Historically, philosophical ideas conceived in the ivied halls of academia under the pens of technical philosophers have taken generations to filter down to the grass roots of society. This is no longer the case. Our world is shrinking rapidly in terms of travel and communication. One can be transported to the other side of the globe in a matter of hours, hold 'real time' international conversations by telephone, radio or the internet, and instantaneously view television transmssions via satellite from anywhere on the planet. The arts, which have been proven to be ideal vehicles for philosophical ideas are no longer constrained to the walls of theaters, galleries, or even stadia, but reach mass audiences of potentially global proportions.       It is into this arena we find ourselves thrown. Life-shaping ideas vie for our acceptance in what can be a dizzying onslaught if we are not armed with the understanding of their premises and ramifications. It is up to us to understand; It is up to us to CHOOSE