Onhell
Infinite Dreamer
A thought came to me the other day as I was reading World Without End by Ken Follet. I admit it is not an original thought, but I thought it might create some good discussion.
The book takes place in the early 14th century and there is a scene where the town's crazy lady is tried for heresy. Not only is her trail public, but her punishment is to by tied to a ox-drawn cart as she is paraded around the town all the while being whipped on her way to the gallows where she is to be hung. Follet describes how most of the town is there with only a few people (the ones I like to describe as sensible) not attending any of it. At the trial most people are there for the show and some cheap laughs at what the mad woman says. Others are indignant at the mockery of the "trial" as it is obvious the woman is off her rocker, but she is taken seriously as a "heretic" and will die... for nothing.
Then I realized, the more things change the more they stay the same. Sure most religions don't burn witches or heretics anymore, but one quick look at celebrity news like that on E!, a glimpse of MTV and even CNN and one can see little has changed. E! is constantly judging celebrities on how they act and what they wear... If you were unlucky enough to catch they're coverage of the Lyndsay Lohan trial you know what I mean. Poor woman, she clearly has substance abuse issues along with some emotional ones as well and she is put up on TV to be further shamed... in public.
Also, unless you have been living under a rock, The latest political MILF to hit the scene since Sarah Palin is Christine O'Donnell. She is currently running for U.S Senate and what is her opposition accusing her of? OF BEING A WITCH. That's right, in 2000 fucking 10, accusing someone of being a witch apparently still carries great weight. So much so that her response ad starts off with "I am not a witch..." good god. All on TV for our information... err, I mean entertainment.
What is reality TV than people making asses of themselves? Sure we no longer have public hangings, burnings, lynchings, but we have The Jersey Shore, Teen Moms, Survivor and CNN to satisfy humanities innate need to gawk, point and laugh....
Discuss...
The book takes place in the early 14th century and there is a scene where the town's crazy lady is tried for heresy. Not only is her trail public, but her punishment is to by tied to a ox-drawn cart as she is paraded around the town all the while being whipped on her way to the gallows where she is to be hung. Follet describes how most of the town is there with only a few people (the ones I like to describe as sensible) not attending any of it. At the trial most people are there for the show and some cheap laughs at what the mad woman says. Others are indignant at the mockery of the "trial" as it is obvious the woman is off her rocker, but she is taken seriously as a "heretic" and will die... for nothing.
Then I realized, the more things change the more they stay the same. Sure most religions don't burn witches or heretics anymore, but one quick look at celebrity news like that on E!, a glimpse of MTV and even CNN and one can see little has changed. E! is constantly judging celebrities on how they act and what they wear... If you were unlucky enough to catch they're coverage of the Lyndsay Lohan trial you know what I mean. Poor woman, she clearly has substance abuse issues along with some emotional ones as well and she is put up on TV to be further shamed... in public.
Also, unless you have been living under a rock, The latest political MILF to hit the scene since Sarah Palin is Christine O'Donnell. She is currently running for U.S Senate and what is her opposition accusing her of? OF BEING A WITCH. That's right, in 2000 fucking 10, accusing someone of being a witch apparently still carries great weight. So much so that her response ad starts off with "I am not a witch..." good god. All on TV for our information... err, I mean entertainment.
What is reality TV than people making asses of themselves? Sure we no longer have public hangings, burnings, lynchings, but we have The Jersey Shore, Teen Moms, Survivor and CNN to satisfy humanities innate need to gawk, point and laugh....
Discuss...