Trolls gave me three L’s; Look, Listen and Learn

I watched three movies last weekend; The Last Picture Show (from 1971), The Money Monster (from 2016) and Trolls (also from 2016).

All were entertaining, but following the weekend events of marches and a presidential anniversary, I got more than a toe tapping good time from Trolls.  I actually got a message out of the sunshine, songs and hugs.  It was Trolls that brought me my “living politically” moment I sought.

If you haven’t seen the movie you will have heard the song “Can’t stop this feeling” from Justin Timberlake.  The version in the movie is actually better as Anna Kendrick adds her vocals to the songs…but I digress.

Here’s the premise; the trolls are thought to bring happiness to those that eat them.  20 years previously (in movie time) Trolls were forced from their home to avoid being devoured by Bergens, big bad monsters who are NEVER happy – except when they eat a Troll on a special holiday ‘Trollstis’.  On the celebration of the 20 year anniversary of their freedom, they are rediscovered by the Bergen who was banished for not delivering the Trollstis meal that fateful night 20 years earlier.

Now, a full generation as passed and Bergens continue to be miserable, well because there are no trolls to eat.

Trolls are small, colourful and happy; Bergens are big bland and unhappy, very unhappy. One Bergen (Bridget) seeks her happiness with her love for the King, but she is a scullery maid being ordered around by the Bergen Chef, once banished and now seeking redemption.  In an effort to save a group of Trolls scooped up Princess Poppy, encounters Bridget and through the ‘positivity’ of being a troll, Poppy convinces Bridget that happiness comes from inside a person, not be eating a troll.

Cutting to the end, Bridget and the King find love (and happiness); all the Bergens discover that they don’t have to eat a troll to find their happiness (and their singing voices); the big bad Bergen chef is once again banished and the land of Bergens is once again full of colour and Trolls and Bergens live happily ever after.

So, here’s the message, and it has nothing to do with singing, dancing or the hourly hugs; though I am sure these would not hurt at all.  In the “win” the trolls had over the Bergens, it was not a “win” at all – but collaboration for better days.  Trolls Poppy and Branch (Justin Timberlake) don’t push their ideals on others.  Instead they work and show how their happiness comes from within; again let me add, no one ever preaches about being best.  Well, one person does and that Bergen ends up being the outcast (again) by the time the dancing starts and the credits roll.

Seriously though, healthy debate resolves issues, name calling does not.  Understanding issues and looking similar outcomes as a starting point means everyone wins.  Being positive on action but not be being positive the other person is wrong will guide everyone down the same path and finally getting to a point that bullying solves nothing is the sure way to a common resolution.

So while I am on the opposite side of the aisle of the government, let me strive to follow three L’s; look, listen and learn from common aspects and seek change and adaptation.  It won’t be easy, but I feel that this way if there is no impasse I will have done my best to see and seek a joint solution.

Ah, If only we had hair like Trolls that would tie all this up in simple bow.

---

Thank you for reading this post; to catch all my posts and be notified as new ones come up please follow me on WordPress. I can be found Twitter @robertdekker, @rdmediaottawa and on Facebook at http://tiny.cc/n5l97.  I can be reached at rdmedia@bell.net