Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Greatest?




I am not bad about sharing videos. I usually do not have time to watch them myself, and I always feel bad when anyone else posts videos and I just move on.

But watch this, please. If this is the ONLY video you watch this week, watch this one. It is about 3 1/2 minutes from the series of the new HBO show called "Newsroom." It's written or produced or something by the same man who did "The West Wing." Jed Bartlett never threw any punches and there are none thrown here.

And then let me ask you a question - why is the US the greatest country on earth?

9 comments:

fallenmonk said...

Thanks for sharing that. It really doesn't pull any punches does it?

Mr. Charleston said...

Seen it. Now you have to see mine. Look for Black.

jadedj said...

I am with you about the video thing. I could spend all day watching videos of interest, so I have reached a point where I rarely do so. But I did watch this one, and glad I did. Very powerful. Thanks for sharing it. I'm passing it on.

Steven said...

I've said those same things many times but never with that power. Often, just to myself. Sigh.
"Exceptionalism' is a terrible disease and this nation has a good chance of dying from it. But we can't heal ourselves until we stop denying that we have a problem.

LeftLeaningLady said...

I've said these same things too. A lot more as I've finished the history minor and realized so much more.

Fair enough, Mr. Charleston, because I did not watch it! I just commented on your last post, but I will check it out now!

Ahab said...

I saw this at Brilliant at Breakfast too. A well-done, hard-hitting video.

I do take issue with one thing the character suggests -- that earlier times were somehow better and more virtuous than modern times. While people from decades ago did fight the Nazis and fly to the moon, their society was also characterized by more sexism, racism, homophobia, and insularity. The modern era is stellar, in my opinion, because LGBTQs, women, and minorities have far more rights, and because communication technology puts us in touch with more people across the world.

LeftLeaningLady said...

Yes, Ahab, I am in complete agreement, so my republished note from Facebook on how 'righteous' America was in the beginning. My main disagreement was when he said, "We didn't beat our chests." I find that to be total BS.

Ahab said...

Darn right America beat its chest back then! Bay of Pigs? The Cold War in general?

LeftLeaningLady said...

Exactly! And even before that!

But otherwise I think he was correct.

I've now watched Episode 1, 2, and half of 3. It's not all as powerful as that clip, but it's a fun show.