This is shocking, horrible news. I was a huge fan of his work.
According to TMZ:
“He was found dead in his bed in one of his residences in Soho by his housekeeper at 3:35 PM ET today. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they believe it was not a crime, adding that prescription pills were found near his body.
According to NYPD a masseuse arrived at Ledger’s apartment and was let in by a housekeeper. When Ledger didn’t answer his bedroom door, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened it and found him unconscious. They attempted to wake him; when they couldn’t, they called 911.
We’re told when paramedics responded, the actor was in full cardiac arrest. They attempted to perform CPR on him, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The 28-year-old actor has a two year old daughter with former fiancee Michelle Williams — they separated in September, 2007. He plays The Joker in the upcoming Batman film, “The Dark Knight” and is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking role as Ennis in “Brokeback Mountain.”
So last night, I caught a documentary I had been wanting to see on A&E. (I know, who thought A&E showed actual documentaries anymore?) The film was called Jesus Camp. It is about a summer camp called “Kids on Fire” for Pentecostal children in North Dakota. I was shocked at the absolute brainwashing and indoctrination that goes on in these camps and in these kids’ homes. The pastor, Becky Fischer, says, “I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are in Palestine, Pakistan and all those different places,” Fisher said. “Because, excuse me, we have the truth.” Because that has worked so well for them, or what?
I am an agnostic, in part because of people like this. There is nothing Christ like about brainwashing children to force them to believe in your radical religion. I find religious fundamentalism dangerous and frightening, and these people are the perfect example of why.
My mother and I had a conversation about this just a few weeks ago. It seems to me that religion preys on the vulnerable, weak and impressionable - particularly people who are lacking something in their personal lives and have a hole to fill. It is predatory in nature. This particular group preys on children.
The Documentary follows three particular children–Levi, Victoria and Rachael. Levi is the young mega-church pastor in the making, Victoria is the dancer who prefers heavy-metal Christian rock and avoids “dancing for the flesh.” Rachael is the strangest of the three, who witnesses to complete strangers on the street. There is a scene at the very end - after approaching three black men in a park, she walked away and said “I think they were Muslim.” Jesus Camp must have taught her how to decipher a person’s religion by looking at him!
Throughout the film, Becky Fischer and others claim that they have no political motivations. Then, towards the end, they dragged out the life size cardboard cutout of old G. Dubya. They kids prayed and actually spoke in tongues over it in the hopes of influencing Bush to elect a judge who would overturn Roe v. Wade. Soon after, another preacher came in to talk to the kids about abortion, and they each got their own little plastic fetus. No political undertones in that. No doubt it was made by a five year old in a sweatshop in China. How very Christian of them.
Some of my favorite highlights:
The “Pledge of Allegiance” (And I use that term very loosely)
The speaking in tongues.
Harry Potter should be put to death!
The Nestle water to “cleanse” the evil little sinners.
The G.W. cardboard cutout.
The plastic fetuses.
Ted Haggard bashing homosexuals (Ted “secret gay sex and crystal meth” Haggard)
The film is a frightening example of how people, children in particular, are being brainwashed by these right-wing, evangelical cults. At the end, the pastor, Becky, says that liberals ought to be shaking in their collective boots. Well she’s got that right. This movement is frightening, and it seems to be growing at an alarming pace.
Here is a video with the highlights from the film. Check it out:
These kids are so impressionable, and clearly willing to do anything to please their parents and the other adults who are running the show. How is this any different from David Koresh or Jim Jones? Simple - it’s not. This is abuse. If those adults told the kids to”drink the kool-aid,” I believe that they would do it.
So, if you have seen the film or even read about it, what are your thoughts?
