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Gender: female Member Since: June 30, 2006 Last Signed In: December 03, 2008 Profile Views: 8135 Blog Views: 24123 After 30 Years~~ The Rape of Europa~ Redux Charlie Wilson's War Point Counter Point~ are we all this nuts? Keith Olbermann~ Special Comment on Prop.8 God on Trial~ My Search to not be Pathetic OP~Ed From the NY TIMES: A Political Manners Manual To nobama08 *delete this* Voter Tampering July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 "Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats." Diane Arbus My life seems to operate sideways~ backwards almost~ and I have come to see thats right for me. A rain of snakes,disruption that cause's growth ,the world split in two.Everyone has there own path,mine has been one of thought,mostly of things folks today seem to disregard. Truth, personal integrity,politeness,...not all eschew these things.For me its been the easiest way to be~ any other way leads me to more trouble..and a sense of humor,above all about myself. Laughter keeps a person sane,and I enjoy seeing the coyote in myself~ the eternal trickster 
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Amazing Grace~ the life of Wilbur Wilberforce
With a wink to Sioux, a nod to TSM and a friendly wave to FSG~ all my guides in one way or another to this little film. Considering how many of you mentioned Amazing Grace as a song that could make you cry, I thought I recommend this film: Amazing Grace~ The Life of Wilbur Wilberforce. John Newton write the song in1772,calling it Faiths Review and Expectation after quitting the slave trade and becoming a pastor .He became a mentor to Wilberforce, who was a merchants son and a member of the House of Commons.
Influenced by Newton, Wilberforce faced a crisis of conscious ~ he felt called to become a pastor, but his great gift was politics. William Pitt, a friend of his youth who latter became Prime Minister, and Newton convinced him his gifts were better spent in a life of politics. He spent his life fighting for the abolishment of slavery, and three days before he died slavery was abolished in England. He was the first animal rights activist, advocated for free schools, child labor laws, prison reform, created one of the first Bible Societies in England and started the National Gallery of Art. Quite the life and quite the role model for a disillusioned public wondering about public life.
All of these social reforms began during a time of great unrest in Europe and that little colony America. With heads rolling in France, a revolutionary army fighting to separate from England, Wilberforce was considered “dangerous” and his cause’s liberal. In a time of relative peace, he said, “When the people are not afraid- then they can rediscover compassion”. His life gave hope to the hopeless, much like the hymn.
Directed by Michael Apted, the story unfolds in shades of grey. There are no clear villains or heroes~ those opposed to societal change have their valid reasons, those who want change see the clear need for it. This adaptation of his life shows the world for what it is~ messy and hard. It also shows that on occasion great things can happen, that a life dedicated to politics is not always self-serving and that a few people can change the world. Ioan Grufford (Fantastic Four) plays Wilberforce; Albert Finney is John Newton, with the rest of the cast a who’s who of British film. The DVD has some wonderful extras, a teacher’s guide, and several shorts about the film and slavery. There are still some estimated 27 million slaves’ world wide, many of them children. The movie has given rise to these folks, http://amazingchange.com/ , the modern abolishment movement. I leave you with one of Wilberforce's great quotes"...having heard all this you may turn away~ but you can never say again you did not know". 5 comments from 3 users
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posted by
sagefever
on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:32 AM
The second YouTube clip is a instrumental version of Amazing Grace~ in front of Westminster Abby. posted by
witbee
on Aug 11, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Not the bagpipes....... posted by
sagefever
on Aug 11, 2008 at 09:40 AM
lol...oh yes and fife and drum.... posted by
bakonative
on Aug 11, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Awesome history, thanks Sage. posted by
sagefever
on Aug 11, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Thanks bakonative~ I was really inspired by this man,and have always loved the hymn.
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