“Watercolor Sunset” photo by L Weikel
Goodness
I just finished watching the Golden Globe Awards. I knew I’d regret watching all the way until the end of the program (vis-à-vis writing this post), but for whatever reason, I kept watching.
The movies that were nominated for Best Drama were an eclectic conglomeration, and the actors, both male and female, nominated for Best of their respective categories were also an interesting mixture of ages and characters (both on and off screen).
The tenor of the awards on the whole felt a bit melancholy to me. Or maybe I’m just projecting.
The entertainment industry in many ways not only influences our culture but also reflects it, and I’m not sure which comes first. Or I should say, I’m not sure whether we or the industry are the chicken.
The recipients of the last several awards bestowed, which are the reason I started writing this post later than even my usual ‘late,’ were worth the fleeting sacrifice of time. They were worth it because they each displayed what appeared to me to be grace and class.
Grace and Class
The attributes of grace and class are sorely needed in our society and in our hearts right now. We all know it. We all feel it. Obviously, that’s a sweeping statement, and I cannot truly speak for ‘all’ of us or ‘all’ of anything. But wow.
Watching Carol Burnett receive the first annual award in her name with her famous humor and genuine compassion for her co-workers and the opportunity provided her by her grandmother, and then watching the audience’s reception and loving appreciation of Dick Van Dyke…both of these moments were touching and tender. The poignancy of these moments was made even more tangible by the fact that both of these people are not only icons of entertainment. They’re good people.
And that, too, was a theme that was curiously present throughout the evening: when presenters or even recipients wanted to bestow truly profound praise on another, they made a point of appreciating the other’s inherent and basic goodness.
Goodness
Buttressing my blanket statement, above, is something I know I personally feel, but also sense is felt in a vast majority of our country: the need for a balm of goodness to soothe our raw and weeping souls.
We are bombarded on a daily basis with more and more selfishness and callous disregard of pretty much anyone else’s cares or concerns, safety, health, or even life. And it is hurting all of us. We know we aren’t like that; and we know most of the people around us aren’t, either. And yet we see and know it is all around us. Drowning us in hate and fear.
Thus, I was touched to watch Glenn Close react in complete and utter obvious surprise to her win for Best Actor (Actress) for her role in The Wife. Her acceptance touched me, particularly her dedication of her win to her mother, whom Close said had sublimated herself to her husband her whole life, only to admit regret for ‘not accomplishing’ anything right before she passed away in her 80s.
And Rami Malek, winning for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury of Queen – his acceptance was also filled with incredible humility, grace, and class. But when the film, Bohemian Rhapsody, also won for Best Picture, it was astonishing, really, to watch this young man deliberately stand aside in order to have all the attention and accolades go to the producer of the film and the remaining band mates of Mercury.
Mostly in body language, but conveyed in a language anyone with eyes to see could appreciate, this young man was behaving with inherent and absolutely lovely goodness.
I need to end this now. But my heart is a little less heavy having witnessed the goodness tonight. I hope it is a reflection of our culture, and a reclamation and affirmation of who we truly are.
(T-1055)