I experienced the joy of joining my grandsons for lunch on Father’s Day. They were fixin’ to see “Jurassic World” that evening. We’d seen the previews before we saw “San Andreas” — another summer “blockbuster” featuring spectacular effects and a musclebound oaf whose acting abilities approach that of a rump roast.

I was invited to go to “Jurassic World” but opted out. A gut feeling told me this was going to be a disappointment as Hollywood wrings a few more bucks out of the 20-plus year-old dinosaur franchise.

In a recent column, Amy Calder said this movie was more of lame turkey than a dynamic dinosaur. She also noted the preview of yet another Arnold Schwarzenegger film offering nothing more than mindless violence and mayhem. Amy laments spending more than $150 million on dopey movies when so many people — many of whom are veterans — go hungry and/or homeless.

In other news this week, a white supremacist guns down nine innocent people in a Charleston church — while South Carolina continues to fly the confederate flag. President Barack Obama somberly notes that incidences of violent behavior in America is off the charts — while Maine lawmakers ponder the “right” to carry a concealed weapon. Gov. Paul LePage decorates a Christmas tree with pictures of the “bad guys,” and employs a little pink pig that didn’t squeak — it “quacked.” Draw your own conclusions.

On the positive side, Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign message regarding corporate greed, restoration of the middle class and perpetual war gains ground. Pope Francis issues an encyclical addressing the dreadful condition of the global environment, citing “piles of filth” — sending right-wingers into a frenzy. Pope Francis … I love you, man.

What if we could turn the clock back to a Jurassic World — and start over?

Buddy Doyle

Gardiner