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In a culture that has plenty of chick flicks to go around, it is rare for there to be a true dude flick that isnt another war movie. However, Clint Eastwoods Gran Torino is a dude flick if ever there were one, and it is marvelous. While the violence, crude language, and derisive humor may put some viewers off, these factors accentuate the exaggerated but thoroughly masculine feel of the movie and its characters. Like any movie that displays strong masculinity or a traditional message, Gran Torino was snubbed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but I argue that Gran Torino presents a blunt picture of modern young mens predicament, and a beautiful and inspiring image of what our manhood can be.

Many of the scenes that set the mood of Gran Torino are deeply cathartic for a man of Generation-Z. Its establishing shots show a beautiful local church where people congregate surrounded by neighborhoods dilapidated in poverty. Based in economically depressed Detroit, young men are shown involved with gangs and dealing with the cultural confusion of mass immigration among poor Hmong migrants. Among the rich urban socialites like main character Walter Kowalskis children, immodesty and a dearth of tradition are shown in the lack of any respect that Walts son and granddaughter have for their home city, even at the funeral of Walts wife, which opens the movie. This is life for the young American man: a world lacking modesty, economic guarantees, religion, or culturea world without meaning.

The film does not name the illness that underlies these symptoms, but it can be clearly seen by the watchful eye. The problem with our declining America, Eastwood outlines, sounds like a Jordan Peterson lecture: we are burdened by chaos unbridled by traditional and sensible masculine order. All of the perpetrators of decay in this film are agents of this untraditional, insensible chaos. The antagonistic women in the film are nagging like Walts daughter-in-law (literally named Karen), or entitled like his granddaughter Ashley, whose first major conversation in the movie is to ask if she can have Walts car after he dies. These typical examples of unbalanced feminine chaos are countered by the unbalanced masculine order of street thugs, like the movies antagonist Spider, or disrespectful and out-of-touch Gen-Xers, like Walts son Mitch.

Through Walts relationship with Thao Vang Lor, a young, fatherless Hmong boy whom he takes under his wing, our young men see the image of the life we wish we could have. Thao is the archetype that modern young man sees himself to be: effeminate, weakened by exile from the masculine order of his home culture and deprived of the birthright that is his fathers presence in his life. However, Thao still has a deep sense of honor and an underlying knowledge that there are things worth standing up for. The goal for the young man is the masculine life Thao achieves by the films end, complete with a father figure, a grill fork in one hand and a beer in the other, and roots in a community. We want Thaos virtuesa hard working job, competence, experience, a pretty girl on the arm, and strong friends across racial and cultural lines to boot.

What is the medicine that cures the unbridled chaos of the young man and gives him this life of true, fulfilled masculinity? This medicine is represented in the image of the Gran Torino itself. This classic car symbolizes to the young American man watching this movie exactly what it symbolizes to Walt, and eventually to Thao. The Gran Torino is the spirit of American masculinity, built on the factory lines, informed by centuries of culture, and carefully maintained by an experienced man, with all his tools and habits, over a complete lifetime. That car is the very virtue that lives in the heart of the American man, dormant as it may be. This creature of the American male soul brings not only freedom, competence, and mobility, but it is also just undeniably cool. Thao is a stand-in for us, the next generation of American boys and young men, and like Walts prize and joy, we are being called to build true masculinity from the ground up, and it is only at that point that, like Thao, we inherit the ownership of the Gran Torino.

Featured Image Courtesy of K via Flickr

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The Countercultural Messaging of Gran Torino The Torch | Boston College's Catholic Newspaper - The Torch

WESTLAND New Boston Huron didn't stumble.

Huron's boys showed why they are ranked No. 1 in the state while rolling over the field in the Division 2 Regional at Town N Country Lanes Friday.

Huron shot a 3,840 series to easily top runner-up Tecumseh (3,772). Airport (3,758) took third and also qualified for the state finals Friday at Super Bowl in Canton.

Gibraltar Carlson just missed the cut, finishing fourth with 3,742.

Milan (3,601) was seventh.

Hurons Donald Jacobs had a huge day in singles Saturday. He averaged 221.5 over six games to win the Regional singles title with 1,329. He rolled games of 269, 192, 202, 266, 181 and 219.

Monroe County Region bowlers wound up claiming six of the 10 state qualifying spots. Joining Jacobs at state will be Nico Reach (1,185), Zack Sisk (1,164) and Jordan Bryson (1,150) of Carlson, Colin Peterson (1,171) of Airport, and Hurons Dakota Frahm (1,160).

Andrew Catalano of Huron fell just 7 pins short at 1,143.

Airport's girls earned a trip to state by taking second.

The Jets shot 3,419, which was second only to South Lyon East with 3,459. Huron was one spot away from the third and final state-qualifying spot with 3,171. Carlson placed 10th with 2,497.

Airport's Kyla Peterson was the individual Regional champion with 1,185. She was 20 pins better than anyone in the field.

Also qualifying for state were Huron's Veronica Richardson (third with 1,095), Airport's Ryan Giese (seventh with 1,022) and Milan's Rachel Peladeau (ninth with 1,004).

Huron's Mariah Nutter was close (14th with 982).

WOODHAVEN Nataleigh Eagle was the model of consistency for Monroe in the team event of the Division 1 Regional at Skore Lanes Friday.

She rolled games 201, 201 and 213 for a 615 series and helped the Trojans earn a trip to the state finals. They finished third with 3,214 including the best game of the day 910.

Lincoln Park was first with 3,412 and Warren Cousino second with 3,351.

Patricia Reaume and Rachel Folger both were well over average for Monroe.

Bedford was 11th with 2,751.

Monroe's boys were fifth with 3,919 and Bedford placed eighth with 3,841, Woodhaven (4,161), Warren Woods Tower (4,067) and St. Clair Shores Lakeview (3,965) qualified for state.

Bedfords Laci MacQuisten finished third in Saturdays singles competition with a six-game series of 1,157. She will be joined at state by Eagle (fourth with 1,149) and Teagen Pillette (sixth with 1,038) of Monroe.

Monroes Blake Cabrera fell just five pins shy of the boys singles Regional title with a 1,299. Bedford pushed Logan Cook (sixth with 1,256) and Cooper Grueling (seventh with 1,236) through to state.

Monroes Nick Walters was close to qualifying. He finished 12th with 1,189.

FLAT ROCK Flat Rock's boys took advantage of bowling on its home lanes to earn a trip to the state finals Friday at Jax 60 in Jackson.

The Rams shot 3,679 to take third place.

The first two qualifying spots went to Summit Academy (3,681) and Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (3,695).

Jefferson finished eighth with 3,337.

On the girls side, Flat Rock was seventh with 2,687 and Dundee eighth with 2,652. The three state qualifying teams were Clinton (3,067), Onsted (3,046) and Summit Academy(2,931).

Individually, Alexis Brown (seventh with 968) and Raven Luff (10th with 930) qualified for state. No Region boys made the cut.

TECUMSEH St. Mary Catholic Central was sixth in the girls standings and ninth in the boys in the Regional at Ten Pin Alley.

Summerfield's first-year boys team placed 15th.

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Regional Bowling: Huron boys live up to No. 1 state ranking to win title - Monroe Evening News

Jordan Peterson is a serious person. He's not someone who goes chasing after conspiracy theories. If he says something, you know he's taken an extended amount of time to think about it. Even debated against himself, probably. If anyone else said a trusted military source told them to take their money out of the banks, I would tell them to log off of Reddit and get some fresh air. That was before Justin Trudeau and the Canadian government gave people reason to believe they should be concerned for their financial future.

I'm not sure if this video was recorded before or after Parliament gave Canada's walking pile of soy and hair goop an additional thirty days to flatten the civil liberties.

"I have been in contact with a reliable source within the Canadian military, and he told me today by email that if I had any sense I would take my money out of the Canadian banks because the situation is far worse than I've been informed. That's one of many such messages I received on a daily basis."

At any other point, this would sound like time to bust out a tinfoil hat. That was before last week. Before Trudeau announced banks could freeze your assets no questions asked, and if you try to take legal recourse, Trudeau will take away your legal recourse. Also, crowdfunding apps are now considered money laundering if the money is being raised for people Trudeau doesn't like. You know, the citizens he calls "unacceptable" and he says "take up space."

Unclear is if Peterson's source meant that he specifically should take his money out of the banks--Peterson would fall into the group of people that Trudeau doesn't like--Or if it was a general warning for all countrymen.

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Trudeau 'Stands Against Authoritarianism'... While ARRESTING Convoy Founder! | Louder With Crowderyoutu.be

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Jordan Peterson Shared Frightening Warning He Received ...

OTTAWA The three-week long protest that gripped the capital and prompted the invocation of the Emergencies Act has now sparked a call for potential permanent changes to security in the parliamentary precinct, including the closure of a major street to vehicle traffic.

After grappling with the citys emergency response to the crisis, Mayor Jim Watson said Ottawa needs to consider changes to better protect local neighbourhoods and Parliament Hill.

Every time theres been a security breach on Parliament Hill, its acted as a catalyst for change, Watson said at council meeting Wednesday.

Council voted to temporarily close Wellington Street, which runs directly along Parliament Hill, to traffic until a new council is elected while the city works with the federal government on a plan for changes to precinct security.

We do not want, in the short term or long term, another caravan coming and invading this very important space that I consider the most important street in the country, Watson said.

Canadas seat of power is remarkably accessible to the public, and situated closely to businesses and residential buildings. The front lawn of Centre Block is reachable on foot to protesters and picnickers alike, and Wellington Street serves as a major throughway for the core.

Since protesters were driven out the city, the parliamentary precinct, including Welling Street, has been fenced off and accessible only to people who work in the area.

Downtown Ottawa Coun. Catherine McKenney put forward the idea to open discussions to transfer ownership of the street to the federal government, putting security for that area under national jurisdiction.

The councillor also suggested working with federal officials and the community to permanently close Wellington Street to all vehicles except public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.

During the demonstration the entire responsibility really fell to the city to defend and protect Wellington Street, McKenney told council Wednesday.

In a statement, Public Services Minister Filomena Tassi says Wellington Street is under the care and control of the city, but the idea of closing it has been one of the possibilities long contemplated as part of reimagining the precinct.

Similar changes were made to the stretch of Pennsylvania Ave. that runs in front of the White House in 1995, when the Oklahoma City bombing put the U.S. on alert to the perils of domestic terrorism. That closure was made permanent in the wake of the attacks on D.C. and New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, although pedestrians can still stroll the street.

Downtown D.C. residents are all too familiar with the towering, unscalable fencing that encircled the White House campus throughout 2020, a year marked by widespread and frequent social unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis.

Similar fencing also ringed Capitol Hill for months after the Jan. 6 siege staged by supporters of Donald Trump angry about the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Congressional leaders wont say whether that fencing will be making a comeback in either locale in anticipation of an Ottawa-style protest in the coming days, potentially coinciding with President Joe Bidens state of the union speech March 1.

Ottawas city manager said jurisdictional issues with security in Canadas National Capital Region need to be rethought as well.

You end up with a lag with respect to how quickly the various organizations have to get engaged, city manager Steve Kanellakos said at a council meeting Wednesday.

Councillors floated the idea of developing a working group to modernize the various levels of governments responsibility in a crisis in the capital, since jurisdictional scuffles became a stumbling block in the response to the demonstrations.

It isnt the first time those time lags have been an issue, Kanellakos said. Similar frustrations were felt when downtown Ottawa was put into lockdown in 2014, when a shooter roamed the capital. He shot and killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian soldier and reservist on ceremonial sentry duty at the National War Memorial, before entering the Parliament buildings.

All the while, Kanellakos, who led the citys response at the time, said officials struggled to share information and co-ordinate between the different levels of government.

He said the National Capital Region should have a standing emergency plan that includes the city, provincial and federal governments, as well as possibly the city of Gatineau, Que., on the other side of the river.

The events of the last month validated in my mind that we need to really be rethinking, he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.

With files from James McCarten in Washington, D.C.

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press

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Rex Murphy and Jordan Peterson on The Catastrophe of Canada - Todayville.com

Lia Thomas, a 22-year-old senior on the Penn womens swim team, holds the fastest swim times in the country among NCAA women in two freestyle events. She also happens to be a trans woman. Last weekend at the Ivy League Championships, Thomas won three titles. Her success has put her in the center of a national debate on trans womens right to play sports.

As a nonbinary trans person myself, and a former swimmer, I cant help but notice that only a few voices are weighing in on this topic. Few have anything original to say.

Olympic champion Michael Phelps said on CNN that the issue is very complicated. Caitlyn Jenner, a trans woman and Olympic gold decathlon champion, said on Fox News that we need to protect womens sports and that Thomas participation is not good for the trans community. Jordan Peterson, a former professor of psychology, likened trans lives to satanic ritual abuse and a sign of the end of civilization in a conversation with former MMA fighter Joe Rogan on his podcast.

Michael Phelps, Caitlyn Jenner, and Jordan Peterson are being asked to weigh in on an issue that they havent worked on in any substantial way. Phelps hasnt committed his life to trans activism and civil rights. When I listen to Jenner, I cant help but feel that even though she is trans, she is isolated. She doesnt have much other than the spotlight, and under that glare, she repeats what other people say. Peterson has never published peer-reviewed work on gender, bodies, or anything of relevance to the topic of trans women in sports.

The exclusion of substantive voices and a lack of understanding about the topic of trans life has consequences. This month, state legislatures in Kentucky, Indiana, and Iowa passed bills that limit trans women and girls from participating in sports. Alabama lawmakers also passed a bill banning transgender students from using school bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.

Many people dont realize that the real impact of these anti-trans bills will be a spike in depression and a risk of suicide for trans kids fueled by rejection, marginalization, and hate. We owe it to trans kids to do better.

My recommendation is that those having conversations about trans people whether at home, in the news, on the deck of a swimming pool, or in a state legislature consult experts with a known track record in what they are talking about. There are many fantastic voices to choose from.

Veronica Ivy has done a stellar job addressing inexpert arguments about unfair advantages in sports. Historian Julian Gill-Petersons 2018 book Histories of the Transgender Child addresses the medicalization and racialization of childrens bodies. Anne Fausto-Sterling has a long record of publishing peer-reviewed papers on the topics of sex, gender, development, and biology. Reubs Walsh has committed her academic career to investigating the links between neurodiversity, transness, and mental health. Sari van Anders researches sex and gender as it relates to the study of hormones and culture. Their work is all too often ignored or overlooked.

We need to invite real experts into any conversation or policymaking discussion that impacts trans people.

The true conversation has nothing to do with testosterone or science, and everything to do with fear specifically, peoples fear about their own gender identity and fear of people who dont have a gender identity thats easy to read.

Maybe, someday, well all be able to swim together.

Mal Pool is a trans nonbinary founder of a collective that mediates nonviolent conflict and discrimination at music events in Berlin and a former swimmer from Indiana.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386, Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860, or text TALK to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

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When we talk about Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, were listening to the wrong voices | Opinion - The Philadelphia Inquirer