Movies, music, ipods, computers, Xbox, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood . . . America has been taken over by a mind-controlling entertainment robot!

How many of you have rushed out to see the latest movie, or to buy the newest CD, or have camped outside CompUSA for a week to get your hands on Halo 2? We all have our weaknesses, but why are so many people today lying in front of the tube getting their brains sucked out by mindless drivel?

Now, I?m no exception. I can?t tell you how many times I?ve watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Princess Bride or Disney movies. So I wondered . . . why do I keep watching? I don?t know!

Why do we all feel constantly drawn to the shiny black box in the corner? Why do we find pleasure in emptying our minds for hours at a time, and then go back for more? I don?t know!!

We, in a strange, twisted sort of way, worship that box. We buy nice cases to house it in. On average, we spend a faithful two hours a day spending time looking at it. Now, I?m not one to unmask conspiracies, but if ever the government wanted to take over our minds, it would be pretty easy to do so. Wouldn?t it? I mean, look at the dependency of the American populace on technology!

Take for example, movies . . . my personal favorite. The adventure, the horror, the drama . . . the possibilities are endless. Look at movies like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars or The Matrix trilogy. People have gone so far as to build their lives, no matter how sad and frightening they may be, on these movies, basically making those who starred in them deities. Are Americans desperate enough to base their lives on a fantasy? Why can?t we live in reality?

?Timmy,? screeches and irate mother, ?if you don?t turn off that game in 5 seconds, you?ll be grounded for a month!? My brother plays Star Wars: Battlefront while listening to his MP3 player and with the TV playing. How does he do it?! Talk about sensory overload!

Most teens seem to devote, on average, at least three hours to video games after school. Why not read a book or create a masterpiece on canvas? Why not begin to expand one?s imagination? What does society gain by allowing their minds to be suffocated by the mire of mediocrity?

Excuses are common: ?Reading is hard; the books aren?t good.???I?m not good at anything.???I need to escape.?

Pity, isn?t it? I mean, after our world?s namby-pamby feel-good philosophy and priority of pleasing children?s every need because we don?t want to ?hamper their individual growth?, teenagers still feel worthless, unhappy and desperate. The only way they can escape their grim reality is to bury themselves in explicit lyrics, thematic elements and violent games.

Others, on the other hand, feel that entertainment is just that?entertainment. They see a certain movie because it makes them laugh, or cry or feel good about the world. They see entertainment at face value?they permit themselves a two and a half hour escape, then promptly return to reality.

And what would people be without fun? The answer: mindless, boring and never changing. We?d be dull, lifeless people with no humor.

So why do we like nonsense? I believe Gene Wilder, in the role of Willy Wonka, said it best:

?A little nonsense now and then is treasured by the wisest man.?
—Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 1971