Pop culture reflects the political zeitgeist of the day but it also has the power to change perceptions and inspire hope. No wonder Squid Games, Andor, and Parasite have struck a nerve.
I was able to better understand that we face a cult. Therefore rational thinking is not to be expected. Now the cult members are too ashamed to admit they have screwed up. There is a way for us to recuse some. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/mired-republican-cult?r=3m1bs
There are SO many movies I have referenced since our own Saga 2025 began- Squid Games, Hunger Games, Star Wars, Groundhog Day. Life imitates art, and art imitates life. This reel of our lives is truly dystopian. Our political "leaders" have to realize that this is NOT a game; we are not their Hunger Games or Squid Games participants, there for their pleasure and entertainment. In real life, people get hurt- mentally, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. We suffer and we die. We are losing our humanity. Society's most damaged people are filling the ranks of our political elite. It's Revenge of the Nerds, although many of them are not bright, just scheming bullies. Only these plot twists are not comedy; they are dank and dark horror-filled episodes. They start out by a "jab with a knife", and the twisting continues- think Jason. The beginning, like all horror or dystopian movies, is more subtle.
Now, we have Idaho schools are removing signs/banners that say, "All are welcome here." (Remember when our very own Statue of Liberty WELCOMED the tired and the poor?) If I am the child who notices that sign missing, I think, "Are we NOT welcome anymore?" Then, the bullies will taunt and point at kids, most likely any diverse or foreign ones: "YOU are the reason they took that sign down. YOU are not welcome." And so the cruelty begins, shortly followed by more cruelty, as the plot thickens are reveals the true nature of horror. We're beginning to feature "life documentaries", that resemble those films from the past where Black people fight for their existence, sprayed by fire hoses, beaten by police and hanged by "upstanding citizens". This is who we WERE; is this WHO WE ARE NOW? Societies usually evolve and improve, even if that advancement is slow. But no, we are DEVOLVING rapidly. The KKK rears its ugly head, the cavemen are out with their proverbial clubs. This is NOT who I want to be. We must decide in this moment who WE are, and who WE want to be. Let's not let the corporate greedy, the pious, the religious "wrong" (I am a Christian- so please, do not think I mean all of any religious group), and the selfish, arrogant politicians decide our fate for us. The Constitution offers us and out, regarding when our elected "leaders" no longer represent us. We may need to take it!
I would add to your introductory monologue that there will be more political violence, whether that is far right individuals shooting immigrants or minorities in supermarkets, attacks on lawmakers in their homes, or violent anti-fascists shooting CEOs & the uber rich. It is a “death spiral” which will just increase the violence one side dishes out to the other side.
So over the Holiday weekend I’m gonna set aside some time to get into a good binge watch. I haven’t done much of that since “Yellowstone”, “Justified” and “Breaking Bad”! Oh yeah, “Halo”. I think I’m overdue!
They may be banking on the midterms being canceled.
Great Discssion 👍 Very Enjoyable! Thanks Fellas!
Great discussion!
Love you both 🥰
More please!
I was able to better understand that we face a cult. Therefore rational thinking is not to be expected. Now the cult members are too ashamed to admit they have screwed up. There is a way for us to recuse some. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/mired-republican-cult?r=3m1bs
I am happy you folks are paying attention to this important angle.
Happy cuz it’s way beyond my radar. I’m 58 and didn’t do video games beyond MS Pac-Man, so the very phase “Squid Games,” turns me off.
It seems to me “aging” like fascism, doesn’t happen overnight.
One day you realize you’ve long been left behind.
As it should be of course. Gotta make room for the new DNA packages we created…
There are SO many movies I have referenced since our own Saga 2025 began- Squid Games, Hunger Games, Star Wars, Groundhog Day. Life imitates art, and art imitates life. This reel of our lives is truly dystopian. Our political "leaders" have to realize that this is NOT a game; we are not their Hunger Games or Squid Games participants, there for their pleasure and entertainment. In real life, people get hurt- mentally, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. We suffer and we die. We are losing our humanity. Society's most damaged people are filling the ranks of our political elite. It's Revenge of the Nerds, although many of them are not bright, just scheming bullies. Only these plot twists are not comedy; they are dank and dark horror-filled episodes. They start out by a "jab with a knife", and the twisting continues- think Jason. The beginning, like all horror or dystopian movies, is more subtle.
Now, we have Idaho schools are removing signs/banners that say, "All are welcome here." (Remember when our very own Statue of Liberty WELCOMED the tired and the poor?) If I am the child who notices that sign missing, I think, "Are we NOT welcome anymore?" Then, the bullies will taunt and point at kids, most likely any diverse or foreign ones: "YOU are the reason they took that sign down. YOU are not welcome." And so the cruelty begins, shortly followed by more cruelty, as the plot thickens are reveals the true nature of horror. We're beginning to feature "life documentaries", that resemble those films from the past where Black people fight for their existence, sprayed by fire hoses, beaten by police and hanged by "upstanding citizens". This is who we WERE; is this WHO WE ARE NOW? Societies usually evolve and improve, even if that advancement is slow. But no, we are DEVOLVING rapidly. The KKK rears its ugly head, the cavemen are out with their proverbial clubs. This is NOT who I want to be. We must decide in this moment who WE are, and who WE want to be. Let's not let the corporate greedy, the pious, the religious "wrong" (I am a Christian- so please, do not think I mean all of any religious group), and the selfish, arrogant politicians decide our fate for us. The Constitution offers us and out, regarding when our elected "leaders" no longer represent us. We may need to take it!
I would add to your introductory monologue that there will be more political violence, whether that is far right individuals shooting immigrants or minorities in supermarkets, attacks on lawmakers in their homes, or violent anti-fascists shooting CEOs & the uber rich. It is a “death spiral” which will just increase the violence one side dishes out to the other side.
So over the Holiday weekend I’m gonna set aside some time to get into a good binge watch. I haven’t done much of that since “Yellowstone”, “Justified” and “Breaking Bad”! Oh yeah, “Halo”. I think I’m overdue!