watching the scene in LINCOLN where lincoln expounds on the legal and constitutional reasons for wanting the 13th amendment — going to show it in class tomorrow — and i’m tempted to just watch the whole movie again. it rocks
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Took a tour of William Seward's home in Auburn,NY last year and God I wish Seward hadn't taken that European goodwill trip. America once had a utopian vision that wasn't fantastical
I showed Rosewood and Mississippi Burning in a grad multicultural class. Once or twice I showed Sophie Scholl the Final Days, she was a member of an anti nazi group called the White Rose. The ending is pretty intense, she and her brother are executed.
It’s fear and loathing. It’s xenophobia and ignorance. It’s immaturity and immorality. Selfishness and ego. I think he is the worst human in the history of the North American continent. The worst American ever, by far.
I’ve used it too. I live in Cape Fear, which plays a role in the story. A great film that centers the crux of the issue and Lincoln’s character and leadership. There’s a reason he’s on Mt. Rushmore.
Hey, MARINE! Way to go! People cannot read enough good history books. From before the Romans on to the present. There is a common theme. The behavior of people has not changed at all. It frightens me to believe the US is in the fall curve of its once great society. I wish you the best!
I often can't help but think that even Trumpers — even Trumpers — find it hard to take issue with Steven Spielberg. I'm sure they'll find a way, though. Eventually.
It's quaint how Lincoln says his AG told him the Emancipation Proclamation wasn't "downright criminal." John Roberts would like to have a word about that, it's an official act! Can't possibly be criminal, no need to ask the AG.
Everyone needs to watch this to remind themselves that politics is complicated and messy. The scene where they pass the 13th Amendment, and several Reps flipped at the last minute once they understood what was happening, just to be on the right side of history.
I used to show various scenes from Lincoln in conjunction with analyzing his Second Inaugural and Gettysburg Addresses. I just love the scene on the riverboat, when Lincoln explains to the two Southern delegates, "Slavery? It's over." That movie and Glory would get me emotional every f-ing time.
While people are celebrating Lincoln, who, let’s face it was still a colonizer, he was openly against Indigenous People of Turtle Island (what we’re forced to call, “America,”). Remember the Dakota 38 and the many indigenous people Lincoln and his ppl hunted while in office.
Dooood- transport yourself to the year 1820, as a child, spend your entire life in that era … and then tell us how you’d hold more sympathetic views of natives and minorities… and we’ll all politely roll our eyes
Having a PhD doesn’t make you any better than Our Colonizers, it only shows you’ve followed the colonial structure and continue the ignorance of your ancestors.
Lincoln's place in American conialism should be remembered, but the Dakota didn't and generally don't refer to the American continent as Turtle Island.
Just like Our Colonizers who say Our History, Our Culture, Our Traditions don’t matter when they do. Our way of life is what helps heal and take care of the land that is in shambles bc of colonizers/setters.
He signed one of the biggest lynchings of Our People on Turtle Island while playing good guy. If you say The Dakota 38 doesn’t refer to this continent you are part of the problem. Erasing Indigenous History just because you think it isn’t apart of this continent’s history is still erasure.
Could legitimately use someone emphatically explaining to our people in power that to 'dodge and heckle about like petifogging tammany hall hucksters' is of no use.
Such an extraordinary and underrated film. I suppose people don’t talk about it enough simply because it gets lost in a sea of other Spielberg masterpieces.
Ooh, I haven’t seen it since it was out in theaters and I absolutely loved it. Daniel Day-Lewis honestly made me believe I was really seeing Abraham Lincoln! I need to watch it again. Thanks for the reminder!
You’re a teacher? What an excellent idea!! Years ago, one of my college teachers showed the movie, “The Great Debaters”. Left a impression on me that I think about to this day.
I am loving the new MLK bio by Eig. his perseverance through doubts and attacks is an inspiration. where do you teach? if it is in FL I might show up for your class!
The scene with Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens where Lincoln questions the value of "knowing true north" seems sort like quintessential liberal realpolitik. I'd like to know what was actually said.
But won't slow Alito, Thomas down for a second. 😄 The only question is whether they can lobby for 3 more votes on one kook theory or another. I sort of jest, but the sad thing is--I truly don't think this will be a 9-0 decision against Trump in the Supreme Court.
Shows how politics works in the real world and how compromise happens. It’s a messy business and no one gets everything they want. But things do get done.
It's genuinely quite good. The scene where the group of Black Americans enter the gallery of the House Chamber and are verbally welcomed to "their house" made me tear up slightly, not gonna lie
I have it in my DVD library. I like to watch it once in a while. I think Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal is probably the closest we will ever get to the real Lincoln. The movie is a treasure.
The words “well regulated militia” mean nothing. Birthright citizenship is gone. Apparently you don’t need to change the constitution. You just ignore or change your interpretation.
WTAF? This the same Lincoln that did things with slaves teeth and stuff like that? The same leaking with the speech in public, that you can find with ease on the internet, about how he, like any other white man, prefers segregation with the white man on top? THAT Lincoln...? FOH.
Thumbs up to you too Thaddeus, my unfortunately probably not far-flung relation!
Anyway, yes, Lincoln is wonderful, as was the recent Manhunt series about the hunt for Wilkes Booth, which also depicted the beginnings of the unspeakably tragic undoing of Reconstruction.
I’ve been watching it too! Just finished Team of Rivals — that’s a project, but worth it.
Feeling the need to remind myself of the fact that people ARE capable of humility, and especially internal/ethical growth.
You will laugh but I put a fake Lincoln quote on my banner when I finally stopped posting over on the other bird site. It is a picture of AL with a pointed message to those still on X
this may be a hot take within leftist circles but lincoln was a boring film. also, he as a person wasn't too great. did not care abt black folks at all. same thing goes for gandhi
There are lots of good tidbits from Lincoln in "Manhunt" on Apple TV+. I'm old and learned new things about the assassination and the followup to get John WIlkes Boothe.
Not everything Lincoln did was terrible, certainly. That being said, I will never admire him. He still holds the record for most hangings in one day. Those individuals were Indigenous people (of course). He wasn't the great guy many people make him out to be.
well my favorite thing to teach is the early debate in the first congress over whether to incorporate new amendments directly into the text of the constitution or append them to the end. it’s fascinating!
Relatedly; what do you think of Richard Albert's idea of multi-textuality, how a constitution composed of many texts affords flexibility to interpretation that direct incorporation denies? He thinks the US Constitution is multi-textual & I think he's right
Can you tell me when it was made? Or anyone in it ? I’d like to find it…BTW please always recommend any movie book artist to follow…I only say nice things after.
Amazing most people don’t realize Lincoln was deeply unpopular, criticized for idealism,anti-slavery views, war casualties. He navigated politics, war-gave his life, preserved the Union.
160 yrs later, a racist President is undoing legacy & tearing apart our Union-this time w/out clear borders
He was also deeply distrusted by both sides, not only by the Democrat opposition, but also by those within his Republican Party. At pivotal moments it was almost as if Lincoln was rowing a boat of one. It is a stupendous achievement that he achieved as much as he did under such circumstances.
I don’t think it’s the classic “he believed in himself”…
I think it’s the humble but powerful “he believed what he was doing was not only right, but righteous. And virtuous.” Incredible. The self doubt & the setbacks & the haters would have stopped any lesser man
The point : popularity is so overrated. Doing what is just & sticking to core beliefs is what matters.
I don’t care what polls say, said, or ever say: Lincoln was a hero, & Trump is an evil racist.
Mass deportation, Undoing civil rights, Demonizing trans, it’s all immoral. It’s evil
So very well said and couldn’t agree more. 👏 At the end of the day as the sun sets on each of our lives I’ll take a strong moral compass and integrity over mass popularity any day. Unfortunately it appears not be the case for far too many.
You should read the book Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. So many moments when I just put the book down and cried. That man was deeply humble, incredibly wise and patient, but mostly believed in humanity. His entire cabinet was made up of rivals- most grew to love him.
Sounds like a stellar idea. Maybe follow up with Anne Frank. I think a lot have omitted that story lately, because it's inconvenient and dark.
But here we are.
It may not be Jews this time, but it's starting again, all the same. And America is allowing it to be legal. By the absurdest of terms.
Only DDL could deliver the line "Buzzard's guts, man! I am the President of the United States of America, clothed in IMMENSE POWER...You *will* procure me those votes" and make it sound not cheesy but biblical.
And of course TLJ: "Suspend, if only for a moment, your capacity for astonishment."
It does rock. The book is even better, although I understand why the movie focuses on just getting the 13th Amend passed. Lincoln was a deeply complex and intelligent man. He wasn’t perfect but he continued to evolve throughout his life & presidency.
I loved the part where he and Grant are talking about needing a Southern state to ratify. "Louisiana." Was the answer, and Louisiana's mostly Black legislature did just that! Pierre Caliste Landry, was a member. The high school Where I taught was LB Landry, after Pierre's son.
One of my all time favorite films (and yes, I actually purchased the DVD back in the day when that's what you did when you knew a movie was important and you'd want to watch it many times, and show your kids and the next generation as well).
I remember when President Obama invited the entire US Senate to come watch that movie with him at the White House. Not ONE Republican accepted the invitation.
I bought and watched Lincoln on election night, couldn’t bear to watch live election results.
Highly recommend everyone watch it again. Human nature has changed very little since those days. And as a Nation we are about as dysfunctional as we were during the Civil War.
It underplays the African American activists who pushed Lincoln, esp. Douglass. Jones is killer as Stephens. Should have ended when he's walking out the door to the theater
I've already decided that after this Blank Check miniseries I'm just gonna go back and watch the rest of Spielberg's mog in order, and I'm so excited to rewatch this one. And I rewatched it in the last 6 months! It rules!
No law school learning, but what a lawyer, what a president. Not everything is learned from others, much is taught to oneself if one is vigilant and ferocious in one's consumption of information; Becomes knowledge evolves into wisdom.
The people who really listen when others talk are the very astute people. If you can listen without planning your next sentence in your head instead, you can learn
Great movie.
As for Trump, he's pretty much trying to de-ratify the 14th Amendment, which gives bodily autonomy, says a seditionist can never run for office, & grants citizenship rights to the many.
It’s a good lesson in crony capitalism as well. They bought a few of those votes with government jobs. At least they did it for a good reason. Now it’s all about enriching the rich.
Do you ever discuss the 2 13th Amendments? The first one, if it had gone through could have made Congress powerless to abolish slavery incertain states. The 2nd 13th Amendment was rewritten. It passed.
Absolutely. I love when Obama pretended to be Daniel Day Lewis in an interview, discussing his chameleon changes for each film. He was president when it came out. Did you see Harriet? Another Civil War hero and great film.
Love, love the movie! Stands up to the test of time.
(Though I am from the Constitution state, and so I am still mad that the movie inaccurately shows two CT reps as voting on the wrong side of the amendment to end slavery. :(
Comments
https://learninglink.oup.com/access/content/schaller-3e-dashboard-resources/document-charles-sumners-crime-against-kansas-speech-1856#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20rape%20of,Slavery%20in%20the%20National%20Government.
You might want to delete that? 🤷
https://www.governing.com/gov-institute/on-leadership/col-lincoln-politics-13th-amendment-compromise-corruption.html
Anyway, yes, Lincoln is wonderful, as was the recent Manhunt series about the hunt for Wilkes Booth, which also depicted the beginnings of the unspeakably tragic undoing of Reconstruction.
Feeling the need to remind myself of the fact that people ARE capable of humility, and especially internal/ethical growth.
The #BanALLBans amendment #bans politicians from passing bans on activities that don’t harm others.
Examples include #abortion #books #words #marriage #drugs #TikTok
#Freedom
Secondarily, class! What do you teach?
Relatedly; what do you think of Richard Albert's idea of multi-textuality, how a constitution composed of many texts affords flexibility to interpretation that direct incorporation denies? He thinks the US Constitution is multi-textual & I think he's right
and i think that’s exactly right. in fact, detractors of appending amendments made this exact point, albeit in a negative way
160 yrs later, a racist President is undoing legacy & tearing apart our Union-this time w/out clear borders
I think it’s the humble but powerful “he believed what he was doing was not only right, but righteous. And virtuous.” Incredible. The self doubt & the setbacks & the haters would have stopped any lesser man
I don’t care what polls say, said, or ever say: Lincoln was a hero, & Trump is an evil racist.
Mass deportation, Undoing civil rights, Demonizing trans, it’s all immoral. It’s evil
Didn't see Lincoln. I guess I will have to watch it!
But here we are.
It may not be Jews this time, but it's starting again, all the same. And America is allowing it to be legal. By the absurdest of terms.
There's another one, Young Mr. Lincoln, from 1939. It has merits as well.
Was shocked to find out how disliked it is.
I think it's amazing and for its faults, shows what it took to pass 13th Amendment.
Thaddeus Stevens is one of my heroes.
And of course TLJ: "Suspend, if only for a moment, your capacity for astonishment."
Yet today we see in Louisiana:
Brilliant.
Highly recommend everyone watch it again. Human nature has changed very little since those days. And as a Nation we are about as dysfunctional as we were during the Civil War.
MAGA
As for Trump, he's pretty much trying to de-ratify the 14th Amendment, which gives bodily autonomy, says a seditionist can never run for office, & grants citizenship rights to the many.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/opinion/in-spielbergs-lincoln-passive-black-characters.html
(Though I am from the Constitution state, and so I am still mad that the movie inaccurately shows two CT reps as voting on the wrong side of the amendment to end slavery. :(