This in reply to the comment by Roeker on the last blog:
You fool! Just kidding. To those who have not read the comment, Roeker criticized this writer for being too cynical towards both the Olympics and the commercials that, in the end, allow us to see them. Says he, to paraphrase: I like the competition of those trying to be their best, as well as the team spirit in many events; and the commercials? What of them? Yes, they are trying to sell us something, but so what? Buy the product or not, and move on!
To which I will reply: on the competition, yes, in most cases it is well contained, especially considering that most are very young. Many, in fact, are not only more competitive than I was at that age, but also more graceful in both victory and defeat. To those, I have no problem. But we are sold on the idea that we should all be number one, or at least in that number of greats, when in reality, most of us can never be anywhere close to number one except, maybe, number one dad or something of that sort. But for the most part, I agree with Roeker: I see the faults of some athletes, and the hard sell of the games, but these are not major problems.
Commercials are. It is not simply a matter of selling products, but of uniting products with emotions in an attempt to manipulate us. We are told that these ads act subliminally, but let's say they don't (of course they do - why else would they spend millions to produce them?). The important thing is that we become cynical because of the ads - yes, admit it Roeker, you do too - and in that, become cynical of the emotions that are being used to sell the product as well, whether we want to or not. This makes us afraid of expressing these emotions, for fear of appearing fake, and perhaps not taking others seriously when they are trying to be serious. In sum, it makes us cynical all around. This is spiritual death.
However, perhaps Roeker missed the emphasis that I said had been given me by the vision of the holy spirit - that is, that it is ME who is most to blame for whatever cynicism I harbor. The world is often a dark place - stupid ads are the least of our worries. If I am to let darkness inside me, it is me who is allowing darkness to win. That's the point of life, according to many religions - that we are tested by evil, even when that evil is only the banalities of life, those small things which can still cause us to fall into darkness (cynicism). It is up to us to keep the FAITH, as I noted towards the end of the blog. That is, to keep the holy spirit in mind even when the world about us is engulfed in flames - or stupid ads, or ego-laden athletes.
So I agree and disagree - disagree, in that ads are potentially more pernicious than Roeker thinks, but I agree that it is primarily up to us to decide what to do with the potentially harmful stuff we are given. To make the right - the positive - decision is the point here on earth of the spiritual life. Yes-no? FK
You fool! Just kidding. To those who have not read the comment, Roeker criticized this writer for being too cynical towards both the Olympics and the commercials that, in the end, allow us to see them. Says he, to paraphrase: I like the competition of those trying to be their best, as well as the team spirit in many events; and the commercials? What of them? Yes, they are trying to sell us something, but so what? Buy the product or not, and move on!
To which I will reply: on the competition, yes, in most cases it is well contained, especially considering that most are very young. Many, in fact, are not only more competitive than I was at that age, but also more graceful in both victory and defeat. To those, I have no problem. But we are sold on the idea that we should all be number one, or at least in that number of greats, when in reality, most of us can never be anywhere close to number one except, maybe, number one dad or something of that sort. But for the most part, I agree with Roeker: I see the faults of some athletes, and the hard sell of the games, but these are not major problems.
Commercials are. It is not simply a matter of selling products, but of uniting products with emotions in an attempt to manipulate us. We are told that these ads act subliminally, but let's say they don't (of course they do - why else would they spend millions to produce them?). The important thing is that we become cynical because of the ads - yes, admit it Roeker, you do too - and in that, become cynical of the emotions that are being used to sell the product as well, whether we want to or not. This makes us afraid of expressing these emotions, for fear of appearing fake, and perhaps not taking others seriously when they are trying to be serious. In sum, it makes us cynical all around. This is spiritual death.
However, perhaps Roeker missed the emphasis that I said had been given me by the vision of the holy spirit - that is, that it is ME who is most to blame for whatever cynicism I harbor. The world is often a dark place - stupid ads are the least of our worries. If I am to let darkness inside me, it is me who is allowing darkness to win. That's the point of life, according to many religions - that we are tested by evil, even when that evil is only the banalities of life, those small things which can still cause us to fall into darkness (cynicism). It is up to us to keep the FAITH, as I noted towards the end of the blog. That is, to keep the holy spirit in mind even when the world about us is engulfed in flames - or stupid ads, or ego-laden athletes.
So I agree and disagree - disagree, in that ads are potentially more pernicious than Roeker thinks, but I agree that it is primarily up to us to decide what to do with the potentially harmful stuff we are given. To make the right - the positive - decision is the point here on earth of the spiritual life. Yes-no? FK
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