2003-05-22-7:59 p.m.

Philosophy 101:

"Choice is the illusion people with power give to people without." - Merovingian. Matrix-Reloaded.

Something like that.

Yes, I gave into the film, The Matrix has me. Keanu Reeves is my hero.

Kidding.

I'm starting to understand the jist of the film. I think.

It's about choices. It's about choices presented you and choices you don't realize. In the two existing films Neo is forced to choose. Red pill or blue, Left door or right, Zion or Trinity, this or that, TomAAto, TomAHto.

The way I look at it, if you believe in Merovingian's quote at the top of this entry. What if Neo chose neither. What if he looked Morpheus dead in the eye and said, "I'm not taking either pill."

What if he looks The Architect in the "eye" and says, "I'll take that pen."

It's like someone coming to you and saying, "Take this pile of crap."

Of course you wouldn't.

But if someone said, "You can choose between this pile of crap or a piece of toast.", you'll weigh the options and most generally choose the piece of toast. You may not even want toast. Toast may be last thing in the world you'll need. But you'll take the toast because the person with power has given you the choice to take one or the other. Never crosses your mind that you could say, "I'll pass on both, thanks anyway.".

So you end up with the false security of, "Whew...I'm glad I didn't take that pile of crap!", as you walk down the street with your piece of useless toast.

What this all has to do with me is:

I've learned finally in life, I'm tired of choosing, I want to make decisions. As it relates to me, my family, my life.

People with power make decisions, people without make choices. There's a difference.

And power isn't something you own, it's something you are. You can be powerless and choose between a Lexus and a Mercedes. You can be powerful and decide on a Honda.

It's semantics, but is it?

"You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed and you believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill and you stay in Wonederland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." Morpheus. The Matrix