Thursday, November 2, 2017
8 comments:
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING, YOU DON'T BELONG HERE, SO KINDLY GET OUT AND STAY OUT.
We welcome Conversation
But without Vituperation.
If your aim is Vilification ––
Other forms of Denigration ––
Unfounded Accusation --
Determined Obfuscation ––
Alienation with Self-Justification ––
We WILL use COMMENT ERADICATION.
IN ADDITION
Gratuitous Displays of Extraneous Knowledge Offered Not To Shed Light Or Enhance the Discussion, But For The Primary Purpose Of Giving An Impression Of Superiority are obnoxiously SELF-AGGRANDIZING, and therefore, Subject to Removal at the Discretion of the Censor-in-Residence.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
Congress is all about money and power and there is never enough of both. Their definition of public service is steal from the poor and blame it on the rich.
ReplyDeleteYes, Skud, but the FILM shows a possible way OUT of that well-known maze. We don't HAVE to accept business as usual.
DeleteIn fact if we hope to be good citizens we are not SUPPOSED to.
FIghting the Good Fight ALWAYS comes at a cost –– always requires grea sacrifice.
Jefferson Smith WON his battle against corruption, but look what it COST him.
If we are not willing to pay the price for freedom, we are sure to lose it.
Freedom is not free. To keep it we must be constantly on our guard.
can you make the screen bigger?
ReplyDeleteIf you had bothered to read the post, you would have found instructions on how to do just that.
DeleteI searched for a better "copy" but the only one available is in FRENCH! ;-)
Leave it to the French to have the superior copy. ;-)
ReplyDeleteA classic movie with much to say about the here and now... today, and right now.
Hopefully it touches a few, or many, nerves.
Thanks for posting.
Mustang
ReplyDeleteNovember 2, 2017 at 9:02:00 AM EDT
The film suggests to me that our government has been corrupt for a very long time. To quote Mr. Madison, "But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."
Been that way in ALL cultures since time immemorial no doubt, Mustang. Our Founders might even be surprised their vision lasted as long as it did, for they were painfully aware of the innate stupidity and self-destructive aspects of human nature.
DeleteCapra's film is both energizing and lovable of course, because it shows the way cynicism and cupidity could be overcome if a passionate idealistic person with courage and great determination like Jefferson Smith, who cared more for the truth and for our great fundung principles than he did for himself came along and stood form against the bad guys as he does in the film.
The Claude Rains character is both villainous and in the end almost angelic because he is so moved by Jeff Smith's sincerity he reniounces the corrupt life he's been leading –– and all the advantages and perquisites that go with it.
Jimmy Stewart's portrays Mr. Smith as humble but actually SAINTLY –– even CHRIST-like –– in such a way that he makes Smith's character totally believable –– an ideal towards which everyone should at least attempt to aspire.
I can't say enough for the film. I must have seen it a dozen times over the past fifty five years, and each time it seems more exciting, more meaningful –– and more beautiful –– than it did before.
Always On Watch
ReplyDeleteNovember 2, 2017 at 9:43:00 AM EDT
The film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was my mother's favorite film. Mom well knew about corruption in D.C. Why? She personally knew LBJ and other on Capitol Hill.
I now wish that I had paid more attention to what Mom told me over the years. Alas! I did not. I instinctively knew that I wanted nothing to do with political weasel.
Statesmen were and still are very few in number.
For as long as she physically could (first of heart attacks at age 44, and her doctor attributed much of her heart trouble to following politics so much of the time), Mom worked a federal employee job that she despised -- and saved, saved, saved so that I would never have to work for the federal government. I am eternally grateful for Mom's sacrifice on my behalf.