Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Perhaps if the NRA hired Gandalf to read the 2nd Amendment on the floor of the Senate

Gee... a lunatic murders children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton in Connecticut, and it's now necessary for the NRA to justify our Individual Rights. Shocker. Here's one off the top, from CNN "After Newtown, the NRA goes silent"
"The NRA did not return messages seeking comment on Monday. A representative for Facebook told CNN they were not able to speak for the NRA and do not comment on organization's actions on their own pages."
Whatever is the NRA to do about our '2nd amendment right'? Hmmm?Oh, by the way, you have No Constitutional Rights. Zero. None. Nada. Moving on.

In our collective consciousness we seem to have allowed central casting to award the part of "The Law" to to be played character actors who specialize in wimpiness like Don Knotts's Barney Fife, or the oiliness of a more modern Grima Wormtongue... or, splitting the difference, a SOBbing John Boehner. The effect has been to sap our laws of having anything like the force of law behind their words.

They're just not taken seriously. Lately, it doesn't seem as if our first ten amendments to the Constitution even rise to the level of the 10 suggestions. Go figure.

You mean that a culture that educates their children to learn useful skills, rather than to understand what is Right and Wrong, doesn't take meaningful words seriously, unless they're delivered in a skillful manner that captures their attention?

What a surprise.

I suggest rebooting the franchise.

How about... if the NRA pays for new advertising, casting the wizard Gandalf to read the 2nd Amendment in  darkened halls of congress, in the manner of his facing down the Balrog in the mines of Moria? Now with that in mind, picture Gandalf in congress, his voice and demeanor full of the sort of conviction millions have seen him express with "You ... Shall... NOT pass!", as he thunders out the 2nd Amendment,
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Eh? Whatcha think?

And no need to stop there, perhaps the NRA &... well... some other interested party, could get together for some cross promotional opportunities, and pay him to read the 1st Amendment too... I mean seriously, the language is there, we just need someone, someone with some solid screen presence, some gravitas, to bring those words to life in the same manner that Ian McKellen brought Gandalf to life in the minds of millions:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
That'd be something, wouldn't it? Maybe if we bring some drama to the law, people would think of the laws and of our liberty, half as seriously as they do the movies.

What, are you complaining that I'm not taking this 'latest issue', (CRISIS!!! NO MORE!!! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!!) seriously enough? Oh? Well how about you tell me why I should be taking this latest assault upon all of our individual rights, any more seriously than that of a casting decision? I should behave as if their hysterical words claiming power over our lives, have more meaning than those meaningful words which were written into law to defend our right to live our own lives?

Oh come on, give it a shot (!)... my comment box is functional, spill your guts.

While you're at it, I tell you what, try telling me why any organization, be it the NRA or any other, should be considered by lawmakers and the media, as having to defend and justify ANY of our Rights, against the government and the media's desire to abridge them? For our own good?

And you want me to take your latest 'crisis' seriously? Excuse me for a moment while I reach for some rotten tomatoes. Don't move now....