The End of America

I'm not a huge documentary fan. Having seen my fair share of docs back in the mid to late '90s and then on into the '00s, I become quite interested but my interest cooled off for a considerable amount of time. Then I stumbled upon this and I say it is really an eye opener; how it portrays a nation, that at once whose values of freedom from oppression and tyranny is now heading down that same dark path that has tainted Europe and Asia. I never in my life expected to be so outraged and angry at what our country is becoming. If we are to stand against the tyranny that is seeping into our American society, then you as well as the rest of America owe it to themselves to watch this documentary. The very essence of the values of America and freedom are at stake.

This film describes the hidden struggle most of America's citizens do not see. This struggle is between the knowledgeable citizens trying to protect our constitution and the government. This great documentary takes the audience through the history of the Bush Administration and describes how 10 vital steps were carried out to create a totalitarian state. This film informs the audience about the similarities between that Administration's policies and the policies of regimes such as the NAZI's, Communist Russia, and Mussolini's Italy. Our country and our right's are not past saving and it must start with individuals. This film should be seen by all in order to realize how fragile our liberties are and how closely we all came to losing them.

It is very rare to come across a movie that has a more profound impact than this one. It is not because you'll find here the greatest cinematography, acting, movie score and the like. No, it's because this film provides fresh water to a world of deathly dry, parched lips. We have been bombarded with lies in a manipulative atmosphere no different than what happened when the lies of the Gulf of Tonkin caused the US to go to war against Vietnam on false pretenses. Like the regimes of Hitler, Mussolini and others, the US has taken the same 10 steps to tyranny - completely annihilating the Constitution of the US which our leaders have sworn to uphold. Naomi Wolf walks us carefully through these 10 steps giving us one example after another. Benjamin Franklin once said that anyone that gives up freedom for security, deserves neither. This work here is a MUST for all Americans, and for those concerned about the direction that America has taken. This is a clear-headed, honest analysis that deserves critical, yet open thought and discussion. Could anything be more important knowing that we've been told this "War on Terror" will never end? I think certainly not! Remember, these hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq are dying, being tortured, and being raped, in the name of the USA.

You cannot judge any president or leaders based on sound bites, which can be misconstrued and manipulated. However, the movie makers make some good points that will make you think. The testimonies of various individuals are at times heart rending and frightening. There can be no doubt that our country is going through a political and societal shift, in terms of the level of control, erosion of privacy, and changes in legislation that have effected our every day lives. However, can we really tell what is true and what is not based on the media? One should not negate any trend of thought without checking out the facts. At the same time, you should keep your eyes and ears open and READ. Which, if this documentary accomplishes encourages us to do that, than in my opinion, the mission is accomplished.

With President Barack Obama's recent orders to close down Gitmo, the United States is starting the process of ending a dark chapter in it's history. In The End of America, New York Times Best Selling Author Naomi Wolf chronicles the 10 steps a country takes towards fascism. There was dialogue as recent as the presidential campaign if America was heading towards socialism. The scary part is that much worse has been going on for the last 8 years.

Based on the best selling novel, this chilling documentary is more important to watch now that there is a new administration. The issues brought up in this documentary are challenges President Obama must face, from torture to privacy. This documentary is not so much a way to sway one's politics, but a reminder of how too much power can ultimately lead to the downfall of a nation. I recommend this documentary to anyone who has interest in the Patriot Act and the actions the Bush administration took in the last 8 years. Some issues are well known, but others will be sure to raise some questions about government that we as Americans are allowed to ask.