When George Washington was a young man in his early 20s, he went on an expedition into the American wilderness (basically the Ohio territory) with a small group. It was a harrowing trip with several disasters in which expedition members died. The survivors nearly starved to death, and barely made it home alive.
Washington wrote a short memoir of the trip, and it became a best-seller, and gave him his first bit of national fame. Young George Washington would make a great movie.
Washington was a larger than life character who has never been properly presented in film. He was nearly a super hero. He was bigger, taller, stronger, and better built than most men, and considered very handsome, charming, and charismatic. His legendary bravery in battle was driven by his belief that he was literally protected by God. His strength of character and commitment to honor is iconic, and not just a myth. He had a list of honorable characteristics that he lived by. He was loved and respected by men, especially those who served with him, who exhibited a fierce loyalty to him.
Women loved him as well, and he was known to dance with every woman at the many events he was invited to, while Martha watched from the sidelines. He strongly respected women, and one of his closest lifelong friends was a woman who also acted as a close advisor. Despite the fact that women were attracted to him, he was fully devoted to Martha, and was never accused of affairs. She burned all of his letters to her before she died, so we’ll never know the intimate details of their marriage, but by all accounts they were very close and loving.
His life contains several chapters that would make amazing movies - his wilderness trip, his attack on the French to start the French & Indian War, his leadership of the American Revvolution, and more.
Its gone away over the last generation or two, but Washington used to be venerated in American schools for better than two centuries for good reasons. Every potential presidential candidate should have to read a few biographies of Washington before being allowed to run, so they can see the template of what a real president should be.
jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 3 days ago
Well… since a lot of people don’t read books, and our public education has kind of failed, maybe we could use television to teach people about politics.
Maybe do The Jungle so people remember why regulation is important, and maybe even go the extra mile so they learn about organization.
Something about how weekends were fought for in the us, maybe.
Trust-busting, so people can remember that mega-corps aren’t your friend.
On the other hand, some people sincerely think Homelander is the hero of The Boys, so maybe we’re doomed.
reddig33@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I’ve been disappointed watching “The Guilded Age” because so far the oligarchs are portrayed as “nice people”.