Virtual Reality

I remember growing up hearing about virtual reality. Wearing the helmets and pretending to walk around in some "real" world without the threat of the real world. In 1992, right about the time the concept was beginning to take off, I traveled to Australia and New Zealand where, as it turned out, I had the opportunity to put on that helmet and live in a "virtual" world...for about 5 minutes. It was cool!

But, it didn't consume me. I did have a "real" life to live.

Seventeen years later (that makes me feel old!) things have really progressed. Today you can create your own Second Life and "live" in your own virtual world. As a student pastor, I have had the opportunity to hear some of my students discuss their new lives as if it were the real thing. Scary!

We all know the realities of people living multiple lives...husbands with multiple families, online relationships and identity theft. But I want to pose this question: don't all of us, in some fashion, want to live in "Virtual Reality?"

Let me give you the premise for my moment of ponder.

By now, everyone should be aware that a guy named Michael Jackson died. (If you didn't know this, I'm not sure if I should hug you or slap you!) The media has made this, the news of his death, burial and _____________ (I won't go that far!), the story of the millennium (and we're only 9 years in!) It's all you hear, even in a world full of war, economic disasters and rouge dictators threatening global extinction.

But what about everyone else who has died (excluding Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and Billy Mays?) What about everyone else who has lost loved ones? Are their lives any less valuable? Some would argue "yes," and that sickens me, but thankfully they are a minority.

What about the 20 or so American soldiers who have died since June 25 (the day Michael died)? Are we hearing about them?

"Mr. Jackson received days of wall-to-wall coverage in the media," Martha Gillis wrote to the Washington Post. "Where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers who died that week?"

The truth is rather simple, I believe: most Americans would rather NOT hear of the soldiers we've lost because that reminds us of the reality we live in. We would rather live in fantasy land, our own little "Virtual Reality", and discuss the likes of Michael, Farrah, Ed and Billy. They make us smile when thinking of their careers. It's simpler to live in the veil of Hollywood's elite than in America's sons and daughters who are fighting for our freedoms.

Don't misunderstand me, I don't believe we ought to be walking around hanging our heads in despair all day, every day, but we need to gain some perspective. Since Michael Jackson hijacked the media (to the delight of Gov. Sanford, Pres. Obama, and Al Franken,) 1stLt Brian N. Bradshaw, Pfc Peter K. Cross, Pvt Steven T. Drees, Sgt Terry J. Lynch, LCpl Charles S. Sharp, Pfc Justin A Casillas, Pfc Aaron E. Fairbairn, and 6 others not reported have died in Afghanistan. Specialist Joshua L. Hazlewood, Sgt Timothy A. David, Spec Robert L. Bittiker, Sgt Juan C. Baldeosingh, Sgt Roger L. Adams Jr., and 1stSgt Edward C. Kramer have died in Iraq between 6/25 and 6/29/2009.

America did suffer GREAT LOSSES (plural) on June 25, 2009, and has continued to suffer loss since, but the reality is that those losses include the countless number of Americans who have died both here and abroad.

So, why do we continue to live in this "Virtual Reality?"