Monday, November 10, 2008

Juno

I have two things today, unrelated to each other. First, I have seen a lot of blog outrage over the State of California's rejection of gay marriage last Tuesday. I can't say that I am super surprised...whenever given the chance, voters have resoundingly voted against gay marriage... but like a lot of people, I thought maybe California would have treated this a little differently than some other states.

And, in truth, it was different. Just not different enough. Several years ago, a ballot initiative in California turned down gay marriage by something like 70-30, and this time it was 52-48. My question is...how much (if any) of the opposition was a reaction to the Supreme Court's "activism" of last year? I haven't really seen it discussed, so I don't know if it was a factor at all, but there is often a lot of resentment towards judges "overreaching" and making laws from the bench. So, maybe some of my California readers can chime in let me know if that was at all a factor...if some voters just didn't like the idea that the Court had thrown out a ballot initiative and this was just a way to get back at them.

Just a thought.

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Totally separate subject.

I watched Juno twice this weekend. I had never seen it before, and while I always wanted to, I just never got around to it. But I saw it Saturday and then it was on again yesterday so I watched it again. Not surprisingly, I have some thoughts.

First off, I had no idea how complex the relationships were. Between Juno and Bleeker, and the three-side relationship between Juno and Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. But you know who my favorite character in the whole move is? Juno's Dad. Right, I know...deep psychological jealousies of girls and their fathers, blah blah blah.

I love him because he is kind of a simple character who is almost completely absorbed with the happiness of his daughter and the rest of his family. And, at the very end, he says something to her that I think is more perfect than anything that anyone could really ever say. She is laying in bed in he hospital, obviously exhausted from the delivery, and also probably overcome by the emotion of immediately giving up the baby. Her father says "Someday you will be back here. On your own terms." I dunno...it just got me. Every girl should have parents like that.

6 comments:

boohoo said...

I haven't seen Juno yet; it was one of those films I meant to watch but never got round to.

I'd heard about the rejection in California. It doesn't make any sense to me. It's legal here in the UK. It just seems like a no-brainer to me.

jamie said...

California. I saw that turning out differently in my mind. Of all states, I thought, for some reason, they would have headed in a different direction. Sigh.

I am so with you about Juno's dad. "Hey there big puffy version of June-bug." Loved. Even her step mom. When she tells off the x-ray tech. They were just awesome parents--and you're right, everyone should get them...

Shila Shila and Cult Jam said...

70-30 the first time... then 52-48 this time?

Sounds like the opposition is getting tired.

Put it on the ballot 1 more time, and it'll win.

;o)

Anonymous said...

I liked the movie Juno a lot, but I especially liked how you summed up the father's character.

I'm a true Daddy's girl, and have a soft spot for everyone's Dad, so yeah, you summed that up really well.

Anonymous said...

I've seen Juno once, but never gave it much thought. I like how you like the simplicity of her father...and I kind of understand what you mean :).

Anonymous said...

It's funny that you bring up that last line - it touched me too...