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The character Cooper so often is given is cynical and unyielding authoritarian, making him a natural for the military roles he seems to so often have.

If you want to get an idea of Chris Cooper’s underappreciated range, though, check him out in “Adaptation” (2002), an inventive Charles Kaufman screenplay featuring… Charles Kaufman, and [laughing] Kaufman’s twin brother Donald.

“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’s 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 seventeenth chapter of Saint 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 security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie! They do not fulfill their 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 above for those of you who don’t recognize it is the farewell speech by Charlie Chaplin’s character in the 1940 movie “the Little Dictator” written, directed and produced by Charlie Chaplin.

I thought many lines in it were particularly appropriate in today’s world.

And for my recommendation: I’ll venture into the SciFi realm and and suggest the series Farscape. Ran for four seasons on SciFi Channel with a miniseries to wrap up what should have been the last season. An American astronaut falls through a wormhole, lands on the other side of the galaxy and is swept onto a ship of escaping prisoners of various species. Shot in Australia; some of the characters are Henson Muppets of incredible complexity. Funny, dramatic, and gripping action.

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear HH,
Happy Birthday to you………and many more!!!!!

HUGS

This is such an intriguing story if ere there was one…at least one of many for this administration, anyhow. I ran into this [[trying to figure this out by zander1 over on booman]] he/she has done a great service in detailing the issue, IMHO. This kind of pander and government abuse must come to a halt!

Just for what it is worth in the public eye of scrutiny is and should be a top reporting situation for out MSM but is not…just about says it all….

Now back to Sandy and Susan. Ladies, I love you both…you both have a special place in my heart. If you go back to the comments here on this sight I will be noted as saying, “Sandy, I could not agree with you more or Sandy, you and I think alike…”

Well, so there is more to our knowing of our paths that have crossed and they have, Girlfriend, in more ways than most. KARMA!!!!..:o)

I was navy hospital corpsman then went to school on my GI bill and became a nurse and joined the AF and always wanted to fly so became a flight nurse. Loved both positions tremendously!!!!!

Yes, was and still am the TN coordinator for the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation. Come to DC and look at our lovely salute to the women who served in country…and to all the women who served in the military during this time. While you are there do not forget to go to Arlington and visit the All Women’s Memorial at the gate of the Cemetery. I assure you it will be two of your most favorite sights to share with others….BTW, there are 8 nurses names ont he WALL…did you all know that????

We just lost one of our most charming and loving nurses in the VWMF just this 2nd of Sept. Here is the email I got in ref: to this. If you should be interested. We have many vets here from this era..this just might hit home…
Ann Cunningham, September 2, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know we are all shocked and saddened to learn that Annie has left this world too soon. She leaves us with our memories of her warmth, kindness and enduring legacy of what she gave to our country as a nurse and veteran advocate. I just can’t believe I won’t see her this Veteran’s Day.

Annie was one of the most loved and dedicated women veterans of the Vietnam era. She died unexpectedly of a cerebral hemorrhage on September 2nd while attending the Wolfhound, 25th Infantry, Reunion in Lexington, Kentucky. I cannot think of a better place for Ann to leave this world than in the midst of the men and women she loved and who loved her so dearly. Ann was on duty at the 12th Evac Hospital in Cu Chi, when she received word that her fiancé, Gary Jones, 25th Infantry Division, was killed. She lost Gary, but gained a huge family of hundreds of brother veterans who admired and loved her. In l968, after finishing her first tour of duty in Vietnam, Ann and I were roommates at Ft. Lee, Virginia — until I left for Vietnam. Annie was beautiful, inside and out. We became fast and close friends. I called Ann in the early 80’s to ask her if she would help with the Vietnam Women’s Memorial effort. Annie said, “No, I don’t do Vietnam.” She wanted no part of it. Soon we started talking about things, and the woman who wouldn’t speak of Vietnam became one of the most vocal proponents for her sister and brother vets. She leaves a trail of friendships from the many hospitals she served in during two tours in Vietnam, stateside, and the hundreds, if not thousands of people she touched.

Most recently, Annie has served as the Treasurer, and member of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation.

Peace to Annie, peace to us.
Diane Carlson Evans

In Memory of Annie………….Your love radiates within us until we join you.

Diane Carlson Evans
(406) 457-8440 (office)
President and Founder
Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation, Inc.
1735 Connecticut Avenue NW
3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.vietnamwomensmemorial.org

*************************************************************************************
From: Diane Carlson Evans

Ann Cunningham Memorial Service

The date, time and location for Ann’s memorial service has been confirmed:

Saturday, October 6, 2007
4:00 – 5:30 P.M.

First Baptist Church
735 Park Street
Charlottesville, Virginia.

Followed by a celebration dinner. Place TBA

In lieu of flowers the family asks that remembrances be sent to:
Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation, Inc.
1735 Connecticut Ave. NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20009
or
Almost Home Pet Adoption Center
29 Stagebridge Rd., Lovingston VA 22949

Memories and tributes can be sent to: Opal S. Cunningham
P.O. Box 42784, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242-0784.

For those planning to attend the Annie Cunningham memorial service, a block of 20 rooms at the Best Western Cavalier Inn at 105 N Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903-1728 has been reserved. The Inn is on the University of Virginia campus and is 1.8 miles from the First Baptist Church. The telephone number at the inn is (434) 296-8111; when you call, tell them you are with the Ann Cunningham group. Do NOT use an 800 number; it will put you into a booking system that will not recognize the group reservation. You can pay individually. The cost of the Cavalier is comparable to other similar hotels in the area. If 20 rooms are filled the cost will be $119 + 11% tax = $132.09. Contact Charlottesville hotel guides for other available lodging.

*****************************************************************************************
If you know of a woman Vietnam veteran who has passed in the last 5 years, please notify the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation via this email address. On Nov 11th 2008, during the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial, we will read the names of all those who have passed away during and since the Vietnam War.

Cindy Gurney
Executive Director
Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation, Inc
1735 Connecticut Ave. NW 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20009

866-822-8963

Yes, Brenda has a heck of a life story. She was — I hope I have this right, Brenda — a military flight nurse in both the Navy and Air Force. And she was one of the major figures in the long, long effort to build a D.C. memorial to the women who served in Vietnam.

That photo, Sandy. Will see if I can find it. If you can remember where you saw it at Truthout, please e-mail it to me and we can post it here.

I’m touched by what you’ve said, Brenda. I, too, “give my heart to anyone who has lost a child!” I’ve lost (we have) all our parents (my husband’s and mine) now and my best friend (pancreatic cancer), just awful….but nothing quite matches the pain and shock and devastation of losing one’s precious child. Nothing. It’s why this senseless, illegal war is particularly outrageous to us…and is such a sensitive issue, I think. On the Truthout website, e.g., recently there was a photo of an Iraqi mother cradling her beautiful (dead) six-year-old son caught up in, and killed, in this awful war. It reminded me of the Pieta statue…so eloquent. So heart-wrenching! So UNNECESSARY!

Yes, I’m relatively new to this blog…and thus to you, Brenda. So I don’t really know your story. But from all you’ve written here since I arrived, I know you to be eloquent and passionate in sharing your views. YOU should write a book, m’dear! What better time than now! Think about it. I have another close friend…who lost her son…who is also a nurse….so you both are giving much of yourselves in that way….in ways I could never do. I admire you. Thanks for speaking here, Brenda. I look forward to hearing more of your story.

Spared by fire, tree is extolled by hikers

By Steve Lopez

I’d heard about the lone surviving tree on the edge of the big burn, the jugs of water hanging from its branches to drip-feed the roots, and the notebook with entries from intrepid hikers who have made their way to the spectacular overlook. …

Don’t have your e-mail address, Sandy. Please e-mail me.

Mirage, Gregory Peck, 1965 black and white
- A man finds himself walking in a NY skyscraper stairwell, and comes to realize he has severe amnesia. A film noir cerebral suspense thriller.

The Prisoner, Patrick McGoohan, tv series, late sixties
- For anyone who ever came to this website because of an interest in spying, this is the definitive spy series of all time. McGoohan had finished the Secret Agent series, then did this, taking the spy series genre in a whole new direction of psychological suspense. Originally released as a summer fill-in, it now has a substantial cult following, including whole clubs and societies, and also college courses.

The opening lines I can still recite from memory:
#6(McGoohan)- Who are you?
#2(different every episode) – the new number two
#6 – who is number one
#2 – you are number six
#6 – I am not a number! I am a free man!
#2 – [laughter]

We all have our stories.