Colorado

This morning when I got home from Batman, I was too full of energy so I turned on the TV hoping it would lull me to sleep.  As I flipped through the channels, I came to a station showing a movie theater with the caption "14 dead 50 wounded at shooting spree during a midnight showing of Batman."  My eyes were transfixed as the horror of those words sunk in.  I watched with my heart in my throat as a witness described the scene including the police carrying the lifeless body of a young girl out of the theater.

The longer I watched my mind turned to another shooting that took place in Colorado, Columbine.  I was a senior in high school when I came home to images of students climbing out of windows and running across empty fields trying to get away from two boys.  I felt the same feelings then as I did last night, shock, horror, and wonder.  I don't mean wonder in the sense of awe but wonder that any person could commit such a horrific act.  I understood more the anger of two bullied teens but a man walking into a theater and opening fire is incomprehensible.

I have always felt as though the movies were a place where every person had the same goal, escape reality and be entertained.  They are a place free from the outside world and influences that plague us all.  I have gone to the movies to fall in love, quiver with fear, laugh, cry, poke fun, and hang out with friends.  The next time I go will I have to walk through a metal detector, look at others with suspicion, and pray the person sitting next to me doesn't have a weapon in their pocket? 

I wonder why I am so shaken by this.  Is it because I was in a movie theater at the exact time watching the same movie as these events unfolded?  Is that the same reason I can't forget Columbine because it could just have easily been my high school?  What is it that keeps some of us safe while others have to endure unimaginable horror?  What causes a man to kill a dozen unknown and innocent people? 

These Colorado shootings don't make sense and I am not sure I want them to. I don't want to understand the thoughts that would lead to senseless acts of violence.  I don't want to understand rage and the inability to forgive those who have bullied me.  What I do understand is that no matter how much neither event makes sense we have to see these things in order to appreciate and value peace and love.  Is that cliche?  Even if it is, does it matter?  My hope is as the events of last night continue to unfold we will see an outpouring of love and kindness to those who surround us, those known and unknown.

Batman

Twenty four hours from now I will be sitting in a theater enjoying Batman and I am so excited.  Christian Bale is such an amazing actor and is brilliant as "The Bat".  I can't wait to see him take on the role for a third time.  I also have to admit I love Tom Hardy so I will probably be rooting for Bane to win.  Let's be honest I pretty much adore all of the "big name" actors in the movie, although the jury is still out on Anne.  The chills of giddiness are running up and down my spine!  If you could see my face it would include a big, stupid grin.  I would be ashamed, but it's Batman!!