Culture of the Living Dead The city is silent. You can feel the isolated sounds of dragging feet through the busy streets of New York. It's as dark as night with closed eyes, with only the faint struggling light of a street lamp. Suddenly the moans of what seems to be thousands of people can be heard. The very life that was once in you seems to fade away with every groan. You find yourself surrounded by human like creatures. These somewhat silent beings approach you. There is nowhere to run, they are everywhere and they want what you have: life. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. (Nicene Creed) You are probably looking at one of the biggest fan of the zombie culture (okay, biggest may be a stretch, I have yet to dress like a zombie). I have been a fan of zombie movies since I can remember. I love watching movies, reading about them and even in my own little way trying to Zombie proof every house I stay in. in, other words, I find ways to avoid getting bit during the zombie apocalypse: if it were ever to happen. The very first movie that I ever saw was Night of the Living Dead. And throughout the years I have seen every zombie movie there is to see from Return of the Living Dead to the most recent World War Z. These movies seem to intrigue me beyond belief. It was never a matter of fear, nor thrill, but there was something more intrinsically mesmerizing. Most people would say to me "Oscar really? that is so dumb!" and my usual response is "we’ll see, when it happens who's calling who dumb!" Will the prepared call the unprepared dumb, or vice versa. Those who are not as fascinated by the zombie stuff usual look at those who are with this bewildered stare, shoulders up, and the silent inner laugh prepared to be released like greyhounds on a race track; B.S.S.L for short (I may use it again down during this post) . I guess in a weird modern-day comparisons it almost like Noah preparing his giant ark and inviting people to join him on the ark as they respond in the same fashion (B.S.S.L) and say "really God is gonna send down a giant flood! you're a joke" now I know I'm not Noah and I am not saying zombies are like a big flood; I’m being comedic with my comparison yet the response of the people is oddly similar. And then it hit me, like a Louisville slugger to the back of a walkers doom piece (zombies head) This world is already filled with zombies, we are already a dead society. A culture of flesh-eaters (wait that's too intense, and slightly gory; for none zombie fans) allow me to rephrase, a Culture of the Living Dead or walkers for you modern day fanatics George Romero, director of the 1960 classic Night of the Living Dead and many others, approach to the zombie epidemic, in which he will never reveal what it is and how it happened. Other directors, rode this zombie wave and have various theories about this “mysterious-quick-spreading-threats” cause. The theories range from voodoo, to hell being full, to nuclear war, and even video game friendly t-virus (a reanimation virus, that is meant to cure diseases by reanimating dead sells, and producing a video game/movie empire by breeding three types of movies; zombie- monsters-sci-fi, into one…I digress) . I am no Max Brooks, but I have pin pointed it from the start, and have been avoiding getting bit ever since, and I am going to share it with you all. What if I were to tell you that all of these (in some way or the other), theories are the cause of our modern day zombie apocalypse. Evil, the culture of fear, and the perpetual media injections of relativism have created something less noticeable than the T-virus, more chilling than WWZ outbreak, but stronger than Frank Darabont and Robert Kirkman’s killer horde of walkers. We have been infected with the “relativistic faith virus” (RFV). From this point forward I will be using Oscar-fied zombie terms so I am going to define those terms, so as not to create any confusion as you continue to read: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Governor = the media blitz promoting relativism and the culture of fear. RFV = “Relativistic Faith Virus” Walkers = Faithfull and non-faithful people who have been infected by RFV [The Governor] The Media Blitz & The culture of fear As I addressed in my blog “Irresponsible Journalism” Today’s news and journalist of the modern era, for the sake of ratings have blurred the lines of fact and fiction, news casting and entertainment. whether they do it for the thrill factor, shock factor, “ooo I’m so scared factor”, whatever it may be, they want you to tune in and buy in to the agenda they have created, or supported. And no one is off the hook CNN, FOX.. I know how it works, CNN equals lefty liberal democrats, FOX righty conservative republican. And MSNBC… I don’t know what’s up with ya’ll ya’ll just on are on a whole other level. I understand from an entertainment stand point, but it’s irresponsible, because you are putting out facts about stuff you know nothing about; There is this media blitz in today’s society that has honed in on the orthodox practice of faith, as if it is some sort of bad thing. We have been portrayed as people who are close minded, shallow, heartless, Jesus freaks, who aren’t in touch with reality. I don’t know about you, but I happen to be very open minded, deep, anti-kanye west (that was a joke, because of the heartless thing…but seriously that guy is a joke…I digress yet again) and yes a freak for Jesus, because might as well be freaks by the way the world responds to our convictions. They look at us like we have 3 heads when we say things like: “ I’m still a virgin, I’m waiting for marriage”, “I’m gonna be late for the game, because I’m going to Mass, “No I don’t want to puff-puff pass”, “and sorry man this is my last red solo cup, I don’t want to get twisted.” We are so alienated from our world, that we have become the Ricks, Carls, Carols, Glens, Darryls, Michonnes, Hershels, Andreas and Maggies (didn’t want to miss someone you may have liked) fighting to keep from getting bitten from the walkers or to avoid the poisonous, manipulative ways of the governor. [RFV}] “Relativistic Faith Virus” “ It’s not religion just because it’s dressed up like religion; it’s blasphemy against religion” Said Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council of Culture. This quote is not directly about the “Relativistic Faith Virus” (RFV), though it would have been cool if it was, rather is a response to the National Geographic about Santa Muerte. Yet, this is so fitting of quote. The “RFV” has disguised itself in Catholicism, like the T-virus disguises itself as an organic cell of the body, just like Santa Muerte disguises itself as a religious thing. This “RFV” is as synthetic as the “T-virus”, it was designed to help, but it has become a destructive force which alters the bodies functioning. This has created a society of walkers, flesh-eaters, or simply put zombies. [Walkers] Faithfull and non-faithful people who have been infected by RFV Lethargically-unmotivated-baffled -lifeless bodies meander in groups like modern day nomadic people trying to find a place and purpose, while passing on the RFV to unsuspecting, unprepared, uninfected and unfulfilled people. “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?.. For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” -James 2: 14, 26 To be continued…
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THIS ISN'T A BLOG, AS MUCH AS IT IS MY REFLECTION OF THE IMPACT OF MUSIC IN MY LIFE. enjoy! Music you move me in ways that I could never imagine. You have been there as a soundtrack to my life, my soul, my journey to heaven. Every beat has caught the up and the downs. The harmony sung during times of climatic proportions, made every note sung as epic as the crescendo of cymbal during the orchestra of my celebrated years. The key change of the song right before a milestone reaches its zenith and the drop to a minor key when my life has hit its lows. You have made the hairs on my body stand at attention when a note is hit majestically perfect. You have made me close my eyes and imagine heaven, and have allowed me to envision the darkness of hell. You have put a triumphant smile on my face when the perfect song is sung, like the smile of a thousand mothers staring at their new born baby for the first time. You have captivated me in ways that I have never been captivated. You captured a part of my mind and heart that has made me forget about the haters, and sing a song to would change their minds about me. You were there to get me motivated as I looked my scholastic obstacles in the eye and told it today is my day; failure is not an option. You were even there when I first laid eyes on my future wife, encouraging me with the sound of trumpet blast to ask her hand for a dance that would last more than just that day, and go past the boundaries of that dance floor. Music I love you more than you know, but it pales in comparison to the love that I have for my wife and child. As my wife holds me tonight and says “Your all I ever needed” I’m reminded that music you are a vehicle. Music, you are that vehicle that drives me and family like a Sunday cruise through New England's foliage, without us evening knowing it. You’ve captivated me and family with your diversity. Music you are that instrument that plays a celestial song, like at Mass. On Sunday during the Liturgy I am held in awe by the calling to partake in the Holy Sacrifice as you play the strings of my mind and my heart creating the perfect chord progression, thus leading me to a greater intimacy and reliance on my Lord, as the angelic words “Be not afraid…I go before you always, Come follow me, And I will give you rest.” Yet I realize that when “the music fades and all is stripped away”, that I have to come back to the heart…of it. The love for my family is the heart of it. It is the perfect song that has ever been composed, produced, recorded, and heard. The song, that doesn't end and refuses to fade. That song driven by my love for them will be the sound track of my life here with my family. That song will be played in heaven when we all arrive before the throne unblemished. The song that the angels and saints will sing to welcome their servant family home, as our Lord, the song of songs, takes center stage and says with the most epic crescendo yet “well done my good and faithful servants” and the tear off of my face will be the maestros final wave of his baton, moving ever so slowly to fade out my song, as I frame my platinum hit on the walls of the kingdom and join in the choir of the heavenly throne singing “Hosanna in the HIGHEST” Music you move me, and Lord you lead. |
AuthorOscar "Two Ten" Rivera is all about bringing the fire. Passionate, comedic, and driven to deliver the truth, the right way. Archives
February 2022
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