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About PersephoneK

PersephoneK writes about anything and everything that moves her, but usually she can be found skeptically discussing Liberty, Atheism/Agnosticism/Christian Apostasy, Workplace/Government reform, poker, history, politics, economics, science, sports, movies, music, television, and pop culture. Pretty much anything that crosses her mind is free game. She loves heated debate, has thoughts, and want to share them with you.

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The Hobbit in 3D HFR: My Review

By on January 16, 2013 in Entertainment & Pop Culture

 

The Hobbit

The Hobbit

So, after the heaviness of my last couple of blog posts, I thought I’d revert back to a bit of frivolity just to prove how unfocused and random this site will be.  It’s not all godlessness and “give me liberty or death” stuff!  Last weekend, I finally got around to seeing The Hobbit.  It just had gotten away from me what with the holidays and everything else this time of year.  I debated whether or not to see it for my first viewing in standard 2D, or in the 3D High Frame Rate (HFR).  Films to me are sacred, especially the very first viewing. You only get one chance to see a film for the first time.  It’s my favorite art form, and while I don’t claim to have an encyclopedic knowledge of films, they are near and dear to my heart.  Ironically, this is one reason why I end up seeing few films in a year.  If I feel I’m not in the right mindset to see a new movie, I won’t, and so I often find myself re-watching favorite films where I know what I’ll get and can let play in the background while I do things like write a blog post.

Back to The Hobbit and HFR… I finally decided that because of the groundbreaking aspect of 48 frames per second with this film, I needed to see it the way the Director Peter Jackson intended it to be seen (I do the same thing with director’s cuts, etc on the DVD’s). Generally, I’m leery of anything in 3D.  I have found it tiring, dark, and usually not adding much to the overall experience of film. Usually, it’s quite the opposite. I feel like anything gained by 3D is trumped by being taken out of the illusion of the story.  Those damn glasses usually inevitably do so. 

However, The Hobbit was the first 3D experience I had where for the most part, I felt none of the annoyance, and almost all of the intended joys.  The HFR improved the viewing experience of the 3D, causing less strain on my eyes.  By the end of the film, I’d forgotten about those evil glasses altogether, and enjoyed the well-placed moments of images coming towards me.  The clarity of the film was absolutely the best I’ve ever seen in any “D”, and only enhanced the already breathtaking vistas of New Zealand in the numerous panoramic, sweeping wide shots of the landscape.  To quote from Liz Lemon on 30-Rock… “I want to go to there.”  If you’re going to see 3D, make it HFR!

But that amazing clarity has its downsides.  I had heard the arguments against the HFR before I saw the film.  That it made it feel less cinematic, and the special effects, make-up and sets looked like… well, special effects, make-up and sets.  I tried to bring an open mind to the film knowing that my brain had been trained to think of 24 fps as the way a movie is supposed to look, but that in reality it is low grade quality, causes blurring, and degradation.  I wanted so much to be pleasantly surprised by the HFR experience.

Instead, the experience ended up being a mixed bag.  I felt that the computer generated (CG) creatures (used far more in The Hobbit than in the previous Lord of the Rings (LOTR) films), were well placed and blended well.  With a few exceptions, I was never distracted by them appearing obviously CG.  And often they didn’t look CG to me at all.  Perhaps I’m too used to CG characters from playing a lot of xbox games, but only in one scene where all three elements of the film – the panoramic landscape, the made-up human actors, and CGI creatures – came together in an intense action scene (the group of 14 running from the pack of Orc-ridden Wargs on the open fields of Middle Earth) did I notice anything looking distractingly fake from an effects perspective.  I wish the same had been true of the more standard dramatic scenes involving the human actors against a backdrop of a fabricated set.  That is where the HFR truly distracts from the film experience.  It was in those moments, whether it be in Bilbo’s Hobbit Hole, or in the tight shots within Rivendell (which by the way, I still think is my dream destination of all time), or at the Dwarf camp in the mountain foothills, I often had the sensation of watching a stage play, or something on The History Channel.  It was exacerbated anytime the shot involved a bit of action, with quick camera angle changes or movement.  I did feel like I was in front of real people in a way, but it was like being able to see the edges of the theater’s stage.  It felt like I could see the wizard’s feet behind the curtain pressing the buttons. It’s not exactly accurate… I never saw a wayward boom microphone, or part of the camera track in the shot, but the sensation was the same.  Despite telling myself it’s just my brain adjusting, I couldn’t get over the fact that it didn’t feel like the movie experience I had come to love.  It felt like a documentary, not like art.

But then it also annoyed me when ESPN increased the frame rate of its World Series of Poker coverage as well, so perhaps it’s just me.

Of course, some of my criticism is not all the fault of the technology.  I have never read The Hobbit, so I don’t know how much of the story they managed to get in, or changed from the original story.  But from the perspective of someone who has seen and loved LOTR, and knows the general back story of The Hobbit but not the details, the film felt like there was a labored attempt to string it out as long as possible, I suspect so that it could be chopped up into many films.  I hate to be cynical, but it felt purely like a money grabbing ploy to milk the success of LOTR as much as possible. It’s too bad…. The suits at the studio did a disservice to the story in doing so. As I watched I wanted to yell “CUT!” numerous times so that the scene would move on to the next plot point.  I suspect most of the scenes at the start of the film at Bilbo’s house could have been completely eliminated.  It’s nice that Elijah Wood (Frodo) got to make a cameo appearance, and perhaps it made sense to tie the story to LOTR to keep fans of those films engaged in the new characters, but it felt similar to how the end of The Return of the King felt.  Nice from a superfan perspective, but not really adding to the story.  It only left me feeling manipulated in a way I don’t want when going to the movies. I don’t want to be distracted by thinking about the business side of the film industry.  I just want to be immersed for a couple of hours in an amazing new world.  LOTR managed to do that for me throughout most of the films, despite being shot in the old 24 fps, 2D way.  The Hobbit rarely did that for me. 

I’m still hoping my next journey into Middle Earth is improved, but I’m not betting all the gold in the Lonely Mountain on it.

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My Blasphemous Deconversion Statement

By on January 9, 2013 in Atheism & Skepticism
[The below statement was originally posted on my Facebook page today.  Its primary audience is anyone who knows me in “real life” but I wanted to share it with you as well].

I renounce Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, and I deny the Holy Spirit.

There.  I said it.  It’s done.  Finished.

Some may think this is too deep, or TMI for a Facebook post.  I somewhat agree with you, but despite that, I have specific reasons for doing so.  This will also be posted on my blog and elsewhere.  You are free to share with anyone who may know me.

This is frankly not the first time I’ve said those words out loud, but it is the first time I’ve said or written them publicly.  Why now?  Because I’m tired of hiding, stepping on eggshells, dancing around the truth, and generally not being myself.  It’s making me miserable, and I want it to end.  For various reasons which I’ll not go into right now, I feel the need to write this statement of de-conversion (and unforgiveable blasphemy according to Mark 3:29) from Christianity and all religion, and tell the world.  Here.  Now.

If anyone who still believes in and follows Jesus Christ (or other gods) wishes to un-friend me or otherwise cut me out of their lives, please feel free to do so now.  It would be nice if you give me the courtesy of telling me you are doing this first, so that I do not expend any more emotional energy trying to be a friend to someone who will not or cannot reciprocate.  Just know that I will be here waiting to accept you back if you choose to do the same for me.

I am open and more than willing to answer any question(s) anyone (theist and non-theist alike) has for me as long as they are stated with a true hope and desire to understand rather than to attack, condemn, or “save.”  I ask that any attempts to “bring me back into the fold” die before they are tried.  This is not something I came to overnight.  My path of unbelief has been a long road that I’m still traveling.   It is a road I am happy to be on.

I understand your sadness.  I once believed deeply in Christ.  This belief was not fake.  I understand your concern for my immortal soul.  Please understand, I do not share this sadness, or concern for my soul.  I do not believe I (or you) have a soul.  I am not afraid of spending eternity in hell, because I do not believe it exists.  I did not “lose faith.”  I am not angry with “god.”  I have merely applied my (not unique) human gifts of reason, logic, and analytical thought to evidence as I have learned it.  This is a constant cycle of growth and understanding.  A cycle I’ll be on until my last breath.  I do not wish to cause you any pain.  I merely want to be who I am, and out from the shadows.

You do not have to agree with me or even like everything about me to be my friend (or family member), as I have, and hope to continue to have many friends who are believers.  But you must respect, accept me for who I am, and not go out of your way to hurt me.  If you cannot do this, I wish you well in your life, and hope you find what you seek.  If you want to remain my friend, I would welcome your comments/messages in that regard as well (though not required whatsoever: This is not a fishing expedition of validation).

To anyone out there who (un)believes as I do – that no god(s) exist — or is on a journey in that direction, and wants to either comment here or send me a message, I would love and appreciate that more than I can express.  Know that you have a friend here who understands you.  Trust that I will keep your secrets, and/or support you in your public exposure, and quest to learn the universe’s truth (small “t” intended), whichever is your wish.

Thank you all for reading.  I wish you all the happiness in the world.  This life, this only life, is too short to be anything else.

Peace,

PersephoneK

See also an earlier blog post about my deconversion.

 

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The Most Important Books I Read Last Year in 2012 (MIBIRLY 2012)

By on January 8, 2013 in Recommended Reading, Ruminations

It’s that time of year again!  My 2nd Annual (hopefully) down and dirty reviews of the Most Important Books I Read Last Year in 2012. Like last year, I spent most of the summer biking to lovely places to sit and read, and yet again, I usually found myself reading non-fiction. Although I did manage to get in the first and second installments of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead novels, [easyazon-link asin=”B004VMV49Y” locale=”us”]The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor[/easyazon-link] and [easyazon-link asin=”B007RMYDMK” locale=”us”]The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury[/easyazon-link]. While I loved both of those (I’m a pretty big TWD fan), my annual review of the Most Important Books I Read has a different purpose (see the MIBIRLY 2011 for last year’s reviews). Best, favorite, most important… all very different meanings. I wouldn’t claim that novels about zombies are important (though there is much to be learned and discussed from a philosophical perspective about survival and the evolution and then breakdown of culture/society), but the books that made my list this year are books I think should be read by every student of the world. These books expanded my understanding of how the world and how humans work in some way. They dispel conventional wisdom, and use science as their foundations to build a more complete or changed view of human nature. My reviews won’t be lengthy because I’d rather you see this list and then go and read these fabulous books for yourself! I realize that most of these choices are not new releases. That they were not all published last year makes them no less important.  I hope you enjoy and more importantly, that you check one out!

 

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”0374275637″ locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41OYtkxKAoL._SL110_.jpg” width=”74″][easyazon-link asin=”B00555X8OA” locale=”us”]Thinking, Fast and Slow[/easyazon-link] by Daniel Kahneman

This book should be a standard among anyone in any analytical profession. Kahneman is a psychologist who earned the Nobel Prize in Economics. His brilliance shines through in the density of the book which illustrates the two basic ways that all human beings, regardless of intelligence level, think: Fast and Slow. Our “Fast” thinking can be best explained by thinking of our intuition, or muscle memory types of thinking. We make quick analytical judgments that take little effort. This type of thinking kept us alive while being chased by the myriad of predators on the African plains. In many ways this thinking is astonishing, but it fails us when we use it to make conclusions that require our Slow thinking drive. Slow thinking is the kind of thinking we use to solve complex mathematical equations. Its hard. It takes energy. We can only do it for short periods of time before it drains us. Kahneman illustrates the dangerous outcomes that can occur when we substitute our Fast Thinking for tasks that require Slow Thinking. And he highlights that we do this far more often than we should, even when (or especially when) we consider ourselves expert in an area. Making decisions based on intuition isn’t always bad. If you’re driving on the highway and a car swerves into your lane, it’s best if you allow your Fast Thinking brain to kick in and swerve out of the way. But if you’re drafting economic, scientific, military, intelligence, financial, etc etc etc… policies that have wide impacts, using your Fast Brain is about as useful as allowing a monkey to conduct analysis. As an analyst myself, I see lazy thinking all the time. Until we understand the strengths and weaknesses in how our brains work, we’ll continue making analytical errors that have grave impacts on how we live together in society.

 

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B000QCTNIM” locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416%2BaMQs3tL._SL110_.jpg” width=”71″][easyazon-link asin=”B000QCTNIM” locale=”us”]The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature[/easyazon-link] by Steven Pinker

One think I love about Steven Pinker… he is not afraid to stare conventional wisdom in the face and tell it to go away. And he has the evidence to prove it. The Blank Slate aims to shove aside decades, if not centuries, of conventional wisdom that has told us we all begin as a blank slate with no preconceived biases, ways of thinking and behaviors. Our environment alone shapes who we are. It is society that is the evil influence, and must be fixed. Through his understanding of psychology, linguistics, history, and other sciences, Pinker shows how simplistic that view is and how much it can harm progress in understanding human nature. He commonly cites twin studies to show how much evidence there is that genetics shapes us the most, then shared environment, then unique environment. If you want a more nuanced look at why we behave the way we behave, what the gaps in our understanding are, and why it matters to know the truth, this is a great read. If you want to continue to blame all our ills on the nebulous, evil “society” or “bad parenting” or even 100% on genetics, then don’t. You’ll be disappointed to learn the truth shaded in grays, that we have much more to learn, but that we know more than what we’ve been taught in anecdotal life lessons.

 

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B000VDUWMC” locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516CtJiKwwL._SL110_.jpg” width=”82″][easyazon-link asin=”B000VDUWMC” locale=”us”]Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies[/easyazon-link] by Jared Diamond

I don’t like to list any book on my list above the others. This is why I don’t put them into any particular order, however, if I had a gun to my head and were forced to choose one book to read the entire year, this would be it. It’s dense. Filled with details from just about every niche in science, all to prove (convincingly) how all humans from all societies are fundamentally able to achieve great things, but that the balance of power from the domestication of plants and animals to the present is shaped almost entirely by environment. Some cultures rolled the dice and ended up in the fertile crescent while others ended up in mostly infertile, barren Australia. His well told story amazingly and clearly proves that through science, the humanities can be better understood and tested. All humans have essentially the same genetic tools and capabilities (our differences are fewer than those of different breeds of dogs). Race is officially an antiquated concept that needs to stay forever on the bottom of the rubbish pile of ideas. That doesn’t mean some societies haven’t adapted better than others. Some have, but often those adaptions were shaped by environment rather than some inherent superiority of the people.

Other lessons I took away from this amazing book filled with too many lessons to list in a short review are that free markets and more bottom up (instead of strict top down) control and planning are the best way to improve the lives of large societies. It’s not necessity that is the mother of invention. It is sheer numbers allowing greater specialization and freedom for curious minds to wander and then share their ideas with the masses. Closed societies never learn as much as open ones. And the federal system is better than a one size fits all strong central government. It’s not in any way Diamond’s central theme, but through his ridiculous quantities of evidence and his amazing ability to synthesize disparate data, that conclusion rings loud and clear. Don’t believe me? Read this book!

 

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B006IDG2T6″ locale=”us” height=”110″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mPcj7zKCL._SL110_.jpg” width=”78″][easyazon-link asin=”B006IDG2T6″ locale=”us”]Free Will[/easyazon-link] by Sam Harris

I wish I could write as clearly, eloquently, and intelligently as Sam Harris. Last year, his brilliant The Moral Landscape made my “Most Important” list. While Free Will doesn’t quite live up to that standard, it is an important compendium or follow-up to the ideas brought forth in it. Harris’ background as neuroscientist is on full display in Free Will. The question “Do humans have free will or are we shaped by destiny” is as old as philosophy itself. In America, a country dominated by Judeo-Christian/Western ideals, it is almost a foregone conclusion that humans have free will and the ability to 100% shape their own future. The influence is seen in our work ethic and in our judicial system. Should we always be held responsible for our actions? If we have free will, then the answer is a resounding yes. If we don’t, its more complicated. In a surprisingly short book, Harris is able to prove through recent breakthroughs in neuroscience how people will act before they consciously think about acting. He doesn’t go so far as to say that we are not responsible for our actions. His analysis and conclusions are far more nuanced than his critics will likely give him credit for being, but he does raise groundbreaking and serious questions about the way we view crime and punishment and whether or not people deserve second chances. Why do we choose to act the way we act? And can we do anything about it? Harris will make you re-think what you’ve always believed the answers to those questions are without claiming he has the answers himself.

 

Caveat:  I wrote some of these reviews many months after I read the book because I did not have my act together at the time I finished it. Apologies for any minor errors, but please let me know if you find any!

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New Year; New Look

By on January 3, 2013 in Announcements

Bear with me as I tweak the look of PersephonesPath.com yet again.  I was just not happy with the overall function, look and feel of the previous version. This may be a work in progress for a short time.

Cheers,

PersephoneK

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Grading Myself as Blogger; Wimpy with a Side of Gutless

By on December 19, 2012 in Ruminations

I haven’t quite figured out what this blog is, or more specifically, what type of blogger I want to – or should — be.

Some of you may know this is the third incarnation of my attempt to join the blogosphere.   Most of the meager volume of my earliest posts came from those sites.  For a time, I had two sites going simultaneously for reasons that really don’t matter.  I finally decided to consolidate here for a few reasons:

  • Running multiple blogs sucks
  • I like making new stuff
  • I felt like I was being a coward with the other sites

Regarding that last bullet, when I made Persephone’s Path, I did so knowing that using my PersephoneK pseudonym could lead people who know who I am in real life to learn my thoughts, controversial and mundane.  I had been using the name, or variations of it in various places like Twitter for a while.  A few people who know me follow me there, so I knew it was only a matter of time.  Prior to the presidential election, I made the calculated choice to post a link to my blog about about the proposed Gay Marriage Amendment to my Facebook page.  I felt like I had something important to say on the matter from a specific perspective I hadn’t really seen from others, and it was an important enough issue to me that I decided to take the chance.  Obviously, from then on, all hope for anonymity was lost.

I’m conflicted by having people who know me read these posts.

On the one hand, I would love if it opened more dialogue and discussion with people I already care about in my life, or maybe expanded my small circle of close friends to others who I only consider acquaintances.  But the converse result to sharing is the risk of alienating existing friends.  As much as I hate it, I deeply care about what others think of me.  Sometimes in life I move forward and express my thoughts despite that, leading some to believe I don’t care at all what the perception of me is, but the truth is, I care more than is probably healthy.  It consumes my thoughts daily.  I hate it, but its reality. And I know that fear (it’s really a fear of being rejected or thought of as stupid or ignorant) would lead me to censor my thoughts, and thus not be true to the spirit of this blog.

Persephone’s Path… I chose that name partly for the alliteration of my pseudonym, but mostly because it best expressed what I want this place to be.  I’m constantly tweaking my world view by learning new ideas, and throwing out old ones that don’t fit in with my values, don’t make sense to me any longer, or simply aren’t as good as newer ideas.  I don’t think I’m wishy-washy.  I’ll hold onto a belief that makes sense to me until something better replaces it, but the person I am today will not be who I am next year.  Who I was last year, or ten years ago, or especially twenty years ago, is not who I am now…  But I am most definitely on a lifelong journey informed by reason, science, and logic, and framed and adjusted by the knowledge and perspectives of others I meet along the way. 

For me, and I suspect for many writers, writing is therapy (and sometimes why we need therapy!).  But blogging is about connecting with other humans through written (or graphical) ideas.  Sharing and learning from each other.  If I simply wanted the catharsis of writing, I would merely keep a private journal on my nightstand.  I want to be heard and hear others.  I want dialogue.  But if I’m not expressing fully genuine ideas and emotions, the words are empty fabrications.  I don’t want you to waste your time with me, any more than I want to waste my time playing it safe. 

So far, I give myself a grade of a solid C.  And that is unfortunate.  I want to be able to lay my soul bare here, but I’m not sure if I ever will be able to.  I want to challenge myself and be challenged.  But I also don’t want to float in between two vibrant worlds, not really living in either.  That’s what I’m doing now as a blogger.  I guess it helps very few people actually read these posts, but that could change.  I both welcome possible change, and fear it.  Maybe that’s how it should be.

So, let me end by asking you to share your thoughts.  I want to know, would you risk real world relationships in order to deliver honest content, or would you censor yourself and hold back in certain areas you know will be sensitive points for those you care about? Please share!  Persephone’s Path is nothing without dialogue.

 

Cheers,

PersephoneK

Comments { 5 }

Better Angels, Triumphant

By on December 17, 2012 in Liberty & Freedom, Ruminations, US & International Affairs

What can anyone say after a tragedy like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that is remotely adequate?  For me, there was almost so much to say that I had nothing at all to say.  Simply no words were sufficient.  Horrific might be the single best word, but even that grossly pales.  Last Friday, the nation glimpsed the worst of humanity, and we wept.

Inevitably following such an event, social and mainstream media, and everyone around the water cooler has been a-buzz with discussions about gun control (for and against), mental illness, the degradation of society, the loss of god in our culture/schools, and countless other proposed reasons to what’s “wrong with our society” and how to fix it, how to prevent such a terrible act from ever happening again. 

Instead, I find myself thinking over and over again about something else entirely.  I keep thinking that I feel lucky to be alive, in this country, in this point in time of human existence.  I keep thinking about how good life actually is right now, right here.

Our justified condemnation and outrage over an atrocity like children and teachers being murdered in the classroom tells me how far we have come as a species, a culture, and as a nation.  Our reflexive response tells us how rare an event this truly is, and how much we value the lives of children and the adults who want to protect them.  I’m sure as a result of what happened, our political leaders will rush to create new laws and limits on our freedom, and generally the people will support that reaction.  How could we not?  It’s to protect children, right?  Anyone speaking out against it risks being labeled insensitive, or stupid.   I do not intend for this to be a political discussion.  I think there are plenty of valid points on all sides of many of these debates.  From my perspective, creating new laws – at least immediately – is completely unnecessary, and is another nail in the coffin of liberty, and the reason for America’s existence.  Each one risks pushing our society backwards towards eventual despotism.   Knee-jerk responses to create more laws are unnecessary because by any reasonable standard, the world is getting better, partly as a result of increased liberty.  Often our emotional rush to action creates many more unintended consequences that are problematic (Department of Homeland Security, anyone??).  What I wish is before any decision is made about what actions to take is for us to take a collective breath and reflect on how wonderful our lives and society actually are.  

Recently I started reading the brilliant Steven Pinker’s “[easyazon-link asin=”B0052REUW0″ locale=”us”]The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined[/easyazon-link]”  The title is a nod to Abraham Lincoln’s beautiful sentiments in his First Inaugural Address in 1861.  Pinker’s book is thus far so extraordinary, that I recommend you stop reading this blog right now, and go read his book for yourself.  Pinker more eloquently states, with gobs (that’s the scientific term) of data, what I (and countless others before Pinker) have observed and believed about humanity for years: 

By almost every measurable standard, life is better now than it was in our past (recent and distant) for almost every human society, even the poorest among us.  And violence is undoubtedly on the decline. 

It’s sometimes difficult to believe those truths.  Some people willfully deny them despite there being ample evidence to the contrary.  Human society is more peaceful than it has ever been.  

Compared to the age of the earth and even compared to the time modern humans have walked on earth, our life spans are short (though getting longer all the time).  A generous one hundred years next to 200,000 is miniscule.  The blink of an eye.  We have an extremely difficult time comprehending times longer than a few decades, much less those on the scales such as these.  So, we get wrapped up in the here and now and compare something like what happened in Connecticut on Friday against our typical daily existence (which is usually quite peaceful, and relatively easy, especially in the west).  We are barraged daily by the media about the threat of terrorism, America’s homicide rate, and this atrocity and that one.  The news is littered with stories about murders, rapes, kidnappings, wars, and we think, what have humans descended to?  When will the violence end?  Surely, it wasn’t like this in the good ole’ days!  The truth is that more than ever before, humans are showing an ascendance of virtue.  We just have a natural tendency to remember the irregularities over the far more prolific prosaic experiences.

And the good ole’ days weren’t really that good after all.

Humans most certainly have a dark side.  Violence has always been a part of our species’ existence.  The capacity to commit violence has been evolving in us for millions of years along with other traits like competitiveness, ambition, empathy, compassion, and love. But consider this:  Only 2000 years ago, the greatest civilization in the world – the Roman Empire – regularly entertained themselves in great arenas by watching animals and humans rip other animals and humans to shreds in regular bloodbaths. This was their sport of choice. Gladiators were the Champions and heroes, the rock stars of their day.  People would spend an entire day eating, laughing, drinking while unbelievable carnage happened in front of them.  Today, in America, our bloodlust is channeled into the “violence” of football on Sunday afternoons, and into violent, but fictional, video games and movies. 

The Romans would have thought we are a weak society with those notions of violence.  They are welcome to that opinion.  But it is notable to consider how far we’ve come.  The Romans – the epitome of advanced and civilized society for their day – would have thought nothing of a game of football that resulted in mass homicide for one or both sides.  Simply for entertainment.

We have progressed.  We continue to do so.

We are fooling ourselves if we believe violence will evolve out of us anytime soon, (millions of years from now, perhaps) if ever. I’m often frustrated when people talk about the decline of our “culture.”  What this usually means is the loss of morality defined by religion.  Or the loss of some sort of repressed “Leave it to Beaver” style existence of post World War II America.  The fact is the murder of children, adults, sacrificial animals, is repeated over and over again within the bible (particularly the old Testament), and other holy books.  Violence was a far more acceptable and expected in everyday life for our ancestors than it is for us today.  Thankfully, we are moral in spite of some of the lessons taken from our holy books.  We are able to rationalize away, modify, or outright ignore those terrible stories of our religions’ (while retaining our religious beliefs) because we know that human suffering – especially the suffering of children — is bad.  

Through our intellect, capacity for reason, and the power of civilization (which despite popular belief to the contrary is the driving force of our mundane, peaceful lives), most of us are able to suppress the violent tendencies of our nature, ignore the casual and prolific violence of most of our history and our myths, and even decry with outrage when those tendencies are expressed in a rare event like Sandy Hook.  The better angels of our nature are far more prevalent today than they ever have been in our history as a species.  The atrocity of Friday, December 14, 2012 should not propel us to take emotional, and unnecessary actions that could be a step backwards from the progress of freedom and liberty that have helped bring those angels out to play far more than ever before.  At least not right now.  Not in the immediate wake of destruction when emotions are running high, and our rational sides are suppressed.  

We should mourn the loss of life.  We should remember them and cry over the lives shortened by the unspeakable evil that struck down so many before their lives had even really begun.  We should honor the heroic efforts of the protectors who died trying to save them.  We should support the families and friends of those lost.  We should try to figure out if anything reasonable can prevent another terrible day like that one, and talk about it without demonizing each other.  We should continue to progress and strive to eradicate violence from our nature, despite it being a fool’s errand.

But most of all, we should remember that life is precious.  Life is short.  Life is beautiful.  And this kind of evil is not who most of us are.  Not anymore.

 

Peace,

PersephoneK

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