Posted on 09/30/2011 9:05:27 PM PDT by HMS Surprise
First, stop reading this, run to your nearest bookstore, buy Laura Hillenbrand’s latest epic biography Unbroken, and start reading that.
Still here? Well OK then…
I first had this thought, that history is best-learned when it is personalized, while watching Ken Burn’s series about the Civil War on PBS. I’m sure that my experience was shared by millions of others. We watched and learned more about Civil War History in a few hours than we learned after years and years of stifling public schooling.
(Excerpt) Read more at teapartytribune.com ...
I am watching Prof. Fears just earlier today....couldn’t stop and am going to go back and watch more.....just checking email, etc. for a minute. This guy is a great story teller...
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=349
I read Ms.Hillenbrand’s “Unbroken” this past spring.
And the only word that fits this Tale is “Incredible”.
Like they said I couldn’t put it down.
I’m a World War II kid and Louie Zamperini and his generation were, and still are my Hero’s.
He’s in his mid nineties now and was here a week or so ago
to talk to students over at Cal State San Marcos.
He looks great, alert and smiling telling the students to
look to and work on the future.
He said he has no time for the past, It’s gone.
look for the good things and keep moving. Wonderful.!!
Will check it. Thanks for the scoop.
The movie will be incredible.(of course there must be a movie) One particular anecdote from the book was especially moving to me. While adrift in the Pacific Zamperini experienced a sea condition called “flat water” or “flat sea”, which is incredibly rare. I actually saw this while in the Caribbean 5 years ago so I understood immediately what he was describing, and how affecting it must have been to him. Louis IS a remarkable man.
“Unbroken are perfect vehicles for making history a living and breathing part of any child’s education”
Patriots Birthday - Idea
For the benefit of my son who just turned 10 today, each month we hold a Patriots Birthday Party to help him appreciate our History and the heroes, pioneers, patriots and Americans with an incredible amount of courage and perseverance - all who have helped shapes this country or inspire others to do their best. And even some not from this country, yet just as deserving of recognition and a place of honor.
We would select a meal around that person and maybe watch a related movie, and my son often gets a small gift. For example for Ben Franklin – we would have Philadelphia Steak sandwiches and French Fries because he was the first ambassador to France, and we would watch 1776, and he got a kite. Get the idea? Half the fun is planning it.
We have done Columbus, George Washington, Frederick Douglass, various Astronauts, Reagan, Jackie Robinson, Father Flanagan, Jesse Owens, Lincoln, Sophie Scholl, Glenn Cunningham, Oskar Schindler , Golda Meir, Bethany Hamilton, and more.
It has become something my son looks forward too, and he, on his own will find names we can celebrate next month, and helps in the planning. Great way to learn History.
Just ordered it. Thanks for the tip.
Now I’d like to share a Tip. This is a Great movie (Netflix has it for streaming)
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days
Sophie Scholl a young German girl was executed by guillotine by the Third Reich after she was arrested and found guilty of distributing anti-Nazi leaflets at her college campus and for this she was beheaded along with several of the other brave young God-fearing people of the “White Rose”, an underground Nazi resistance movement. This movie is a dramatization of that event, it is a movie that will not leave you and will have you thinking about it for days after viewing. I highly recommend this film. I found myself drawn into this movie like few other movies will do. This is brilliant stuff. The tension becomes almost unbearable. The depiction of Freisler (The judge), which might seem over the top, but is quite consistent with accounts and actual film clips of the trial, maybe even understated. He was diabolical, tyrannical and very hot tempered.
Watch the Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM5A4ETW_Io
Wow, assume idea. Ultimately we as parents are responsible for the education of our children, including of course the great ideas that gave us our great country, and the patriots that died for those ideas.
Watching Fears now, check yours soon. Thanks!
I also love Prof Fears. Best teacher in history!
I read this earlier this year..could NOT put it down. One of the best books I’ve ever read. After reading what Lou Zamperini and his fellow soldiers went thrugh...well, I have NOTHING to complain about.
Laura Hillenbrand is among my favorite authors...she brings history to life in a way few can...even Louis’ own book did not get the attention hers did. Read Seabiscuit, her other book, if you haven’t already.
What a terrific idea!!!
Yep, same same. Seabiscuit was an awesome read also. I especially appreciated Hillenbrand’s unblinking retelling of Zamperini’s “come to Jesus” experience after attending a Billy Graham revival, in the heart of Hollyweird no less. This experience without question saved Louis a lifetime of despair with alcohol and probably would have gotten short-shrift from some authors. It was an unexpected ending that gave me a sense of hope after what seemed like a neverending debasement of humanity. The perfect story, told by an excellent biographer. IMO of course.
Patriots Birthday Party - What a great idea! Thanks for sharing that.
Thank you bump!
I moved to a tiny town-—after years in the Bay Area and access to all sorts of classes, etc. I was a little bored with the conversations here in town and I could never stomach what is fed to me on TV and in popular culture— I don’t have cable and newspapers since internet. I thought it was worse than just wasting time—to watch their stuff, and I never have time to waste.
My brother started purchasing these tapes....and let me watch them....I was hooked.....and I hadn’t even watched Prof. Fears yet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.