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I’m emerging from my social media hiatus to share recent comments from Ken Burns. I’ve chatted with him a few times over the years, always to my benefit. He’s very worried about American democracy — I think with good reason.

Here’s a video excerpt from his speech at Brandeis:

https://youtu.be/C3AHtlF3gSk?si=z0QwftW__YBdJGSG

A transcript of his speech:

https://www.brandeis.edu/commencement/2024/burns.html

Finally, a Washington Post column on his talk:

https://wapo.st/4bDaDSa

#democracy


'There is no real choice this November': Ken Burns gives powerful defense of democracy

Filmmaker Ken Burns delivered a powerful defense of democracy while delivering the commencement address for Brandeis University. The Morning Joe panel discus...
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#democracy
in reply to Sam Litzinger

Twitter_expat ✅(Fedi Resident)
Twitter_expat ✅(Fedi Resident)
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A lot needs to be said about a figure like #Trump that came and threatened American democracy so soundingly that in more than a decade people are still fighting it. Is it that solid, is it that relished? Is it that desirable? Is it that worthy? Is it that shiny city on the hill that this reality TV mediocre came and wrecked it and shook it to its core?
#Trump
in reply to Twitter_expat ✅(Fedi Resident)

volkris
volkris
• •

@Twitter_expat well, I think it’s critical to realize that Trump was a symptom of problems, not the cause.

American democracy elected him because people felt (rightly or wrongly) that the system was so failing them.

We need to work on fixing our institutions. All the focus on Trump instead of underlying problems gets the situation backward and risks making it worse.

Trump didn’t come and wreck the system. The wrecked system lead to Trump. We need to fix it.

@Twitter_expat ✅(Fedi Resident)
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