Danny ChaiI’ve never been accused me of being on the cutting edge. In fact, I like being just slightly behind the cutting edge. Partly because you get good deals that way. For example, Canon just came out with their SDx50 series. Which means there are currently great deals on the previous series, including the SD300, which we just got from Dell for an amazing price. It pays to be just behind the cutting edge.
Anyway, I mention this because I just started watching the first season of Desperate Housewives, and I’m starting to understand the hype. In particular, the episode I just saw (#8) is among the very best hours of TV I’ve ever seen. Wow. There’s just so much truth in it I was blown away. Of course, it’s secular, so it only goes halfway, pointing out issues, and me with my Christian lens keep thinking the other half, that people need Jesus. So it’s frustrating and depressing in that sense.
Incidentally, it’s no secret why everyone is so cynical nowadays. There are tons of people smart enough to point out all the problems in modern society. But there are few people wise enough to understand the fundamental solution, which is Christ. Given the knowledge of problems without any solution, the only possible result is cynicism. That’s what frustrated me most about my philosophy classes. All everyone does is point out problems. One class centered around just 3 big philosophical problems. Many argue that the problems are more important than the solutions. Which may be intellectually interesting, but what a sucky way to live. Just knowing problems, not even having hope for a solution.
Whoa, digression. So yeah, like I said, amazing episode, so much truth in it. There’s this incredible scene where a mother of four just breaks down, can’t take it anymore, is just tired of feeling like a failure. As a working person people used to look up to her, but now she can only feel like she’s not good enough. And her friends tell her, they felt totally overwhelmed, just like her, when they were raising their kids. She asks, why didn’t ever they tell her? And they say, because no one likes to say how they feel like a failure. But they probably should have. And she says, yes, it helps. It helps.
I dunno, that was so moving to me, maybe partly because we just had a Bible study tonight on authentic fellowship, and yeah, that’s what people really need. True fellowship. Knowing that they aren’t alone, that other people have gone through the same thing, support. I dunno.
There was another amazing scene where a priest asks a woman, don’t you want to be good? And she responds, I want to be happy. And he replies, that’s the response of a child. And she says, I know. So much insight in this exchange. It’s basically a commentary on modern America. People don’t want to be good. All they care about is making themselves happy. Which is essentially childish. And people know that, and don’t care. It’s so true. And again, frustrating as a Christian to watch because it goes only halfway, and the fundamental problem with making happiness a goal is, there is no lasting joy outside of Jesus. But anyway.
There were also great scenes involving guilt and our response to it and the basic amorality of this generation. I dunno, it’s utterly fascinating.