Maija and I just finished watching North Country, with Charlize Theron and Sissy Spacek. Man… very powerful movie. Maija’s still wiping the tears from her cheeks, but at least they’re smiling cheeks (due in part to my kisses, naturally).
For those who don’t know, the film is set in Minnesota in the 1970s, and is the story (based on true events) of women mine workers and their struggle against sexual harassment. It’s directed by Niki Caro, the New Zealand born director of Whale Rider (if you haven’t seen Whale Rider, rent it soon time). Also staring is the ever excellent Sean Bean (who once sued Rowan Atkinson for his Mr. Bean character).
I’d give this movie 4.5 / 5 stars. It’s truly a well made film, doesn’t pull it’s punches, and is an important message to get out. It was surprising to my naive self to hear that up until the mid 70s, no women were employed in any of the mines. Cause the 70s AINT that long ago.
My lovely wife and I were discussing rape, and payback, two themes that are prevalent near the end of the movie, and she asked what I would do if someone was assaulting her (not rape specifically). It’s certainly not a pleasant question to answer, as a husband and a man who knows (on the good days) right from wrong. I told her that if I encountered someone assaulting her, or was made aware of a person assaulting her on an ongoing bassist, then that person’s number was up. However, if I hunted down someone who had assaulted her, to exact revenge on said person, I believe that is wrong. I would be loth to continue the cycle of hate and sin that the enemy only wants me to continue, but I would also hate for my wife to feel that I am not/would not be protecting her.
Where do you think that line is drawn? No really… where?
hmm-very interesting Jon.
I’d say part of the line is taking the law into your own hands. We in Canada are blessed to have a legal system that does work, that is commited to the safety and security of the inhabitants of the State. As I’m sure you’ve heard before (our former Sr. Pastor literally wrote the book on it…) the more serious line is holding unforgiveness, and wanting the offending party to be caught for the sake of fulfilling your own thirst for revenge, as opposed to being proactive in wanting better security and peace for your partner, as well as for potential victims.
So here’s my take: comforting your partner is a duty, reporting to the police is both a right and a duty for the sake of society, but wanting revenge and/or taking it into your own hands is wrong.
Your statement: “We in Canada are blessed to have a legal system that does work” is probably the most controversial thing I’ve heard all day.
Interesting :)
i don’t know Pudd…. I hope you never have to find that line
I would hate to see my significant other being assaulted on an ongoing bassist. Being an “ongoing bassist” myself, I would like to think that the only person she should be on is me.
Bizzare puns aside, it sounds like North Country is pretty powerful movie. I was just watching a special report by the CBC on the status of women in Pakistan (which, all things considered, is a relatively modernized nation) and it appears that Pakistani women not only have had ongoing issues with their rights in mainstream society, but they also have been relegated to second class citizens by the police and the governing body. It would be easy (and perhaps even tempting) to relegate these situations as manifestations of “non-Western” behaviour, but movies such as North Country show that sexual harrasment has (and continues to be) an issue in our supposedly “liberal” North American culture as well.
Thanks for the insight (I’ll definitely check out that movie sometime in the near future!)
I’m SO glad you picked up on that little joke of mine. This post was becoming all together too serious.
you did that bassist thing on purpose? I guess I’m that used to reading things (not usually by you, but by people in general, with spelling mistakes…)
anyways, yes I know there are of problems with everything man could ever possibly conjure up, and that includes the Regional, Provincial and National Police Forces here in this land of Canada. However, and I must thank Mr. Livingston for adding perspective here, like I said the Canadian Judiciary is committed to the safety and security of the inhabitants of the State. The central, vital, critical, most important (go nuts on superlatives here) reasons for this are the presence of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Judiciary’s (and the whole State in general) commitment to it. Ok, so maybe there can be a bit more transparency and give the people a bit more say about the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. The problem with this of course is that if a Judiciary, which has nothing to do with Parties, is more accountable to the Legislative (which is fused with the Executive in Parliamentary systems), which is obviously on a Party system, then the impartiality of the Judiciary-its impartial commitment to the Charter-is lessened, a problem we see in the US, as their Supreme Court is accountable to Congress (the Legislative).
So yes, with an impartial Judiciary commited to a Universal Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I can safely say that, relatively at least, the Canadian Legal System does indeed work. Even the fact that it continuously reviews and sanctions against actions by the Judiciary, Police Force, etc. that constitute discrimination-a “self-healing” feature-is a sign of health.
Sorry for the lecture-I love Politics.
I still find that statement to be rather ignorant. Maybe the Canadian Legal System works sometimes, but certainly not all the time. And certainly not as good as it should with all the resources Canada has available to its self.
How can you tell that for each crime commited justice has been done? How can you say that every person in this country’s prisons are there for the exact amount of time they deserve, and there are no “false positives” in prison, or under arrest? Why does every cop I’ve talked to tell me the legal system in this country is complete balls?
Why else do some cops (knowing full well that if they let some kid go no justice will be done), give that kid a beating so at least he’ll learn a lesson? I honestly don’t believe anyone other than the ignorant can claim that the legal system in this country works, period. And I don’t condone cops beating people. I’m just pointing out things that do happen.
I think the legal system in Canada is built on good ideals, but because we are dealing with human people, good ideals are often only ever that.
ok-the Supreme Court more or less works, but on the ground its kinda sketchy. Can we compromise there?
I don’t know enough about the Supreme Court to comment, but I do know that my Father in Law, (who’s been through Canada’s Justice System, and subsequently imprisoned by Canada’s Justice System) says that if someone ever harmed his family, he wouldn’t trust the legal system to bring them to justice. He’d hunt them down.
Haha, so that’s my take on the matter. As to the higher ups, that can be your take :)