The Hunger Games

Yep, I've read it and I've seen it.  And no, I have no problem with the books or movie.  Yeah, when I first heard about the concept of the books, I had no interest in reading it.  It seemed unimaginable to be entertained about a world where kids kill kids in a reality game show.  But I decided to give it a shot because the people who were telling me how good it was weren't people I'd normally think would be entertained that way.  And from the first chapter on, I couldn't put the books down.  I read them all in about 3 days, all 3 books.  The books were entertaining.  A great read.   The story was well written and the author drew you into an unimaginable world that, through words, you felt a part of.  Katniss is a strong, independent women of 16 years of age who sustained her family, raised her sister, and learned to adapt in an unforgiving, unfair world.  She wasn't glamorous, a pencil thin fashion star who thought only of herself.  She has a quiet strength.  She loves her family so much that she is willing to put everything on the line for them.  She is beautiful without trying.  What a good example for young women.  You can be strong and independent and lovely and attractive all at the same time.  And she didn't complain about her rights, about what she felt she was entitled too like so many of today's youth complain about. Then there's Peeta.  A strong young man who, knowing that his chances of winning the game were slim, decided to give his effort towards helping another succeed.  How selfless was that?  Yeah, he loved Katniss and that fueled his desire to help her win but he was willing to sacrifice for love.  Peeta's desire that the Capital not win, to not take the part of him that made him, well, him.  That in the midst of pure tragedy, goodness can shine through the darkest of times (Katniss's tribute to Rue).  The people of the districts of Panem were not used to having plenty of anything yet made do with what they had.  We as a people are straying from being a self sufficient folk who now ask our government for everything, to be involved in all aspects of our lives and allow them to control us.  And that is exactly what the people of Panem were fighting against.  The government controlled them, regulated them, and they wanted their freedom.  Not a freedom for internet, cell phones, etc but freedom to live in peace, free from tyranny and oppression.  Do not these issues seem somewhat relevant now?  The people of the "Capitol"  live outlandish lives, oblivious to the hardships of the districts.  They wear their hair in crazy colors, decorate their bodies with random jewelry, have plenty of food and waste it, and find enjoyment in a reality game show that pits child against child until only one is left, with no regard for human life.  Also sound familiar?  The series follows Katniss to the end and the effects of the games on her are not glorified as she suffers and the ending isn't a Hollywood ending.  That's real.  Life's actions have consequences and those consequences have an effect on us, change us, and sometimes, we'll never be the same again.  Not a fairy tale ending, but a real life one.  Yes, there is violence in the book and therefore in the movie.  The violence is not glorified and in the movie, the violence is toned down from the books.  I'm sure if they had stayed completely true to the book, the movie would have been "R" rated and I'm not sure I would have wanted to see it visually.  But the movie stayed true to the book, moved along well, and helped bring to life the environment we had read about.  These books and movie are not for everyone and I would not recommend it to everyone.  If I had children, they would not be reading this until they had reached a certain age and were able to sit down and talk about the issues that the book brings up.  If you don't want to read the books or watch the movie, you, thankfully (unlike the districts of Panem who were forced to watch the Hunger Games), have the freedom to not watch it.

What frustrates me and what I don't appreciate is the judgement posed upon this movie (and many other issues) and this is why.  There are Christians who decry the movie for its lack of reference to God or a supreme being (I read this on Focus on the Family website) and, obviously, for the violence and premise of the book.  By that account, those folks shouldn't be watching any movies but those that are overtly Christian otherwise they are violating their own standard.  Not saying that's what we should do, but that, by their own standards, that's what they should be doing.  I guess what I really grow weary of are double standards that self-righteous folks impose on us.  There are folks out there talking about how we need to be careful of what images that we allow into our minds and how we let it influence us.  That is true.  As Christians, we need to watch what we allow to enter our minds whether it's through music, tv, music, or the internet.  No argument here.  What goes in will affect and influence us in some way.  If we fill our minds with garbage, we can only expect garbage out.  Much like when we stuff our faces with food that isn't healthy, we can't expect to have a pro athlete body.  And if this movie or anything else would cause you, yourself, and only yourself, to fall, take your eyes off of God, or promote unwholesome images in your head, then you should not watch it, participate in it, listen to it, read it, etc.  But that is your choice.  First off, you cannot hold everyone else to your personal standard and you can't flaunt your standard to make yourself look like a better Christian.  It doesn't make you a better Christian, it makes you like a Pharisee. Doing things to draw attention to yourself, to your goodness, and your "righteousness".  I don't like labels.  This is what I am.  I am strong in my faith.  I know what I believe in, I know why I believe in it, and I try to live my life to the best I can do according to what I have read in the Bible, which I believe to be 100% accurate and 100% true.  There are some things that I don't do because I know that it will take my mind down a path I don't want to go down.  I avoid those things and activities.  I also don't tell everyone about it and I don't judge others.  There are other things that don't distract me from the given purpose in my life.  Therefore I allow those things into my life.  I also try to keep things as simple as possible and worry about me and my walk and no one else's.

Here's a good example of a "double standard," one I've personally heard and took part in.  Harry Potter was being criticized for it's wizardry and witchcraft but then I heard those exact same folks in almost the exact same sentence praise Lord of the Rings for it's representation of friendship and loyalty and said that those qualities of LOTR set it apart from Harry Potter.  Neither has a reference to the Christian God that I could remember.  Both have characters with "supernatural" powers.  Different subject matter, but I don't find one to be more or less "Christian" than another.  Both have heroes making difficult choices, doing the right thing when it was hard, and a friend that stands by them.  Personally, I found Lord of the Rings to be too much for me at some parts and I didn't care to watch him suffer carrying the ring.  It's a good movie, but not one I really want to watch more than once.  But I saw no difference between the two.   I watched all the Harry Potter movies.  I never read the books and it isn't a movie box set I'll buy, but it entertained me.  It just didn't make sense to say that one was more Christian than another.

I hope this makes sense.  The main point is that it's fine if you have a standard for your life.  That's your choice.  But be consistent, especially if you're going to make your views public.  Don't put down others who choose to participate in something that is not sinful but perhaps violate your man made standards.  And don't flaunt your personal choices in front of others.  So maybe you don't like the Hunger Games.  Maybe you'll never read it or maybe you will and be horrified by what they've read.  Or maybe you'll read it and enjoy it.  Whatever you do, that is up to you.  Make the choice that's best for you.

And may the odds be ever in your favor.