What I can say though, is that Amy Poehler & Parks and Recreation is back and the timing couldn't be better! If you need relief from the political fervor about health care and the economy, but not total separation, Parks and Recreation is what you need. The show follows the antics of Director Leslie Knope of the Department of Parks and Recreation (played by Poehler) as she navigates the political system of the town of Pawnee. The premiere episode of Season 2 finds Leslie conducting a series of light-hearted promotions to draw attention to the city zoo. As part of the series, Leslie stages a marriage ceremony for two, adorable penguins who she later learns are both male. Pawnee's GLBT community hears this and is quick to identify Leslie as an ally and advocate for gay rights in their town. At the same time a local organization for the protection of 'family stability' ge
ts wind of the very same ceremony and subsequently identifies Leslie as their #1 opponent. But wait! It gets better! They contact Leslie requesting that the penguins' marriage be, you guessed it, annulled and Leslie resign from her post as Director of Park's and Recreation. The conflict escalates after Leslie parties with the Pawnee GLBT Community at 'The Bulge', the town's sole gay bar, and then the next day debates with the point person for the 'family stability' organization on the morning TV news about the appropriateness of the 'gay penguin marriage.' (If it sounds funny here, you should really watch the episode!)
For me, this episode is good for more than a few laughs but also really reiterates what I've been thinking all week which is that strong feelings for issues such as health care reform, the economy, gay rights, the importance of family, the city zoo, etc., can overwhelm us to the point that we can't recognize value in another perspective whether we agree with it or not. Perhaps a staged marriage of 2 penguins should be seen for what it is, which is cute, as opposed to a political statement. But if you don't open your ears or your mind you can never know the whole story.
Yes, even silly sitcoms are stories with meaningful morals. Really though, Kanye, Serena, Roger, Joe, and all the rest of us should really take a hard look at this very important moral. It's exciting and energizing to know that so many people are truly passionate about issues that affect our lives. But if we can't hear what really matters to each other and why, than progress cannot come so easy as we had hoped.
Click here to listen to episode of On Point with Tom Ashbrook entitled, 'Questions of Civility, and More.' (You won't be disappointed!)
