Wonderfully well put. We are a nation in the throes of a descent into violent, fundamentalist madness. When, at long last McCarthy was stood up to, the “have you no decency, sir” moment, the majority turned on him, now, 30% just become all the more entrenched and supportive of the betrayal of the nation itself, of any integrity or selfless ideals we may once have had, as SCROTUS removes, instead of protects, our rights and freedoms. Great recommendation there, will check the movie out!
I posted this and emphasized that your first four paragraphs express what so many of us feel about America in 2022. Extremely well said, and much needed to be said.
1969, Rhode Island - our 6th grade class stands up to ”pledge allegiance to the flag” following which we continue to stand while some patriotic song plays over the loudspeaker. On this particular morning, the school authorities went With “Ballad of the Green Beret”. One of the kids starts sobbing, finally is led out of class. We later learned he had gotten word of his brother’s death in Viet Nam the day before. Patriotism is indeed a strange beast. I continue to love this nation and even retain a
Modicum of hope for it, but the phony patriots out there sure do make it hard.
Well put (about the flag, didn't see the movie, it was gone before I had a chance)....I wish i didn't agree with everything you said, but I would be a fool if I didn't.
My friends and I have been sharing our anger, fear and disbelief daily. I am reminded of Steve Bannon years ago laying out the playbook for blowing up democracy one institution at a time, and then creating an autocracy. Another mass murder and republicans and supreme (misnomer) court still defending musket-era 2nd amendment in the wake of children and adults being blown to smithereens by military assault rifles on a weekly basis. But nothing changes. Straw man mental health becomes the Republican talking point. Not military assault weapons. I refuse to give up hope, to let them own the flag. Till the End of Time is an overlooked 1946 film that addressed the rise of the Patriots groups that stoked division among veterans. We have to keep fighting. Don’t give up.
On a lighter note, I watched The Way Way Back after your recommendation, and enjoyed it so much, especially the local scenes in Green Harbor and Duxbury. Brought back memories of summers spent as a teenager at Duxbury beach. Thanks for Throwback Thursday, Ty!
Do you do requests? Memoria finally made it to suburban NJ. I ‘d love to read your thoughts on it. The Hilton Al’s profile of Weerasethakul in the NYer provided some illumination but more would be welcome.
I love your watch list as well as your commentary, with which I usually agree, and that usually teaches me something new. I share a similar discomfort with ‘americanism’ and it’s symbols.
Thanks Ty for the very thoughtful summary/analysis of our current culture. I want to be hopeful but if the mid term elections tilt right, and in combination with the Supreme Court, our time as a democracy may be shorter than we think. But … I hope I’m wrong.
Wonderfully well put. We are a nation in the throes of a descent into violent, fundamentalist madness. When, at long last McCarthy was stood up to, the “have you no decency, sir” moment, the majority turned on him, now, 30% just become all the more entrenched and supportive of the betrayal of the nation itself, of any integrity or selfless ideals we may once have had, as SCROTUS removes, instead of protects, our rights and freedoms. Great recommendation there, will check the movie out!
I posted this and emphasized that your first four paragraphs express what so many of us feel about America in 2022. Extremely well said, and much needed to be said.
1969, Rhode Island - our 6th grade class stands up to ”pledge allegiance to the flag” following which we continue to stand while some patriotic song plays over the loudspeaker. On this particular morning, the school authorities went With “Ballad of the Green Beret”. One of the kids starts sobbing, finally is led out of class. We later learned he had gotten word of his brother’s death in Viet Nam the day before. Patriotism is indeed a strange beast. I continue to love this nation and even retain a
Modicum of hope for it, but the phony patriots out there sure do make it hard.
On a lighter note, I sang on a float in the Bristol parade (1976, I think). Not quite Ferris Bueller but close!
Well put (about the flag, didn't see the movie, it was gone before I had a chance)....I wish i didn't agree with everything you said, but I would be a fool if I didn't.
My friends and I have been sharing our anger, fear and disbelief daily. I am reminded of Steve Bannon years ago laying out the playbook for blowing up democracy one institution at a time, and then creating an autocracy. Another mass murder and republicans and supreme (misnomer) court still defending musket-era 2nd amendment in the wake of children and adults being blown to smithereens by military assault rifles on a weekly basis. But nothing changes. Straw man mental health becomes the Republican talking point. Not military assault weapons. I refuse to give up hope, to let them own the flag. Till the End of Time is an overlooked 1946 film that addressed the rise of the Patriots groups that stoked division among veterans. We have to keep fighting. Don’t give up.
On a lighter note, I watched The Way Way Back after your recommendation, and enjoyed it so much, especially the local scenes in Green Harbor and Duxbury. Brought back memories of summers spent as a teenager at Duxbury beach. Thanks for Throwback Thursday, Ty!
Do you do requests? Memoria finally made it to suburban NJ. I ‘d love to read your thoughts on it. The Hilton Al’s profile of Weerasethakul in the NYer provided some illumination but more would be welcome.
I always love your insights, Ty. About movies, of course, but especially about the culture in which we experience them. Thank you for this post!
I love your watch list as well as your commentary, with which I usually agree, and that usually teaches me something new. I share a similar discomfort with ‘americanism’ and it’s symbols.
Sadly Ty, I don’t think it’s coming back, hope I’m wrong. Perhaps after I depart…
Thanks Ty for the very thoughtful summary/analysis of our current culture. I want to be hopeful but if the mid term elections tilt right, and in combination with the Supreme Court, our time as a democracy may be shorter than we think. But … I hope I’m wrong.