William Wallace and Braveheart a recollection

[AmericanActivist]

I recall in the movie Braveheart, William Wallace returned to his village and wanted to start a life. He wanted to settle down, build a home, find a wife and have a family. Basically he wanted to pursue “life, liberty and happiness” in his own way and in his time. Lately, I think about this and many other people who surely must have wanted to create a life but were unaware to do so given the burdens imposed on them in their historical time periods. This is how it feels now to me in the USA.

In fact, I have felt this before although I thought the darkness had passed; having survived the horrible 8 years of W & Cheney when time and attention was siphoned away from my personal life due to the constant affront and threat from the government with their looting and war crimes and gov by PR stunts. Then, thankfully, having 8 years of peace under President Obama and Vice Pres Biden to return my focus to my personal life which has given way to the current hell of living in the USA now which is worse than W - something I never, ever could have imagined previously.

All of this makes me think of people throughout history who no doubt wanted a peaceful life; a life where they could pursue their own concept of liberty and happiness. People who, instead of life, because of circumstances thrust upon them, circumstances too large to escape or ignore lost their life, either figuratively or literally. Better people than me who endured the worst, the most heinous crimes against humanity, abuse, war, destruction, pillaging and more.

I wonder how people lived during these horrible times? How they endured? How some of them even lived to overcome?

Currently it seems those of us who, like William Wallace so long ago, who just want to create and live a life have been set on a collision course with circumstances set against us.

[Irish_Dem]

1. I too keep thinking about the subjugation, tyranny, misery of other eras.

Last edited Wed Dec 20, 2017, 06:13 PM - Edit history (1)

And I guess we are no different; we are living a 21st century version.

I keep seeing people throughout history who want to live in peace, feed their children and go about their daily business freely. But who are thwarted at every turn.

The key I think, no matter that era, no matter the circumstances: can we do the right thing, can we survive, can we excel despite the external circumstances.

If you study most people's family trees, you will see grandparents and great grandparents who struggled and sacrificed a great deal so their children and grandchildren could have a better life. My grandparents did so. They left their impoverished birth countries, traveled to America at great risk, and made many sacrifices. And it paid off. Their grandchildren never starved, were in fact well fed, educated and had opportunities. So they succeeded in making a better life for their progeny.

So I guess the history of the human race is about small incremental steps forward despite adverse circumstances. No era can get away from that reality. So we get up every day and put one foot in front of the other and try to do the best we can.

[AmericanActivist]

3. I appreciate your thoughts Irish Dem

I like what you say about ancestors and I like your questions, “Can we do the right thing? Can we survive? Can we excel despite the external circumstances?”

Thanks for your wisdom about adverse circumstances and putting one foot in front of the other.

Also, my ancestors were immigrants to this country like most people’s ancestors.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Thank you for your OP. It is important to think about these things.

If you study your ancestors, I think you will find stories of courage, heartbreak, and wisdom that ensured you would be alive today. And enabled you to raise important topics and questions.

[AmericanActivist]

6. Im grateful for you today. The fact that someone

else is pondering these things is deeply touching and reassuring. Thank you.

[Irish_Dem]

7. My feelings as well. Thank you.

Edited to add: Your sig line answers your question.

[shraby]

2. A little info on William Wallace. I was putting a bunch of info on ship captains online and

ran across a William Wallace whose ancestor was the famed William Wallace. In his bio. it said that the first son of the Wallace family was always named William for their ancestor. I found that quite interesting.

[AmericanActivist]

8. That isnt interesting about the William Walace

legacy. Thanks for sharing Shraby.

[AmericanActivist]

9. Um, my bad, typo error here It IS interesting lol nm

[Saboburns]

4. "May you live in interesting times."

Someone told me that this was a very old Chinese curse. Thirty years ago. And for thirty years this curse, "May you live in interesting times", intrigued the hell out of me.

I thought about it from time to time. But I NEVER understood it. How could living through interesting times be a bad thing, a curse?

Now I understand this curse as I, we, are living through it.