Great Movie. Today is soething new because I do not think I have ever recommended a movie in this blog. Last week in church a friend suggested we see the movie Sound of Freedom. This was the first time she had ever recommended a film to us. She raved about the film and was deeply distressed by the depravity developed in the true story. Then over the weekend another friend and a reader of this blog, highly recommended the same film.
Jeny and I do not often attend movies in theatres. We prefer to watch at home. With two excellent friends making the recommendation, we decided to see it now rather than waiting.
The movie is a true story based on the life of Tim Ballard, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent who successfully arrested child pornographers. After capturing one person, he finds a way to rescue a young boy and reunite him with his father. The father’s daughter is still a sex slave somewhere. Tim resigns from Homeland Security and goes to Columbia in search of the daughter. I will not give away any more of the story.
Needless to say, the movie was a well-acted, gripping story. I join my friends by highly recommending it. One of the main reasons is to increase our awareness of the problem. The movie closes with two important sentences. First, child sex is a multi-BILLION-dollar industry with America being the biggest client. Second, there are more slaves now than there were when slavery was legal and most are children.
Jeny asked me as we left the movie—How could we not know? My reply –We do not want to know something that disturbing.
Money talks. Speaking of pornography, in my blog I pointed out how money can make a big difference in how justice is administered. Several weeks ago, the son of a former NFL quarterback was arrested for the possession of child pornography. This week he got off with no fine, six months’ probation, and not having to register as a sex offender. I know people who got a bigger penalty for lesser crimes. Money makes a big difference in how justice is adminstered.
Reality. Keith Hernandez, the 71-year-old color commentator for the New York Mets baseball team, made a sentimental comment during a broadcast this week. When asked if he was going to stay up late and watch the Mets when they played their West Coast games. He said “No, as I have gotten older, I wake up early each morning and enjoy the full day. I don’t have too many days left.”
He caught flack for the reference to the reality of dying. One headline even called it a macabre statement.
As an 80-year-old I will make the statement—if you are not willing to face and talk about the reality of death, do not grow old! Not only is your personal death no longer on a distant horizon, you will have many opportunities to experience the deaths of others.
Recently has been a particularly difficult time. I lost my only close classmate from graduate school. Our relationship goes back to the 1960s. He and his wife met in graduate school and they were a very successful academic couple and good friends.
Then, I lost a high school classmate. Our relationship goes back to the 1950s. She was married to another classmate. They were a very caring couple and good friends.
This week I lost a dear friend, a frequent travel companion, and another friendship formed in the 1960s. He and his wife were both medical doctors in California with a deep concern for others that was truly worldwide.
I was privileged to know all of these people and will miss them. I can truly say they lived lives worth celebrating. The hurt I feel about the losses pales in comparison to the love we experienced as friends. That is why I care!
Good News
People Care
Stranger Buys Blind Lawncare Provider A New Trailer And Mower (sunnyskyz.com)
Community Rallies To Raise Money For Hardworking Boy Whose E-Bike Was Stolen (sunnyskyz.com)
40 Truckers Rally To Fulfill Lonely 8-Year-Old’s Birthday Wish (sunnyskyz.com)
Peace
Jerry
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