Editor,
As a farm boy teenager in Illinois, I was addicted to television. I foolishly wasted hundreds of precious hours and I poisoned my mind watching violent programs. But I have owned no TV in Albuquerque since I first moved here 43 years ago. We can wake up, we can wise up, we can change.
Now I would not watch most movies even if they were free. They are a stupid waste of time, talent and money.
I damn the outrageous pay movie actors and producers receive. Most actors and producers are highly-paid prostitutes — selling their talent with little or no conscience about how their movies harm the viewers. If the pay is high enough, most actors will take the role regardless of the movie’s message. Why should movie actors make more money than farm workers, who labor hard, working by hand in the hot sun to harvest the fruit and vegetables we eat?
I want to be enlightened and inspired. I want to become wiser and more compassionate. I want to be moved to tears and to do good actions.
In order to entice the movie industry, a movie production company receives 25 percent off whatever it buys in New Mexico for film production. The state approves movies loaded with glamorized murder, rape, robbery, booze, revenge, money addiction and war to receive this large subsidy.
However, the state would reject any movie about passionate romance between Romeo and Juliet or Judy and Juliet or Romeo and Roger that has scenes of affectionate naked lovemaking. Sadly, this society accepts glamorized violence far more than naked bodies making love.
I watched no episodes of “Breaking Bad,” but I heard some things about the story. To condemn the highly popular, big money “Breaking Bad” is much like condemning Sandia Weapons Lab. What local politicians or community leaders have the conscience and courage to condemn publicly “Breaking Bad” and Sandia Weapons Lab?
If your beloved daughter died from using meth, would you enjoy “Breaking Bad”? If your closest friend died from meth use, would you be a fan of “Breaking Bad”? Would you attend the funeral of a real-life Walter White?
If “Breaking Bad” were instead “Breaking Good” about a meth user or meth dealer breaking free from meth, would it be as popular? If not, why not? Are there any meth addicts who stopped using meth because of watching “Breaking Bad”? If Walter White were your brother, how would you feel about his getting filthy rich from ruining lives and killing people, and then dying without apologizing and changing his life?
By contrast, I compliment the African-American actress Cicely Tyson who starred in “The Sounder” and “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” For years she chose to act only in inspiring and uplifting movies.
What does it do spiritually to any actor who invests enormous emotional energy and countless hours depicting cruelty, greed and evil? And to be identified lifelong with that role in the minds of millions?
Also, I do not want to spend too much time watching even enlightening, inspiring and deeply moving free documentaries. Even the best movies must never become safe spectator substitutes for living truth as best I see it. I am glad to wear second-hand clothes, but I choose to live first-hand on life’s stage — not just watching others from the sidelines.
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Don Schrader
Daily Lobo reader
