 
[tag]Ken Burns[/tag], the genius documentary film maker, was recently here in Minneapolis talking about his upcoming 14+ hour, seven-episode film,The War. I know you have heard about it.
After watching him talk about making the film, I am nearly overcome, truly, with anticipation for Sunday night, September 23, the date of the first episode on PBS.
Money quote: In response to a question about how he knew he was done or finished, there being so much to say. “You don’t simply finish a work like this, you have to abandon it.”
Please watch it.
Why, you ask.
Well, one thousand WWII veterans a day are dying, and we are about to lose the stories they have locked away for over fifty years. This film may inspire you to go to your parents or grandparents and ask them, what they did in, or during, the war. [tag]The War[/tag] may inspire them to tell us a more complete story.
In a recent survey of graduating high school seniors, the majority thought that the Americans and Germans fought together in WWII against the Russians. This can’t be.
Unfortunately, this is not their fault. We have failed to make history interesting enough, or relevant enough, or fun enough to capture their attention. Shame on us.
Now, we have finally done so, er, Ken Burns has.
[tags] documentary film, World War II, PBS [/tags]
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Excellent! You and I are part of the “direct recipient” generation of what they accomplished and the least we can do is try to understand what they truly did for the world.
I would like to add to this the encouragement for everyone who ever visits LA to go to the Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance if they have the chance. It really helps to viscerally understand the evil that generation had to confront – and the forms it continues in today.
I know, Conrad, I have heard great things about the Wiesenthal. Same thing about the museum in Washington, DC. Any ideas on how to sell people on watching this series?
I was transfixed just watching Ken Burns talk about it.
He says it is the best thing HE has done yet.
Well, first, the blog you entered a ways back that someone somehow cranked up to the bigger blogoverse (a play on universe, heh heh), how do we crank this entry up there?
Second, WWDS Blogophiles, this is your time to jump in and be heard! This deserves some real attention. Mike? I know you’re out there and always have some great ideas.
Anyone else?
I am a Ken burns addict–thanks for my next fix