I've been having a sense of deja vu this weekend. Back in February, everyone was talking about The Passion of the Christ. It was on the talk shows--people lauding it or condemning it before it even opened. When it finally did open, the question in my social circle was "Have you seen it yet?" Most of those who had reported that it was a moving, powerful film. Some folks criticized all the hype, others tried to capitalize on it coming up with religious tracts to give to viewers of the film. Me, I was busy and since I had read the book, I didn't bother to go see the film.

Fast forward to last weekend. Farenheit 9-11 opened on Friday. It was on the talk shows--people lauding it or condemning it before it even opened. On the neighborhood listserv, my neighbors were all proudly announcing when they planned to view the film. On the radio, callers who had seen it reported that it was a moving, powerful film. Some folks criticized all the hype, and one of my neighbors mentioned a brochure that was available for those who have seen the film. Me, I'm still busy. As a regular listener of left-wing radio, I've heard a lot of the information that is reported to be presented in the film, so going to see it isn't high on my list. In the end I probably won't bother to go see the film.

It's not the first time I've noticed similarities between church folks and the neighborhood activists. Guess people are the same all over.