Gru's Plan

Everyone wants merit-based until merit-based means the best actress/singer for the role is the "wrong" ethnicity

Hey the mermaid should have been accurate we can’t help that

Accurate to what though is the point. If you say (assuming you're one of those who wanted her to be "white") "accurate to her original skin tone" then you're being exactly like the people you claim to stand against by making everything about the color of someone's skin instead of the merit of the person. Were she playing a European, I might feel differently, but she was playing a mermaid, who belongs to no specific HUMAN ethnicity. To fault Disney for casting a person of a different-shade-of-brown skin for a role that had no specific ethnicity is really just fueling the fire, don't you think?

You do realize they are half human so they do follow ethnicity just because they’re not fully human doesn’t mean it’s not sorta following human standards, also Disney casted her most likely to say “we support everyone” and to be honest that gets tiring I just wanna sit down and watch a fun movie without being reminded about how the problems are rampant around the world

If you can't watch a movie without being distracted by the actors' skin tone, you're the problem. I'm sorry. It's just the facts. God created us all equal. There is no difference between us, "white" or "black," etc. We're all human beings created by the Lord in His image. If we would all start seeing people that way, these "problems" of which you speak would quickly take care of themselves.

I’m not I’m saying it’s weird I’m saying the message behind it is just something I don’t wanna think about. I think that a movie is for fun, not empowerment or something else.

Right, and it's only "about" empowerment if you, the viewer, choose to make it so. I've watched it several times and I never felt uncomfortable or like some narrative was being pushed or they were making a statement. That's my point. If you can't watch a movie and take it at face value and enjoy it because you're distracted by what the director was hypothetically thinking when they cast someone solely because of their "race," I just ask should you really be focusing that much on "race"?

Look, at the end of the day we're just not gonna agree I guess. I appreciate your honesty and I respect your desire for fairness and equality. I don't know if your views are based on any sort of faith, or political stance, or what it is, but you have conviction and I appreciate that. They may differ from mine, and that's OK. That's the beauty of this country and the freedoms that we have.

I hope I've done something to help you see that "race" isn't the be-all-end-all, and in a society that has so many issues it may not be the best hill for us to die on. I'm not advocated for so-called "color blindness" but I think we all could use a little more preoccupation with the person's talent and abilities than their "race." Right-wing, left-wing, whichever side we are on, let's start focusing less on these surface-level issues and focus on what truly matters.

@OhGodWhatDidYouDo we're a lot alike. Just look at our usernames, lol. And from our conversation it seems like we have the same political views when it comes to social issues. I just hope we can put our differences aside and unite on common convictions.

And if you don't know Jesus, I pray that you come to Him. He breaks down all the walls that divide us. In Him, we are all one. The Bible says that people of every tribe, tongue, and language will worship Jesus in the end -- this means that in Christ, there is no such thing as "race" any more. Instead, those who trust in Him are all brothers and sisters -- and I hope to see you there worshipping Him one day.

God bless you, @OhGodWhatDidYouDo. And thanks for the stimulating discussion!

Also ps look up why they casted her to be an African American it shows that they did cast her to empower young African American women

I think this is an honorable cause. African American women, demographically speaking (yes, I recognize I said there is no difference. That doesn't mean demographics don't exist) are at the highest risk of domestic violence, abuse, and have the highest rate of poverty. Why should anyone be faulted for trying to help people? There is nothing wrong with showing women of a certain demographic that there can be more to life than the life of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIOAlaACuv4)

Yea but that is not a merit system like you said. That is picking someone since you want to make them feel good. The exact opposite of the merit system

I never said that's why they cast her. I'm saying if it is it's an honorable cause.

Look at your first comment

Right. I said they based the role on the best singing talent. I was making a joke, mostly. But to humor you, let me rephrase my last comment:

"I never said that [being "black"] is why they cast her. I'm saying if it is, it's an honorable cause [to want to encourage a group of people who need it]."

yes, but you forgot Pixar, amongst others😁

greed has ruined Disney for all eternity

real that's how my parents always talk about Disney

Glad I'm antipolitics at this point. All of you brought this on yourselves!

This is true