1776

Independence

Every year, I post on social media the 1972 musical movie “1776”, just ahead of the Bicentennial. This year, I thought I would put it in an article, and expound a few pertinent points that pertain to some things going on in society, politics, and even the REC/RPOF. But, mostly I just want to give you enough incentive to go watch this movie today. I have included some clips of scenes. If you are going to watch the movie, these clips shouldn’t ruin it for you.

It certain-Lee has been a family tradition that I passed on to my daughter, and maybe you will want to make it your annual tradition as well. It is Exceptional-Lee produced.

Overview

The movie was adapted from the Broadway play. It is very well done, and captures the essence of what the Continental Congress went through to adopt the Lee Resolution, and declare our independence from the State of Great Britain on July 2nd. With all of the amendments, scratch-outs, scratch-ins, etc., it had to be re-written by the calligrapher, and was officially dated and published as “The Declaration of Independence” on July 4th. It was adopted by 12 Colonies Free and Independent States, with only New York abstaining (courteously). See more on the discussion of the two dates at the end of this article.

While the movie is fairly historically accurate, some literary license was taken. Several lines in the movie were really said at other times, or even occasionally by someone else, but it’s pertinent to the thinking of the times.

1776 is history, told with humor, set to some music.

Controversies

Commies

Howard Da Silva, who played the role of Ben Franklin, had been blacklisted from 1951-1961 by the movie industry, after his testimony in front of The House Committee on UnAmerican Activities, where he claimed the Fifth. During that time, he only performed in Broadway plays. I don’t know if he was a Commie, or not, but I detect no evidence of it in his performance as Ben Franklin. So, if he was, it doesn’t show.

Nixon

Jack Warner of Warner Bros. was a personal friend of President Nixon, and provided him with a prescreening of the movie. Three scenes were removed at Nixon’s request. If you watch the restored version, the removed scenes are:

1. “Cool, Cool Considerate Men”. The song was performed by the wealthy, propertied members of Congress who sing “…To the right, Ever to the right…” It portrays them as cold, greedy and conservative fellows. Clearly, a political statement by the left in the industry.

2. “Mamma, Look Sharp”. This song was considered by Nixon to be anti-war, during America’s involvement in Vietnam, and a contentious time in American politics.

3. “Molasses to Rum”. Nixon’s concern here was supposedly that it unnecessarily dredged up racial tensions that were now considered on the mend since the 60’s.

Jack Warner supposedly had the negative burned, but a positive was found decades later at the studio. The deleted scenes have been restored into a 2002 re-released version, which is the version I have.

Woke=Broke

The woke left will undoubtedly have an issue with this movie (so, there’s a good reason to watch it). The issue of abolishing slavery is addressed, and freeing the slaves was clearly included by Jefferson in his original version. A motion was made by Rutledge of SC that the resolution be passed unanimously, because “No colony should be torn from their mother country against their will”. That motion passed with John Hancock’s tie-breaking vote, because NY abstained (courteously). Adams was furious with Hancock for this betrayal. Hancock asserted that Independence would carry with it “the mark of Cain”, pitting brother against brother. Some speculate that this “betrayal” by Hancock was retaliation for Adams nominating Washington as the Commander of the Military a year earlier, instead of his friend, Hancock, who actually wanted the job. Ultimately, with a unanimous vote needed, the entire delegation of SC, NC, and GA threatened to walk out of Congress if the slavery-abolishment section wasn’t removed. John Adams was not happy about it. In the movie, Ben Franklin says to John Adams “Independence first. Without that, we can never hope for the rest”. Ultimately, it was the first step in abolishing slavery, 90 years before the Civil War. You know, by racist, toxic, white, male, slave owners.

Committees.

There’s one scene taking place in the Hall of Congress, where a list of committees “now sitting, about to sit, or just having sat” is being read out with their descriptions. It’s a secondary ‘filler’ scene that leads up to an actual scene, so it’s not integral to the plot. It points out the ridiculous stupidity of committees being where good ideas go to die, and the fecklessness of committees. One such committee is described as “A committee formed to think, perhaps to do, but in any case to gather, to meet, to confer, to talk, and perhaps even to resolve, that each rifle regimen be allowed at least one drum and one fife attached to each company, designated as ‘The Drum and Fife Committee’”. Incredible!

There is a scene where Caesar Rodney of Delaware collapses from his bout with cancer, and has to be transported home, to die in his own bed. This leaves Delaware divided, since each colony was represented by three delegates. In fact, it really only left the one delegate from Delaware, George Read, who was a solid NO-vote, because the other YES-vote, Thomas McKean, is the one who takes Caesar Rodney home. This is quickly capitalized on by those who want the Lee Resolution defeated, and they call the vote. In an attempt to stall that vote, the supporters call for a committee to be formed to re-write the Resolution for global consumption, and better explain the reasons that compelled the separation. None of this was necessary… It was a stall tactic. Furthermore, the committee was made up of supporters, not ‘Mitt Clodwells’ hell-bent on defeating resolutions. In the movie, Judge Wilson (PA), who was opposed to Independence, says “Well, there you are Mr. Adams. You must see that we need time. Time to make certain who we are, and where we stand”. If these detractors had gotten their grubby little hands on the Lee Resolution, the committee would have re-written it to be a “Hail to the King” Resolution, and our lives would be worth half a Farthing today, instead of $0.01 (For reference, a Farthing is a ¼ of a Penny, or 1/960th of a Pound)

So, in short… committees are where good ideas go to die, or at least become feckless. That is true in D.C., Tallahassee, or even in the RPOF and the REC.

Comedy, without wokism and thin skin.

In one scene between Ben Franklin (PA) and John Dickinson (PA) several funny exchanges between them are as follows:

• Dickinson is banging on a desk for effect.

• Franklin (napping) says: “Please Mr. Dickinson, must you start banging? How is a man to sleep?”

• Dickinson: “Forgive me Dr. Franklin, but must you start speaking? How is a man to stay awake?” Condescendingly, he adds “We’ll promise to be quiet sir, I’m sure everyone prefers that you remain asleep.” 

• Franklin: “If I’m to hear myself called an ‘Englishman’ sir, I assure you I’d prefer I’d remain asleep”

• Dickinson: “Oh, now what’s so terrible about being called an Englishman? The English don’t seem to mind.”

• Franklin: “Nor would I, were I given the full rights of an Englishman. But to call me one without those rights is like calling an ox a bull. He’s thankful for the honor, but he’d much rather have restored that which is rightfully his”

• Dickinson: “When did you first notice they were missing, sir?

To which even Franklin starts bellowing in laughter with the room. These days such an exchange would require three hearings in Congress, and at least one censure or vote of removal. Nowadays, we censure or impeach for nothing, but truly illegal or even despicable behavior is tolerated, if not celebrated. 

In the REC, a legal and proper motion to amend the agenda incited the chair to publish an over 20-minute video of consternation and diarrheal diatribe, inciting members to boo and talk over named individuals if they ever try to speak again. We live in a time where weak-minded, weak-kneed individuals overstep their delegated authority, and cross the line. They believe they possess powers and authorities never granted them. We see it in Congress, we see it in Legislatures, County Commissions, School Boards, and City Councils. And, we see it in REC’s. The common thread in all of these individuals is that they either forgot, or never learned that what makes America great, or “exceptional”, is that “We the People” are the sovereign for the first time in history. They get drunk on power, and can’t see that they are one of us, delegated to carry out a set of tasks that we direct them to do. They are not lords, we are not serfs. There job is not to confer additional authorities upon themselves.

In another scene, Stephen Hopkins says to Franklin, “Ah, Ben, I want you to see some cards I went and had printed up”, 

“Dear Sir, you are, without any doubt, a rogue, a rascal, a villain, a thief, a scoundrel and a mean, dirty, stinking, sniveling, sneaking, pimping, pocket-picking, thrice double-damned no-good son-of-a-bitch.”
“And, you sign your name, whatta think?”

Ben Franklin - “I’ll take a dozen right now”.
I agree with Franklin. I need a dozen right now, myself.

July 2nd or July 4th?

John Adams, who was known as ‘obnoxious and disliked’ by friend and foe alike, wrote to his wife, Abigail, on July 3rd, “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

In the 1870’s, Congress adopted the 4th of July as the official National Holiday, but until then it had been celebrated by many on the 2nd. But, with the document officially signed on the 4th, and both Adams and Jefferson dying on the same day, (50 years to the date, after the signing) on July 4th, 1826… many liked the coincidence, and it made for a better story. Today, some people like to remind people that it was adopted on July 2nd, others reject that based on the date of the document. Some even take it too far, and insist that it MUST be celebrated on the 2nd. For me, I celebrate both. July 2nd as the day that we formally passed and declared our independence. And July 4th as the official day that the document was signed and published to the world. I guess you could call July 2nd - “Independence Day”, and July 4th - "Document Signing Day”. It gives me twice the opportunity to blow some $#!t up. And, having done professional fireworks for several years in my younger days, I can tell you that as long as we honor Adams' wish to light up the sky, in honor of all of the effort that went into declaring it, securing it, keeping it, and now coming very close to losing it… It matters less which date you celebrate, than which date “they” will be celebrating, as the end of it all? Eventually, It will be “Happy United Nations Day”, and it will be celebrated as the only celebration on Dec 25th.

Enjoy the movie today. But, tomorrow, go make things better. Or, at the very least, stop standing in the way of those who are trying to.