Opinion: Just be nice

One of my favorite movies starring the late Patrick Swayze is titled Roadhouse. The 1989 film features Swayze as Daulton, the head bouncer at a rowdy nightclub known as the Double Deuce.

During a staff meeting, Swayze’s character Daulton explains what is expected of his employees. He instructs his staff that when dealing with unruly bar patrons, the most important thing is to “be nice.”

Be nice is some of the best advice a person can get. Care to improve your image? Be nice. Have unpleasant news to deliver? Be nice. Dealing with stress? Well, you get the picture.

The beauty of being nice is that it generally doesn’t tax one’s bank account. Don’t allow yourself to spend money you don’t have on things or people you can’t afford, and remember to be nice.

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Retail therapy is one way of dealing with grief. Don’t let the momentary rush of getting something new rule your life. It isn’t worth it. Too many of us are just two or three paychecks away from living on the streets. One must work hard in this life.

Remembering the story of the grasshopper and the ant, as much fun as it seems to play all day, the grasshopper froze to death when the winter came.

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During the Trump campaign and presidency, people seemed to forget how to be nice. In all my life I have never seen the political landscape so ugly. People lost their minds and perspectives when President Donald J. Trump managed to win the Whitehouse.

My cousin’s father canceled his family Thanksgiving gathering when Hillary Clinton lost the election. I guess he decided he no longer had reason to be thankful.

That attitude makes me want to send him to a third-world country, where he really would have no reason to be thankful. Except that really wouldn’t be nice.

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Earlier this week I watched a two-night, four-hour documentary on the life of Benjamin Franklin. Produced by legendary filmmaker Ken Burns, it featured actor Mandy Patinkin as the voice of Franklin. While not a fan of Patinkin, Burns is brilliant.

Watching and relearning what our forefathers went through to create the United States of America was fascinating. With only two years of formal education, Dr. Franklin, as he came to be known, laid the foundation for the greatest experiment in self-governance in the history of the world.

That is something to be grateful for. If anyone needs modern-day confirmation, one only has to look at the lengths people will go through to enter this country — illegally if need be.

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The final item I’d like to address this week is the incident that took place at this year’s Academy Awards. Comedian and host Chris Rock made a tacky joke directed towards actress Jada Pinkett Smith. It referenced her recent struggle with the disease alopecia. This affliction causes one’s hair to fall out. Rock said he was looking forward to G.I. Jane ll. The original G.I. Jane starred Demi More whose character shaved her head when she entered the U.S. military.

The first reaction from the audience was laughter, which included her husband actor, Will Smith. When Jada rolled her eyes, Smith ran up on stage and slapped Rock across the face.

Rock’s response was one of shock followed by a comment of disbelief. Smith returned to his seat and yelled at Rock to keep his wife’s name out of his <expletive> mouth. When Rock tried to explain it was not a dig at Jada but a joke about G.I.Jane, Smith repeated the expletive statement.

I don’t go to the movies very often. Anything worth seeing will be available for home viewing if one just waits a few months.

My line is: “When I watch movies, I like to sit in my underwear and smoke cigarettes!” and “Bobby Gran just hates it when I do that at his place!”

I didn’t see the incident on live TV. It has, however, blown up on social media and the Internet.

Of all the Oscar broadcasts I have seen, I remember only two. One, in 1974, with David Niven as a presenter, photographer Robert Opel “streaked” across the stage.

Recovering his composer Niven is famous for having said, “Well ladies and gentlemen, that was bound to happen. But, isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings!”

The other occurred the year before. In 1973, Marlon Brando won his best-actor award for the role of Vito Corleone in “The Godfather.”

Brando had Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather accept the award on his behalf. Dressed in full native garb she stated Brando very regretfully could not accept the award as he was protesting Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans on film.

Now I have three memorable Oscar shows.

Besides, who hasn’t wanted to smack Chris Rock?

Oh yeah, that’s not nice…

Have a blessed weekend.

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Readers may contact Tami Jo Nix at tamijonix@gmail.com or @tamijonix on Twitter.