The “Why” Question – Critical Thinking Tools on Parlez Vous Monday

 

Here's one "why" question that feels like both the times and like time immemorial at this point 

And here's another whole set from Professor (& former Sec of Labor Robert Reich)

Some corporate Democrats and pundits think the party has gone too far "left" and needs to readjust towards the “center.” Rubbish. Where’s the center between democracy and oligarchy, and why would Democrats want to be there?

https://bsky.app/profile/rbreich.bsky.social/post/3myah2b34r72h

Hey y’all –

 

You know I tend to kind of hyperfocus on making sure we have as many tools as possible to keep us sane & allow us to do the necessary focus for these trying times

 

I was fortunate to get to a screening of “Ink” – a Danny Boyle film (Trainspotting & Slumdog Millionaire) starring Guy Pearce in the Rupert Murdoch role

 

I wanted to see it because I’d seen a preliminary review the part of which stuck with me was when the reviewer observed that perhaps Danny Boyle needed to give more attention to the international wreckage, basically, that Murdoch helped to wreak by doing what he did the way he did it, the choices he made and what drove him to make them

 

I think you have to be a fan of his filmmaking to like it (I kind of struggle both with his subject matter and also with his treatment of it) – but there was plenty to appreciate, both for art’s sake and also at this point in the national (and international) discourse

 

One of the things that jumped out at me and I hope I don’t spoil it too much by saying so is that both this film and Spike’s BlakkKlansman ended with what was kind of a “how we got here” montage that I think would resonate with anybody slogging through this period like we all are

 

I’d encourage everyone to watch both when they get around to being available on your platforms / in your town in order to see & feel the difference

 

 

Also  - as part of the same festival – one of the documentaries I really wanted to see but couldn’t manage it with the schedule was Once Upon a Time in Harlem

 

Why?  Why did it take this much time to unearth such a national treasure?

In whose interests was it for all that precious footage of a country’s cultural history to be hidden this long?

And who makes those decisions? #WhoDecides?

Who gave them the power to do so and – again – why?

 

I hope as a national habit we become more comfortable asking those questions