Monday, January 19, 2009

Saint Elmo's Fire Controversy

Throughout the last few weeks of College Lit. we've been talking on and off about the effects of censorship. While in a deep conversation (like the many we have in that class.) I remembered reading about a movie that changed the way that critics looked at "freedom of speech".

Saint Elmo's Fire. For most of you youngsters out there, this is probably not a movie in you're top 10. Released in 1985 it was the last movie of the nick name "Brat Pack" collection. Along with Saint Elmo's Fire, there was also "The Breakfast Club", and "Pretty in Pink."

Seven friends fresh out of Georgetown University struggle to overcome the issues that keep them from growing up and moving on past their College glory days. Sounds like any other teenage 80's movie right? Wrong. This movie created such a censorship battle that with the directors complete disagreement, there was cuts from the film.

For example. In the movie there is a scene of a girl who decides she found the guy who she wants to loose her virginity to. If the director would have gotten her way, there would have been a (excuse me Mr. Kunkle) but a straight up porn film on the big screen.

There were numerous scenes like this, and here was the big issue. THERE WAS MALE NUDITY. Oh no, big absolute not. I mean, we have a adapted a bit to male nudity in the new millennium, but we are still very sensitive to it. Why? Who knows, but that's not what my blog is about.

Critics were completely insulted by the directors request for an R rating. For male nudity? Completely out of the question?

That's where it all started. Why is it OK to have women nudity vs. males? What's the difference. She also argued that she was only showing real-life situations, and that people are just uncomfortable watching their bad behavior on the big screen. The movie's release date continued to be delayed and delayed. Which actually ended up working well for the director (it created great suspense).

Although the directer finally agreed to have her movie shown without the nudity, it was only because X movies are not able to be shown regular cinemas.

The question is. Should the movie have been cut? One can argue both ways. One side could say that it's based on real-life "finding you're way through life" experiences. There are really males who, if you can believe it, get naked.

The other side could argue simply this. If you want to watch naked men and women, rent a DVD.

I guess in the end it just goes back to the famous unanswerable question. Should freedom of speech be limited?

Friday, January 9, 2009

Government Secrets.

A couple weeks ago, we watched the movie Doomsday. To be quite honest, it scared the living heck out of me. It came to my realization that we laugh off the fact that the military general loved chewing gum and the president was such a softy. They were the comic relifs of the movie.

Take that all away though and look at the main plot. A general, in our military, releases a top secret nuclear bomb mission. Our government can't stop it, so what do they do? Plan for their safe escape.

We also recently learned about the Cointelpro organization in our new book Caucasia. Another secret organization that was exposed. I honestly believe that they were behind numerous movement leader assassinations.

Then there's Nixon. The president who was exposed for running numerous secret government organizations.

Anywhoo. I have finally concluded, (after my years of research, HA.), that I do not trust our government at all. Not in the least bit. To be quite honest, I think that there are numerous secret government organizations.

I believe that 9/11 was a slight set up. I don't believe it was 100% the United States, I just believe that they knew more about it then they told us. I think President Bush brushed it off as another threat and just let it go, without the proper precautions.

All you have to do is type in "9/11 conspiracy", and millions and millions of websites will pop up explaining their side. Understandably, some are a little crazy sounding. Some however, really make you scratch your head.

I wonder, what would happen if there was a comet, nuclear bomb, or a terrorist attack that the government knew about. Would they tell us? Probably not, it would cause a world wide panic. We would just be going on about our day and bam, it all be over in an instant.

North Korea, Pakistan, Israel...they all have nuclear weapons. I'm an honestly surprised that we haven't pushed their buttons enough for an attack. Don't get me wrong, I'm thanking whoever it is I'm suppose to be thanking that we're still here. However, it's almost a miracle.

I just go my life day by day, with no regrets. I do my best to keep up to date with politics and oversea actions. That's about all I can do.

On a more positive note. I think Obama will do a fantastic job in his presidency. I think he is capable of picking up the mess that Bush left and lead the U.S. into a better future.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Strip the Exterior

Every day millions of women wake up and get ready for the day. They spend hours picking out the perfect outfit, that they probably paid way too much for. Then proceed to put lotions and powders on their face to cover up their already beautiful skin. With other individual odds and ends in between this is the process of a normal American female's day.


I am not going to sit here and blog about how much I hate that women are so self-conscious, because that would be truly hypocritical. I wear expensive jeans and straighten my hair on my good days. However, I also recognize inner beauty before I even comment on a women's exterior.

That is what my blog about is ladies and gentlemen. The inner beauty. Some say it's only for the ugly people. Other's argue that without inner beauty, a person will never be truly beautiful.


This is my argument. What in the heck are we doing? People in America have become so image conscious that clothing and cosmetic companies feed off of it. They do everything they can to subliminally tell us that we are not perfect, but we can be with their product.


Everyone knows that it's a bunch of BS, however, we still go out and buy it. Maybe sometime a women will find her perfect shade of blush, but then what does that mean? Does it boost your self-esteem so that you feel better about yourself? Some say yes. I then argue, really?

It is estimated that 1 in 3 women have eating disorders. It is also estimated that 30,000 people die from suicide each year, and another 75,000 attempt it.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24. It is because at those ages, we are all trying to find ourselves. Trying to decide who we will be for the rest of our lives. We form to friends, family, and celebrities to be what we think we want to be. However, the only way to really find out who you truly are is to look inside of yourself.

I understand that peeling away all of the exterior will leave you completely exposed to everyone around you, and that scares the heck out of anyone.

I leave you with this note. How will you know if you are ever truly happy, if you don't know who you really are?