Denzel Washington Doesn’t Need Your Oscars Because He’s Got Heaven

There’s a member of my extended family with whom I disagree about everything. They’re super right-wing and believe in things that are, honestly, horrible. I first met them when gay marriage was legalized, and they had this sh*t-eating grin on their face as they dismissed it as a mistake. They suck, and arguing with them is pointless. Not because they are firm in their terrible beliefs, quite the opposite. They’re smart and can often agree when you point out that what they’re saying is bullsh*t. Arguing with them is pointless because they always have a fallback that they cannot be shaken from: they believe in God, and I don’t, so I’m wrong.

It’s the f***ing worst, and can make any conversation with them pointless. They aren’t even the only member of my family who is like that. There’s a moral superiority to them that is exhaustingly obnoxious, and any argument or debate will not happen in good faith, but in their faith. It’s something that irks me so much that I must constantly remind myself that not every religious person is trying to make themselves look better or more informed than you. Plenty of them are just trying to live life here and then move on to their reward, and what happens here is all gravy, like the incomparable Denzel Washington.

Denzel Washington, who is one of the greatest actors to ever live (fr fr no cap), has been nominated for ten Academy Awards but only won twice. Twice! That should be illegal! But he isn’t sweating it, as he recently revealed on Jake’s Takes, saying, “I don’t do it for Oscars.” The legendary actor was happy to elaborate. “I don’t care about that kind of stuff,” he explained. “I’ve been at this a long time, and there’s time when I won and shouldn’t have won and then didn’t win and should’ve won. Man gives the award. God gives the reward.” Amen, Denzel!

I am far from a religious person, but the latter half of that quote is undeniably catchy! Despite knocking their importance, Denzel kept going on about the unimportant trophies. “I’m not that interested in Oscars. People ask me, ‘Where do I keep it?’ Well, next to the other one,” he noted. “I’m not bragging! Just telling you how I feel about it. On my last day, [Oscars] aren’t going to do me a bit of good.” Jake Hamilton, who was interviewing Denzel, joked that God doesn’t ask about Oscars, and Denzel laughed, saying, “He [God] might go, ‘That’s why I gave you an extra week.’ [As] long as he says, ‘Now, get on up here,’ I’m alright.”

Washington, who was baptized last year, has the kind of faith I can get behind. He isn’t forcing on folks or using it to excuse his actions. The man is not using it to strike down someone’s ideas or arguments. He’s just happy, ready for his “eternal reward,” and isn’t sweating the small stuff here on Earth. Do I think he’s right about where we end up? No. Do I think he’s right in allowing his beliefs to bring him peace? Hell yes.