So let me get this straight....
Boston
Boston, my hometown. A city that is a balanced blend of erudite learning and pugnacious pride. A city whose sons and daughters, no matter where they end up in the world, always look to as Home. One of the cradles of liberty of this country. A city that relishes the role of underdog and never backs down from a fight.
Boston was attacked on Patriot's Day.
Patriot's Day is the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord. The first battles of the Revolutionary War. The beginning of this country as an independent nation. The first step was to drive out oppressive, foreign powers from our soil. Boston is so proud of this, this day of fighting back, it's a HOLIDAY. That should tell anyone about the rebellious spirit of this city.
Boston was attacked on Patriot's Day during the Boston Marathon.
A marathon is a race, a race in length of a little over 26 miles. For many runners, a marathon is the ultimate goal, the ultimate test. It is not a race of speed; it is a race of endurance. For so many, the goal is not to win the race; it is to finish it, to cross the finish line, no matter what your time may be. It is a challenge of the body and mind. It is often a metaphor for life, to keep striving forward, no matter what the obstacles are, within or without, until you reach your goal.
Boston was attacked on Patriot's Day during the Boston Marathon.
O cowardly assassins, you picked the wrong city on the wrong day at the wrong time. You may have struck fear into us for a moment, but it will coalesce into strength and resolve and action, as it has done in the past in this city.
Boston does not scare so easily.
Boston does not forget so easily, either.
We will find you and drive you out.
You have been warned.
#prayforBoston
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Mindless Entertainment
Earlier this week, Shain Gandee of Sissonville, WV died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Who is Shain Gandee, you ask? He was a member of the cast of MTV's Buckwild, a show about a bunch of young adults in West Virginia. Mr. Gandee's death was tragic-he was 21 years old. If it were not for this show, we wouldn't know who he was.
That brings up an interesting point, for me, anyway-exactly what is this show about? A bunch of young people living in West Virginia. And by living, I mean drinking, getting into trouble, hooking up-things that would make people watch a show like this. I'm sure these young people have daily routines, hold down jobs, visit with family-but mundane things like that don't generally rake in viewers. The show is billed as a bunch of twenty somethings "having fun". Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia objected to the show after seeing a preview, feeling that the show profited off young people making bad decisions.
People making bad decisions equals viewers, unfortunately. If you have any doubt about that, look no further than "The Jersey Shore" which made celebrities of another bunch of young people drinking, getting into trouble, and hooking up. Or is that Big Brother? Or the . Real World?
There are the Kardashians with their many shows. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. The Gypsy Shows. The Shahs of Sunset. Myrtle Manor. The various "Wives" shows-Housewives of Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Basketball Wives, Mob Wives.
What do these shows have in common? They are about people that are marginally famous behaving badly. And they are multiplying. They are appealing to someone out there. A lot of networks have some form of this type of show in their lineup. It's scary that more of our young people know who Honey Boo Boo is but can't name the governor of their own state.
There's little to be learned from these kind of shows and they don't seem to have any point. Networks and advertisers will keep creating and supporting them, though, because people watch. Have we become so bored as a viewing audience that we would rather watch girls get punched out in bars or guys drive four wheelers through the woods? I'm sure a good bit of these shows are scripted-I can't imagine that the "reality" portrayed represents the majority of these people's lives. At least I hope not.
To be fair, I haven't watched many of these shows. Most of my tv viewing is sporting events, a few dramas and comedies, and documentaries. I am hoping these real life soap operas run their course and make way for smarter, more interesting shows. Looking at the lineup for a lot of networks, I won't hold my breath.
Just my two cents.
That brings up an interesting point, for me, anyway-exactly what is this show about? A bunch of young people living in West Virginia. And by living, I mean drinking, getting into trouble, hooking up-things that would make people watch a show like this. I'm sure these young people have daily routines, hold down jobs, visit with family-but mundane things like that don't generally rake in viewers. The show is billed as a bunch of twenty somethings "having fun". Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia objected to the show after seeing a preview, feeling that the show profited off young people making bad decisions.
People making bad decisions equals viewers, unfortunately. If you have any doubt about that, look no further than "The Jersey Shore" which made celebrities of another bunch of young people drinking, getting into trouble, and hooking up. Or is that Big Brother? Or the . Real World?
There are the Kardashians with their many shows. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. The Gypsy Shows. The Shahs of Sunset. Myrtle Manor. The various "Wives" shows-Housewives of Beverly Hills, Atlanta, Basketball Wives, Mob Wives.
What do these shows have in common? They are about people that are marginally famous behaving badly. And they are multiplying. They are appealing to someone out there. A lot of networks have some form of this type of show in their lineup. It's scary that more of our young people know who Honey Boo Boo is but can't name the governor of their own state.
There's little to be learned from these kind of shows and they don't seem to have any point. Networks and advertisers will keep creating and supporting them, though, because people watch. Have we become so bored as a viewing audience that we would rather watch girls get punched out in bars or guys drive four wheelers through the woods? I'm sure a good bit of these shows are scripted-I can't imagine that the "reality" portrayed represents the majority of these people's lives. At least I hope not.
To be fair, I haven't watched many of these shows. Most of my tv viewing is sporting events, a few dramas and comedies, and documentaries. I am hoping these real life soap operas run their course and make way for smarter, more interesting shows. Looking at the lineup for a lot of networks, I won't hold my breath.
Just my two cents.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)