World Without America
The nearly empty theater told its own story. No crowds tonight. We slid into an otherwise empty row to watch America: Imagine the World Without Her.
Dinesh D’Souza, the movie’s co-creator, is an America-loving
Indian immigrant. He was a policy advisor to President Reagan, college
president, historian, and now he's a feisty whistle blower on those he feels are
undermining America.
In the documentary, he respectfully interviewed those who
believe our nation was created through premeditated evil. In turn, he digs into
the history we don’t often hear anymore, reflecting on the inspirational
narrative many in my generation remember.
Near the end of the film things get icy cold. In addition to a nation that is “transforming”
through its educational system, could the IRS, the NSA and others be snooping
on private American citizens? Is
our government collecting data on each of us? D’Souza makes a compelling case
that the government can make life rough for those who don’t agree—and he uses
his own experience getting arrested for campaign donation violations. It makes
one think twice before speaking out.
Bono delivered some inspirational closing remarks: “It’s
not a right-left issue. It’s a right–wrong issue. America has constantly been
on the side of what’s right….This is about keeping faith with the idea of
America. That’s how we see you
around the world, as one of the greatest ideas in human history.”
Tears slid down my cheeks—sadness for a nation that
has changed so much during my lifetime. D’Souza’s final words resonated as the theater lights
came back on, “How
badly we need a Washington, a Lincoln, a Reagan. We don’t have them. But we do
have us."
If America is depending on “us” there needs to be more of us working together. But if the movie’s attendance is any
indication, it might be easier to imagine the world without America.
Here’s the trailer to America: Imagine the World Without Her.
