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SunSeeker

(57,332 posts)

36. Yes, and George Washington was not a nice man. But he was the right man for the time in which we needed him.

Thu Nov 20, 2025, 05:38 PM

Thursday

It is pretty clear there was nobody else who could have united the colonies like he did.

And that's what I love about true, thoroughly told history like Ken Burns provides. It's complicated, and all of our heroes were human. But we don't have to lie that our heroes were saints or gods to appreciate what they did for our country. They are still heroes, regardless. Adults should be able to handle the whole picture.

And to me, it is even more inspiring to see the whole picture, and realize such heroes still live among us today. It gives me hope.

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KEN BURNS, WoW! [View all] Mr.Bee Thursday OP

Ken Burns is a treasure..it takes years to get his documentaries completed but so worth it for us. Deuxcents Thursday #1

People don't understand that dates are relevant for cause and effect misanthrope Thursday #5

A treasure indeed. B.See Thursday #48

We got a lucky break at Yorktown underpants Thursday #2

U beat me to the punch with von Steuben BaronChocula Thursday #18

It has been illuminating. A tour de force for sure. mahina Thursday #3

And now we're throwing it all away misanthrope Thursday #4

i do not accept barbtries Friday #59

I appreciated that they did not gloss over the slavery issue... maptap22 Thursday #6

Not only owned but ruthlessly hunted down escaped slaves. BannonsLiver Thursday #8

Just goes to show you Farmer-Rick Friday #62

I like that he trashed the narrative on George III that is/was taught in our schools BannonsLiver Thursday #7

Does he cover post-war veterans, etc? leftstreet Thursday #9

It's woven into the whole thing TommyT139 Thursday #31

I heard it said that Burns could do a documentary on dirt an it would be wonderful. 😂😂😂 Srkdqltr Thursday #10

Hey, he managed to make BASEBALL interesting, for me! Paladin Thursday #20

Those First 3 Episodes Of "Baseball" Are Awesome ProfessorGAC Thursday #41

He did Kali999 Friday #78

Yes Srkdqltr Friday #79

Several indigenous tribes allied with Britain. Frasier Balzov Thursday #11

The British offered freedom from slavery for blacks that fought for the Crown nt wolfie001 Thursday #21

Then left them to die in small boats from smallpox and dysentery Ponietz Thursday #27

Oh yes wolfie001 Friday #57

It has been a great series so far, as expected. Hey Joe Thursday #12

That issue came up some during the Covid mandatory troop vaccinations. Hassin Bin Sober Thursday #54

I love the artwork they chose to put in the series BigmanPigman Thursday #13

I was going to point out how wonderful the illustrations are, just rounds out this most excellent production. n/t SheilaAnn Thursday #28

And The MAPS! Mr.Bee Thursday #52

All is accurate except part of your 2nd paragraph - --if not for the French. 3Hotdogs Thursday #14

okay... Mr.Bee Thursday #16

--- not trying to beat up on you. 3Hotdogs Thursday #42

Did I reveal Mr.Bee Thursday #53

Peter Coyote is one of the great narrators of all time. nt moniss Thursday #15

Green Mountain Boys Fiorillo Thursday #17

any relation Mr.Bee Friday #55

Not found Fiorillo Friday #66

I a lot of ways, it was the wealthier people who fought against the British Warpy Thursday #19

Yes, and George Washington was not a nice man. But he was the right man for the time in which we needed him. SunSeeker Thursday #36

Since the 18th century artillery has been the biggest killer on the battlefield AverageOldGuy Thursday #22

Yes, Burns' episode 2 talks about the horrible toll smallpox took during the Revolutionary War. nt SunSeeker Thursday #37

That is quite true. MANY more soldiers died of disease than of wounds, Jack Valentino Thursday #46

technically it was our mosquitoes + malaria that got the brits. pansypoo53219 Friday #76

I keep thinking while watching--How in the world did we win this war? Bayard Thursday #23

Learn more every day! elleng Thursday #24

Great series. Even better than The American Revolution-OverSimplified. BHDem53 Thursday #25

"The Revolutionary War wasn't just fought with muskets or antique cannons shooting at each other." Collimator Thursday #26

Some at least might have been. soldierant Friday #75

The French King Louis XVI (hubby of Marie Antoinette) loaned vast sums for our revolution hedda_foil Thursday #29

That history is also fascinating catchnrelease Thursday #44

Never thought of the American Revolution as our first civil war until watching the first couple of episodes. walkingman Thursday #30

That the American Colonial Revolution changed the whole world's idea of governance has been what I have always ShazamIam Thursday #32

THE PHRASE homegirl Friday #68

This is why Col. Stanton said, " Lafayette, we are here!" spike jones Thursday #33

Ken Burns is a gift, madamesilverspurs Thursday #34

I'm waiting to see if Burns talks Deminpenn Thursday #35

The theme that the Revolutionary War was also a civil war is definitely told. SunSeeker Thursday #39

That is so, but here, the British actively sought to set the Deminpenn Friday #72

Iroquois Nasruddin Thursday #38

Yes, episode 2 makes clear the native nations helped keep Canada British. SunSeeker Thursday #40

Back in 1960 or thereabouts Jilly_in_VA Thursday #43

I'm sorry your teachers failed you. I was taught all of that by my teachers in the 1960s. Martin68 Thursday #45

"Nationalist mythology with diversity window dressing" masmdu Thursday #47

Thank you. Burns is a master storyteller but I have a few issues with the mythmaking. Solomon Friday #58

+1 leftstreet Friday #67

Definitely Mr.Bee Thursday #49

Did You Catch Craig Furguson Mr.Bee Thursday #50

Would it be so bad if we were like Canada or Australia? hunter Thursday #51

You may find Jay Winik's book, "The Great Upheaval" of interest . . . Journeyman Friday #56

There were Native Americans allied with the British as well. cab67 Friday #60

Oneida Nation Warriors Haudenosaunee Friday #61

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Friday #73

Shekoli! Satekhwalá:ne' kʌ ni'isé: tsi' náhte' yutanuhelá:tuhe̲' marble falls Friday #77

Glad to see your name pop up. Bohunk68 2 hrs ago #81

Fact: by the time of the American revolution, SidneyR Friday #63

Been watching also jonstl08 Friday #64

and let's not forget the contribution by WOMEN! Mr.Bee Friday #65

Yep jonstl08 Friday #69

I watched the first episode last night. So well done, debm55 Friday #70

I just now watched the first 50 minutes while Emile Friday #71

There were lots H2O Man Friday #74

I prefer my history with more content and less comment. WarGamer Friday #80