Entertainment can come in all different shapes and sizes. However, in modern day America, it’s a rectangular screen in the center of your living room, a television. Nothing beats coming home after a long day, knowing you have your favorite show to look forward to later that night. So naturally, you put a bag of popcorn in the microwave, get into something comfy, flip on the TV and prepare to be entertained, or at least distracted for an hour. Everyone has their show they look forward to; you have Bachelor Season, Game of Thrones, The Voice, or The Walking Dead. Needless to say it’s pure entertainment. My mom has this unwavering love for Jimmy Fallon, so when she found out that he was hosting the Golden Globe Awards this past Sunday night, we knew what our family would be watching.
Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator
As we turned on the TV and debated as a family how many nominations LaLa Land would actually win, we watched Meryl Streep walk on stage to accept the Cecil B. DeMille Award. The Cecil B. DeMille Award is an honorary Golden Globe Award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment”. Needless to say it’s a prestigious award of high honor and a great achievement as an actor to win. Hollywood, along with our family room, was not surprised when the legendary Meryl Streep's name was called.
I thought Streep would take the time to share her wisdom or experience as an actress for those in the crowd and nation-wide, admiring this well-seasoned professional. Instead Streep did not use the precious time to show her gratitude to those who helped her get to this crucial point in her career. She took what was supposed to be a carefree, entertaining night on national television and disrespected the incoming President of the United States of America. People watch entertainment to forget about politics and the ugly news of the day. So why then does Hollywood feel the need to get on their political platform during an awards ceremony.
Hear me out. I’m not taking either side. I’m not defending the Conservatives or the Liberals in this situation. I’m defending the office of the President; I’m defending the foundation of the United States of America and the tradition of peaceful change in power.
The Golden Globes is a night of celebration to honor and recognize outstanding achievement in film and television. Streep took the platform of the Golden Globes to degrade Donald Trump. Regardless of what policies Trump stands for, she disdained a man who in one week will represent the United States of America. It is time as a country we stand behind the leader of this great nation. Provide him with the benefit of the doubt and let him prove himself to us. Give the man a fighting chance to win over the nation. If you are unable to do that, at least show him the respect he has earned in this democracy.
My final point in Streep’s lecture that evening is that she has tampered with her own image. The next time we watch one of her movies, we won't see a woman who has immersed herself in that role but someone who has incorporated politics into the movies we’ve fallen in love with. Movies like Mamma Mia!, The Devil wears Prada, Julie & Julia, and The Iron Lady. Our vision is clouded and these characters are jaded. Instead, we see Meryl Streep and her political opinions of that night.
I leave you with this final thought. It is a prestigious honor to become President of the United States of America. To be elected by the people of this great nation is an honor. As we stood and applauded to show our respect to Meryl Streep that evening for winning a prestigious award. I pray we do the same on January 20th, when Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States.
