Today’s theme is nostalgia. We start by renting the 1955 Picnic, starring William Holden and Kim Novak. This provides a fascinating portrait of early 1950s small-town Midwestern life as a backdrop to some ageless tensions (rich/poor, intellectual/ignorant, natural/stuffy). Move next to the 1996 When We Were Kings, which documents the 1974 fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in the then-new nation of Zaire (now back to its old name of “Congo”). The subjects of the documentary can’t foresee that the new leader, Mobutu, will become one of the 20th century’s most notorious kleptocrats (though as discussed in the Israel Essay, he actually did not steal as much from his countrymen as the average Fortune 500 executive team steals from its shareholders). Nor can they foresee that many of the dancing and singing children among them will be dead of AIDS by 2003. At some level the movie is about two guys who hit each other really hard but the innocence of the time and optimism about Africa’s future is what really touched me. Some favorite lines: “I’m so mean, last week I murdered a stone–I killed a rock”; “No Vietcong ever called me ‘nigger'” (Ali served a prison sentence rather than be drafted into the Vietnam War).
[Warnings This film’s clips of Ali’s efforts to influence his fellow Americans may make you see our current crop of leaders, black and white, as intellectual and spiritual midgets. When We Were Kings is also marred by a few minutes of interviews with Spike Lee, the movie director, who tries to sound profound while stating the obvious.]
I remember <CITE>Picnic</CITE>! Life sure was different then, as there was no Counter-culture to help with Business. These days there is almost too much, and I am confused about the opportunities. What do you think about weblogs for helping
Business? This way it will promote the Counter-culture from within the Company. Everyone will keep their unique individuality, but they will all have their say. This may produce massive change. It is not like the old days at all, when everyone had a place. Now it is
up for grabs, for the strongest to take the lead. Who will win?
I first watched “When We Were Kings” a few years ago. At the time, I was captivated more by the epic nature of the fight and how it was billed as Good vs. Evil. It was good entertainment.
I now own the film on DVD and what captivates me more are the personalities. I’m a white Jewish kid from the Chicago suburbs, yet when I watch Ali dance and rap, I tremble with excitement. This man had audacity, panache, and a keen intelligence. The way he expressed himself was brash, yes, but he was clearly a product of his times. He stood above them all and said, “I am somebody. I am the greatest.”
Ali has become somewhat a hero to me. He was not a perfect human being, but it was that imperfection that contributed to his greatness.
My favorite quotes:
“People were surprised when Nixon resigned, wait til they see when I kick Foreman’s behind!”
“I’m dancing! I’m dancing!”
“We must whoop Mr. Tooth Decay.”