Thursday, April 19, 2007
Here We Go Again
As the "blame the guns" game sadly begins following the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I again am amazed at just how inconsistent these types can be.
Officers believe he repeatedly watched "Oldboy" as part of his preparation for the killing spree. The film, which won the Grand Prix award at the 2004 Cannes film festival, has been described as "an ultra-violent movie of obsession and revenge". It contains stylised scenes of killings and an attempted suicide, and is filled with what one critic called "punishing emotional violence".
Hmmmm. If we're blaming the guns, how about blaming the movies when the killer left behind overwhelming evidence of his inspiration? If guns can kill people all by themselves, perhaps we should start to ask more seriously if violent movies and music actually cause death too? Therefore an attack on the 1st amendment would be just as warranted as an attack on the 2nd amendment.
But you won't hear that message from Hollywood or most liberal anti-gun crusaders. Hollywood consistently asks for the American people's money while offering a message of "do as I say, not as I do." As the entertainment industry generally opposes gun rights for ordinary people, they are surrounded by bodyguards licensed to carry heat. And then they consistently use guns and violence as a theme for their music, tv, and movies.
Yet you'll never hear the suggestion from them of chipping away at the 1st amendment or that its freedoms were meant for a different time and place. So let's be consistent. If you really want to tear up the Bill of Rights and re-write a constitution in the name of oppresive security, then let's do it. Afterall, many fallen socialist governments have left behind great examples for us to follow. But if not, let us defend ALL of our freedoms even at a time like this when it isn't fashionable or fun.
Officers believe he repeatedly watched "Oldboy" as part of his preparation for the killing spree. The film, which won the Grand Prix award at the 2004 Cannes film festival, has been described as "an ultra-violent movie of obsession and revenge". It contains stylised scenes of killings and an attempted suicide, and is filled with what one critic called "punishing emotional violence".
Hmmmm. If we're blaming the guns, how about blaming the movies when the killer left behind overwhelming evidence of his inspiration? If guns can kill people all by themselves, perhaps we should start to ask more seriously if violent movies and music actually cause death too? Therefore an attack on the 1st amendment would be just as warranted as an attack on the 2nd amendment.
But you won't hear that message from Hollywood or most liberal anti-gun crusaders. Hollywood consistently asks for the American people's money while offering a message of "do as I say, not as I do." As the entertainment industry generally opposes gun rights for ordinary people, they are surrounded by bodyguards licensed to carry heat. And then they consistently use guns and violence as a theme for their music, tv, and movies.
Yet you'll never hear the suggestion from them of chipping away at the 1st amendment or that its freedoms were meant for a different time and place. So let's be consistent. If you really want to tear up the Bill of Rights and re-write a constitution in the name of oppresive security, then let's do it. Afterall, many fallen socialist governments have left behind great examples for us to follow. But if not, let us defend ALL of our freedoms even at a time like this when it isn't fashionable or fun.
# posted by Jeff Briscoe : 11:36 AM
