Omnipresent Google Ads

Even at ChronWatch

Screen shot of Chronwatch.com with the google ad above my article
[click picture to see larger version]

It's ironic that I just had an article accepted at Chronwatch.com on the stealthy encroachment of Islamic imagery, one of them being the ever-present Muslim ads for dating services. And there is one right above my article.

I removed my google ads from my blog recently because I found that I had an inordinate amount of Muslim ads, although I write on a variety (mostly art, design and culture) of topics. I felt that there was some kind of bias on a roll which kept bringing up Muslim ads to my site.

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Why were Modernists Artsists so Interested in Non-Western Art?

The strange influence of Islamic art

Henri Matisse Still Life with Blue Tablecloth, 1909


I've been reading on modernist textiles, mostly to get some inspiration from Art Deco and the Arts and Crafts Movement, since I think that nothing comparable to their designs has occurred in the proceeding years. One notable book is "The Modernist Textile - Europe and America, 1890-1940"" by Virginia Gardner Troy.

The history of modernist art is long and fascinating. In fact, all the major artists of that period were involved in textile design. Part of their interest lay in the flat surfaces so many were trying to emulate during their long departure from what they called "illusionary" art - art which described or represented the real world around them.

The author went on to discuss textile art, decoration and ornamentation. Which led me to look up Henri Matisse (research is a strange journey - I remembered a Met exhibition on Matisse's love of textiles a couple of years ago, and was excited to find the catalog). Matisse was greatly interested in Islamic textiles, which influenced his work, not just in the arabesque-styled cloths he put in his paintings, but also in the way he tried to make his pieces like a juxtaposition of fabrics, carpets and coverings, much like the decor in Islamic homes.

This led to another book that I remember reading: "Ornament and abstraction : the dialogue between non-Western, modern and contemporary art."

At that time (about three years ago), this book was just a further indication that late 19th and early 20th century artists tried to combine fine art with arts and crafts, which led them to explore surfaces and materials, and veer away from painting in classical 3-dimensional techniques.

But, a second reading revealed something new to me - or I understood it better this time.

The same spirit that produced Islamic "art" - which is really a profusion of ornamentation and decoration - is the same spirit that produced, eventually, abstract and non-representational art. That spirit is the disinclination to reproduce representational art, since non-representational art is believed (by these art practitioners) to be more pure and more spiritual.

Yes, I'm using the word "spirit" deliberately, since I think it explains many things. Mainly that the effort by these modernist artists was a way to find spiritual satisfaction.

This is still a rather disjointed thesis. It might take me a while to work it through. But, I think I'm onto something! That Islamic (religious) art and modernists' (spiritual) art were on the same path.

More to come.

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How Multiculturalism

Infantilizes design I haven't yet read Diana West's book "The Death of the Grown-up", but here is an interesting insight she makes while answering questions on an interview on National Review Online:

Kathryn Jean Lopez: How are “dhimmi life under Islam” and “PC life in a multicultural world” similar? Diana West: For me, this pairing was something of a “eureka” moment in the writing of the book. I would describe PC life in a multiculti world as being marked in part by self-censorship based in fear — fear of professional failure, opprobrium or social ostracism. I would also describe this same self-censorship as a form of childishness. During one lecture on The Death of the Grown-Up, I took a question from a man who wondered, in a rather agitated way, if I were actually saying that multiculturalism is juvenile. I hadn’t phrased things that way, but, on quick reflection, I told him that, yes, that was indeed what I was saying. The fact is, buying into multiculturalism — the outlook that sees all cultures as being of equal value (except the West, which is essentially vile) — requires us to repress our faculties of logic, and this in itself is an infantilizing act. I mean, it’s patently illogical to accept and teach our children the notion that a culture that has brought liberty and penicillin to the masses is of no greater value than others that haven’t. In accepting the multicultural worldview, we deceive ourselves into inhabiting a world of pretend where certain truths are out of bounds and remain unspoken — even verboten.

I remember looking at logos of institutions who stressed diversity either in their title, or in their mission statements, and found this very same infantilizing going on at the design level.

Since there are no standards, that everyone and everything is equal, logo designs stress the equality of all these elements to the detriment of their design.

I've already talked about the COSTI Immigrant Services logo, which went from a lovely clear red line, as though traveling into to the horizon, to me signifying the release of the new immigrant into the bigger and greater society, into a disheveled, hardly stable umbrella which is trying hard to shade all those diverse elements under its inadequate roof. By forfeiting their strong message of "you can make it," they turned it into a half-hearted, insincere, "we'll protect you."

The same with the Ontario logo design which had a solid, identifiable trillium and withstood all the elements for several decades, until diversity entered the vocabulary. The logo devolved into three stick-figure like objects, hardly resembling the strong structure of the original.

Stick figures abound in diversity logos, as well as bright crayola colors. How childish can they be?

So, yes, as Diana West says, multiculturalism does infantalize. And a logo doesn't lie.

I wonder how long before either we change these logos (I hope COSTI comes to its senses), or we abolish these institutions altogether.

Here are a selection of logos I found just by googling: Canada diversity.

Left: COSTI's newest logo
Right: Canada's Best Diversity Employers

Left: Diversity in the workplace
Right: Harmony Movement

Left: Diversity Canada Foundation
Right: Ontario's new logo resembling stick figures

Left: Unity in Diversity
Right: Hamilton's Centre for Civic Inclusion

Even those that seem to show some form of artistic design - for example, some idea of composition etc. - actually show their weaknesses through obvious signs of childishness.
These two from Culturescope.ca look interesting (although there is actually nothing to see, hence another indication of a lack of good design) but also have scribbles of lines going through them.

Culturescope.ca

And there are many more.

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A Reader Comments

On Robert Spencer's response

Spencer, in his emailed response, says that:

Please note the abysmal ignorance of Rohan Gunaratna, and the influence that he has. Rohan Gunaratna rejected Abul Kasem's recommendations because he doesn't see the need for them--because he thoroughly misunderstands the nature of the problem.

A reader of Camera Lucida responds:

Rohan Gunaratna is a charlatan who works the anti-terrorism circuit […] Spencer says he misunderstands the nature of the problem. What Spencer has not considered is this: Gunaratna works for a Singaporean university and is beholden to his paymaster, i.e., the Singaporean government, which does not tolerate any deviation from the official line[…] Approximately 25% of Singapore's population are Malay-Muslims and there were violent racial clashes during Singapore's pre-independence days in the 60's, […] The Singaporean government is understandably anxious to avoid a repeat of this history. Out of political necessity, they are propagating the lie that Islam is a peaceful religion that has been hijacked/perverted by a tiny minority of extremists. The Singaporean government is not stupid and understands perfectly well the situation. It's just that they cannot openly state the true nature of the danger. Gunaratna, who seems to want to keep his university job, is therefore toeing the official line and lying for the Singaporean government. In other words, he [Gunaratna] understands the nature of the problem but has to keep mum about it out of necessity. As a result, Spencer, who is not aware of Singapore's political reality, thinks that Gunaratna is ignorant.

The reader continues here:

I don't see why anyone should expect Spencer to lead. Leave him to his awareness raising. Expecting "The One" to emerge in time to save the world only happens in movies. S/he may never come. If you or anyone has the inclination to lead, then go ahead and start something and keep it going until someone more capable comes along, at which point leadership can be transferred. That's a more realistic strategy than pining for the second coming of Churchill.

What this reader is saying is that, like the covert, overt activities of Islamic institutions I was talking about here, Muslims around the world will use any method possible to distract their adversaries into thinking differently of them. What look like ignorant acts can actually be camouflages for hiding what is really going on.

I also discuss this camouflage activity where Muslims covertly start building their institutions, with full-fledged sharia and political Islam, unbeknown to the innocent and trusting host countries.

My favorite are the "Islamic Centers" which have popped up all over Toronto, some even daringly calling their centers by their Arabic names. No, they're not mosques, they're masjids!

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We Are More Than Conquerors

Through Him that loved us

Things these days seem insurmountable. Toronto's strange new world hits one in the face on a daily basis. Hijabs everywhere, incomprehensible languages from every corner - cell phones being the biggest culprit, simple orders that go wrong in restaurants and stores. In short, a city which is under siege and all with the blessings of the citizens.

How to enjoy these beautiful summer months?

Sometimes, quotes from here are the only solace.

Romans 8:35-39 (King James Version)

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Email Conversation with Robert Spencer

What can we do about Islam?

Update with my comments on Spencer's critique of Abul Kasem's 8-point strategy to confront Islam.

Here is a series of email conversations I had with renowned author and expert on Muslims and Islam, Robert Spencer.

My question, when all is chiseled away is:

Given that Robert Spencer knows how destructive Islam is to societies, and that Islam is making such a strong presence in the West, and specifically the United States and Canada, how can we get rid of the problem of Islam from our society?

Mr. Spencer has given me permission to post the interaction on my blog, and here it is.

------------------------------------------------

On 7/12/08 12:10 PM, "cameralucidas@yahoo.com" wrote:

Dear Mr. Spencer,

I have been reading your articles for a few years now, and have learned
copious amount of information from them.

But, during your recent interactions with Mr. Auster at the VFR, the
contention is that you haven't provided enough strategic and realistic
attempts to rid the West of Islam.

In the recent Frontpage Mag symposium, you unfortunately spent little
time discussing Abul Kasem's practical strategy to combat Islam in the
West.

You preferred to spend most of your time and attention on the problems
with Islam (which we now know so much about), and not the strategies to
get rid of this problem.

I wonder what you think of Kasem's efforts, and would you find time to
make such a 8, 10 or even 5-point strategy to remove the dangers of
Islam from the West?

So far, you may have written them in between many other topics on Islam, but I haven't seen a deliberate, concise, direct and clear strategy from you.

Perhaps what I'm saying is can you make the leap from the scholar to the
activist, or is that (the activist's) role something you feel should be
done by others?

Sincerely,

Kidist Paulos Asrat

------------------------------------------------

From: Robert Spencer <director@jihadwatch.org>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:50:35 -0400
To: <cameralucidas@yahoo.com>
Conversation: Abul Kasem's 8-point strategy
Subject: Re: Abul Kasem's 8-point strategy

[Ed. note: all emphases - color and font - are my additions for clarity]

Dear Kidist Paulos Asrat

Thanks for your kind note.

I am happy to discuss this with you, but allow me please to ask you first:
have you read any of my books? In three of them the final chapter contains a
series of recommendations for what we must do in order to defend ourselves.
Yet Mr. Auster has stated several times that he hasn't read any of these
books, and then he claims that I have made no recommendations. I must say I
find this peculiar.

Also, I ask that you please look over the symposium again. Please note the
abysmal ignorance of Rohan Gunaratna, and the influence that he has. Rohan
Gunaratna rejected Abul Kasem's recommendations because he doesn't see the
need for them -- because he thoroughly misunderstands the nature of the
problem itself. And remember, please, that the overwhelming majority of
Americans and others are still just as ignorant and uninformed about the
nature of the problem as is Rohan Gunaratna. It is because of this that I
spend the bulk of my time trying to raise awareness of the problem. In fact,
I believe that pushing for certain policy recommendations before there is a
general awareness of the problem they are intended to solve can actually
make it less rather than more likely that the policy recommendations in
question will be taken seriously and eventually adopted.

You ask, "I wonder what you think of Kasem's efforts." Answer: in the
Symposium itself I wrote this: "...we need to take strong and decisive
steps, such as Abul Kasem outlines, to protect ourselves."

I will take them one by one, with my own comments below each: AK:

AK: "[1] Adopt tough policies on the entry of Islamists to non-Islamic
countries. However, we must make a distinction between the large number of
in-name-only Muslims and the diehard, jihad-infused, conniving,
pan-Islamists."

RS: I have taken a stronger position on this than Abul Kasem, given the
impossibility of distinguishing Muslims-in-name-only from jihadists: end
Muslim immigration. Mr. Auster grasps at straws in claiming that I don't
mean this since I have only stated it at my blog. Well, I mean what I say at
my blog.

KPA: Spencer’s earlier comment in this same symposium that “depending on [the moderate Muslims] is to lean on a weak reed, and that we need to take strong and decisive steps, such as Abul Kasem outlines, to protect ourselves.” is discussed at Mr. Auster' s View from the Right.

Spencer doesn’t really have a stronger position than Kasem. He does believe in moderates – those Muslims-in-name-only – who will perhaps taking the Islamic world sometime in the future, under his watchful support. Since moderates cannot (for now) be depended upon, Spencer advocates his elusive "decisive steps" to end immigration. But, as shown above (and below in #7), his decisiveness keeps shifting.

------------------------------

AK: "[2] Enforce strict restrictions on the construction of mosques and Islamic
seminaries. If this sounds unethical/ and or infringing on the religious
rights, please note the non-existence and disallowance of construction of
non-Islamic worshipping centres in Islamic Paradises. We must call spade a
spade."

RS: This cannot be done in America given the First Amendment. I have called (I
think it is in The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam -- I am unsure
because I am in a hotel and do not have my books with me, but I am sure it
is one of my books) for the reclassification of Islamic groups in the US as
political unless they renounce the Sharia supremacist imperative and make
themselves open to inspection to show that not only are they not teaching
the political aspects of Islam, but are teaching against them, and
advocating the Western principles of republican government and equality of
rights for all. And if they are found to be still teaching Islamic
supremacism, they should be closed.

And of no construction of mosques or Islamic schools funded by Islamic
supremacist governments such as Saudi Arabia should be permitted.

KPA: There can be no Islam without Sharia. If Muslims are given headway based on a false renunciation of Sharia, which is against their religious mandate, as a way to enter in Western countries, then they will at some point begin to enforce their Sharia regulations when they think the setting is permissible.

Thus, if Muslims stop teaching the political aspects of Islam (i.e. Sharia) they will be teaching an incomplete version of Islam. So whether covertly or overtly, they will still be doing it.

------------------------------

AK:"[3] Stop paying jizya to the Islamists. Do not accede to any unreasonable
demands solely by the Islamists. Keep other religious people in mind. Why
must Islam be treated more favourably than other religions? Ask the
Islamists this simple question."

RS: We have advocated this many times at Jihad Watch. Hugh Fitzgerald has
written about it frequently and in great detail, and I endorse his views.

KPA: This is irrelevant in the current Islam/West relationship. In fact is insulting that Robert Spencer and Abul Kasem can contemplate that they think it necessary to bring up this point, as though it is an inevitability.

------------------------------

AK: "[4] Halt the interfaith dialogue with Islam. Remember, Islam is
uncompromising. There is no way Islam will accommodate un-Islam. Please read
this sentence one more time and memorize. You will save a lot of time and
money wasted to please Islam. We do not have to please Islam."

RS: Yes. I devoted a chapter to the perils of this interfaith dialogue in my
book "Religion of Peace."

KPA: This goes without saying.

------------------------------

AK: "[5] Assert the un-Islamic (non-Islamic) cultures, traditions, customs and
ethos. We must let the Islamic world learn a bit that the world is not
prepared to accept its 7th century Arab Bedouin customs and laws."

RS: This is something I have advocated for years in many, many contexts and in
many different ways. My book "Religion of Peace" is dedicated to this in
particular.

KPA: This goes without saying.

------------------------------

AK: "[6] Reject any demand to impose Sharia in a non-Islamic society; even if it
is in the pretence for Muslims only. Remember, Muslims are the first victims
of Islam."

RS: This also I have advocated repeatedly for many years. Search for "Sharia" at
Jihad Watch and you will see.

KPA: RS’s response here is in contradiction to point #2. There is no Islam without Sharia, no Sharia without Islam. The two are inseparable. It is interesting to note that AK doesn’t seem to differentiate between Sharia and Islam as per his statement “ Muslims are the first victims of Islam” (I think he meant to write “Sharia”.)

Although Muslims will not impose Sharia at the beginning, at least definitely not publicly, they will always be battling to set up the system throughout their presence. Thus, governments will always be distracted and confronted with Sharia, disrupting other functions and responsibilities.

A prime example of this is how refusing Sharia courts in Ontario also led to the amendment of a decade-long Ontario Arbitration Act which had allowed arbritation of family matters by Catholic and Jewish groups, groups which are highly compatible with Canada’s legal systems and traditions. This took a couple of years of negotiations.

Another is the phenomenon of polygamy within the Muslim community in Toronto, with one Imam especially saying that it is a Sharia-mandated practice.

Of course, things got stickier when it was revealed that these wives (to one husband) each can collect welfare checks. The argument centered around this monetary arrangement, rather than the issue of Sharia, polygamy and Islam.

------------------------------

AK: "[7] Muslims migrating to non-Islamic countries must sign a declaration that
they do not believe in pan-Islamism. If found contravening their signed
declaration they should be stripped of their citizenship and promptly
deported to the Islamic Paradise they had migrated from."

RS: If this idea did not originate with me, at very least I have been one of its
foremost advocates. This is the "screening" proposal upon which Mr. Auster
has heaped scorn. He has pointed out that Muslims entering the country will
lie when they declare their rejection of Sharia and acceptance of Western
principles. Quite so. But then if they begin advocating Sharia in any way,
this will become grounds for deportation. You can find this at JW in
connection with earlier controversies with Mr. Auster.

KPA: Spencer abandoned this idea as he states in point #1: “I have taken a stronger position on this than Abul Kasem, given the impossibility of distinguishing Muslims-in name-only from jihadists: end Muslim immigration.” So on the one hand he says that the screening process doesn’t work, on the other hand he keeps saying let’s give it a try.

And once again, he is unable to articulate (I am sure he knows and understand it, though) that with Islam comes Sharia.

------------------------------

AK: "[8] Proselytizing by Islamic dawa must be strictly controlled, and if
necessary, banned. If you think I am being unreasonable. Please look at the
laws of Islamic Paradises (such as Malaysia, Pakistan, Sudan, NigeriaŠ) with
regard to the propagation of other faith among the Muslims."

RS: Of course. Its political and supremacist character must be recognized.

KPA: Here again, RS contradicts himself. Firstly in points #2 and #6 he talks of limiting to Islam in Western countries to its non-political component. Now he recognizes the Islam does indeed have a political and supremacist character which “must be recognized.”

The implication here is that Islamic dawa – which simply translated means “making an invitation” - is taken by Spencer and Kasem to mean a political and supremacist agenda.

They are thus confirming again, in contradiction to other statements, that Islam is a political entity, amongst other things. And that political and supremacist characters are not separate from its essence.

------------------------------

In sum, I stand by my contention that Lawrence Auster is falsely stating my
views. I have advocated numerous solutions, and continue to do so. At the
same time, as I explained above I still believe that the primary task that
must be done is raising awareness. And I am going to continue to focus on
that, without apology.

Cordially
Robert Spencer

------------------------------------------------

On 7/12/08 1:30 PM, "Kidist Paulos Asrat" wrote:

Mr. Spencer,

I think this clarifies my understanding of your position:

At the same time, I explained above I still believe that the primary task that must be done is rasing awareness. And I am going to continue to focus on that, without apology.

I understand that not everyone can be a strategist. But there is only so much awareness that we can raise, without making the final call.

With all due respect, that must be why you are having such a difficult contention with Mr. Auster. Raising awareness is no longer necessary (and even if so, it is now ineffective.)

The role for Islamic experts now is to combat, directly and without equivocation.

[...]

Even God felt it necessary at some point to give us a list of things to do with His Ten Commandments, rather than to just read and ruminate over a story.

I say all this with such conviction because my own country of birth (Ethiopia), although I came here to Canada as a very young child, went through a devastating Islamic Jihad. Fortunately we are now able to tell the tale, and recognize the ominous signs.

If you wish, you can read my entry on "Christian Tolerance, Islamic Jihad" it is at my blog: Camera Lucida .

Thanks once again,

Kidist

------------------------------------------------

From: Robert Spencer
Subject: Re: Abul Kasem's 8-point strategy
To: cameralucidas@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2008, 10:37 AM

I respectfully disagree. Most Americans have no idea of the facts you know well and are impatient with me for repeating. I am going to continue to try to change that. You say that raising awareness is no longer necessary. I disagree.

------------------------------------------------

From: "Kidist Paulos Asrat"
To: "Robert Spencer"

Of course I agree with you that the facts will ever be there to be unraveled, by scholars like you and also like Dr. Bostom.

I was talking of the necessity to put strategy to fact. And convince Westerners that the facts they know so far (however limited they may be) along with awareness, need to be, at this critical time, joined with specific strategies.

Perhaps, if I may be so bold, your important role now as an expert on Islam, is to make these clear strategies in the manner that I have suggested that Mr. Kasem has so clearly delineated. I think people would trust you, and would not doubt any ominous suggestions you might make given the depth of your scholarship.

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"We Fit In!"

On our own terms

Brick Lane, East End of London


Brick Lane, the movie version of Monica Ali's book of the same title, could be a nostalgic, gentle movie about the immigrant experience. Except it is all false.

The underlying story, the emancipation of a Bangladeshi house wife through nothing less than an affair with her young boss, is not at all believable. It is as though the writer were trying to work on an ideology (feminism? Sexual liberation?) and crammed her words to fit in too small a hole. And from there, everything else unwinds.

Perhaps the most jarring moment is when the young daughter exclaims at her father, who having lost his job and insists on returning the whole family to Bangladesh: "We fit in, you don't." Everyone wants a good ending, with East meeting West. But, just as the demure wife's affair rings utterly false, so do real cultural observers know that the daughters' fitting in is a very long stretch.

More realistic shows describe how children of Indian immigrants really have one thing on their mind - India. The Bollywood fantasy that Indians in Canada have is depicted grimly and realistically in "Bollywood Bound", where a taxi-driving father sacrifices his low salary to have his daughter travel to India to try out her luck as a movie star. Bhangra competitions are held in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada . And MyBindi.com, a website dedicated to "South Asians", offers everything from dating services to Indian-style fashion.

A whole other culture is seething underneath all the regional English accents (American, Canadian, British). And the reality is that Indians are not fitting in. Monica Ali just wrote a feel-good book, surely with her wonderfully generous market in mind - readers who want a little of the exotic (all those saris and sweetmeats) but yet can feel relieved that their Indian immigrants say they are doing just fine.

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Fourth of July

Impressions

Childe Hassam, Flags, Fifth Avenue, 1918

Gallia Watch, in honor of July 4th, has put up a painting by one of my favorite American impressionists - Frederick Childe Hassam.

By looking at it, I am reminded of a Canadian painter, David Milne, who spent several years in the U.S., and in New York City, who was surely influenced by him.

Here is Milne's "Billboards" of around 1913 which reminds me of Hassam's "Flags, Fifth Avenue" from 1919.

David Milne, Billboards, 1913

Milne's "Easel" of 1935 also has an uncanny resemblance to Hassam's 1894 "The Room Full of Flowers." And Milne also painted many studies of flowers in his studio.

Left: Childe Hassam, The Room of Flowers, 1894
Right: David Milne: Easel, 1935

David Milne: Waterlilies in the Cabin, 1939

Finally Maurice Prendergast is another American who painted in a similar mottled style. I was surprised to find another Canadian-American connection. Prendergast was actually from Newfoundland, and went with his family to Boston as a young boy.

This is my favorite painting of a city park:

Maurice Prendergast: Central Park, 1914-15

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British Television

Still on top



It's good to know that there are the quiet geniuses over in British television. Many times, they are tackling the great works of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens or Thomas Hardy, to name a few, as well as the many detective stories - which beat hands down Law and Order and all those CSIs.

But, a few gritty, real-life stories are cropping up on TVO (and PBS, although those are more mysteries or dramas from historical or literary sources.)

Of note:

- An elderly man breaks his leg while climbing down the stairs from his wife's bedroom, who suffers from Alzheimer's. This feisty old man doesn't let it get him down, but is still forced to live with his son's family, and put his wife in a home.

- A family with a son who has Down's Syndrome overcompensates, with the mother acting like the perpetual martyr. It is a dramatic camping trip with his brother that finally opens the eyes of the parents that this boy/man can actually wipe his own nose, and even tie his shoe-laces.

- A husband and wife lose their only young daughter through an accident. They never really get over it, and the wife spends her time taking care of her house which is full of elderly folk, including her husband's mother. She is shocked to find out that her husband is leaving her, for another woman with two children. He says his wife is so strong, and this other woman (a battered wife, it seems) needs him more.

All three stories are about victims. Not the real victims (the dead daughter, the Down's syndrome son, the elderly father who is forced to curtail his energy and give up his wife to a home) but those who perceive themselves to be victims of these (victims') circumstances.

The elderly man is left to deflect his son's guilt-ridden, yet callous misunderstandings. The husband runs away from his wife's overbearing "strength" (neglect, really.) The martyr-mother cannot fathom how much she's hurting her family dynamics by refusing to let the grown Down's syndrome son take care of himself.

These films are a fresh twist on how benign interference (as opposed to benign neglect) can actually warp family and human relations. As though the goody-two-shoes is really someone to be mocked and not admired.

Life, as usual, metes out harsh lessons, as all these families, some to their detriment, discover.

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