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September 27, 2006
When Jeffrey Tells You to Watch a Movie, You Might Want to Consider Watching Something Else
So I finally watched The Future of Food. The film (which should be subtitled, “Stop Eating and Start Hiding Under Your Bed so Monsanto Can’t Slap You with a Lawsuit”) clocks in at a modest 88 minutes, during which you’ll keep thinking, “There’s MORE? How could there be MORE? Isn’t this hideous enough?”
Seriously, genetic modification is creepy – and I’m not just talking about its application to food. If more people read science fiction (Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress is a favorite), they’d know that. Not to get all whatever, but it seems to me that if we were created by some higher power, that higher power speaks through our genes. I’m all about studying genes and trying to learn more about them, but attempting to change them? That’s hubris, just the sort of thing human beings invariably screw up.
Exhibit A: plants that have been genetically modified so that Round Up doesn’t kill them. HELLO, Round Up kills everything. It would happily kill you or me. If there is something Round Up doesn’t kill, I shouldn’t be eating it – I should be giving it a very wide berth and hoping it doesn’t notice me.
And what is up with Monsanto? I, myself, am sadly unmotivated by money, so perhaps that’s why it’s difficult for me to understand how groups of individuals could decide to, say, sue small farmers for patent infringement when Monsanto’s mutant plants blow into their fields. It’s insane that someone can patent a plant in the first place, so much as start suing people when the plants spread the way plants are wont to do.
It’s not that I wasn’t at least vaguely aware of all this stuff going on, but 88 minutes of it was a bit overwhelming. It’s a good film – an important film for all the people who wouldn’t think to watch it – but not something I’d necessarily recommend unless you want to be completely freaked out. I’m finding that watching whole discs of Home Movies at a time is a good antidote.
Posted by adrienne at September 27, 2006 09:25 AM
Comments
I hate it when you find out that a company you've never heard of is in control of everything. Companies screwing everyone over should at least have the decency to have a marketing campaign. BP is a good example.
Posted by: chuck at September 27, 2006 10:09 AM
Momster keeps me informed of Monsanto's nefarious doings, and I remember Bri telling me about some of the suing that was going on when he was still alive. (He was a dedicated reader of actual news -- i.e. the A section and the business section. I relied on him to give me summaries of that which would interest me. I confess that I miss this more than I miss the way he'd take care of all the household electronics like it was no big deal -- although, don't get me wrong, I miss that, too. I'm getting better at doing this crazy thing called "reading the directions," and am finding that it's quite amazing what I can do when I set my mind to it. For instance, I fixed a computer problem all by myself over the weekend, and just last week, I programmed my new cell phone.)
Posted by: adrienne at September 27, 2006 10:55 AM
Oddly, I have no comment.
Posted by: Jeffrey Lee at September 27, 2006 11:11 AM
We are about the only country that allows that stinkin' company to operate.And,yes--they have been killing us off in various ways for decades.It isn't just food.Nancy Kress is sooo right about so many things.But,this entry reminds me of the time you tried to,er,borrow?some FrankenIvy from Yale.Now you know why it can't be let loose and God knows what they modified it with.Our corn supply,as you may remember,was COMPLETELY compromised by the accidental?introduction&mixing of Star corn.As the rest of the world says,we are the largest experimental group in history.But we also are the most overworked of any industrialized nation.Our healthcare,though most expensive,is only like 7th or 8th in the world in effectiveness on all scales.The EU is actually far better at running humane states,despite whatever propaganda you may have heard to the contrary.There is no reason why the US can't do the same other than pure greed.My love to you&the newly married,&to all in this joyous Season of the Witch.PS:Yes,Brian was a faithful paper reader,esp.first thing in the morning:)
Posted by: momster at September 27, 2006 11:18 AM
The other thing is,yes--some things are unpleasant but true--like that HBO series you couldn't stand to watch.Are aging actresses treated badly?HA!But you aren't political in that way and never were.Being a librarian helps everyone learn.And your book will too.These are ways you contribute to your world.Important ways.And,frankly--I shudder at the idea of a childrens' librarian who is constantly bummed out about the news.Kids get bummed out soon enough:).Maybe some will be activists.Hell,maybe some will vote!
Posted by: PS at September 27, 2006 11:25 AM
Are you warming up to Home Movies or are you still watching out of curiosity?
Posted by: chuck at September 27, 2006 11:49 AM
If by "warming up" you mean "only checking the mail in the hopes that Netflix has sent me more episodes," then, yes, I've warmed up to it. ;)
I got another DVD today. I plan on staying up too late watching it.
Posted by: adrienne at September 27, 2006 04:20 PM
I still have no comment, but I do enjoy having my name be in the title of a WATAT entry.
Posted by: Jeffrey Lee at September 27, 2006 09:25 PM
:)
Posted by: adrienne at September 27, 2006 11:02 PM
For the love of God,isn't anyone going to point out that Jeffrey suggested a film,the film was exactly what he said it was and it told the truth?So,a better title may have been,"Kill the Messenger Like the Greeks!"or"You Want the Truth?You Better Be Able to Handle the Truth".Goodness,no wonder Jeffrey is speechless!
Posted by: momster at October 3, 2006 10:05 AM
Word to your momster. Here's another one that folks might engaging/enraging. It's funnier though...
Posted by: Jeffrey Lee at October 3, 2006 12:49 PM