Best Friends, Mortal Enemies

By Evelyn David

Jodie Foster's gracious, thoughtful, clever, impassioned (if slightly confusing) speech at The Golden Globes captured the interest, attention, and affection of most viewers. Although she never used the word "gay," the audience, both those in the theater and those watching on TV, understood that it was a deliberate choice she was making in "outing" herself – and she gave a clear explanation of why she has chosen to remain private all these years. I admire and respect her as a phenomenal actress, as well as believe she is a lovely person.

So I gotta ask – how is she friends with Mel Gibson, enough that he was sitting at her table, right next to her, along with her children?

His arrests, public meltdowns, vitriolic drunken anti-semitic, anti-gay, racist tirades have appalled most of us. The words he has used would offend almost anyone. And yet, from the beginning, Jodie Foster has been a strong supporter of Gibson – and insists that he is not really the man who spews such hatred. “He’s not a perfect person,” she says. “He’s a complicated person. That’s why I love him." In another interview, given as part of publicity for the film she directed and in which Gibson stars, she said, "When you love a friend, you don't abandon them when they are struggling," Of course, Mel is an undeniably gifted actor and director, and 'The Beaver' is one of his most powerful and moving performances. But more importantly, he is and has been a true and loyal friend. I hope I can help him get through this dark moment."

I am genuinely impressed by her strong sense of loyalty, even if I wonder if it's misplaced.

Then there is the friendship of Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I don't think you could find two more divergent jurists. They are literally at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of judicial philosophy; he is an unapologetic conservative, she is an equally proud liberal. But these two have been best friends for more than 30 years. They and their spouses have spent every New Year's Eve together for decades. They even take trips together.

Which leads me to ask: what do we expect of our friends? Clearly, I don't want a clone of myself. I've got friends with whom I never discuss politics because it will only lead to disagreement. We all know where we stand on issues. But I also know that even if we don't agree on candidates or politics, we share common ground on fundamentals about family, religion, service to others, or we have similar interests. I am told that Scalia and Ginsburg both love music, especially opera, and, as Justice Ginsburg has explained, "I can say one thing about Justice Scalia. He is one of the few people in the world who can make me laugh, and I appreciate him for that."

If such ideological opposites such as Foster/Gibson and Scalia/Ginsburg can be friends, is that something we should all aspire to do? Or is there a limit to friendship, a line which can't be crossed?

Your thoughts?

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David

 

A Reason to Give Thanks includes: Giving Thanks in Lottawatah, Bah, Humbug in Lottawatah, Moonlighting at the Mall, The Fortune Teller's Face, A Reason to Give Thanks, Sneak Peek – Murder Off the Books, Sneak Peek – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries
A Reason to Give Thanks
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Nook
Smashwords

 

Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback 
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

 

 

Zoned for Murder
Kindle Trade Paperback

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)

Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords