We came to earth with courage, eyes wide open, and cleaning supplies.
So beautifully expressed. We did come here courageous and open and we do have supplies. Optimism. Realism, Unity. So many supplies.
Even the things that hurt, that makes us uncomfortable, that makes us afraid, all combine to wake us up and move us forward.
I just started Ken Burns’ six-part American Revolution on PBS. I’m only partway through episode one, and it’s already exquisite—and painfully timely. It shows the real truth, courage, and patriotism that today’s self-styled “patriots” (Patriot Act bravado and all the rest) wouldn’t recognize if it hit them in the face. The bravery of the people who birthed this country—women, men, and young fighters alike—is something we should still be humbled by. I hope it sparks something in our youth.
It also doesn’t flinch from America’s darkest truths: the brutal crimes committed against Native Americans from the very beginning and across the entire 250 years that followed. Even those who fought with the colonists were betrayed, pushed aside, and dispossessed. We won freedom from a monarchy while stealing freedom—and lives—from the people already here.
I’m sharing this in our “Collective Shadow” thread not to drag anyone down, but because we can’t understand American democracy without seeing its full, complicated reality. It’s part of why I can’t stomach the saccharine nationalism of the NFL anthem ritual. The myth doesn’t match the history.
Still, I believe facing our shadow is the only way to create the more beautiful world we all sense is possible—and I genuinely believe we will. Truth, even when it’s sad or uncomfortable, has its own kind of beauty.
If the rest of the series is as honest and stunning as what I’ve seen so far, it’s well worth watching.
@lynn @unk-p @bluebelle @deetoo @tesseract @lowtide @seaholly
I agree. History shows us so much, teaches lessons, warns us of pitfalls and points us to solutions, if we will just read, watch actual documentaries and learn. History is much under-rated in high school, which unfortunately explains to a degree why so many ppl have fallen for "leaders" that take the country into an unnecessarily bad direction.
We have been watching all week and will finish tonight. It reflects deep, exhaustive research and takes us through what feels like each battle in each burgh and city over a decade of war.
My impressions are of brutal violence, sometimes gratuitous, from both sides. Shifting loyalties to whatever side offered the most, especially to slaves and Native Americans. And who could blame them?? British, German, French and American officers intent on making their bones and a name for themselves. Destruction, death, serendipities, a superhuman drive for independence...and out of it a new nation.
A quote that stays with me has been attributed to Abigail Adams. "If - our men are all drawn off, you would find a race of Amazons in America."
Fierce were the women of that time.
I never knew the genius of George Washington, and how he grew into it over the war years. He was a man for the times, a great leader, tactician and thinker. A Great Man.
The series couldn't have come to us at a better time. Watch it if you can.
It is interesting that some people choose to live under a shadow, and it works for them until it doesn't.
Great read from two deep thinkers on where we are in humanity and history right now. Very much worth 10 minutes of your time.