Progressive Friends

This is a communal account with several writers from across the U.S. and Canada.

July 20, 2012

inothernews:

A man reacted at an Aurora, Colorado hospital that received shooting victims. Authorities now say 12 people died after a mass shooting inside a movie theater. Aurora resident James Holmes, 24, was arrested immediately following the massacre. (Photo: Craig Walker / The Denver Post via the AP / New York Times)

Emotion and tragedy aside, this whole case is very interesting from several angles, most of them political. Something that I’ve seen reporters and responders mention several times already is the fact that all of the witnesses/victims were extremely calm, collected, and very well-spoken. I’m not really sure what that means, but it’s not something I would not have expected. Does that have to do with demographics for that film’s audience, the area, or what?
Politically, this is domestic terrorism. Real terrorism. Also, the right has already jumped on the film before it’s release calling it liberal propaganda regarding the character Bane and justice against the powers that be. No one knows the motivation yet, but I’m wondering if there is a connection, if the GOP would catch heat. Probably not even after Giffords was very nearly assassinated in Arizona. They’ve been inciting violence with no repercussions at all.
Then there is the fact that again, Colorado is suffering a major tragedy that is directly affected by the budget cuts for government services (first responders included). Police had to transport victims in squad cars, when it’s likely that the fire stations could have used their vehicles if they had them.
What will this mean for theaters and Hollywood in general? Will it inspire a string of copycat events (god forbid)? Theaters have been designed poorly for emergency situations forever, and we’ve seen tragedy after tragedy, why hasn’t this been addressed in the last 80 years? Will people still be allowed to wear costumes to events like this or Rocky Horror shows?
The only thing I’m certain of is that we are about to see tons of press from feigning public officials seeking camera time for their campaigns demanding something be done, including incumbents who have likely cut funding for services that directly affected the response to this tragedy. I just hope this stays an isolated event and that all injured people make full recoveries.

A man reacted at an Aurora, Colorado hospital that received shooting victims. Authorities now say 12 people died after a mass shooting inside a movie theater. Aurora resident James Holmes, 24, was arrested immediately following the massacre. (Photo: Craig Walker / The Denver Post via the AP / New York Times)

Emotion and tragedy aside, this whole case is very interesting from several angles, most of them political. Something that I’ve seen reporters and responders mention several times already is the fact that all of the witnesses/victims were extremely calm, collected, and very well-spoken. I’m not really sure what that means, but it’s not something I would not have expected. Does that have to do with demographics for that film’s audience, the area, or what?

Politically, this is domestic terrorism. Real terrorism. Also, the right has already jumped on the film before it’s release calling it liberal propaganda regarding the character Bane and justice against the powers that be. No one knows the motivation yet, but I’m wondering if there is a connection, if the GOP would catch heat. Probably not even after Giffords was very nearly assassinated in Arizona. They’ve been inciting violence with no repercussions at all.

Then there is the fact that again, Colorado is suffering a major tragedy that is directly affected by the budget cuts for government services (first responders included). Police had to transport victims in squad cars, when it’s likely that the fire stations could have used their vehicles if they had them.

What will this mean for theaters and Hollywood in general? Will it inspire a string of copycat events (god forbid)? Theaters have been designed poorly for emergency situations forever, and we’ve seen tragedy after tragedy, why hasn’t this been addressed in the last 80 years? Will people still be allowed to wear costumes to events like this or Rocky Horror shows?

The only thing I’m certain of is that we are about to see tons of press from feigning public officials seeking camera time for their campaigns demanding something be done, including incumbents who have likely cut funding for services that directly affected the response to this tragedy. I just hope this stays an isolated event and that all injured people make full recoveries.

(via wisconsinforward)

11 months ago • 160 notes

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