From the opening frames the images are powerful, gripping, and at times disturbing.  The film's main character, Jamal Malik, is a Mumbai slum kid literally living in garbage heaps when we first encounter him.  Yet, he finds himself at 18 just one question away from winning 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"  The question is "How did he do it?" 

Did he cheat? Is he lucky? Is he a genius?  Is it his destiny?  Each question that he answers on the game show brings the viewer closer to an answer and teaches another life lesson at the same time.  Don't get me wrong this is not a "preachy" film.  However, it might just change how you see the people that are often hidden "in plain sight" in our own nation.

Ty Burr, Boston Globe film critic, put it this way- "I'll keep this simple: Cancel whatever you're doing tonight and go see Slumdog Millionaire." 

see the movie trailer here

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."  We have all, likely, heard that phrase at some point in our lives as a warning against the dangers of power.  We have heard it even more frequently this week following the arrest and complaint filed against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

In what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called " a corruption crime spree", Blagojevich is accused of, among other things, attempting to sell the vacant Senate seat of President-Elect Barack Obama.  The government's case appears to be bolstered by profanity laced wire-taps of Blagojevich who has known for years that he was under investigation for corruption.  The conviction of former Illinois Governor George Ryan, Blagojevich's predecessor proved no deterrent to Blagojevich.  Ryan is currently serving prison term and people in high places have advocated a pardon by George W. Bush as Bush leaves office.

Even more remarkable is the fact that the day before his arrest Blagojevich, in a press conference, claimed that there was ultimate sunshine hanging over him.  Blagojevich in essence issued a challenge, "If anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead".  Blagojevich event went as far to remind those who had gathered that "it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate".  He is absolutely correct on that point.  It does smell like Nixon and Watergate.

In the now famous Nixon/Frost interview, many recall that Nixon boldly said, "When the President does it, that means it's not illegal".  That brings us closer to the actual dictum of Lord Acton.  What Lord Acton actually wrote over a century ago was this,

"I cannot accept your cannon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong.  If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power, increasing as the power increases.  Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility.  Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely....  There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.

Lord Acton was addressing the issue of Papal Infallibility.  He was speaking of the presumption that Pope and King could do no wrong.  I believe Lord Acton was correct when he termed it heresy.  While power does "tend" to corrupt, we must be careful not to scapegoat "power".  To quote the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr;

Power properly understood is nothing but the ability to achieve purpose.  It is strength required to bring about social, political and economic change... Now a lot of us are preachers, and all of us have our moral convictions and concerns, and so often have problems with power.  There is nothing wrong with power if power is used correctly.

The real issue, I believe, in the Blagojevich scandal is not power but greed.  More accurately, the problem is the unholy marriage of politics, power, and greed- a.k.a "Pay-to-Play".

It is no wonder then, that what may have driven Blagojevich's reckless behavior to such heights was the ethics reforms scheduled to take effect January 1st.  One of the major problems in national politics is a "culture of corruption".  The only things that will counter this culture of corruption are a more informed and engaged citizenry and greater transparency.  As "Deep Throat" advised Bob Woodward during the Watergate investigation- "Follow the Money"!

In the photograph above, a painting of "Honest Abe" Lincoln hangs on the wall.  He appears to be looking down on Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.  I suggest we keep our eyes on them too.

To view Frost/Nixon Movie Trailer click here.  To hear Nixon in his own words click here.

BURRESS, BLOOMBERG, & BURGE

(video)

example-  1 A thing or person suitable to be used as a model.  2  An instance of something to be avoided; an act especially a punishment, serving or designed to serve as a warning.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may be right as he recently demanded that prosecutors throw the book at New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress.  Burress caught the winning touchdown pass in the Giants upset Superbowl win over the undefeated New England Patriots just months ago.  This year Burress has been a distraction to his team, arriving late and missing practice.  But recently Burress literally shot himself in the leg at a crowded nightclub in Manhattan.  Police reported, the loaded gun, a Glock, slid down Burress' pant leg and went off when he attempted to grab it.  (See the Bloomberg Video)

Perhaps I am overly sensitive due to the large number of deaths every year in the Greater Chicago area due to handgun violence and the large number of related crimes committed at gun-point.  Or, perhaps it is because I vividly recall being awakened as a child and being told that my oldest brother had been shot- as it turned out by a mentally-ill youth who had access to his father's loaded weapon.  Or, perhaps it is because I am remembering a relative who on Memorial Day died a violent death earlier this year at gun-point.  So when I hear that a multi-millionaire athlete carried an unlicensed loaded weapon into a crowded nightclub, and jokes about it with his teamates, I too think, throw the book at him.  Burress  could be an example, dare I say "role model" to so many youths coming from similar circumstances.  Athletes may not desire to accept that role and may not see themselves as examples to others, however, when young children and their families fork over outrageous amounts of hard-earned cash to buy that player's jersey, (or believe all the hype about these players) the players become examples, role models, even icons.  Burris has become the other kind of example that should serve as a warning not only to other NFL players and athletes but to those devoted fans who heap lavish praise upon them.

However, I would ask Mayor Bloomberg, "Why stop there?"  It is not only the highly visible athletes that we should be concerned about.  Where is Bloomberg's anger for his own police department that is notorious for civil and human rights violations.  Where was Bloomberg's anger at the acquittal of three detectives that killed Sean Bell on the morning of his wedding day in a storm of 50 police bullets.  Where was Bloomberg's anger toward Gulliani's now defunct NYPD Street Crimes Unit or at the exoneration of four (plain clothes) officers who killed Amadou Diallo with 41 bullets.

As a child, I grew up with "Officer Friendly".  This program that was designed to build rapport among police and youth really impressed many urban youth.  I was particularly impressed and even "proud" because my father was a Chicago police officer.  I even earned a degree in Criminal Justice and took numerous pre-law courses before responding to God's call to ministry.  While there are many outstanding police officers who serve their communities faithfully, risking life and limb to go into places and situations many of us would not choose to go, the luster and shine of the badge wears off quickly when we hear about cases like these.

Part of the problem, Mayor Bloomberg, are the friends and systems that protect people like Plaxico Burress and protect police like those in the Diallo and Bell shootings to name just a few. 

In Chicago, we can all still see the brutal beating in our minds eyes of a small female bartender by an off duty Chicago police officer.  As his court date arrived news media were blocked and ticketed by Chicago police- ordered by a CPD Captain.

Now, according a Chicago Tribune article this past week Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police (the union) defended paying Jon Burge's legal defense.  Burge, soon to be on trial for torturing suspects to get confessions, has been living for years in a Florida waterfront community, with his pension intact and a boat out back according to the St. Petersburg Times. 

It was nearly twenty years ago when Fred Hampton, Jr., son of slain Black Panther Party leader, came to me alleging that Burge tortured suspects.  I didn't want to believe it then- maybe I was still remembering "Officer Friendly".  Maybe I was thinking of my father and not some rogue cop or the system that protected him for too long. Now, with the news of the FOP decision I say "throw the book at him" and shame on anyone who covers up for him, and shame on me for not having believed before.  You're right Mr. Bloomberg "No one should be exempt".

To learn more about police torture in Chicago just click on this link to articles archived back to 1990.

Highlighted words will take you directly to videos and articles referenced here.