The American Future: A History, with Simon Schama - BBC Two

[RideMyBMW]

dudes, America ain´t Canada....we´re like brothers, sure, but of a different father.

America can never go socialist,cuz if it does , freedom on this good earth will be snuffed out forever.

[lucklessluke]

couldn't help thinking Obama sounded a bit like Daniel Webster at 2:10 , rather appropriate that American History seems to be recurring

[Sigolet]

"Communist Party" in name, but Fascist Party in practice. I lived in China in 1984 when China was still largely run under the old communist style. Even then, it wasn't "communist;" it was more a type of cadre feudalism based upon communist party affiliation.

In my earlier post, I simply assumed it is clear to all that China is fascistic today.

[4ta2r]

They put crap on TV like this all the time so people will keep watching. Do you all honestly think Obama could ruin the country in just 4 years? Bush was in for 8 and the civilized world didn't fall apart (besides New Orleans). Thats the beauty of our system, its really hard for 1 person to completely fuck it up.

[cameraguy38]

@4ta2r Actually this was a BBC production which aired in the UK just prior to the US election in 2008. The series was a full history of the United States and that particular episode concentrated on more recent events. It comes thoroughly recommended as does Simon Scharma's award winning 'History of Britain' series. Scharma's work is especially notable for being fully factual and impartial...So it probably wont air in the US.

[drjimhorne]

The Winter of America will last at least three more years.

[Sigolet]

Obama is promoting in America the socialism that Russia and China threw onto the trash heap of history as unworkable.

In a remarkable reversal, Capitalism now thrives in former communist countries as socialism is fostered in America.

What is the result of this switch?

Russia and China have never been so rich or powerful and America never so indebted or weak.

Yet, Obama keeps to his socialistic course, even over the will of the majority of Americans.

Obama is indeed a slow learner.

[MrStygwyrd]

@Sigolet Could you give the reforms a chance to actually have an impact before we say they've failed. If America is poor or weak now it's because of the policies of the previous decade not policies made in last few years.

[soursourapples]

@Sigolet your grasp of politics and world history is incredible

[Thor1O1]

@Sigolet what about places like Canada Brittan Denmark.etc where there is a middle ground between socialism and capitalism. If you truly think that having social policies hurts a economy then look to your north, Canada despite having 80% of its export going south has managed to weather the recession better then most. America has literacy rates lower then some 3rd world nations(Cuba), so grow up and realize that America is not right and the rest of the world wrong on the subject of social reform.

[MrFreeLibertarian]

Obama is a LIAR, and his Socialist policies have been REJECTED by the American people.

[salgadosroman]

come on man..this ain't right ....they're talking that america will collapse soon....of course they'll say BBC is British ..they hate us they once owned america and look what they are now....america will not collapse ...but it will but not in this era...yeah we have troubles right now but come on..americans can get back and prosper.remeber the civil war, the great depression...we have been wounded several times but we always get back ang get back strong...i'm an immigrant but i'm an american

[musiclover1958]

The Obama Train is going to end soon. Sorry Simon. I adore you as a historian but you haven't learned from history. People are Taxed Enough Already.

With yesterday's election the wheels are coming off the Obama train.

[nashwan91]

the most beutifull country in the world = ?

i know its iraq

[k4y3lg33]

"Change we can believe in!" You believin' in it yet?

Yeah, things have changed alright. They've gotten worse, Much, much worse. And it hasn't hit bottom yet. When it does, pray you're not alive to see it.

[Jubilo1]

Silly Schama ! Opah +TV = Election.

TV rules.

[SHMUJEW]

another academic saying whatever the person that signs his paycheck wants him to say

[quenek]

nothing different than what the talking-head , teleprompter reading newscritters do every single day.

[wonderman65]

you are an idiot

[Azurju]

Go back to the farm 5ezpzez. I don't think Simon Schama The Magnificent is Anglo-Saxon at all, isn't he Jewish with ancestry from Turkey?

Not that that has any relevance other than to show how out of touch and uninformed your comments are.

[Slater582]

He's not white, 5ezpzez.

[5ezpzez]

Simon Schama is a hack. He is still mad because Americans told King George to go fuck himself... He is a shamed of being white so he goes on a rant about anglosaxons like the pussyboy apologist that he truly is. He is a true asshole.

[mmcc4]

You're a hick dip sh#@!

[Settembrini71]

Schama, God? No, no, Simon is much bigger.

Anyone know where I can get this in full?

[perppu]

Watch TV

[GayGeisha]

This Man is GOD

[AmandaHallay]

Yes. Schama is GOD. (If God was a nerdy academic). 'Seen everything that Schama's ever done on TV and read every one of his books. I think I might have some sort of weird nerd crush on him.

[RavingCelt009]

He is one the greatest role-models for anyone who has a passion for and wishes to pursue a career in both writing and history. I could listen to him for ages!!!

[dodgedart74]

a perfect tool for recruiting young people! think about it, im 19 and i voted for him last year, big oops. anyway how many marches on washington have there been? do you even care that they lied to get into iraq, told us and showed us they lied, and now they continue to stay. why?

and why are we not doing anything? because obama is such a great hope giver, well like my mom said you can hope in one and and shit on the other and see which one fills up first

[RavingCelt009]

I'm talking about Schama! And I totally agree with what you're saying about Obama (if that is indeed who you are talking about!), I fear he is well on the road to becoming the most disappointing President in United States history.

To quote Monty Python, "he's not the Messiah; he's a very naughty boy!" :D

[MrLewey10]

If people are disappointed by his performance it is because they expected far too much of him (something he warned against doing during the campaign) and fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the US presidency. Considering how divided the US polity is at the moment, and the vicious, spineless tactics that the liars on the right will stoop to to scupper him (e.g. Glen Beck, spit!), it is remarkable he has made any headway at all. So stop this "I'm so world-weary and pessimistic" shit!

[MrLewey10]

The Obama administration has done something about it- the fact is American troops can't just up and leave immediately, and Obama made that clear during the campaign. Your mom's analogy is ridiculous. Individual's like yourself seem to enjoy nothing more than building things up and then slagging them off. It's such a cynical way of existing and is in no way based in fact.

[pboogie1023]

The program was very interesting. Schama didn't just focus on history that most Americans are taught in school He delved into subcultural issues that were informative.

[TheLastBrainLeft]

Schama is an idiot. He travels the world, but he never peers outside the window of his ideological cabin. He's typically European, unwilling to accept that his freedom has been secured with American blood and dollars. His view is as equally ignorant as any gun toting, God-fearing rural PA farmer.

[Lemonbees]

Facinating I hope Obama gets to view this...

[ninthwave]

Obama propaganda.

[blumetatron]

He has a brain the size of a planet

[Itztli87]

hahahaha

look at all the pretty young American peasants screaming and cheering for their aristocratic favorites.

these brainwashed, petty dumasses really think that this popularity contest we call "elections" effects the direction that has already been chosen for the Empire.

it would be easy to pity Americans for this if they weren't such self-centered and childish people.

I feel like I'm in ancient Rome during the Augustin era...

[bigbadem]

It is a bit difficult to take you seriously when you misspell the word "dumbass".

[epaullin]

haha someone is jealous they can't vote. Sucks to be you. No one cares what ur opinion is...Not all of us can be born 1st class world citizens

[TheLastBrainLeft]

What's a "world" citizen. One can only be a citizen of a nation, not the world.

[citrusarcher]

Actually, 'nations' are a relatively contemporary concept.

Additionally, due to the world's continuing globalization and intertwining of histories, economies, cultures and whatnot, it may become commonplace to consider one's self a "world" citizen.

[neothomist1275]

Nation, natus - "born" - refers to the organic basis of a people: linguistic, cultural or ethnic.

It is only the nation as body politic which achieved realization in recent centuries.

[epaullin]

someone is jealous they can't vote. sucks to be you, but not all of us can be first class world citizens.

[kieronj]

US Brits have the greatest documentaries in the world. In UK we dont have propaganda like the US.

[TheLastBrainLeft]

The BBC is the world's largest purveyor of propaganda.

[FifthSun602]

How is this propaganda?

Sorry if I can understand when you say its propaganda but I am a 17 year old born from Mexican immigrant parents.

[Bighairyfart]

good camerawork really powerful

[scottbaggins]

Obama is the best. That is why I voted for him and filmed it for my youtube profile. Great video Simon!

[julieMcMac]

Darn it. Tried to watch it online, but they've blocked it to U.S. viewers. Maybe a kind British youtuber will post some of it here : )

Can't wait to see it. Simon Schama documentaries are always outstanding.

[dwdyer]

I certainly hope someone (PBS or BBC America) will bring this to the US -- I was introduced to Schama with The Power of Art -- wonderful series. (And yes, I can read, and will check out the book...)

[dwdyer]

Sorry, that should have been just "Power of Art", not "The Power of Art". (pedantic, I know, and this is only The YouTube, but still...)

[klewis511]

It's going to air on BBC America on Inauguration Day. Just, cut into 60-minute portions.

[wazzadoin]

I remember writing papers on his History of Britain. I look forward to this.

[TheLastBrainLeft]

"A History of Britian" was great. I even bought the companion book. But Schama goes from charming to smarmy when he strays into the realm of politics. I doubt the man has really ever sat down with someone that had a dissenting viewpoint for a candid conversation ...

[misterfisherman]

whens another channel going to make a docu on bbc bias? it would make great viewing

[k12robert]

arse

[Lafiness]

Maybe when one feel they can be taken seriously enough to do it ?

[ctomlinson]

It's not bias, it's simply another viewpoint. The US seen from outside it's own culture and borders - something every country should have once in a while, the UK included.

Watch it - take note of how the nations outside the US sees it, and maybe you'll understand a little more about the varying viewpoints of the WORLD around you, not merely the country.

Especially when the news media of that country no longer seem to have the will to use the teeth their constitution allows them.

[CULAVE]

ctomlinson- I think its important to differentiate between CNN and Fox- CNN is an international outlet- like the little brother of the beeb.

[misterfisherman]

gewd! all those who gave me thumbs down have to be the type who read giant newspapers to act intellectually tough

[AlexTheRussianAnt]

That looks like a pretty good program.