Save the World

 

Save the World

No, this is not some environmental blog here. Although I consider myself a bit of a tree hugger. Love trees. People? Meh. The jury is still out on that. Dogs are great. Now back to saving the world. Yeah for people—meh.

As I watch and have gotten hooked on the DC series “Arrow”. I’m in the middle of the second season. Since its on Netflix, there is much convenience to watching it when I want to. I do prefer it late at night. Part of it, is to learn of new young actors and actresses—seeing what I could possibly design for them in a new feature film or television series.

Yes, I sit there and watch how the actors and actresses act. I dissect the length of their dialogue and how they portray mannerisms. I wonder, ‘Are they limited to acting in only this type of scene? Can they change how they hold their expression and/or deceive the audience?’

I watch for scene progression. The linear and non-linear scenes. Such as: Does the episode always stay in the present? Or does it flip back to the past of the history in the story they are telling? If it does go from present to past and back to present—How often is it done in one episode? What ages are adept to following any rapid scene changes—why and how?

There’s much more that I analyze as I wind-down from a day of writing, editing, family, training, and chores. Last night, I began to realize in “Arrow” that Starling City is not the world. Its’ merely a city portrayed as if in the world. So, the crime fighting Hood-guy or The Arrow as he’s become known—is fighting crime within a metropolis of some sort. And StarlingCity is his to save—or to remain a billionaire perhaps conversely in—that doesn’t care about the people of the city. And that his life is all about greed, money, affluence, and only pretty people need to apply.

Last night, I pinched myself realizing that in real life; if we had superheroes like The Arrow—even with a detective’s help, a bodyguard like Diggle and an I.T. gal like Felicity—we’d still be largely behind the eight ball. Our youngest and I had a discussion a few nights ago on cyber-crime. I explained that I have a friend who donates the money he makes from a couple of his books to this group of soldiers who’ve seen combat. And these soldiers have been mentally and physically effected by it. Many have lost limbs and the like. They are these secret superheroes many do not know about.

Since our youngest had recently turned eighteen I felt free to explain to her the depths of which would make one shiver to what these soldiers have to do. Or rather watch/screen to catch the bad guys. Many times, it’s after the crime has been committed and the criminals are in the midst of committing and spreading more of their criminal-like behaviors. Just that in itself; she did realize preventing crimes of that nature are difficult—without some sort of high-end knowledge and caring.

My reality and the knowledge I’ve gained by paying attention, caring and physically being around all those sorts in my sixty years—I can say most people don’t address daily how protected nor how vulnerable they are. Neither how distorted we are in our choices in allowing information to reach us, to believe, to assess, yet not to judge it—but then to balance it. Yes, it’s a juggling act for the safety of us, our families and our communities.

As a child, not realizing how big the world was. I’d lay in bed at night, every night imagining if I could save the world, or perhaps just a city. Either of those I knew were all too big to save. Yet, I’d imagine getting the bad guy—ridding the world of them. Then I’d say my prayers, nod off for some hours. The next morning I’d awaken and realized I had work to do. I realized I couldn’t save my family, no matter how I’d tried. Yet, I acted as though I could complete the mission. I ate, slept, and drank it—as anyone would who was so obsessed with safety as I always seemed to be. This is not something you get rid of. Even after sixty years of life. Yet, you are well aware of the reality of the situation.

I had a brain surgeon who was a client for many years—our discussions varied. One day he commented, “You’re such a fatalist.” He was half right. I still trained and have trained people in self-defense. Although I will be clear and state, most people do not want the responsibility of acknowledging their own safe keeping. That to me is alarming. Especially, among women.

Though, it may be logical in life to limit anxiety and desire the easy button. To believe one form of weaponry and or one form of training will keep you safe. It’s a fallacy. The thing that could keep you the safest is the awareness, observation, acknowledgement and understanding of crime prevention.---Jody-Lynn Reicher