I’d like you to watch the following video before you read this. Click on the link below or go to youtube and search "Rabbit in your headlights".
WARNING: It has some disturbing scenes of a man being hit by traffic (but no humans were hurt during filming of the video.)
I’m interested in your thoughts about the video. I found it disturbing but I got the emotion. If you listened to the lyrics you might have caught the phrase “I’m a rabbit in your headlights Christian suburbanite”. What do they mean by that? This lyric is especially worrisome when juxtaposed with the scenes of the man being brutally run down.
I have 2 comments:
First, and some may be surprised by this, I completely agree with the artist’s generalization about my religion here in this country. Many suburban Christians today are comfortable, lazy and generally ignoring the dying world around them. Sure we might give our tithe, send a few bucks a month to various charities and share our faith when asked so we can sleep at night. But this artist has exposed and highlighted a serious problem with the Western church. And before anyone thinks I have an answer for this dilemma or that I lead by example let me be clear. I’m talking about myself here too, I have full-sized Douglas Fir stuck in my eye.
WARNING: It has some disturbing scenes of a man being hit by traffic (but no humans were hurt during filming of the video.)
I’m interested in your thoughts about the video. I found it disturbing but I got the emotion. If you listened to the lyrics you might have caught the phrase “I’m a rabbit in your headlights Christian suburbanite”. What do they mean by that? This lyric is especially worrisome when juxtaposed with the scenes of the man being brutally run down.
I have 2 comments:
First, and some may be surprised by this, I completely agree with the artist’s generalization about my religion here in this country. Many suburban Christians today are comfortable, lazy and generally ignoring the dying world around them. Sure we might give our tithe, send a few bucks a month to various charities and share our faith when asked so we can sleep at night. But this artist has exposed and highlighted a serious problem with the Western church. And before anyone thinks I have an answer for this dilemma or that I lead by example let me be clear. I’m talking about myself here too, I have full-sized Douglas Fir stuck in my eye.
Rabbit in your headlights – UNKLE
I'm a rabbit in your headlights Scared of the spotlight
You don't come to visit I'm stuck in this bed Thin rubber gloves
She laughs when she's crying She cries when she's laughing
She laughs when she's crying She cries when she's laughing
Fat bloody fingers are sucking your soul away...(Away....away....away....)
I'm a rabbit in your headlights Christian suburbanite
Washed down the toilet Money to burn
If you're frightened of dyin' and you're holding on...You'll see devils tearing your life away.
But...if you've made your peace, Then the devils are really angels
Freeing you from the earth.....from the earth....from the earth
Rotworms on the underground Caught between stations
Butterfingers I'm losing my patience
I'm a rabbit in your headlights Christian suburbanite
You got money to burn....
I'm a rabbit in your headlights Christian suburbanite
Washed down the toilet Money to burn
If you're frightened of dyin' and you're holding on...You'll see devils tearing your life away.
But...if you've made your peace, Then the devils are really angels
Freeing you from the earth.....from the earth....from the earth
Rotworms on the underground Caught between stations
Butterfingers I'm losing my patience
I'm a rabbit in your headlights Christian suburbanite
You got money to burn....
'Like a cage full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich. They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; And they do not defend the rights of the poor. Shall I not punish these people?' declares the LORD, On a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?' - Jeremiah 5: 27-29
My second comment is a frightening message that I picked up on. It’s not found in the lyrics but it’s in the video. The vehicleless man seems to suddenly be freed of his psychosis and finds clarity of thought. He throws off his coat as another car speeds towards him, he throws wide his arms, the car collides with him and is utterly destroyed.
You think that’s an idle threat by UNKLE? You’re wrong and the Word of God confirms it. Why do many atheists refer to Christians as “Xtians”? I believe it’s because the name of Jesus is offensive to many people unless it’s used as a curse word. If we are treated badly because of Jesus’ name that’s to our gain if it’s because we’ve done wrong then we deserve it.
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.” - Matthew 23:9-10
3 comments:
That's a fairly disturbing video. I'm not sure what bothers me more: the Christ image at the end, when the oppressed becomes the victor, or the lyrical/visual implication that Christians are violent oppressors.
I got a different primary message than you did, though. You say "comfortable, ignoring the dying world around them". The strongest impression I received was of resistance to prosyletism - that Christians approach people with violence: ostensibly trying to 'reach' someone for their sake, but in reality bludgeoning them with a message of terror ('you're going to hell'), safe in the steel cages of their religion and smug in the assumption of their rightness.
"Hey mate, where you goin'? Where you goin'? Nice coat."
The one word "suburbanite" is evocative - it's what brings up the fat-and-comfortable image. Dulled by routine, numbed by prosperity. Content to live uneventful lives far from the war zone - only travelling there occasionally and in the comfort of A/C and power windows.
Wow your comments are like poetry! If you added a few expletives you'd be a best selling canadian author! lol But seriously your comment is thought provoking "Dulled by routine, numbed by prosperity. Content to live uneventful lives far from the war zone - only travelling there occasionally and in the comfort of A/C and power windows." How true
Yeah, I sometimes get carried away and don't realise I'm channeling Margaret Atwood.
It also occurred to me yesterday that this whole vid takes place in a commuter tunnel. After a couple of days to think about it, I can appreciate the artistry of the thing.
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