The rule was that no one was allowed to talk to him during the evening news, except during commercials. Eventually, Wheel of Fortune would come on, and Grandpa would reach down to the side of his chair and flip the lever to drop the foot rest with a loud thunk. He'd then lean forward with his hands on his knees, sigh deeply and shake his head.
"I don't know what the world's coming to," he'd say, summing up all that he'd seen.
Maybe it's just a normal part of growing older, but I increasingly find this phrase running through my head when I look at the things going on around me. There are times, like this morning, when I even say it out loud.
I was reading today's offerings from Reuters, and this one caught me like a drop kick under the ribs:
April belongs to serial sex killer John Wayne Gacy, convicted of killing 33 young men and boys, while May is for Jeffrey Dahmer, who ate 17 men. June features Satanic worshiper and murderer Richard Ramirez.Link (Reuters)
The grisly 2007 Serial Killer Calendar produced by a Maine businessman depicts some of the world's most notorious murderers painted by "the vampire of Paris," Frenchman Nico Claux who himself served 7 years for murder.
Purple Inc., the Bangor, Maine-based company that produced and distributes the calendar in specialty retailers and the Internet, said initial response has been so strong that the company is planning a sequel and a line of posters.
"A lot of people are titillated by serial killers," said Lana Wachniak, a sociology professor and associate dean of Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
"A lot of people are titillated by serial killers."
Now there's a thought to keep you awake at night and never ever let your children (or pets) out of your sight.
Look. I'm not as devout as I would like, don't read the Bible like I should, and am in general a very flawed creation. I admit it. But isn't this "titillation" just the sort of thing that's meant by "glamor of evil" when we renew our baptismal vows?
Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?
Yes... and just to get off on the right foot, not only will I not be purchasing a serial killer calendar, but I won't even post a link to the company's web site. Frankly, I don't want my blog showing up in their referrer list.
The case is frequently made that each generation looks at the one succeeding it, shakes its collective head, and concludes that the world is going to hell in a handbasket—and that this is normal. Elvis (anagram: "evils". Hmm.) was evil in the eyes of my grandparents. KISS were evil in the eyes of my parents. Marilyn Manson is... well, he's certainly a sick little puppy. Just a matter of perspective.
But is it? Is it really? Bring me the 19th century script for a musical comedy about the life and times of Jack the Ripper, and maybe I'll concede the point.
For now, though, it really feels to me like the "glamor of evil" is alive, well, and gaining ground.
7 comments:
I completely agree with you. The world is becoming desensitized of violence and evil. Its scary to think of what will be acceptable in another 20 years.
Did your grandfather also say "goddammit, Harold, would you listen to me?" when discussing world events after the news with his best friend? Maybe it's just mine. ;-)
But, here's where I wonder, are we really behaving worse, or just different (human nature seems to oppose change, so every generation challenges the previous one just on this basis)? The reason I ask is that the glamour of evil has presented itself since Adam and Eve were escorted out of the Garden. In particular, look at the "Christian" Crusdades. I'm no historic scholar on evil, but I'm pretty sure we could find some gory, gory stuff if we go back far enough. Not that this makes a stupid serial killer calendar any less stupid. Just sayin'. ;-)
Oh, and my grandfather's favorite word used in discussing world events was "hooligans"...did yours use that?
Genesis 6:5-8 "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." NKJV
I remember the first time I read that passage - it was very sad to me. I believe man hasn't changed and I am thankful He is longsuffering.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter :
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. NKJV
Eric: I LIKE "The Supreme Trooper!" especially since we live in the land (one of a number of lands) where idiotic/crazy/insane/stupid drivers seem to thrive and procreate with abandon. This goes along with the newest mental illness formerly known as "road rage" called "intermittent explosive disorder (IED)." Give me a *&#$*N break!
But I digress. I'm not perfect, after all. :)
There is in our society, a glorification of criminals but as gwynne pointed out, it really is nothing new under the sun. It does sicken me to think that they are being glorified on a CALENDAR?? ew.
How does that phrase go?
History does repeat itself because nobody listens.
History has shown us even Rome's Achilles heel was the fact that they were so decadent and sinful. It was their undoing as the prominent rulers over the known world.
The world scientifically speaking, is in complete state of decay. This is around us and in us. I can only see this as fuel toward a more debase society.
It's taken our nation about 400 years to come from Puritanical to what I would consider a decadent society that is undoubtely driven by feelings. If it feels good do it is what is indocrinated into people through books, mainstream media, Hollywood, even hearing this from places that you shouldn't (schools and churches).
Our sin nature is fed due to allowing our sinful nature and feelings run the show..and in turn requires more. It's similar to the carb reaction in that you feed yourself the need for more.
With all that said, when we feed ourselves on what excites us and feels good, combined with this 'diet' of requiring more, then we get bored and look for more debase things to satisfy our hunger for excitement, sex, relationships, food....the list is endless really.
I try to follow Christ teachings and I am not perfect either. I do however see the teachings of the Bible telling us to die to our sin or evil natured side. Email me if this makes no sense. :O) I've pretty much made my comment a post.
"Maybe it's just a normal part of growing older, but I increasingly find this phrase running through my head when I look at the things going on around me." I don't think it has anything to do with age. Hoop and I are in our 20s and we say it ALL THE TIME.
The truth is the world has become a scary place. The radio plays songs promoting adultery and being promiscuous. There are parents taking their kids to get tattooed on their 18th bdays. Rape and murder are common news topics... It's getting out of hand.
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