Current Events II

How a dog became the mayor of a California town

"Mayor Max"

The mayor of Idyllwild, California is one of the youngest mayors of all time, entering office at 11 weeks of age. Mayor Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II, a six year old golden retriever, has made it his duty "to see peace on earth in his lifetime." Through rain or shine Maximus and his team walk through the streets attending events, promoting small businesses, taking pictures, and just spreading happiness throughout his town. 

How does a dog become mayor you ask? Well, for Maximus, his position of power is simply due to his bloodline. Similar to that of a monarchy, Maximus doesn't really have any political power over the town, but he is the mayor for life and gets to be the face of his town. 

Maximus II is only the second in his family monarchy. First there was Maximus I who was elected during a fundraiser for an animal charity. He only made it through his first term and by the second he sadly passed away. Maximus had no children, so the town was in search of a relative of his to continue the family line to the throne. Thankfully, they were able to find a relative and he was promptly named after Maximus and put into office.

 (Click to learn about Maximus-->https://mayormax.com/)

Being the mayor of a small town is a big job for a golden retriever, but with determination and a goal of peace, Max will be able to achieve whatever difficulties are thrown his way.

Current Events

Do films like "Joker" promote or endorse gun violence?

Joaquin Pheonix in his role as the Joker

Since the release of "Joker"on October 9th, 2019, many Americans have been in fear that the sympathetic portrayal of the famous super villain may have the potential to promote violent acts in the real world.

Warner Bros Studios was motivated to boundaries when they released their film, and they absolutely did. The movie had a wide range of reviews from people either calling the movie a fantastic emotional masterpiece or an unsettling and uneasy story of violence. Some show concern about the movies violent message because "rather than highlighting America's mass shooting crisis, it simply legitimizes them." 

When asked if the movie "Joker" promoted violence,  Brook Barnes and Nicole Sperling, they responded by stating that although the movie is a cinematic masterpiece, it has caused a deep unease that has worried the population in fear that the film may provoke violent tendencies from certain individuals. (LINK TO RESPONSE: “‘Joker’ Movie Is a Risk, but a Calculated One, for Warner Bros.,”)

Movies like "Joker", although works of art, can stir the worries of Americans, especially in a time where gun violence is a major issue in America. This discussion causes us to continue to wonder:  Do movies that offer a sympathetic portrayal of villains have the potential to promote violent acts in real life?