The Winthrop library offers a DVD titled "America -- The Story of Us" by the History Channel. It starts with the story of the US the War of Independence. The fierce battle between England and 'the rebels' and how George Washington fought the war which lead to the independence. The war cost 25,000 American lives and the gloomy reality of the war is depicted in the film. The film uses computer graphics and full of movie-like actions, and with comments of many notable figures in current US politics, including President Obama appearing in the beginning of the recording. The President said, he wants us to get inspired from the figures in the DVD.
I would say, the DVD totally lacks the historical perspective in that there is no narratives on how the idea of freedom or republic originated and developed. Those principles do not emerge just from anywhere. It is a part of the European history where the rigid hierarchical society built and restricted the development of the advancement of technologies.
Looking at 17th century England, there was the civil war. The expense to the war against Spain lead to popular revolt that eventually ended up in the execution of the king Charles. Oliver Cromwell emerged and united the nation into a republic. Even after the confusion after his death, the people's fervent pursuit for the equality survived the monarchy that followed. The Declaration of Independence proudly proclaims: we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Here it is not talking about anarchy; it is talking about freeing themselves of the British monarchy and its hierarchy. In France, a revolution eliminated the monarchy, inspired by the War of Independence in America.
Granted every nation has its own myths in most of the cases at the time of its foundation era. In Japan, there were the gods and goddess, and the chaos was before everything. In Korea, there was the bear that wanted to become human. In China, there were the emperors with seven eyes. In Greece, there were the human-eating monster to be killed by a hero. The myths are for giving the authority to the nation itself; the divine nation is sacred therefore to be defended by all means, however costing human lives. When we were attacked, says in the DVD, we won't be turning other cheeks to the enemies.
The film shows how George Washington had shown the leadership in (brutally) using the method of vaccination to save the army, how he employed a talented officer regardless of his sexual orientation, and how his soldiers are devoted for the cause in fighting against the British soldiers. The film noted that the rebel army has developed new types of weapons at the time of war which are far reaching than the British muskets. Each shot, one battle after another, have made the history of the United States. It is the history of people who are given the wealth and the materials that the New World provided for them who in turn with free wills made use of them with all of their might and abilities possible, who won over the most powerful military entity in the world at that time.
The DVD is fun to watch and inspires the viewers of all the incidents that happened and how they are depicted. The history has made step by step, slowly, gradually but firmly into a direction under leaderships and the clear wills of people. The American people at the time of independence, were not bound by customs and traditions. They were stirred and inspired by political campaigns. The shot that killed the unarmed Bostonian by the British army caused controversy all over the nation, before the news reached England. The news article and the illustration by Paul Revere of the Bloody Massacre sent a powerful message. It coincided with the time when people begin to realize they no longer in need for the ties and bounds of Britain.
How the campaigns were lead, with what prospect of winning, are crucial to the lives of many people. It was a fight against the world best forces at that time. The leadership at that time should be credited for their moves and the reasons behind them. The White House just announced the new members of the staffs and of the economic team this week. Let us hope that the leadership will bring a freer, more equal, and prosperous nation just as the leadership there then head for with conviction and justice.
I would say, the DVD totally lacks the historical perspective in that there is no narratives on how the idea of freedom or republic originated and developed. Those principles do not emerge just from anywhere. It is a part of the European history where the rigid hierarchical society built and restricted the development of the advancement of technologies.
Looking at 17th century England, there was the civil war. The expense to the war against Spain lead to popular revolt that eventually ended up in the execution of the king Charles. Oliver Cromwell emerged and united the nation into a republic. Even after the confusion after his death, the people's fervent pursuit for the equality survived the monarchy that followed. The Declaration of Independence proudly proclaims: we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Here it is not talking about anarchy; it is talking about freeing themselves of the British monarchy and its hierarchy. In France, a revolution eliminated the monarchy, inspired by the War of Independence in America.
Granted every nation has its own myths in most of the cases at the time of its foundation era. In Japan, there were the gods and goddess, and the chaos was before everything. In Korea, there was the bear that wanted to become human. In China, there were the emperors with seven eyes. In Greece, there were the human-eating monster to be killed by a hero. The myths are for giving the authority to the nation itself; the divine nation is sacred therefore to be defended by all means, however costing human lives. When we were attacked, says in the DVD, we won't be turning other cheeks to the enemies.
The film shows how George Washington had shown the leadership in (brutally) using the method of vaccination to save the army, how he employed a talented officer regardless of his sexual orientation, and how his soldiers are devoted for the cause in fighting against the British soldiers. The film noted that the rebel army has developed new types of weapons at the time of war which are far reaching than the British muskets. Each shot, one battle after another, have made the history of the United States. It is the history of people who are given the wealth and the materials that the New World provided for them who in turn with free wills made use of them with all of their might and abilities possible, who won over the most powerful military entity in the world at that time.
The DVD is fun to watch and inspires the viewers of all the incidents that happened and how they are depicted. The history has made step by step, slowly, gradually but firmly into a direction under leaderships and the clear wills of people. The American people at the time of independence, were not bound by customs and traditions. They were stirred and inspired by political campaigns. The shot that killed the unarmed Bostonian by the British army caused controversy all over the nation, before the news reached England. The news article and the illustration by Paul Revere of the Bloody Massacre sent a powerful message. It coincided with the time when people begin to realize they no longer in need for the ties and bounds of Britain.
How the campaigns were lead, with what prospect of winning, are crucial to the lives of many people. It was a fight against the world best forces at that time. The leadership at that time should be credited for their moves and the reasons behind them. The White House just announced the new members of the staffs and of the economic team this week. Let us hope that the leadership will bring a freer, more equal, and prosperous nation just as the leadership there then head for with conviction and justice.