E-Vangel Newsletter
Pastorgraphs: “Last Resort”
I
was curious to know how many channels are available on my cable service, and
was amazed to see 2,999 channels are now allocated. Within a year or so, it
will probably be 9,999. Of course, not all of those channels have program
transmissions (yet), and I certainly do not subscribe to all the packages Cox
Cable offers. Theoretically, there are 71,976 hours of entertainment available
to me every day.
That
is why I am more than a little disappointed to learn ABC has cancelled “Last
Resort” after just ten episodes. At the same time, we cannot seem to get enough
of Honey Boo Boo and Snooki. Then there are all those other shows that confirm
the perceptions of Southerners who seem to be more than willing to make fools
of themselves for big bucks. Don’t get me wrong, I love “Swamp People”. Anyone
who goes out on a pirogue canoe and hauls in alligators is a real man or woman
in my book. (Love you ‘Liz Beth). As a native Southerner, however, I worry that
some of these shows are giving ‘poor white trash’ a bad name!
But
back to “Last Resort”. Since it has been cancelled, I guess no spoiler alert is
necessary. The main story line tells how Captain Marcus Chaplin, commander of
the U.S.S. Colorado, a nuclear armed submarine, questions unconfirmed orders to
bomb Pakistan. A man of unwavering dedication to the United States and
steadfast character, Captain Chaplin faces the dilemma of following orders to
launch a nuclear weapon from his sub that will kill millions of Pakistanis, or
question the suspicious way the order to launch has come to him. He opts to
disobey the order to launch, at least while he confirms the veracity of the
order. He soon discovers that he, his crew (which included Navy SEALS) and sub
have become the target of retaliation from a faction of the power struggle in
Washington. The same forces that wants to nuke Pakistan have no qualms about
destroying the sub and its loyal crew.
In
order to save his team, Chaplin commandeers the tiny island of Sainte Marina,
declaring it a sovereign nation. His sub is loaded with nuclear missiles, so
the war mongers in Washington are not able to take him and his crew out, which
they seem more than willing to do if given the opportunity. It becomes an epic
stand-off.
On
both the grand scale and at the personal level, the show explored the hard
questions of integrity and character as no other I have ever seen. The sub crew
are all loyal dedicated US military who love and are willing to die for their
country. But when they become pawns in a classic political-military power
struggle, they must answer questions of personal and professional integrity
that most of us will never face in such a dramatic manner.
For
instance, Executive Officer Sam Kendal supports his captain and finds himself
declared “Public Enemy No. 2”. Kendal is torn between doing what's right or
simply following orders so he can go back home to his wife and family. Every
episode presented dozens of scenarios that forced the viewer to ask, “What
would I do?” How many of us see wrongs being committed each day, and elect to
do nothing? It is always easiest to say, “That’s not my problem”. “That’s not
in my job description.” Evil thrives when we turn a blind eye to injustice.
“Last
Resort” is a powerfully well written and well produced show that deals with
issues of integrity, morality, loyalty, character and honor. While ABC has
decided Americans are more interested in the next mud bog on Boo Boo than
exploring such profound issues of right and wrong, I hold out hope one of the
other 2,998 channels will have the courage to pick up “Last Resort”. Believe
me, I am an expert when it comes to knowing how hard it is to sponsor
integrity! But is it too much to ask that one of the networks give us at least
one hour a week might help us consider how we think, what we do and who we are?
God,
help us. Pastor Bill
From the
Quote Garden:
“Each man must for himself alone
decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which
isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is
to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your
country, let men label you as they may.”
~ Mark Twain ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 284-9205
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