Lincoln & Django Restrained

A recent New Yorker article (http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/01/how-accurate-is-quentin-tarantinos-portrayal-of-slavery-in-django-unchained.html) linking Django Unchained to Lincoln and Inglorious Bastards was inspiringly poignant and edifyingly ideological. It’s important for critics and especially pundits to point out what’s not being discussed that should be, as Martin Luther King Jr. said on many occasions it’s the silence of our friends that is most deafening. Where were the slaves that fought back in Tarantino’s junk food thrill ride? Where are the Quakers, or men like William Stills, George Thomas, Nat Turner, Fredrick Douglas and so on etc..? Is it just that Tarantino is too lazy to tell the real stories or even hint at some of the history? Likewise was Spielberg’s obsessive focus of that particular period in history too narrowing or close minded to the wealth of passion and history? The late Christopher Hitchens once blasted http://www.laweekly.com/2011-12-29/film-tv/Christopher-Hitchens/full/  the obvious indolence of historical dramas and it’s safe to say exhaustive research into historical facts can only serve to enrichen the viewing experience. That said there’s no doubt that Lincoln and Django Unchained are both very entertaining and well done films. Although given the obvious talents of both directors’ prior works its clear even without a more encompassing message that they are undoubtedly growing lazier. Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Saving Private Ryan, and Shindler’s List are unquestionably American Classic masterpieces but these two current films are not. They were good films and a few of the scenes were great but without a farther reaching appeal to the opportunities that exists in the wealth of the human experience they sell their themes short. Lincoln in its own right is a great film, but at the same time I felt cheated as much of the time felt wasted. It was a film about the passing of the 13^th amendment. It could have been called the 13^th amendment instead of Lincoln. For political wonks the film is candy and fodder adding to the relevance of their daily spins and acceptance of government norms placating the legal corruption strangling are democracy into the intellectual stalemate turning sound policy ideas and structural changes into exasperated futility.  As Thomas Frank said on Martin Bashir recently http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/50474208#50474208 the shill triangulation that these films aspire to serves against our better judgment. Not wishing to give away anything, there is a terrific scene in Django where a character does the unexpected and rises to the occasion but as Frank points out about Lincoln and “Clintonism” it’s just a cliché. Just as Hemingway’s Old Man of the Sea comes back with no meat on the fish, our love affair with the glorious moment when John Wayne or the Magnificent Seven ride in at the last minute or Congress passes a debt limit at the last second in a gesture of sacrifice for the greater good. No. No. No!  It is the unwavering struggle and efforts devoid of illusory tactics that have specific demands and results through painstakingly hard work that is needed. Tarantino’s choice to lift Django to super hero status may be fun for the video game audience but the film would have been better with more realism. Once the main character is elevated pass reality; tangible efforts toward greater truths and motivations become in-compelling. So many opportunities to explore the depths of tolerance determination and acceptance were overtly simplified in both films leaving us with a hunger for a more purposeful justice. Did we see the best of Lincoln? Did we see the best of Django? No, we didn’t see the best of them nor did we get a chance to experience the triumph of their inner spirit to emulate. That speech Lincoln gave to the confederate leaders in their meeting at the ship lacked the conviction we all know he had. And why did I have to imagine Django as a perceived hero of sorts? Apart from a few smiles and stares, he was alone. In the very beginning of Lincoln a soldier recites the Gettysburg address to Daniel Day Lewis. I would much rather of seen Lincoln writing it on his napkin and then speaking the words to soldiers after having seen a scene from the battle itself. I didn’t feel the words. I felt government’s grinding quid pro quo minutia that serves today’s lobbyists and politicians not voters or the grass root activists we’re going to need to educate us. This is the imperative of art and the media today, to counteract the deceptive extremes of the ill-informed not serve as the triangulating shill of malfunction.

sanders fb thread on jack lew

Pam Krimsky Thank you for always standing for your beliefs Senator Sanders.

3 hours ago · Like · 14

Roberta Heesen Reid Thank you for continuing to speak up for the people!

3 hours ago · Like · 8

Edward D Jankauskas Sorry Senator Sanders, I can't disagree with you any of the time. You are always right.

3 hours ago · Like · 3

Jake Rooke Tax reform!!! Fix the loopholes

3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 3

Patrick Mccarty 100% agree Get the wal steet crooks out Sorry my liberal friends The one disappointment i had in the president Was when he kept Timothy Geithner

3 hours ago · Like · 1

Michael Muhammad Sen.Sander, President 2016

3 hours ago · Like · 4

Ken Sayers the very words in my mouth...

3 hours ago · Like

Harry S. Nydick Wall street needs penalties, not participation.

3 hours ago · Like · 6

Pat Alder Wall street cannot balance their OWN checkbooks why make them in charge of one of the bigggest!!

3 hours ago · Like · 5

Danny Cutting Senator Sanders is THE voice of moral change and sanity for America. I admire his courage and his wisdom...long may his voice of reason and support for the PEOPLE be heard, and may those in power please LISTEN.

3 hours ago · Like · 10

Pete DeRose Sanders/Warren 2016

3 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 14

Neil Amin At least let the man speak for himself before you publicly denounce him. Imagine the actual wall street nuts that would be appointed if President Obama were not in office.

3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1

Diane Glass Dear Senator: I continually look forward to reading what you write and hearing what you say. And this is not my usual response to the majority of U.S. politicians. Thank you for your work in the U.S. Senate.

3 hours ago · Like · 6

Rocky Bellenger Thank-you, Bernie Sanders for standing up again Obama Street!

3 hours ago · Like · 3

Scott Barnett I'm now reconsidering my initial thumbs up for this Mr. Lew. I really do hope he's at least not another Geithner.

3 hours ago · Like · 3

Lynne Robbins Ooh, that would be an awesome ticket!

3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 1

Steven Schneider Complete Income equality isn't anything good, as people produce different amounts of labor/wealth based on skills, work ethic, risk taking, etc. the only way to true address income equality in a way condusive to individual liberty is to take a hatchet to the thousands of horrible regulations that creates huge monopolies and centralizes the wealth. Contrary to what many believe ridiculous regulations that have nothing to do with the customer/provider relationship are a serious hurdle to the middles class, lower class, and small/mid sized companies. Like forcing a small hardware store to put in an expensive handicapped ramp, among thousands of others. The same people crying for income equality seem to be the same ones that wanted a market so regulated only the largest companies or the ones that get crony subsudies could survive. Legalize freedom.

3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2

Lauren Meltzer This is why I stopped watching msnbc.

3 hours ago via mobile · Like

Steven Azouqha You are the best, Mr. Sanders. If only there were more in Congress like you, with the courage and fortitude to stand up and speak truth to power!

3 hours ago · Like · 3

Dik Benisch way to many repub appointments left in place and now he picks the 'other side' again. no 'best of the worst' votes anymore here

3 hours ago · Like · 2

Dik Benisch *too

3 hours ago · Like

Paul Apollonio We love you Bernie!! Keep fighting for the little guy. I hope you get some company in the Senate for your fight soon.

3 hours ago · Edited · Like · 6

Lauren Wildrose I am beginning to realize that Washington just keeps recycling the same people over and over. We are idiots.

3 hours ago · Like · 3

Cindy Haviland I'm sick of it too!

3 hours ago · Like · 1

Kathi Monroe-Townsend Paul Krugman says that he wouldn't want the job and thinks that Lew is a good choice. Lew, according to Jonathan Alter, worries more about the poor than anyone realizes and wants to help them. Soooo, maybe this time my beloved Senator Sanders may have jumped the gun.

3 hours ago · Like · 1

Rhonda Heumiller I agree Wall Street people need to get out of our treasury dept. It's because of them this country is in the shape it's in.

3 hours ago · Like · 1

Barbara Grasher Howard No matter the issue, I am always schooled by your viewpoint and experience. Thank you, Senator. Keep up the excellent work.

3 hours ago · Like · 2

Dan Sanchez WE ARE idiots, to a degree. It's exactly as George Carlin warned us, WE are being giving the ILLUSION of being in charge, and of having a choice, when it is those paying off our, so-called, Representatives, who are ACTUALLY calling the shots, and ALLOWING us The Choice of those of their naming!!

3 hours ago · Like · 3

Dan Sanchez In other words, "The Lessor of the Two Evils"!!

3 hours ago · Like · 2

Angela Tellone Hatch More of the same garbage we got under Bush. As I've said many times before, the only change I've seen since 2008 is the roll of quarters in my desk drawer.

3 hours ago · Like

Ruth Larrabee Kevghas Bernie- I hope you are seriously considering running for President in the next election!!!

3 hours ago · Like · 4

Jennifer Minion Schworn From Wiki: "In June 2006, Lew was named chief operating officer of Citigroup's Alternative Investments unit, a proprietary trading group. The unit he oversaw invested in a hedge fund "that bet on the housing market to collapse."[21]" That alone should make him legally ineligible to hold an office in the gov't that has anything to do with banking regulation or our country's economy. Period.

3 hours ago · Unlike · 5

Doug White This appointee comes from CitiBank who has just been fined in the millions for violating the law. This guy should be in jail, not Treasury Secretary,

2 hours ago · Like · 4

Doug White Raise the minimum wage to #10.00/hr and index it to inflation. for starters.

2 hours ago · Like · 1

Tammy Messner @Steven Schneider, if adding a ramp for Mobility Impaired and disabled persons is your idea of a "horrible regulation," shame on you. What a "horrible" thought process you have.

2 hours ago via mobile · Like · 5

Robert Burns Sorry you are opposed to the ADA, Steve Schneider. What a douche.

2 hours ago via mobile · Like

Victor Molina Keep up to good work Bernie.

2 hours ago · Like · 1

Elicia Arwen Go Bernie! Thank you for your hard work for the people!

2 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2

Charles M. Carter Bernie Sanders, National Treasure!

2 hours ago · Like · 3

Wendy Raven Obama is showing where his loyalties lie with this nomination....and the American people should be very pissed off.....we do NOT need a Wall Street hack in this position.

2 hours ago · Like · 5

Scott Bricker damn I wish you were prez, Bernie...

2 hours ago · Like · 2

Jackie Wilson Thank you Bernie, for being a man of the people.

2 hours ago · Like · 1

Dana Rochelle this sentence just doesn't make sense, bernie and staff: “I am really tired of the president, and I support the president, continuing to appoint people who come from Wall Street. "

2 hours ago · Like

Fran Smith I agree with Senator Sanders. I'm confused by who the President chooses to pick for these positions. We need progressives in key government positions.

2 hours ago · Like · 7

Tracy Barrack Ditto Fran. I agree with you.

2 hours ago · Like · 2

Scott Bricker Obama is systematically installing a corporate/military government appointment by appointment...Monsanto, Citi, etc. etc.....he is doing exactly the opposite of what he was elected to do...total sellout

2 hours ago · Like · 1

Beth Wallach-Drucker No. I am NOT optimistic regarding the soul of this country. At All.

about an hour ago · Like

Alan Moen I think Sanders has a good point. Industry insiders should not be given governmental regulatory roles — but when has that not happened?

about an hour ago · Like · 4

Joyce Anderson @Steven Schneider no one is asking for "Complete Income equality" but you must have missed all the statistics which show that the top 2% have gotten all the gains of the past 12 years while the middle class and poor have stagnated or their salaries have gone down. Worst case the top 2% has shipped good paying middle class jobs overseas so too many of us have no income at all.

With regard to that ramp, my para functioning quadriplegic friend (result of a mountain biking accident) who had to wait in a mall for 2 hours because some idiot had parked in the hash marked part of his handicapped parking spot so he could not get into his van would not be able to get into that store without that ramp yet he lives independently. Thanks to the regs re access he is able to live an active life.

about an hour ago · Like · 4

Tim Peebles well I had made a semi-pro comment for Lew here previously...HOWEVER...after looking at his public statements (feb 13, 2011, CNN) about the budget being balanced which were CONTRARY to his own spreadsheets at OMB for the time period ....i have to say...he is really really suspect...man it is hard to find truth.

22 minutes ago · Edited · Like

Kathy Marsh Watching u now with Thomas ... Thanks for pointing these items out... Once again you are RIGHT!

about an hour ago via mobile · Like

Carol Ottinger I love ya, Mr Sanders, but this time I think you are wrong. You appear to be taking out the dealings of Wall Street on Mr Lew who has not even had a chance to take office yet.

about an hour ago · Like

Jann Irvine Gougeon Very interesting, Mr. Sanders. Thank you for your down-to-earth, bottom-line, no-nonsense input. I wish YOU would run for President!!!

about an hour ago · Like

Tim Peebles @Alan Moen...maybe an industry insider is the perfect one since he Knows what is going on behind the doors!.....the tax payers are the ones that don't know since the government has also worked behind closed doors.(including the present administration is proving)...Press for openness from both govt and financial markets! .UPDATED EDIT:well I had made a semi-pro comment for Lew here previously...HOWEVER...after looking at his public statements (feb 13, 2011, CNN) about the budget being balanced which were CONTRARY to his own spreadsheets at OMB for the time period ....i have to say...he is really really suspect...man it is hard to find truth.

21 minutes ago · Edited · Like

Angel Christel Dana Rochelle...He's saying that although he supports the President, he's tired of who he's appointing.

about an hour ago · Like · 1

Ted Johns If Bernie's against him it's time we take a closer look at Lew. Does he really deserve the job and could we really stand to look at his doodle scribble of a signature on our money?

59 minutes ago · Like · 1

Kim Hawkes we need a thousand elizabeth warren's...and two thousand bernie sander's...too get real and get healthy politically...that's what this country needs

57 minutes ago · Edited · Like

Jud Hopkins The Revolution begins when people take the time to VOTE (only 57% of eligible voters in 2012) , people educate themselves about the issues (not on MSM), and they have the courage to vote for a candidate on issues and past performance, not because they have a D or R after their names - the lesser of two evils. Evil is evil. We need to have third, fourth, and fifth parties and break the duopoly in Washington making our government accountable. After all, this government was created Of the People, By the People, and For the People, not corporations. So voters need to be accountable for their government, not who is currently on Dancing with the Stars. More people vote on American Idol than in our elections.

55 minutes ago · Like · 1

Stephanie Logan Kennedy From now on, we we will just have to keep our eyes and ears open to see what unfolds! That is all we can do.

55 minutes ago · Like

Richie Muad'Dib Peter Rees said Paul Krugman for Treasury, Bernie!

50 minutes ago via mobile · Like

James Kasper Obama is a Wall Street puppet. Bernie please run for president

44 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 2

Ruth Wetzel-Zabor You always stick to your principles. Need you as Presdent.

17 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 1

Ben Jimenez gov rendell pn now with alex just called sen sanders and the progressive faction of the senate ,"a tiny little feather"

In Lobbyists We Trust

“If one person in this world, the NRA president, anybody, can tell me why we need assault weapons with 30 shots in the thing,” said Syracuse basketball coach JIm Boeheim after a news conference celebrating his 900^th “This is our fault. This is my fault and your fault. All of your faults if we don’t get out and do something about this. If we can’t get this thing done, I’m with (Mayor Michael) Bloomberg, if we can’t get this thing done, I don’t know what kind of country we have. This is about us. This isn’t about the President or those other people down there. We have to make them understand somehow that this needs to get figured out. Real quick. Not six months from now.” Outrage indeed. It is our fault just as it is our fault our democracy has been stolen with a government controlled by lobbyists.

In 1946 anywhere from 200 to 2,000 citizens in Tennessee attacked a jail where police had kept election ballots they had stolen during an election. This incident as well as “Shays’ Rebellion”, a 1786-87 uprising against local corruption are often cited by gun advocates in defense of assault weapons.  They are wrong simply because times have changed although I don’t see a problem with someone owning assault rifles if they and their weapons register with the FBI. Information and awareness are now our greatest weapons against tyranny and corruption. We no longer need machine guns to reform the government of the United States just as we in the information age no longer need lobbyists to reform our government. We now have a voice and as indolent and inadequate as we are the democracy is here, right here, right in front of us. About half the nation is very much lost in the manusha of political deception so this new thing called the internet and this even newer thing called the occupy movement is not going to work until we add necessary education to our school system. Lobbyists and their legally corrupt stranglehold is the root of all our problems in this country. Education and awareness is a powerful and necessary tool in order to have a just and equitable democracy. Once again the distortion of the news media’s need to find new angles and entertainment value to tell stories is clouding the argument and parsing our dilemmas. Issues concerning your life and the politics played to distort their status does not change with word games and "newspeak" or "washingtonspeak".

Beyond the dull siren of redundancy on gun control is something else being lost and that’s the need for spirituality and access to mental health care and education. It’s obvious that most if not all of the mass murders in our society suffered from anti-social behavior. It’s just common sense for our educational system to focus on anti-social behavior and major warning signs to initiate new programs for interventions. What better way to engage these types of behavior than thru spiritual studies or mental health education. Religious studies and mental health studies must be mandatory. In such an endeavor our society would also change into a more harmonious one. Former Governor Mike Huckabee’s reaction on Fox News was incorrect and somewhat insulting in saying it was purely a heart issue not needing any new gun laws. That is a very unchristian view but his comments about needing God in schools is partly true. "We ask why there's violence in our schools, but we've systematically removed God from our schools," Huckabee said. "Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage?" The tone is harsh and crude, but this country was founded on religious freedom and in order to completely honor all religious freedom we must teach our children about the world’s major religions. Moments of silence and allowing students to have other means of spiritual outlets at schools should also be considered. Even atheists that rail against any violation of separating church and state cannot deny the benefits of meditation contemplation or prayer. Just as we seek to embrace our racial diversities so to must we embrace and more importantly discover our spiritual ones.  

Life so hot

beyond reproach it seems

beyond extremes

so fierce it slips

and magical it dreams to wit

my life so sweet to grasp

whatever means to sharpen tongue

like drooling doth my scheme undone

oh soul so soft to hold us dear

what passion still seeps deep in blood

a touch that screams

no fear in deed....

 our lord

What rests my soul apart from love

Just knowing more and more?

How safe I am ?

How sure?

How still I can become?

What gentle sounding trees?

Escaping storms and pain?

The warmth of tender song? no…

No …nothing rests my soul but love