Joy was my baby–and life is so precious.
I oppose the Hunger Games for many reasons–mostly philosophical, but I don’t want to argue with anyone.
Actually, I don’t hate anyone who loves it, or likes it, or wants to go see it. In fact, I love a lot of people who feel that way. And, I understand why you like it, and why you want to see the movie.
So, I hope all of you out there who love it will still love me even though I don’t.
Having lost a child, I don’t take lightly the killing of children as entertainment, whether real or imagined, or put on a giant screen. I can’t believe it was the third largest opening film in history, and that the largest demographic of people seeing this movie are 8 to 18 years old.
I know, I know–that’s not what it’s all about.
I know, I know, teaching the atrocity of war, etcetera.
Instead of trying to learn of the atrocities of war from someone who has never participated in one, I urge everyone who is truly interested in learning more about that particular subject and its effects on people, including women and children, to read “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom.
From someone who actually was there.
IN REAL LIFE.
For me, I feel like it’s another step we are taking down, down, down into losing our ability to understand how precious life is, and how it is actually sacred…that death is even more sacred, and any portrayal of it should be so very, very carefully done, if at all.
It was not until I experienced the death of part of my heart (my sweet little girl), that I understood life more fully, and how truly, truly sacred the temple of our body is. What I see in the Hunger Games is a chance to exploit and deface the holiest of the temples of God (those of children), for entertainment purposes. The body–especially of a child–is holy, and we should tread carefully when considering just how much of the grisly, titillating, or gory we want to subject ourselves to viewing.
Here is something I felt applied here (click for the larger version):
If you don’t have the same opinion as I do, that’s okay. Diversity is what makes life interesting. Just wanted to get that out on my blog, because it has really been hard for me to deal with the reality that this is what people are enjoying for entertainment.
It makes me miss Joy, and I think it makes me miss heaven, too. (Actually, they are both the same thing to me…)
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for that. I’m adding this to my recent post where I linked to some articles I liked talking about this very thing. I completely agree with what you are saying here- including the part about loving and being friends with many people who love the books and movie. I should have mentioned that part on my own blog.
Oh, by the way, my family scarfed down a bag of those Cadbury mini-eggs today as our one conference treat. We enjoyed them for you so now you don’t have to eat any. ( : You know I just love teasing you about those…
Holly, that is so cruel!
I am glad you enjoyed them vicariously for me.
I read your post–I am glad you said something–I think it is important to stand up for ideas, and especially in a way that says, “I don’t like this idea, but I still love you!” That’s so, so vital.
Love the Dallin H. Oaks quote! I completely agree about the Hunger Games.
Thank you for this perspective. The Hunger Games furor has saddened me so much, and this really points out with simple clarity just _why_.
This is beautifully stated, Misty. What a sweet perspective you have on the sacredness of life. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. And I agree– “The Hiding Place” is one of the very best books from which to learn about freedom, love, value of life, opposing REAL evil, etc.
THANK YOU!
That is the perfect quote juxtaposed to this whole fever over the Hunger Games movie.
Thanks for sharing this! I whole heartily agree! Your super cape if flying high behind you in the breeze!
I have not lost a child, but I have descended into hell on earth and back to rescue a child from abuse, violence, hunger, survival. In the process I met and loved other children and adults that were left behind. I think of them everyday and pray for them continually. They are living a war. IN REAL LIFE. Here, in the United States.
How can I be entertained by something so false and glamorized that tries, but fails, to represent something so real and devastating to my brothers and sisters? I oscillate between being sick and weeping when people I love all around me support Hunger Games. But it’s because they don’t know. They don’t realize. They are blinded and distracted. A few years ago I was the same.
But we do have living prophets to guide us. From the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet: “Do not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic IN ANY WAY.”
Thanks for sharing that, Camille. I know how deeply you care about children, and you have done so much to change the lives of those most desperate….I think if more people had the experience of actually interacting with children who need help, they might be more sensitive to the extreme deception of the portrayal in this movie–because it is not like that in real life, nor is it even remotely “real.” It is a fabrication and glamorized and very painful for those who know personally the true, real, deep suffering of children IN REAL LIFE.
Thanks for the reminder from For The Strength of Youth. Do you know how much I love you? I am looking forward to living near you again!
I live in a self-imposed bubble and a small town, so often I miss much of this. Not this time. I was too young to have seen the mass hysteria for the original Star Wars, but I am seeing it now…my young women are loving this–there is such a disconnect–and I am having a hard time understanding the justification for the violence or for the immodesty/immorality whether it ends up being showed or implied. I had a discussion with one of my young women about this series. I said I wouldn’t justify the violence of children killing children and her response was that it didn’t bother her: “I guess because I AM a child.” It made me feel very sad. I just think there are so many better ways to gain our knowledge–through real ife accounts, through the scriptures, through the promptings of the Holy Ghost, through helping those who are truly suffering…
The sad part is that because it is really a very believable virtual reality, it is unfortunate that children will come to accept it as “fact.”
For example, they think it is what “war” is really like. They believe this might be “what it would really be like.”
Only, it’s not. When my daughter asked several Hunger Games fans to read “The Hiding Place” to compare what reality is compared to fiction, they wouldn’t. There was nothing titillating or exciting or glamorous about Corrie Ten Boom’s experience. It was not the reality they want. Unfortunately, the world teaches them to want and accept this type of thing as their reality.
That is true and it is very troubling. As a youth I used to wish something exciting would happen to me–until I realized that often excitement is not fun and happy, but rather sad and troubling. I had a dear cousin who was a dear friend who committed suicide on Easter weekend years ago in a tragically, violent way when I was a youth. To this day, I wince every time I hear someone utter the words, “I could just kill myself.” In the very least, portraying violence in this way furhter injures those who have actually had violent acts committed against them or their loved ones–and what’s more, desensitizes us to what real suffering occurs unders these circumstances…
I understand if you don’t post this comment, Misty. I was just thinking out loud as to the ripples this type of media can have on society.
I truly do not understand why any LDS person would accept these books and movies as okay. I have a dear friend that really enjoyed the books, and I really tried hard to see her side (and I think I am pretty good at putting myself in other people’s shoes), but I just didn’t get it. My heart aches to see people taking enjoyment from these things. I can let people know I will not be reading or watching these, and maybe that will be enough to help one other person from doing it, or at least get them to ask themselves some tough questions. And yes, I do still love my friends, even if we don’t agree on this.
Last week, the Spirit prompted me to bare my testimony about following the guidelines in For the Strength of Youth, so we can have the Spirit with us. I really did not want to get up and say what I did, but I have learned when the Lord asks me to stand up, I need to obey. It was hard to do, because I was pretty certain that half the ward had already seen the movie.
Misty, even though you don’t know me in real life, it is very nice to know that I am not the only one who is human, but has high ideals that I am trying to live. I really appreciate your sharing.