Signs of a Dying Empire

[beechnut79]

(05-06-2022, 02:25 PM)JasonBlack Wrote:

(05-06-2022, 06:57 AM)David Horn Wrote: Charlton Heston was the epidiemy of Hollywood bravado.  On the other hand, Jimmie Stewart was actually a hero.  Ronald Reagan spent WW-II making propaganda inspirational movies.  On the other hand, soft and meek George McGovern won a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Bravado is neither bravery nor strength.  Most of the bravest and strongest were humble, and not all were men.

The dose makes the poison. A little bit of bravado is inspiring, energizing, gives you that "kick" to take on something courageous or face adversity. You'll notice in his interviews (and tbh, most of his movies) that Charlton Heston's default state is not one of bravado, but of paternal calm, respectful frankness, nothing like the histrionics nonsense which has been tearing our society apart since the beginning of the last 2T.

I know you're probably not a fan of the bravado of your late elders, but unfortunately, we need some of that now.

GI generation was primarily known for its bravado, especially among its male members. According to the authors, Millennials are supposed to be of the same archetype, but most of you here have pointed out that for the most part that bravado has been missing. The Occupy movement of a decade or so ago proved to be weak, I do believe. But it did get us talking about our society's massive inequality even if so far efforts to rectify it have fallen way short of what's needed. On another thread I pointed out that the tearing apart which you have indicated began about half a century ago became much  more acute in the past 7 years ago resulting in a malaise that we can't seem to pull out of. I suggested that the effort to overturn Roe v. Wade may provide the spark. Could abortion prohibition be to the 2020s what liquor prohibition was to the 1920s?