Image by cleopatra69 via Flickr Last night Mark and I saw the premiere of a wonderful movie called "Just An American," featuring vignettes of various citizens who each follow a dream to its fruition, demonstrating that anyone with enough passion, dedication and self esteem can achieve what they set out to do on this magnificent land we call "America." A stand-out scene is a naturalization ceremony inside the Hall of Liberty where our Declaration of Independence was signed.
The producer of the film, Fred Ashman, a friend of ours, is an erudite man with many intriguing stories to tell. Some of the best of these you will see in "Just An American." Layered between stunning cinematography of America, "from sea to shining sea," there is the story of a young Vietnamese girl whose family emigrates - literally by boat - to America and who overcomes language and cultural barriers to become a successful business woman. There is the young black man who survives life in the ghetto to become a doctor. A Brazilian boy also faces language barriers to achieve success first as a restaurant manager, and then as an elite Navy SEAL. His dream veers off-course when he loses the use of his legs during a mission in Panama. However, he overcomes his disability to inspire others as a Paralympian.
After the film, as the audience filed out of the theater, there was a video camera set up outside to record impressions of the viewers. I stood by as a local radio personality named Rick Roberts, spoke about his impressions of "Just an American." Mr. Roberts is the founder of The Warrior Foundation, whose "mission is to help injured and disabled military heroes leading the fight in the war against Terror."
As Mr. Roberts was finishing up his interview, the last thing he said, and I paraphrase, was "I challenge any liberal to come and see this film. It would have to change who they are." I made sure that the camera had stopped rolling and the interview was completed before I stepped forward and said, "Well, I'm a liberal and I enjoyed the film." He then said, "Then you should see it again." As he scurried off, I called after him, "I DID see it again." Fred had given Mark and me a copy of the film to watch several months ago. I enjoyed it then, and I enjoyed it last night. Furthermore, I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
I would have loved to converse further with Mr. Roberts about my impressions of the film, and his definition of "liberal." However, he could not leave my presence fast enough. It was sort of like watching a clock come apart, with the springs boinging away, and with no idea how to put the darn thing back together.
Maybe someday when Rick Roberts googles himself, he will come across this blog, and learn that this woman who had the guts to call myself a "liberal" in his presence - a man who daily vilifies liberals on his radio talk show, has this to share: No two people are alike. So why paint "liberals" with such a broad stroke? It leads me to wonder just what his definition of a liberal is. I admit, I have never listened to his radio show. I'd rather be mountain-biking in nature, or blogging about my adventures, practicing philanthropy or loving people. I stay away from hate.
Would it surprise him to learn that I come from a family of eight in which three members served in the military? Would the shock jock be shocked to know that I had spent a year of my life editing a documentary about homeless veterans? Just why was he in such a hurry to leave my presence?
I applaud his work with The Warrior Foundation. That's wonderful. But I think Mr. Roberts would do himself a favor to realize a few things. First, he is not the owner of the trademark for America. How boring would it be if every single American had the same ideas, feelings, desires and emotions as he did? I believe the great Rod Serling already covered that topic handily in "The Twilight Zone." The very diversity of Americans makes us great. Second, I may not have served in Afghan or Iraq, but I survived a brutal rape at 18, a grizzly bear attack at 31, a deadly fall off a cliff at 44, and Mr. Robert's snide comment last night. I'm both a warrior and a proud American. So my question to you, Rick, is this: Why alienate a wide swath of Americans when - with a little diplomacy - we could all work together to achieve the kind of America we all dream about? Just saying...
3 comments:
I was at Jo's blog and saw the title of your entry. Hallelujah and amen. I find it disheartening and then maddening that "liberal" has been presented as a synonym for "communist" for so many years. And the vitriol around tat word lately astounds me. We are lazy. We believe the state should give us a free ride all the time. And if we are poor or on one o' them entitlement programs to boot?
And yet I think that a vision that liberals often shares is of the very best America can be. One that welcomes people from all lands and celebrates the fact that we ARE comprised of peoples from all walks of life. A country that is generous of spirit and cares about our poor, about the education of ALL our children--adults, too, if we want it. One that does not settle for one life being more important than another because the person attached to that life is wealthier.
We are not necessarily against capitalism, but perhaps not for an obsene concentration of wealth and power among a few. And many of us Godless liberals actually believe that religion has no place in government decisions. I've even met liberals who go to church. who knew??
I'm sorry. The film sounds so inspiring. And congratulations on surviving the "personality's" assault. I didn't mean to spout off. It was so nice to read your words is all. THANK YOU.
Well said, Jeannette, thank you!
Well said Patty! I think that all too often a generalized label is slapped onto too many groups of people without the courtesy of really trying to understand the true meaning of the label or the people it supposedly represents.
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