A Dialogue of Belief
Lewis Rothschild: You have a deeper love of this country than any man I’ve ever known. And I want to know what it says to you that in the past seven weeks, 59% of Americans have begun to question your patriotism.
President Andrew Shepherd: Look, if the people want to listen to-…
Lewis Rothschild: They don’t have a choice! Bob Rumson is the only one doing the talking! People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they’ll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They’re so thirsty for it they’ll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there’s no water, they’ll drink the sand.
President Andrew Shepherd: Lewis, we’ve had presidents who were beloved, who couldn’t find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don’t drink the sand because they’re thirsty. They drink the sand because they don’t know the difference.
What a dialogue!
While The American President comes across as an average film, possibly more to do with romance, this dialogue between the two Michaels is so powerful, so true, and so in-your-face, it makes me love the film all over again. Annette Bening and Martin Sheen help a lot. The tagline of the film says: “Why can’t the most powerful man in the world have the one thing he wants most?” And the film is classified as a comedy-drama.
Of the people that Michael J. Fox and Michael Douglas are talking about, there are, however, a few people who know the difference; the difference between sand and water. And within these, I would say that there are two kinds – the ones that know the difference ‘after’ they drink the sand and the others who can ‘see’ the difference between sand and water. Also, unfortunately, there are very few of these people – the ones who can see the difference.
If you read the dialogue again, you will see that one is not contradicting the other – in a real sense. The dialogue, as short as it is – builds very nicely. It provokes thought of the belief system that makes the masses and how and where we can choose to be or not be a part of it.
the ones that know the difference ‘after’ they drink the sand and the others who can ‘see’ the difference between sand and water.
Well said Atul! A very nice post…
Hey,No word verification? Wow,thanku,But WHY?
Felt like reading it again and again,dont know why:)
Specially the lines “I would say that there are two kinds – the ones that know the difference ‘after’ they drink the sand and the others who can ‘see’ the difference between sand and water. Also, unfortunately, there are very few of these people – the ones who can see the difference”
Hmmm,true
Oh,Saw the reply to the last post now:) Thanku
Hhahahaha,4 comments,Ok,somehow i wanted the figure 5,so here goes the 5th:p
–arundhati: thank you
–alaps: i could count only four
They drink the sand because they don’t know the difference.
So true, and so sad.How many of us really think for ourselves and how many of us can actually see beyond petty pictures painted.
I would say that there are two kinds – the ones that know the difference ‘after’ they drink the sand and the others who can ‘see’ the difference between sand and water.
Loved what you had to say about it.
–e&U: thank you
yeah Atul,dat’s a great dialogue indeed..
And the inference i got from this post is that we cannot compare an ocean with a pothole..
And the key for us is realizing that this world is not the promised land. It sure sounds like it at times. If we decided to distribute it evenly, we would have plenty of just about everything we need.
A very nice post with beautiful effort..keep them coming,Atul!
–ganga: i dont think any one of us in this life had any promises – the only ones we have and we will keep are the ones that we make to ourselves. Even distribution? ah…that calls for another post. am not a supporter of equality the way it is ‘generally’ understood.
new post up