Founding Father

Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.

- John Adams, from a letter to Benjamin Rush (18 April 1808)

I have just finished watching the HBO miniseries John Adams through my Netflix subscription. I guess I must have put a whole bunch of early American history movies in my queue. Nonethless, I am thoroughly enjoying them.
Just as I did after watching the documentary of Benjamin Franklin and the PBS series Liberty! on the American Revolution, I am still processing everything that I saw but I am feeling inspired, patriotic, in awe of the second President of the United States. This flawed, stubborn, outspoken man put aside his own interests and the interests of his family for his country. He was a true patriot who put his life on the line by putting his signature on the Declaration of Independence. He had an incredibly complicated friendship with Thomas Jefferson for much of his life. His wife Abigail was truly his best friend and most trusted advisor on all matters. He was not what most today would consider the best father, however, he was able to inspire one of his sons, John Quincy Adams, to follow in his footsteps to serve as President of the United States.
I learned so much about this man and about the founding of our country by watching this mini-series. Paul Giamatti as John Adams and Laura Linney as Abigail Adams are both superb. I also watched a "making of" extra segment on the DVD that showed how the director, costumers, make-up artists and set designers all worked hard to represent late eighteenth and early nineteenth century life.
I was deeply moved by how much Adams gave up in order for liberty and independence to come into being in America. He helped give birth to a nation that is today without a doubt the greatest nation in the history of the world. He served whenever called upon. I am convinced that without John Adams, we might never have become who we are as a nation today.
If you haven't seen this miniseries, it is a must see. Even if you are not a fan of history, it is also a love story, an adventure story, and an action movie. There were moments that had me laughing, facts that surprised me, and scenes that gave me goose bumps. It is that good. I highly recommend it.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!