My Dad is No Movie Critic

James L. Davis

My dad is not a movie critic and for that we should all be grateful. If my dad was a movie critic there would be very few movies that were ever recommended for viewing and those that were would probably star John Wayne, Glenn Ford or Henry Fonda.

He has held the firm opinion that movies have been in decline since the 1950s. There were good movies made after that time but they were few and far between.

For this reason the family does not normally invite my dad to go to movies, but sometimes he goes anyway. When he does go he will tell you in no uncertain terms that he is not going for the movie, because he already knows it will not be worth watching. He is going for the popcorn. Because even though movies have been in a continual state of decline, movie theater popcorn is still pretty good.

While my dad may not be a fan of modern movies, my mom is the exact opposite. She loves movies, all kinds of movies and she watches them every chance she gets. For this reason my sister quite often takes my mom to the movies with her. As a video store owner my sister is required to watch virtually every movie that hits the silver screen. She tells people that, but actually I just think my sister likes movies even more than my mom does.

So it was that when my mom and sister decided to go see a movie my dad decided to tag along. He had intended to be dropped off at Wal-Mart while they went to see the movie, because to my dad a trip down the aisles of Wal-Mart is better than any movie, unless it stars John Wayne, Glenn Ford or Henry Fonda. He will spend hours walking up and down the isles of the local Wal-Mart looking at all of the things that he could buy.

Of course, he doesn’t buy any of those things, he just likes to walk up and down the aisles and look at all of the things he could buy. If all Wal-Mart shoppers were like my dad the chain would be out of business in no time at all, although it could reopen as a tourist attraction. If it sold movie theater popcorn it might even turn a profit.

But on this occasion my dad decided at the last minute that he would tag along and see if movies had improved any over the years.

This was not a good idea because my mom and sister were going to see a science fiction movie and I am not aware of John Wayne, Glenn Ford or Henry Fonda ever having starred in a science fiction movie. For this reason my dad uses the term “science fiction stuff” to categorize every movie he holds in disdain, including musicals, documentaries and anything starring Jane Fonda, except On Golden Pond, which also starred Henry Fonda and is therefore a pretty good movie.
Upon returning from the movies my dad tracked me down to relate his latest movie experience and from the look on his face I could see right away that going to the movies was only slightly less painful than a root canal.

“You didn’t like the movie, did you?” I asked. I already knew the answer. It was just a leading question to get him started.

My dad shook his head and made a sound through his parted lips like he had sprung a leak, which was code to let you know the experience was so bad it was beyond description, but he tried anyway. “That was the craziest movie I’ve ever seen.”

I expected this response because it is virtually the same response he gives after watching any movie not starring John Wayne, Glenn Ford or Henry Fonda. “What was so crazy about it?”
“The noise. Why do they have to make it so loud? Right from the start its boom, boom, boom. The walls are shaking and its boom, boom, boom. I thought the building was caving in but I looked around and everyone else was eating their popcorn.”

“You don’t like surround sound?”

“No. You don’t need to listen to anything that loud. That’s crazy.”

It should be noted that this critique of surround sound comes from a man who in every conversation asks you to repeat yourself a minimum of three times. I used to think it was because my dad was losing his hearing. I’m beginning to suspect it is simply because he likes to have you repeat yourself.

While my dad continued to criticize the movie I looked at my mom who had entered that stage of laughter where no noise comes out, you just shake uncontrollably. When she had regained her composure she related that with every boom, boom, boom of the movie, with every shudder of the walls of the theater, my dad sank a little lower in his seat until he had slunk down to the point where it was either sit up or lay on the floor. Fortunately he didn’t have to make that choice because the movie ended.

“Other than the noise, was the movie any good?” I asked my dad, who hadn’t quite finished complaining about the noise of the theater.

“What?”

“Other than the noise, was the movie any good?” I repeated.

“Science fiction stuff. Your mother loves that stuff but it’s crazy. People that think that stuff up should have their head examined.”

While he hated the movie my dad gave the popcorn two thumbs up. The next time my mom goes to the movies and my dad tags along I am going to suggest that they buy my dad a tub of popcorn and drop him off at Wal-Mart. It will make for a better evening all around.

Our Wondrous and Glorious Society

Jerry Stotler

This is my answer to a note critical of “Greedy Americans” posted on the Motley Fool BBS website several years ago.

The Prime Purpose of all who adhere to the values our Wondrous and Glorious society is to be free and to grow- financially, personally, socially, and intellectually. We are free to do that to the degree of choice in a competitive, capitalist society. Let’s compare for a moment East and West Germany, divided after World War II. Same language, same culture, same climate, same industrial capability, yet 43 years later, when the wall came down, the living standard in free Germany was 10 times greater than in the oppressive Communist East Germany. A free enterprise, capitalistic society is much more able to provide an abundant lifestyle than is an oppressive one.

The same holds true for North and South Korea. When split, North Korea had most of the arable land and almost all of the industry. Yet today’s free enterprise South Korea has 10 times the economy of communist North Korea. Millions are starving in North Korea, yet the liberals still praise socialism even though millions of people starve. There are no heavy handed nations where the people live in abundance.

Even the poor people in America are better off then the oppressed people under communism. You may remember the old movie, The Grapes of Wrath, and the depressing poverty it portrayed. The movie was taken to Russia and shown to the people in order to show them how bad America was. It backfired. The Russian people were amazed that even poor people like the Joads could have a car - such was the abundance in America. Showing the movie was discontinued.

Frederic Bastiat in his little book, The Law, noted that when plunder is more painful than work, people will work, but when work is more painful than plunder, people will plunder. Socialism is the plundering of a society. Socialists advocate the elimination of private property. Without that right of ownership, no other rights are possible. If you cannot say it is my house, my car, my apartment, my stereo, then how can you then say it is my life?

Socialism has no redeeming social value that cannot be better achieved some other way. Socialism is absurd. Karl Marx proposed that we eliminate the middle class and make everyone more equal. Really? How does one eliminate a whole class of people. Marx suggested that it meant dispose of those who do not qualify for his new world order and move the rest to another class. If we eliminate the middle class (that‘s you and me), those that survive join which class? Do they join the rich? I think not. So which class is left? Only the poor. Without stating it, Marx was proposing a two class society - rich and poor. The poor class for us and of course, the upper class for him. He was the indolent son of an aristocrat. A poor student and unwilling to work, he sponged off his friends and relatives until there was no one left who would take him in. His whole proposition was built around the idea of taking care of him in the manner which he was accustomed - at someone else’s (your) expense. Certainly, you didn’t expect him to work, did you? Our colleges and universities are loaded with people of his ilk. They just don’t get it. Socialism is a plague upon the poor. There is no hope for them.

I know many people living other countries on several continents. None of them talk in glowing terms of the “Wondrous and Glorious” societies in which they live. Many are missionaries who deal with the humanity of those nations, some are in overseas businesses in supervision or management and some are relatives. Nowhere are the people as well off as in a free society. Yes, there are the lazy who suffer in a free society, but that is by their choosing and that’s OK, but don’t expect me to feel sorry for them. Laziness is curable. If a man will not work, let him also not eat. Notice it says, will not work, not cannot work. If he cannot work, then we, the local citizenry, need to come to his temporary aid. If the difficulty is huge, then, and only then, should a larger segment of society intervene on his behalf and then only to the degree that sustains life, not comfort. When I was a child there were many local charities staffed by volunteers. Now they are rare, replaced by a paid government staff who have no personal stake in improving the lives of the needy. Layer upon layer of bureaucrats who do it for the money. If you dispute that, ask this question. Would they “help the poor” as a volunteer. The answer is a resounding, no. Where else can all those socialism (oops, I mean sociology) majors find a job?

There is no country on earth that shares like the United States of America. If you watch
Public Television, you must realize it is largely funded by the shared gifts of the “great Corporate World” of which you so vehemently speak. The International Monetary Fund provides billions of dollars to aid other countries - paid for by the sharing of the American tax payer.
American corporations give (share) multiple millions of dollars to national and international charities, e.g. The American Red Cross, The United Way, etc. There is no society on earth that
shares and has the capacity to share like the good ol’, capitalistic USA. Fund raising and donating are part of every town in America. Americans give. Yes, there are other countries that give, but I have never read of a country that gives like we do. Usually other countries have been the takers, we are the givers. Under socialism, there are more takers than givers.

America truly is the “Wondrous and Glorious society.” Long may it live. (Stottler resides in Ferron.)

New Year Brings New Opportunities

Cardell Sackett

It is a new year!! Can you remember how when we were young (those of us who are a little more mature in age now) we never thought we would see the year 2000, and now we are eight years into it.

When I was a missionary in England the drivers licenses expired in the year you turn 70, at which time you can renew it with a test. Mine expires in the year 2027. I remember thinking “Wow, I will be long gone by then.” I am changing my point of view on that! We now have a new year. We all have another 356 days afforded us.

The outcome of where we will be at the end of those days, well, only God can really know. We will of course make our resolutions, (usually, only to break them) and continue living while life happens to us. Many of us will experience great joys and happiness. New babies and grandchildren will come, new homes, new cars, new experiences and opportunities. And there will be the opposite with death visiting our door, sickness, accidents, operations, and the list will continue.

Time is ours universally, and the way we spend it makes all the difference. An unkown author said it this way:

“Take time to pray…it helps to bring God near and washes the dust of earth from your eyes.

Take time for friends…it is the source of happiness.

Take time for work…it is the price of success.

Take time to think…it is the source of power.

Take time to read…it is the foundation of knowledge.

Take time to laugh…it is the singing that helps with life’s loads.

Take time to love…it is the one sacrament of life.

Take time to dream…it hitches the soul to the stars.

Take time to play…it is the secret of youth.

Take time to worship…it is the highway to reverence.

However we spend it, the time is ours. Spend it with wisdom, caring, joy, and spend a little just enjoying time!

May the year be good to all, and may we grow through all the experiences it will bring to us, both the good and the bad.

Consider this. (Cardell Sacket resides in Carbonville and is a realtor with Bridge Realty.)