But at least the Spartans had anticipated one of his greatest thoughts long before he was born. Americans, to whom he aimed it, are utterly clueless:
Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.
In the 60s I started living with a young lady more evolved than myself. She made vegetarian meals and they were delicious and she helped me understand why wars of aggression are wrong. Healthy eating and anti-violence have been part of my life ever since. But I just returned home from seeing 300 and I want to tear someone's beating heart out of his chest and eat it.
I cry in movies. I cried during 300. I cried for my country, for my people, for a people who allowed a pissant tyrant to take over our nation while we offered little more than a whimper. What's wrong with us? Do we deserve security? Do we deserve liberty? I'm going to the shooting range. I'll be back in the morning.
My daughers American History class will be studying Vietnam and the 60s.
ReplyDeleteThe kids had to pick a character from that period and write a paper on that character: and then debate the other characters in the class. My daughter picked Abbie Hoffman. Friday night we watched Steal This Movie : directed by a major shit kicker Robert Greenwald. Yes that Greenwald. Its a movie...fyi. One of the things that struck me about that period and what that yippees did was challenge authority at every turn.That was what they did so brillantly. I fear that too many kids of my daughters generation are way to complacent and complient.
Then I look at her and what she does in her own to push up against the status quo and I am really proud...
Because I haved raised a kid who will go in the world and rage against the "man"...
I have read some interesting reviews and most of them tend to focus on the homoerotism of the movie. At first I wanted to see it but now that I realize that it's just another blood fest I think I'll pass.
ReplyDeleteWhile a freshman in college, some buds and I took a 'bone cruise' to New Hope, PA one sunny afternoon. Great place full of creative types and good food - this was the height of the Reagan era - and as we were parking our car on a side street, walking along the sidewalk was Abbie Hoffman wearing a shirt that said, "Just Say No to Drugs."
ReplyDeleteNancy Reagan would be proud! We all recognized him and said hello, he flashed a big grin and said hello back. Not sure why or how we knew him, but we did. A great memory.
Now just to have the right to hold up a 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' sign at a parade has to go to the Supreme Court. I cry for my country too sometimes...
for a people who allowed a puissant tyrant to take over our nation while we offered little more than a whimper.
ReplyDeletePu·is·sant a. [F., originally, a p. pr. formed fr. L. posse to be able: cf. L. potens powerful. See Potent.]
Powerful; strong; mighty; forcible; as, a puissant prince or empire. « Puissant deeds.» Milton.
piss·ant also piss-ant (pĭs'ănt') Slang. n. 1. One that is insignificant. 2. Obsolete. An ant. adj. Not important; insignificant: “Some pissant Texas court wants to make [the company] pay . . . more than $10 billion in reparations” (New Republic).
I wrote "pissant" and that damn spell check changed it. Thanks; it's been bothering me all day. I'll change it back.
ReplyDelete