Comments on: Recommendation and Review: “The Pursuit of Happyness” http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:06:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: DaveMac http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-10621 DaveMac Mon, 15 Jan 2007 22:33:03 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-10621 Saw it last Friday. Good film. A determined man who kicked in, recognised his talent and seized the opportunities before him. Is it a panacea for all black male professionals? No. Is it a good movie for how one person kicked in and risked all to get the life he wanted to and made sure he was always there for his son. yes. Trust me if you read the book you would be grateful some stuff was left out. I say make more films like this, even if it to show that there are many of us black professional males who will do everything they can to inhabit their magnificence and go out on a limb for their children. Saw it last Friday.
Good film.
A determined man who kicked in, recognised his talent and seized the opportunities before him. Is it a panacea for all black male professionals? No. Is it a good movie for how one person kicked in and risked all to get the life he wanted to and made sure he was always there for his son. yes.

Trust me if you read the book you would be grateful some stuff was left out.

I say make more films like this, even if it to show that there are many of us black professional males who will do everything they can to inhabit their magnificence and go out on a limb for their children.

]]> By: kmcarlson http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9505 kmcarlson Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:14:39 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9505 I'm not even going to participate in the governmental discussion that has somehow formed in this comment thread. Just wanted to drop by and say that I also adored this film, and that your review, Michael, is excellent. If you'd like to read mine, you can go here (sorry, I don't know how to insert a hyperlink in this comment box): http://www.xanga.com/CoffeeInAStraw/557856543/happyness-with-a-y.html Kyle I’m not even going to participate in the governmental discussion that has somehow formed in this comment thread.

Just wanted to drop by and say that I also adored this film, and that your review, Michael, is excellent.

If you’d like to read mine, you can go here (sorry, I don’t know how to insert a hyperlink in this comment box):

http://www.xanga.com/CoffeeInAStraw/557856543/happyness-with-a-y.html

Kyle

]]> By: revmhj http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9285 revmhj Sat, 23 Dec 2006 22:54:51 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9285 Where's the rolling eyes smiley? In no way do I advocate a boot strap mentality. I'm glad the government is able to use my tax money to help people in need. In fact, I think we should be doing more of that than nation/democracy building in other parts of the world. The fact remains, however, that our welfare system creates a climate of poverty and encourages people to stay on it rather than help them financially and help them be self-sufficient. My response was mainly because Chris apparently can't go see a feel good movie without having a knee-jerk anti-conservative reaction to it. What's not to like and be inspired by a story like this? Where’s the rolling eyes smiley?

In no way do I advocate a boot strap mentality. I’m glad the government is able to use my tax money to help people in need. In fact, I think we should be doing more of that than nation/democracy building in other parts of the world. The fact remains, however, that our welfare system creates a climate of poverty and encourages people to stay on it rather than help them financially and help them be self-sufficient.

My response was mainly because Chris apparently can’t go see a feel good movie without having a knee-jerk anti-conservative reaction to it. What’s not to like and be inspired by a story like this?

]]> By: Michael Spencer http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9284 Michael Spencer Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:06:12 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9284 Henry: The movie was about getting a job. And the church did assist him. jnelson: Please don't take rhetorical comments personally. I'll have to rewrite everything I ever wrote and I hate putting smilies behind every sentence. :-) Henry: The movie was about getting a job. And the church did assist him.

jnelson: Please don’t take rhetorical comments personally. I’ll have to rewrite everything I ever wrote and I hate putting smilies behind every sentence. :-)

]]> By: jnelson http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9282 jnelson Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:56:30 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9282 I didn't and would never suggest that that's what you should preach, Michael. My comment was directed more toward remhj, who suggests that there is little to no merit in the so-called "liberal approach." I think that Chris' point was less to advocate for any particular approach, "liberal" or no, and more to raise a concern that one viewpoint is in constant danger of the implication that anyone who can't do what Gardner did in his situation only have themselves to blame, without taking into account the societal factors at play. That doesn't automatically translate to "hard work is nice, but really the government will help you." You and I seem to be in agreement that government assistance in a limited role can and should be helpful, but individual motivation and perserverance is just as important if not moreso. And nowhere did I say that you should preach anything other than what you say you're preaching (in fact, I don't completely see how we got there). Instead of preaching that the answer is the kindness of others, I would say show kindness to others, whatever color you are. I didn’t and would never suggest that that’s what you should preach, Michael. My comment was directed more toward remhj, who suggests that there is little to no merit in the so-called “liberal approach.” I think that Chris’ point was less to advocate for any particular approach, “liberal” or no, and more to raise a concern that one viewpoint is in constant danger of the implication that anyone who can’t do what Gardner did in his situation only have themselves to blame, without taking into account the societal factors at play. That doesn’t automatically translate to “hard work is nice, but really the government will help you.”

You and I seem to be in agreement that government assistance in a limited role can and should be helpful, but individual motivation and perserverance is just as important if not moreso.

And nowhere did I say that you should preach anything other than what you say you’re preaching (in fact, I don’t completely see how we got there). Instead of preaching that the answer is the kindness of others, I would say show kindness to others, whatever color you are.

]]> By: Michael Spencer http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9281 Michael Spencer Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:46:37 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9281 Guys: I'm rather confused. It's obvious to everyone- especially conservatives- that people often need a hand. Despite an earlier comment assuming that conservatives don't help people, they do. I'm well below the poverty line and I help people because it's the right thing to do. Nothing in the movie or the review is inclined to the message that people don't need help. It's one guy's story. He did the right thing and that included taking help. It didn't however include taking an affirmative action job. The problem I think liberals are going to have with this movie isn't the role of statist welfare solutions, but the role of the corporation, in this case Dean Witter. They gave him a job? Yeah...and he earned the right to be considered. They may have been a bunch of old white guys, but they had a program that took a black guy with a high school education and gave him a shot at being a stock broker. They weren't the bad guys, and the capitalism they practiced wasn't condemned as evil. THAT'S what liberals won't like about this film. The private sector and individual effort, instead of government, were the heroes. It is demonstrably true that African Americans have not been well served by the welfare state. I believe Bill Clinton would agree with that. Guys:

I’m rather confused.

It’s obvious to everyone- especially conservatives- that people often need a hand. Despite an earlier comment assuming that conservatives don’t help people, they do. I’m well below the poverty line and I help people because it’s the right thing to do.

Nothing in the movie or the review is inclined to the message that people don’t need help. It’s one guy’s story. He did the right thing and that included taking help.

It didn’t however include taking an affirmative action job. The problem I think liberals are going to have with this movie isn’t the role of statist welfare solutions, but the role of the corporation, in this case Dean Witter. They gave him a job? Yeah…and he earned the right to be considered. They may have been a bunch of old white guys, but they had a program that took a black guy with a high school education and gave him a shot at being a stock broker. They weren’t the bad guys, and the capitalism they practiced wasn’t condemned as evil.

THAT’S what liberals won’t like about this film. The private sector and individual effort, instead of government, were the heroes.

It is demonstrably true that African Americans have not been well served by the welfare state. I believe Bill Clinton would agree with that.

]]> By: Henry Frueh http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9280 Henry Frueh Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:42:11 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9280 Spiritually speaking, the movie is a feel good story of how a man can pull himself up by his own strength. Browse the bookstores and find whole sections that have man and his efforts at the core while neither needing or acknowledging God, whoever he is. The Word is powerful enough (Heb.4:12) to penetrate the racism of either the offender or the recipient of prejudice. The church is supposed to be the hand of God extended to those in need, not the government. Spiritually speaking, the movie is a feel good story of how a man can pull himself up by his own strength. Browse the bookstores and find whole sections that have man and his efforts at the core while neither needing or acknowledging God, whoever he is.

The Word is powerful enough (Heb.4:12) to penetrate the racism of either the offender or the recipient of prejudice. The church is supposed to be the hand of God extended to those in need, not the government.

]]> By: chrisstiles http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9279 chrisstiles Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:56:04 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9279 <i> But am I supposed to tell my students that? Am I suppose to say the answer to poverty and racism IN YOUR LIVES is the kindness of white liberals </i> No - because to do so would be conflating the response of an individual with that of a society. In my opinion jnelson is right, the correct answer is both/and and not either/or. Recall the Dan Edelen piece on 'Failure' - whilst we don't set others up for failure, at some point we have to address the issue that for some others hard work is not always enough.
But am I supposed to tell my students that? Am I suppose to say the answer to poverty and racism IN YOUR LIVES is the kindness of white liberals

No – because to do so would be conflating the response of an individual with that of a society.

In my opinion jnelson is right, the correct answer is both/and and not either/or. Recall the Dan Edelen piece on ‘Failure’ – whilst we don’t set others up for failure, at some point we have to address the issue that for some others hard work is not always enough.

]]> By: Michael Spencer http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9278 Michael Spencer Sat, 23 Dec 2006 17:58:59 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9278 Of course, the movie wasn't about government policy or welfare. All the government did was seize his bank account and make him homeless. I am sure Chris would have accepted welfare in order to save his son. But would he have stayed on it long term? Should he? The role of government can and should be a positive. I accept and support that. But am I supposed to tell my students that? Am I suppose to say the answer to poverty and racism IN YOUR LIVES is the kindness of white liberals? Of course, the movie wasn’t about government policy or welfare. All the government did was seize his bank account and make him homeless.

I am sure Chris would have accepted welfare in order to save his son. But would he have stayed on it long term? Should he?

The role of government can and should be a positive. I accept and support that.

But am I supposed to tell my students that? Am I suppose to say the answer to poverty and racism IN YOUR LIVES is the kindness of white liberals?

]]> By: jnelson http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness/comment-page-1#comment-9277 jnelson Sat, 23 Dec 2006 17:51:17 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-the-pursuit-of-happyness#comment-9277 My initial reaction to the review was similar to Chris'. Not everyone has the opportunities that Gardner has, and it would be a mistake to cite this movie as the empirical vacuumous example that anyone can do what he does. That said, I want to see this movie not because it shows what anyone can do but because it tells the story of what one man was able to do. I also want to add that neither the "conservative" solution ("Just work hard and you'll be successful") nor the "liberal" one ("More government programming") are sufficient in themselves. Programs such as welfare are meant to help struggling people get themselves back on their feet and are neither meant to identify lazy people nor encourage dependence. The best solution is both/and. My initial reaction to the review was similar to Chris’. Not everyone has the opportunities that Gardner has, and it would be a mistake to cite this movie as the empirical vacuumous example that anyone can do what he does. That said, I want to see this movie not because it shows what anyone can do but because it tells the story of what one man was able to do.

I also want to add that neither the “conservative” solution (”Just work hard and you’ll be successful”) nor the “liberal” one (”More government programming”) are sufficient in themselves. Programs such as welfare are meant to help struggling people get themselves back on their feet and are neither meant to identify lazy people nor encourage dependence. The best solution is both/and.

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