Meryl Streep's Golden Globe Message

CULTURE

Meryl Streep's Golden Globe Message of Unity

By Keith Parnell

BEVERLY HILLS, CA- Shining above the darkness that has overshadowed the media over the past year, was Hollywood’s beloved Meryl Streep. In a heartfelt speech at the Golden Globes, she reached out to unite everyone in her audience through very humanistic characteristics, humor, compassion, and even the recognition and celebration of their differences. She connected with her audience and in doing so, exposed her own humanity. I feel that this connection to your target audience is essential in all matters of progressive communication, especially when voicing controversial opinion.

In an almost poetic manner Streep managed to bring the connection full circle in use of “Performance.” One could argue that this was not accidental. Shortly after praising her colleagues on their works she calls to question one of the many inappropriate performances of our soon to be commander in chief, stating “…this instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody’s life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

The date is January 20, 2017 and there is a thickness in our nation’s air that is apparent to every American. After one of the most controversial election years in our nation’s history, we’ve finally reached a moment meant to be celebrated as a nation, as a people united, and yet we stand divided. As if in some form of cosmic irony, we enter this uneasy chapter of American history within days of yet another American celebration, the annual celebration of one of the most iconic figures in American history. In times of trouble, so many have turned to his words for hope. As the sun sets on the day and the torch is passed into the hands of our nation's next leader, we turn to his words of wisdom for solace once again. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

So how do we drive out darkness? What light wields the power to overcome the hurt and betrayal of a broken nation and how do we pave the road to recovery? Humanity. Humanity is the glue that binds society together. Our one common and ever redeeming quality, humanity allows us to look into the eyes of our rival and see their soul. It allows us to see someone with whom we disagree with, as a person, rather than just their stance. Without acknowledging our connection to one another, there can be no progress. Above all else our connection, our humanity, is the light that will drive out this darkness.

We will move forward. We will heal. With the courage and understanding of those who stand up for what they know to be right and bring to question what they know to be wrong, we will see the sun rise again. It’s up to us to speak out and make our voices heard. Don’t let this election mark the beginning of a four-year stagnation of American progress. By always bringing our light we can make it through this darkness together.