Several people have asked me if I have ventured out to see the new Star Wars yet. My answer is invariably "no," as it was for episodes one and two as well. You see, I'm a bit of a Star Wars purist. I do own the re-release boxed set of 4,5 and 6 on DVD, but I find most of the additional animations to be incredibly annoying. As for the first three... I probably will never see them, and I'm perfectly happy with that.

Like most boys growing up in the early 80's, I was completely obsessed with Star Wars. I had a massive collection of the action figures, comic books, and other memoribilia that I can barely remember. As I grew older the films still lingered long in my consciousness, and helped to fuel my developing creative mind with images of "a galaxy far, far away." I think part of the attraction and the mystique of Star Wars was the element of mystery. The fact that the series began with episode IV was always a bit of a conundrum, and we did not have the benefit of the internet to do research into George Lucas' plans for the future. One could only speculate about the back story.

Therefore, the first three episodes existed not only in the mind of Lucas but in all of our minds. Each one of us had a different version of the events that led up to Princess Leia's flight from the Imperial cruiser. I guess that some things are just better left to the realm of the imagination. It's kind of like when you read a book, then later someone makes a movie based on the book. The characters, once unique faces created by your mind, now have "official" faces that cannot be altered. It's a tyranny of images that is taken for granted in our culture. Nothing sacred, mystical or imaginary can stand in the face of the insatiable desire for the empirical.

I watched Motorcycle Diaries again last night. This is a fantastic film in every way -- great acting, cinematography, and story. Of course the politics of the film are controversial. The movie is about a young Che Guevara and his experiences traveling across South America. But all political issues aside, the film has something to tell us. It's about experiencing things that change you, things that leave a mark on your soul that cannot be erased. When you experience these things, you are inevitably left with a choice. You can go on as if they never happened, or you can change the entire course of your life.

I noticed today that when I skim the news headlines, I barely pay attention to stories of war, genocide and other atrocities. I, too, have become desensitized, just like Don Cheadle's remark in Hotel Rwanda, just going on with my dinner. I think I feel like many other people, that I can do little to alleviate the pain and suffering. But that is just a lie that keeps me satisfied and complacent.

What makes you burn with anger, or cry without solace? And what are you going to do about it?

I realize that it has been about two months since my last post. There are several reasons for this. One is that Blogger kept having problems and I got really frustrated with it, but I am reluctant to pay for anything and I don't want to go the Myspace route...anyway I have also been busy. The transition from Vancouver to Portland has been more than a physical move. It has been a rebirth of sorts, an entirely new life in so many ways. Many of those ways don't need to be shared with the public at large. If you care to know them, you probably have my phone number anyway (or at least my email).

I'm finished with seminary for this semester, possibly permanently. I'm working full time in Portland and I'm trying to get the pieces together to apply for the Urban Studies PhD program at PSU. So that's the general update.

Just watched "Hotel Rwanda" last night. This is an important movie that all people must see. Of course many will find it a self-fulfilling prophecy -- they will say "my God that's terrible" and go on eating their dinner.

I promise to try to write more often.