I cannot tell you how excited I've been to see The Dark Knight Rises all year. I've counted down the days, literally. This was one of the two major films I really, really wanted to see this year. I'm sure millions of others were in the same boat. So I wanted to go to the midnight show, but opted for early in the morning because I cannot stand the loud crowds. Figured I'd have a better go at it in the morning. I even had free movie cash for the flick because I bought a Batman box set a couple weeks back. Yeah, I was ready.
Then I woke up this morning and realized what was going on in Colorado at the midnight showing of TDKR. Utter shock. Just insanity. Suddenly, my desire to even leave the house was gone. Not out of fear, but just that it didn't feel "right" to go. Or maybe it was a twinge of fear too. I could see it happening anytime, anywhere. Some nutcase out there just doing something like this. But that is the world we live in. And the fear cripples us and makes us not live our lives as we want it to be. Part of me right now just wants to never leave the house. And the other part of me wants to rise up and get very vocal about things wrong in the world, from the bottom on up.
The theater was filled with MY people. People just wanting to go out and escape the evils of the world for a couple hours and indulge in fantasy. You never think going out to the mall or the movies or a restaurant that you could be in any danger. Its just difficult to understand how or why this could happen in our world. I wish we could be better. I wish we could stop it before it happens. I wish we had a hero to save us. But we don't. We only have ourselves. And if we don't make better decisions and make the world safer for ALL, then this will continue to be the world we live in. And we cannot allow the fear to cripple us or our voice.
So: After considering all these emotions I was thinking, I decided to go ahead and go. And for three hours, I sat there. Nervous. When I saw people walking behind me and I looked at them. I sat by the front exit for some reason. Some silly voice in me said that if some gunman came into the theater, I could subdue him. But no one came. I sat and finally got comfortable and watched the flick. I enjoyed it and it was good. But during the jokes, I didn't laugh. I sat quiet and stern. I took it all in and tried to feel "normal." Why was I scared? Because I know this can happen anytime. Anywhere. To anyone. And that life is precious and things can change in the blink of an eye. And in many ways, I feel guilty for going and even "enjoying" the time I had watching it. But I cannot live like that, in fear. No one can or should. We cannot let the evils of the world win, in any way, shape or form.
There's so much confusion right now and I know a lot of people are talking gun control and all that. But the focus at the moment should be to the families and friends of those involved. Then, perhaps we can focus on the dysfunction of the issues involved. We all need to heal first and then prevent. I take this tragedy personal for many reasons as a movie and comic book fan, comic book artist and creator, father and human being. In all the great fantasy and fiction I enjoy, the heroes involved bring a continual search for hope. I have hope that these things can become a thing of the past. and I hope that the evil ones come to swift and harsh justice. Don't let them win, folks. Wake up, stand up and be heard. Lets start making better decisions and building a world where this kind of thing doesn't happen.
-T
(On a side note: I know its only a matter of minutes before the media start pointing the fingers at comic books, comic book movies or other media to accuse them of the start of violence. and that sickens me. I watched hours of Bugs Bunny blowing Elmur Fudd apart, all the way up to flicks like Natural Born Killers. I also crafted one of the most violent comic books ever, ANNA POCALYPSE, and its even more violent upcoming sequel. And yet, I've never fired a gun. Ever. Nor am I interested in doing so. Lets avoid the blame and get to the REAL source of the problem. Lets hammer out the reality first. Then perhaps one day, we won't feel the need to escape)
PSS - THIS POST AT AICN reflects my feelings too. Check that out.
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