Simon Schama's The American Future: A History

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dzbq5

Anyone watching this?  We are going to, but have not seen it yet. 

Yes, watched it last night. Missed a few bits with chaos in the household, but it was pretty interesting. I'm more interested in the Steven Fry series that starts tomorrow though.

I watched it tonight.  Thought it was a bit snoozy in parts - but it's getting late.  Simon is so freaking ugly though and he kept thrusting his face into the camera. 

I kind of like him.

  Simon is so freaking ugly though and he kept thrusting his face into the camera. 

that is exactly what I told DH

I'm more interested in the Steven Fry series that starts tomorrow though.

That was on last night at 9:00

I really enjoyed last week's episode War a lot more the first one.  I thought that the first one Plenty was a worthy and germane subject, but the documentary just wasn't as well done as it was for the War episode, IMO.  (He wasn't thrusting his face into the camera quite so much this time - lol!)  Loved the examination of the historical (and present) tension between the Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian approaches to war, but then I'm a history geek.

The next two episodes coming up focus on faith/religion and immigration.  Should be interesting! 

Friday's Faith episode of this was really good!  We are really enjoying this series more than I thought I would, as I was kind of 'meh' about how they did the first episode.  Although if the series were being produced for American audiences (rather than British), I'd have to say it does have hints of being a campaign ad for Obama - lol!  Which I'm alright with that, but not sure others would - hee hee.

Loved that Simon gave a part of the show to talking about Fannie Lou Hamer.  Also, that the episode didn't concentrate only on conservative fundamentalism (it was included), but on other aspects of faith in America through history as well.  Lastly, I hope he's right that there might be a new trend of the conservative fundamentalists (like that guy preaching in the huge auditorium) stepping back from the political forefront.

I'm a total history geek and Schama fan so I'm really enjoying it. He's examining US history in a way that hasn't been done and is really bringing a unique perspective some events.

I ended up loving this series and I'm sad it's over now.  The final episode Immigration was really insightful - and how we have repeatedly through history dehumanized non-white immigrants to the US.  Those volunteer border patrol idiots (along the Mexican-US border) made me want to wretch, especially that shrew of a woman.  How sad.

It was nice hearing about Grace Abbott.

I ended up loving this series and I'm sad it's over now.  The final episode Immigration was really insightful - and how we have repeatedly through history dehumanized non-white immigrants to the US.  Those volunteer border patrol idiots (along the Mexican-US border) made me want to wretch, especially that shrew of a woman.  How sad.

It was nice hearing about Grace Abbott.

We dehumanized everyone who came over, not just the whites. 

My dad is currently reading an account of Germans who had to share a ship with English people.  They were drunk and rude and not very religious and they had to keep their kids separate lest they pick up bad habits. 

Snerk.

Oh I know all immigrant groups have been badly treated in one way or another, but I was particularly struck by how that US soldier talked about going into the Mexican-American War - saying he knew he was good at shooting things like turkey, deer, Mexicans, etc...  And also the way those Chinese who built the railroads were treated.  It's all pretty sad.

This last episode about the immigrants was the only one I watched in the series.  I thought it was really interesting.  Like you Mrs. R, I especially liked the bit about Grace Abbott.  I'd never heard of her before.

This last episode about the immigrants was the only one I watched in the series.  I thought it was really interesting.  Like you Mrs. R, I especially liked the bit about Grace Abbott.  I'd never heard of her before.

Tin, if you're interested, you could probably watch them all on the computer, using BBC's I-Player. 

Tin, if you're interested, you could probably watch them all on the computer, using BBC's I-Player. 

Good idea.