15 Bytes of Thoughts

Da Vinci Code
and
Da Good Book

So there was this book. And now a movie taken from the book. Oh, you've heard this one? Okay then, lets just get to today's topic.

Being a card carrying member of this little cult called Christianity, I am often confronted by actions so ridiculous that I want to hide in the crowd and keep quiet my association with such devout groups. The latest example of this is the outrage over a little movie called "The Da Vinci Code". I've heard everything from statements of the sin of blaspheming our Lord to calls to boycott not only this film but any from Ron Howard or Tom Hanks. Huh? What?!

Not only am I embarrassed by this stance, but I feel the need to remind those with these positions that they are the same folks who thought those irate Muslims needed to get a sense of humor after being so insulted by the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in less than favorable scenes. The religious right reminded the world that they "knew how to take a joke" and told the Muslim world to "get over it!".

But somehow this "Da Vinci Code" is different. Now they're messin' with our prophet This movie snubs our very God with its outrageous ideas It goes so far as to suggest women were more important to the early church than we've been told by the male dominated historians we trusted all these years. Oh my! Something must be done!

I've had more than a few "discussions" with fellow Christians about this book/movie and have honed my position to a couple simple points (which I'm now sharing with you - aren't you lucky). The first thing I bring up is our own faith.

Are we worried that this movie will hurt our own walk?
Are we not secure enough in our faith to answer the accusations and questions we may confront?

Then I would offer that rather than worry about the image depicted by this book/movie, we look as it as an opportunity to talk to people we've never imagined having a discussion about Christianity with. I put forth the idea that this public debate might actually be a good thing. As you might've expected, my thoughts are not always appreciated.

So what to do? I know. Not seen since Martin Scorsese's "Last Temptation of Christ" back in 1988. I remind those Christians who so oppose this film and fear the "message" put forth in the book/film, to simply GO TO THE BOOK! We are told that all answers are there.

So now, I carry with me The Book so that I'm prepared to battle the evils wrought upon our world by films such as "The Da Vinci Code". I go right to one of the letters contained in the book for my argument. I would like to share that with you all here.

"FICTION" Pronunciation: 'fik-sh&n Function: noun
1 a : something invented by the imagination or feigned; specifically : an invented story b : fictitious literature (as novels or short stories) c : a work of fiction; especially : NOVEL
2 a : an assumption of a possibility as a fact irrespective of the question of its truth <a legal fiction>
b : a useful illusion or pretense
3 : the action of feigning or of creating with the imagination

Yep. The good book I speak of is Webster's Dictionary. The letter is "F".

June 3, 2006

Selective Activism
"activist judges and some local officials have made an
aggressive attempt to redefine marriage in recent years."
- George Bush Radio Address June 3, 2006

Like the SF Giants, I'm doing a "doubleheader" today. Not only that, I believe this is the first time I've spoken about politics on 15 Bytes. What has prompted this dipping into the political realm is our president's weekly radio address where he picks a topic of interest and speaks for a few minutes about it in case anyone might be listening. I know that weekly if not daily there is something to say about our fearless leader, but today, well, the ballgame is very long and I get distracted easy.

Today he spoke about what marriage is supposed to mean. Is there any reason for this other than to hope for better poll numbers from his conservative base? I'm not good at making legal argument so will only touch upon the "big picture" as I see it. My weapon of choice is, of course, tongue in cheek with a spot of cynicism.

The courts and states have played pivotal roles in many areas of our American history. Many took the stand that some of these decisions were perpetrated by liberal activists and feared our nation would never survive. Some of these ideas have even brought war within our union. So perhaps Mr. Bush is right is trying to put a stop to any progressive ideas so that we can protect and honor what our wonderful United States was founded under or at least some folk's idea of what our fore-fathers had in mind..

Imagine if we had only been able to reign in people like William Lloyd Garrison who with other activists put forward the ludicrous idea that slavery was wrong. Think how much better life would be if we had squashed the women's suffrage movement led by Susan B Anthony and her gaggle of ladies. And if we were successful at stopping either or both of those, Rosa Parks would not be the American hero she's been made out to be. Our president makes a pretty good argument about those crazy activists!

Oh, but wait a second. As for Ms. Parks, our leader stated that:

"Her arrest sparked a boycott of the Montgomery bus lines by its black passengers, and the formation of a local association of African-Americans led by a young preacher named Martin Luther King, Junior. The boycott ended more than a year later, after the Supreme Court struck down segregation on buses. What had begun as a simple act of civil disobedience ended up galvanizing the modern movement for civil rights."

President Bush Speaking of Rosa Parks - December 1, 2005

As I stated above, I'm not very good at political debate and am glad that I can simply quote our Commander In Chief to further my point. It also has helped me to understand issues such as the roles of activists in our country. I think I get it now. We are to use selective activism so as not to rock the boat too much. Or is it simply that Mr. Bush is full of crap and a hypocrite with his statements on just about every topic raised. He seems to want us to believe that new ideas are only good if it gets the Christian right's seal of approval.

I'll let our esteemed leader close this discussion with words of encouragement - or is it confusion - or maybe just some more hypocrisy? Well - history can decide that. If we survive the present.

It is fitting that this American hero will now be honored with a monument inside the most visible symbol of American democracy. We hope that generations of Americans will remember what this brave woman did, and be inspired to add their own contributions to the unfolding story of American freedom for all.

President Bush Speaking of Rosa Parks - December 1, 2005

Oh, and the Giants split their double header that took up 10 hours to complete between the rain and all.

June 3, 2006