The Death of Icons

Captain America is dead.
I know, I know... he's just a comic book character. But he's kind of more than that. He's an Icon. There are certain Icons out there that embody more than the sum of their parts, be it words, ink, color, computer programing, or what ever medium was used to create them. Killing, altering, or removing them symbolizes more than "good business decisions".
Captain America stood, to me, for all that was good about our country. While Superman (even though he's an alien) has stood what is best in mankind as a whole, Cap stood for those things that made up what it meant to be an American. Bravery and courage in the face of overwhelming odds, honesty, justice tempered with mercy, equality with individuality, and most importantly, he stood for Freedom. He was the ORIGINAL American Hero. He stood for those things that you really don't see much anymore. We are now a nation of fear, encouraged into our collective paranoia by the very Government that is supposed to protect us. We say we're proud to be Americans... but I wonder. The fact that Cap is dead (most likely because he is "no longer relevant") concerns me.
I can understand if Cap wasn't profitable for them. I can understand bumping him back to the Avengers, or what not. Killing him off though... it seems to bring with it a toll of something more.
When in the movie "Superman Returns" Perry White wants to know if Superman still stands for "... truth, justice, and all that stuff", there's a reason it's in the script.
When the idea of a son enters the storyline of a movie, there's no mention that they were married in the second movie (at least for a little while), and no one remembers that Lois and Clark are married in the comic books, it seems more than an oversight.
When just a few years ago there was a huge stink about the fact that Godzilla destroyed an U.S. Army base in one of the movies, now it would seem that no one would bat an eye if it was to happen again.
When children look to heroes, it's hard to find ones you really want them idolizing. (I can find more than a few though with DD chests and bikinis as their fashion sense, though.)
When there seems to be a push to "humanize Jesus Christ", taking the Son of God to, just another man with some really good ideas that went all over the place, it seems convenient that this push happens in this time where we (the general populace) needs faith so much.
Now, is the spring of my discontent. I see Icons being destroyed. I see symbols becoming hollow. I see a downward turn towards a long dark night, where the World of Warcraft is more real to some than the real world, our children don't look towards heroes with the Stars and Stripes protecting those around him; but chains and blades, carving through Titans, drenching all around in blood and gore.
I won't lie to you and claim not to be part of the problem. I may not play W.o.W., but I play D.O.A.. I'm not innocent, not by a long shot. But I want my children to be, my niece to be, and my godchildren to be.
Our government spends more time bickering, playing head games with each other and the public, and looking for spin to forward their agendas, than actually GOVERNING. I love our nation. I love the people that are in our nation. Why do I need to fear though, that because my wife has Muslim friends that we're on a terrorist watch list? Why do we have men and women returning from war to decrepit conditions? Why are our candidates for President not running on what "will" be done, as opposed to what "should" be done? And despite how they all look, act, my personal opinions aside, they ALL seem to me to be politicians first and Americans second?
Captain America is dead... maybe the death of the icon of the American Way is just another sign of the world we're living in.
Truth, Justice, and the American Way may be dead, but like in comic books... maybe death just means it's gone for a little bit, and then comes back in a cooler looking outfit.

I shiver with antici...

Say it! Say it! Say it! Consta...
...pation!

Okay, enough with my Rocky Horror reference for the year. I am pretty excited about how things are going all in all this month. Yeah, my wife's really stressed, and her job's driving her into major fits of depression. She's looking for a new job. She passed her A+ certification, and I am so friggin' proud of her. She's got a lot more options now, to do work that she really wants to do without having to worry about people yelling at her because they won't take the steps to fix the problem. I am transferring from being a contractor here at Verio to being a full time, honest to goodness, employee here. I'm stoked! We're learning C++ in school, which makes me pretty happy. And...
I'm getting the two new D&D books for this month in the mail.
Ah, the glories of Amazon. Yes, I do need to wait a little longer to look at the two books, but I can wait, knowing at the very least that they are on their way. I'm strongly debating what to do once I get the Cormyr book. I'm very curious about this story line. I think Ang is thinking about running it. The question would be... when. Honestly, I would understand if Angie wasn't able to run it. I'm thinking of running it as my Emergency Back-Up Plan. I need to look at it though, and see. Maybe I can run it with the group, after Bob runs Expedition to Castle Ravenloft? I don't know. Bob's really getting into Ravenloft, I can tell. And he's not even started the game.
I'm a little worried at where this thing is going though... I mean... look at the titles:
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave
Shadowdale: The Weave Unwinding (or Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land)
Anauroch: The Sundering of the World (Or Anauroch: The Empire of Shade)
Other things of interest just to mention.
I think the biggest thing to mention right off the bat is my opinion on the "Lost Tomb of Jesus". Wow! I'm going to say, an interesting find, at the very least. It's fascinating to see this tomb that may be the family crypt (as it were) of the family of Jesus. I think it's a little prematurely labeled, though. I think a more appropriate labeling would be something like "Lost Tomb of Mary". Here's my theory (after MUCH deliberation with my genius wife), take it for what it's worth. I'm not a scientist, archaeologist, or scholar, but here's my thinking. Let's look at what we do know. What we can be sure of, and let's look at things in a slightly different light. We have a large number of information that statistically seem to point to this being the family plot of the family of Jesus Christ. I actually find the information provided in the show to be of merit. Due to that, I am going to support the findings, for the most part, but propose an alternate possibility to the ossuary in question. That ossuary being the one marked "Jesus, son of Joseph".
What if this "coffin" is not that of the preacher, philosopher, and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth? What if it is the resting place of His nephew?
Tradition tells us that Jesus the Christ had brothers and sisters. It would of been odd for him not to. Tradition also states that one of these brothers was named for his father, Joseph. It's not a huge stretch to surmise that this Joseph bar Joseph married, had children, and named one of his children after his older brother (a martyr, at the very least, the Savior of the World, otherwise). This name would of been a strong name, and something to remember an uncle that the child would of never of known growing up.
So, here's my proposed theory in a nut shell. The etching, "Jesus, son of Joseph" belonged not to the Jesus of Nazareth, but belonged to that Man's nephew. It's simple. It's got as much possibility as the others. Now... to determine... which Jesus does "Judah, son of Jesus" belong to? Either one would make me happy.
I am confused, though, why the Israeli Antiquities board would be so adamant about not wanting any research done on this. It's a great opportunity. So much information could be learned from the study. I really would like to know more about the Primitive Church, how it operated, who was in it, and what went on. So much has been lost due to manipulations, misunderstandings, and the errors of man, it's hard to get a clear picture. Did they have temples? We know that they met, but how was it organized? How different is it from today? Did they have a set instructor, or did they instruct each other?
I wish I understood the old tongues, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and the like. I look at anything that's not English, and my brain goes into math mode. Darn algebra, it ruined my ability to grasp lost languages. Of course... I'd also have to find some truly ancient manuscripts, and unless they were carved onto metal plates, the odds of them surviving are kind of slim. Look at the trouble they're having with the Gospel of Judas. (Another interesting idea... I'd like a trustworthy translation.) Ah, too be able to peer into the past, and see what it was like back then. Alas, I must make due with the faith I have now, and the fact that I know, just as the Old Saints knew, that Jesus lived and lives. Now, if only can be less selfish, and study more. I hate having this whole "must learn... but can't stay focused" thing.
Speaking of not focusing... I now can't stop thinking... where DO you take a Japanese CEO to dinner in Utah Valley? Hmm... curiouser and curiouser...