Jan Levinson (Gould)

The Office (US)

It is the end of the year and the end of an era. The Office (US) series is about to leave Netflix, and along with spending time with our families during this global pandemic in the US this is also the time of more “traditional” family time. 

Whether to get through spending this time with your family or celebrating with them, you still have time to rewatch the series without too much strain. Watching just two to three hours a night you can relive all 201 episodes and nine fabulous years of The Office by the end of the year.

Today, with only a six-episode long Season 1 you’d jump into Season 2 tomorrow, get to Pam and Jim’s first kiss this Sunday night, cheer up the middle of your week with Season’s 3 Christmas party battle, see Ryan’s promotion with the beginning of Season 4 on Friday December 4th, meet Holly Sunday December 6th with the start of Season 5, visit Niagra that Friday in the beginning of Season 6, see Michael off the following week towards the end of Season 7 and seeing Andy as new manager for the beginning of Season 8 starting December 19th. As you continue with this routine the last chunk of special, longer episode you can watch all Christmas Day or spread out them out for the remainder of the year. 

Whether this will just be another journey into The Office (US) or a long-embraced farewell you can still enjoy all the camera looks, romantic couple moments, friendship moments, awkward moments, parties, pranks, one-liners, office-colleague and coworker moments, advice, interviews, conference room meetings, “that’s what she said” jokes, introduction sequences, ending sequences, and lingering questions of Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, Holly, Jan, Andy, Stanley, Phyllis, Kevin, Meredith, Creed, Oscar, Angela, Ryan, Kelly, Toby, Gabe, Darryl, Erin, David Wallace, Charles Miner, Nellie Bertram, Robert California, Roy, Karen, Pete, Clark, Val and Todd Packer

Thank you, and Cherrio!

Teddy Lupin: New Generation

We know nothing about Teddy Lupin (except he’s a Metamorphmagus like his Mum and is a fan of PDA). But while we know very little, he is such an important character. Another child like Harry alone in the world because of a war (and a main reason why we got the Epilogue) he represents, and reminds us of, the continuous and generational effects war, violence and inaction have on individuals, families and society. But also, the impact that we can make when we make changes to those evils in the world. 

I originally chose February 19th as the day for this entry as with other entries whose birthdays aren’t available, as it is the birthday of the actor who portrayed (or in this case was cut from portraying them. So the timing for the rest of this piece, related to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School) is somewhat a coincidence, as in the States we would always be coincidentally close to a school shooting. 

The students from Stoneman Douglas High School have had enough, and regardless of age are refusing to be bystanders or that these are things outside of their control. It reminds me of the old Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,        Courage to change the things I can,                                                            And wisdom to know the difference

now includes Angela Davis’ quote

to change the things I cannot accept

I didn’t expect Teddy’s post to be more than the first paragraph about how there are always unexpected tragedies of war, and how far those tragedies spread.But JK Rowling and Harry Potter taught us, reminded us that anyone can be a force for change, for a better world and with that, I am just simply loving this younger generation, I am in awe of their strength, courage and high moral standards 

Hope in all it’s agony

The Blindside

2009 was the YEAR for Sandra Bullock movie-wise. All About Steve was hysterical and the immigration scene at the end of The Proposal was brilliant even thou the rest of the movie is a bit cliché but of course the main movie of that year was The Blind Side. While some controversy exists from real-life Michael Oar’s feeling that the book and film placed too much emphasis on the Touhy’s efforts and not enough understanding of his own (along with dumbing him down), this was still a great movie that portrayed fostering’s ups and downs both for families and children in the system, racism, adoption, family-values, Christian values, love and acceptance all in ways that didn’t come off cliché or too happily-ever-after even thou it was a real story and we got a seemingly unrealistic, but true ending.  

The campiest part of this story is how Michael is able to bring his grades up in order to get into college. While true, it is a unique situation that reminds us not everything real in life comes of real in a story. But campy and true, this small part is the overall story of Michael Oher: keep trying, find your way in and ask for help. A good overall lesson for those who feel they have fallen behind or lost their way. But if I were to pick one thing to take away from this is the scene where “Big Mike” gets called Michael, because he doesn’t actually like to be called Big Mike. A short scene, just a few lines but with a big impact and understanding if you (like Leigh Anne) are willing to be open-minded and pay attention.

Lean on Pete

Lean on Pete is another story about family and loss and heartache but—oof--does it have a different feel. While during The Blind Side we see Michael Oher slowly rise up, Charley falls, falls and falls catching every heartbreak that can occur, and how life can slowly becoming crushing, especially when it seems someone has no one.

While overall the movie crushed me and its dark it is important to look at the idea of the film and for Charley was a focus on hope. He leaned on the horse Pete and by the end, we are left with the idea that things will be alright. Now, those I saw the film with had different opinions than I did about this, to them he really will be okay while I think he’ll survive but be severely traumatized, but maybe they’re right and we're supposed to believe regardless of all the missteps and bad fortune that things can turn around if we keep believing and striving for good and how if we don’t need those people to help us up, we should be those people to help others up

Remember, Remember the Titans

This is one of those movies, stories, days where I am both excited and appalled about how much and how little has changed in the world. Remember the Titans hits on a lot of topics, some that are only becoming more discussed than they were in 2000 when the film was released, and definitely not when the film took place in 1971.

There is discussion about how this story isn’t real, but of course it’s real. It might not be the day-to-day real actions and challenges faced by this specific number of obstacles but this all did happen. While the main focus of the story is racism, but it also touches upon current-hot phrase toxic masculinity and homophobia. Boys who were taught to be one thing, come to realize what they have been taught is wrong, something especially difficult when it seems that it’s almost everyone that is telling you something else. As the younger generations are showing to be more open-minded and tolerant overall there still are obstacles for them against their parents’ and sometimes friends and shown with Gary and his mother and his girlfriend who couldn’t understand what he was thinking—even though they couldn’t explain their point of view. Separate from general teasing both the players and the coaches have difficulties seeing what they have in common with people they believe are ‘different’ from them—with the players having an automatic hatred of Sunshine and the coaches missing they are both strong leaders who try to be good, equal and fair men and attentive fathers.

So whether this film accurately portrays the Titan players of 1971 of Coach Boone, it does portray the changes and struggles people dealt with once they were able to interact with each other without the rhetoric of others. One of the most important parts of this are the diner scenes once the team starts winning. Gary’s character, who at first hates Julius and is racist, homophobic and a bunch of other crap, gets confused when his girlfriend doesn’t like Julius right off the bat. Excusing the fact that just weeks ago he hated this man for no reason, he doesn’t understand why she does—because his viewpoint has now changed. Gary deals with this again because while the team is okay with black players winning games, they’re not okay with them eating at their restaurants. I think one of the best parts of this film is the constant reminder that while they were able to come together at camp, they had to refight some of their own battles once they left – because the world isn’t just how they see it.

A Circle of Chaos

So, who puts in the effort to try and ban or challenge a book? I would think, and could agree to a certain extent, that parents are those who attempted to restrict their children’s access to books (thou I don’t know why they just don’t do it as parents instead of loophole out of their authority and try to use someone else’s) at their child’s school depending on their age (where some of their authority has temporarily been given over to the teacher or administration). However, while parents make up the second largest percent of challenges against books (32%) only 37% of all challenges occur at schools or school libraries with the majority happening at public libraries (59%) by other local library users (33%).

Books are also not the only things get challenged and for some, removal of the book includes vandalism, theft and destruction (burning books). In 2018 62% of all challenges or censorship actions in libraries were against books, but 15% of challenges were against meetings, 10% were against databases, films and games and 6% were about artwork. This scope of the challenges is the reason for the focus of censorship during banned books week as these challenges extend past the idea usually presented that books are banned because the material is “too mature” for the age group it was recommended too but has to do more with the prejudice behind those promoting the bans and can create an horrific self-fulfilling prophecy as those who were limited in the experiences and connections to these book will remain close-minded and become the passionate censorship leaders of our future.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/statistics

Peter Pettigrew

I don’t think anyone likes Peter Pettigrew. People have gotten Dark Mark tattoos and have found compassion for Bellatrix and Voldemort, but no one likes Peter Pettigrew. A non-major character, but one of the most crucial in the overall story (factor in ending first and second Wizard Wars, killed both of Harry’s chances at a good family), Peter Pettigrew reminds us a lot of friendship and moral codes that some people forget. I don’t know if he even deserves a picture

“ The road to hell is paved with good intentions”--NO, that is not it, but it is similar, that “ The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts ” (C. S. Lewis)

Once you make one concession, the next one is easier; then all of the sudden the decisions you are considering are miles away from any you would have considered if thrown in that first concession, but they were all only one small step over from your last act. 

It is part of the Christian faith that if you accept Jesus into your life, even in your final moments, that you will be brought to heaven upon death. This is crap, and if it’s real, it should and still would be complete crap. You should not be judged just by your final moments, whether it be good or bad, out of remorse or desperation. 

Something that was lightly touched on throughout the series, is that people change. We see this with Snape, Malfoy, Dudley, Neville and Peter Pettigrew, Ron and others I’m sure (like James, supposedly). Snape and Malfoy were both put into Slytherin, but with very different outcomes (and beginnings). Snape was already a bit angry at the world, but with Lily as a friend and had he not been put into Slytherin in the first place, he may very well have not become a Death Eater. That’s who he spent his time with, other Slytherins; so the chances were higher. They say you are a combination of the 5 people you spend the most time with, and here I think that shows. Malfoy, on the other hand, came to Hogwarts excited and thrilled when he ended up with his friends. But in reality, 1st year Malfoy is just a spoiled brat, and not evil as he would need to be a true Death Eater (see Peter Pettigrew’s death). I don’t think that Malfoy would have realized he wasn’t evil if he hadn’t been put into Slytherin or with Peter Pettigrew, who wound up friends with those in his house (seriously, what else was there to tie them together?); he overtime showed he wasn’t brave, kind, smart or strong. Maybe the houses don’t choose who fits them most, but what they need the most, whether they rise above (Malfoy and James) or fail the challenges presented (Severus and Peter Pettigrew). 

As stated earlier while our final moments do not excuse us, they may show our true selves. I don’t know how much Peter Pettigrew changed as we never really knew him, and, I don’t think he ever really did change. I see this most when he turns back into a RAT after Lupin starts to transform at the end of the third year. It wasn’t a cowardly exit or a confused exit, it was an evil exit. He was escaping them, hahaha. But at the same time, he couldn’t strangle Harry, so maybe there was a young old part of him that knew what was right and had regrets. But I suspect it’s more because he’s a little shit. 

Relatable

Remus Lupin

Unlike Hagrid, Lupin, had a very hard time getting over eveything that happened to him, which is part of why I’m always very sad when I think of him. Similar to Harry and Hagrid, Lupin’s life started out with difficulty and made him more of an outcast than either, getting bitten by a werewolf. 

Going to Hogwarts, he made good, true friends, but had to keep this secret from them; when he tells them, they accept him but then he deals with the guilt of betraying Albus and allowing his friends to break every benefit and precaution that allowed him to come to Hogwarts, along with the reputation and status of the school if anyone else found out. Then the First Wizarding War came but during that time his friends got married and had a child and the war only ended with the murder of his friends, the orphanage of their son, and the betrayal of another. 

The majority of Lupin’s life was between the two Wizarding Wars, when he was all alone. For over 10 years Lupin believed that one of his best friends, had betrayed not only his friends, but for power and out of hate, while he was left all alone. While the truth was similar, considering the bond Sirius and James had, and the possibility that they knew Peter wasn’t always at their level, there was a small reprieve when Lupin learned the truth. But again, the return of his friend lasts only two years before he is murdered and in that time the Second Wizarding War had begun. Again overcome with loss, loneliness and guilt, he holds himself back from love and happiness until he accepts, continues to feel guilt and shame when his child is born and soon after he and his wife are murdered.

There are many things that were so great about Lupin, he was honest, a good man, a good father, great friend and teacher. He was strong, brave, compassionate; he is a man who deserved and should have had it all but whose life was plagued, and spirit his overshadowed by ridiculous judgement and personal grief. Today is Trans Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to celebration of one’s true self and highlighting the cruelty and misguided hated those who are Trans receive. When I speak of Hagrid, I speak of how he was able to overcome his misfortunes, but Lupin was not; this, is not on Lupin. He should have had it all, he deserved to have an amazing life but was never given the opportunity to truly shine or love himself. It was not planned that I’d write about Lupin on Trans Day of Visibility, but the message I would say about both are linked.

Do Good, Be Good. While we can learn so much from Lupin, what the world needs to understand is how much they miss out on by judgement, prejudice, hate and fear. Bullying and discrimination do not bring peace, safety or justice, but they do put people at pause, holding back so much from the world and stealing from us all true love, prosperity and happiness. 

The Lottery

I was never too fond of happily-ever-afters, and as I got older and learned how fictitious they were I became more annoyed by them as I felt, and feel, that they present a falseness that others allow themselves to remain within at the cost of others. But before the true fairy-tales of Cinderella or the Pillowman, the first story is Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”.

This story brings us more into a different perspective than most, like Samuel Jackson’s character in Unbreakable. We start off just seeing a small town coming together for this very important event, how this is an important event in this town and others big and small. While we don’t know what the event is and an entire town meeting ina square seems odd to us now, we know it used to happen and draw connections to how the children act the adults’ gossip, and the changing of the event over time. As the story continues, an undertone becomes more prevalent, young men are just starting to draw for their families, and a woman mentions about how fast time goes by, using the event as a marker and how some towns don’t participate at all. 

What I love about this story is how much our perception changes as we learn more. We enter the story neutrally, then get excited and then try to hold onto that as we learn more. True artistry here comes from being able to challenge, surprise and have your reader’s perception and world be altered; and it is all down here. 

The Lottery: 

http://sites.middlebury.edu/individualandthesociety/files/2010/09/jackson_lottery.pdf