Since today is the Fourth of July, I plan to take some time to reflect on the great moments of our nation's history. I can't help but remember that 14 years ago, with humankind inches from annihilation, our president Thomas J. Whitmore delivered one of the most inspirational speeches in the history of our great nation:
"Good morning. Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind, (and we could replace this with humankind) that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences any more. We will be united in our common interest. Perhaps it's fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist and should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice, 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on, we're going to survive. Today we celebrate our independence day!"
President Thomas J. Whitmore
July 4, 1996
3 comments:
One of my FAVORITE movie lines of all time. I can't help it - I love that movie, and then when Bill Pullman riles up the peeps with that speech I just get all goose-bumpy, even though its fake and they're fighting aliens, and even though I'm a pacifist. I love it.
*starts slow clap*
Good post! I love Independence Day. Even though the movie is not so subtle in its promotion of american exceptionalism. It's very interesting that an American president with the help of an American scientist are the only people that capture an alien, learn of their plans, discover the alien spaceship, learn to navigate the alien spaceship, uncover a weakness in the seemingly invincible alien armor and ultimately coordinate a massive worldwide campaign to take down the aliens on July 4, an american holiday that will undoubtedly become a world holiday. In spite of all that mess,it's still one of my favorite movies.
Hilarious! I am such a nerd... it took me a second. I was like "President Whitmore??"
-Beth C.
Post a Comment