Wednesday, July 9, 2008

WALL-E's purpose

Michael Tuggle yesterday posted a review of the new movie WALL-E. After giving his impressions of the movie and sharing a quotation from another writer about its significance, Mr. Tuggle concludes with a profound statement that gets to the heart of the secessionist movement: (Hyperlinks are brought over from the quoted text.)

"Something is in the air. There's an unshakeable sense that something is profoundly wrong in this country, and it cannot be blamed on one politician, one party, or even on one war. The system itself is broken, unable to respond intelligently or even consider changing course. Its fundamental error, as WALL-E so graphically warns us, is that we have fooled ourselves into believing we are not part of Creation; that we are free when we are disconnected from others, from heritage, from purpose, from need. In fact, such thinking is self-destructive.

"In fact, true freedom is the freedom to express our authentic selves, and that occurs in those moments when we are working toward a cause greater than any one person. Tradition, community, and the urgency of finding and holding on to 'a sense of place and of history, a sense of self derived from forebears, kin, and culture,' as Chilton Williamson summarized it, are what give us meaning and make life worth living.

"Maybe that's what distinguishes man from the beasts -- we need occasional reminders of who we are and what we're about to keep us going. And maybe a little rebellion now and then, too."


Secessionism is not about ideology or politics. It is nothing less than an effort to reclaim our humanity.

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