What better way (other than drinking to excess and lighting off illegal fireworks) to celebrate the birthday of the United States of America than to read up on American history? Check out my reviews of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, Paul Johnson's A History of the American People, and Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen's A Patriot's History of the United States.
All three were top notch reviews Flynn, one question though about the tail end of your review for "A Patriot's History of the United States"
In what way did the recent film "The Alamo" bash American heroes? It was a very pro-American representation of the event.
Ben: Here's a good summation: http://www.freewillblog.com/index.php/free_will_classic468/
Copy and paste to read the piece.
I also liked The Alamo very much. As far as I've read it wasn't inaccurate at all, with the only bone of contention being Crockett's death scene (on which accounts vary). And his death in the movie didn't seem to disparage his character as people claim, quite the opposite. It was an honorable, very American death. It reminded of Gen. McAuliffe in WW2 telling the Germans "Nuts!" when asked to surrender at Bastogne.
I disagree with their assessment of the situation. Davy Crockett is shown struggling with himself againt the overwhelming odds, but the important part is that he does in the end choose to stay and fight. Crockett is one of the film's main heroes,and the film depicts his death to be very defiant and heroic.
Sam Houston is definitly not depicted poorly, and the film climaxes with him astride a horse, heroic music playing, crying "Remember the Alamo!" as he leads a heroic charge that destroys Santa Anna's forces. Travis is shown to be a flawed character but like the rest a hero none the less, and Bowie is made out more to be a cunning rogue than a villain. Santa Anna on the other hand, is depicted as an arrogang, disgusting, dictator.
I feel any attempt this review may think Disney had to turn the Alamo heroes into villains was imagined, not real.
