The Indy Doesn’t Matter Problem(s)

This morning’s Cup of Coffee by Craig Calcaterra (this costs money, btw, but is worth it, plus Craig is a super nice guy) brought up the “Indy doesn’t matter” theory about Raiders of the Lost Ark. The idea is that the Nazis would have found the ark and had their faces melted whether Indy was there or not. Craig links to a great article on Collider. In the article, the writer talks about how Indy’s journey matters, and that stories are about empathy and the journey, not just whether the “hero” saved the world or not. It’s a good article, which you can read here.

I don’t want to talk about that though, because the article covers it well. I want to talk about how the idea that if the hero doesn’t save the world, that their story doesn’t matter. I spent most of my life thinking I’d do BIG THINGS. Be a US Senator (I was asked to run for office by the MN Speaker of the House with plans to get me into the state senate within 4-6 years). Fix a big company (those that know my later work at UHG know I almost got this one, but as usual, big fixes were derailed and I was laid off before I could see the fruits of that work). Start some big charity / non-profit (there are plenty, starting another seems wasteful at this point, so I do some small volunteer work instead). Write a freakin’ novel that people liked (this one is still in reach, though I haven’t fully committed to the hard work for some reason).

Anyway, enough about me…..I want to talk about the idea that if you don’t fix the world, your story doesn’t matter. Because that’s what the Indy doesn’t matter theory says. He didn’t really do anything that mattered in that movie, so he’s not important. Of course, he saved Marion, so that seems to matter, but that’s not the point of the theory.

Saying Indy doesn’t matter is like saying our lives don’t matter. Our lives don’t matter, because we aren’t Bezos or Mother Theresa or some other famous person that changed the world. Back to me….I’ve really felt that for the past couple of years. I really did believe I’d make the world a better place on some big scale. That seems unlikely at this point. And, I’ve felt a real sense of failure to live up to my expectations for myself, the expectations I feel others have for me, and even the debt I owe the universe for letting me live. I should have fixed the world, in some way, by now. It’s a stupid feeling, it really is.

And, somehow, reading about the Indy doesn’t matter theory this morning, made me realize just how stupid the thought is. And, how, in some ways, it is a right wing talking point. The right wants us to think that rich, powerful, people are more important than us. Better than us. Harder working than us. Somehow deserving of what they have, even if the inherited it…..The right wants us to be cool with laws and tax systems that reward the wealthy with more power, more influence, more of everything even if they don’t need it. Even if they don’t deserve it, which they don’t.

I’m sure I could type even more on this, and maybe I will. But I want to end with a simple statement, before this gets even longer. I’m actually sure I will write more on this topic someday…..but for now, here is the thought I want to remember.

All our lives matter. Even if we don’t fix the world’s problems. Even if all we do is live a journey through time and space. Our lives matter, and the systems we put in place should better reflect that.