Avatar: You see what you want to see

Story

Evidently there is a group of people who find the movie Avatar to be racist propaganda. Because Jake Sully is a white man who joins the native tribe on Pandora and then leads them, this makes him a "white messiah," with the underlying message being that the natives are too simple to help themselves. Yeah ... and Blackhawk Down is inherently racist because it is not about a American troops in a rescue operation but instead white people killing black people.

Sorry, but I just don't buy the white messiah argument. If you want to pull small pieces out, such as Sully being able to tame the mythical beast, you could construct a rickety argument. The main problem comes, however, in the logic of the fictional situation (if that makes any sense). Sully does lead the natives, but why? Is it because he's better than them or is the true path to their salvation? Or instead, is it because, well, he's the one who understands the methods, equipment, and greed of the imperialists? Yes he dies and is reborn, but it is through the cause of action, not inaction. Jesus was not willed back to life out of desire, but instead out of divine plan.

If you want to look at something ridiculous, look at how over-the-top the Na'vi and the humans are portrayed. The Na'vi are, to a man, noble and pious. They are deadly and inherently connected to the world around them. Humans, on the other hand, are flawed and greedy. They believe in nothing but their work, be it science or money. There are no soldiers on the planet, just mercenaries out for a cut of the profits. Besides the science weenies, the only soldier shown to be sympathetic to Sully and the Na'vi is a woman.

Hmmm ... I don't think that racism is the word I'd use to describe Avatar. Stereotypical ... perhaps ... which is similar to racist, but I believe there is a line between the two. Perhaps these arguments come about because Director James Cameron tries so hard in his movie to make his points: natives are noble, imperialists are greedy, and the natural world must be saved.

Shots with the new camera ....

Ok ... this made me laugh

It seems the Nigerians prefer a flat fee ....

From my email:

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
441 4th Street NW, Suite 1145S
Washington, DC 20001

Attention: Sir,

We have received instruction from the Police Department ,Home land Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) here in the United States of America to prosecute you over allegations of money laundering and terrorist ($10m usd) related activities to which there is over whelming evidence of your involvement.

Note a copy of this email have been forwarded to the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA POLICE/AUTHORITIES and will be ordered for your immediate arrest.

The need for your urgent prosecution arose from your inability to secure the mandatory Clearance Certificate from the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria in spite of several opportunities given to you by the Police Department,Home land Security and FBI.

In view of the indicting report submitted to the Police Department ,Home land Security and FBI by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Police Department ,Home land Security and FBI has recommended for your immediate prosecution. You have to obtain the required Certificate from EFCC- CHAIRMAN, MRS. FARIDA WAZIRI ON HER EMAIL ADDRESS : mrsfaridawaz@yahoo.co.jp and the Cost of the Certificate is $370.00 only

We are giving you notice of service of writ of summons after seven days of receiving this letter by mail. If after the seven days and you are not able to obtain the Certificate to clear yourself before the Police Department ,Home land Security and FBI, Legal prosecution will begin immediately.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Your's faithfully,
Attorney General

Eric Holder

Best decision

So what was my best decision of the day? Leaving the Purdue football game before halftime.

Ick. What a game. I personally think that next week's game should be forfeited because the team will be unable to play after running stairs from immediately after this game through next Saturday morning. The sheer incompetence was just amazing.

Thought processes ....

I think that we tend to follow internal procedures and checklists and, when faced with a novel situation, attempt to apply those checklists with sometimes poor results.

Take what happened to me today for example.

Situation: Automatic car unlock doesn't work.

Step 1: Click unlock repeatedly.

Step 2. Pull handle to ensure it didn't silently unlock.

Step 3: Click unlock repeatedly again.

Step 4: Attempt to use actual keys.

Step 5: Find keys don't work.

Step 6: Stare at car.

Step 7: Attempt to use keys again.

Step 8: Stare at car.

Step 9: Plan how to get to store to replace battery on automatic mechanism.

Step 10: Realize it is not your car.

Step 11: Unlock your own car.

Random ....

In a Saturday full of great football games, my biggest conundrum ... staring at my toilet bowl, trying to figure out why a nickel was sitting at the bottom. How did it get there and, perhaps equally interesting, how would it get out?

A thinker for sure .....