"Intermission Time"

In 1956, I went to the "Bug" theatre on Damen Avenue in Chicago to see Cecil B. De Mille's production of "The Ten Commandments". I was nine years old, and it cost me 20 cents to get into the movies. This was a Saturday afternoon practice I had throughout my childhood. Back then, a child could walk to the movies alone and be safe. My grandmother, Nona, would give me food to take along; this was a typical Italian practice. Back then, you could bring food into a movie house and management didn't care. The theatre was always packed with kids; you would see everybody you knew. The thing I remember about this particular movie is: it wasn't the usual Saturday fare; not horror, or science-fiction or a western; it was about the bible. Due to the ignorance of my youth, I didn't know the bible was supposed to be boring. I found it easily as exciting as the other action genres I was accustomed to. It had armies fighting for the Pharaoh, a good guy, Moses, a bad guy, Ramses and the most "super" of all "super heroes", "GOD"! This was also the first movie I saw that had an intermission in it. The "Ten Commandments" was a long movie, yet it seemed to fly by. I was a bit surprised to have a movie stop in the middle; the lights went up and then there was a mass exodus to the bathrooms and concession stand. Many of us talked about the first half of the movie, and were anxious to see the second half. Could there be more action, more fighting, more cool effects; we were all excited to see what was coming next! I'll let you guys read the book, it was better than the movie!

Tuesday was the mid-term election, the halfway point of this current administration. Now, we are at "intermission time" as a nation. How has the first half of this "production" gone so far? We've had plenty of action on both sides of this "drama". Unemployment, health-care, and high government spending have been "center stage" for almost two years. Public demonstrations that rival those of epic films have filled our screens for many months. Americans have become participants in this "epic production", playing a major "role" in its unfolding plot. There are "good guys" and "bad guys" in this play; you decide who is who. Before we got to "intermission" we've had a chance to listen to all major "role players" give a final soliloquy. Americans are now out in the lobby, discussing where this "drama" will go next. Will the "king" yield to the invading "army"? Will the "generals" of those armies make any concessions available to the "king"? A lot of discussion during "intermission"!

In reality, this is not a movie: it's all about the direction of the United States of America for the next two years. We will now see what changes will be proposed, and who will be cooperative, and who will be obstructionists. It seems a clear message was sent to the administration on Tuesday; a change was called for by the American voter. "Intermission" is almost over, and America is waiting for "part two". Is our government ready for a "CLOSE UP"?