re Thoughts while waiting for a fire smoky sunrise

Hey, thanks much, Dave.  I'm posting your solid comment on our other lists. As a rule, I like community theatre groups.  But these are weird times and not everyone by a long shot is meeting the challenges constructively.  But the times will change -- and for the much better.  [Dave Ranney is a very old friend, a committed Lefty, and we taught together in the Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Iowa.  There, he and I and a few others -- including many students -- made up the "planning with and for the people" faction as opposed to that focused on planning by elites for power structures.  And, to paraphrase the Weavers, "Wasn't that a time!"]


Hi Hunter and all on this list

I appreciated the comments on Inherit The Wind. I have seen the film, the
play and have read the play. I fully agree with Hunter's assessment.

Since retirement I have been part of a community theatre group in the
small rural community where I am spending much of my time (Chicago is the
other place). And I have performed and directed many plays. Anyway,
recently we did a scene from Inherit the Wind as part of a showcase. We
did the scene Hunter describes. You might have added that prior to what
you describe Darrow really rips H.L. Mencken to shreds for not recognizing
W.J. Bryan's humanity and greatness. That plus the bible scene made it all
extremely moving.

So, I proposed to the board of Island Players that we produce the whole
play with me as director. They turned me down saying it was too
controversial! I wrote them an angry note saying the the play is about
tolerance and if that is too controversial we are all in big trouble. They
still turned it down. Such are the times we live in!

Dave


HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis 
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk 
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´ 
and Ohkwari' 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
www.hunterbear.org 
(much social justice material)

See Outlaw Trail: The Native as Organizer:
http://hunterbear.org/outlaw_trail1.htm
[Included in Visions & Voices: Native American Activism [2009]
Much expanded with new material in 2012.

And see the Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Expanded and with more photos in June, 2012.)
 
For the new, just out (11/2011) and expanded/updated
edition of my "Organizer's Book," JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- 
with a new and substantial introduction by me.  We are now at 
the 50th Anniversary of the massive Jackson Movement of
1962-63.  http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm