Thursday, January 31, 2008

Is Anybody....

In the film (and stage play) 1776, there's a scene where John Adams is in the empty chamber where the associated rebels have been meeting, arguing about the nature and content of the constitution for their new country. The room is dark, save for the light provided by some candles flickering on the desks, and silent. At one point, he calls out, somewhat plaintitively 'Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Does anybody see -- what I see?'

I've always liked that sequence. It speaks to the darkness of the soul, when you're not at all sure that what you're embarked on, whether it's writing a blog or founding a nation, is going to work, is going to bear fruit, will be successful. You wonder, in a moment of despair, whether the endeavour is worth doing at all.

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