Anyone see "American Exp. - Emma Goldman" on PBS?

[eablair3]

I just started watching it on PBS tonight, so I'll reserve judgment. But, initially it seems very biased. They don't seem to have any commentator on that defends her or takes her side.

I keep waiting to hear Howard Zinn to come on to tell it like it was. But, I don't think from the sounds of it, that they are going to have Zinn on.

All it is so far is that "she's a very dangerous women". She "promoted stealing." She "undermined marriage." She advocated violent terrorism, etc, etc. Those anarchists are terrorists, and so forth. They all shoot presidents or promote such actions. Those are the types of commentary so far in the show.

All the comments are pretty negative so far.

So, to any of those that have seen it, ... is it another propaganda piece?

[anarchy1999]

1. See it through to the end.

I came in from a peace meeting and only caught the 2nd half. I did not get the impression you have at all.

I found it to be informational, disheartening, inspiring and sad.

Stick with and see what you think.

[eablair3]

2. thanks, I'm still watching

you're right, .. in that it is informative as far as certain facts of her life and so forth. I'm about half way thru it now.

But, none of the commentators are giving the "pro-anarchist" view.

It's almost like they are trying to show her life, tell some facts about her life, and then demonize her and that movement. I know that many hold Emma Goldman up as a sort of hero or idol, and I wonder if this is meant to tear her down for all those that may have heard of her, but don't know too much about her. The commentary still appears pretty negative towards her.

they even mentioned Ludlow. you don't see that often at all.

[juajen]

3. I did not see it the first 30 min. or so

but, the last seemed to me to be sympathetic. It was sad, indeed. I saw much of her time reflected today.

[eablair3]

4. it did change at the very end

I agree that it was more sad and sympathetic towards her in the last 30 minutes and at the end. It was almost to say, .... "see what happens to you in the end if do what she did early on."

It was well worth viewing though. It's on again in a couple nights where I'm at, and I think I'll record it.

[anarchy1999]

5. How did we wind up going backwards 100 years?

That is the question I came away with. How in God's name did we lose every stride forward that has been made. We are fighting now, what she and her friends were fighting then. How did this happen, why did we let it happen. Those are the questions to ask. We are where they were then. What the F' happened?

[ConsAreLiars]

6. A very good book

Where the Sun Never Shines: A History of America's Bloody Coal Industry
by Priscilla Long

She has an earlier book on Mother Jones but it is unavailable (and a pamphlet before that). A lot of the research is presented in this broader history.

The one customer review at Amazon:

WHERE THE SUN NEVER SHINES: History Brought To Light, November 9, 2002
Reviewer: Paula Becker from Seattle, WA United States
Priscilla Long's WHERE THE SUN NEVER SHINES: A HISTORY OF AMERICA'S BLOODY COAL INDUSTRY brings the history of coal mining in this country to vivid life. Long examines both the grim subsistence laced with tragedy which formed coal miners' lives and their visceral struggle toward light and air via labor reform. She shines a particularly clear light on the crucial part the miners' wives played in the struggle for just treatment, and underscores the important, almost mystical role that Mother Jones played in the events recounted. An important treatment of a seldom-recalled chapter in America's history, this highly readable book combines a scholar's research and specificity with a poet's clarity and turn of phrase. Highly recommended.