Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns lamented the lack of civility in our politics and in the current presidential race.
"It’s always the other guy’s fault," Burns said, arguing that, in such dire times, more compromise is needed. "We’re on the edge of a fiscal cliff and we have the possibility, a real bright possibility, of finding a grand bargain. But we will do as human beings always do; get as close to the edge of that cliff as possible."
He also notes that much of what we see happening in government today is not necessarily new and that his goal in studying history is to "find resonance with today."
"If you are armed, as I think the past can do, you’re not only prepared to understand the dynamics of today that much better, but you can obviously help shape your future. ... We think this is all the phenomenon of today and now and everything -- This has been going on since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson got angry and started fighting at each other in the election of 1800."
Burns' latest documentary, The Dust Bowl, chronicles American perseverance during one of the worst man-made ecological disasters in our nation's history. The title refers to a nationwide drought in the 1930's that Burns compared to "a holocaust... of biblical proportions." Although, he added, "it is one of the most fascinating period I've ever studied."
Watch David's entire interview with Ken Burns above to hear more, including why he thinks, "baseball is designed to break your heart."
Leave a Comment:
And we are in an irreversible bathospheric dive for Hades because we did not learn from that dust bowl and I think THAT is really the point Burns wants to make.
Love love Ken Burns. He does magic with his videos and his mind. My fav is the National Park Series. Can watch it over and over
Ken Burns is the storyteller of our nation.If You love history as much as I do you will not be disappointed with this series. God bless you Ken Burns for the work you do!
Love Ken Burns; I thank God he is so talented. During the first 18 years of my life, I lived in Western Okla., and my town is shown briefly in The Grapes of Wrath. I've been in plenty of dust storms where red dirt was piling up on the window sill in my bedroom, and covering a portion of carpet below. BUT THAT'S NOTHING compared to the real Dust Bowl! I can't wait to see his story of it!
The Civil War documentary was my favorite I think it should be required to
watch in the 5th grade in every school in the United States .
DAVID, I think that you should have let the round table discuss what Axelrod and Portman said in their statements! I was particularly offended by former Ambassador Portman who was so critical of the whole republican circus during the primaries to get away with such unacceptable partisan statements during your interview with him! Do you not like to get people to make their statements less partisan and more objective? Are you just dispensing free propaganda to whomever you like?
I demand that Meet the Press be of the highest journalistic value and not just a dispensary of free propaganda! NBC should know better! People are sick of this kind of media manipulation! No sensible human being should be allowed to simply spew out the silly positions of any patty, republican or democrat or libertarian... or communist for that matter!