Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain

Released in 2001, Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain, known as Amelie in English is an incredible film about a quirky girl who creates meaning in her life. The story is one of isolation, love, dreams, change, selflessness, and reveling in the pleasures of life’s simplicties.

I watched the movie for the first time today and am glad that I did so. It was one of those movies that gives you a breath of fresh air and makes you want to change things in your daily life to enjoy the simple things. The movie follows the title character, Amelie, from a childhood of isolation that is invoked by her parents, to young adulthood, during which she imposes isolation on herself. She works in a cafe and is an obvious dreamer who does selfless acts to change the lives of those around her. One day she runs into a man who spikes her curiousity and seemingly falls in love with, although they never met. The creative way in which she seeks him out is what keeps you watching the movie, cheering for this innocent soul the whole movie through.

When you get the chance check out the movie. If nothing more, it will make you want to fall in love, in a very romantic way. I think I’ll move to Paris now.

Tragedy Strikes

I am sure by now that everyone has heard about the tradgedies that Jennifer and her family have endured over the last few days. Her mother, brother, and nephew were all shot dead, with the nephew’s death being discovered a few days after his grandmother’s and uncle’s deaths.

I am not one who ever writes about celebrities, for any reason, but for those who know me, you know that this hits close to home, in that this year was the fifth anniversary of my father being murdered. Reading the constant news reports brought back nagging memories of visits from the police, identifying the body, making arrangements, and trying to hold it all together. Once I heard of her nephew’s death, I felt physically ill. I cannot grasp the concept of murder one bit, but for someone to murder a child, is that much worse.

It is my hope that the killer is brought to justice so that the family can have closure. This is one thing that my family and I grapple with, as my father’s case was never solved. Fortunately for Jennifer, she is a celebrity and the police will do all that they can to solve the case. Unfortunately for me and other regular folks the police deal with murders all the time and don’t give each case equal attention.

Peace.

Now What?

Imagine…

It’s the evening of November 4th. Its about 11:30pm Eastern Standard Time. All news sources have confirmed that Barack Obama is indeed the new leader of the “free world.” Newspapers and journalists are going crazy to secure interviews of civil rights leaders who are still living, ultra-conservatives, anyone who is suspected to be tapped to join the cabinet, anyone and everyone whose reaction is newsworthy. You are at home excited beyond belief yet nervous thinking about the possibility of assasination. You may even be crying. Dialing everyone you know, your voice laden with sheer excitement and disbelief. The CNN ticker reads: First African-American in history elected the the presidency.

Now What?

So Barack Obama is elected president, what does this mean? The fact of the matter is that when people run for office, be it student government, Congress, or president of the United States, they say what voters want to hear. Will Barack Obama go in and implement everything that he promised on the campaign trail. Will he have the money to do it? Will he have the support from Congress? Will he really run the country differently than it has ever been run before? I think many people have put their hopes and prayers into Barack and expect nothing less than a miracle when he is elected. And while I can admit that I fell in love with him while watching clips from the last debate, I still do not believe in our system of government. America is not set up such that everyone can succeed. If we look at the focus of Barack’s campaign, he always talks about the middle class. What about the working class? Last time I checked, the middle class was dissappearing. The mere fact that people no longer own their homes reduces their wealth and ultimately leaves them free falling from the so-called “middle class.” I think that Barack is a very sincere person and he is the “change that we need,” but I still beg the question, how much change will they really allow in Washington and our country?

What do you think will change when Barack Obama becomes President?

Oh, Sarah…

I do not subscribe to any political party in the United States. I am not a Democrat; nor, am I a Republican. I am an American and am looked at as such when I travel and live abroad. The current charade that is labeled the “McCain-Palin” campaign is an embarrassment to all Americans. Imagine my dismay when foreign nationals asking me how someone like her is allowed to be nominated. I can say nothing accept this is one of the drawbacks of a free country, I guess.

Positives:

-Sarah Palin makes ANYONE feel like they actually have a shot at becoming president. So for those of you who struggled to graduate from undergrad and switched schools two or three times, don’t worry you too can be vice-president, or maybe even President! Imagine that.

Negatives:

-Her being a representative of “the average American” also known as “Joe six-pack”. If this is the average American, then most foreigners can confirm their assumption that the average American is an idiot, hence the reason Bush was elected twice. (Most foreigners I meet still don’t quite understand how that happened)

Every time I watch another interview I just shake my head and think, I cannot believe they are actually getting away with this. Then you have the conservative media ready to pounce on the Obama-Biden campaign if they even think about talking about how incredibly unprepared she is for the office that she seeks. It is not sexist to question whether this woman is qualified. I don’t know about you but I want my vice president to know more than me on EVERY issue.