We Are The Hands

Ok, I usually write frilly, faith-filled, TMI kind of journalings about Jesus and me and life.  I'll get back to that in the next blog, but for now, bear with me.  I love you, America, but these gloves are coming off...

Just read an article about Disney laying off on princess movies for an undetermined period of time, because "boys think they're icky."  Ok, I can roll with that.  I love me some Disney, but I can handle a hold on princess stories for a bit.  I get it - they're too girly, they awaken unrealistic expectations about life and love, and on and on.  I get it.  But these kids don't get that.  Sure, one day, they'll understand that love is more than a magic glance across a room, or a prince who rescues you from a tower.  Unfortunately, maybe they'll meet Prince Charming and he'll smash their hearts into a million pieces.  But they'll also find that just like in these fairytales, faith prevails.  There is something sweet and yes, even magical, in the childlike naivete of faith, of believing that dreams can come true, that within every girl is a princess and she is worth more than meets the eye.

Today I read this statement from a media critic regarding Disney's decision to hold off on Princess films: "By the time they're 5 or 6, [girls are] not interested in being princesses. They're interested in being hot, in being cool. Clearly, they see this is what society values."  (REALLY?!)

And we wonder why the sex trade is thriving.  Not the same thing?  What if, one small decision after another - ie, one song, one music video, one magazine cover, one billboard, one store advertisement, one lyric after another, after another, after another... we're demoralizing ourselves.  What if, in essence, we are the perpetrators?  We are the consumers.  We are the traffickers.  We traffick violence and rape by consuming every piece of media - music, film, internet or print - that perpetrates this sort of ideology and atmosphere in our world: 

Be hot.  It's all about the hotness. 

When you awaken a thirst within a man, do not be surprised when he drinks. 

When you arouse a hunger in a man, do not be shocked when he eats. 

When you create a culture where 'hotness' is all that matters,

do not be angry at the monster who devours it.

Be angry at the hands that built it.

I'm afraid in many ways, we are those hands.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost...

What if this wasn't what society valued?  I realize, this sounds impossible, 'old-fashioned,' and maybe even naive, but "I have a dream..."  I have a dream that human kind would be allowed to still dream and believe, like a child.  I have a dream that movies could still be funny without being rated R.  I have a dream that upholding a standard of virtue would not be cheaply dismissed as "too conservative," "out of touch," or "super-spiritual."  I have a dream that parents would stand up to their children and stand up for their children - because they love and protect the prince and princess within.  I have a dream that 5 or 6 year olds would never be described again with words like "hot" or "cool."  I have a dream that children would be encouraged to be children again.  That the 'legal' age among society for becoming an adult would be reserved for, yes...the adults.  I have a dream that children would have more to look up to than any adolescent boy or girl with a microphone and good hair.  I have a dream that the grown ups would grow up - that they would father and mother well.  I have a dream where the princes and princesses reign.

I love good music of all kinds.  I enjoy TV and movies of pretty much any genre.  And honestly, I kind of hate the terms "Christian music" and "secular music."  I know there is truth to be found in both (Philippians 4:8 is a great measuring rod for what is healthy or not).  I do not believe we should retreat in fear, but to live our faith.  When there is no longer a line in the sand, we will become what we hate.  Satan's sneaky, a worthy adversary indeed.  *If you are already dismissing this because I just included "Satan" and "media" in the same note, you might want to take some time to read the ever-insightful Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. 

The time for awakening has passed.  We are in need of resurrection.

Long live the princes.  Long live the princesses.  Long live The King.