MLK Labor Center/1199, 310 West 43rd St, 7th Floor
With the government sanctioning of torture, massive wire-taps, a recent “Executive Order” to declare martial law when they deem it necessary, many people are rightly concerned and debating the issue of fascism in America. As the World Can’t Wait Call points out:
“People look at all this and think of Hitler - and they are right to do so. The Bush regime is setting out to radically remake society very quickly, in a fascist way, and for generations to come. We must act now; the future is in the balance.”
Much can be learned from historical experience. In that spirit, instead of our regular organizing meeting, this week NYC World Can’t Wait will be showing and discussing the second part of Hitler: The Rise of Evil. The movie opens with a quote from Edmond Burke, which provides a theme for the whole series: “The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.”
Hitler: The Rise of Evil was originally aired in the U.S. as a CBC two-part mini-series in 2003. However, Ed Gernon, the longtime head of the movie and miniseries division of the Canadian-based production company that produced the mini-series for CBS, was fired after an interview with him in TV Guide reported:
"’It basically boils down to an entire nation gripped by fear, who ultimately chose to give up their civil rights and plunged the whole world into war. I can't think of a better time to examine this history than now,’ Gernon said. Gernon tells the upcoming TV Guide that he, [actress Julianna] Margulies and director Christian Duguay believe it's a good idea to look at the Bush White House through the prism of . . . Germany's genocidal psychopath."
Despite being a powerful production with a star-studded cast, including Robert Carlyle as Hitler, Julianna Margules, Liev Schreiber, Mathew Modine and Peter O’toole, since 2003 Hitler: The Rise of Evil has not been available in the U.S. – the copy presented Thursday by World Can’t Wait was obtained from Canada.
Due to the length of the mini-series, and our desire to have some discussion afterwards, we are only going to be showing the second part of the mini-series, and not the part on Hitler’s childhood and early development, to focus on the parts showing his rise to power. We encourage people to come and see the movie, and join discussion afterwards. The whole DVD will be available for “house party” showings in people’s homes, community centers, churches and schools. Contact us.
See you Thursday!
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