Posted by Bill R on July 03, 2000 at 11:17:05:
In Reply to: Re: My Annual Rave Regarding 1776! posted by Vita on July 03, 2000 at 10:26:22:
Vita,
Good God girl, You also could depress a hyena (paraphrasing an earlier post of mine). Not disputing one bit your commentary on the human ability to commit depraved and barbaric acts. It is so sadly true.
However, there are wonderful capacities in the human spirit too.
Example: the way all of us come together in prayer and support when one of us needs it. The way so many folks donated items for Ariel's cabin- Kate most of all perhaps - for a child nobody has seen and nobody knows but touches the heart. The way a man can love a woman and vice versa - to the point of sacrificing his own life for his love when necessary, or a woman can sacrifice her life for her children's sake. They way men and women can put their lives and fortunes on the line for a belief in something higher than just self-interest. There is a spark in all of us of the angelic and heavenly. Some repress it. Some have lost it. But at birth, it is there in all of us.
And many have taken that spark and made of it a glowing aura of spirit....some of whom post to this board...including you I suspect. :)
Bill R
: Dear Pilgrim,
Almost every nation's/race's/creed's history contains its own baggage of atrocities committed towards their very own as well as their enemies. Bill talked about Germans' burning people alive during 2nd World War, and I can trade anecdote per anecdote of similar Serbian atrocities towards Jews, Albanians, Catholics, Muslims, or towards their very own, also delve into the tragedy of almost 10,000,000 Kulaks in the Ukraine, being starved to death, burned alive in their homes, farms, etc. by the Communists in the 1930s...
: I am wondering if the species homo sapiens ever had a truly kinder, gentler episode in its long line of evolution. I see only isolated pockets of peace and civilized behavior.
: Compared to so much darkness, the history of the U.S. has a lot of bright periods of which we ought to be proud of. In fact, there are surprisingly gracious periods of tranquility and civilization in a good many corners of the world's history, but are those enough to make one proud of being called a human?
: Hmmm. Thank you for the post, Pilgrim. I vote yey for seeing 1776! and another yey for The Patriot!
: Luv ya,
: Vita :-)
:
: Hello and Happy 4th! For all of you who want something besides The Patriot to help you celebrate our Independence, I highly recommend 1776. It is an excellent movie based on the successful early '70s Broadway production. Yes--it IS a musical, and seeing our "Founding Fathers" sing is an experience one never forgets! There is a lot of humour, but also deals with the drama and tragedy of the colonials' fight. The musical number right before the south pulls out of the debate due to the slavery issue is intense. Meanwhile, William Daniels is a perfect ring leader as John Adams (who is "obnoxious and disliked!"), and Howard De Silva is the ultimate Ben Franklin--calm and humourous in his biting commentaries--ridden with gout, he hobbles into the meeting and quips--"If only King George felt like my big toe--ALL OVER!". I am always amazed to watch this movie and marvel at the amount of history they are able to put into song. It is quite accurate and really gives a physical sense of the atmosphere in which this document was conceived. To date, it is my personal favorite docu-drama regarding the birth of the USA. Watch and enjoy! Everyone have a great and safe 4th!--Pilgrim Penny