Follow Meryl's Example

it took a while for me to finally get around to the Golden Globes, but Meryl Streep's acceptance speech on Monday night is exactly what an acceptance speech should be. take note: young Hollywoodians.

1. you thank people. yadda yadda yadda.
2. you present a social message. lots of people seem to think that making your little statuette relevant to the world at large is a problem. "politics brings down the arts," they say.

that's a load of crap.

art isn't the representation of life. art is life; art must have a point of view. and to separate art from political, social, and economic conditions makes it moot. this year, Meryl's made the issue of cinematic release her topic of choice, gently chiding theater managers (and, really, Americans in general) for liking Sylvester Stallone's turd-of-a-Rocky-sequel to, say, Helen Mirren's The Queen. is that elitism? perhaps. but I would agree with Meryl that Americans need to learn a little less about how to punch someone and a little more about the responsibility of leadership, and about the bravery to admit your wrongs.

so you keep doin' what you're doin', Meryl. I look forward to next year's tirade. just make sure you find another designer. your Carolina Herrera looked like a done-up version of a Visigothic nightgown. otherwise, flawless as always.