motives

In one of many great scenes in 'The Constant Gardener', Fiennes tells his pregnant wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz) that they cannot give a young woman, her baby, and her son a ride. He argues that there are too many people that need to be helped. She would start with this family. The argument uncomfortably ends with Justin's decision. He has to look after Tessa's health and drives away.

It's a scene that is repeated over and over in this movie, not just with Justin but with those that Justin encounters. Justin, in this scene, reminds me of myself and pretty much everyone I know. All seem to be solid, nice people who wants to protect those they love at the cost of those they don't know. Somehow, I found this affability more disturbing than the premise of large pharmaceutical companies warping drug tests to produce more favorable results.

Notwithstanding, the chemist and doctor in me is still disturbed by this imagery, especially when it contrasts sharply with Tessa's exclamations at the beginning of the movie about nevarapine and its preventive powers for mother-to-child HIV transmission. If, as a character observes that "no drug company does something for nothing," then is it a monolith of people or individuals who are responsible?

Is it enough to know that if you cannot help everyone that you should not help anyone? What inspires people to act?

Note: Fernando Meirelles directed "City of God," another equally thought-provoking movie.

A marriage of conveniance

I must be slipping in my Scottish Politics as I did not notice the news report of "...the descent of a beam in March that nearly wiped out the Tory delegation and closed the debating chamber for two months..." (Economist, 05.18.06).

The Economist is right in its analysis of Scotland and devolution. The Scottish do spend much time concentrating on why they are not English.

Another story of interest....

Without ever knowing the way

Perhaps I'm biased, but I do consider road-tripping across the country to be distinctly American. Think The Grapes of Wrath or On the Road. I've played too many games of Oregon Trail and heartiliy sung too many renditions of the Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces" to believe that the flat American heartland isn't something to be experienced at least once in the car. I've driven from MN to OH and from OH to PA and NJ this year, all in the company of friends. I'm still not quite sure which is the "armpit" of America: Gary, IN or New Jersey.

What passes by on the billboards speaks worlds about the area: Pauxatawny Phil, Adlai Stevenson's birthplace (Bloomington, IL), Wisconsin Cheese, resorts that promise to teach you how to surf in landlocked areas, and gun control warnings (southern IL):

Tested in peace
Proven in war
Guns at home
Even the score
GunsSaveLife.com

Currently, K and I have almost finished our 1000 mile jaunt through the rural reaches of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. No topic is too sacred to be dissected: cherry coke, European politics, friendships, gun control, professors, relationships, and sustenance. We've rarely stopped in the little family restaurants that dot the countryside, but then again, we stop only for gas, restrooms, and to buy more goldfish crackers. We were fortunate to have only blue skies and fuel efficiency that ranged from 36.8-41.3 mpg. All in all, a good trip.

And yes, K, according to the sign in Indiana with large letters: JeSuS is ReAl.