At the Crossroads of Culture and Politics

The Hubbins and I take the acculturation of the kiddies very seriously. Accordingly, we rented The Terminator and Predator this weekend, to augment their ongoing pop culture education.

Plus, with their having experienced Alien and Aliens in the last month, we felt it was important for them to understand the genesis of the Predator, such that they may thoroughly appreciate the Alien vs. Predator paradigm both for its own sake, and as a further example of the anti-archetypal bad vs. bad, dark vs. dark, yang-yang.

Not surprisingly, the girls were resisted spending their entire Sunday evening getting cultured up. But, like that trip to the opera and the philharmonic, the Hubbins and I know that exposure to these works will make them more rounded and accomplished humans.

First, we watched The Terminator. The girls were incredulous that the actor on the screen is now the Governor of California. When the Hubbins announced that the girls should watch closely to get a look Arnold's butt, Thing 2 asked, "Why would I want to see a governor's butt?" I explained that it is either Arnold's butt or Jodi Rell's butt, and she should choose wisely.

Around the time The Terminator drove a pick-up into the police precinct, Thing 1 exclaimed, "So THAT'S where all those things you say come from!" Yes, dear Thing 1. THAT is why this cultural education is so important. Without understanding the genesis of phrases like, "I'll be back," and "Fuck you, asshole," how can you say them?

Then, we watched Predator. Here, I explained that not only the future Governor of California is featured, but the future Governor of Minnesota.

Thing 2 was seized by inspiration. She never knew that acting could be a springboard to politics. What if, she said, we got a former actor to RUN FOR PRESIDENT???

But we have, my dear. We have. [Further incredulity ensued.]