Madison vs. Ferguson: Contrast of Community in the Face of Tragedy

Soapbox moment:

I have been closely monitoring the media coverage, community & activist attitudes, and the reaction of the Madison police and city regarding the shooting of Tony Robinson.  There are comparisons being made between Madison and Ferguson that are entirely misplaced.  Here's why:

• Wisconsin is one of only two states that mandates the investigation of any police-involved shooting by an outside agency
• The Robinson family has taken an active role in promoting open dialogue and patience while the investigation is conducted
• Police Chief Koval's leadership has been embraced by Black community leaders and the Robinson family itself

Madison is not perfect. We have serious social cleavages and the problem of discrimination against minorities, among other issues, that deserve attention.  We have started a dialogue and we are taking steps toward improving our community.  Inflammatory, uninformed rhetoric has no place in this discussion from either side.  It works against progress, not for it.

Ferguson and Madison are both being exposed for the cities they are.  I cannot speak for Ferguson but I am proud of the Madison community and city leaders for showing the country how a *community* should handle a tragedy: by fostering a positive environment for dialogue and working to identify the root causes, then working towards a solution.

The biggest difference between Ferguson and Madison?  Ferguson is being pulled further apart by tragedy; Madison is being brought closer together.  Make no mistake, progress is slow and difficult but, from what I have seen, Madison is resolute in its vision of a better city.  It is our duty as citizens to facilitate the changes necessary to make a better city, a more cohesive community between races and cultures.

What You Should Know Before You Watch Season 3 of 'House of Cards' ...Also Thoughts of Indiana Jones...

If you have seen the first two seasons of Netflix's House of Cards you have or are probably currently watching season three which was released about a week ago.  For your sake I am going to speak in generalizations and vagaries regarding specific details of season 3 as I would hate to be a 'spoiler'.

Let us start at the beginning, season one.  In the first season Frank Underwood is a Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives.  This season is spent dealing mostly with state and federal politics.  State politics refers to policies of a specific state and its legislators whereas by federal I mean the interaction of the states with the Federal government and vice versa.  This is important to note as the relationships and interactions within a state and among states is very different from interactions of states with the federal government.  Domestic policy is brought forth toward the middle/end of the season with the education bill moving forward.  By domestic I mean policy put forth by the federal government (in this case the legislature).  Much like the how the interactions with state and federal governments vary, so does domestic policy which is presented in season two.

  Season two phases out state politics almost entirely and, instead, focuses on federal and domestic policy.  The interactions of the two dominant parties (Democrat and Republican) and their leaders are the focal point of this season.  Frank spins his web around the parties and bleeds opposition and friend alike of their life (literally, or figuratively in the form of influence).  Poised for an executive ascension Frank steps up, leaving any bridges he had left at the start of season two, burnt.

So starts season three.  Frank *SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED SEASON TWO* as president of the United States of America.  This season is different.  Much more different the other two seasons because the focal point of this season is international politics. International politics is barely looked over in the other two seasons.  Domestic policy plays a large, strategic, role in season three but does not delve into many details of 'AmWorks'.  We also see some serious foreshadowing of the importance of the Judiciary branch, specifically the Federal Supreme Court.

What does this mean?  It means that this, the third, season is different.  Much different.  Not necessarily bad but, as with any change, there is a different taste to this season which may not sit well on everyone's palate, especially after the first two seasons.  Let's use Indiana Jones for an example!  We all know that the first three movies (with the exception of the second which was still okay...) films were great.  Really great.  Based around World War II Nazi bad-guys for the most part.  What could be better than that?  According to popular culture?  Nothing.  Nothing at all.  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is based in an entirely different era.  I am not referring to the era that is was filmed.  No.   Rather, I am referring to when the movie takes place, which is the golden-era of conspiracy theories, aliens, and UFOs.  Was it a terrible movie?  No.  Most people will disagree with me because the movie wasn't their taste.   Everyone was expecting the same, succulent, juicy, flavor of the WWII Indiana Jones and his [mis]adventures.  Instead what you got was a crunchy, cheesey, spicy cold-war era movie with some over-the-top action sequences and a crazy ending.  Crazier than Raiders of the lost Ark?  Fuck No!  Not crazier at all!  In fact, more sane and logical than Raiders of the Lost Ark or even the Last Crusade!  At least aliens might exist!  Ghosts and/or eternal life?  No way.  Was it better than the the two of the three originals?  No, but it wasn't as bad as everyone thought it was.  PHEW!  Rant over... I've been waiting for an outlet to let those thoughts out.

Season three of House of Cards is not nearly as dramatic of a change as Indian Jones was but I do anticipate some critics giving some flak.  In fact, I think most critics are waiting to dole out their strong opinions one way or the other for fear of giving an unpopular review.  Ridiculous.  What people should keep in mind is that if you loved seasons one and two you may not like season three as much.  Perhaps you will like it more!  But your opinion of the show as a whole should not change because, true to form, the show is changing with its environment.