Modern Day Coliseum?

It surprises me how violent our media has become and how accepting of it we are; myself included.  The other night Josh and I were watching the popular TV drama Fringe and there was a part in the episode where a human was cut open, revealing all the gruesome insides that one only used to see in textbooks.  Later in the episode there was a scene where a lab rat dies, but it was implied as the rat ran under a white blanket and the red blood seeped through indicating its death.  Josh and I discussed how twisted it was that you can flip to almost any channel and see someone being shot, tortured, abused, dismantled, etc. but due to animal rights protection acts, you rarely find animal abuse advertised.  What does that say about us as a people when we are outraged at the death and mutilation of animals but we consider it entertainment when we mutilate and torture our own species?

This reminded me of another time Josh and I had talked when he asked if I thought a modern day coliseum could exist.  Sadly, I think it could.  I had brought up the Hunger Games book series and movies and reminded him how wildly popular they were when it was exactly that.  When we become okay with it in our minds, it is just another small step before we accept the actual practice, especially if we feel justified in it.  For example I could see it doing extremely well if it was set up so that those on death row, child molesters, etc were forced to fight to the death.  It becomes easier to justify their fight to the death and while I was arguing that a modern day coliseum could in fact exist, I was shocked.  Shocked with how everyday and complacent we have come to the violence that surrounds us and it is faulted on me and on you for letting it in our homes!

I can’t help but think of the outrage that was shown about the Boston bombing, as we should be outraged.  Yet, how many of those outraged individuals will see and enjoy seeing a movie this week that portrays bombing violence?  As you know I was in a serious car accident and even now it still bothers me watching car collisions on TV or in the movies as it brings back those horrible emotions and fear I have fought for so long. And I feel it numbs the public to what those experiences are really like, especially when we see such atrocities on a daily basis.  I guess the whole purpose of this post is just to express my surprise at how clever the advisory is at slowly snaking his way into our homes and our minds.  I do not feel violence should be entertainment and hope to take a firmer stand on what I let enter my home.