both sides want to make it - either ditch America or America is God’s chosen people) it is somewhere in the middle. Trying to find that middle is the challange…
Just some thoughts…btw, i have loved being able to be in conversation in our study group together and your interaction with things on the website and blogs…your passion for truth, God and challanging things you believe in is awesome. Keep it up!
Kathy said...
604/8/04 5:05 PM | Comment Link |
Todd, thanks for the encouragement.
I had never heard of America as “God’s chosen
country.” That’s a new one for me. Certainly
blessed by God, I’ve heard people say, because of our abundance.
The heart of the whole issue is this: What makes
America the most worthy of all nations, to be constantly maligned?
I would love some dialogue on this question.
Kathy said...
704/8/04 5:14 PM | Comment Link |
Todd, sorry, one more thing:
About Michael Moore’s comment that you report
that he strongly pointed out that America seems to shoot more. Well, the statistics proove him wrong, and he should have checked the facts.
But perhaps, actual facts were not his agenda.
Something to think about..