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Column on The Hunger Games misses the point

Dear Editor: On reading Kathy Lynn's April 18 column on The Hunger Games I have to conclude that she is either unable to discern the themes and morals of the books and movie, or she simply has not read them and is repeating second-hand platitudes.

Dear Editor:

On reading Kathy Lynn's April 18 column on The Hunger Games I have to conclude that she is either unable to discern the themes and morals of the books and movie, or she simply has not read them and is repeating second-hand platitudes.

The Hunger Games is not about kids killing kids. Yes the characters are kids who kill kids, but that is the means of illustrating the theme. It is not the theme. The book is about how governments use and abuse the populace. It is modelled on the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Would Ms. Lynn suggest we be wary of children reading Greek mythology?

The forcing of children to kill children is immoral. However, all of the characters who have been participants in the Games in the book are damaged both physically and emotionally by their experiences. They work hard to try to, and ultimately do, overthrow the regime which promulgates the Games. This is the point of the book.

There is no difference in the content of the book than what we see on television daily where our governments send children to Afghanistan and other countries to kill other child soldiers. Statedetermined and sanctioned killing most definitely should be an issue teens should discuss. The book in no way encourages them to emulate it. They are shown how damaging killing is to one's psyche. If they were to emulate Katniss, they would be struggling for freedom to live in a safe and secure society. Certainly this is a theme that they should emulate. As Ms. Lynn points out "Kids killing kids is devastating. The idea of kids killing kids for sheer entertainment is appalling." This is the point of the book.

Parents should be aware of the messages their children are receiving, but in order to do so, they need to read what their children are reading - and also have the capacity to understand it.

Robert Voigt, West Vancouver