In an effort to better understand ourselves, and by extension, to allow other people to better understand ourselves, we sometimes feel the need to reach out and, in a way, make some sort of apology to people, as if to say, "I'm so sorry that you don't get me. Please, let me explain..."
It is in moments like this where I find myself empowered in some strange way by a precept put forth by a character portrayed by (of all people) Tom Cruise in the film Magnolia.
Frank T.J. Mackey is a cartoonish yet grotesquely sexist men's self-help sex-advice guru, imbued with all the douchey swagger only an actor of Mr. Cruise's calibre could mustre.
His manifesto is simple and to the point: Respect The Cock.
As I watched this film tonight, probably for the 487th time, I was surprised to find myself nodding numbly in agreement during one of Mackey's sweaty, long-winded rants:
"I will not apologize for who I am.
It is in moments like this where I find myself empowered in some strange way by a precept put forth by a character portrayed by (of all people) Tom Cruise in the film Magnolia.
Frank T.J. Mackey is a cartoonish yet grotesquely sexist men's self-help sex-advice guru, imbued with all the douchey swagger only an actor of Mr. Cruise's calibre could mustre.
His manifesto is simple and to the point: Respect The Cock.
As I watched this film tonight, probably for the 487th time, I was surprised to find myself nodding numbly in agreement during one of Mackey's sweaty, long-winded rants:
"I will not apologize for who I am.
I will not apologize for what I need.
I will not apologize for what I want."
All subsequent sexism aside, I fully understood this mission statement. And it was in a moment like this where I realized that when it comes to other people and the way they may or may not relate to me, no apology is required.
I just feel kinda icky that Tom Cruise had a hand in that realization.
All subsequent sexism aside, I fully understood this mission statement. And it was in a moment like this where I realized that when it comes to other people and the way they may or may not relate to me, no apology is required.
I just feel kinda icky that Tom Cruise had a hand in that realization.
