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Thanks for the dream
Nise Note's
By Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
November 24, 2004
Do not attempt to reach me from 7:00 - 8:00 on Sunday nights. You will not have any luck. For that one hour a week I will not answer the phone, the door, email or instant messages. This is because at 7:00 on Sunday nights, NBC carries the series American Dreams, a drama about a family living in the 1960s.
That summary doesn't do the series justice. Now in its third season, it's become a powerful drama that takes on issues that not only were important 30+ years ago, but that are still just as valid today.
The original catch of the series was that a character, Meg, is a dancer on American Bandstand and the show would compile clips from Bandstand within Dreams. Modern day musical artists appear as the stars of the '60s, and it started out as a feel-good show about a family that strived for that perfect American dream.
However, since its conception, it has grown to be more of a hard-hitting reality check. Race relations, homosexuality, single parenthood and the Vietnam War have come to the forefront. It's no longer about the oldest son being a football hero, oldest daughter a dancer on Bandstand, father a business owner, and so on. It's about life and the fact that it's not perfect nor is it easy.
Recently, the center storyline has been on the cold realities of war and its affect on everyone.
This last episode was the Christmas episode, and in it the oldest son -- former football hero turned military turned MIA -- came home from the war. He came home to a loving family, and a child he'd never met. He came home injured physically, emotionally and mentally.
It was shown commercial-free, however the sponsor of this hour of TV ended the time with an extra-long commercial that drew parallels to the storyline just seen on the show and the war we fight today.
We recently celebrated Veteran's Day, a day set aside to honor our vets, remember those who served and have passed on, and we pause to also recognize those who serve today.
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, and despite hard times, tragedy, and life in general we have so much for which to be thankful.
On American Dreams they spent their Thanksgiving with the oldest boy MIA, and learning that chances were he might not come back home. That was 1966, and here it is 2004 and there are, I'm sure, families going through that same torment. Many will not be as lucky as those on this television show. Their loved one won't come home.
Seems like a dark time and that there can't be anything to be thankful for with that hanging over ones head. Maybe its not a loved one away, but some other thing in life that brings one down that makes Thanksgiving seem almost a cruelty. There is nothing to be thankful for...
However, we have the air to breathe and food to eat. We have rain from the sky, warmth from the sun, and hope that all will turn out right. We get up every morning and start a new day. There is always someone that cares about us. We live in a country that affords us countless freedoms.
These freedoms -- to breathe the air, eat the food, enjoy the day, and live our lives -- are kept safe by those who fight in war.
No, many who fight in war today, tomorrow and yesterday won't come home. But they are the ones who assure us that everything we are thankful for is available to us. Our families. Our friends. Our many luxuries. Even our hardships. All of them are things to pause and take stock of right now. To be grateful for. To respect and cherish.
I will sit down on Thursday surrounded by my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew, my niece and even my cat. I'll eat the traditional turkey and dressing. I'll watch the football games on TV. (I'll be paying extra close attention the day AFTER Thanksgiving... and I have to say it: BTHO t.u.!) And I will do this thanks to so many men and women who came before me, all the way back to the American Revolution, who gave me this right and these freedoms to do these things.
American Dreams may just be a television show. However, it is a powerful hour of television that touchs lives if given the chance. Right now its made me pause and re-evaluate all I have today and say a little more somber of a "Thanks" for all of my blessings.
Nise Note's
By Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
November 24, 2004
Do not attempt to reach me from 7:00 - 8:00 on Sunday nights. You will not have any luck. For that one hour a week I will not answer the phone, the door, email or instant messages. This is because at 7:00 on Sunday nights, NBC carries the series American Dreams, a drama about a family living in the 1960s.
That summary doesn't do the series justice. Now in its third season, it's become a powerful drama that takes on issues that not only were important 30+ years ago, but that are still just as valid today.
The original catch of the series was that a character, Meg, is a dancer on American Bandstand and the show would compile clips from Bandstand within Dreams. Modern day musical artists appear as the stars of the '60s, and it started out as a feel-good show about a family that strived for that perfect American dream.
However, since its conception, it has grown to be more of a hard-hitting reality check. Race relations, homosexuality, single parenthood and the Vietnam War have come to the forefront. It's no longer about the oldest son being a football hero, oldest daughter a dancer on Bandstand, father a business owner, and so on. It's about life and the fact that it's not perfect nor is it easy.
Recently, the center storyline has been on the cold realities of war and its affect on everyone.
This last episode was the Christmas episode, and in it the oldest son -- former football hero turned military turned MIA -- came home from the war. He came home to a loving family, and a child he'd never met. He came home injured physically, emotionally and mentally.
It was shown commercial-free, however the sponsor of this hour of TV ended the time with an extra-long commercial that drew parallels to the storyline just seen on the show and the war we fight today.
We recently celebrated Veteran's Day, a day set aside to honor our vets, remember those who served and have passed on, and we pause to also recognize those who serve today.
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, and despite hard times, tragedy, and life in general we have so much for which to be thankful.
On American Dreams they spent their Thanksgiving with the oldest boy MIA, and learning that chances were he might not come back home. That was 1966, and here it is 2004 and there are, I'm sure, families going through that same torment. Many will not be as lucky as those on this television show. Their loved one won't come home.
Seems like a dark time and that there can't be anything to be thankful for with that hanging over ones head. Maybe its not a loved one away, but some other thing in life that brings one down that makes Thanksgiving seem almost a cruelty. There is nothing to be thankful for...
However, we have the air to breathe and food to eat. We have rain from the sky, warmth from the sun, and hope that all will turn out right. We get up every morning and start a new day. There is always someone that cares about us. We live in a country that affords us countless freedoms.
These freedoms -- to breathe the air, eat the food, enjoy the day, and live our lives -- are kept safe by those who fight in war.
No, many who fight in war today, tomorrow and yesterday won't come home. But they are the ones who assure us that everything we are thankful for is available to us. Our families. Our friends. Our many luxuries. Even our hardships. All of them are things to pause and take stock of right now. To be grateful for. To respect and cherish.
I will sit down on Thursday surrounded by my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew, my niece and even my cat. I'll eat the traditional turkey and dressing. I'll watch the football games on TV. (I'll be paying extra close attention the day AFTER Thanksgiving... and I have to say it: BTHO t.u.!) And I will do this thanks to so many men and women who came before me, all the way back to the American Revolution, who gave me this right and these freedoms to do these things.
American Dreams may just be a television show. However, it is a powerful hour of television that touchs lives if given the chance. Right now its made me pause and re-evaluate all I have today and say a little more somber of a "Thanks" for all of my blessings.
