I watched some very good movies in the last days. I am not a movie type person per se, nor a television person for that matter. I would be hard pressed to name twenty actors and actresses that are popular these days. I do enjoy a good movie though, and appreciate quality acting where I forget I am watching a movie and become involved with what is playing out in front of my eyes.
Some time ago, a number of us were sitting around and talking about what would happen if the neighborhood we lived in became a drug ridden, or gang infested neighborhood. Most of the people present said they would either move out, or if they could not move out, they would keep a low profile.
Myself on the other hand, said I would do whatever I could do to rid my neighborhood of such a problem if it was at all possible. Of course the first objection was that I could or likely would be hurt, or maybe even killed. For myself, I always thought it is only right to do what has to be done for the better of everyone. I was a single opinion on that thought. Gran Tourino, which is now only in the theaters brings that message home. I might add it is one of many good messages that the movie delivers.
On the surface Gran Tourino has a lot going against it, it is racist, very male, attacks non white culture, and breaks various other present social mores. But it does deliver one very strong message, and that is some behavior can not be allowed no matter the consequence to an individual. While this really simplifies the main thrust of the movie, this message really appealed to me on a personal level.
I am sure everyone who has raised children has experienced times during and afterward when regret creeps in. A little sliver of I wish I could go back and do that part over. I know I have those moments at least. On one of the movie channels was an older movie, A Soldiers Daughter Never Cries.
This movie reminded me that there are people in the world who are better at raising children than I am or was. Of course it is just a movie and someone wrote the script, but I am sure there are people like those portrayed who do a very good job in some very tough areas; when asking the right questions and saying the right things makes everything okay.
A third movie I watched and enjoyed very much, Namesake, was also movie about family. In this case the movie followed the life of a man in New York who was from India who went back to India to find a wife to take back to new York. This movie approached family life with some awkwardness as the parents were not sure what to make of their children and the culture conflict. Of course it too works out in the end, and is a feel good movie.
When it comes to right and wrong, and parenting in general, everyone who has raised children has some regrets tucked away somewhere. I always found it interesting that we needed to go to driving school and pass an exam to get a license, but making and raising children needed noting more than a few moments of planned or unplanned parenthood.
I have noticed something over time though that seems to apply universally to all children. No matter how they are raised, if they are raised by someone with good intentions they usually turn out okay no matter how they were raised.
Good, bad, or indifferent, we were all raised in the best manner that those who took on the task of raising us could do. What we can do now is take the tools they gave us and build on them. Some ideas we hold are our very own and they are perfect for us. Other ideas we have are not ours, and may have been passed down to us through the generations. These are a few ideas from the movies at any rate.
