Send in the Clown?

I haven't blogged in a long time, but I wanted to jot down some thoughts I had about the movie Joker. There will be spoilers.

For me, there are two potential options when evaluating the film, neither of which speak well of it.

Either:

1) Joker is a shallow film with delusions of grandeur that ultimately doesn't have anything new or interesting to say about the world.

or

2) Joker does something to say about the world, but the things it says are problematic.

There are those who say the film is about mental illness. But if that's the case, then what it has to say is that mentally ill people are ultimately a danger to society. Not great.

There are those who say it's about classism. But the people leading the revolution and trying to remake the system anoint a false messiah who doesn't actually share their views and who murders people for personal vengeance rather than out of righteous indignation or to accomplish a larger goal. That's not exactly a positive portrayal of the poor and downtrodden.

There are those who say it's about living in a society and treating others with respect and kindness. But the people who Arthur lashes out at aren't just the ones who break the social contract. The Wall Street bros are legitimate bullies, but his mother is clearly suffering from her own mental illness and Murray, while a bit of a jerk, is just a guy hosting a talk show and trying to make people laugh. He's mean-spirited, but hardly an example of the worst of society. Then there's poor Sophie and her daughter who seem perfectly nice and kind and polite and maybe(?) get murdered for it. It's a muddled mess.

That's not even mentioning the fact that "white guy goes crazy and kills people" is an idea that's been explored quite frequently in cinema. It's hard to argue that the movie is an important film about mental illness when it's telling the same story that's been told repeatedly and often better.

At any rate, I enjoyed the film. But all the attempts to call it a masterpiece and ascribe greater meaning than is ultimately there are misguided in my opinion. There are a lot of people who are grading it on a curve because it's a comic book film and because they're used to seeing summer blockbusters and nothing else. Which is fine. By all means, like what you like. But don't lash out at the film's detractors and act like they're missing some hidden depth that only the movie's fans really get. That's simply not the case.

Something Has to Change

It's a temperate Thursday in February and there was yet another mass shooting yesterday. This time, it was in a high school in Florida. 17 people dead at the hands of a 19-year-old former student. As heartbreaking as it is, it's becoming all too routine. While I don't have much hope that things will change and don't have the delusions of grandeur to think that a blog post from me will significantly shift the narrative, I feel compelled to at least put my thoughts and the changes I've been advocating down on digital paper. Some may consider me a hypocrite because I work for a company that sells guns, but I'm not anti-gun at all. Rather, I'm for increased gun safety. I believe these changes would create a safer environment for both those who own guns and those who do not. Here are the legal steps I believe we should take:

1) Create a federal database cataloging all new gun purchases.
2) Enact both carrot and stick laws that would compel owners of previously purchased guns to register them in the database.
3) Close the "gun show loophole" and require all gun purchases, even those between friends or family, to go through an FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealer with a full background check.
4) Stiffen penalties on legal gun owners who have their guns stolen due to failure to properly secure them or fail to report thefts immediately.
5) Create a federal (or state-run with reciprocity) licensing system, modeled after driver's licensing, for all firearms ownership that includes comprehensive training and requires regular renewals.
6) Shift some of the resources currently being used to enforce immigration towards catching and convicting straw purchasers and other purveyors of illegal weapons.
7) Remove the restrictions that keep the CDC from studying gun violence and, after the previously created systems have been in place for five years together, assess their effectiveness to see if more changes are needed.

Would these changes instantly reduce homicide rates to zero and make mass shootings a thing of the past? Of course not. 100% effectiveness is an impossible goal for any law to achieve. But that's the ridiculous standard that gun advocates hold potential gun laws to. Because they're staunchly afraid of any change. But I'm fearful too. I'm afraid of another day like yesterday. And I have a lot more evidence that more mass shootings are on the horizon than they have for their imagined draconian dystopia. So many people try to make these conversations about "freedom," but what's a more fundamental freedom than the freedom to go to school or work or to a night on the town without being shot and killed by some madman? Life comes before Liberty for a reason. Right now, we're sacrificing too many lives so the 25% of Americans who own firearms can avoid a relatively small inconvenience to their liberty and continue to have unfettered access. That's just not logical. None of the proposals I've put forth would lead to the fabled world where only "bad guys" have guns. So really, what is there to fear? What reason is there not to act? How can we call ourselves humane and claim to care about other Americans if we continue to do nothing?

In Defense of Fairweather Fandom

Among sports obsessives, there's few worse things you can be than a fairweather fan. Your bond with your beloved team(s) is supposed to be so strong that you forsake all others and pledge to honor them in good times and bad. But for me at least, this kind of thinking is unhealthy. If the team I like can't put a good product on the field/court, then I should have no obligation to continue watching. With so many other entertainment options out there and so many productive ways I could be spending my time, why should I waste it watching something that's only going to make me miserable?

I've seen many articles delineating the exact circumstances that make it okay to "break-up" with your favorite team. But that's all just nonsense to me. If you're not having fun, just stop watching. When/if your team starts playing well again, you're free to start watching again. No one should harass you for not being a masochist. I'm not obligated to watch a critically panned sequel to a film just because I enjoyed the first one in the series. Similarly, I'm under no obligation to follow every move of a sports organization simply because I've rooted for them in the past.

There are those who'll argue that the eventual wins are sweeter because you've suffered through all the losing, but I don't find that to be the case at all. Winning is fun regardless. No Cubs fan enjoyed the team's World Series win last year any less because they didn't watch every out of the 2002 season when they went 67-95. Red Sox and Patriot fans too young to remember the lean years can still find joy in each new victory.

As I write this, my alma mater, ECU is losing 21-0 in the first quarter to Houston. I'm sure I have friends who are watching right now. And if they feel like they're getting something positive out of it, good for them. If they feel like it connects them to the team in some way and bolsters their pride in the University to watch every moment of every game, then that's fine with me. They're trading current happiness for something else. But no one has the right to say I'm not a real fan because I've chosen not to watch the carnage. I value my time and my happiness and choose to guard them both. The choice you make is up to you.

To be rather than to seem.

North Carolina made the national news recently when a law was proposed that would purportedly establish a state religion. The bill was obviously unconstitutional and it was killed by the Speaker of the House before it reached the floor, but much of the damage had already been done. According to many Democrats, the bill is part of a systematic pattern by Republicans (especially on the state level) to disenfranchise minorities and women and push their religious values on those who don't share them. Unsurprisingly, the senator who proposed the original bill had a different take. He claims that he never intended to establish an official state religion. His only goal was to head off the attacks that the ACLU is making on publicly sponsored prayer in the city council meetings of Salisbury and other North Carolina towns.

The way I see it though, there's a simple solution to the city council prayer issue. If members of the Salisbury city council are interested in praying to open their meetings, they can simply arrive five or ten minutes early and do so before the meeting officially begins. They can honor God fully without offending anyone on the council or in the community who doesn't believe in him. These men and women don't have to hide their prayer, but it will be just as pleasing to God if it's before the session begins as it will be after it starts. Sometimes compromise can be really simple.

2012 From My Living Room

I don't really watch enough movies or listen to enough new music to do a best-of list in those categories, but I watch a lot of TV.  Here's what I loved in 2012:

1.  Mad Men

It seems like every season Mad Men is more self-assured than the last. Matthew Weiner and company know that subtlety is their greatest weapon and they wield it with aplomb. 

2.  Breaking Bad

This show could really be 1(b). Vince Gilligan and his writing staff continually paint Walter & Jesse into ever-tighter corners only to deftly maneuver them out in breath-taking fashion. All without straining credulity. Flawless.

3.  Louie

One of the most unique half-hours on television, Louie isn't so much a sitcom as a series of short films. Absurdist humor and somber meditations on life have rarely been melded so seamlessly.

4.  Boardwalk Empire

It seems that viewers expected perfection right out of the gate due to Boardwalk Empire's sterling pedigree. What they found was a show that has plenty of panache and a beautiful veneer, but also comes with its share of heavy-handed moments. Those that bailed on the show early missed the development of some fantastic characters in addition the kind of well-crafted action and drama that makes premium cable worth the price of admission.

5.  Game of Thrones

Hardcore fantasy geeks and novice nerds alike have found lots to love in HBO's superb adaptation of George RR. Martin's best-selling novels. The most downloaded show of 2012 is also one of the best.

6.  Community

There's a reason why this show has one of most passionate fanbases on the internet. Enjoy it before it's gone. #SixSeasonsAndAMovie

7.  Justified

Justified is a modern-day Western set in Kentucky coal country—a place that's colorfully and stylishly rendered and home to some of the best villains on TV.

8.  Homeland

While many viewers took issue with the believability of Homeland's second season, it provided plenty of unexpected twists, a few sublimely rendered scenes, and more outstanding acting from Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, and Mandy Patinkin.

9. Treme

Three seasons in and Treme continues to be criminally under-appreciated. Viewers looking for The Wire 2.0 were quickly turned off by its slow-burn narrative and rambling pace. Those that stuck around, however, have found that there's no better place to kick back, enjoy some jazz, catch up with some old friends, and learn about one of America's most fascinating cities.

10. Girls

When you get past all the hype and the hate, you'll find that Girls is a daring, stylish show that brings the love/hateable characters of mumblecore to the small screen. Nepotized or not, Lena Dunham's got skills.

11. Happy Endings

Some shows are here because they're meticulously crafted. Some shows tug at the heartstrings. Some shows just make me laugh really hard.

12. Fringe

After an overly gooey season four finale that was designed to serve as a series finale if necessary, Fringe returned with a darker, more streamlined season five that may cement it as one of the all-time great Science Fiction shows.

13. Parks & Recreation

Leslie Knope and company continue to find new ways to entertain, while building the kind of close-knit office family that Michael Scott can only dream of.

14. Bob's Burgers

The show that broke the McFarlane curse is the best part of Sunday night. (Sorry, Football.)

15. Archer

I've got two words for you: Burt. Reynolds.

17. Suburgatory

Suburgatory is another show that skillfully integrates wacky humor and heartfelt character moments without the awkward transition music.

18. Sherlock

Anyone who says that the English are stuffy and dry hasn't seen their television. Sherlock is just plain fun.

19. Parenthood

Against all odds, Parenthood continues to tackle ripped-from-The-View family issues and heart-breaking personal tragedies without ever crossing the line into melodrama.

20. South Park

The rumors of South Park's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Like all long-running shows, it has its hits and misses, but its hits still pack a wallop.

Honorable Mentions: Rev., The Daily Show, Falling Skies, The Hour, New Girl, The Walking Dead, How I Met Your Mother, Awake

Us vs. Them: What Does it Mean to Support?

I don't know if you've noticed, but Israel is in the news a lot right now. Their seemingly never-ending conflict with Palestine has escalated to the point that some people are even calling for a ground war. This is nothing new of course. If you believe the theory that Arabs are the descendants of Ishmael, then they've been fighting with the Jews for about 4,000 years. What also hasn't changed is that a lot of American Christians are irrationally cheering for Israel.

Look: the US has been supporting Israel for a long time. I'm not saying that we should sever those ties. Let's just get a few things straight.

First of all, the United States' support of lack of support for Israel shouldn't really be a Christian issue. There are several schools of thought among theologians when it comes to Israel's place in New Testament prophecy. There are those that believe that Christ is going to establish of physical kingdom of Israel on the physical location where the historic kingdom stood. There are others who believe that the "Israel" most often referred to in New Testament prophecy is simply a metaphor for the Church. They believe that the Christian Church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people. There's also a school of thought that falls somewhere in between. I haven’t done an exhaustive study on the subject, but I lean towards the second explanation for a few reasons. For example:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galations 3:26-29

Honestly, I feel like you could make a relatively convincing scriptural case for either point of view. One thing theologians seem to agree on though, is that the modern nation of Israel isn't the one referred to in prophecy. If you paid attention in History class, you'll remember that Israel wasn't a nation for a long period beginning around the first century AD. That's when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans. You may also recall that Israel didn't become a nation again until May 14, 1948. The nation that was established that day, while founded on the location of ancient Israel and populated by many descendants of Abraham and practitioners of Judaism, isn't analogous with ancient Israel. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could announce tomorrow that Iran will henceforth be known as Persia, but that wouldn't make him Cyrus the great. Similarly, the modern, secular government of Israel can't really lay claim to being chosen by God the same way Isaac, Jacob, or Moses could. If all God cared about was ancestry, he wouldn't have invited us gentiles to the party and he certainly wouldn't have orchestrated things so the line of Christ went through Rahab, the Canaanite harlot.

But let's ignore point #1 for a moment. Let's say that I'm wrong and that the modern-day nation Israel is 100% the same as ancient Israel. Does that make them infallible? I keep seeing Christians talking about how we need to support them and that's all well and good, but you know they're just human, right? Humans make mistakes. Take a look at the literal Biblical nation of Israel. They were constantly turning away from God and towards idolatry, often ruled by wicked kings like Ahab. Unless you're living in a true theocracy where God is literally making all of your country's decisions, your leaders are going to screw up and do stupid or wicked things from time to time. Without our support, there's a good chance that Israel would have been wiped off the map by now. I'm glad we've kept that from happening. But I see no reason why we can't call out Israel's leaders out for their mistakes while remaining the nation's ally. We shouldn't have to worry about facing the wrath of the Almighty (as a lot of Christian Conservatives keep threatening) because we sometimes disagree with Shimon Peres. 

My third and final point is this: You don't think we support Israel right now? Really? Currently, the United States gives Israel 3 billion dollars per year in military aide and the Obama administration has shown no desire to change that. How could anyone in their right mind say that we're not standing with Israel? Over the past few years, the United States has provided Israel with millions of dollars to help fund their Iron Dome missile defense system. This system has been key in preventing civilian casualties on the Israeli side. We've also supported Israel through diplomatic channels, using our Security Council veto power on Israel's behalf and voting against the recognition of a Palestinian state on numerous occasions. And none of our pro-Israeli policies have changed under Obama, despite what some on the Right would have you believe.

This a nuanced conflict. There are two sides to every disagreement. I've seen person after person posting on Facebook about how Israel has the right to defend itself and those people aren't wrong. But Israel isn't blameless in this conflict either. They've mistreated the Palestinian people in many ways and stubbornly refused to compromise. Hamas is a terrorist organization that attacks civilians almost exclusively and I'm glad that Israel is taking steps to end its relevancy and defend their people. That being said, it's undeniably tragic that so many Palestinian civilians are dying in the process. I get that that's what happens with terror cells because they hide among the people, but that doesn't mean we can't mourn the innocent dead. I refuse to believe that I or my nation are incurring the wrath of God for taking a nuanced stance on a centuries old conflict or admitting that the leaders of modern-day Israel sometimes make mistakes. By all means, support our ally. Just don't act like this conflict is black and white.

Utopian Mudslinging

In the best possible world, all political ads would be like this:


Candidate 1:  Hi. I'm Billy Keikeya and I'm the Democratic nominee for senate in North Carolina. I supported the Affordable Care Act because I'm concerned about the rising healthcare costs in this country and I wanted to make sure that every American has insurance. Once they do, it will lower the burden on our emergency rooms, lowering costs across the board.

Candidate 2:  Hi. I'm Mallory Quinn and I'm the Republican nominee for senate in North Carolina. I did not support the Affordable Care Act. While I'm also concerned about rising healthcare costs, I prefer other solutions to the problem such as tort reform and making the same insurance policy available across state lines. I believe that these and other changes will achieve the same positive effects as The Affordable Care Act without increasing bureaucracy and without forcing people to buy a product that they may not want or need.

Candiate 1:  On November 6th, it's your duty as a citizen of North Carolina to decide who you agree with on this issue and place your vote accordingly.

Candiate 2:  To find out more about our positions and voting records on this and other issues, visit KeikeyaVsQuinn2012.com.

Candiate 1:  I'm Billy Keikeya.

Candiate 2:  And I'm Mallory Quinn.

Both:  And we approve this ad.


If only.