LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM SAW First of all, I love the SAW movie series. Oddly enough, however, it's not because of the gore and violence. In truth, I'm not really a big fan of gore or violence at all. There's something else behind my fascination with this great series -- and it involves Jigsaw and his tasks. It amazes me how most people always focus on one of two things: (1) I'm right; or (2) you're wrong. They don't understand perspective or how to look at things through someone else's eyes; to be in their shoes or to see how their actions affect other people. Or perhaps they simply don't want to because it might inconvenience them or not serve their purposes. It's easier to turn a blind eye because then we can pretend it doesn't exist. But Jigsaw forces people to take a good look at their actions. Here are my two simple lessons to be learned from SAW: 1. Your actions affect other people. (And as often is the case, your inaction also affects other people.) 2. You have time to make changes. Make those changes before it HURTS. SAW poses situations involving pretty drastic circumstances. Not only are peoples' lives at stake, but often several participants are interacting with each other at the same time, and they all have their own part to play in their own game. Their actions directly affect the outcome, and the lives, of each other. But noone ever takes the time to figure out why other people are doing what they're doing. The junkie had to disfigure his face to win his freedom. And yet he still learned nothing and ultimately died. The rapist didn't pull the trigger quick enough to destroy his eyes to save himself. Rigg couldn't overcome his obsession with trying to save everyone, ultimately causing others to die in the process. Why don't they see what lesson is trying to be shown to them? Why don't they learn? When will WE learn? Will mankind have to be put into a parallel 'drastic' scenario before we change our behavior? Why can't we learn our lesson sooner and make changes for the better now? No, maybe we won't all be chained up five years from now in a dank basement with grinding gears mashing our face off, but can you draw the parallel?! Do we need to have nuclear war or a pandemic disease or overpopulation or depletion of natural resources on our doorstep before we make changes? Do it now. Make changes now. Conserve water. Recycle. Drive less. Work out more. Do it now.