Ellen DeGeneres used the plot of “Finding Dory” to simply and beautifully explain why the Muslim ban is wrong
Over the weekend, amidst news of refugees and other green card holders being detained at US airports, and of thousands of Americans fighting on their behalf in protest, news also broke that President Trump watched Finding Dory — and Ellen DeGeneres, the film’s star, has a thing or two to say about it.
But because she’s Ellen DeGeneres, she’s managed to say it in a sweet, easy-to-digest way that should hopefully — hopefully! — speak to some viewers who still treat Muslims and other refugees with fear and intolerance.
We think. We hope.
”I don’t get political, so I’m not going to talk about the travel ban,” DeGeneres began in a segment set to air on her show on Tuesday, after briefly explaining the details of Trump’s executive ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
“I’m just gonna talk about the very non-political, family-friendly, People’s Choice Award-winning Finding Dory.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dybBD1hbmF4?feature=oembed
DeGeneres went on to describe the plot of the film, explaining that Dory lives in Australia, while her parents reside in America.
“I don’t know what religion they are, but her dad sounds a little Jewish. It doesn’t matter,” DeGeneres quipped, undoubtedly referencing the fact that President Trump’s ban discriminates against one religious group implicitly.
Dory and her friends Marlin and Nemo eventually swim to American waters, DeGeneres continued, “and she ends up at the Marine Life Institute behind a large wall.”
“They all have to get over the wall, and you won’t believe it, but that wall has almost no effect in keeping them out,” she explained to rapturous applause.
"Even though Dory gets into America, she ends up separated from her family. But the other animals help Dory. Animals that don't even need her. Animals that don't even have anything in common with her. They help her even though they're completely different colors, because that's what you do when you see someone in need — you help them. That is what I hope everyone who is watching 'Finding Dory' has learned."
Is anyone else chopping onions right now?
Seriously though, all the props in the world to DeGeneres for her ability to speak on serious issues with such a deft, thoughtful touch. We need our anger and we need our protestors, but we also need folks like Ellen to remind us of how simple right and wrong can be when we boil it down to Pixar.