Kings or Male Divas?

"They were kings, true kings, and not those sovereigns wigged in false hair who played at cup and ball and were gods only when they strutted the stage of their court theaters, effeminately pointing a leg in the measures of a rigadoon. These white monarchs lent more ear to the symphonies  of violins and the whispers of gossip, the tittle-tattle of their mistresses and the warble of their stringed birds, than to the roar of cannon against the spur of the crescent moon. (The Kingdoms of This World, Alejo, 8) 

In this part of the book, the slave named Ti Noel is comparing the kings that he has heard of back in Africa to the kings of Europe that he now sees. He had just explained how amazing and manly the African kings were and then goes on to say that the kings that now are ruling are really a bunch of pansies. He says that they are doing things that they shouldn't be doing. They should be out ruling their land, protecting it, and providing for it instead of doing the girly things the European kings were doing. 

Sadly I see the same thing happening in our American government. Back when we were becoming our own country, all of our politicians were out fighting for our country, they were the manly men that were considered real heroes. They put their lives on the line to help others. George Washington, our first president, fought in the worst of conditions because that is what leaders do for those over whom they govern. George Washington was like the devoted, powerful, duty-filled, African kings. 

Now in our time, we have presidents who busy themselves with things that are not important for the welfare of the country they run. Our current president, Barack Obama, was on ESPN last year filling out his bracket for the NCAA March Madness tournament. He goes on expensive vacations when he should be working, and he is trying to live the life of a movie star when he should be worried about our national debt. Barack Obama is like the European kings and doing things that he should not. 

I think that the author is trying to get the point across that those who have a responsibility should fulfill it, those who are in power should be powerful, and those who should be leading should actually lead. 

Es Muy Burro, No Speak Eh-English

(Cantinflas, Cruzando El Muro En La Frontera, Por Mis Pistolas)

When I saw this video in class, I was in stitches! I thought it one of the funniest videos i have ever seen in my life. I went home and i watched it two more times and it never got old, I was still laughing just as much as the first time we watched it. I was impressed because this comedy isn't crude, rude, or disgusting in any way. It reminded me of one of my favorite comedy sketches ever: "Argument Clinic" from Monty Python. 

Aside from the fact that they are both slapstick hilarious, they are similar in the fact that they both make silliness out of simple things. In Cruzando el Muro en la Frontera the border patrol makes a big deal out of Cantinflas passing through the gate and not going around. In Argument Clinic when the man enters the room for "being hit on the head lessons" the instructor made him react in a very specific way; "hold your hands here and go waaah". Just like passing through the gate in a certain way, the client had to shout and react in a specified manner. 

As I watched "Cruzando el Muro en la Frontera", I could picture Cantinflas being one of the men employed by this clinic. I would see him being in the room, "Smart Remarks". A person could come in, like the border patrol agent, and to everything that the client says Cantinflas would have a smart aleck remark. The client would get so frustrated that he would move on to a different room to complain or something along those lines. 

I wonder to myself, "Why is it that most comedy today must be full of foul language and filthy talk?" "Why can't we all be entertained by things like this?" I long for the day when I can laugh like crazy and not feel dirty for listening to comedy. 

(Orozco, Resurrection of Lazarus, 1943)

In class we talked about how there seems to always be a connection in our class to some Disney movie and not wanting to disappoint, here is another one. 

This painting reminds me of Hercules. In the Disney version of the movie, Hercules goes down to the underworld to rescue Meg. When he gets there he is told by Hades that Meg's spirit is in the river Styx. Hercules makes a deal that if he can get her out he can trade places. Hercules jumps in and starts to swim. All the spirits of the dead are around him watching and it's pretty dang scary, at least i thought that it was when i was little. As he comes out of the river after finding out that he is part god, he punches Hades and he falls in the river and the spirits start to attack him. 

As you look at the painting you see a man (Christ) standing up and seems to be lifting up the dead being on the left (Lazarus). But when I saw it for the first time, I saw Hercules standing above Hades, pushing him down. All around Hades are the souls of the dead that he has kept in the river Styx, attacking him and pulling him to their level. 

Hercules is victorious over death in the movie and in the painting. What's really cool is that in the actual account of Lazarus being raised from the dead, it is because Christ was victorious over death. Hercules could push Hades down because he was as well victorious over death. There is a power that is shown as one lives while all around him are dead. 

I thought about this and it was just reconfirmed to me that life is what we are seeking. Those that asked Christ to raise Lazarus wanted him to live, Hercules jumped into the river so that Meg could live, and we do al that we can so that we live now and forever. 

A Man Can Change His Stars

"Poverty, the need for a little extra cash, unfitness for other work, chance, and occasionally, a natural taste for serving, though in a different way, supplied the incentive to a man who felt firm enough to reduce disorder and distress to a system." "Aunt Monica forgave him for bringing back the child, after she heard the explanation, seeing that he brought a hundred milreis with him. " 

(Machado de Assis, Father Versus Mother, pg. 90 and 96) 

I think that we all are faced with difficult circumstances and we are forced to do some things that might seem a little bit crazy in order to change our situation. In this story Candido is forced into catching runaway slaves to be able to provide meager food and accommodations for his new bride. He is against odds and it is really hard for him to get a big break. Eventually He finally does and is able to provide for his small family. 

This reminds me of the movie, "A Knight's Tale", when William (played by Heath Ledger), Roland, and Wat are peasants and just earned a reward of 15 pieces of silver. They decide that they are going to keep trying to get "glory and riches" and do what they have to in order to provide for themselves. They go on and train to win a knight's tournament. 

William, Roland, and Wat are similar to Candido. They don't know how to do anything else, so they are reduced to lie their way to competition and the prize. Candido is reduced to slave catching which wasn't highly looked on as a trade. Both stories involve getting through a struggle of sorts. In Father Versus Mother they are going to have to give up their newborn baby. In A Knight's Tale, William has to get the princess to love him after she finds out that he has been lying the whole time.  The important thing with both of these stories is that they just kept trying, had faith and everything worked out. 

Both stories show a struggling individual (or individuals) who tries their hardest and changes their stars.