From the editor: This section is dedicated to the Public Forum, where we publish opinions on public and social issues that affect the Malibu community and our readers at large.
Walt Disney had the best casting. If he didn’t like an actor, he just tore him up. I grew up with Walt Disney, as did most veteran Malibuites. Walt knew he had something amazing with the story of the despondent Geppetto and his wooden Pinocchio. We all know how Pinocchio struck a convention with the Blue Fairy. Pinocchio promised to resist temptation-to be brave, truthful and most of all, unselfish. If Jiminy prove himself worthy of the Blue Fairy’s trust and his father’s love, in return she will make him a bona fide boy.
Geppetto’s woodenhead puppet was a dangerous mixture of naiveté and curiosity, with a healthy sense of adventure, to boot. To assist him on his arduous journey, the Blue Fairy appoints Jiminy Cricket as “Lord High Keeper of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong, Counselor in Moments of Temptation, and Guide along the Straight and Narrow Path.”
Jiminy Cricket was to be Pinocchio’s “official conscience.” Despite the fact Cricket could turn an umbrella into a parachute, and looked dapper in his top hat and spats, he was not a perfect conscience. Jiminy was habitually late and often ignored by Pinocchio when he did arrive. I don’t think Walt ever really liked Collodi’s original Pinocchio from which the story was taken, and it’s no wonder. In the initial version, Pinocchio was more selfish, much naughtier and more egotistical than in the final Disney version. The original Pinocchio was such a dimwit that he squashed his friend, the Cricket, in a fit of temper.
Most of us know what happens in Walt’s story. Pinocchio wants to become a real boy. He wants to prove himself worthy, to be brave, truthful, and unselfish, but like the youth today, he won’t listen to his conscience. He ends up on Pleasure Island having the time of his life playing pool (don’t you love that pool was a sin), smoking cigarettes, tasting demon rum and finally sporting the ears of the jackass he was becoming. Young Mr. Pinocchio tries to escape on a raft, which gets swallowed by Mostro, the Whale, and is united with Geppetto who has been searching for his lost boy and is dying of a broken heart. As they try to escape Mostro’s belly, Pinocchio finally proves himself brave, truthful and, most importantly, unselfish. He is awarded with a real life.
Pinocchio is just a bedtime story, and a celebrated kids’ movie. However, children are once again in the news for the most heinous inexplicable acts of crime including mass murder. What provokes a 12-year-old child to kill? Can it happen in Malibu, in our homes or in our schools?
Dear reader, take note of my thoughts. I would venture to state that if SMMUSD schools and parents spent more time focusing on the lessons within the Lord High Keeper of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong, Counselor in Moments of Temptation, Guide along the Straight and Narrow Path, and less time on “it’s all relative, don’t be judgmental, he’s just doing his thing, don’t lay a guilt trip on me approach to life,” that Malibu youth might have a chance to figure out that there actually is a right and wrong in this world. Instead, their time is spent in courses on sex education and the art of home made drugs. How about a course on “Let Your Conscience be Your Guide”?
The original Pinocchio killed the Cricket. Maybe Malibuites should learn from Pinocchio’s actions. Our children’s problems are partly parent-made; therefore parents may solve them. No dilemma of our children is beyond the control of the caring parent. Walt Disney realized that and so did Geppetto and hopefully so will Malibu parents. Of course some parents always live in Fantasy Land.
And that is all I have to say.
Tom Fakehany