Obama's backing brings 'To Kill a Mockingbird' full circle

Endorsing a movie and novel that is already an American classic, can become a hotbed political topic? Next thing you know you'll be outcrying the Easter egg hunts that have been done on the white house for decades. Making political issues out of non-issues is what is making the Republican Party look crazy.

Malcolm Gladwell's take on Lee's masterpiece is consistent with the Critical Race Theory movement, which declares that the civil rights movement was naive, childish, and ultimately a failure. White supremacism in America (goes the argument) is so ingrained, that non-whites' interests cannot be protected using traditional liberal concepts of reason, equality, and fair play. They need to look to their interests by any means necessary.

The current President has spoken favorably of Critical Race Theory's leading proponents.

Great book. Great film. I think Obama is mostly a failure as President, but he is using his position to a good purpose in this case.

Obama should write one and call it To Kill An Economy. That is something he is an expert at.

To Kill A Mockingbird is indeed a great book and worthy of honor by any president. The film is, in my view, even better--something we can't often say about films made from books.

Malcolm Gladwell and his crowd are pathetic in this instance. Oh how we demand perfection! We see our times as enlightened, and all prior goodness beknighted by comparison. Such arrogance.

I read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time since High School a few months ago. It really is a classic novel and is well worth introducing to a new generation.

The President is endorsing the film as a sign of support for the colored boy who was slain in Florida by that Zimmerman fellow. Considering the President's policies and his efforts to create class warfare and caste systems this seems hypocritical. Perhaps a better film to bring back would be "Birth of a Nation," which historically documents the exact reason that anti-colored organizations started.

Although I am against racism and bigotry, I do not enjoy seeing others, especially the President, using such subtle measures as a classic movie to further their agendas. If this nation wants peace, equality, -etc. then it must return to God and adopt His ways; follow in the footsteps of the Master, and you will have peace.

If cherry-picked anecdotes, post-hoc sophistry and false dichotomies are your thing, then read Gladwell.

Parker wrote the classic(?) "Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care."

And these two are referenced critics of Harper Lee?

When given a choice between Gladwell, Parker and Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mocking Bird" easily wins every time.

film critic and chief. this is rich! I guess this is the most important issue today, behind call fluke, trayvon, women being abused by repubs.

Absolutely one of the greatest films of all time. I cry every time I watch it.

Thank you, President Obama, for generously sharing this wonderful book/film with America. "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Gregory Peck are classics. I am grateful for the White House sharing this with the younger generations who may not yet have received it's profound message.