The introductory monologue in HBOs “The Newsroom” is patriotism at its best: critical, yet hopeful.
The Newsroom’s Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) is asked by a sophomore college student why he thinks America is the best country in the world. His response is a scathing critique of what America has become the best at:
We lead the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real and defense spending, where we spend more than the next 26 countries combined, 25 of whom are allies.
Though at the same time his speech is encouraging. He reminds us that, though not everything was perfect, we weren’t always at such political loggerheads, our economic institutions weren’t always run by greed, and our educational system was held at high regard. Watch the later part of the speech below.
I agree with the critical part – but what I don’t agree with is the notion that things were better in the past – when? which past? when we were burning witches at the stake? or when black people couldn’t drink from the same water fountain?
William, Let’s be honest. Our current state of affairs sucks, it’s not much better than before blacks could vote or women could vote. Little kids are today being brainwashed by Sesame Street about incarceration-not the founding principles. The CIA, NSA, FBI, IRS, EEOC policing of our activities with no accountability, rampant racial profiling, polarized extremes in wealth and poverty. This complex government machine keeps grinding everyone down. This is exactly why the Framers called for a new government, to throw off the government oppression. Whatever you think about this Morris guy is irrelavant, but his video is actually pretty good.… Read more »