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Yes, slavery was awful, but before it was abolished in the 19th Century it was in common practice all over the world, in nearly every society on earth.
And, that's why it seems so odd he'd want it left out. It's not like he is running for office, like
John McCain was. Or is he thinking about it
So liberals now think it's ok to white wash history if its shows them in a negative light. At lest Argo and Gone Girl were good movies, I think Benny should stick to movie making and leave the politics alone.
It's not really censored since this wasn't a news program. Doesn't a person have a right to control how much information about their history gets out in an entertainment program? I think it's stupid that he was so embarrassed about it, but people like to take credit when ancestors were really good so I guess it would follow that some people would be ashamed of ancestors that were bad. And was he really bad? Are we to judge people of the past with modern morals? Yes, slavery was awful, but before it was abolished in the 19th Century it was in common practice all over the world, in nearly every society on earth.
Isn't PBS supposed to be more than just entertainment? Aren't we supposed to think shows on there are accurate and maybe even complete?
Did I already say how my great-grandfather was part of Sherman's Army that burned down Atlanta and Savannah on their "March to the Sea" in the Civil War? I don't think much of that particular campaign, but am I ashamed of my ancestry because of it? I don't think so!
So liberals now think it's ok to white wash history if its shows them in a negative light. At lest Argo and Gone Girl were good movies, I think Benny should stick to movie making and leave the politics alone.
They are just following orders. "We have to change our history" -Michelle Obama 2008
It's not really censored since this wasn't a news program.
Well then someone should tell Gates...
"To do this would be a violation of PBS rules, actually, even for Batman,” Gates wrote. “Once we open the door to censorship, we lose control of the brand.”
The "this wasn't a news program" spin was Affleck's argument. Should I accuse you of plagiarism now
"It’s important to remember that this isn’t a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable." Ben Affleck
Isn't PBS supposed to be more than just entertainment? Aren't we supposed to think shows on there are accurate and maybe even complete?
Did I already say how my great-grandfather was part of Sherman's Army that burned down Atlanta and Savannah on their "March to the Sea" in the Civil War? I don't think much of that particular campaign, but am I ashamed of my ancestry because of it? I don't think so!
I haven't read through this thread, so I have no clue about your ancestor, but I understand the gist.
As for PBS, yes the news programs have a duty to show everything but this is not a news program. I don't think it's a big deal that he asked them not to include it. He was not compelled to, nor was he compelled to even be on the show. It was for entertainment.
I haven't read through this thread, so I have no clue about your ancestor, but I understand the gist.
As for PBS, yes the news programs have a duty to show everything but this is not a news program. I don't think it's a big deal that he asked them not to include it. He was not compelled to, nor was he compelled to even be on the show. It was for entertainment.
"To do this would be a violation of PBS rules, actually, even for Batman,” Gates wrote. “Once we open the door to censorship, we lose control of the brand.”
The "this wasn't a news program" spin was Affleck's argument. Should I accuse you of plagiarism now
"It’s important to remember that this isn’t a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable." Ben Affleck
It isn't a news program, and Ben Affleck had every right to request them not to include it. He was there voluntarily, he's not a political leader, and his family history really is his own. Gates may have made that argument, but ultimately they didn't include it in deference to Affleck.
My own personal view is it would have made a very interesting story showing his slave-owning ancestor juxtaposed against Ben's own mother who was a Freedom Rider in the 1960's. It is such a great illustration of the country's evolution on this issue.
How could they possibly show everything? People spend a lifetime studying their family history! I'm going on fifteen years, and I sometimes think I've barely scratched the surface. There are entire branches of my family tree about which I have just the barest information. Every WDYTYA and FYR episode is heavily edited to include what the producers think will appeal to the viewing audience, and this is no exception.
Affleck asked that certain aspects of his family history be left out in preference to others, which is not the same as asking to have his family history deliberately misrepresented. That being said, I agree with the previous poster that it would have been a more powerful show had the evolution of his family's beliefs and actions been explored. It was a missed opportunity.
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