In the movie "Gran Torino," Walt Kowalski and Father Janovich play significant roles in each other's lives, but their relationship is more complex than a traditional mentor-mentee dynamic. While they influence and impact each other in various ways, it would be more accurate to describe their relationship as a mutual learning experience rather than a traditional mentorship.

• Walt Kowalski is a grizzled Korean War veteran and portayed as a hardened, bigoted man
• he is older and more experienced, thus more likely to be a mentor to the priest than the other way around
• while he initially exhibits prejudice and hostility towards people of different ethnic backgrounds, including Father Janovich, he gradually evolves throughout the movie
• Walt rejects Father Janoviches and undermines his authority by calling him "Sonny" and treating him condescendingly
• Walt ridicules Father Janovich by claiming that he knows nothing about death and life
• he disparages his authority because of his young age

• Father Janovich is a young and idealistic Catholic priest who wants to connect with Walt and his community
• he initially seeks to serve as a spiritual guide for Walt, offering him advice and trying to understand him better
• however, Father Janovich's attempts are often met with resistance, rejection and sarcasm from Walt
• as the story progresses, Father Janovich learns valuable lessons from Walt's experiences and actions
• Walt challenges his naive and idealistic views, forcing Father Janovich to confront the harsh realities of life and the complexities of morality
• Father Janovich, on the other hand, challenges Walt in equal measure and pities him by calling him on the fact that he knows more about death than life Walt concedes
• despite Walt's insults, Father Janovich is presistent when trying to convince Walt to confess in order to find peace Walt, however acts dismissive

• While Walt acts as a mentor to Tao, his relationship with Father Janovich can be described more as a mutual learning experience
• as Father Janovich tries to understand and connect with Walt, he begins to recognize the depth of Walt's character and the reasons behind his prejudices
• Father Janovich learns to appreciate the complexities of human nature, challenges his own preconceptions, and gains a more nuanced perspective on life
• simultaneously, Walt also learns from Father Janovich's unwavering faith, humility, and compassion
• through his interactions with Father Janovich, Walt starts questioning his own beliefs and realizes the importance of forgiveness and redemption
• Father Janovich's presence serves as a catalyst for Walt's personal growth and transformation
• ultimately Walt starts to respect Father Janovich and even allows him to use his first name
• although the priest tries to mentor Walt, he is eventually mentored by Walt
• Walt starts to go to confession; even though he does not indulge to the function of a true confession
• Father Janovich admits that he knew nothing about life and death before meeting Walt

• In conclusion, while Walt Kowalski and Father Janovich impact each other's lives and serve as significant influences, their relationship in "Gran Torino" can be better characterized as a mutual learning experience rather than a traditional mentorship.
• Walt acts as a mentor figure to Thao, while Father Janovich plays a role in challenging Walt's beliefs and facilitating his personal growth.

• The cartoon shows two figures standing in front of the world map talkig about democracy
• on the left hand side there's a TV showing the "capitol riots"
• there are two speech bubbles raising; Uncle Sam's asking where they should export democracy to next; the second one raising from his fellow American asking if they shouldn't save some for themselves

• one figure supposed to represent the US in form of the most famous national allegory Uncle Sam advocating to bring democracy somewhere else by asking which country should be democratized next
• in this proposal he refers to the fact that the USA tried to replace the dictatorial structures that still prevail in Afghanistan or Iraq, for example, with democratic ones
• it is seen less as a human right or a way to give voice to society, and more as an exportable product entailing economic benefits and interests to the US
• man standing next to him does not oppose to the suggestion, however, he interjects with them having to "save some for" their own country
• the TV screen on the right hand side of the two showing the Capitol riots implies that the cartoonist seems to side with the fellow American
• the attack on the capitol on 6 january 2021 by Trump supporters was an attack on the country's democracy and was intended to undermine Joe Biden's official election victory
• this is how the cartoonist criticises the possible sell-out of democracy and demands that the USA should try to secure its own democracy

• the cartoon provides a powerful commentary on the state of democracy in the United States and the hypocrisy of advocating for democracy abroad while facing challenges to democracy at home
• the cartoonist uses Uncle Sam, a symbol of American power and influence, to highlight the United States' history of promoting democracy in other countries.
• this contrast underscores the irony of advocating for democracy in other countries while democracy is threatened at home.
• the depiction of riots in the US as a threat to democracy is a poignant commentary on the attack on the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, by supporters of former President Trump.
• the violent and unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy was a grave threat to the country's democratic institutions and the peaceful transfer of power.
• on the one hand, domestic issues, such as riots or threats to democratic institutions, should be addressed before attempting to export democracy
• furthermore, critics might argue that the United States should set a positive example for other countries by ensuring a robust and functioning democracy within its borders
• only by successfully upholding democratic principles and resolving internal challenges can the US effectively advocate for democracy abroad
• another argument could be that addressing domestic issues and safeguarding democracy at home is essential for national security and stability
• a weakened or unstable democracy can hinder the United States' ability to project influence and promote democratic values globally

• on the contrary, however, the notion of spreading democracy means advocating for human rights and giving voice to oppressed populations in other countries,
• the argument here is that exporting democracy aligns with the values of freedom, equality, and self-governance
• the cartoon suggests by using the word "export" that there may be economic motivations behind exporting democracy
• advocates might argue that promoting stability and democratic governance in other nations creates favorable conditions for economic growth, trade, and investment, benefiting the United States

• all in all, in my opinion, the USA must ensure democracy in its own country in order to set an example of security, freedom, and equality to its population and to other countries
• after the country was disrupted under President Trump and democratic values and ideas were affected, Biden's government must unite society again