This afternoon Kathy and I watched Hal Holbrook in "Mark Twain Tonight!" (1967). I saw the original broadcast in 1967 and probably it had more effect on me than I realized. At least Twain said skillfully what I was thinking with less definition. For example, he makes an eloquent plea for religious tolerance. It is bizarre in a way that religion which should instill compassion so often lacks it. The following video clip of the 1967 performance is on this topic.
In 1967 the Civil Rights movement was attempting to overcome years of prejudice and Jim Crow cruelty. The Vietnam War was also underway. Twain spoke of a very special kind of lie—the “silent lie.” This lie comes from an informal but implicit conspiracy of silence from all quarters. The following video broaches a topic which is for all ages. Every age finds itself managing its own pack of silent lies.
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