7 Quick Takes Friday

1) Msgr. Charles Pope has a cultural reflection on the latest in an increasing number of mass killings we are experiencing in the U.S.  It is well worth reading and thinking about.  The title "And if the light in you is darkness, how deep will the darkness be" is taken from Matthew 6.

Msgr. Pope quotes verses 21-23:

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness! (Matt 6:21-22)

Some of us have noticed the increasing "dark" themes in movies.  What was, in the 1940's and 50's, a child-friendly superhero, is now so detailed in its portrayal of evil, that it drags vulnerable individuals into mimicking their behavior.

This is not the only cause of the Colorado shooting, but it, at least, is a reflection of what our society values, allows, and spends its money to produce, watch and show our children. Until we rediscover non-violent values, this type of thing will continue.

2)  Russel Shaw has written an article, How the Decline in Community is Affecting Your Parish, which talks about the general trend towards individualism and social withdrawal.  I've been thinking a lot about this myself, as has my dh.  I wonder what connections this has to the increase in "senseless" shootings.

3)  Greg over at The Deacon's Bench has an eye-opening post on MSNBC's Joe Scarborough's musing that the Colorado shooter may be on the autism spectrum.  Never mind that autistic melt-downs, as pointed out by Greg, are often impulsive and do not require months of detailed planning.

Thanks, Mr. Scarborough, for such stellar and well-researched journalism that will further the cause of disability awareness for all.  /sarcasm

Deacon Greg sums it up nicely:

Welcome to Journalism in 2012, a jolly and carefree profession blissfully devoid of facts, where anyone can be anything and, of course, say whatever they want.

We’re doomed.

Now that everything is news and everyone is a reporter, we have to be more aware of what we are saying.

4) Another good one from Deacon Greg: There is a software that will output typewriter sounds as you type on your laptop. Those of us "of a certain age" will remember the soothing sounds of typewriter keys and the ring of the carriage return bell. (It even has that sound too). Here is a video demo:


5)  Our poor cat, Vlad, has had to be sedated and part of his face shaved after swelling up alarmingly.  Turns out it wasn't an abscess and it wasn't his tooth, but some undefined injury, possibly an interaction with a thorn. He's home now and has been eating well, although he's spending most of his time in the cool basement.

6)  Sojourners has an excellent article, Clinging to Christ in Compound Grief, written by an articulate author from Colorado.  Many people see tragedy as a reason not to believe in God.  This author tells us that the question to ask is "How do we respond to events like this, experiences that shake us to the core?" She also says that "the need to peg blame in a tragic situation is a natural human response."  We want to know why and if we can't get those answers, we blame God or those who insist on believing in Him when the real question to ask is, "How can I be part of God's solution to this continuing human tragedy? I think this ties in with today's second point about declining community and how it affects our parishes.  So much has happened in the world, in the Church, in the last 10 years, that many of us are still hiding out, nursing our wounds.  It is time to get up, get out, and be Love.

7)  The mayors of Boston and Chicago have moved to ban Chick fil A from doing business in their cities because the owner of the franchise is for traditional marriage.  No word on how many conservative mayors will ban Starbucks because of their opposite stance.  (insert eye roll here).  How about some free speech, hmmm?