tooth fairy is real

Today is Good Friday. Easter.

Yesterday, as I was driving home, I was listening to ABC radio. They had an interview with the heads of the Anglican and Catholic churches and basically retold the story of easter. As is normal for radio hosts, the guests were prompted as in a radio interview. It flowed, it wasnt over done or pretentious. There was no conflict or serious preaching; merely a retelling of what it is Christians believe about Easter. The radio host is not a Christian but the station received a surprisingly large number of calls and sms messages expressing anger that the ABC had spent time on this matter, given that the listeners did not feel that Jesus or his death was historical, or relevant. Some of the txts were quite scathing.

The host was puzzled at this response. After all, there was no complaint when other people, such as Pauline Hanson, were interviewed. Is she relevant to the whole population? By having her on the show, does the ABC endorse all her views? So why the response at talk about this Jesus?

I couldnt help but wonder why these people who were so upset at the ABC, could not just turn off the radio, or at least change stations, if, indeed, it was so unpleasant for them. I also wondered if, in their detestation at having to have their life affected by Jesus at this time of the year, they actually continued to go to work, rather than put up with the hassle of having Friday and Monday as public holidays. Not likley!

I think, however, that the difference in response between other irrelevant stories or interviews and that of yesterday afternoon is significant and telling. It tells us what Jesus, himself says. Jesus confronts. His very life confronts and demands a response. I guess it was obvious the way many ABC listeners responded to him.

Then after I got home I was amazed to hear that the USA did not have a public holiday for Easter. Not even for Good Friday. Was it a reflection of their approach to Easter or to public holidays? Either way, it is sad.

So, to today.

A housemate told me that The passion of the Christ was on TV tonight. What time did it start? 11pm! I then looked at the TV guide for Friday. I'm sure that the heading used to be 'Good Friday' many years ago. But anyway. And I'm sure that, even just last year, there were more TV shows about the Easter story. One station had a daytime movie. This is what it said about it:

'Toothless. (97 R, S). When a dentist is killed in an accident, she finds herself unable to enter the gates of heaven. To atone for her years of inflicting pain on her patients, she is appointed to the position of tooth fairy.'

Oh dear.

Well it may not mean much to other people but it says alot to me and so I'm writing it down. And after all isn't that what blogging is all about. This is my first blog, however, ive seen that people write lots of things in blogs which I know they think are important or clever but aren't. Could this just be another one?