Friday, December 17, 2010

Myths and truth

What would you think if someone confided in you something typically thought of as outlandish? From the pleasant -- Santa Claus is real -- to the sinister -- they had a run-in with a vampire, a zombie or a demon. Would you quickly think their confession was bogus or would there be a part of your thinking that wasn't shocked into disbelief? A small tickle at the back of your mind that said: "Oh man, they are real!"
I'm not talking about what you would think after getting all the facts and making a decision. I mean your gut reaction to their confession.
People are quick to deny anything they can't understand or don't want to understand. If vampires were real, for example, this would change day-to-day life and the balance between folklore and truth. These mythological creatures of ancient lore would no longer be something merely scaring teenagers on the big screen in blockbuster movies a couple times a year, but lurking in the shadows or whatever the legend leads us to believe. You know, pale skin, dark clothing, fangs, coffins ...
Maybe vampires are real and they spread the lore so people will be cautious OR so people think the legend is bogus so they can live freely and no one would suspect a thing. Then they create more and more movies and literature about themselves, making it more and more accepted that vampires are bogus.
I just watched the 2008 version of "Let the Right One In" (which I highly recommend). In addition to highlighting bullying and murder, the film is about a vampire. As the bodies pile up, I couldn't stop wondering what I would think if someone told me vampires were real or if I read about it in the newspaper. Bodies, sucked dry of blood. Two teeth marks on the neck. Would you believe it?

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