How did we get here?
It’s a question on a lot of people’s minds—for various reasons, but especially prompted by last fall’s Presidential election.
I almost never engage in political discussions, because I so often feel unable to hold my own. Feeling undereducated, I struggle to articulate my point of view. I lack specifics to ground my point of view historically, sociologically and economically. While I have plenty of passion, I end up sputtering without the right words.
Enter Requiem for the American Dream—
—a documentary featuring interviews with Noam Chomsky. Mr. Chomsky gives the best big picture explanation I’ve come across, and he does so while grounding his argument historically. I watched it twice and could do so several more times. I highly recommend it for clarifying the question how did we get here?
Noam Chomsky is one of the great intellectuals of our time. I’ve never seen his hands, but I would expect to find three gift markings: a Gifted Problem Solver head line, an independent thinker head line, and Lines of Genius.
Lines of Genius indicate having a message to deliver to the world, and being able to take complex issues and explain them in simple terms. Gifted Problem Solver is just what it sounds like, and an independent headline indicates an ability to think outside of the thought structure handed to us by others (parents, society, etc.)
As an average citizen, largely uneducated about politics and economics, I really appreciated the clarity and simplicity of Mr. Chomsky’s words.
The film takes on a huge issue, and will likely impassion you.
I felt anger, overwhelm, and disillusionment in turn as he takes us through the 10 Steps of Consolidation of Wealth and Power that are dismantling the American Dream.
No matter where you stand politically, this film will give you a simple and clear structure for answering the question how did we get here? It’s guaranteed to make you feel… well, what you feel is in your hands.
Mr. Chomsky empowers us to take a stand. He, too, believes that what happens from here forward, is up to us.
Coach’s Challenge:
I got Requiem for the American Dream through Netflix—it’s certainly a film that any library should have, so if your library doesn’t have it, request that they acquire it. Do what you need to do to see this film! Once you’ve seen it, I look forward to hearing what you think.