So I am a huge fan of the show Lost. J.J. and Crew are amazing (No - the cashmere specialists are J.Crew those of you not into retail therapy). What gets me - how the heck can I walk away from yet another episode feeling even more confused than before the viewing? It's like being stranded in a pitch black alleyway, seeing a flash of lightening that illuminates the path and then discovering you are still stuck in a dark alley. And I like it - the torture is AWESOME. I've hit the sack on more than one occasion trying to figure out the puzzle Lost has thrown at me . . .
and of course - I have my theories as do all Lost junkies.
I'm hit with a parallel though - one that has nothing to do with the television show, but a lot to do with it at the same time. The premise of a group of people from all walks of life stranded on a island. There's a multicultural facet to the show that has me thinking of a certain salad - used to be referred to as the melting pot. And there's this vie for the top dog leadership sort of like Jack and John and Ben. You've got the handsome charismatic doctor who may or may not have lost site of himself is a tainted world, the old guard clinging to the old regime, and the idealist who's lost his way. (I'll let you decide which is which). The people of the island - because no one else has stepped up - must choose one of them to follow. Who would you choose? The Lord of the Flies references aren't lost to me . . .
It's strange isn't it - the odd parallel that I am making. You have to make a choice. Do you follow Jack who's capable and heroic though he might be lost in the labyrinth of a system he can't change? Do you choose John who's faith and naturalism is inspiring, but he might be leading blind? Or do you choose Ben, who's so twisted into the old ways that manipulation is the only game he knows - right or wrong - because it's worked so far? I think I might identify with Kate - wandering around trying to figure out my own way - but I would have to choose eventually.
And that isn't a choice - making one. Its as important as say - health care. . .going to the grocery store. . .having a place to rest your head. I've got to make a choice. When I pick up the newspaper, watch the Nightly News or research official websites, participate in a conversation with co-workers or listen to sound bites from a youtube download - I can't help but feel like I am wandering into a dark alley and the lightening storm may or may not be on its way. And in this case - this feeling of confusion isn't so awesome.
