I just saw, "The Dark Knight Rises" the day after the shooting in the movie theater at the premier in Colorado leaving 12 dead after 6,000 rounds of ammunition made this the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. Entertaining? Yes. Motivating? Sure. Batman cares for Gotham. Let's all of us: Care for our City. Let's write to the producers of "The Dark Knight Rises" asking that they produce a 60-second PSA (=public service announcement) raising awareness about the need for safety education and citizen involvement to advocate for gun control laws that support safety. (For a quickie education, go to www.bradycenter.org website or on FB) Like NYC Mayor Bloomberg, so many are shocked that the two candidates for the presidency offered condolences but no plans because the financially and politically powerful NRA (=National Rifle Association) controls this issue. Why is it that no matter how many people die, gun control doesn't move even when the targets are kids or celebrities or political leaders? <www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/20/why-don-t-mass-shootings-lead-to-gun-control.html> Remember the tobacco lobby? We limited their power to hurt us directly and indirectly.
Time to put on our collective white hat and take down these smokin' guns.
Prospective title for the one-minute PSA: "The Dark Knight Rises to Bat Out Gun Violence!" Christopher Nolan, in his 7/20/12 statement, expressed "profound sorrow" at the senseless tragedy" and went on to say that “I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theater is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me.”
Let's tell Dear Mr. Nolan: The Selina Kyle character line refuting Batman's anti-gun policy would be a good "hook" for the PSA, but, do not let that one movie line quote substitute for your citizen responsibility to make a contribution to this cause.
Why should you do a PSA? Because you can! I am not charging you with guilt; that would be silly. Rather, I am saying that you should behave like an adult who, when s/he sees a problem that s/he can address, immediately does what s/he can instead of bemoaning the situation and clucking sympathies.
Please, Mr. Producer Director Christopher Nolan, Kind Sir, Use your platform to help protect our shared theater-home by making sure we watch your sympathies turned into responsible social action by urging us to become aware and involved. Protect the City!
Your film's characters quote Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" in the film to good effect. Let me motivate you with quotes from Mr. Dickens in "A Tale of Two Cities," first, one which did not appear in the movie: A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other. Maybe you have the gift of being able to truly care and help and are not even aware of your power respond to the desperate need among your fellow citizens.
And, then, just like Batman's words read by Commissioner Gordon at the conclusion of the film, you will be able to say about your anti-gun violence initiative that "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done."
I am sure, that like your caped hero, the words of Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" will reverberate in your soul, too, celebrating successive successes in your public efforts for meaningful gun violence control as you say to yourself, "I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free [from insane random gun violence}, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time [of capitulation to the NRA] and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out [so that no longer do we have to bury innocents and mutter meaningless condolences]" Amen.
I thank you, Mr. Nolan, in advance and promise to follow your lead and back you up just as you back up this cause to protect the residents of these United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment