Old Type Writer: "I guess there are no more rules about what a person can do to another person."

For my Old Type Writer column this month, my son Roy contributed a guest piece titled "I guess there are no more rules about what a person can do to another person." Talk of the Town editor (and newly re-elected Columbia City city council member) Jennifer Romano writes, "Roy Sexton steps in for a guest column on Old Type Writer, sharing a review of the recently released Hunger Games film and The Night Before."

Here's a quote from the column: "What passes for entertainment these days, it could be argued, shows a glib disregard for humanity, grace, and life itself. It's a bit ironic, given that Hollywood tends to be first to get in line for humanitarian causes, yet the chief blockbuster product rolling from the City of Dreams on a quarterly basis is awash in cinematic bloodletting. I don't know what to make of that." You can read the column here: http://talkofthetownwc.com/oldtypewri...

The "carrying" society instead of the "caring" society. Our nation is the worst - too many Westerns in film and on TV back in the day?

Eric Mumin writes, "'But the world has spent the better part of a week trying to reconcile the senseless violence in Paris, France and wagging hundreds of politicized fingers at governments or refugees or religions in a misplaced, manic desire to place blame on anyone but the actual perpetrators ... and, for that matter, to shift focus away from our own collective collusion in this endless stream of mind-numbing violence, real and fictional, that dances across myriad screens.' Strong observation there, Mr. Sexton. Americans particularly have cornered the market in that behavior. Still trying to wrap my mind around born and bred Americans whose ancestors fought, died and shed blood to bring this country into being and fought for what it stands for since then...fervently, traditionally, feverishly hating and self-righteously ridiculing each other STILL to this day based on idiotic, maliciously conceived lies and twisted 'truths' in regards to skin color, culture to augment supposed superiority of one group and supposed inferiority of another group. To me that type of behavior in no way embodies nor typifies what the Constitution of the United States of America, Bill Of Rights or Civil Rights Amendment encourages the citizens of this country to live up to and make the default standard in the face of all else. No sir...that other behavior seems quite un-American."

Drex Morton adds, "I don't know where Roy finds the time to write such insightful commentaries on our culture through the lens of the cinematic media, but I'm glad he does. When we worship the kind of violence represented in films and portrayals like The Hunger Games, then the utilization of violence to promote a misguided sense of self-actualization is bound to seep into the fabric of our sorrow-filled reality. 'Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me...'"

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays, helping share the kind of love and compassion that always should be a hallmark of the season ...

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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

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