2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: #216 "BOYCOTT THIS MOVIE!"

     Recently my wife and I saw the movie “Long Shot” with Charlize Theron, who starred as a young, attractive and single U.S. Secretary of State, and Seth Rogen, who starred as an intelligent and caring but socially inept nerd.  We found the movie to be about 60 percent creative, novel, interesting and well done which, for me, is high praise.  Another 25 percent of the movie was routine but moved the plot along.  But the remaining 15 percent was totally without socially redeeming value, which directly results in my recommendation – in the name of Liberty – to boycott this movie.  And what was so wrong with this segment?  After the two stars became attracted to each other, but added gratuitously for no particular purpose to further the plot, they both intentionally decided to go out in public and get drunk.  This they did to excess, with alcohol and ostensibly some other mind-altering substance.  And then while still in this condition, some crisis came up which the Secretary of State was able to resolve on the telephone, all the while sitting on the floor and giggling.

      What a message!  What kind of impact will this make subconsciously upon people of all ages – especially the young!  Is this what life is about?  Is getting drunk to be promoted and glorified?  As a Libertarian I would not censure films of this kind.  But Liberty gives me the right – and maybe the obligation – to encourage as many people as I can to express our disapproval of such messages by withholding our monetary support.  We have every right to vote with our pocketbooks and, in this situation, that is exactly what we should do.  Now that is a message worth hearing!

Quote for the week, found on a napkin at a specialty sandwich shop: “Food for Thought: Our goal is to steer clear of ingredients that use processing, storage or preparation methods that extend shelf-life or simplify preparation.  That’s why we take pride in what isn’t in our food as much as what is.  If we can’t say it, we avoid using it.”  Food for Thought Indeed!

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)

2012 Libertarian candidate for Vice President, along with

Governor Gary Johnson as the candidate for President

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