Politicizing the Princess Bride?

Not long before social media (and the election of Donald Trump) made it impossible for people of strongly differing views and diametrically opposed political causes to remain on good speaking terms, National Education Association of Rhode Island Executive Director Bob Walsh and I had a see-we’re-both-human conversation about the classic movie and book, The Princess Bride.

That moment bubbled up in my memory as I absorbed the cultural significance of this news:

For those who find it “inconceivable” for President Donald Trump to serve a second term, Wisconsin Democrats offered a star-packed live-streamed script reading of “The Princess Bride” to help Joe Biden’s campaign in the key battleground state.

The original cast of the beloved 1987 film reunited Sunday, along with guest stars including Whoopi Goldberg, Eric Idle of Monty Python and Josh Gad, and all the money raised benefited Wisconsin Democrats. After the reading, comedian Patton Oswalt moderated a Q&A with cast members.

It’s something like a cultural crime to politicize that uniting movie for rank partisan purposes.  It’s one thing for artists to show their colors and use their fame for political purposes, but on a much longer-standing and profound level than the election of the day, a society needs common ground and shared memories.

Sports are moving rapidly off the list.  Apolitical movies should not be.  To put money in the hands of politicians, the Hollywoodites are driving us toward complete disunion.

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