Last Friday, I watched two patriotic movies. They were: 1776 and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Both of them are on my list of favorite movies, primarily because they are patriotic movies. I believe that anyone who watched one or both of those movies has to be moved about what is happening in our country today.
In 1776, the movie is about the writing of the Declaration of Independence. It depicts the characters using song and humor, but there is an underlying message that comes across clear as a bell. Some will look at the song and dance and conclude that this is not a serious movie. I have read critics of the movie say just that. But, if you watched the characters in action and listen to the words, you will see the most profound truths being spoken. You see John Adams trying with all his might to get the Continental Congress to write a Declaration of Independence. You see John Rutledge of Pennsylvania trying just as hard to stop him. You see everyone else looking out for their own state interest or their own interest or both. Against this is the threatening menace of the British advance across New York. That is brought to the attention of Congress by a messenger who brings messages from G. Washington. When the Declaration is finally written, you see each member trying to put their own stamp on the Declaration. Some of the changes are good and some are just petty. The compromise over slavery is interesting because of the knowledge we have of what will happen later.
The issues that drove these men to write the Declaration of Independence from England are the very same issues that we face today with our Congress and President. They were being taxed too much and their liberties were being taken from them. They were not willing to see their liberty be taken and were not going to be taxed without receiving the benefit. So, they pledged everything including their sacred honor to start a new country. As Benjamin Franklin said in the movie,”It has never been done before, so of course it is difficult.” He was speaking about breaking from a mother country and forming a new country.
In all the voting in the movie, New York always abstained. Lewis Morris had never received any instructions from New York as to what he was to do. So, he took no stands and never participated in anything. But, when it came time to sign the Declaration, he learned that his home and land were taken by the British and that four of his sons were now in the Army. With that information, he signed the Declaration of Independence, even though New York never officially ratified the Declaration. That was a stand that took guts.
How could we have fallen so far in just 240+ years? At that time, Americans wanted independence so badly that they were willing to undergo any hardship to get it. We, 240+ years later, gave it all up to a pretty face and fast talker who promised us that he could give us security from cradle to grave. We did not have enough fight to really contest what he said. That is so sad and a message that we in this time period will have to live with throughout history. Now that freedom has been lost, we have a short window to reclaim it, it we have the stomach for the fight. Right now, I do not see many who do have the stomach for a fight. The talk show hosts led by Rush Limbaugh Michael Savage have the stomach. The political class does not now show anyone ready to lead the fight for freedom.
The second movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, is a different kind of patriotic movie. It talks about corruption in politics. In watching that movie, I saw our current Congress as being almost totally composed of the corrupt Senator, the Silver Knight, that tries to get Senator Smith expelled. In the movie the corrupt Senator has a conscience. In real life, I do not think any of those corrupt members of Congress have a conscience. In the movie the issues were simple and easy to understand, they have to be in a movie. In real life, the Democrats always change the language so you are talking against something that sounds like it supports Motherhood and Apple Pie, but in reality it destroys Motherhood and Apple Pie.
Anyone who watches Mr. Smith would come away with the knowledge that there are a lot of corrupt politicians in Washington. After that disgraceful performance with Barack Obama last week, I would have to say that John McCain is one of those. You cannot play ball with corruption and ever come away with your hands clean. John McCain played ball this week with corruption and his hands are dirty. If there is any alternative, I will vote for that alternative in the next election. And any alternative even includes the Libertarian Party this next election in the Senatorial battle. I cannot stomach another 6 years of John McCain playing ball with the Democrats at the wrong time. I am sorry for ranting about McCain, but I feel so strongly that Obama is leading the country down the wrong road; I cannot support anyone who supports that effort in any way.