Issue 80
News: Wiccan symbol in vet cemetary.
While scrounging the internet for inspiration for today's blog, I stumbled upon a bit of news via FSTDT.com (linked to in another entry), that said that in addition to the symbols of many Christian denominations and other religions, the symbol of Wicca, the inverted pentagram, has been added to a list of religious symbols that can be placed on a soldier's tombstone. Apparently, there was one soldier whose parents insisted that the symbol of his faith be created so that it may be put on his tombstone. However, the folks at FSTDT whose replies were hilarious enough for the editors to put on their site claimed that it is wrong to put that kind of symbol (Wiccan) in a National Cemetary because they believe that the USA was created on "Christian Principles" (which it wasn't, indeed, a significant number of those people who are counted among our Founding fathers believed, regardless of their beliefs, that religion and government should be kept separate, not least among those was Thomas Jefferson) and that the idea of people wanting the fact that they served our country and maybe even died for it and may not have been Christian is totally repugnant to their ideals and maybe even those of the Founders, especially something as Satanic as Wicca (which does not worship the devil or even revere him in particular, but is basically a revival of Witchcraft). The point is that the USA was not created to suit any particular religion, especially Christianity, but is supposed to tolerate any religion (so long as its tenets do not entail harm to others), so just because many people in the country were deeply religious for many years, this does not mean that this is a "Christian nation" because it isn't.
Band Name of the Day: Graham and the Canyons.
Film Idea of the Day: Catch the Wind. A young teenaged girl named Amanda Marinus grapples with her faith and her sexuality in her Lutheran High School.
Film Review of the Day: The Hannibal Lecter trilogy.
I recently decided to get into the works of Thomas Harris, creator of Hannibal Lecter and reclusive author and I saw film versions of the first three books in the series (the new one, Hannibal Rising, I have yet to see, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't turn out as good as the others in the series did.)
Red Dragon. This was the first novel in the series, but the third to be filmed with Anthony Hopkins as Lecter, although it was filmed before under another title, with several names changed slightly. In the film, Lecter helps FBI profiler Will Graham catch a serial killer obsessed with a William Blake watercolor of a red dragon to the point where he believes that the dragon lives inside of him, killing people. This is widely considered to be the weakest film in the trilogy, and I agree with the consensus.
Silence of the Lambs. This is the one that most people credit with introducing them to Lecter, with Anthony Hopkins performing him for the first time. This film managed to win many Oscars, and effectively takes the place of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as the best film I've seen in a long time. This time, Hannibal consults a new Special Agent in a case involving a transsexual serial killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill, who in a disturbing scene, dances around half-naked to the song "Goodbye Horses" by Q Lazzarus (Don't be surprised if you don't know them).
Hannibal. This was the third novel in the series, and it shows Hannibal in a more overtly violent light than before (since, while it is common knowledge in the film series that he is a cannibal, this is the first time he is actually seen killing one of his victims in course of the movie) and giving him more screen time than in the other two films combined, as is befitting a film where he is actually given the title role. Here Hannibal tries to get back into contact with Starling and tries to survive the revenge of the only person to ever survive an attack by him. The endings of the book and novel are very different, but I will give no spoilers.
Quote of the Day: "It's all right. I have immunity from the US Attorney. And I have immunity... from the risen Jesus. And nobody beats the Riz."
________MAson Verger.
Link of the Day: The new site for the J.C. Webster transcripts.
While scrounging the internet for inspiration for today's blog, I stumbled upon a bit of news via FSTDT.com (linked to in another entry), that said that in addition to the symbols of many Christian denominations and other religions, the symbol of Wicca, the inverted pentagram, has been added to a list of religious symbols that can be placed on a soldier's tombstone. Apparently, there was one soldier whose parents insisted that the symbol of his faith be created so that it may be put on his tombstone. However, the folks at FSTDT whose replies were hilarious enough for the editors to put on their site claimed that it is wrong to put that kind of symbol (Wiccan) in a National Cemetary because they believe that the USA was created on "Christian Principles" (which it wasn't, indeed, a significant number of those people who are counted among our Founding fathers believed, regardless of their beliefs, that religion and government should be kept separate, not least among those was Thomas Jefferson) and that the idea of people wanting the fact that they served our country and maybe even died for it and may not have been Christian is totally repugnant to their ideals and maybe even those of the Founders, especially something as Satanic as Wicca (which does not worship the devil or even revere him in particular, but is basically a revival of Witchcraft). The point is that the USA was not created to suit any particular religion, especially Christianity, but is supposed to tolerate any religion (so long as its tenets do not entail harm to others), so just because many people in the country were deeply religious for many years, this does not mean that this is a "Christian nation" because it isn't.
Band Name of the Day: Graham and the Canyons.
Film Idea of the Day: Catch the Wind. A young teenaged girl named Amanda Marinus grapples with her faith and her sexuality in her Lutheran High School.
Film Review of the Day: The Hannibal Lecter trilogy.
I recently decided to get into the works of Thomas Harris, creator of Hannibal Lecter and reclusive author and I saw film versions of the first three books in the series (the new one, Hannibal Rising, I have yet to see, but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't turn out as good as the others in the series did.)
Red Dragon. This was the first novel in the series, but the third to be filmed with Anthony Hopkins as Lecter, although it was filmed before under another title, with several names changed slightly. In the film, Lecter helps FBI profiler Will Graham catch a serial killer obsessed with a William Blake watercolor of a red dragon to the point where he believes that the dragon lives inside of him, killing people. This is widely considered to be the weakest film in the trilogy, and I agree with the consensus.
Silence of the Lambs. This is the one that most people credit with introducing them to Lecter, with Anthony Hopkins performing him for the first time. This film managed to win many Oscars, and effectively takes the place of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as the best film I've seen in a long time. This time, Hannibal consults a new Special Agent in a case involving a transsexual serial killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill, who in a disturbing scene, dances around half-naked to the song "Goodbye Horses" by Q Lazzarus (Don't be surprised if you don't know them).
Hannibal. This was the third novel in the series, and it shows Hannibal in a more overtly violent light than before (since, while it is common knowledge in the film series that he is a cannibal, this is the first time he is actually seen killing one of his victims in course of the movie) and giving him more screen time than in the other two films combined, as is befitting a film where he is actually given the title role. Here Hannibal tries to get back into contact with Starling and tries to survive the revenge of the only person to ever survive an attack by him. The endings of the book and novel are very different, but I will give no spoilers.
Quote of the Day: "It's all right. I have immunity from the US Attorney. And I have immunity... from the risen Jesus. And nobody beats the Riz."
________MAson Verger.
Link of the Day: The new site for the J.C. Webster transcripts.
Labels: Religious Right
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