Free Speech?

I read this article this morning. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is promoting her new movie, which is about the aftermath of "9/11". In discussing the film, she said, "I think America has done reprehensible things and is responsible in some way and so I think the delicacy with which it's dealt allows that to sort of creep in".

Now, by and large, Americans seem to think that their country is a modern day hero, faultless in every respect and never deserving of any critcism. This softly spoken actress has apparently caused a violent response to her interesting opinion. The article goes on to say:

"Fan Web site www.maggie-gyllenhaal.net, which has no official links to the actress, said its server had been overloaded and crashed, a day after it was forced to take down a bulletin board due to the volume of critical messages being left on it.

"It's gotten too outta hand," the webmaster of the site wrote after earlier appeals for people not to send hate mail."

Poor Gyllenhaal had to then issue a statement saying she thought that 9/11 was a tragedy. She also said, "But for those of us who were spared, it was also an occasion to be brave enough to ask some serious questions about America's role in the world. Because it is always useful, as individuals or nations to ask how we may have knowingly or unknowingly contributed to this conflict. Not to have the courage to ask these questions of ourselves is to betray the victims of 9/11."

Well said.

Now, just a couple of disturbing points arising from this story:

- Don't Americans rant and rave about free speech, equal rights, and the right to question their government? Do these high principles only come with the condition: "If the opinion is the same as mine, and always makes my country sound like the good guy?"

Sometimes we do need to look inward and see what part we've had to play, even if accidental, in certain events. Gyllenhaal is just suggesting that America should examine its own role in events surrounding the horrific incident. I myself think that this examination is a very good idea, particularly if another incident is to be avoided! Why should a perfectly logical point of view be scorned? Isn't Gyllenhaal allowed to have her opinion, even if it did turn out to be wrong? And isn't she entitled to express that opinion?

- The poor webmaster. Why is it that these people who see their polished self identity coming under attack feel the need to "flame" a fan site, and send hate mail to an innocent fan? What good is that possibly going to accomplish? A less cowardly response would be to write to Ms Gyllenhaal, or to start an intelligent public debate in a chosen media. Wounded patriots seem incapable of a rational response. What a pity.

Recipe: Pavlova

Ah, the quintessential Kiwi dessert. Mandatory at Christmas, but perfect for a treat at any time of the year. Here's how you do it:

Beat 4 eggs whites until soft peaks form. I recommend doing this with an electric hand beater, if you want to use your arm afterwards. Gradually add one cup of sugar, beating until dissolved (about eight minutes). Fold in one tablespoon of cornflour into the meringue with one teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar. The finished pavlova is firm and shiny.

Put greased paper on a large flat tray and make the pavlova as high as the required amount of marshmallow (some people prefer a flat crispy pavlova - but I like my marshmallow!). Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius, then turn off. Leave to cool with the pavlova inside (middle of oven). It should take at least an hour for the oven to cool down, and when it has you have the perfect pavlova!

The most popular toppings are cream and strawberries or kiwifruit, or passionfruit.

Rant: Bits and pieces

*shiver* It seems that winter has arrived overnight. A few days ago everyone was at the beach, but for the first time this morning I woke up cold and in need of my slippers. In this temporate climate, we only seem to have two seasons, not four. It is a beautiful morning though. Blue, clear and crisp. Now bring on the snow so I can go skiing.

***

I saw on Campbell Live last night that workers are complaining about being tested for drugs while they're on the job. Nandor Tanczos was whining about violation of rights - that he only smokes in his spare time and that others should be allowed to do the same without being punished at work. Hello! It is illegal to smoke cannabis *anywhere*. Those who do it don't have any rights to protection. Whether they're found at home or work, it doesn't matter. They shouldn't be smoking drugs anywhere. I note with satisfaction that Mr Tanczos has slipped down the party ranking this morning.

***

It saddens me to think that people generally have no conscience. I was appalled to walk out to my car the other day and find yet another dent caused by someone else. Standard practice used to be to leave your details so that the afflicted person could claim on your insurance to fix their car. I cannot afford the bill or the insurance excess to fix my car, so it will stay dented. That makes the fourth time someone has done this to me - and I always park in perfectly respectable places! The first (and most major) time, I paid out to get it fixed. Now these three other dents will just have to stay on my car and decrease its value. I couldn't live with myself if I did that to someone else and just drove away. Where have all the decent people gone?

***

And now to end on a positive - it's a long weekend! YAY! And I would like to announce that I have now written 80,000 words for my novel. It's coming along nicely, and will continue to if I can just stop procrastinating and do the hard yards. Mmm, nice hot milo. Now I'm warming up.

Rant: American "Ingenuity"

Today, I had the distinct displeasure of being stuck behind something on the way home from work. One of those rare, yet utterly OTT objects known as the American Car. A Dodge, to be precise.

Not only are these cars too wide, too long, and too UGLY for Kiwi roads, they have a fundamental and dangerous design flaw. They don't have indicators. This Dodge I encountered today happily swerved in and out of lanes without doing anything at all, but on one occasion I thought I could spot his brake light flicking (the evening sun was bright, so it was hard to tell).

Is this what passes for an indicator in the US? Why do they not make nice bright yellow lights to sit on the front and back of the car like normal countries? Do they have anything at all on the front of the car to indicate a turn, or do the headlights just flash on and off when it's dark? It's a mystery to me. A note to American inventors: making something different and less functional isn't cool. And that goes for the way you've messed with the English language as well.

The Challenge for Maori

I watched most of the item on 60 Minutes last night entitled “A Maori Challenge”. Looking at the terrible rates of crime amongst young Maori, it broke the myths that:

- Maori are committing crimes because they are poor.

The ratios of poverty:population in Maori and Pakeha were actually inverted. Pakeha have a much higher percentage of people below the poverty line than Maori, yet Maori have a far higher crime rate. I was shocked to learn these figures.

- Pacific Islanders commit a similar rate of crime as Maori.

Maori have a far higher crime rate than Pacific Islanders.

- If Maori become educated in the Pakeha system, they will lose their empowerment.

The opposite is in fact true! If Maori become better educated, they will regain their voice and increase their authority.

The woman who spoke about Maori and education was brilliant. The young criminals they talked to looked like they had lost all mental capacity, and merely looked to music videos and their mates for guidance on how to be cool and acceptable. One young man said that when he was committing crimes, it did not even seem criminal. He was just doing what these influences directed.

There are a few main negative influences on the lives of young Maori, promoting physical aggression. One is a culture called “staunch”, which encourages tough, even violent behaviour in the home and in society. Vulnerability and kindness are dirty words. These young people are proud to be “staunch”.

The second is modern hip hop music videos, known as “gangsta rap”. These modern day gangstas are aspirational figures to these young minds – driving around in expensive modified cars, scantily clad women at their sides, a gun in their hand and jewels on their fingers. The message is negative, but it does not stop these “artists” from being a powerful kind of role model for their audience. They have power, wealth, women and apparently a great lifestyle, and the thinking is that the only way urban Maori can achieve that lifestyle is to cheat, steal and maim…. all in the name of impressing their mates and achieving some kind of backwards self esteem.

The final and probably most perplexing influence is at the core of modern Maori culture. The traditional war haka is the key element of cultural expression for Maori in our time. Originally intended to intimidate the opposition in a real warring situation, it is now used for everything from sporting matches to welcome ceremonies. It promotes violence for no reason, and is but a small part of a richer culture. The 60 Minutes piece showed a dance troupe practising a new kind of dance-haka which used traditional movements in a non-intimidating way. That would certainly be a healthier outlet. It seems a shame to focus on the one element of the culture which promotes violence.

While the programme offered no more suggestions for how to help the situation, even just increasing awareness of these facts and factors must help. It seems that a fundamental mind shift must take place in the Maori community if the situation is going to change.

Check out these links

For intellectual stimulation: Arts and Letters Daily

For something to eat: E-cook

For something to read: Book Club

For somewhere to walk: New Zealand Tramper

And for a little light relief: Spank the Monkey

CD Review: Ella and Louis, Ella and Louis Again (both Verve)

Rarely do you have so much genius in one studio at one time. Ella Fitzgerald, The First Lady of Song, Louis Armstrong, Legend of Improv with voice and trumpet, Oscar Peterson, one of the greatest pianists of all time (and his band) and Norman Granz, the record producer from 'Nam. It's a mix that brings together musical heaven. The team worked their magic on songs by Berlin, Gershwin, Kern and several other greats. And then they got together a year later to do it again.

If I ever need to get in a better mood, or enjoy my current one, all I need is one of these CDs. The best of them, for me, is the camaraderie between Ella and Louis, and their inherent feeling for where each is taking the song. The upbeat numbers are bright with swing and scat, and the slower tunes are a mix of Ella's smooth tones and Louis' growls. The trumpet sings resonantly throughout.

A few highlights from each disc. Number one: the front cover of the first CD, particularly Louis with that big grin and those bright white socks. Classic. The first track "Can't We Be Friends" is a wonderful upbeat battle of the sexes kind of number, which you can't help but sing along to. "Isn't it a Lovely Day" will give you a new appreciation for rain. "The Nearness of You" is just a beautiful song. The beauty of having both vocalists sing the song through, and also a trumpet solo, means that the songs are a generous length.

"Don't Be That Way" starts off the second album in grand style. You wonder why you ever let these songs leave your CD player. A particular highlight is "Stompin' At The Savoy". Norman Granz explains that the version on the CD was actually the rehearsal, with both vocalists freely going off on their own tangents. It was "so spontaneously exciting that we decided to keep it". The next track "I Won't Dance" is peppered with hilarious Louis phrases like, "I'm not asbestos, honey!". My final highlight would have to be "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off". This song has been done so many times, but this version has to be the ultimate. Ella: "You got pyjamas!"

What else can I say... buy them! You won't be disappointed. NB: There are other albums of these two together - such as "Ella and Louis Sing Gershwin" and a "Best Of" from the two I own. I also have the "Porgy and Bess" album. You can't go wrong no matter what you pick.

The Royal Wedding

I have to say that, after watching the proceedings of Charles' wedding, I am feeling something like a little sympathy for Camilla. As she finally stood in front of crowds with her arm linked through the prince's, you could see that she is going to take some time to get used to being legitimately in the spotlight. Her first proper royal wave was hesitant at best, but she looked so happy to see some cheering crowds. At the service of dedication, she was always watching to make sure she was in step with Charles. During parts where he was clearly looked bored, she was upright and attentive. He had to help her find the right place in her prayer book. The fact that she was a little overwhelmed by her new situation made me soften towards her, almost like I would for an underdog.

As for the rest of them, Charles was his usual aristocratic indifference, the Princes were dapper, the Queen had her happy face on and it was a treat to see all the British celebrities in top hats. Hopefully Charles and Camilla will grow old together happily... and let the public have their way by having William be the next king.

Take me home

Home. It's a powerful concept. I was mulling this over as I was listening to Michael Buble's song "Home". Bryan McFadden's "Real to Me" echoes the same sentiment. These pop stars get to travel all over the world doing exciting things, but when it comes down to it they just want to go home. I can understand that. When I was tripping round Europe for over 3 months non-stop, I too yearned for the familiar surroundings and people I'd left behind (the fact that I was lugging around 20 kilos on my back and suffering sleepless nights in crowded rooms may have had something to do with it). Even though I had the time of my life and I don't regret anything, I've resolved that any future traveling will be in bursts of only a few weeks, or a month at most, and that I will not be carrying all my worldly goods on my shoulders.

What is it about home that is so appealing? Even when we've moved out of our family home, isn't there something so comforting about being around the old dining table, tucking into one of Mum's dinners? You can't buy that feeling in a restaurant. The old wallpaper and creaky floors of your old room are far superior to the uniform features of a fancy hotel room. And by the sound of it, it's not just me.

I think it's not just the old family home that these people are pining for - it's the home they've set up, perhaps with a loved one. Home is the place where the people and things we've gathered together and treasure reside. It's where we know how things work and we don't have to think all the time. It's where we can make the calls. Auto-pilot can take over some of the brain, while the heart is more fully engaged. Everything is ours.

There is the other side to all this, of course. One can spend entirely too much time at home, and become impatient to get out and see the world. Maybe a day trip, a holiday, or an OE of some kind. Or maybe the weather just sucks and you want to go somewhere sunny. No matter how well home treats us, we need variety. Most of us feel like we never get away enough. It's when you start packing for these trips that you realise how much stuff you use everyday that is neatly (or messily) compartmentalised in your home. How many little things are necessary to make everyday life possible. I always feel satisfied once I've come home and finally unpacked. Everything's back where it should be, and everything looks like it always does. I'm home.

Movie review: A Walk to Remember

I saw this movie on the weekend. I had no idea what it was about as someone else had rented it. The first few minutes made me dubious about whether I would like it. Teens getting into trouble and all that. But soon afterwards we are taken on a wonderful, poignant, and heartbreaking journey. I just loved this film. I've got to admit I'm a sucker for these classic plots anyway - guy from the wrong side of the tracks, girl who believes in him, some terrible circumstance that will keep them apart. I love it when tough guys get gentle. But moving right along...

The film stars Shane West (Eli from Once and Again) as Landon and Mandy Moore as Jamie. Mandy does a good job, but her character is not as multi-faceted as Shane's. He was the stand-out performer for me. Entirely believable as a delinquent and as an earnest man in love. The rest of the cast is somewhat in the background, but fill the space well. The music is a mix of teen and Christian pop, songs by Mandy and also one written by Shane (although I couldn't figure out which one when I was watching it). The songs suit the moods well, and do a good job of illustrating Jamie's innocence.

The main reasons I loved this film are probably because I strongly identified with the female lead and was captivated by the performance of the male. The emotions feel very real (get your tissues ready for the second half). It's probably predictable to a cynic, but for those of us who go along for the romantic ride, it's brilliant. Rent it when you're next by yourself or in the company of other hopeless romantics.

Imdb

Official site