Whether it is a political candidate or the Affordable Health
Care Act or a movie or play – I make up my own mind. You can’t really do that
intelligently unless you research the subject in some depth. No, you don’t have
to be an expert, but you should check the experts for their opinion and find out
where that opinion comes from and why.
So many people who opine on matters don’t have the expertise
or knowledge to actually opine with authority. Just replay the Super Bowl
interview that O’Reilly had with the president. The president had facts and
O'Reilly had opinions not necessarily based in fact and he got taken to the
woodshed.
Look at the recent CBO report regarding “Job Lock.” Rand Paul
who is knowledgeable said in a an interview that job lock was creating some bad
productivity because the employee could not afford to lose benefits if that employee
changed jobs. Paul thought that was terrible – that was a few years ago. Now
that the AHCA allows employees to leave their jobs and either retire or seek
new employment and take their insurance with them, Paul is saying that this law is a jobs killer – when it isn’t.
In fact if job lock is now a thing of the past it will open opportunities for
new employees and increase jobs. The CBO report said nothing about job loss,
which is not “job leaving.” Read the report and make up your own mind.
The 24 hour news cycle and the need for headlines and “breaking
news” distorts the actual events and the facts. That is why I like newspapers. You
often get both sides of an issue with specific details and you are not restricted
to a 30 second look at the story. Take all the time you want to learn the
facts. The make up your own mind. Ah, but Fox loved it as they distorted the truth with glee.
I have been watching a National Geographic TV series on the “Monuments
Men.” That was fascinating to watch. These well-educated experts in the arts
and related field went into a combat zone, over age, out of shape and saved the
culture of Europe by finding and protecting the arts that are appreciated
worldwide. They went to basic training, even for a young man that is tough,
carried weapons and at times, and had to use them in their pursuit. They are
heroes. Two of the men lost their lives
in this effort – 33% casualties.
So, what did I read in the Los Angeles Times? It was an “Ocean’s
Eleven” remake set in World War II. The critic did not like to flow of the
film, he criticized the director, he criticized the script and ended saying
that it was a good story, but . . . !
The next night the film premiered and I went to see it. I
saw another film that evidently this critic did not see. I saw a great story
with good direction with great acting and some wonderful facts that created a
good outcome. It entertained me; it educated me and made me feel good after the
film ended. I guess a critic needs to be negative in order to earn his pay.
In New York a critic can destroy a work of art with just a
few words and often does. People will not go see a critically panned play
because some blow hard says it is not what he thinks it should be. Or what the actor
should be doing on stage is not what the critic thinks that actor should be doing.
For the past several years I have seen so many films and
plays that critics have attended and apparently not seen, or I believe they saw
something different from what I saw or experienced.
“Gravity” was a marvelous film about a woman that needed to
find her courage and use her expertise to save herself under some very trying
circumstances. It was an amazing movie (I saw in 3D and I am not a 3D lover)
that had suspense, drama, emotion against an amazing backdrop of space. The
critics said that the story was lacking, one of the two characters was not deep
enough, etc., etc. I walked out of that theater feeling great because I loved
the story, the characters, the effects, because it entertained and educated me and
the film had a great outcome. Critics be damned!
The “Sound of Music” on TV was wonderful except for the
commercial messages. Even TiVo disrupted the flow, but the music and the story
were quite uplifting. There was a Country and Western singer in the lead which lead
s me to believe that talent always wins out. The critics did not see the same show
that I saw. I was entertained, educated and uplifted.
“August: Osage County” was a depressing film. It seemed like
it would take all of August to get through the film. It was a slow, agonizing,
miserable story line with great performances by the cast. There are award
winning portrayals in this movie and I am sure some will get an award for their
part. I do not think that this was a good movie. I was not particularly entertained;
I was not educated about life in Osage County, just about this family that was
really screwed up. I walked out of the
theater and my first words to a stranger were I need a drink!” But the critics
loved it!
In this day and age many of us defer to the “experts” to
provide for our thinking. It is easier than thinking for ourselves. One friend
derided me by asking don’t you want to know the facts? Yes, I do but not Fox Facts.
Not MSNBC facts. I want the facts from the impartial reporting (not sure there
is any these days) but I am smart enough to figure it out for myself – at least
I hope that I am. I hope that you are, too!
That is my take – you decide (for yourself)
