Outer Rim Territories

Remember that kid, Farris Hassan, the 16-year-old from Florida, who went to Iraq a few weeks ago to allegedly find out for himself what
conditions were like for Iraqis and to satisfy a requirement for this journalism class he was taking?

Remember also how his parents were all distraught not knowing where he was?

Remember how the media praised him for being so brave?

Would it surprise you to learn that NO NETWORK JOURNALIST took the initiative to do a little research?

Further, would it surprise you to learn that his parents KNEW where he was because they helped him get his ticket?

Would it surprise you to learn that his school has no such journalism class?

Would it surprise you to learn that his parents sent a note to school saying he'd be gone during that period?

Would it surprise you to learn his father was arrested for forging 2,000 Iraqi passports and was probably attempting to forge more?

Has it occurred to you that the student and his family may really be prospective terrorists in sheep's clothing?

Click the link below and read about it because you WON'T hear it on the network news!

http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/site/modules/news/article.php?storyid=38

You know, I was just thinking about this on the way to the library this morning. Today is Saturday and the library closes at 13:00. (A group of Dutch students is coming to tour parts of Germany next week. I'm one of the guides, so I need information.) I also took my time getting up this morning-- at 9:00 I woke up, ate breakfast in front of the TV, did some grocery shopping, came home to eat some of my groceries in front of the TV... There I sat until 11:45. Then I mounted my bike and was off. On the way I noticed how many people there were out and about and then thought about how many people were sitting in their homes at that moment watching TV, too. Didn't they know what a beautiful day it was?

At 12:08 I arrived at the library feeling very proud of myself for making it with about an hour to browse but thinking, "Gee, I could have turned off the TV a little sooner and gotten to the library earlier. But I'm so attached to watching TV. That black box has become my idol. I give it more attention than I do anything else. What does God want? Does He want His people sit their lives away infront of a black box that is their companion? What's so wrong with watching an hour or two of TV just for a little entertainment? What if I learn something?"

What is the function of pop culture? For me it is entertainment and a time to relax. I think if I were to avoid pop culture, I would find something just as mindless to take its place... say eating, talking on the phone for long hours, playing suduko, etc. What did our ancestors do when they took time off? Maybe their free time activites were more fulfilling, more worth-while like playing cornhole or horseshoes or tic tac toe.

I like to fliter what I watch. If the show is fake (like some sitcoms), too useless (like the home shopping network), too phony (like Big Brother) then I don't watch it. But it's my taste that dictates along with (maybe even more so than) my religion. Of course religion impacts my reaction and opinion, but it doesn't always bring me to change the channel because it is my curiosity, sometimes homesickness (or sinful nature??) that keeps me watching. For example, MTV has come out with a lot of cheesy dating shows that I sometimes watch just because they're in English. The latest is "Date my Mom". One male candidate dates three moms and based on the impression he has of the mother, chooses a daughter. It's so fake, phony and staged that you would think my taste would make me change the channel, but I'm glued to the English. They've now twisted the show to include homosexual couples. I've only seen one episode and found it appalling and rude... but then why did I watch it? I know people, who are gay and probably support the show. In fact, I'll bet it was the marketing tactic all along. First, show a heterosexual dating show, get people hooked, and then include a gay pair just to make the point that society is changing. It's a bit of propaganda. If you watch and support MTV (the mecca for teen-pop-culture), then you'll support their views, too. I also thought, "I wouldn't want my future kids watching this program." I'm also glad that we didn't have cable at home as kids, but the other issue is that you can't shelter people from the issues portrayed. Drugs, sex, and violence are pop culture kings. I think it does more good to discuss these issues at an appropriate age in the context of religion than it does to turn the TV off and pretend that they don't exist. Although TV shows aren't personal, the relationships we have with people are, and sometimes the people we know have similar problems.

Should Christians avoid all pop culture? or just some pop culture? If I'm watching something that my religion doesn't agree with (of course, if the program is blaitently wrong, then I don't waste my time.), but if some element of the show disagrees with my beliefs, then I start an inner dialog with myself, or discuss it with Greg if he's around. I don't believe this is right, and here's why... But on the other hand, I'm not much better. I'm a sinner myself. I don't do myself much good by watching something that glorifies or supports sin. On the other hand, I find it hard to avoid.

Those were my thoughts.