Video games, movies change us
On Thursday, I read David Germain’s critique of the movie “Django Unchained” for no reason other than curiosity. His first sentence got my attention. He said that the movie was Quentin Tarantino’s replaying “… his other blood fests.” As I read on he alluded to “gunfights carried on to grotesque excess.” “Bodies bursting blood like exploding water balloons. Perversely fun the first five or six times, pretty dreary the 20th or 30th.”
Fun?
Then I thought how significant it was in relation to recent headlines.
I remember when someone said Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner cartoons were too violent for children. I remember when they said commercials couldn’t show anyone drinking alcohol because it would encourage drinking. Tobacco ads were pulled from television and print media. We were protecting children, but what about what goes on between the commercials? What is wrong with us?
Learn from history. Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party convinced a nation of 69 million people, through film, newspapers and radio speeches that eradication of Jews and other groups would benefit their dream of a perfect society. Starting in 1933 between 12 and 20 million people were put to death because most Germans bought into the propaganda.
Ultra-violent video games and movies have been around for years. Since that garbage is still disseminated, it will change us all. Sadly I think it already has.
Bill Bryker
Washington