A world renowned psychic told me as a kid I'd one day buy a new Aston Martin, my dream car. It was said she's never wrong!
That very day I started saving so I could get the car as soon as possible. But then years passed and no matter how much I saved I could barely even afford the down payment - much less the sky high cost of ownership.
I lived like a dog in horrible apartments, drove old cars, but I stuck to my guns, insisting the psychic was right. Over time, though, I stopped referring to the prediction, feeling more the fool; it became indefensible.
Yet, regardless of any condemnation I might receive from the world, I clung to my belief until the bitter end.
Then, after three decades, I gave up and decided to just do what I want.
That's when I wrote a best selling book and got my Aston Martin.
After generations of debate, the Gangsters Of Peace defeated the War Mongrels at last. As The ex-Mongrels prepared to return to their faraway home, a Political Beast said to lowly me:
"YOU will determine if this peace lasts! As you pack their provisions there can be no mistake or trust will be lost."
Yet, I did make a mistake but the peace remained. I confronted the beast on not knowing what it thought it knew.
"The love you take is equal to the love you fake," it said with crumbling smile.
Ji-ho dare not scream as the king of terror gripped his soul. His 18 year old body could barely keep from retching on the loneliest train in the world to the Russian border. Does justice exist for a North Korean soldier?
"I've no say in this nightmare! Is God such a monster that this is all there is to life? To be shipped as cattle to the Ukrainian front?"
The Russian officer laughed at new victims.
"God damn you, God!" Ji-ho's last cry, shooting the officer before he himself was gunned down.
Siskel and Ebert did it right. Their stated goal was for you to determine if you wanted to see a movie based on their criticism - not to agree with their views. They did this by making their views their own.
I've lost all respect for professional film critics at this point. Reviews of "The Force Awakens" were absurd, based on fear of not being a part of the crowd. That film was a work of hate. Hatred for Star Wars (in the name of nostalgia!), filmmaking, and most of all, the audience itself.
But people often watch films with a political agenda. The Supergirl threads here are hilarious. "The ONLY reason someone can dislike this film is because they are a misogynist incel!"
Some people base their opinion on what a film *intends* to be as opposed to what it actually is. Pick a lofty goal for your film and there will be those who praise it regardless of how poorly it's done!
Many people watch a film just for its production values; they want a roller coaster ride like Jurrasic Park.
Strolling down a lonely road I spot God walking towards me. With shiv in hand, I shank Him right in the belly, whispering, "That's what You get for making me."
"Me dammit!" He exclaims. "I'm not doing anything wrong but *I* have to pay the price for others' sins.
This has to stop or no one will be left alive!"
"You may not be interested in politics but politics is interested in You," I drolly reply.
"This is so frustrating! I have to be free to live my life!"
When philosophy meets reality, reality wins. After all, ideological purity doesn't mean much sitting in a mud hut. That's where China found itself in 1970, forcing her to loosen the screws and institute economic freedoms. But doing the right thing for the wrong reason still ends in disaster.
For every day of forced admittance of reality, a growing seething vows a misguided vengeance. In the end, of course, the holders of that seething are hopelessly doomed.
In Reality's slow triumph over professed communism in the following decades, China unleashed a Hokusai great wave of economic prosperity. Many tried to ride that wave including Desmond Shum, who did it with a rare skill but also having a genuine desire to bring improvement to greater China.
Politics mixed with anything is bad. Truth suffers no religion. When Napoleon was on the rise, he'd often send loot from his victories to his superiors to assuage jealousy. That political exercise was soon trumped by his military prowess. But in China, it's almost all politics that determines an outcome with nary a safe harbor to be found.
With Red Roulette, Shum's clear and honest voice does a stalwart job recounting his childhood, his education of China and the world, and the inner workings of the Communist Party. It's his honesty that is so refreshing even though he knows that opens him up to cheap shots and enmity from those not so enamored with the truth.
The economic rise was grassroots in its origin but with the 2008 crisis, a chance for long sought vengeance came about. The Party started to centralize power, sending minions across the country to take power from the locals. Many officials used this as stepping stones to further their career oblivious to any long-lasting effects.
It reminded me of careerists at Home Depot when I worked there who moved from department to department making ill-advised choices while padding their resume.
When it comes to power, the story is the same wherever you go.
Like China, America is also collapsing in on itself in pursuit of authoritarian rule. After all, when one has ill intentions in mind, one seeks endless security in power's illusion. It will be a beautiful day when the world sees the last of these people. And the best part is, it will be they who take themselves out, thinking that will save them.
As for Shum, he has already won and he will certainly see that day. He has come to realize as Gandhi said, "There is no god higher than truth."
I use this fleabag motel for meetings since I became a criminal. Never any contraband, though.
But last time the owner, a short Asian guy with big glasses, accosts me in the hallway. He wagged his angry finger: "Not matter you run away onto highway and leave. Cops call you later."
So I'd been marked and he deduced my nefarious dealings. This really bothered me. Forces teaming up against me. Thought I had been clever.
But it's the same old me: Knowing nothing while thinking I know everything.
