The Great Dictator's Speech

The Great Dictator’s SpeechWatch this timeless and universal speech from Charlie Chaplin which couldn’t be more relevant today. Taken from his 1940 movie The Great Dictator, Charlie delivers a hair raising and thought-provoking speech that we should all take a moment to take in.

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..

Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

The Great Gatsby

My last post (which was way too  long ago) used an F.Scott Fitzgerald quote - how very fitting that my next post is related to Fitzgerald ...

Lyla and Blu

People often argue that movies are never as good as the books they are based on, and most times I agree…  However, when the vivid imagination of Baz Luhrmann is responsible for the transition of a classic novel into what can only be described as a visual explosion –I’m excited!!

mealux

I read the novel as a set work in high school, and thoroughly enjoyed every page. Set in West Egg, Long Island, during the roaring twenties, Nick Carraway gets caught up in the seemingly lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon the sparkle of Gatsby's world fades and madness, and tragedy unfold...

The movie was released this past weekend, I cant wait to see it!!

 xxx

Mao's Last Dancer

Last night Mr. Makebelieve and I watched "Mao's Last Dancer". As you will know from my previous post, I adore ballet! The movie was absolutely beautiful...although there is still something so special about the book.

"In his runaway best selling autobiography, Mao' s Last Dancer, Li recounts his determination, perseverance, vision, courage and hard work, and in particular, the sacred family values and integrity that he learned in poverty-stricken China, which has driven him to become one of the best dancers in the world."

Li was born into bitter poverty in rural Qingdao, China. Certain years the peasants in his village even ate tree barks to survive. Despite the harsh reality of life, his childhood was full of love. The love of his parents gave him hope and courage.

He was 11 when he left home to begin a seven-year harsh training regime from 5.30 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week at the Beijing Dance Academy. Once he found his passion, he worked hard and gave his all.

With incredible determination, resilience, perseverance and vision, Li graduated as one of the best dancers China has produced.

All information courtesy of The Official Site of Li Cunxin

Movie Night

Every week for a good couple of years now, Tuesday has been "Movie Night". Last night I finally got the chance to see Avatar. Would you believe that it has been sold out constantly since its release...well at least all the good seats have been taken... It really was such a visually beautiful movie - was it worth all the hype though? What do you think?

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