Monday, March 28, 2016

S2e3- The Midterms (I'm just going to take that crabpuff.)

After taking two episodes to cover 12 hours (and of course, a considerable amount of back story), we cover the twelve weeks before Midterm Elections.  Josh is recuperating, Toby is trying to find a way to use the President's 81% approval ratings to go after extremist groups like the ones the shooters were members of, and Charlie is struggling with the guilt of being the shooter's target.  However, everything's going to be ok, and the Midterm election results in no change in the makeup of Congress.

So, there's not too much of a reason to dwell on any of that, except to mention that CJ thinks that Josh plays power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers.



This however, deserves some time:


The dialogue from this scene was inspired by an actual letter (of which there were several versions) sent anonymously to Dr. Laura Schlessinger, whose background is similar to that of our fictional Dr. Jacobs- although her Phd. was in Physiology (and to be fair to her, she did acquire a license as a Marriage and Family therapist in the state of California).  Now, I've seen several posts in response to this particular scene, and while I agree with them that a football might be nicknamed a "pigskin" it isn't actually porcine in nature, the remainder of their arguments generally revolve around clarifying that these situations that the President lists aren't being viewed in the proper context of the time they were written, and to inflame their readers (who probably already agree with the argument, but are looking for better talking points) by suggesting that Aaron Sorkin (via President Bartlet) is suggesting throwing out the bible in its entirety.  Hogwash.  He's simply suggesting that we should all quite literally practice what we preach:

You can't use the need for context to argue in favor of something you're refusing to consider with context.

The purpose of such a sarcastic and rhetorical argument is to prove that all things should be taken into context, and that excerpting one biblical passage to give legitimacy to suit already-held beliefs is to truly do a disservice to scripture.  However, many people seem swayed by this type of argument, and as the adage goes; if you can't beat'em, join'em.  So, here we go with an updated list of scripture passages that might be relevant in today's political world:

The Refugee Crisis:
Deuteronomy 10:19- And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
...or your descendants.  Except Tom Cole and Markwayne Mullin, the only two Native American members of Congress.  They are more than welcome to discuss the negative impacts of accepting foreigners to the United States. 

Global Warming:
Genesis 2:15- The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
... I'm pretty sure that taking care of it would include not driving some of those more recent creations into extinction.

Gun Control:
Romans, 12:19- Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
And don't forget to remind anyone who tells you: "an eye for an eye" remind them that it exists in scripture as a false belief, and that the response prescribed is to turn the other cheek.  

Religious Tolerance:
1 Corinthians 10:31-32- So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.
Also, you know, that whole love your neighbor doesn't specify what religion thy neighbor has to be...

Providing Social Services:
1 John 3:17-18- If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
I'm pretty sure that increasing small business loans and removing arduous regulations isn't quite what we're talking about.

So, I'm going to leave you in the same way this scene ends:


Because, after all- Sam was just looking out for her:

Deuteronomy 14:9-10- Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales. But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.

What's Next?  S2e4- In This White House

Like what you've read?  Click on those little buttons to share this blog via facebook, twitter, email, etc!

No comments:

Post a Comment