At the Movies...

Consegui, finalmente, após 3 anos, ver o filme "Good Night and Good Luck", realizado por George Clooney.
Ontem encontrei-o enquanto dava a minha volta da praxe pela Fnac, desta vez nem foi preciso perguntar, lá estava ele na prateleira.

Conta com uma lista interminável de excelentes actores e retrata a "luta" de um grande jornalista norte-americano Edward R. Murrow com o então Senador Joseph McCarthy.
Nos anos 50 este senhor começou uma verdadeira caça às Bruxas, ao perseguir, e condenar, pessoas ou simpatizantes com alegadas ligações ao Partido Comunista. Esta descarada violação dos direitos civis foi feita sob o manto da defesa dos interesses de segurança nacional.

O filme começa, e acaba. com um discurso que este jornalista fez a 15 de Outubro de 1958, na Convenção RTNDA. Ao lê-lo com atenção, chego à conclusão que este jornalista era um génio, conseguiu antever o futuro da Televisão e Rádio.
Deixo-vos um excerto do filme e do tal discurso. Se tiverem oportunidade vejam, vale mesmo a pena.

This just might do nobody any good. At the end of this discourse a few people may accuse this reporter of fouling his own comfortable nest, and your organization may be accused of having given hospitality to heretical and even dangerous thoughts. But the elaborate structure of networks, advertising agencies and sponsors will not be shaken or altered. It is my desire, if not my duty, to try to talk to you journeymen with some candor about what is happening to radio and television.
[......]

For surely we shall pay for using this most powerful instrument of communication to insulate the citizenry from the hard and demanding realities which must be faced if we are to survive. I mean the word survive literally.

[......]
I am frightened by the imbalance, the constant striving to reach the largest possible audience for everything; by the absence of a sustained study of the state of the nation. Heywood Broun once said, "No body politic is healthy until it begins to itch." I would like television to produce some itching pills rather than this endless outpouring of tranquilizers.

[......]
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost.


This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful.


Good Night and Good Luck!!

Edward R. Murrow