Brokeback Mountain and Crash

OK, so like anyone else who watched the Oscars I was surprised by the "upset" over, "Crash," winning best picture over, "Brokeback Mountain."

..then I thought about it.

I saw, "Brokeback," a week ago and I described it as, "beautifully sad." It was very true to the short story it was based on and it was beautiful in the love story, the struggle, and the landscape. It was sad in it's love story, the struggle, and the landscape.
I thought about the movie for days. I wrote a paper about the movie. I was moved. I talked about it.

I saw, "Crash," on Saturday. What an incredibly powerful movie. It was so subtle in the way it was able to weave all the interlocking stories together into a powerful storyline without hitting you over the head with the message. There was no reason to be hit over the head. It was all there. Any movie that can give me the chills still days later while thinking about it, make me talk to the screen, move my hand up to my mouth and start crying all within seconds of each other and then leave my hand up to my mouth well after the scene is over? Yeah. Powerfully moving.

Here's where I come to my decisions about why, "Crash," won over, "Brokeback Mountain." Brokeback has jokes made about it. My friend Billy, who is gay, and I call it, "Bareback Mountain." Up until I saw it I called it, "Bareback Mountain." "Crash?" you can't make jokes about it. There is no late no fodder when it comes to, "Crash." Letterman, I don't know about Leno, I don't watch him, makes a joke about gay cowboys almost every night. Jon Stewart made a montage about cowboy movies and their gayness during the Oscars. There aren't any jokes about the ignorance of racism on late night.

If I was a teacher right now I would absolutely be showing, "Crash." I think the message resonates more and crosses over. Yes, it is about racism, but it's about intolerance, which is stated, without saying it. It is about accepting everyone and all races, sexes and people. It's about all people.

"Brokeback," is about two gay men living in Wyoming in the 1960's though the 80's.
It's a story about two people.
Does it transcend to today? Absolutely. I know way more gay men who are in the closet with their families and they are all alone dancing the jig inside that closet, closing that door when the family is concerned.
Racism, you can't hide your skin color or accent. I can absolutely see myself showing, "Brokeback," in a classroom, however, maybe only for a few years. Twenty years from now I can see myself still showing, "Crash." it transcends past 2005-2006.

Perhaps another point is that, and maybe this is wishful thinking, but I think we, as a society and nation, will become more accepting and become more tolerant towards gays and lesbians than we will ever be towards other races. Am I saying this is right? Hell no. Why people have problems with someone who has come to this country to better themselves when, hello? Isn't that what everyone other than the Native Americans have done since, oh I don't know, around 1492 have done, I simply can't wrap my brain around it. Why people have a problem accepting anyone who is, "different," I simply can't wrap my brain around it.

However, sexuality is more openly discussed, debated, and talked about, I mean this blog is about sex, (most days), on a daily, national basis than racism. Turn on any talk show, TV show, documentary, movie and you can find (kind) jokes, conversation and education about various sexualities. If there are jokes, in a kind way, made on late night television about sexuality, to me that says acceptance. It's at least being talked about, discussed in an open and honest way without people being accused of being ignorant.

Racism? Still a very, very delicate subject. You have to be careful. People are afraid to say what they think or feel because we are afraid of being called a racist, bigot or whatever else someone can lodge at us. When was the last time a racist joke was made on late night? You had an open conversation with someone about skin color?

Having dated men of various races and religions, and simply going out to dinner, oh boy. Racism is still present and accounted for. Sexuality, gay, lesbian, bi, tranny? Bring on the love and where's the disco?

Again, I want to make it clear, racism and intolerance, bad, very bad when it comes to all people, places and things.
Love, tolerance and acceptance of all people, places and things, good.

However, I think sexuality has and will continue to be more accepted and move more mountains, bareback or brokeback than racial tolerance and acceprance every will and that's why I think, "Crash," won over, "Brokeback Mountain," in twenty years it will still be relevant in the classroom. Not saying that's a good thing.
I, as always, welcome all comments on this.