10
The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
August 2, 1996
-- On The Record--
GIVE ME ONE REASON
(REFRAIN)
Playing selfish games
By CHARLIE MARTIN
CNS COLUMNIST
Give me one reason to stay
here/And I'll turn right back
around/Give me one reason to stay here/And
I'll turn right back around/Because I don't
want/To leave you lonely/But you got to make
me/Change my mind
Baby I got your number/And I know that you
got mine/But you know that I called you/I
called too many times/You can call me
baby/You can call me anytime/But you got to
call me
(REPEAT REFRAIN)
I don't want no one to squeeze me/They might
take away my life/I just want someone to hold
me/And rock me through the nighUThis youth-
ful heart can love you/And give you what you
need/But I'm too old to go/Chasing you
around/Wasting my precious energy
(REPEAT REFRAIN)
Give me just one reason why/Baby just give
me one reason/Give me just one reason
• why/Baby just give me one reason/Give me just
i one reason/Why I should
stay/Because I told you/That I
love you/And .there ain't no
more to say
Written and sung by Tracy
Chapman
Copyright (c) 1995 by EMI April Music/
Purple Rabbit Music (ASCAP) 1986, Tracy
Chapman
It's been a while since Tracy Chapman has
been on the charts. Now she is back with her hit,
"Give Me One Reason," off the "New Beginning" CD.
The song describes how people play emotional
games with each other. Instead of straight-forward
communication about their needs and wants, the
couple in the song engage in waiting games via the
telephone.
The woman says that "I got your number, and I
know that you got mine." She's called her guy "too
many times" and now "you can call me baby, you
can call me anytime." She seems to be growing
weary of these games. She tells him, "Give me just
one reason why I should stay."
Such an approach to a relationship seems to be
based on emotional manipulation. I doubt if either
person in this song is ready for a serious relation-
ship.
Love grows in a climate of trust and mutual re-
spect. Playing games like those described in the
song does not demonstrate either quality.
This girl needs to ask the guy directly why he
has not returned her calls. It is reasonable to call
once or twice. After that, no response from the other
shows a lack of courtesy.
• If this is how he informs her that he is not in-
terested in her, then he doesn't have the character
or personal skills needed to build a healthy relation-
ship. She is fortunate to have avoided a path to even
greater future hurt.
Practicing courtesy is important for all of us. If
someone calls and asks you out, don't play games
with the person. If you don't want to go, be kind,
and say thank you. Yet, be clear that you do not
want to go.
Don't give excuses or make up reasons why you
are declining the date. Be honest in saying that you
do not want to date this person. If you are not sure,
tell the other person that you want to think about it.
Then, call back within two days with your reply.
Treating others with this type of kindness and
respect will bring long-term effects. First, you will
stay out of relationships like the one described in
the song. And you will be proud of your behavior
and have nothing to hide.
Your actions will honor the dignity that God
gave to you and to everyone.
(Your comments are always welcome. Please ad-
dress: Charlie Martin, RR3, Box 182, Rockport, Ind.
47635.)
I
' NEW YORK (CNS)-- The fol-
lowing are capsule reviews of
movies recently reviewed by the
U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC)
Office for Film and Broadcasting.
Ratings are also given for the
• Motion Picture Association of
America (MPAA).
"Kingpin" (MGM)
Irreverent comedy in which a
boozy, has-been bowling Champ
(Woody Harrelson) persuades a
naive, Amish bowling prodigy
(Randy Quaid) to compete in a
million-dollar tournament whose
front-runner (Bill Murray) had
ruined the drunk's promising ca-
reer years earlier. There is some-
thing to turn off nearly everyone
in directors Peter and Bobby
Farrelly's occasionally funny
hodgepodge Of politically incor-
rect and scatological humor.
Brief sexual innuendo, some vi-
olence, much tasteless humor
and minimal profanity. The
USCC classification is A-III --
adults. The MPAA rating is PG-
13 -- parents are strongly cau-
tioned that some material may
be inappropriate for children
under 13.
"Manny & Lo" (Sony Clas-
sics)
An orphaned, pregnant 16-
year-old (Aleksa Palladino) and
her 11-year-old sister (Scarlett
Johansson) run off together from
their separate foster homes and
kidnap a baby-store clerk (Mary
Kay Place) in hopes she will
know how to deliver the infant
at their hideout. Writer-director
Lisa Krueger finds the human-
ity, humor and poignancy in all
three's predicaments, but fails to
fully flesh out her characters in
the inconclusive narrative. Sex-
ual innuendo, petty thievery, oc-
casional profanity and recurring
rough language. The USCC clas-
sification is A-III m adults. The
MPAA rating is R -- restricted.
"A Time to Kill" (Warner
Bros.)
A novice Southern white
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