PREFACE: This is a public director’s note that I posted on my theatre company’s (Brookville Theatre Co.’s) Facebook page. (Link to the FB group and support underground theatre! https://goo.gl/11Bket)
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Okay, so it’s no secret that our production of JULIUS CAESAR not only takes heavy inspiration from Occupy and other populist movements across the world, but in developing our vision further, we decided to center it around the 2016 election.
Because JC’s character is an analog for Senator Sanders, this is not only a good chance for a little dramaturgy, but I want to disclose that I am active in the revolution, and it would be disingenuous for me not to say something about this major turning point in our struggle for equity.
For those of you keeping score at home, Senator Bernie Sanders has just endorsed Hillary Clinton today. Heartbreaking? You better believe it.
But to call him a “sellout” or a “traitor” is flat out WRONG, and if you’ve been paying attention and active in the revolution, those words would NEVER grace your lips.
Yeah, he didn’t get the White House, but so what? Bernie Sanders fights for the water we drink and the air we breathe, not a cushy spot in a cabinet.
He fought to dismantle the corporatist machine from the inside while never changing his message, which he said flat-out was to transform the Democratic Party.
He’s not done yet, and neither should you be.
The DNC, as corrupt as it is, did concede major platform positions to us because we stood up and fought back against the poisonous cycle of incrementalism that has nearly destroyed the political process.
Look at how many regular people have run for office that were inspired by Bernie. The democratic down-tickets are filled to the brim with Berniecrats, and in order for us to really see change, we HAVE to elect them. He was absolutely right, this was never about him. It was never about Clinton. It’s about a clean sweep of Congress.
As far as the TPP and other policies that weren’t addressed or passed at the platform committee, Bernie’s endorsement now leaves Clinton in a spotlight she didn’t expect.
Did you see her face when Bernie was speaking? That was the face of someone whose feet were being held way too close to the fire for her comfort. All of these positions that we got excited about and pushed for are NOT hers, and she knows damn well that she is running on OUR platform, and now she has to commit to that, or have Trump in the White House and all the fibbing in the world can’t save her from that embarrassing prospect. That goes for us too. Now we get to see who our REAL friends are and how far will they be willing to go without Bernie in contention?
Do we really want to see the mistakes Obama made by giving false hope to the party by telling them that all their problems were going to be fixed once he’s in office? Bernie never NOT ONCE has said that. He made it explicit that he”Hope and change” was a campaign slogan. THIS IS REAL CHANGE.
So yeah, this is a bitter pill to swallow, but this is the start of something amazing. Hillary Clinton may be the last corporate politician we elect into the White House if we continue to fight for justice and make good on the promise of democracy.
With that said, DON’T NOT VOTE. Jill Stein and Gary Johnson are candidates, too. With our help, we will get those candidates on the national debate stage, and when that happens then the two-party system will have truly died.
I started Brookville Theatre Co. because I was inspired by Bernie Sanders and the vision he has for a truly United States of America. He will always have an impact on how I view politics and the power of the people. I believe in art for the people. No election is or ever will change that.
So ask yourself: How bad do you want this revolution?
HAIL CAESAR!
-Nick S
( Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brookville-theatre-co-presents-julius-caesar#/ )
Oh and by the way, now that Bernie’s out…
When is she going to release those transcripts?
And how about that possible perjury charge?
Seems as if she’ll need a solid VP choice when she gets in trouble. :^)
