| Feature Article – November 2007 |
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In today’s society many are filled with dreams of becoming famous. With Reality TV, Facebook, YouTube . . . all those dreams are now within easy reach. Many “celebrities” are only famous for being famous, not for anything they have said or done. There’s now a fast track into the public eye. It enables people to get there with no regard for themselves, other people, their properties, or even the law. We are all waiting for the next cool thing to come along and entertain us, something to give us an adrenaline rush, or a good laugh. “Home” movies, violence, speed, vandalism – any of these can make a regular night into a “best” night. The scary thing is, this mentality is out there among young people; and it is more common than we would like to think. How did it come about? Did it evolve naturally from the priorities of our present-day society?
A few years ago now the show “Jackass” debuted on MTV; it has since produced two full length movies, and over three spin-off T.V. series. Basically they do stunts and practical jokes. I must admit that my friends and I have really enjoyed watching the borderline-insane things they come up with, but through it I can’t even count how many “copycat” skits I have seen on the internet. Unfortunately these are no longer confined to the professionals, but some now “try this at home”, tempting people out of the mundane to the next new thrill. And with the wrong motivation, danger can be caused not only to those involved but others around. So, why is there all this desire for danger? Plain and simple: we are a soft generation!! So many rules have been adopted ensuring safety and health, which in turn creates a platform for any young person with energy and motivation to break the P.C. line, raise eyebrows, and become a rebel. Sound familiar, for those a little longer in the tooth then me? It should, because you did it as well! It is part of growing up. However, over the years the goalposts have moved. When a new generation takes the lead, it brings with it experiences from their formative years. They say nay to the things which harmed them, and yea to the things they liked. For example, the sixties’ famous phrase was “Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ roll”. It should then be no surprise that as a society nowadays we have increased our tolerance for drugs, sex and music, because they have given a degree of happiness. But they can be harmful, so restrictions are put in place. Thus, raising the tolerance bar, and adding new laws, go hand in hand. It’s the “monkey bar” principle: “We had monkey bars in our playgrounds; we got hurt, so you cannot have them.” Basic, yes, but this is how society evolves. So when a young person wants badly enough to be famous, he will risk a high degree of danger to achieve that, in order to be a superstar. Mix this hunger for fame with a dash of technology, and bam! we have another celebrity.
How easy is it to achieve ‘celeb’ status? All you need is a computer and a digital camera. One person films, the other does a stunt, they upload it to Facebook, and within 24 hours all their friends will see it, be suitably impressed and the stuntman is an overnight sensation. He builds up a portfolio which ensures credit and respect. To keep your credit rating, the bar needs to be set higher and higher. As a celebrity you are admired, respected, and feared. For some it ends here, an act or two done just to bring out the wild side, rebel, and run on adrenaline.
But some will always want to go up to the next level, where stunts become more aggressive, dangerous, illegal, and destructive. This brings more respect but ‘ups the ante’. With the strong desire to be rich and famous, nothing is safe, the world is theirs and laws become pylons. The more credit and respect a person gains the more powerful they become, it does not necessarily make a difference how it is achieved. When we start to have a romance with the gangster or thug life ideal, then more emphasis is placed on illegal acts. Young people start to see that they can bring fear to those around them, which in turn brings false feelings of respect.
While some might not want to hang out with the thugs, still less do they want to be on the other side and be made a target. Streets gangs are notorious for this principle: once you join, you can’t leave. The only way to maintain your status is by following orders and completing allotted tasks. Yes, this may seem to apply only to a small street gang, but in fact these ethics are right out of today’s business playbook. Build up those around you. Crush your competitors.
Sometimes it is as if a scoresheet could be made up: so many points for theft, so many for rape, or murder. With more points, the more credit and respect you are given and, in the end, the more famous you become. In recent times we have seen more senseless assaults, thefts, and murders. We try and kid ourselves that this only happens down in the US of A, but the truth is the world has become small. What happens there is mirrored here within hours.
Sanctions have disappeared. Older people feel that prison is the answer, but it isn’t. Being ‘banged up’ means media coverage, which means more fame than ever.
A prime example is the recent murder of an RCMP officer. Bulatci smirked while being taken away. Why? Because nobody can touch him now. He killed a cop! He’s famous! He’ll ‘get respect’ from other inmates. This is where the system is flawed: sending offenders off to prison is counter-productive. The inmates are running the prisons. Having spent time with the chaplaincy department at Headingly Correctional Centre, I have heard stories of gangs claiming to be followers of different religions in order to set themselves apart from the general population. For example, one gang claimed to be Muslim. In order for them to keep their “religious traditions” they had to eat certain foods and dine in separate areas. This of course gives certain benefits, and more power to those who are members. There is nothing that anyone could do because that would be an infringement on their religious rights. Even when they didn’t follow Islamic ways, or even know what those included, they still stated it and it had to be respected. Time in prison does not have the same impact that it used to have. In these last years the term “at-risk youth” keeps broadening, there needs to be a change in our programming, not just theirs. When a young offender is brought to justice for his crime, there is no real threat; they have no good name to protect; there isn’t much of a life from where they come; also they have a good chance of getting away lightly, which makes them look untouchable. Finally, if they do go to prison they just gain more credit with their peers.
This certainly does leave our society in an awkward position. Two things which have always seemed to be regarded as untouchable are Law Enforce-ment Officers and the Church. Now, more than ever, innocent folk are becoming targets of senseless violence and church buildings are being destroyed. One could argue, though, that we have brought this on ourselves. For many centuries now, the Church has had unchallenged power over people, scaring them into salvation. Now that that authority has been proved to be human made, and since our rap sheet is longer then any gang’s, we have to climb down from our throne. Our authority has been questioned, and we are left powerless in the eyes of the world. It is a humiliating situation, but it is a grave which we have dug for ourselves. This is the society which we have had a hand in creating, with our Churches declining and less youth joining.
Having acknowledged this, do we just walk away from what seems a hopeless situation? Or, now that we have been dethroned do we look to become a part of our community’s life in a positive way, and follow the two great commandments Jesus gave us. Are we not called to give unconditional love, real and true unconditional love to this sometimes dark and evil world? This change will not happen overnight but there is no point in passing judgment or blaming others. This is our Good Friday, where we must look inside ourselves, repent, and after a time be reborn with different priorities and a more sober understanding of where our energies need to be spent. All people crave acceptance and love, this is how God has created us. May the Body of Christ offer that, instead of gangs and hurtful relationships. Prison is not a punishment for breaking the law, it is a crime school.
“Healthy communities and healthy kids” is a good motto, but in order to achieve the latter, we must bring about the first.