Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 03/07/25

When politicians show you who they are believe them. It was a week in which Democratic Party politicians made utter fools of themselves with ridiculous protests during President Trump‘s congressional speech (their paddle protest made it appear they thought they were attending a Hunter Biden art auction) and, even worse, revealed almost unbelievable callousness when they refused to applaud even the most positive and uplifting moments that should unite us a human beings, never mind Americans.

I don’t agree with everything Trump is doing. For example, I think he’s unwisely picking a fight Canada – but a lot of what he’s doing regarding such issues as border security, dealing with the national debt and pushing back against destructive Woke policies are commendable and clearly what the people voted for. In other words, democracy in action.

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) compares his own party to “car alarms that nobody pays attention to.” He’s right – and if the leadership of the party doesn’t get a handle on their membership’s seething hatred toward Trump and, really,  whoever disagrees with them, we may be witnessing its collapse into oblivion. To be sure, the Republicans need an opposition party to balance them out and restrain them from embracing extreme positions within their own ranks but it can’t be one that disdains the country, its people and their values.

Meanwhile, as unhinged Democrats try to sell the false message that America represents fascism and intolerance, comes two movies that shine a light on countries where those evil values took hold.

Rule Breakers arrives in theaters today. The film, which puts a spotlight on Afghanistan where educating girls is seen as rebellion, tells the true story of a visionary woman who dared to assemble a team of young Afghan women to compete in international robotics events. My review follows the trailer.

IMHO: Just in time for Women’s History Month, Angel Studios delivers a powerful film about one of the great recent victories for women’s rights and, at a time when they are particularly under assault, a reminder of how tenuous those victories can be. I know I’m in a distinct minority in not only opposing former President Biden‘s disastrous handling of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan but also also standing in disagreement President Trump‘s decision to withdraw at all.

You can check out what I’ve written previously on that subject here but it boils down to this. The US, in my view, finally had the military situation under control when the withdrawal basically undid all the good that our soldiers, at the literal cost of life and limb, had accomplished. Namely, the human rights that were taking root in Afghanistan. As I wrote previously, “People were voting. Women and girls were receiving their God-given right to an education. Things were moving in the right direction – but, instead, all that progress and sacrifice was tossed aside for politics. People talk a lot about endless wars but it seems to me that keeping American troops deployed in places like Germany, Korea and Japan after violent conflicts has resulted in enduring peace. It’s the premature pulling out of troops that creates endless wars. Maintaining peace requires patience and resolve. It may feel good but it is not moral for politicians to discard the sacrifices of our warriors – or to set them up to have to fight another unnecessary war.”

But political opinions aside, is Rule Breakers a good movie? It is – ironically because it follows all the rules of what makes a movie great. Aside from its strong production values, it presents us with likable characters we can easily root for overcoming great odds in a story that connects with our values without being preachy. The emotional climax will very likely leave you with a lump in your throat.

The Bottom Line: Rule Breakers is an excellent movie well worth seeing.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.