Bing turned 50 last week. She is not into birthdays, usually forgets mine and Liv's unless we remind her of them. I usually respect her wishes and merely wish her a happy day on her birthday, but this being her 50th one, I thought we should celebrate it in some way. I asked her to give me an idea of what to get for her.
Bing, being a savvy 50 year old, told me that she really only wanted one thing: to see the movie District Nine with me.
Ugh. I had been ducking that particular movie for weeks. But, a birthday wish is a birthday wish.
So, I arranged for Liv to spend the afternoon at a friend's house and we went to see the movie.
Here is the trailer.
It was fantastic. Gory, yes. Graphic, yes.
But, mostly it was thought provoking.
And I feared it to be almost too real. I believe in my heart that this is exactly what would happen if an alien species landed on our planet. I don't think it would be some big global extinction. I think it would be us being our scared selves, so instead of assimilating them into our world, accepting them in their uniqueness and seeing what they could offer to advance our civilization....well...we would end up putting them in isolation camps. Racism, prejudice would surface and cause massive problems.
I told Bing that I wish that we had taken Liv with us, that I thought she could have learned so much from this. But, the R rating had given us pause and we both noted that the reviews had said it was graphic and violent, not meant for children. Well, I'm a parent and I can tell you that I think she should have seen this. I think that greater harm comes to her just being subjected to my brother in law's asinine political and racial views on any given family get-together than in what this movie had to show.
I think that sometimes it is good for children to learn hard truths. This is why I allowed her to watch the news of Jaycee Dugard. While I do not think she needs to hear the specifics of the horror that this child went through, I want her to be as educated as she can about it. I sat down with her and we talked about it. We talked about how the human mind is bent towards surviving against all odds. That this little girl was not ever to be blamed for what happened to her, that she was only doing her best to survive. I get so infuriated at people who go around asking Why didn't she fight back? Why didn't she run away when she had the chance?
Idiots. The human mind is a complex thing. She did what she had to, what she needed to do to stay alive.
I look at photos of her creepy ass kidnappers and just cringe. I think of this monster sitting at his computer tapping on the keys and writing his religious blog and think of his wife being the one who actually did the kidnapping of this child and it nauseates me. But, what I want Liv to understand is that this little girl, this child who was only a year older than she is when she was taken, well....she is to be commended for surviving.
The mother in me is almost sickened beyond words. The scientist in me looks in wonder at the ability of the human mind to cope.
And like most parents, I wanted Liv to know that if this ever happens to her, even if it is someone she knows, that she must scream and flail, yell "FIRE!" Jaycee did all of those things to no avail, but nevertheless, I want Liv to know to make a big fuss, if she can.
I was watching the news this morning about all these groups of people who are upset because our president wants to speak to the children going back to school.
This baffles me. What is the big deal? Can someone tell me?
It seems like a very good idea to me. I am certain that Obama will not use this medium to try to get Democrat dogma into into these children's minds. More than likely, it will be a message to stay in school to educate yourself and make yourself into a productive member of our planet.
And I think it is a great idea. I would have LOVED it when I was in school to have a president think so highly of me that he wanted to address me and my fellow students.
I would love to be sitting right next to Liv when the message is sent.
So, tell me...I am really curious. What do all of you think about these things?
1) What do you think would REALLY happen if aliens came to our planet? (And maybe, who knows...they are already here?)
2) What do you think of the Jaycee Durand case? What should be done with her kidnappers?
3) Do you think it a good idea that our president wants to address our children?
I am so curious and I have a pretty wide range of readers, so tell me...what do YOU think?
16 comments:
I haven't seen the movie but when I think of the appalling treatment Native Americans have always received from those who invaded their lands and the shameful internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, I am sure that any recognized aliens would be put in prisons, zoos, or dissection labs. We are not a very advanced species in some ways.
The couple who kidnapped Jaycee Dugard and stole her life should spend the rest of their lives in prison w/o parole.
I think it's wonderful that President Obama values our children and wants them all to have the advantages his girls enjoy. His motives are not political, but humane. As long as our nation is mired in racism, cynicism and OTHERism, we will not progress as we should.
I'm not especially exercised, as they say, about Obama talking to schoolchildren--as long as people would be equally okay with a Republican president talking to them. The people who are for him talking should, I like to believe, also have been okay with Bush talking to them, had he chosen to do so.
Yeah, I'm not sure what the big deal is there.
I think if Aliens came to our planet, we would be too scared to learn anything from them and would probably end up killing them.
I think the Jaycce Durand kidnapping is terribly disturbing and feel horrible for her and her family. I don't beleive in the death penalty, but this is one of those cases when it might be a good thing to use on the kidnappers.
I love that the president wants to address school children, and don't understand what all the fuss is about.
Oh, Maria. I was with some neighbors yesterday talking about the Obama speech and they were all up in arms talking about a packet of information the White House was originally going to distribute about the content of the speech, but they go so much flack, they decided not to release it in advance, so nobody really knows what he's going to talk about. And how evil Obama is and by the way, did you know he has NEVER produced a birth certificate? I was in no mood to deal with that nonsense, so I resisted the urge to interrupt their conversation because it only would have led to me smacking a couple of my neighbors upside the head and nobody wins there. But I honestly don't understand it. George H.W. Bush gave an address to school children, and I don't think there was any kind of hullabaloo over it. I swear 8 years of the Bush administration and Fox News has brainwashed people and it makes me absolutely sick.
1. I haven't seen District 9, nor do I care to, but I've read the reviews and I agree with you. As a society, we would totally freak out and vilify them before giving them a chance to show us what they are really like. Science fiction over the years has not exactly helped us to keep an open mind about the possibility of life on other planets.
2. The Jaycee Durand case has been a on our local news because she is from this area. Poor, poor girl. It sucks that such depravity exists in our world. As far as what should be done with her kidnappers? Well, whatever happens, it won't be enough.
3. I think it is a FANTASTIC idea that Obama speak to our children, and if McCain were president right now instead I would still think that. What a wonderful way to get kids involved in politics and to make them really feel like a part of this nation. The naysayers are driving me nuts with, "Tell me he doesn't have an agenda," BS.
And happy birthday to Bing!
Aliens…I think the government would do what it usually does and try to “protect” us and hide the information. If that was not possible then there would be a backlash of public fear and I’m afraid something close to what the movie portrays would take place. I would like to believe that we’ve come a long ways in the last 60 to 100 years, but when we’re scared our little lizard brains kick in…
The Garridos…As Benevolent Ruler for Life I would imprison them both for the rest of their lives. I would take a cue from a couple of other movies, Inglourious Basterds, “We like our nazis in uniform, that way we can spot ‘em,” and Princess Bride, “To the pain!” and mark them both so that anyone who met them would know who they were and what they had done and I would have them paraded around periodically as a warning to other pedophiles and to parents and children as well. Medieval (and lizard brained), but effective.
The President…Really, what the hell’s the big deal? It never would have occurred to me to be upset about a sitting President from an opposition party addressing my children. I do know that the rumors and lies that have circulated about this President since he first announced for the office are absolutely the most horrible example of shit stirring (and lizard brainedness) that I have ever seen.
1) Any race that has figured out faster than light travel is going to be smart enough to stay away from us. I imagine there are some warning beacons and signs at the edge of our solar system...
2) life in prison. Let the other inmates take care of them.
3) I don't get it either, but right now I'd like to throw the rest of the Republican Party into the Potomac myself, and replace them with people who care more about taking care of our fellow Americans than about fucking corporate greed.
Haven't seen the movie, but given the history of mankind, it is hard to think we'd do the right thing. We hardly ever do if we feel threatened, and I am sure we'd find aliens threatening. In that way, I can see that the analogy the movie might be trying to draw fails. There are as many examples every day of people who do stand up for the "other" in society (those who hid jews in their homes in Nazi Germany is a very good example), I just don't think we dwell on the positive too much in society. We usually ony hear about the bad examples.
And I'd tend to agree with Eric and would try to find a punishment to fit the crime. The kidnappers should be kept in a public square in a hovel restraining them but providing no comfort for the rest of their natural lives, however long that might be. There own money could be used for minimal sustenance - water, gruel and a blanket. They should never again be allowed to be members of society. They'd be on display as a testimony to all of their criminality; as a deterrent to others who might be considering a similar undertaking; and as a solace to all victims that we recognize their suffering, and while we can't undo what has been done, we will not coddle those criminals in jails maintained with taxpayer money. I shake with fury when I read the story of another kidnapped and/or molested child. We obviously have not sent the message loudly and clearly enough that we will not tolerate such behavior against our children.
I think all presidents should be mandated to make an annual address to students, kind of like the state of the union speech. That would remove the "political-ness" from it. However, parents should have the final say over whether their children have to listen to/watch it, no matter who the president is. And, in this case, I think the original teaching points to be included the speech asking students to consider how they could help/support the president/his policies could certainly appear politically motivated. Presidents should be sensitive to those things and make sure to appear above politics when addressing students, especially if they want to avoid stirring up exaclty the kind of drama surrounding this speech. And parents should always have access to the exact speech (video) as the president delivered it. Not just a pre-released transcript of it. That way, there can be no confusion about what was or was not said.
1. How would we know if aliens came to visit and/or live amongst us?
2. My mind can hardly bear to think about what happened to Jaycee Dugard, and I wonder how do you punish such depravity so that it makes an impression on the depraved.
3. I think Mr President Obama should reinstate a tradition where the president of a country is interested enough in the lives of the people of his country to wish them well in their learning journey.
Looking at the speech issue from a safe distance (I'm not American), the first thing that comes to MY mind is that those who don't want Obama to address school children are really disrespectful of those same children, because what they are saying is: These are gullible kids who can't think for themselves and who will swallow everything this man feeds them without giving it a second thought.
The joke is, of course, that they would applaud the president talking to children if he were Republican, in which case they would prefer for them to follow him and swallow his words blindly.
It seems to me that if you're concerned about the contents of this speech, tell your child to pay careful attention to the president's words so that you can talk about them after school.
But maybe those opposing the speech idea are afraid there'll be nothing to critize Obama for after all is said and done?
1. Aliens. I think the treatment they received would depend on what they looked like. Bug-like? No respect. The more "like us" they looked and pretended to be, the better they would be treated.
2. The kidnappers. Public flogging comes to mind. What's wrong with putting them in stocks and leaving them there...forever? I won't pretend to be reasonable on the topic. I think small children (and large children and parents and possibly even pets) with sharp objects should be encouraged to poke at them, all hours of the day and night. Send them to Gitmo. Boil them in oil. Burn them alive. Flay them.
3. Why was it ok for the last president to go around reading books to school children, but Obama can't address them? Much furor over nothing. Presidents should want to be encouraging and supportive of public education.
Done ranting for the day. Thanks for the space to vent.
mb
Happy Birthday to Bing! I turned 50 in April and T turns 50 in November, and I am expecting this to be the best decade yet... tell her I said so. :-)
Must admit, I skipped the part in which you debated the movie, because I like to go see films with my "judgement and knowledge slate", as I call it, clean. So all I have to contribute to question 1 is: I hope they are already here. That would be so cool. Otherwise: I don't think that, if the visitors aren't overtly hostile when they touch down, humanity will be panicked and cruel to them. I think it's an experience that we could choose to grow from and that this is what we should do. Incidentally, even as a child, I used to think "Gosh, I hope I'm there for the 1st contact". It's still one of my life's wishes.
Question 2: We have not heard a whole lot about Jaycee's case over here in Europe, but I googled it and got the basic facts about it. I think it is an awful, awful thing that happened to that girl. In the past few years, there have been similar cases in Europe, every new one worse than the one before it. I have not been able to find an article which says what people in the US are asking for as a punishment for the kidnappers, but I imagine many think they should receive the death penalty. Personally, I am AGAINST capital punishment. In ANY case. And while I think that especially child molesters are probably the worst kind of criminal, I believe that an attempt at rehabilitation should be made. I don't know how remorseful Jaycee's torturers have appeared, but even so, I think they should be locked up for a really long time, go through intensive therapy while in jail and at some point, even if it's late in their lives, be released and given a chance to live out their lives usefully, as part of society. Prison does change people and I don't think that anybody, even criminals, should be given up on lightly. For me, the justice system should not be an instrument of revenge. It should be a teaching, moulding instrument. If an honest attempt at doing so fails, ok, then you really do have to keep them in prison for life. But I don't think that or the death penalty should be primary goals in sentencing Jaycee's kidnappers. Besides, "simply" killing someone is too easy. These men must be made responsible for what they did and faced with the facts. Not given a radical way out.
And finally: I think it's sweet and darling and just plain wonderful that Obama wants to address the nation's children. People look up to him and especially children need positive, empowering role models who encourage them to do good. We all know that education is one of the most precious things on earth for a human being. It can make all the difference for an individual and, by proxy, a society. If Obama wants to stress that, he should go for it. Brilliant idea. Simple but maybe very effective.
Phew, well, that's my two cents!
Anna
I am so astounded by all the hub-bub surrounding Obama's speech to schoolchildren. For God's sake, what is the big deal? I get really irritated at stuff like that.
hi there, sistah....
well, firstly, i wrote a post about obama's speech if you care to read it, hop on over. to sum it up, i couldnt believe the negative hype it produced, it's crazy...
regarding jaycee dugard, god have mercy on her soul and help her heal from the abuse she suffered. i agree with you totally that the human spirit can overcome anything if the will is there. my prayer for her and her children are to heal and be able to go on from here. as for the bastards that did this to her, i think they should be put to death. ya know, i was never one for capital punishment but in the past 10 years or so i have changed my mind. too many children, adults and animals have been tortured then the criminal just sits in jail being fed, cared for... its just not enough for me anymore. i have absolutely NO tolerance for the bastards that hurt and torture and rape others or animals.. none. even mike vic who tortured those poor doggies, that MOFO is out of jail now, back in football, and back to life. what about all the doggies he hurt? i think they should have done to him what he did to them. then he can rot in jail the rest of his life. ohmygod i sound like a real bitch, but the helplessness of animals and children hurt me the worst to learn of pain inflicted on them. i just cant handle it. casey anthony's trial starts soon too. she is accused of killing her 3 yr. old daughter caylee. yet she is eating and enjoying delicasies in prison, has TV etc its not really so bad for her. she should be put to death for what she did.
aliens, ok about the aliens... maria, i have lost so much faith in humanity these last few years, that i would not doubt for a minute that our government would somehow take charge and experiment and/or torture aliens if they came, to study them "so to speak" and they would sadly become like the chimps in our research labs... it hurts me ahead of time to even think about that. anything that lives deserves respect and to live freely and without being abused.
so sadly, if aliens were to come here i'm afraid they would be hurt and i wouldnt want that. i havent seen the movie yet. but i will. now if aliens came and were hostile themselves of course i say fight back to win. the above is meant for if they came in peace.
and how about this idea i have- instead of testing products and drugs and whatever they test- on animals, out poor helpless little animals... i would be perfectly happy and supportive if they tested everything on the criminals in our prisons. it could be their way of making up partly to society for the harm they have done, for the lives they have ruined and pain they inflicted.
yep. that's my opinion.
i betcha you're sorry you asked....
well take it all with a grain of salt.... despite what i may sound like just now, i am a peaceful and loving person.... who would never harm a fly.
c
blah blah blah this was a long comment... sorry...
Just read through all the comments and I am astounded. Am I really the only one who thinks Jaycee's kidnappers should not be done horrible things to but be rehabilitated? Sad.
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