12 years a slave movie http://t.co/K5KtitCdTE – Story with a Canadian connection that is not the Freedom Crossing http://t.co/EMpzrhGCmq
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) October 23, 2013
If you haven’t seen the movie 12 years a slave I suggest you do so. In particular the last 45 minutes is extremely thought provoking. Incredibly the story takes place about 160 years ago. The good news is that the world as come a long way. That said, it is a reminder that “freedom” is a delicate thing. As Ronald Reagen would say:
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
The movie takes place before the Civil War and before the 14th Amendment. As you know the “Equal Protection” clause of the 14 amendment was for the purpose of giving Blacks equal citizenship.
To give “equal citizenship” is NOT to define what citizenship is and what it means. The last few years have been extremely difficult for Americans abroad. Many are questioning the meaning of U.S. citizenship. Some view U.S. citizenship as an immense honor and privilege. Some view it as an albatross around their necks. Some go so far as to see U.S. citizenship as a form of slavery. In fact, Petros once argued that the U.S. was now using he 14th amendment to create slaves of anyone born in the U.S. I have long argued that the U.S. considers its citizens to be a form of state property.
In his 2012 State of the Union address President Obama spoke of citizenship:
We are citizens. It’s a word that doesn’t just describe our nationality or legal status. It describes the way we’re made. It describes what we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations; that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others; and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter in our American story.
Do “Homelanders” have obligations to Americans abroad?
I strongly recommend that you see this movie! I look forward to the comments of those who have seen it.
I have been intending to see this. I don’t usually go to see films much in theatres anymore. We have a very, very fine indy film theatre here and I go to that one to films that never show up as “blockbusters” There’s also a fantastic and inexpensive film festival here each year. I can never afford the one in Toronto god forbid the other big ones.
Once in a while though something comes along that drags me out to the bigger theatres. This film for instance. I guess I’ve become jaded since so many BIG MOVIES are so over hyped and shallow.
I love the Canada connections. I have always hoped that Canada’s role in the underground railroad would be more widely recognized. We have a “Scene” card with so many free movies on it now! We’ll go this weekend!
Lucky those who have so far been able to see this. I can’t find when it will come to a Calgary theatre. Thanks for featuring the ’12 Years a Slave,’ USCitizenAbroad.
Just last weekend we saw “Gravity” after not going to a movie theatre since watching “Cowboys and Aiiens” two years ago, which we really only saw to distract us from all of the turmoil we were undergoing due to OVDI. As it turned out, we were more depressed after seeing the movie as the plot paralleled our experience: aliens invade to steal the wealth of the inhabitants. Even though the aliens were sent packing, we left the theatre completely depressed and only now can we bear to go to another movie. I’ll make an effort to see “12 Years a Slave”, but if I don’t we’ll check it out later on Netflicks. Thanks for the recommend.