This is a 1947 U.S. War Department film that I’d highly recommend.  It’s more than a little moving, and more than a little perplexing, especially for a nation that had just participated in rounding up and interning thousands of Japanese-Americans, and segregating African-Americans into separate military units a few years ago.  Still, the sentiments expressed here, whether intentional or unintentional, suggest what I would consider a very open, liberal and progressive ideology, one that strangely resonates with our current times and situations.   Indeed some of the ideas in the film, were they put in a film today by the Federal Government, would have certain portions of the population up in arms…*cough* rightwingfascistteabaggers *cough*.

It is important that we are reminded that we are a nation of minorities in one fashion or another, and that the main strategy of repressive and oppressive ideologies is to divide groups and turn them against one another.  We must remain vigilant and look out for one another, because we all have more in common than not.  Especially the working classes, and the poor.  Our diversity is our strength, but it can be made to undo us.  This film underscores the fundamental concepts that we must remember, that those that seek to divide us are out for their own gain, their own profit, and they have no concern for the common person.

The film is about 17 minutes long, which makes it hard for our short attention spans.  But I assure you it is worth a watch.

I stumbled against this at Uncle Warren’s site, and it is a film that I very much want to see:

I am against the border wall, though I have at times been for it. It is a difficult thing for me to process, illegal immigration, and let us all be clear that now-a-days when someone says illegal immigration they are talking about brown skinned people from Mexico, and Central America. Difficult because a person entering the US illegally has broken a law, and is therefore a criminal. Criminals should be punished, we don’t want more criminals here. That being said I don’t feel that this is the proper way to proceed, or think about the situation. Men, women and children are taking incredible risks to get to our country, and in many cases they are being maimed or killed in the attempt. They risk dying of exposure and dehydration crossing the desert, that is how bad the situation is in their home countries, that the risk is worth it.
We in the US may face some hardship by the presence of so many illegal immigrants in our country, maybe they use up our resources and take our jobs. But back at home illegal immigration is causing real suffering, families are at the very least broken apart, and sometimes destroyed forever. Communities and families may benefit from the money being sent back, but there are deep and sad wounds at the absence of so many. So we build a wall, a wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. I doubt that it will work, walls are easily breached when those outside the wall have the desperate incentive to get around them.
The US must have some compassion, we must find a way to allow immigrants to come into our country and work. And then leave if they want to, because I’m sure many would want to. We must also find a way to assist countries that are failing economically, because the US can not take in everyone. Building a wall will not fix the problem.

There’s just so much that’s awesome about this article. Shatner! The Long. Strange. Never-Boring Journey of a National Treasure (and yes, we know he’s Canadian) By Andrew Corsello
I’m not really a fan of Shatner in that I seek out his work in any kind of conscious way. I’ve never seen Boston Legal, though I am beginning to think I need to find ways of rectifying that. Everything I hear about it in passing seems to indicate that it is worth my while. Still, I’ve always found William Shatner to be an oddly compelling actor, or maybe presence. In that I’ve always bought in to what he did. Where as I’ve known others to write him off as a bad actor, a loon, or whatever I’ve always looked at it as what he, Shatner, did. And he did with a certain mastery that made it okay, since it was him doing it. I don’t think many could get away with it. Even the priceline negotiator bit that he does he would quickly hit the ‘fucking annoying’ category really quickly had it not been Shatner playing the part. Even after I’ve seen those adds a dozen times a night I’m still strangely compelled by it. The dude just does what he does and does it with such ownership that you can’t help but be drawn in by it.
Anyway, the article is good, I suggest you read it. Even if you despise William Shatner I think you can enjoy it as mental exercise. The guy is looking at reality in a different way, there could be something there worth mining.