If you know me well, you know that I spend huge chunks of my time watching documentaries. I love them. I have a Netflix membership largely because it gives me access to hundreds of documentaries that come right to my mailbox. In fact, documentaries are how I get myself motivated to exercise. I'll walk on the treadmill forever as long as I've got a good documentary rotating in the DVD player. I like most documentaries, but anything that has to do with American history I particularly enjoy. That's why I love Ken Burn's films. Kenny can present American history like no other.
I've considered why I love to enjoy learning about history and I've decided it's mostly because there are mental, emotional and spiritual benefits to learning about the lives of others who have gone before. To see the generations played out before me and have reaffirmed again and again the idea that people of all kinds have passed through the hardships, challenges and difficulties that are an inevitable part of life and have survived and triumphed, is a healthy thing. Granted, history is also full of tragedy and sadness, but what I see mostly is human beings who have survived despite tragedy and overcome against great odds. History is full of inspiring stories that prove the adage that life does go on.
Today our new President was inaugurated. I was captivated by the ceremonies. The prayers, the speeches, the music, the poetry, all great. Obama again delivered a fantastic speech. (No offense President Bush, but it will be nice to have a president that can actually captivate an audience and deliver a well written speech) It was a fantastic and inspiring inaugural speech, but I think my favorite part was when he talked about "choosing our better history." That idea resonated with me. We are experiencing difficult times as a nation and all of us have our personal challenges, but we can look to our better history. We can learn from it, gather inspiration from it and recognize that we will triumph like others before us if we just keep moving forward. I like the idea of embracing our "better history." I hope we will do this, as a nations, as citizens, as individuals. I don't know about you, but I'm going to choose to see a bright future for our country. We've weathered hard times before and we've lived to tell about it. We'll do it again.
Okay, I'm finished now. I've posted my sentimental ideas for today. I don't care if they sound stupidly optimistic. I think what we really need now is some blind optimism. Now go watch some history!
7 comments:
I specifically checked your blog today to see if you'd written about the inauguration. Thank you for not disappointing me.
The part about choosing our better history was the part I liked! We should learn from it all, then take the good and run with it. I hope to someday watch some of your documentaries. I enjoyed the presidents series on the A&E channel.
The History channel has had some AMAZING documentaries on all week. I particularly enjoyed the documentry on the white house. Did you know that Winston Churchill claims to have seen the ghost of Abraham Lincoln while he was exiting the tub? (totally in the nude, might I add) I thought that was a good one.
Now, on to more important things...you know what you did...little missy. I got a very unexpected and thoughtful gift on my front doorstep this morning! What? You are so amazing. Not just because of buying it...which is totally uncalled for...but for thinking of it. That's the thing I am truly in awe of. I'm just going to try to put away "feeling stupid" as you requested. (Even though I totally do) But I WILL get started right away and try to catch up. I ended up with a killer migraine all day, or I would have started all ready.
Really, Jill, one of the kindest things ever done for me. Just because we're literally strangers, and I never would have thought of that for someone else. I have learned a great lesson from you, and I thank you for the books and more for the lesson!
Lara
I'll jump on your bandwagon. I'm happy with the way the elections turned out, I loved watching the inauguration and thought his speech was great. I'm reading his book "The Audacity of Hope" and I am amazed at his writing and the way he thinks. I hope that everyone will give him a chance and that he won't disappoint those of us who see his great potential. I realize that in the state of Utah it can sometimes be a dangerous thing to admit to these feelings, but I have found that he is winning over some very dyed-in-the-wool republicans. Go Obama!
i was so excited to see it from here. bravo for this post! yes!
Jill - As I'm not one to comment much, I had to when I saw the void here...It's interesting how some of your posts can elicit 10+ comments, but this post, not so many...
Isn't about time a politician (not to mention, a president) has brought about this much optimism! Hallelujah!
Love this post, Jill. We should have a Ken Burns The National Parks marathon. If TV were invented for his Civil War documentary and nothing else, it would have been worth it.
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