Being an American: Hollywood, American Culture, and e pluribus unum
July 21, 2016: In honor of my Mom’s 86th Birthday – Happy Birthday, Mom! May the Lord keep blessing you every day, but especially today, on your birthday!
Right now, when the forces of division are trying desperately to make sure the people of this once-great nation stay separated – Balkanized – into little groups, it is just as desperately important that we understand why this culture is so important. We must clearly understand WHY we need to be “Out of Many, One” – e pluribus unum. The forces of division are trying to confuse us, and they are succeeding. We have GOT to understand what it means to be an American if we want to keep what we have had (assuming we haven’t lost it completely already).
- American-style Freedom can be expressed as follows (before we go on to examples): it is “the maximum freedom of the individual under the rule of natural law”. The concept of natural law, championed most recently by Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Justice Antonin Scalia, can be most simply expressed (in layman’s terms) as the idea that all human laws are a reflection of the actual Divine Moral Laws of the Universe. In other words, God (meaning Elohim, Yahweh, Abba Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah) has laid down moral principles that are His Creation, just as much as He is the Creator of the physical universe. God has established these moral truths, which our human laws try to reflect as best we can. These are best summarized in Scripture in two ways: in the Ten Commandments, first expressed in Exodus 20 and later repeated in the Book of Deuteronomy (the name of the book is the “Second Law”, or the second time the moral law was repeated; and Jesus’ summary of the Law in the New Testament – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” And, Jesus specified how we know we love Him when He said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.”
These things can get very deep and seem to be hard to understand. But I believe that we can understand what American-style Freedom is by looking at the best – and favorite – movies of Americans. These movies are still considered classics – the truth never goes out of style. None of these movies are obscure or forgotten; they all end up on lists of Great Movies of modern people, just like they were recognized in their day of being top-quality films. And, while many of them were big budget movies, their appeal has lasted, not because of their cost, but because the truth they tell strikes a nerve in many people in this nation.
I’ll start by reproducing a section I have already published under E pluribus unum. I was comparing the way Paul describes the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 to the way Americans view themselves:
Last week……
In the same way, we as Americans are part of a whole – a nation called the United States of America – but we remain unique individuals. The world outside the USA has always recognized this about us – commenting that American individualism is different from what they have. Our cultural creations are often about the individualism (as in our Western movies). We have individual Freedoms; we act as single individuals – but yet we are part of a group: “We, the People of the United States…” Our families are important… our communities are important… our local areas are important… our states are important… our national regions are important… our nation is important. But what makes the American ideal so different is its foundation on the individual.
Look at our quintessential American movies. For example, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” captures the individualistic/national spirit of what it means to be an American. Senator Smith does a filibuster to stand firm against those who would corrupt our political system. He stands for what it means to “breathe free.” Listen to some of his speeches – you will understand the meaning of American style Freedom. It is not licentiousness; it is a personal sense of dignity that exists nowhere else for such a large number of people than it does here. Here are just two sections of two speeches. Notice – he says “no matter his race, color, or creed.” This was 1938. The “Master Race” was planning the extermination of those “degenerate Jews” in Europe. During the time when this movie was being made and prepared for release, Kristallnacht happened – “The Night of Broken Glass,” the unofficial start of the Holocaust that would eventually take the lives of over 6 million Jews.
[After reading the Declaration of Independence] Now, you’re not gonna have a country that can make these kind of rules work, if you haven’t got men that have learned to tell human rights from a punch in the nose. [The Senate applauds] It’s a funny thing about men, you know. They all start life being boys. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if some of these Senators were boys once. And that’s why it seemed like a pretty good idea for me to get boys out of crowded cities and stuffy basements for a couple of months out of the year. And build their bodies and minds for a man-sized job, because those boys are gonna be behind these desks some of these days. And it seemed like a pretty good idea, getting boys from all over the country, boys of all nationalities and ways of living. Getting them together. Let them find out what makes different people tick the way they do. Because I wouldn’t give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn’t have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a – a little lookin’ out for the other fella, too…That’s pretty important, all that. It’s just the blood and bone and sinew of this democracy that some great men handed down to the human race, that’s all!
There’s no compromise with truth. That’s all I got up on this floor to say. When was it? A year ago, it seems like….Just get up off the ground, that’s all I ask. Get up there with that lady that’s up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won’t just see scenery; you’ll see the whole parade of what Man’s carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so’s he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That’s what you’d see. There’s no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties. And, uh, if that’s what the grownups have done with this world that was given to them, then we’d better get those boys’ camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it’s not too late, because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you, or me, or anything else. Great principles don’t get lost once they come to light. They’re right here; you just have to see them again!
It’s Rick Blaine, Humphrey Bogart’s character in “Casablanca” (1942). Despite his cynicism and apparent refusal to pick sides, he does what’s right, standing against the Nazis. Notice – when the Nazis sing, there are no individuals, just one monolithic whole. But when the others in the bar start singing “La Marseille” , it’s the individuals singing together, but each is unique and different. Even though they’re not Americans, THAT’S the meaning of the American meaning of e pluribus unum. The Nazis are the globalists.
It’s George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart’s character in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He stands against the evil Mr. Potter, who wants complete control over everybody else with no individuals under him. Mr. Potter is the globalist, the George Soros of his day. There’s a reason why this movie is so popular every year: it speaks to us, again, about an individual taking a stand for righteousness, who is deeply flawed himself (like Rick), but who, with some Divine assistance, refuses to quit – again, the individual American taking a stand for righteousness, no matter what it costs him.
It’s Will Kane, Gary Cooper’s character in “High Noon” (1952), who takes a stand for what’s right by refusing to back down when the bad guys come to town. Even though none of the other people in the town will help him, he stands along for the righteous cause of protecting the town’s people anyway.
It’s Terry Malloy, Marlon Brando’s character in “On the Waterfront” (1954), who refuses to back down to the mob boss and his thugs. He stands alone, again, to do the right thing. After testifying against the mob boss, and getting beat to a bloody pulp, he famously confronts his enemies and says “I’m glad what I done to you!” Again, the individual standing alone for what is right.
It’s even Maria and the von Trappes in “The Sound of Music.” Yes, I know they’re Austrians (no Americans in sight), but the MESSAGE is an American message. They take a stand for righteousness against the Nazis (globalists). Ralf, turns into a Nazi, subjugating his will to the “Master Race.” He slips up only momentarily when he lets them go, which is the right thing to do, but in the eyes of the globalists, it’s a mistake.
It’s Thomas More in “A Man For All Seasons.” (1966) Yes – I know, he’s British – but where do we think we got our ideas of Freedom from? He, again, takes a stand against the monolithic monarchy of Henry the Eighth (who will put up with no dissent). Thomas doesn’t just have to not say anything about where he believes the king is wrong; he’s not even allowed to THINK against what the king demands.
It’s Rocky Balboa in Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” (1976) He’s not just a quintessential guy from Philadelphia; he’s a quintessential American. That movie touched a nerve in Americans because – once again – here’s a guy standing against the odds, doing the right thing (by taking care of his reluctant teen-aged cousin, by loving Adrian, by turning away from the mob, etc.), defeating his own weaknesses before he nearly defeats Apollo Creed. And – even though he loses the fight, we all know he’s a winner. That’s an American!
It’s both Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams in “Chariots of Fire” (1981). Yes – again, the characters are Brits, but they touch the American soul. The Americans in the movie are, as first, monolithic. But it’s American Jackson Scholz who gives Eric the Scripture verse that drives him (among other things) during the final race. The Brits are all individuals, doing things unique to themselves, Eric, of course, is motivated – uniquely – by his love for the Lord; “God made me for China. But He also made me fast! And when I run, I feel His pleasure!” Harold runs to be the best; he goes his own way and hires Sam as his coach. He also is driven by his desire to show that a Jewish runner is just as good as anyone in the world – no, BETTER! Ashley is a unique individual, as is Andrew. Very American, even in a movie where the Americans are perceived as the enemy!
Did you ever watch one of those Communist rallies, like was on display at the Beijing Olympics? The whole goal is to have NO individuals – every one of the thousands of people involved is to subjugate themselves to the whole. In Communism, individuals are unimportant (unless you’re a leader). It’s the state that is all important. Look at the monolithic, fake responses when the North Korean dictator died a few years ago – that’s NOT American… that’s what the globalists want us to be: “just drops of water in an endless sea.” Did you also notice – most politicians *especially Democrat) print signs that all look exactly the same? Sign after sign after sign – same size, same colors, same slogan. They want their people not to think for themselves; they want to give the impression that they are monolithic – not independent individuals who are being challenged to think, but mindless automatons. Just like pro-death – pro-abortion… sorry, pro-choice robots, who ALWAYS carry the same round blue signs? Do you think they’re encouraging individual thought? All of these are encouraging NO thoughts by their followers… NO UNLIKE those happy smiling seas of Communists, who look exactly like every other Communist… “drops of water in an endless sea.”
End of Transmission…
New: That pattern – an individual (or a small group of unique and very different individuals) takes a stand for what is good (or righteousness), against all odds, and triumphing! Look at some more American Classics (popular because they express truth) –
The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Dorothy, rejected by her world, goes to a new place where she leads a plucky band of seriously flawed individuals. They overcome their weaknesses, and, against all odds, triumph over evil in the person of the Wicked Witch of the West. Notice: while the “good” places, like Munchkinland and Emerald City, are populated by unique individuals with a wide-variety of personalities, the two “evil” groups are monolithic (all the same… no individuals take a stand against the evil ruler): the Flying Monkeys and the Witches’ Army (although they become individuals when the witches’ spell over them is broken by her death).
Meet John Doe (1941) – In another Frank Capra-directed morality tale, Long John Witherspoon – John Doe – does the right thing by inspiring a movement whose motto is “Love Thy Neighbor”. He admits to the fraud as the “powers-that-be” attempt to destroy him. His plucky group of supporting individuals includes his harmonica-playing side-kick, “The Colonel”, the newspaper reporter who invented “John Doe”, played by Barbara Stanwyck; the cynical editor, Mr. Cannell, who gives an inspiring speech on the National Anthem and Freedom; and the common regular Americans who support him – not because they’re supporting the person, but because they’re supporting the cause. The bad guys are monolithic powerful people who want to use the John Doe movement to gain political power. Cannell ends it with a great line: “There you go, Norton- the PEOPLE! Try and lick THAT!”
Ben Hur (1959) – Judah Ben Hur – and his family of unique individuals – takes a stand against his former friend, now bloodthirsty Massala, representing the evil of the Roman rulers over Israel. Judah, against all odds, returns from three years of being a galley slave and defeats his enemy in a chariot race. The Romans are the bad guys – they tend to be monolithic – and the other chariot racers are externally diverse, but their goals are to beat Ben Hur, just like Massala tried.
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962): Atticus Finch takes a stand for a black man wrongly accused of rape. He does what’s right, even though he is taking a terrible risk – he and his family. The good guys are a wide variety of individuals who support him: brave son Jem, tomboy sister Scout, and misunderstood neighbor Boo Radley, who rescues Jem and Scout. The bad guys are monolithic racists – no independent thought allowed.
Star Wars (1977) – Luke Skywalker, against all odds, leads his plucky band of unique individuals to destroy the Death Star and save the Empire. Who are the most popular individuals (the good guys)? Han Solo, who fought off attacker after attacker (monolithic fighters), with Chewbacca, who is a unique individual who is VERY different from the others. Bad guys? Is there a more monolithic group than the Storm Troopers? And I’ve already pointed out the monolithic nature of the “Tie Fighters”).
Gettysburg (1993) – Obviously Americans, but both sides are taking a principled stand for what they believe is right. War itself could be seen as the enemy, or slavery; both sides have unique characters based on real people. The centerpiece of the sprawling epic, though, is profoundly American: Joshua Chamberlain and his plucky band of Maine fighters (along with other small groups) fights off the relentless assaults of Confederates to ultimately turn back the tide of war and save the important high ground of Little Round Top.
Schindler’s List (1993) – Again – not American characters, but they demonstrate American ideals – like helping others in desperate need. Oskar Schindler takes a stand against the monolithic and evil Nazi Empire, to save as many Jewish people as he possibly can. Steven Spielberg’s best film… Spielberg (mostly) understands what American-style Freedom is. By taking a stand for what’s right, Schindler and his Jewish friends (a group of different and unique individuals) ultimately triumph by surviving the Holocaust. Even the symbolic “red child” reminds us that all who died in the Holocaust were individuals who were, one by one, unjustly and unrighteously murdered.
Toy Story (1995) – Woody, the Cowboy Sheriff toy, takes a stand with his plucky band against the evil neighbor kid. His plucky band of individuals include a veritable gold mine of unique characters, voiced by a very talented people – Tom Hanks as Woody; Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear; John Ratzenberger; Don Rickles; Jim Varney; Wallace Shawn; R. Lee Emrey Annie Potts – a veritable smorgasbord of personalities. Very American!
Just a taste! I could go on and on – and I will, since this is such an important topic.
May we Americans never forget to praise the God of our Fathers for His past blessings! May He continue to help us understand these truths so that we can remain free!