'Chicago 7' film about iconic '60s trial disappoints
Netflix's newly released film "The Trial of the Chicago 7," recalls when the Youth International Party (or Yippie) leaders along with six others were tried in 1969 by the federal government for conspiracy to incite a riot during demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 1968.
Viewers will see ample parallels to our time in this flat and too staid film. Throughout the summer, we witnessed protests and social upheaval, police militarization, their excessive force and employment of tear gas, particularly when cops cleared Lafayette Park near the White House for President Donald Trump's publicity stunt.
Trump's calls for law and order echo the 1968 era calls of Richard Nixon and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, and his appeals to white supremacists mirror George Wallace's, who won five southern states in that year's presidential election.
You can read more about the film here.
Author urges progressive Christians to organize, fight — not dialogue
Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons' new book, Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity, reminds reviewer Kelly Stewart of something a progressive Catholic activist told her years ago: "Jesus said to pray for our enemies. He didn't say we wouldn't have enemies." His point was that progressive Christians should not be sentimental about the Gospel or naïve about the realities of struggles for justice.
Graves-Fitzsimmons began Just Faith in the aftermath of the 2016 election, and the alliance between President Donald Trump and the Christian right forms its backdrop. But where a number of Trump-era progressive Christian writings have promoted dialogue, bridge-building and encounter with conservatives to overcome political "division," Just Faith calls on progressive Christians to organize, fight and win.
You can read the rest of the review here.
More headlines
- In Mark Piper's latest Young Voices column, he writes about how white people must educate other white people about racism, privilege and value-judgements entrenched in the systemic injustices that pervade professional life.
- Scripture reflections from St. Joseph Sr. Mary M. McGlone on the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
- ICYMI: NCR political columnist Michael Sean Winters says the clear winner of the final presidential debate was the moderator, which means that the real winner was the American people who were able to see the two candidates as they wanted to be seen, making their final case.
- ICYMI: Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, says that Pope Francis' endorsement of civil unions for same-gender couples opens up a brand-new chapter in the Catholic Church's discussion of LGBTQ issues.
Weekend wrap-up
We are heading into the last week of our Fall Member Drive, in which we ask our loyal readers to consider joining our community of NCR Forward members. For just $5 a month, you can get a ton of benefits, such as special events, member polls, question and answer sessions and more. You can find out how to join here.
See you next weekend,
Stephanie Yeagle
NCR Production/Online Editor
[email protected]
Twitter: @ncrSLY
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