Getting Burned

About 10 days ago, history documentarian Ken Burns gave the commencement address at Brandeis University.  It got a great deal of attention for Burns acknowledging that he was going to break his long-held position of impartiality and then speaking out bluntly against Trump in the coming election (though not referencing him by name, but through what's at stake and the reasons for it).

Interestingly, the passage on the election only lasts 90 seconds, in a 21-minute speech.  What is interesting, as well, is that not only is the entire speech beautifully eloquent and thoughtful, but it's critical for those 90 seconds because it puts them all in context.  In explaining what is important about history and why, it makes clear without proselytizing what is so important about the November election.  And why.

The only line I want to quote from the speech has nothing to do with what brought it so much attention -- and, in fact, has little to do on the surface with much of the speech.  It comes near the end, as a sort of coda.  But it's the sensibility of the line that permeates through the speech.  And gets a surprised, burst of reaction for it being unexpected in its perspective for where it goes.  He says, "Insist that we support science and the arts.  Especially the arts.  They have nothing to do with the actual defense of our country.  They just make our country worth defending."

If you haven't seen the speech, it's extremely good, involving, with good storytelling, thoughtful insists, and even moments of humor.