I was one of those kids that read every single "Hunger Games" book, in order, and three times through. I was also one of those kids whose dad liked to have talked about books and movies after finishing them. So the question my dad asked me about four years ago was, "Do you think our world could ever turn into the "Hunger Games?" And being the 14-year-old freshman that knows everything, I replied within seconds, "What!? Are you serious? No way. I don't think our world would ever become that ridiculously brutal, and violent." My dad just calmly said, "Okay, if that's what you think." I walked back to my room slightly confused but reassured myself that my dad just asked that question as a joke. However, if my dad would have asked me that question today, I would reply, "Yeah. It already is. American people are already turning on each other."
Okay so by now you think I'm crazy, and you're right. Our world, turning into the rebellious, violent Hunger Games? No way. But think again. Think about the past few days. Immediately after the deaths of a certain race or community or workforce, we, as a society, chose to battle hate with hate. Killing even more innocent people. Just like in the Hunger Games; when the people rebelled against the government, the brutality was almost always followed by the killing of numerous innocent people. The innocent people that lost their lives, lost their lives solely because someone thought something wasn't fair and therefore attacked a peacekeeper, causing the entire line of peacekeepers to get involved. This is exactly what happened in Dallas, Minnesota, and Baton Rouge.
Our country is tearing itself apart; just like the districts segregated themselves in the "Hunger Games." Our people are rallying through violence; just like the people that forcefully rebelled in the "Hunger Games." Our world is turning into the "Hunger Games" in a seemingly literal sense, and that should scare you. Something that was fiction and a million dollar investment in the movie and book industry is coming to life. Something we paid to watch on the screen with our friends, could very easily become our reality.
Now the question is; who's going to stop it? Who's going to be 'the Katniss' or 'the Peeta'? Who's going to refuse to give in to this type of future for our country? Who's going to stand up to the injustice and violence and refuse to kill the life beside them—regardless of race, community, or workforce? I hope you do. Because if not, our world very well could become the "Hunger Games."
