Of course it's just a coincidence... I mean, there couldn't be any reason for it, could there?
Posted on 01/31/2006 7:17:45 AM PST by dson7_ck1249
I read a review of Brokeback Mountain, the conservative author of which actually felt bad that he had felt bad during the movie. The heartache experienced by the characters in the film had elicited a degree of compassion and empathy in him, yet this author’s hatred toward the act of homosexuality had so inoculated him against seeing the true struggle behind the issue that it seemed like he actually felt guilty for internalizing the humanity in Brokeback Mountain.
As much as the movie tilts at the windmills of our country’s Judeo-Christian foundations, and in doing so ravenously angers its conservative watchdogs, the film still serves a noble purpose. It opens the eyes of those who, before seeing the film, had no idea how darkness looms for those who live in fear of telling their friends and family that they are gay.
My friend Ben put it best when he said, “Much of the homophobia in America is built on the human ability to ignore another's humanity, and this film breathes humanity back into the issue.”
I know, just as much as anyone, how desperately this breath of humanity is needed. Having worked for a conservative political organization in the state of Iowa, I have witnessed Christian people treating very disrespectfully those with whom they disagree on moral and social issues like homosexuality. Therefore, as much as the movie teaches us about how to absorb the sufferings of another, its purpose is dignified. However, to the extent that the film seeks to blur the line between acceptance of a behavior and acceptance of a person, its purpose is harmful.
As someone who has personally struggled with, and overcome, unwanted homosexual attractions, I could resonate with the hunger I saw in the film’s characters, Jack and Ennis. They knew they were missing something, and they each thought it was the other.
To understand fully the dynamics of the struggle, one must realize that homosexuality isn't really a sexual issue. Becoming sexually attracted to someone of the same gender is just the symptom of a much deeper emotional need. It is the symptom of a need for healthy, non-sexual intimacy with one’s own gender—a legitimate need that went unchecked during the childhoods of so many pre-homosexual boys and girls.
Communicator Sinclair Rogers once said, “Temptation is the exploitation of a real need.” And so it is with homosexuality.
I believe this movie is harmful in that it paints sexual expression as the proper way to extinguish the heartache and loneliness experienced by those in the gay and lesbian community. Furthermore, the movie exploits the already-existing stereotypes of gender-typical behavior and re-affirms the sexual nature of experiences between men that shouldn’t have to be viewed as sexual at all: the open expression of raw emotion and tender affection; intimacy, trust, caring, physical closeness, and nurturing.
Sociologist Peter M. Nardi, in Men's Friendships, writes “Men are raised in a culture with a mixed message: Strive for healthy, emotionally intimate friendships, but be careful—if you appear too intimate with another man you might be negatively labeled homosexual.”
That Brokeback Mountain uses cowboys to tell its story doesn’t at all make a statement about the healing power of healthy same-gender intimacy. It only shows us that “cowboys can be gay too.” After all, did Jack or Ennis ever leave one of their sexual encounters even a little bit happier than they were before? No. Each and every time they had to go back to the same broken lives they had come from.
The movie itself argues that it was society's fault that Jack and Ennis never had a shot at living a real life together, and I agree. The early 1960s was a tumultuous time to be homosexual in America, and to the degree that the movie is a statement against the violent and homophobic attitudes of the sixties, I am its fan.
However, willing as I may be to cast blame on society for ruining one of Hollywood’s most famous gay relationships, I think that society's response to the relationship of Jack and Ennis is not as important as God’s response. In the same way, I feel that society's answer to the pain experienced by Jack and Ennis is inferior to God’s answer.
I’m also disturbed that the film suggests that Jack and Ennis were at the complete mercy of a homophobic society and had absolutely no power to overcome their circumstances or make their own choices. This portrayal is unfair to the thousands of men and women who, with God’s help, have chosen to reject their homosexual attractions and are experiencing a genuine transformation of their sexual identities.
The truly ironic part of the film is that almost every single scene contains a visual acknowledgment of God’s existence, along with a practical denial of it.
The apostle Paul says, “Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
The scenery portrayed in Brokeback Mountain—the rock formations, the sunrise, the skies, the rivers—they all testify to the existence of God and to the greatness of God. Yet the characters in the film acted in exactly the manner that one would expect someone to act who didn’t believe in God.
After all, isn’t that what this really is all about? The existence of God? The character of God? The power of God? One of the most famous lines in the film is: “If you can’t change [your sexuality] you just have to stand it.” From a human perspective, changing something as deeply ingrained as one’s sexual orientation certainly seems impossible, which is exactly why the world looks at people like me and assumes I’m a fake. But if God really is who he says he is—if God really can heal the sick, turn water into wine, and even bring the dead to life—then overcoming homosexuality wouldn’t seem so difficult, would it?
I suspect that many who saw Brokeback Mountain are in much the same position as the disciples were when Jesus outlined for them the cost of serving him. They responded to Christ’s admonition to give “all they had” by saying “that’s impossible.”
And Jesus replied: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
I once heard someone say that it’s time for those who struggle with really big things like homosexuality to stop telling God how big their “mountain” is, and start telling their mountain how big God is.
Today, it seems, Brokeback is the mountain that needs to be told how big God is
Possibly, but I am tired of having this flick shoved down my throat.
No pun intended.
Maybe I will start feeling more compassionate towards adulterers now, because Hollyweird tells me it's okay. /s
dson7_ck1249
Since Jan 30, 2006
Registered yesterday and posted this today, I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
I have also heardthat the straight men in the movie are depicted as blundering fools, low-grade morons. Aside from the gay love scenes, why would straight men go and see a movie that showed them as crude savages?
I think the film industry has really jumped the shark on this one.
Of course it's just a coincidence... I mean, there couldn't be any reason for it, could there?
"Ben and Howdy are a couple of aging cowboys who bust broncos out of Sedona for Jim Ed Love, a slick operator if ever there was one. Sisters, Meg and Agatha, have their eyes on Ben and Howdy, but the boys aren't ready to settle down yet. They spend the winter in the high country corralling more than 100 stray cattle at $7 a head for Jim Ed. Most years, they blow their winter pay in one spring night at a Sedona bar, but this year, Ben and Howdy have a plan: to take an ornery roan that Ben has been unable to break and bet their bankroll that no cowboy at the Sedona rodeo can stay on the horse. What will they do if they win - marry the sisters or head for Tahiti?"
"Whatever Suits You, Just Tickles Me Plum To Death."
Glenn Ford - A talented and versatile performer equally at home in both drama and comedy, Mr. Ford brought a calm assuredness to the screen and was often cast in roles that required the hero to show courage and grace under pressure. He is probably best known for his work in oaters and was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame by the Western Heritage Museum.
During his service with the Marines in World War II, he helped build safe houses in France for those hiding from the Nazis. Mr. Ford also served two tours of duty in Vietnam and is the only actor to have served with both the Green Berets and the French Foreign Legion. Among his numerous medals and commendations are the Medal of Honor, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the French Legion of Honor Medal for his service in World War II, two commendation medals from the US Navy and the Vietnamese Legion of Merit.
From Glenn Ford: Performer and Patriot
Glenn Ford is still alive at near 90...
The TRUE struggle behind the issue is a spiritual one - they (homosexuals) are caught in the bondage of sin, and unless and untill they admit that they are sinning, they cannot escape that bondage.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
God has spoken rather forcefully on the homosexual act. It is a sin. Now you and the writer may not like that but there it is. Pretending otherwise is simply pulling the pillow over ones head and screwing your eyes tightly shut. It gets you nowhere but makes you feel better.
You can argue all you want that men mounting men in the presence of sheep is a righteous thing, you just can't argue that God sees it the same way. Certainly God loves the homosexual but the homosexual act is a different mountain altogether.
ping for later
It's not homophobia, it's homoneausea! Most people are not afraid of queers. It's not like they are the Crips or the Bloods and might bust a cap in you. Because I had a good friend in high school who's dad was "confused" I met a lot of queer men. Besides being self-loathing and self-destructive they had a habit of having anal "sex?" with each other then oral "sex?" thereafter. That's what is repulsive to me. I don't really care if they do such things behind closed doors, it's their butt. But give me a break, in the scheme of things there just are not that many queers. Not so many that we have to read and hear about them over and over and over.
If folks want to go see some movie about queer sheep herders on horses that's A-OK with me. But count me out. I don't need to learn anything else about queers. All I ask is that they keep away from young people and stop trying to spread their stupidity to others so they can pretend that makes them normal.
That being said, I think I do have a grasp of how hard it is for someone to bring up and speak about their personal sins. We are all sinners...some have committed them in more grandiose fashion, but we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. But that's not the ending point to it. There are many who have been delivered from their homosexual lifestyles...and in denying that, the film also promotes the lie that it's just the way it is and it can't be changed.
Sorry, but the film is just propaganda, and one review isn't going to change that.
Can you imagine anyone else playing Jonathan Kent?
One of my favorite cowboys/actors.
Just signed on yesterday and this is your only post.
Care to come back with some responses?
Don't worry, I believe I have some freinds here that may invoke a few words of wisdom for you.
This movie seems destined to win several awards from the primarily liberal folks who vote for them.
My vote is with my dollars. I will not go to see the film because the theme doesn't interest me.
I am so sick of liberals throwing around the word "homophobia". An opinion based on a moral judgment is not a phobia. My fear of heights is a phobia. My view of homosexuality is an opinion. If opinions are phobias, then this author suffers from conservaphobia.
Its a wasted post, I suspect your a troll anyway.
Well, John Schneider (the real Bo Duke) has done a decent job with the role in Smallville, and Tom Weller is a better Clark Kent than Christopher Reeve ever thought about being.
I suspect the kitties will be well fed today!
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