I and I

Two posts I saw this week linger on my mind and in my heart. The first is this clip from "The Great Dictator."

"The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, scored by and starring Charlie Chaplin, following the tradition of many of his other films. Having been the only Hollywood film-maker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was Chaplin's first true sound film.

Chaplin's film advanced a stirring, controversial condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, fascism, antisemitism, and the Nazis. At the time of its first release, the United States was still formally at peace with Nazi Germany. Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator, and a persecuted Jewish barber.

The Great Dictator was popular with audiences, becoming Chaplin's most commercially successful film. Modern critics have also praised it as a historically significant film and an important work of satire. The Great Dictator was nominated for five Academy Awards - Outstanding Production, Best Actor, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Supporting Actor for Jack Oakie, and Best Music (Original Score).

In his 1964 autobiography, Chaplin stated that he could not have made the film if he had known about the true extent of the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps at the time."

- wikipedia.org

Click here for more on "The Great Dictator" on wikipedia

The second is a reference to this statement/poem, "First They Came."

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me."

- Pastor Martin Niemöller

"First they came... is a statement and poem written by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) about the cowardice of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group. Many variation and adaptations in the spirit of the original have been published in the English language. It deals with themes of persecution, guilt and responsibility."

- wikipedia.org

Click here for more on "First They Came" on wikipedia.org

I started my music career in a reggae band in Buffalo, NY where I was first introduced to the phrase "I and I." (Used in the Rastafarian religion in place of "you and me" to show that all people are equal under Jah. - UrbanDictionary.com) 

Here's hoping that I and I (we) can focus on remembering that we are all united in our one human family this week - and throughout our times of challenge.

Namaste,

T