Comments on: American Tabloid: I could not http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/ none the wiser Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:20:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8840 mandarine Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:49:09 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8840 Civilians in countries occupied by US armed forces should wear tee-shirts with Matthew 24.40: "What you do to the smallest of these my brothers, you are doing to me." Civilians in countries occupied by US armed forces should wear tee-shirts with Matthew 24.40: “What you do to the smallest of these my brothers, you are doing to me.”

]]> By: Tai http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8839 Tai Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:47:14 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8839 That is a wonderful and revolutionary idea. Perhaps civilians should wear such slogans on their clothes, too; especially those living in war zones. That is a wonderful and revolutionary idea. Perhaps civilians should wear such slogans on their clothes, too; especially those living in war zones.

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8838 mandarine Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:42:36 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8838 Could it serve some purpose if soldiers' uniforms had slogans written across the chest and the back in large print: 'I am someone's son' / 'and someone's father'? Could it serve some purpose if soldiers’ uniforms had slogans written across the chest and the back in large print: ‘I am someone’s son’ / ‘and someone’s father’?

]]> By: Emily Barton http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8836 Emily Barton Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:07:02 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8836 Thank you for yet another book that won't go on my TBR list. I had the same trouble reading Elmore Leonard and finally decided these types of books maybe just really aren't for me, despite how "good" others might say they are. I, too, would have been horrified by that person being shot in the back. I wish there were some way to make everyone feel the way your mother so eloquently put it. It seems to me we're just becoming more and more callous about death and violence, although reading blogs has given me hope that maybe that's not the case. Thank you for yet another book that won’t go on my TBR list. I had the same trouble reading Elmore Leonard and finally decided these types of books maybe just really aren’t for me, despite how “good” others might say they are. I, too, would have been horrified by that person being shot in the back. I wish there were some way to make everyone feel the way your mother so eloquently put it. It seems to me we’re just becoming more and more callous about death and violence, although reading blogs has given me hope that maybe that’s not the case.

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8825 mandarine Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:26:15 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8825 "No fictitious people or animals were hurt during the writing of this novel." “No fictitious people or animals were hurt during the writing of this novel.”

]]> By: Tai http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8824 Tai Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:50:37 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8824 I quite agree with you. Such cynical violence is caustic to our souls. I love good mysteries, too. But recently I was reading a Denis Lehane mystery, and quite enjoying it, when I came upon a graphic passage in which a pet dog is painfully poisoned to death. The death of the dog certainly did not advance the plot, it just added shock value. I put the book down and never picked it up again. If products like shampoos and soaps can be Cruelty Free why not books and movies? I quite agree with you. Such cynical violence is caustic to our souls. I love good mysteries, too. But recently I was reading a Denis Lehane mystery, and quite enjoying it, when I came upon a graphic passage in which a pet dog is painfully poisoned to death. The death of the dog certainly did not advance the plot, it just added shock value. I put the book down and never picked it up again. If products like shampoos and soaps can be Cruelty Free why not books and movies?

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8822 mandarine Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:34:53 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8822 Becky: I do agree that the casualness makes it more disgusting instead of less. Susan: I like mystery novels not because of whatever human nature ilustrations, but because of the rational thinking, just like a good riddle. I'd be glad to read how you feel about the Black Dahlia. Becky: I do agree that the casualness makes it more disgusting instead of less.

Susan: I like mystery novels not because of whatever human nature ilustrations, but because of the rational thinking, just like a good riddle. I’d be glad to read how you feel about the Black Dahlia.

]]> By: Susan http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8818 Susan Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:13:35 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8818 I was struck by how you linked the deaths (even imaginary ones) with the love used to raised them - something I have been doing for a long time, as I do not believe in war or violence. I struggle with the idealism we have for courage, etc discovered in war conditions - the medals handed out - because I think the sacrifice should be recognized, has to be. But every time someone dies in a war - all those bombs that have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan on innocent people celebrating weddings, over the past 5 years - I cry for the people who die. It deeply bothers me that we are so free to kill other people's children, and express no real understanding or remorse at the cost gone into raising and loving them, or count (or acknowledge) the cost of their loss to their loved ones. I am starting to be careful of what I watch on tv - I do like mystery and crime, I admit, because I think these genres show the best of human nature trying to stop the worst of human nature. We need the detective, the crime solver, the hero, the brave, the courageous. Because human nature is both light and dark. I haven't read the Black Dahlia nor seen the movie - certainly the movie looks too graphic for me, but I will let you know if I read the Black Dahlia and what I think. Thanks very much for your thoughts, and your blog. Although I've just found it, I have found it insightful, thoughtful, aware, and intriguing. and - in light of the comment I made on your 'leave a comment or not?' blog - I think comments show that a connection has been made. And that's the best of blogging (and the internet), for me. Happy Sunday, happy reading! I was struck by how you linked the deaths (even imaginary ones) with the love used to raised them - something I have been doing for a long time, as I do not believe in war or violence. I struggle with the idealism we have for courage, etc discovered in war conditions - the medals handed out - because I think the sacrifice should be recognized, has to be. But every time someone dies in a war - all those bombs that have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan on innocent people celebrating weddings, over the past 5 years - I cry for the people who die. It deeply bothers me that we are so free to kill other people’s children, and express no real understanding or remorse at the cost gone into raising and loving them, or count (or acknowledge) the cost of their loss to their loved ones.
I am starting to be careful of what I watch on tv - I do like mystery and crime, I admit, because I think these genres show the best of human nature trying to stop the worst of human nature. We need the detective, the crime solver, the hero, the brave, the courageous. Because human nature is both light and dark. I haven’t read the Black Dahlia nor seen the movie - certainly the movie looks too graphic for me, but I will let you know if I read the Black Dahlia and what I think.
Thanks very much for your thoughts, and your blog. Although I’ve just found it, I have found it insightful, thoughtful, aware, and intriguing.
and - in light of the comment I made on your ‘leave a comment or not?’ blog - I think comments show that a connection has been made. And that’s the best of blogging (and the internet), for me.
Happy Sunday, happy reading!

]]> By: Becky http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8815 Becky Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:21:46 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8815 I can't read those books either. It's not just the violence, it's the casualness of it, as though it doesn't much matter. I can’t read those books either. It’s not just the violence, it’s the casualness of it, as though it doesn’t much matter.

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8813 mandarine Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:54:44 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/american-tabloid-i-could-not/#comment-8813 Another thing that strikes me about movie violence is that death is almost alwas intended as a punishment for the victim himself or herself alone, when in fact the victim won't care after he's dead, but his family will, and they never have their say in these circumstances. Another thing that strikes me about movie violence is that death is almost alwas intended as a punishment for the victim himself or herself alone, when in fact the victim won’t care after he’s dead, but his family will, and they never have their say in these circumstances.

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