Last night my sister and I went to the midnight premiere of 'The Dark Knight Rises.' Since 'Batman Begins' was released in 2005 we've bonded over these and other so-called "geeky" movies. We got our tickets well in advance, she dressed in a homemade Batman cowl (I must say she got the ears just right), smuggled in a Heath bar and a box of whoppers, and had an awkward laugh at seeing her ex-boyfriend was seated across the aisle.
The movie came on, and for the next three hours we (and the hundreds of people we watched it in silence with) were transfixed. The film is a true masterstroke, IMO. The rare 'part 3' of a franchise trilogy that at once cathartically ties all character/story arcs, remains true to the spirit of its source material, and is still a fantastically ambitious and executed film (something that can't be said of Star Wars, Spiderman, The Matrix, X-Men, The Godfather, Back to the Future, etc. etc.) I don't think a better ending to this story could have been delivered by anyone than was by Christopher Nolan.
I Got home, immediately crashed, three short hours later I saw news of this horrific tragedy in Colorado. My heart has sunken through the floor. It would be no matter the location or circumstances of the shooting, but I feel an added sense of grief knowing that those who were in that theater were there hoping for the same experience I was lucky enough to have last night.
I know not the shooter's motives, nor at this particular moment do I really care. There are victims to be cared for, loved ones to be consoled, first responders to support.
I am not advertising for the movie, not saying you should go see it because of this atrocity. I'm simply saying...if you already had plans, don't change them. If you were going to go see 'Ted' or 'Ice Age' please do. If you were going to a picnic, go to that picnic. And if after this morning's events you plan to donate blood or attend a vigil, I strongly encourage and commend you.
I'm simply asking don't change your plans out of fear. Be with friends and family, go and make the memories you will cherish forever.
Be safe, be vigilant, be charitable and kind. And live your life.
Thats all, short and sweet, written mostly for my own catharsis but I hope some here understand what I'm saying and take it to heart.
I leave with these true words from the Daily Show's John Oliver. Spoken in the wake of the terror attacks on Mumbai, India in 2008. Advice that applies to murderers and madmen of every stripe, not just Al Qaeda.