Sunday, December 10, 2006

Christmas Blood Diamond

I saw Blood Diamond the other night. A very good movie, with a great performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, and a good handling of the issues like wars in Africa, relationship between Europe and Africa, and of course conflict diamonds. But a question just occurred to me about the timing of the release. Obviously, gunning for Oscar nominations is a big part. But was there some thought about all those guys who have to deal with the pre-Christmas pressure about diamond jewelry for their wives/girlfriends? I'm sure there are lots of guys who come out of the movie thinking: Now if she asks me for that diamond necklace, I have something to convince her otherwise.

Just a thought.

8 comments:

Stephen said...

Go for a ruby. My wife's engagement/wedding stone is not a diamond. We didn't want people losing their arms to celebrate our love.

dcat said...

Although according to a recent study, fewer than 1% of diamonds are "conflict diamonds," down from about 15% in the mid-1990s. Your odds of having a "conflict ruby" are as good as having a conflict diamond, though in the case of rubies you may just be funding the Burmese junta and not African civil wars. It's tough to be pure in this situation. I would not have gone with a diamond except I happened upon a family heirloom that i could work with!

dcat

g_rob said...

Sure Derek, you have to go and get all "factual" on us. I'm going with Mark and Stephen's interpretation. I am actually sitting here arguing with my girlfriend as I type this. And Derek, I am not letting her read your propaganda.

Mark said...

Hey, I'm not saying don't buy diamonds (I'm all for people buying ). I'm just saying that I have an image of a bunch of Hollywood execs sitting around a table saying: If we release this in the Christmas shopping season, we'll have more men wanting to see it hoping to shut their wives/girlfriends up.

Again, maybe I'm wrong. :)

dcat said...

Gentlemen --
No, you are getting me all wrong. here is how I would envision the conversation:
"Honey, because I know you oppose supporting African civil wars and rogue regimes across the globe just as much as I do, I think the only responsible thing to do would be to forsewar all expensive jewelry. Instead, I bought you this gift certificate for us to go to a steak house . . ."

dcat

g_rob said...

Word, for word, exactly what I told her.

Mark said...

Exactly!!

I knew I wasn't the only one thinking it.

dcat said...

Great minds, etc.
Mmmmm, steak!

dcat