Films politicians should be required to watch....

.....before they serve. This has long been a pet idea of mine (a flight of fancy
if you will) that will never be instituted but is fun to consider. The fact
that film can be a powerful medium is no secret. What started off this idea for
me - years ago - is Frank Capra's MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON....admitedly a
somewhat naive film....but powerful, entertaining, and gets the points across
in spades. I wonder if "Dubya" has ever seen it.

Others that should be (or rather should have been) required viewing for "the
big goober" in the White House:

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (might have made him think twice before getting involved
with Iraq, unnecessarily.)

THE FOG OF WAR (I've just seen this and added it to the list. MY GOD this is a
powerful film. McNamara is a fascinating and intelligent figure whose has lived
one hell of a life. Now at the age of 85 - he takes the life experience and the
wars he was involved in - and now asks the questions - can we learn from the
past horrors of war and the things that led to them so as not to repeat them
OVER AND OVER again. GWB so desperately needs to see this - and maybe even
needs to ask McNamara for advice personally.)

THE EMPEROR'S CLUB (Kevin Kline vehicle which is not what you might
think........no - it's not another DEAD POETS SOCIETY - it deals with issues of
integrity, honesty and responsibility beginning at the scholastic level -
something that we so very much need more of in the federal and corporate worlds
of today.)

I'm sure there are others but I'm too tired to think of them at this point
(it's going on 3am and I have a Silent Clowns program in NYC tomorrow....)

One last thing comes to mind though....DUCK SOUP. I don't know if it belongs on
the list....but I love the idea of The Marx Brothers raising hell in "Dubya's"
office. He wouldn't stand a chance against Groucho, Chico and Harpo. They'd
most likely drive him to drink again (if he isn't already.)

Hail Freedonia!



"....a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts
is not a person you want as your commander in chief." - George W. Bush, finally
speaking the truth - October 2004

METROPOLIS (the silent classic, not the anime cartoon), so they can see
that keeping one "class" below another isn't a good idea.

1776, so they'll be reminded of what American freedom is *supposed* to
be about.

THE MUSIC MAN (starring Preston, not Broderick), to let them know that
no matter how much "spellbinding" they can do, there'll always be someone
who can find out the truth.

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, an object lesson from history.

THE GODFATHER, which shows how mercy and diplomacy can build a stronger
community than pettiness and warmongering ever can.

And, of course, THE GREAT DICTATOR, if only to remind them that
dictatorships can always be toppled, by force or even by chance.

--
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two are four. If that is
granted, all else follows. (George Orwell, "1984")
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Burbank74" <burbank74.RemoveThis@aol.comnadajunk> wrote in message
news:20041107024305.06084.00000115@mb-m19.aol.com...
> ....before they serve. This has long been a pet idea of mine (a flight of
> fancy
> if you will) that will never be instituted but is fun to consider. The
> fact
> that film can be a powerful medium is no secret. What started off this
> idea for
> me - years ago - is Frank Capra's MR. SMITH GOES TO
> WASHINGTON....admitedly a
> somewhat naive film....but powerful, entertaining, and gets the points
> across
> in spades. I wonder if "Dubya" has ever seen it.
>
> Others that should be (or rather should have been) required viewing for
> "the
> big goober" in the White House:
>
> LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (might have made him think twice before getting
> involved
> with Iraq, unnecessarily.)
>
> THE FOG OF WAR (I've just seen this and added it to the list. MY GOD this
> is a
> powerful film. McNamara is a fascinating and intelligent figure whose has
> lived
> one hell of a life. Now at the age of 85 - he takes the life experience
> and the
> wars he was involved in - and now asks the questions - can we learn from
> the
> past horrors of war and the things that led to them so as not to repeat
> them
> OVER AND OVER again. GWB so desperately needs to see this - and maybe even
> needs to ask McNamara for advice personally.)
>
> THE EMPEROR'S CLUB (Kevin Kline vehicle which is not what you might
> think........no - it's not another DEAD POETS SOCIETY - it deals with
> issues of
> integrity, honesty and responsibility beginning at the scholastic level -
> something that we so very much need more of in the federal and corporate
> worlds
> of today.)
>
> I'm sure there are others but I'm too tired to think of them at this point
> (it's going on 3am and I have a Silent Clowns program in NYC tomorrow....)
>
> One last thing comes to mind though....DUCK SOUP. I don't know if it
> belongs on
> the list....but I love the idea of The Marx Brothers raising hell in
> "Dubya's"
> office. He wouldn't stand a chance against Groucho, Chico and Harpo.
> They'd
> most likely drive him to drink again (if he isn't already.)
>
> Hail Freedonia!
>
>
>
> "....a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the
> facts
> is not a person you want as your commander in chief." - George W. Bush,
> finally
> speaking the truth - October 2004