March 8th is International Women's Day, highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. Listed below are ten women who fought for human freedom -- some with words, some with pistols, and some with nothing more than raw courage -- but all pivotal in their own ways. Why not learn about them through film? Suggestions below. Ayn Rand Decades … [Read more...]
Libertarian Date Night: Eight Romantic Films
Need a romantic film to share with your libertarian sweetheart on a special evening? Look no further. Here are eight libertarian-themed films sure to set the mood for a libertarian date night. These are my top picks from the romance category of this website. Still Mine WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN FILMS When a rural farmer builds a new home as a kindness to his ailing … [Read more...]
Michael Apted: Libertarian Film Hero
Michael Apted -- born February 10th, 1941 -- was a British television and film director and producer. He directed four films of libertarian interest, including one of this website's top 25 list of most important libertarian films of all time. In 1992, Apted released the documentary Incident at Oglala, an inquiry into the alleged framing of AIM member Leonard Peltier by the … [Read more...]
Ayn Rand: Happy Angel Birthday!
Ayn Rand was born on February 2nd, 1905. Novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter -- Rand did what no one had done before: she took the ideas of classical liberalism into the world of stories and dreams, portraying the entrepreneurial heroes of our unprecedented prosperity as just that, and to the absolute horror of enemies of freedom. Decades after her death, Ayn … [Read more...]
Happy Bill Of Rights Day!
December 15th is Bill of Rights Day. I was delighted to find this short educational video performed by middle school students from the excellent Meritas private school network. It explains the Bill of Rights to the tune of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off." Teachers: The Bill of Rights Institute offers free lesson plans and activities for middle and high school students, … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving: a Celebration of Property Rights?!
Journalist John Stossel explains how Thanksgiving would have been (and nearly was) "Starvation Day," but for a change in policy from communal planting to...private property. [4 min/ Anti-socialism, Econ 101] Reason tells the the true story of how the introduction of property rights by Governor Bradford saved the Pilgrims. [3 min/ Anti-socialism, Econ 101] The … [Read more...]
Holodomor Holocaust Remembered In Four Films
Holodomor ("to kill by starvation) is what Ukrainians call the period from 1932-1933, when Stalin created a forced famine to punish the Ukraine's resistance to socialist collectivization. Estimates vary as to how many Ukrainians died, ranging from three million to twelve million. This tragedy and crime are remembered on Holomodor Remembrance Day. Here are four films to honor … [Read more...]
Daylight Saving: Libertarian Video Shorts
Daylight saving creates chaos among the populace. [2 min] Comedian Michael McIntyre jokes about daylight saving time. [1 min] A short segment from the John Oliver show mocks daylight saving time. [3 min] The standard opening to Perry Mason is finally explained as a daylight saving error. [1 min] Harvard School of Public Health experts … [Read more...]
Four Halloween Films For Libertarians
Happy Halloween! Nothing is scarier than unrestrained government, of course, so here are four Halloween films on the subject. Enjoy! Ghostbusters (1984) This popular classic tells the story of an entrepreneurial ghost-removal service -- Ghostbusters -- that runs into opposition from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other creatures of evil. It seems that … [Read more...]
Nestor Almendros: Libertarian Film Hero
Nestor Almendros -- born October 30, 1930 -- is best known for his cinematography. He was indeed the favorite cameraman for directors Eric Rohmer and Francois Truffaut and was nominated for four Academy Awards for cinematography (Sophie's Choice, The Blue Lagoon, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Days of Heaven). However, he also directed two powerful documentaries that together blew a … [Read more...]