Normally, this blog is for books that I have read, but today I will make an exception. My wife and I would encouraged to watch the movie,
"The Pursuit of Happyness," (based on a
true story)and we were not disappointed. I am not necessarily interested in writing a review on it, but rather pointing out some of the themes throughout the movie that still ring true today.
POWER OF CAPITALISM, AMERICA, AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
One of the things that struck me about the movie is what it said about the power of the American system. The main character,
Chris Gardner, is simply broke. His wife is working double shift while he is trying to sell an investment that is failing. She eventually leaves, and he keeps their child and raises him. And his "business" continues to fail. He has no money to pay for rent, taxes, etc.
Eventually, his wife leaves. He therefore gets kicked out of his apartment, and so moves to a motel. Eventually he gets kicked of of his motel, and spends a night in a public restroom. He essentially hits rock bottom.
He continues to try to sell the invention he has invested in, but even that isn't going well.
Even when he does sell one, he is so backed up in bills, that he can't get ahead. He is forced to stay in homeless shelters and always carry his belongings with him.
And all the while, he is pursuing a job as a stock broker. Therefore, his time is pressed. Since he doesn't have a great education, and less time on his hands especially since he is now a single parent with a young son, he has to strive harder, worker hard, work smarter, and
utilize his time wisely.
What drives him is the "pursuit of happiness" as laid out in the declaration. Throughout the movie, he reflects on what that phrase meant. What makes him ponder is the fact that Jefferson added the word "pursuit" in that phrase. As if to mean that we may not ever find it. But what is amazing, is that Gardner realizes that happiness is a pursuit, and isn't something that is given to us. Happiness, and in this context I mean success, would take hard work, and time-consuming, bottom of the barrel efforts. And he embraces that and realizes that nothing will be given to him.
In fact, he never takes
abuses the gifts what our society offer to help people get back on their feet. When his son asks if they could spend the night at the shelter after he finally sells one of his products, he refuses and says that there are some things that are "fun" the first time, but you never want to do again. And therefore, he takes the financial gift he has been given as a result of the sell, and they spend the night in a motel.
What makes
Gardner "happy" or rather successful and able to provide for his son, isn't selfishness and laziness, but rather giving everything he has for the sake of his son and hard work. He knew his limitations, and did not use them as excuses. At one point, when applying for an
internship as a stock broker, he tells an employer that he would like to discuss the things on his application that "appear to be weaknesses."
Chris Gardner becomes a poster child to the
opportunities this country offers and serves as an example of how America has grown to be great. Whenever men and women are willing to "pursue" success in America, they can succeed. Those who are lazy, will forever remain in their poverty and it is no one's fault but their own. It is called freedom. Gardner wanted more, and he was willing to work hard for it.
This is the great advantage of capitalism and the American economy; one does not have to remain in their poverty or their current situation. If they are willing to work hard, work long, and endure, then you can make it. Gardner understood this concept. Even though he was less educated, didn't know the right people, had less time, had more on his plate, and had no money, he nonetheless rose to the
occasion and persevered.
Contrast this with socialism. Instead of shared prosperity as many socialist promise, it leads to shared misery and poverty. Socialism takes the hard work and striving of men like Gardner, and gives it to people who are simply lazy who do not add to society at all. Therefore, hard workers ask themselves why they are working so hard. In fact, why work? If everything is going to be given to you, and your hard work isn't going to help you advance in your job or paycheck, then why bother?
Therefore, productivity goes down. Creativity and technological advancement comes to an end. And people like Gardner whose dream it is to pursue happiness (as laid out in the Declaration of Independence) comes to an end. In a socialist society, you are stuck where you are. There is no hope. And instead of being driven to aspire and to overcome, you are driven into a hole where there is not way out.
We therefore must preserve this American dream of "you can become whatever you want to if you are willing to work for it" before the socialist take over. We must be reminded of people like Chris Gardner who were able to overcome their obstacles (poverty, single parenting, etc.) because they were willing to work hard for it.
For if we loose this dream, we will loose America.
IMPORTANCE OF FATHERHOOD
Another theme that I noticed in this movie was the importance and the impact a father can have on his son. Modern feminism has done two things to men. First, feminism has neutered men. Feminism says that it is wrong for men to be aggressive, hard on their children, driven, etc. Therefore, they have
neutered the very identity of men. It is now wrong to be aggressive. It is now wrong to discipline your children and expect more out them. It is to a point that they actually believe that if the world were run by women, there wouldn't be wars!
Secondly, feminism has neglected men. Feminism says that men are needed. A woman can solve everything themselves. They raise the children on their own (since men are too aggressive, mean, and hard on their children). They can make their own money, make their own financial decisions, and take care of their own house. Men aren't needed to be providers and protectors, because women are more driven (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) and therefore can provide for themselves, or they can just get the government to take the place of the father. Such a woman could have government run daycare (which sometimes I think that that is what public school is, it's no longer about education, but indoctrination), the government will provide you with a checks, groceries, housing, etc. Therefore, men are needed, and therefore, are not wanted.
Since men can't be men, and men aren't wanted, men then leave. We are seeing an exodus of men like never before in this country. It is rare to find a man who isn't willing to be a man, and when told he can't be a man in this relationship or in this family, he leaves. Our society encourages abandonment and divorce so much that it is the "smart" thing to do. Why get boggled down in a struggling relationship, whenever you can be single, free, and satisfy yourself without the strains of a relationship.
Marriage, therefore, is a burden. And if marriage is a burden, then child rearing is hell!
"The Pursuit of
Happyness" goes against the grain. It rejects all of this nonsense. We see the husband doing everything he can to make the relationship to work. When it fails, he fights for the child and wins. He sees himself as a father, not as a sperm
donor!
Gardner gives everything up for the sake of his son. He walks his son to school, he monitors what his son watches, says, reads, etc. He takes the time to play with his son, talk to his son, teach his son, and assure his success and well being. Gardner's drive for success in the business world isn't about him making money, but him providing for his family. A character trait that has long been forgotten.
Gardner in this movie serves, to me, as the Biblical understanding of what it means to be a man. He provides, protects, serves, gives everything up, for the sake of his family and his marriage. It is a
shame that the marriage fails, but instead of leaving, he stays with it and raises his son. He never accepts government run programs (outside of the shelter) and believes that he must earn his money. He is driven to sell his products, to be the best in the business, all for the sake of his son.
One more thing about being a father I found striking. He found it important to train his child. There is one scene in the movie that sticks out. Gardner takes his son to go play basketball (for they got their son a basketball for his birthday). His son shoots, and is pretty good. But in a moment of depression, the father tells his son that since he is his son, he will probably be as good as his father; below average. Therefore, he should accept the fact that he does not have a future in basketball and he should just accept those facts.
The son reacts as any son would; anger and defeat. The son begins to walk off the court, and at that time, Gardner realizes what he had done. He looks at his son and tells him to never let anybody tell him that he can't succeed at something; even his own father! If he is driven and willing to work hard and be the best, he can do anything.
This moment seems to serve as a pivotal moment in Gardner's life. He had been told he couldn't be a broker because he didn't have a great education, he was poor, he didn't know the right people, but at this moment as he was training his son, teaching him important lessons, he ends up teaching himself. From there, he continues to study and work hard at his internship, and gets the job.
This is why we need fathers. A mother has an ability to nurture in a way that no man can match, but at the same time, a father has a way to train and instruct in a way that no woman can match. That is not being sexist (notice that I also bashed men in that sentence!), but reality. POD summed up this point well in their song "Youth of the Nation:"
"Last day of the rest of my life, I wish I would have known because I didn't
kiss my momma goodbye. I didn't tell her that I loved her and how much I
cared (noticed how the mother is described; nurturing and affectionate) and
thank my Paps for all the talks and all the wisdom he shared (notice how the father is described; a wise trainer and instructor)"
Here is a video of Will Smith's character is teaching is son to never give up and to pursue happiness, and to pursue his dreams.
I recently read David Alan Black's book, "New Testament Textual Criticism: A Consise Guide," and found it to be an excellent introduction to the field of Textual Criticism. Very few believers are aware of this area of study, and it would be benefiticial if more Christians were aware of it. Black's book serves as an excellent introduction that opens the door to all of the major issues, categories, history, and debate that is involved in textual criticism.
