Good morning,
OPINIONS AS ARTICLES OF FAITH
There is something great about faith. It allows people to believe things that are not empirically verifiable. Those things generally are in the nature of religious faith and other questions of existential nature.
Nowadays, we have entered an era when other things are held as matters of religious conviction. People seek out every scintilla of evidence to support any theory, regardless of how ridiculous. There are people who believe the pandemic was some sort of government-supported control experiment, or that masks don’t work, or that elections were stolen.
I was reminded recently that one can’t reason with people who hold opinions that are matters of faith. Trust me, I responded to each assertion with a measured, polite, and evidence-filled response. Yet every bit of reasoning was met with disbelief and disdain.
If you have an opinion, we can reason with each other. But if you hold a point of view as a matter of faith, there really is nothing to talk about.
ICARUS FLEW TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN
Three observations on the five deaths on the submersible last week:
1. It just feels like diving that far down for reasons other than scientific or historic knowledge is a foolish risk. It also seems like such craft should be registered, tested, and certified safe.
2. Just as Icarus flew too close to the sun, as more information is released, the submersible story—the reluctance to do adequate testing and to listen to alternate views and concerns is the victory of hubris. But in the end, hubris is rarely victorious.
3. As much hype and as many resources as were deployed to save these five people who assumed great risk, far fewer resources and less attention from the media and the public is granted to the immigrants who die every day in boats and deserts trying to find a better life.
DAD MOVIES
I had shared a few weeks ago a list of “dad movies.” This sparked a lot of response. Here are a few of those responses:
My cousin, Chris Cook, suggests The Final Countdown. Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen and Katherine Ross in a movie where the USS Enterprise goes back in time to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It’s a great time travel movie with the requisite war, scifi and romance motifs, all in one place!
Paul Kinscherff suggests that To Kill a Mockingbird is the ultimate dad movie, especially given the relationship of kids and their single father, and how the kids confront seeing their father in the greater world and their coming of age in the racist South. One of the best lines in the movies is when Scout (Jean Louise), Gregory Peck’s daughter, is sitting in the “colored balcony” in the courthouse, watching the proceedings on the last day. The Reverend tells Scout, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passing.” It was at that point Scout realizes the importance of what was transpiring and the stature and moral leadership of her father.
POLITICAL THRILLERS AND COMMENTARIES
Adam Torson responded to the “Dad Movies” list by citing the best political movies: https://newrepublic.com/article/173376/100-political-films-new-republic-list. In my opinion, some of the best of this genre, broken down by my imperfect subcategories, are:
· Apocalyptic/conspiratorial/spies/drama: Fail Safe, Syriana, The Conversation, The Manchurian Candidate, Three Days of the Condor, The Parallax View, Advice and Consent, Seven Days in May, Gangs of New York
· Historical: All the King’s Men, Lincoln, Malcolm X, All the President’s Men, Bridge of Spies, Frost/Nixon, Charlie Wilson’s War, Good Night and Good Luck
· Politics: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Candidate, The American President, Primary, The Ides of March, Citizen Kane, Primary Colors, A Face in the Crowd, The King’s Speech
· Comedy (though often deep): The Death of Stalin, Wag the Dog, Bulworth, Election, Dr. Strangelove, Dave
For a variety of reasons, these classics are significant for filmmaking but not my cup of tea, for various reasons: Triumph of the Will, Battleship Potemkin, Birth of a Nation.
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives:
I agree with you 100% about the submarine and how much good that rescue money could have done for those who really need it 👍
I am a person of faith ... but feel I can be reasonable :)