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1. 

   Pompey Road Posted 7:10 am
   25 Feb 2008

   There will be Blood the sequel

   Can do the sequel in the Coal fields of West Virginia and East Kentucky. Keep a script writer busy and it would be hard to pick from a hundred real characters of the type protrayed by Danel Day-Lewis.

   Blair Mountain would be a great movie, war in the southern West Virgina coal fields. Big climatic battle on a mountain between the coal company's army and the coal miners. Blair Mountain

   They used airplanes to bomb them and the president had to send in troops to seperate the warring factions.

   Over a 1500 rounded up after the battle and tried for everything up to and including treason.

   Mother Jones jailed for about 60 days for this event if my memory serves, better check that one out, anyway its an interesting read and would make one hell of a movie.  

   The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.

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2. 

   Bart Anderson Posted 10:26 pm
   25 Feb 2008

   A missing part of U.S. history

   Interesting view of the movie, Kit, and compelling enough to make me go see it.

   I want to comment on the fact that all references to Sinclair's socialism were removed from the movie. From the point of view of movie-making, this may or may not have been a good idea.  I haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know.

   I do know that removing the socialism from the movie is distortion of the literary work, as well as a censorship of American history.  You say:

   ... socialism has been more of a bogeyman than a reality in American politics ...

   This sentiment, though widely held, is completely untrue.

   If you look at the period from about 1880 to 1950, socialism (in its many varieties) was a powerful influence in America. Among the many writers and intellectuals who were socialists were Jack London, John Dos Passos, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Lincoln Steffens, John Steinbeck and Arthur Miller.

   The labor and civil rights movements were closely associated with the socialism. Many of the protections and freedoms we enjoy today came from socialist programs - for example, the 40-hour week.

   As a sign that Sinclair and his beliefs were not marginal, consider that he was a best-selling author and that he ran for Governor of California on the Democratic ticket in 1934.

   Without an appreciation of the role of socialism, it is hard to understand U.S. history. Hard, actually, to make sense of where we are now.

   Bart
   Energy Bulletin

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3. 

   Kit Stolz Posted 10:06 am
   26 Feb 2008

   politics vs. history

   Thanks for the thoughtful response, Bart. Re: socialism, I was making a distinction between the role of socialism in American politics vs. the role in American history. It's absolutely true that socialism has played an important role in our history, not the least example being Social Security, which is the most successful and popular program in the history of the government, probably. But still socialism is viewed politically in this country with great suspicion, such as the recent hubbub over "socialized medicine."

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4. 

   Bart Anderson Posted 8:14 am
   27 Feb 2008

   You said it!

   Kit Stolz: "still socialism is viewed politically in this country with great suspicion"

   You said it!

   Problem is, socialism is as much part of the human experience as business, science or religion.  One can't understand modern history without it.

   Ironically, the socialist tradition has been a source of ideas for people from all parts of the political spectrum, from conservatives to environmentalists to the ultra-left.

   I don't think one can be an educated person without an awareness of socialism. That's why it's discouraging to see the subject being written out of the movie.

   Again, thanks for the post.

   Bart
   Energy Bulletin

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