Camelot

The United States was founded on principles that many hoped would sustain it through the difficulties that all nations face. Some who helped write our Constitution, who fought for our separation from Britain, hoped this would be a place that a new way would be lived, where all could have a chance for a good life. That's what we celebrate with the Fourth of July. Not just our independence but independence from old ways and the forging new ones.

It had been years since I had watched Camelot. I saw it the first time in the theater when I had one child probably being babysat with her grandparents. We didn't do a lot with babysitters, but there were one or two times; so maybe it was even that. I remember seeing it on the big screen and loving it.

When it returned to my memory was when Vanessa Redgrave lost her daughter. I thought why haven't I watched Camelot? Why don't I have the DVD? Eventually I rectified that and ordered it from Amazon (they are having a sale). We watched it Sunday night and I cried my way through it.

My tears weren't for the three-way romance (which polyamory might have helped although guess not in those days). I had expected that tragic event. No, what made me cry was the dream that King Arther tried to forge, the divine experiment where men would rule themselves with wisdom and debate, where might would help make things right, not take power.

I cried because in Camelot the wonderful dream was lost because of human weakness. Not just Lancelot and Guinevere's but also Arthur's. He knew what was happening between his wife and best friend, and he let it happen without trying to intervene sooner. Then he let his son manipulate him into the disaster it all became.

Arthur let his dream be destroyed by his own human weakness. And that dream is one we are still working toward today where all men have a chance, based on a fair playing field and their own efforts, to build a good life for themselves. In the end of Camelot, Arthur expresses his hope that if the idea lives, then there is yet hope.

Human nature doesn't seem to lend itself well to settling political problems without violence or deceit. We just saw that most recently in Honduras. Power is all some care about and they don't care who is hurt in the process. Arthur had a wonderful dream and parts of it came to pass-- courts to settle disputes; but for some we are still waiting.

Republicans have been scared ever since Obama became president that he would undo all for which this country has stood. What gets me is why didn't they care the last 8 years? Why did they keep voting for a leader who was dismantling the principles under which this nation claimed to stand, step by step, justifying it as being for physical safety? Lucky the original founders weren't so concerned about their physical safety, wasn't it?

People are such sheep and raising sheep, let me tell you, that's no compliment. When you lose freedoms, you have to fight even harder to get them back. Hey righties, how'd you like Obama's recent signing statement? Bush taught him that one.

It's not enough to find fault when it's someone else's party in control. People have to speak up even when it's theirs or they will lose all.

The Fourth of July should not be just an historic event, not just family picnics, parades, or fireworks (if anybody can still afford fireworks), but rather about a resolve to make a just and fair society work . The Fourth of July is about a beginning, not an end. If it doesn't work here, where would it work?


The flag is ours and we fly it at important times. My mother gave it to me. She thought people should fly their flag. She's right. We should also remember for what it has stood, the dream behind it. It's up to us to make that dream reality. It is not too late but someday it might be.

Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.