tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post847489071619839001..comments2024-03-24T19:55:32.537-05:00Comments on The View from This Seat: Pres. Johnson’s Scintillating Selma SpeechLKSeathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-41321232021447771852015-03-16T09:26:49.026-05:002015-03-16T09:26:49.026-05:00Thanks for commenting further, Michael.
I agree t...Thanks for commenting further, Michael.<br /><br />I agree that the LBJ and Wallace actors did not look like the men they portrayed, but I thought what they said was believable. And I agree with the transformation seen in LBJ. <br /><br />As I alluded to in the article, there are some strong criticisms about the way LBJ was shown--and perhaps he was a shown somewhat unfairly early on. But that was done for dramatic effect to show the contrast at the end, as you indicated. I thought he looked and sounded so good at the end that the overall impressing is positive rather than negative, so I don't accept the charge that LBJ was portrayed incorrectly.LKSeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-27176869046243975152015-03-15T20:22:50.895-05:002015-03-15T20:22:50.895-05:00You're welcome, Leroy. Always glad to be in di...You're welcome, Leroy. Always glad to be in dialogue with you, whether it's at your dining room table or on your blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420343990064880693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-92122070828599237672015-03-15T20:18:53.897-05:002015-03-15T20:18:53.897-05:00I must say that it was difficult for me to take se...I must say that it was difficult for me to take seriously LBJ and George Wallace in the movie "Selma" because the actors portraying them didn't look anything like their real life counterparts--unlike MLK, who looked like MLK. <br /><br />LBJ is the only character in "Selma" who is transformed. He was made to look bad through most of the movie so that we could see a contrast in the end. The character of MLK was not transformed. I never felt like I got inside the head (and heart) of his character, especially when he stopped the march on the bridge. The priest later said that he was praying, but when he kneeled, I never saw him close his eyes, look up to heaven, or say anything. He looked pretty confused to me. He does speak about "doing God's will" to the official from DC, but he doesn't unpack that phrase. MLK is resolute at the end of the movie, but so is he at various church appearances, such as a rally and a funeral. Nevertheless, LBJ is unquestionably transformed--by MLK, or by God working through MLK, and he is painted so negatively in order to appear so positively in the end. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420343990064880693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-31520030574409100002015-03-15T19:50:38.181-05:002015-03-15T19:50:38.181-05:00Thanks, Michael for your double contribution.
I h...Thanks, Michael for your double contribution.<br /><br />I had not heard of the Gregory Brothers or "Songify the News," but I really enjoyed the clip that you linked to. And I really like your poem, too.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing!LKSeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-17425820862315383922015-03-15T19:44:57.563-05:002015-03-15T19:44:57.563-05:00Thanks, Anton, for reading the commenting on my bl...Thanks, Anton, for reading the commenting on my blog article this morning--and doing that in spite of having to preach later in the morning. <br /><br />As you say, racism is a deep cancer. Two or three days ago a local Thinking Friend called to comment on my previous blog article, and in that conversation he talked about the racist chant of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Oklahoma. He asked to consider writing an article about what can be done to keep that sort of thing from happening. But at this point I really don't know. LKSeathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860725174433173015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-64330489935827606822015-03-15T18:08:16.361-05:002015-03-15T18:08:16.361-05:00Once again, a informative, thought-provoking piece...Once again, a informative, thought-provoking piece, Leroy. <br /><br />Two thoughts: <br /><br />(1) The Gregory Brothers, who do a series called "Songify the News," have recently "songified" Obama's Selma speech: http://www.songifythis.com/2015/03/selma-50th-anniversary-tribute.html<br /><br />(2) I wrote a poem in 2011 entitled, "Sunday, Bloody (1965.3.7)." You probably saw it on Facebook, Leroy, but I wanted to share it here with those who have not seen it. <br /><br />Sunday, Bloody (1965.3.7)<br /><br />All they wanted was a vote<br />a say<br />O say, can you see<br /><br />the blood<br />on our TV set<br /><br />not ketchup <br />not Hershey's chocolate syrup<br /><br />but blood <br />streaming <br /><br />from the heads of people <br />yearning <br />to breathe <br />free<br /><br />There's power, <br />wonder-working<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420343990064880693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355086750486200439.post-35708541458685961332015-03-15T08:06:27.304-05:002015-03-15T08:06:27.304-05:00Thanks, Leroy, for this well done and thoughtful p...Thanks, Leroy, for this well done and thoughtful piece. The Civil Rights Movement and the labor movement before it--both taught us that progressive causes require mass movements on the ground and sympathetic politicians in positions of power. Unfortunately, for 35 years now, we've had a reactionary right wing organizing to turn back most of the progressive legislation and accomplishments of the 20th century. Obama was certainly right in his Selma speech to celebrate the progress but also correct when he said the race is not finished. I wonder whether America will ever be able to finish the race or whether it will just eat itself into destruction. Racism is a deep cancer.Antonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03945285810893867079noreply@blogger.com