Every Generation Must Defend Our Freedoms
I just returned from seeing the movie about Edward R. Murrow, CBS News, and the Joseph McCarthy hearings of the 1950’s: “Good Night And Good Luck.”
I read books, articles, write a few, and go to the movies, to get my regular dose of inspiration.
If you tell me a story about someone who sticks to his beliefs, handles unpopularity to do so and perhaps battles persecution, you’ll get my attention, and usually my respect.
“Good Night And Good Luck” does it for me.
Here we see the backstage drama associated with countering one of the scariest and most destructive influences of the 20th century. But more significant, this is a parable for the ages.
Government, wherever situated, on our soil and off, is always defending its policies and furthering its aims by demanding the total allegiance of its citizenry. When debate is most needed, as it was during the 1950’s, and at other times, especially on the brink of or smack in the middle of wars, it is most likely to be throttled.
People, naturally, want to keep their privileges, especially their jobs and lifestyles. Speaking out against the powerful is dangerous to one’s wealth, health, and career.
But without the heroes who resist, who question authority, who force us to think twice about national decisions, who challenge us to to repudiate dangerous if not disastrous policies, all would be lost, including that which many of us only appreciate in its absence: the right to speak, write, assemble, worship and think, freely.
When I walked into the theater showing “Good Night And Good Luck” I did something I normally don’t do. I sat, shoulder to shoulder, with the rest of the folks who were there.
We were the “huddled masses” to whom that the inscription on the Statue of Liberty is dedicated.
Let’s not forget that every now and then, one of us has to stand up to tyranny.
In his day, Edward R. Murrow & Company did this very thing for us, and this film quite justifiably celebrates him.
Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com
