I’ve been watching it on and off all week. Unfortunately these specials aren’t as important as they once were. When “Roots” was shown in 1977, it ran for eight consecutive evenings, and everybody watched it. You’d watch an episode and then discuss it the next day.
I was thinking that the series on the Revolution might inspire some patriotism, some understanding of what this country went through to gain its independence. The series does not flinch from the issue of slavery in a war for “liberty” in which all men are created equal, nor does it turn away from discussing the irony of a population that wanted independence in part so the Indians would no longer be protected by British soldiers.
The series also emphasizes that this new government really was a new thing. Nothing like it had been tried. It was truly an experiment. Could we pull this off? How long would it last? Would freedoms and participation and citizenship be extended to all inhabitants? Can a people retain the ability to govern themselves?
I must tell you–the main emotion I am left with after watching the series is overwhelming sadness.
No comments:
Post a Comment