i saw BOBBY today

[shireen]

Comcast had it in their on-demand lineup. I wasn't too crazy about the actors in the movie; most were well-known faces which was kinda distracting.

But the real star that outshone everyone was Bobby. 39 year after his death, hearing his words brought me to tears. Everything he said is so relevant to the state of our country today. I was 4 years old and living half-way around the world when he died so I did not have the memories of most people in my generation who were raised here during the 60s and 70s.

Watching him, I wondered: why didn't we adopt his ideals and build on his legacy? Was anyone listening? How could we be making the same mistakes again?

I wonder sometimes, were the deaths of JFK, MLK, and RFK a major turning point for our country, much larger than anyone would have imagined. If they had lived, would we have been a more optimistic caring compassionate country engaged in building strong communities and supporting each other? After they died, we got Nixon and Ford. During Carter's presidency, we saw the rise of a ruthless and damaging conservative movement. Then, we got 12 years of Reagan/Bush, 8 years of Clinton (a conservative democrat), and now, a total idiot being manipulated by some very dangerous people.

When MLK and Bobby died, it seems like a piece of this country died with them. As events continue to unfold in our present, I can't help but wonder how things would be, today, if they had lived.

[etherealtruth]

1. I just returned from the "video" store with Bobby ....

... and the Last King of Scotland.

As soon as I log off my daughter and I intend on watching both.

[chitty]

16. The Last King

Of Scotland.....

Two thumbs way up. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[aquart]

2. They didn't "die." They were deliberately murdered.

Just so we would not adopt any of the policies you're so wistful for. If we do not deal with the murderers, anyone else who comes will also be killed.

[villager]

3. Let's make this clear: Those were not "accidental" or "coincidental" turning points

They were indeed horrendous turning points, from which we've yet to recover.

And they were planned and carried out by the people -- in the largest sense (tho' sometimes still the specific) -- still in power...

[blues90]

4. This country did die along with JFK and RFK and MLK

I remember that time very well and how the entire country mourned their loss . Since that time we have done nothing but gone backwards into time .

If they had lived we may by now be the america many lost their lives to have .

Many had hopes which have now become lost dreams . I think of RFK as attorney general and look at what we have got now , Alberto G .

This should tell many smething about how bad things have become .

[1monster]

5. The murder of Bobby, following so quickly after the murder of Martin Luther

King, was the death of hope in this country. No one since has been able to capture the passion and idealism that blossomed so breifly in the mid to late sixties. The fruits that should have resulted from those blossoms were killed before they could set and mature.

After all of the assassinations in those years (John Kennedy, Medgar Evans, Malcom X, MLK, RFK, and probably some I've forgotten) people became afraid to put their faith in others who would carry on their work. And many of those who would carry on their work became afraid speak out for fear they would become the next victim of the political power killing machine.

Our innocence and our hope were both murdered, and, no, we have not yet recovered and will not recover until the truth is out and justice prevails.

[blues90]

7. very well said .

And after all these years we still don't know the truth and most likely never will . We do know they were murdered because of their beliefs and values .

Just like John Lennon years later , threaten to state the truth with a huge group of supporters or even question the truth and you are gone forever .

[annabanana]

11. yes..

(they were remarkable days)

[sinkingfeeling]

14. I cried all the way through the movie in the theater. And I agree, the spirit of

the America I had grown up with, died.

[orleans]

6. the movie should have been called the ambassador hotel

because it certainly was not about bobby kennedy. i wish it had been.

[Skink]

8. These days they assinate you with a microphone.

[question everything]

9. My comments when I saw it in the theatre

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2856527

and some other links that DUers provided

[illinoisprogressive]

12. I read your old post and it was wonderful, I was just a kid and remember

getting up and the tv was on and seeing it then. My brother, Alan, his birthday was June 7. I saw when the new interupted about MLK.
It seems like the reason people focus on that time and those people is because after that we have had such bad presidents. Criminal or stupid. Now both. We see Bush and Cheney today and think, why don't we have people like RFK now. Why are they so programed or selfish or have agendas, ect. the hate and meanness and polarizing and back stabbing. We have become a sad country.

[illinoisprogressive]

10. the 3 mens deaths was the turning point. We became more violent and meaner and more selfish

We lost what good politics was about and split. Nixon came back and began the seeds of what is today.
If they lived things would have been on a right course. We lost civility after 68.

[deutsey]

13. Something I wrote about Bobby on DU back in 2002

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/07/27_rfk.html

[shireen]

17. thank you

i wonder if we'll ever have leaders like RFK and MLK again. It's hard to feel any hope ....

[uppityperson]

15. Oh Bobby, your murder was the turning point in my childhood

"why are they killing all the good guys" I cried. Innocence gone. The world was not a safe, secure, good place with people working to make it more safe and secure. RIP Bobby.