A Progressive Lightworker’s Review of Wonder Woman
A film about love, peace, and values that took 40 years to manifest
As a girl growing up in the 1970s, Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman was MY kind of superhero. A warrior goddess hiding her true identity from the humanity she was trying to serve. Someone who would show up in the nick of time to combat injustice and unfairness. I used to do the Wonder Woman spin, certain that at some time a flash of light would burst forth, and I would have the super powers I needed to fulfill my role in the world.
Ten minutes into the modern spectacular, I was crying my eyes out. This while seated next to my teenage social justice warrior, who I was trying to hide my tears from. I started feeling choked up as soon as the Germans arrived by ship on the Amazons’ shores. The bad guys were invading a paradise with their tools of war and the Amazons, as fierce and prepared and righteous as they were, were outmatched. Oh, how I hate seeing the bad guys win.
The Amazons ultimately prevail in that scene, but not without losing several precious comrades. It reminded me of so many things — our daily battles for justice and fairness while being outmatched by the cruelty and violence of a world that doesn’t value us. The battles of my Native American ancestors, who were similarly outmatched and slaughtered (along with many Indigenous peoples) over a period of centuries and even now. My gorgeous child, so compassionate and aware, already outmatched by the unconscious cruelty of some of their peers and the other intolerant voices they encounter on a regular basis. The righteous indignation slammed into my heart and I spent the rest of the film seething about a world so upside-down that war and violence are privileged over what we know to be right and good.
It has taken no time at all for the furor to erupt among certain men who are clearly threatened by such a symbol of female, progressive, light-oriented empowerment. They want to silence us and keep us residing in certain boxes that they feel we deserve. When we stand up we are unworthy and exploiting victim-hood. Is there anything more unfair or unjust? I don’t think so.
This came from someone who was clearly INCENSED about a women-only screening of Wonder Woman in Austin, TX. His attack? HOW DARE WE? Everyone knows we women achieve nothing useful.
The theater that pandered to the sexism typical of women will, I hope, regret it’s decision. The notion of a woman hero is a fine example of women’s eagerness to accept the appearance of achievement without actual achievement. Women learn from an early age to value make-up, that it’s OK to pretend that you are greater than you actually are. Women pretend they do not know that only men serve in combat because they are content to have an easier ride. Women gladly accept gold medals at the Olympics for coming in 10th and competing only against the second class of athletes. Name something invented by a woman! Achievements by the second rate gender pale in comparison to virtually everything great in human history was accomplished by men, not women. (Source — NPR)
The fact that so many of us want nothing more for our world than justice, freedom, and equality for all has me roiling. The alt right hate media have painted us as ‘libtards’ and snowflakes (a slur, by the way, referencing the snowflake-like ashen remains of those killed in Nazi concentration camps). And yet, I am on their side, too.
What I must clarify is that my version of progress involves the progress of all beings towards certain shared ideals — ideals based on compassion and altruism and taking care of those in need. We progressives know that humanity is more the same than different and we care about the whole of humanity. None of us are free until all of us are free and far too many well-meaning people are enslaved by a system that increasingly attempts to marginalize, demean, shun, and yes, ALLOW TO DIE, many of our deemed-less-than-useful citizens. (Source: Why I Resist)
We are impinging on their privilege, calling them out for their intolerance of their fellow citizens, saying WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE SEEN AND HEARD. Because what we ultimately want is a better world for all — even those who don’t know or acknowledge that we are on their side, too.
Our world is a horrible place. We are several millennia into a patriarchal, authoritarian regime that privileges war, violence, and scarcity thinking over fundamental human rights. Women make up over 50% of the humans on our planet. They are concerned about matters of home and family. They are DEEPLY concerned about recent trends in politics that appear to be unraveling DECADES of progress in civil and human rights. We need to be represented more equitably, but we are not. We are marginalized and denied access to the most powerful bastions of mostly corrupt elites. (Source: #WiseWomen Lead)
In this case, I know we occupy a moral and ethical high ground that has the big picture of our survival and progress as one human species at its core. These are values held by the nurturers in our world — values that elevate long-view thinking over short-term domination, control, and profit.
The feminine principle is about abundance, prosperity, and nurturing and supporting all beings residing on Earth at this time. It is about creation and nurturing creative expression. It is vehemently not about destruction and not about exploitation of people nor of planetary resources. It is about unconditional love for all humankind and reaching out to the most vulnerable among you. It is about understanding, inclusion, and forgiveness. (Source: The Return of the Goddess)
In short, I left the theater thinking about values. About my progressive, liberal values, in fact, which include a vision for peace, unity, truth and transparency, diversity and inclusion, compassion and kindness, and solidarity behind JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL.
Many others are now participating in an organized Resistance Movement in our own world. George Takei (Star Trek’s Sulu) has called for our participation with this rallying cry:
It is axiomatic that little worth fighting for has ever come without a fight. New veterans of our struggle will emerge from the coming clashes. And while we all wish that future generations would not have to face the terror, isolation, and even deadly effects of hatred and bigotry, we are reminded today, more than ever, that the struggle may truly never be over. Enemies of progress, equality, and justice often slip away unnoticed for years, regroup and change their names and strategies, then re-emerge to challenge what we have gained. (Source: My Heroes Have Always Been Rebels)
In short, it is time for us to #WagePeace.
Something else that is important to consider — nobody needs permission to be a leader in causes like peace, justice, and equality, which the film embodies beautifully:
About Lisa Galarneau, Ph.D: I am a socio-cultural anthropologist, futurist, US Army veteran, and mother. I am also the founder of the Planetary Liberation Front — A Revolution of Mind. We’re looking for contributors, so please contact me if you’re interested! Or join us on Facebook!
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