Tag Archive for: Aaron Sorkin

To Err is Human, To Forgive Divine

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By Evelyn David

Let’s be honest from the get-go. I am quick to forgive and
forget, except for someone who has hurt my child. I’m still holding a grudge
against Eddie, who from age 6 to 12, made my kid’s life a living Hell. I can
tell you all the reasons why Eddie was a terror – and I don’t care one whit.
Meantimes, my son can barely remember the kid’s name and probably wouldn’t
describe the time period as Hell.

But I digress. Most times I forgive, forget, and move on. Except
for fictional characters that have been misused by their creators – or when I
believe an author or actor playing a favorite character has abused my
commitment to the show. Spoilers ahead.

I loved the mini-series Flambards .
Lusciously filmed, perfectly acted, I adored the story of Christina, a
high-spirited, wealthy young woman and the choices and sacrifices she makes to
find true love. The star-crossed lovers were from different “classes”
(this was British, after all) – but in the end, love triumphs and Christina and
Dick, formerly the quiet, poor stablehand who has a core of decency, ride off
into the virtual sunset.

I must have watched the series a dozen times and though I
was well past the Young Adult age, I read and re-read K.M. Peyton’s YA books on
which the mini-series was set.

Happy ending for all….except, two years after the
mini-series aired and fourteen years after the books were originally published
, Ms. Peyton wrote a sequel in which she completely reversed the happy ending
of the original. She had Christina discover that she really loved her wealthy
cousin (don’t ask) – and that poor Dick was never really comfortable being
wealthy.

Ms. Peyton became persona non grata in my house. I’ve never
read another word she has written.

One more example, which doesn’t reflect well on me, but…

I loved The West Wing, the incredibly ambitious, cleverly
written story about the inner workings of the White House. Or let me amend
that: I loved the first two seasons of the show. Sure I liked the
behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, the patriotic, stirring speeches of
President Jed Bartlet, but the truth is, and I’m the first to admit how shallow
this is, but the truth is I watched for the burgeoning love affair between
bold, but sensitive political operative Josh Lyman, and his smart, sassy
assistant Donna Moss. I understood that it couldn’t, even shouldn’t, be the
main storyline – but I was given glimpses of their unspoken devotion to each other over the first two seasons that I became a
total Josh/Donna Shipper. Honestly, the kids who are devoted to the Twilight
pairing had nothing on me — and I hadn’t seen adolescence in decades.

And then Aaron Sorkin got arrested for drugs, 9/11 happened,
and the next thing I knew, a new love interest was introduced (I won’t mention
her name because I’m still so bitter). UGH. And not until the last four
episodes of season 7 did the new team of writers (Sorkin left after Season 4)
return to the love story of Josh and Donna, reuniting them for eternity (at
least in my world).

But on the day that the last show aired, probably said in
jest but stinging nonetheless, Bradley Whitford, the actor who played Josh,
declared in an interview that the character should have ended up with
“that other woman.”

Hmmm. Now I could tell you that I won’t watch anything that
Aaron Sorkin writes because I don’t agree with his view of women (and I don’t).
And I could tell you that I won’t watch anything that features Bradley Whitford
because I don’t think he’s a good actor (but that isn’t true, he actually is a
very good actor). But let me say that if I can avoid it, I skip both Sorkin and
Whitford’s subsequent work because they toyed with and made fun of my
affections. Not cool.

So to return to the beginning. It is after all a (Jewish) New
Year and forgiveness is indeed divine. So I’ll turn over a new leaf and declare that I
forgive them all.
 
But forget?? Not so fast.

Are you holding any literary grudges?

Evelyn David

 

 

 

Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Trade Paperback (exclusive to Amazon)
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

 


Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle (exclusive to Amazon this month)
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The First Amendment

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Writers understand that the first amendment is the backbone of our profession, and the foundation of a free society. We must be fervent supporters of the right to speak and write about those ideas we cherish – and conversely, we must accept that same right for those who promote concepts that we detest. But as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes explained, there is a limit to protected speech. We don’t have the right to falsely yell fire in a crowded theater.

Almost by definition, election rhetoric skews to hyperbole. But that’s not what this last week has been about. These are difficult times and there are serious differences between the two candidates on how to navigate these perilous waters. Instead, sadly, at recent rallies the focus has been on fears, not solutions.

The candidates may not be responsible for what their supporters shout out in the heat of the moment, but they can’t use rhetoric designed to whip the crowds up into a frenzy, tacitly encouraging their darkest fears — and then be surprised when emotions dangerously spill over.

Here’s what I expect. I expect a candidate to stop his or her prepared speech when someone in the crowd yells: “Kill him.” I expect the candidate to declare unequivocally, that we don’t have to be afraid of our differences, but we do have to fear violence.

Aaron Sorkin wrote in one of my favorite movies, The American President, “America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, ’cause it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say “You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.”

We need to focus on the future of our country. We need to find solutions to the crises of the economy, the environment, terrorism, and a host of other problems. What we don’t need is all heat and no light. What we don’t need are scurrilous rumors and baseless attacks. That’s not what the first amendment is all about. America is better than that – we have to be.

Evelyn David