Lost Part five: Special

In the first season of Lost we are introduced to Walt and told he is "special." Basically Walt has the ability to make things happen by seeing them in his mind. He makes a bird appear by think of the bird and throws a knife with the unnatural skill. The show also introduces us to characters who have other "special" ability, like the gift of prophecy or mind reading.

I myself do not have any of these abilities. I have never met anyone who I believe does have these abilities but I know that there are a major percentage of the world that believes in them. I find it amazing that human beings only use 10% of our brain capacity. I always believed special abilities are somehow tied to the mind and our inability to maximize our full potential.

That beings said I often think it is better that we do not use our full potential. The book "Flowers for Algeron" always scared the shit out of me.

Lost part four "the Moth"

In the episode the "The Moth" we are introduced to Charlie. Charlie was the bass player in a one hit wonder band with his brother. He is also addicted to heroin when the plan crashes on the island. John Locke takes Charlie's heroin away from him telling him he is stronger enough to quit. When Charlie asks for his drugs back Locke shows him a Moth struggling to escape from its cocoon in the jungle. Locke explains to Charlie that he could help the Moth escape but he won't because the Moth needs the struggle and the pain to become strong and survive.

This is a very common sentiment; struggle makes us stronger; pain builds character. I don't know if I agree with that. I think when we are in pain or in a difficult place we make worse decisions which ultimately lead us to worse places. This is certainly true with Charlie in this episode of Lost. After the he "learns" his character lesson from Locke we are exposed to another flash back where his brother says some very hurtful and things to him and abandons him. Charlie is hurt and this hurt drives him to try heroin.

If you look at the people who are successful generally they come from stable homes with stable families. The were given love and encouragement as children. The were taught good values in a loving respective environment. Those who have to struggle to survive more fail more often than not. Sure there are exceptions, and those exceptions are very strong and capable. However, I'm a person who likes to play the odds and I think that if more people are better off without pain and suffering and struggle than those things should be avoided.

Lost part three - English Language

I just watched "House of the Rising Sun" which is the first episode of Lost that focuses its flashbacks on Sun and Jin. About one third of the this episode was in Korean with English subtitles. This gives me hope.

This morning on facebook a slight acquaintance of mine posted a number of hateful signs with spelling errors. Things like "English is are only language" or "Obama is a Muslin." I will admit that the irony of these American fascist's poor grammar is entertaining. However, after that moment of humor is past I find myself left with such a feeling of dread that this is what passes for good citizenship.

Then I look at Lost as the number one show in tv and the multicultural cast that was accepted by millions and I feel a bit better about the world.

Lost blog two - leadership

I just finished watching S01E05, the White Rabbit. This is Jack's first flash back episode, also the episode when he decides that he must accept responsibility for leading the survivors of Oceanic flight 815. In this episode Jack has a conversation with Locke about what it takes to be a leader. Jack says "I am not a leader," to which Locke responds "They all treat you like one."

I have spent allot of time in my life contemplating leadership. In the simplest terms a leader is a person with followers. A leader can be competent, strong and intelligent or she can be scattered, weak and stupid but if people follow them they are a leader.

I have often debated whey some people are leaders and others are not. To me there seems to be two types of leaders. The first type of leader is the person who has the ambition to be a leader. The second type of leader is the one who has leadership hoisted onto him. Both are often competent and successful. However, as I see it the ambitious leader is easily corrupted. He is the leader who likes being in control and will compromise his values and his followers to remain in control. In comparison the leader who has leadership forced on her is more willing to share responsibility and reward but make the hard decisions for the best of the group.

I think people like Jack are the best leaders. If you don't want to be the boss but you have a plan and the answers and people follow you you will lead for the best of everyone and not just yourself.

lost part one

So I have decided to re-watch the series lost and do some blogs on some of the interesting themes of the show. I really did enjoy the show and loved the finally. Tonight I watched the pilot and couldn't believe how young/different some of the characters looked.

Hope you enjoy the future thoughts.

One thing that makes you go hum... how comes Sayid couldn't understand what the French woman was saying on her distress call when he lived in Paris. I guess it is just a continuity error... or is it?