THE DAILY DIVERSION

Okay, so I wasn't planning on a second post today, but I took a break from working to read the Owensboro newspaper. If you don't really know me, then here's a quick breakdown... I lived in Bowling Green until I finished high school, then I went to college in Owensboro. Before I completed my degree I began working up there, so, naturally, I stayed after getting my degree. For some reason (fate possibly, since I ended up meeting Adrianne there), I ended up staying in Owensboro a lot longer than I probably should have. Then, just over two years ago I got a job offer down here in Memphis. So, here I am. I still read the Owensboro newspaper from time to time. Not so much now that Adrianne is down here with me, as I did when she was up there. I tried to keep up with what was going on up there, just in case!

Anyway, I've spent countless hours complaining about life in Owensboro. I'll still talk about why I choose to (probably) never live there again (unless Adrianne really, really needs to, and, of course, I would make that concession for her. She'd just have to deal with me making a lot less money again).

Today, while reading the Messenger-Inquirer (which, stupidly enough, you have to pay to view on the internet, but I have a little cheat for that situation), I came across just one more reason why I'm happy not living there anymore. This is a letter to the editor (called "Reader's Writes") that was published today:

Those who protested 'Da Vinci Code' proved faith

Readers Write

06/23/06

Messenger-Inquirer

On May 19, "The Da Vinci Code" was released to all theaters. This film is offensive to all Christians and especially to Catholics. It attacks the purity and divinity of Our Lord that suggests Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child and that the Catholic Church hid the secret for 2,000 years.

Catholics in Owensboro and across the nation offered an act of reparation to Our Lord by peaceful protests against this offensive movie. Most reactions from passers-by were positive; one couple stopped, said we had stopped them from seeing the movie, and one very nice police officer thanked us for what we were doing and said to let him know if we had any problems.

The Archbishop of Atlanta, Wilton D. Gregory, addressed a letter to "All Christians and people of good faith, rising to oppose the fraud of The Da Vinci Code." He said in part: "I send my support and my encouragement to all those who will be praying and protesting during these upcoming days, against the lies presented in The Da Vinci Code. I encourage all Christians to reject this film based on the book. Neither can be passed off as innocent entertainment or fun, for the undermining of faith they promote is a trick -- and we know who the ultimate author of the trick really is."

To all who protested and especially those who stood in the rain, you proved your faith and love for our Lord.

Martha L. Hall

2603 Darby Dan Court, Owensboro

Okay, first and foremost... HUH? How does one "prove their faith" by protesting a fictional body of work? I don't understand? It perplexes me to see people waste perfectly good time with things like this. I could understand if the book/movie said it were factual (from real events) and reportedly "proved" that all the events detailed therein were true.

However, IT'S FUCKING FICTION PEOPLE!

Do you not understand that? Did you protest X-Men 3 because Cyclops supposedly dies within the first 15 minutes of the movie, saying that in "real life" he doesn't die? No? Why not? I may have to go back in read all of my comic books, but I don't really remember Cyclops being killed by the Phoenix.

I know, yesterday, that I said I was trying to trim down my complaining. However, I will never stop complaining about idiots that use their religion as an invisible bubble to shelter them from the outside world. EVER!

I know several Catholics (including my beautiful wife - who's actually reading my blog daily now!!) who have read the book, seen the movie, and love both of them. They get it! They understand it is FICTION. At the same time, it doesn't make them question their faith. It also doesn't "disprove" their faith. If anything, it's made some of them look a little deeper into their religious sources (scriptures, etc) to find out more about the life of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and others who played a role in the biblical verses. That's not a bad thing. It's only a bad thing when you start questioning your faith or turning your back on God because of these things. Those two things are even more idiotic than the people protesting the movie. If you whole-heartedly believe, then only catastrophic events should be able to shake your faith. A simple fictional novel can't be classified as a catastrophic event, in my view anyway. I may be wrong though. I have been before, and I will be again. I'm sure of that!

So, instead of writing to the Messenger-Inquirer, like I've done a bunch of times, and calling this woman an idiot in front of all of her friends and fellow protestors, I've decided to lambaste her on the internet, using my own little blog. If she, or any of her friends don't like it, well, they can email me (my email address is just to the right of this entry, and especially if she doesn't like it, please send all emails to the second address listed! I'll be sure to respond promptly!) or leave me some comments. I'm happy to get any feedback!

Really, is it my fault people are like this? Should I feel bad for trying to distance myself from people who do this kind of stuff, when they could be using all that time and energy they wasted to actually help their fellow man?

As a Christian, which do you think God and Jesus would rather you do? Protest a movie based on a work of fiction, or volunteer (however many hours you would put into the protest) in a homeless shelter to feed and show some compassion to those that are needy?

I guess it all depends on what kind of God you believe in?