hi-def dreams

I've been having super vivid dreams lately. Not sure why.

Last night, I was a high school graduation type event. But instead of graduating from high school, I was being initiated into the military, as if it was required. Other mennonites I knew growing up were there and I could sense our shared discomfort, but there didn't seem to be any choice. We arrived at the auditorium after a parade through town, each of us driving our own tank, which was kind of scary since I had no idea how to operate one, but I figured it out.

One by one, we went on stage, received a certificate and a trophy of sorts as the officiant read a story of a famous military person who I suppose was supposed to be our patron saint of sorts. I lagged to the end of the line. I felt like I should speak up, resist. But I went along.

Then, all of a sudden, right before my turn, D.C. Myers, an institution in my growing up church got up on stage, explaining that he just couldn't resist. He started leading hymns. I was annoyed. Does he realize I still haven't received my certificate? (I saw it on the table already and they misspelled my first name--big surprise.) He led songs I knew. I sang along half-heartedly, still trying to figure out how and what to say to resist this seemingly inevitable right of passage.

But what does it all MEAN!?!

I've been reading "The Hunger Games" trilogy. Very violent. And it struck me last night--how would non-violent resistance have played out in the fictional world of Panem where citizens are slaves to the rulers of "the Capitol"?