Friday, July 20, 2012

People In Glass Movie Theaters

By now, just about everyone in the USA and across the world has heard of the unbelievable tragedy that happened in Colorado in the very early morning hours of this day. Reactions have been mostly the same from the majority of sane people - holy shit, that is the most horrible thing. It's a heartless tragedy. Right? Right. However, many news reports are mentioning that there was a 3 month old in the theater. Now, that baby is ok and has been released from the hospital. All day long, I have been reading comments on Facebook, Twitter and various news sites about the baby. There was discussion about the baby on the radio. Sadly, most people are not saying, "Oh yay, the baby is okay." No. There is a shitstorm of judgment. "Why the hell is that baby at a movie theater? Who does that?" Or, the worst comment I read (which was later removed), "Those parents are just as much to blame as the gunman."

Are you out of your fucking mind? Can we just shut up with the inane judgment for five damn minutes - just this once? We have a dozen people dead. We have over 50 people injured. Call me crazy, but maybe we should focus our energy on praying for these people, sending them aid, thinking positive and healing thoughts for them. You know, crazy shit like that. Oooh, here is another off-the-wall idea - why don't we reserve our judgment for the worthless pile of DNA who decided to dress up in body armor and bring a bunch of guns to the theater so he could open fire on hundreds of innocent people. Personally, I think any anger and "what the fuck" sentiment should be directed at him.

As for the parents of the baby, maybe that was the first chance that they got to go out. Maybe they hired a sitter and had a big date night planned and it was mom and dad's first chance to go out, but the sitter cancelled so they decided to still go and bring the baby. Maybe mom had a difficult birth and a difficult recovery that was colored by post partum depression and this was the first time she finally felt human enough to walk out the door, but she didn't want to leave the baby with someone for whatever reason. I'm pretty sure when they packed their diaper bag full of diapers, wipes and a blanket that they weren't thinking they'd need a Carter's bulletproof vest in size 0-3 months. Now these parents have just lived through one of the scariest nights of their lives, they could have lost their child or their own lives and they get the added joy of being under the national microscope and judged for being "bad parents."

We call ourselves human, huh?

I've brought babies to the theater. Go ahead a judge me. I'm sure the people sitting in judgment are absolutely perfect and have never done something that another person would deem "incorrect." Right? Seriously, if you don't like babies in movie theaters then don't bring your baby to the movie theater. Yes, it's one thing to roll your eyes when Bella and Edward are vampire humping and you hear a baby start crying, but it's another thing to harshly judge parents who almost lost their child. There will be something else deserving your judgment tomorrow, I'm sure. Save it for then.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Amen, well said!

Jen said...

I took both of mine to theaters with me when they were tiny. They never made a peep. I was nursing and needed to be close.

On my FB feed people are complaining about the baby too, saying that we have to protect our babies and not put them in danger by going to theaters. By sacrificing as parents and never leaving the house.

Bullspit. This could have happened at Ice Age, or KFC.

The stupidest comment was directed at me, saying that how would I feel if it was my child, and they had inhaled that gas. My response was who expects that? Please the blame on the sick-o that shot up a theater, not the parents.

In the end, I told them I was off to the hooka bar with my 4 year old then off to Magic Mike.

Knitted in the Womb said...

Maybe the mom had a great birth, no post-partum depression, had been out with her husband multiple times since the birth...but couldn't afford a sitter or didn't feel the need to pay a sitter when the baby is so "portable." Sheesh. I don't think I hired a sitter for my firstborn ever during her first year of life. A few times relatives watched her, but not often, as we didn't have many local relatives. This is crazy that the parents are being criticized for having the baby with them.

I'd be more concerned with the 5 year old...who certainly is not old enough for the content of that movie.

Melissa said...

You're exactly right, but the true joy of the internet is that we feel we can say and do just about anything since we don't know those people. Gotta love the judgment. I'm just thankful the little one was okay and sad and sorry that something like this happened.

LAUREN said...

Seriously? The baby is ok???? PRAISE GOD!!!!! I have been heart broken all day hearing rumors the baby died..... And I said the same thing to those who mocked those parents. Um.... are you judging parents who send their kids to SCHOOL??? (because sadly and tragically,shootings have been known to happen there too). It's called wrong place wrong time and it happens in places where you're not "supposed" to be, and also in places where you're expected to be.

Anonymous said...

Funny, I was thinking about it when I heard the baby was there... my first thought was that I bet the baby is up all night and sleeps when they are out and about (as opposed to when home)... and I thought what a great idea. Meanwhile, I wonder if there would be so much judgement if it was a matinee? Is it a baby in a theater or a baby at a theatre @ midnight that bothers people? I don't think the baby knows the difference at this point...

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