Green Hornet - crimefighter?

This is probably going to be one of my oddest posts for this blog.

I went to see the new movie “The Green Hornet.” Obviously, what drew me to this movie was the fact that I grew up watching the original 1960’s television series. I spent most of the movie comparing the movie to the TV version.

The TV series only lasted one season and can be associated with the “Batman” series as they were made to overlap – production resources and scripts. GH was made to be somewhat futuristic with a dependence on electronic gadgets. The most important aspect of the show was the level of crime-fighting intelligence and understanding of the criminal mind. He and his sidekick Kato worked well together.

What I saw in the movie was the “hero” Britt Reid as selfish, dimwitted, dependant, lush, inability to judge others’ character…and on and on. In other words, this hero really had very few redeeming values.

Finally, the hero tries to do what is right and even manages to succeed. One incident was even copied from the TV series.

What makes this movie so disappointing – along with some of the Superman and Batman movies – is that the heroes are made out to have significant personality flaws. The heroes of old could be depended to not only catch the criminal, but also make the right moral decisions.

Young people look at these movies and see no sense of right and wrong, only gray areas of poor choices. I believe that one reason young people today make bad choices is the lack of superheroes with bedrock right morals and cutting edge crime fighting capabilities.

Yeah, this movie was a waste of movie.

My "I Understand Now" Moment

“By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return."

Genesis 3:19

- God speaking to Adam & Eve after the revelation of their disobedience.

Yesterday I had a moment that made that verse VERY real. Some people may equate this nothing more than a pre-schooler discovering the switch on a flashlight can turn on and off the light.

I usually shave with a blade but occasionally use the electric razor for my lazy moments – even though the blade really is faster. Anyway, I don’t usually empty the electric razor of whiskers after every shave. I emptied it into the sink yesterday and it had more than I expected. First noticeable fact – the color of the whiskers – gray.

The next fact is important. I rubbed the whiskers in my fingers and it felt just like fine sand. From a sandbox. I know this sounds a bit kooky, but that is when I realized what I am made of and where my shell will return.

Our lives are short and our bodies are made of basic materials from the earth. What makes us different from everything around us is the soul within that seeks to connect with its Creator. Unfortunately, many people do not make that connection during their living hours. Don’t delay - know that God has creatively made us to worship Him.

forgiveness

This past weekend I had to admit that I was wrong. That was the easy part.

I sat face to face with a man from my church that I felt had wronged me. My response over the past 5 years was wrong. Machismo had taken over. My general "John Wayne" attitude had taken over then and I felt I could recover just fine on my own. Nope. No man is an island to himself. I was on a deserted island. Now, he came to apologize to me. And he did so sincerely.

Suddenly, I was faced with the responsibility to forgive. The sudden sense that I had power over another person was very nearly overwhelming. More importantly, it was a sensation that I wanted to have no part of. While my forgiveness may seemed insincere, it was more the sudden emotion of power that I did not want.

I can seem to be intimidating. And it can be fun to exert that power (to a future son-in-law). Yet in this situation I did not like that power and wanted to have no part of it.

I think it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to give it.

My son, the serviceman

Along the theme of respect for the military.... My son is a member of the US Air Force. Don't ask me what he does, I've never understood, but I have seen some of the stuff he works with and that is good for me! Anyway, he is another member of the ALL-VOLUNTEER military. Here he is being sworn in by the Number 1 pilot from the Air Force Thunderbirds (far right enlistee). He has served 12 years. I am proud of him.

In Memorium

This weekend is the Memorial Day. I cannot begin to express my great respect that I have for former and present members of the military and the duty they perform.

Since the age of the Vietnam era, the liberals in the United States have taken an exceptionally high level of animosity, anger, hatred for the military. They complain about the killing they perform, when required. They want to use the military as a social services agency.

Yet, today's members of the military are far more selfless when you consider they are ALL volunteers. While I am not a fan of the premise of the movie "A Few Good Men," the statement made by Colonel Jessup:

Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and curse the Marines; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives and that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use then as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.

Soldiers are trained to kill. Yes, kill. I want them on that wall. They VOLUNTEER to be on that wall. And because of all of that, they deserve our greatest respect. The ultimate respect is paid at Arlington National Cemetery. If you ever have the chance to visit the Tomb of the Unknowns - take it! It is an awesome presentation of respect.

Teaching a man to be a man

Back to the discussion of manhood.

Some may take my discussions here as sexist. They are not intended to be. Historically the man/husband has been assumed to be responsible for the family. He provided the work to bring home the “bacon.” Sometimes that meant actually butcher the hog and bring home the bacon. He would sign the contracts to purchase the home, car, etc. Society today has changed the role to make equals of husband and wife. I don’t have a problem with that, but I do believe that somebody has to make the final decisions.

Unfortunately, a lot of what is wrong with the family today is the fault of the husband/father. While I don’t have statistical info to back up my claims, I think most people would agree with my assumptions. Most divorces are the result of the wandering eye of the man. Whether it is sexual or career or self-interest, men are more willing to pursue diversionary interests outside of the family.

To wit, the evangelical church has failed to address this issue. There is a class for every group. Infants, pre-schoolers, little kids, pre-teens, teens, college age, women’s groups. And the programs for these groups are intense. We have staff to address kid’s programs. Multiple women’s studies and get togethers. Where is the husband/father at? Maybe a seasonal sporting activity.

What men really need is to be taught how to be men. Too many men these days base their instruction on media representations. Television portrays men as idiots. Perhaps the model as described in the Bible. Actual mentoring. Small groups. One-on-one. A respect for older men that have been through it. Life-seasoned. But the church hardly does this. We wonder why Christian marriages are failing at the same rate as non-religious marriages. Lack of instruction. Lack of respect. Lack of determination to do the hard stuff. Look in your church library at books on how to be a man. The total will probably be less than the number on how to raise children. It will be less than women’s issues.

What are your thoughts?

The President's "Budget"

There are smarter people than me out there analyzing the budget that the President has proposed for next year. What amazes me during this entire process is the ignorance of many taxpayers - especially young people - that believe they see little wrong with this budget.

The lack of understanding of the implications of today's federal budget is based on the lack of remembering historical events and basic financial principles.

After World War I, Germany tried to lift itself out of its economic misery by printing more currency. This only resulted in staggering inflation. The following is a quote from Wikipedia referring to the period of the Weimar Republic:

Although the inflation ended with the introduction of the Rentenmark and the Weimar Republic continued for a decade afterwards, hyperinflation is widely believed to have contributed to the Nazi takeover of Germany. Adolf Hitler himself in his book, Mein Kampf, makes many references to the German debt and the negative consequences that brought about the "necessity" of National Socialism. The inflation also raised doubts about the competence of liberal institutions, especially amongst a middle class who had held cash savings and bonds. It also produced resentment of Germany's bankers and speculators, many of them Jewish, whom the government and press blamed for the inflation.

Failure to pay attention to events of the past - and the corresponding consequences - results in what we have today. The general populace believes that the president is doing the right thing by borrowing money to pay for programs now. They have no knowledge of these kinds of events happening previously and the results.

The payment of this budget is ensured by the "full faith and credit of the United States." The assumption is that today's debt will be paid in the future. How will that debt be paid? Currently, it is sold on the open market in the form of Treasury bills and savings bonds. But that principle - and interest - will be paid in the future through higher taxes. How can the government avoid raising taxes? Print more money. By decreasing the value of the dollar, apparent wages and costs of goods goes up. It now becomes easier to pay for yesterday's debt. But the value of money continues to decline and the financial effect on the average consumer will become more burdensome.

Men, young men, leaders of families, are obligated to be aware of these implications. You are responsible for your families. Not the government!

I beg you to heed the warnings of an older man.

Where have all of the superheroes gone?

Continuing the thought about men:
Where have all of the (super)heroes gone? Men need heroes. Men need role models that defend country, honor, women, children, and the right thing to do.

I had Superman. I had Batman. I had Roy Rogers. These were heroes that were more than just a guy doing the right thing for themselves. What they did was a part of life itself. Doing the right thing wasn’t for personal benefit. They did it because they understood it was bigger than life. For some, it meant saving the damsel in the old West. For others, it meant saving the planet and the human race. Either way, it was more than themselves.

This next statement will show if anybody is actually reading this blog. I will reveal a part of myself that few know about me. I doubt if my mom or brothers remember this. I used to find the biggest bath towel in the house and a large safety pin and became another superhero. Yes, I did this when I was growing up, not as an adult. I was out to save the world from evil villains also. I could get my cape to flow in the breeze. It was exhilarating. I used to walk with pretend six-shooters strapped on. I would make sure that my fingers curled slightly as did the good guys.

These were my role models. Fictional-yes! But they did it right. I wanted to be like them. Where are those heroes today? Superman and Batman now are borderline dysfunctional. They can’t deal with having an alter-ego. Bruce Wayne is probably an evil industrialist gaining wealth at the expense of his employees. Roy Rogers wouldn’t be allowed to have guns anymore. Or at least be sure that they are registered and have a license to carry a weapon.

The heroes of today are real life people: sports stars, wizards of wealth, politicians. The problem is that with these heroes you also have their faults. Their status is based on only what they do for themselves. They are not heroes to the bigger things in life. They are wrapped up in themselves.

Men (and young men) need to know that they can be the super heroes of today. Fight for the bigger things in life. Rid the world of crime, save the beautiful damsel, and still remain a humble man. That is what this world needs today. Boys need to put on the cape.

What does it mean to be a "man?"

There are many aspects to being a man. There is the physical man with all of his biological functions. Some are blessed with strong muscles, great looks, and hardly any cranial follicles. Many are not as fortunate. A man also can become a husband. He can become a father. Late in life he can even become a patriarch. Our media-centered society has given little effort to explain these roles.

The one issue in my life that has weighed the greatest on me involves the definition of being a man. What does it mean to be a MAN in today’s American society?

There have been so many definitions during my lifetime. The most prominent definer of manhood has been through the media, primarily television and the movies. “Make Room for Daddy,” “Father Knows Best,” “The Andy Griffith Show” were great starts for defining a father that – while comical at times – as a leader in the family with always the right thing to say at the right time.

I always liked John Wayne’s “The Quiet Man” as representative of man that courted a woman in proper fashion. Once he was married he was the defender of his bride and that was what Maureen O’Hara wanted. Of course, several other John Wayne movies defined manhood.

But now manhood has been feminized over the past 25 years. Display the softer side. Show no aggression. Anger is out. Cooperation is in, take charge is out.

I want to continue to develop this topic – primarily for the benefit of my sons – to get some discussion going.