The scene in The Lion King that taught me how I feel about politics

The Lion King is the greatest Disney movie of all time.

This is a bold claim to make in the face of new greats like Frozen, or Disney’s recent shift to live action versions of its classics. But for me, The Lion King is everything- it framed my earliest memories of myself.

I’m quite sure I could watch the movie today and have my memory refreshed by scenes that now take on new meaning. But a particular scene has helped me articulate my feelings about the current climate of U.S national politics.

For the tried and true Lion King fans. . . do we remember this?

The Lion King, 1994

This is the moment that Simba and Nala come together as adults-reunited! But do we remember how this came to be? By looking at the picture above, its easy to forget that seconds earlier, Simba and Nala looked like this:

Just seconds ago they were trying to kill each other! More specifically, it’s easier to forget that the reason for their fighting was this:

Nala had entered the lush jungle to forage for food and thought Pumbaa would make an excellent meal. She attacked him, and Simba came to his rescue. Once Nala and Simba realize they know each other, however, Nala retreats and all is well. Everyone seems okay with being friends again except Timon:

Timon, after calling out the obvious contradictions, is quickly brushed away with a “Relax, Timon!”, and everyone is friends again. Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa return to Pride Rock and defeat Scar- the real villain who has taken over the Pride Lands and rules with violence and tyranny.

Okay, in my struggle to understand U.S politics: Right now. . . I feel like Timon.

Timon was SO right to question what was happening here. Is Timon supposed to forget that Nala just tried to eat his homeboy? Is he also expected to be sympathetic to the plight of poor, poor Nala, who was only gonna eat Pumbaa because she had to? Is he also supposed to take her presence in the lush jungle as a last ditch effort to save the Pride Lands from the real villain (Scar) out to destroy it due to his ego, pride, and streaks of violence? Finally, is he supposed to ignore the fact that when Simba and Nala join forces, the goal swiftly moves from protecting Simba’s friends to restoring Simbas’s kingdom? I'm with you Timon. Further, I cant feel too bad for Nala , because how quickly we forget:

1. Nala’s home is fragile and broken because of the destructive tendencies of another lion who seeks to rule with hatred, jealousy, and pride in his heart- Nala ventured out to save it. Yes. BUT in the midst of her struggle, let’s remember: NALA. IS. A. LION. What Timon calls “the top of the food chain”. The only reason Nala is in the lush jungle in the first place is because she and her lion friends have eaten all the “food” left in the Pride lands and the stronger herds have moved on.
2. Nala is looking for survival in the form of more little animals to hunt and eat.
3. Had she not realized the lion she was fighting was her long lost friend, if it had not suddenly become less advantageous for her to do so, Nala would have eaten Pumbaa and Timon! And she would have marched her happy, full-of-food self back to the pride lands and reported her “discovery” of lush, plentiful jungle upon which the lions could potentially rebuild their pride.

TO RECAP: Right now, U.S politics is like that one scene in The Lion King where Simba and Nala reunite, and convince the smaller animals to join them in their fight against the “real” bad guy. The lions expect the smaller animals to forget the times that the lions had tried to eat them- to also forget that if circumstances were different, they would definitely be lion food; and their land would be up for grabs as thanks for their sacrifice. In the words of Timon: “DID I MISS SOMETHING?”

Here is the full scene for your reference-see what I mean? Now, you can place the characters wherever you wish-I'm just observing, and glad that some childhood connection can help me put words to what I'm feeling.

Talk to y’all later.