John Adams mini-series

Yes, I’ve read the book by David McCullough of which the mini-series is based on and I’ve seen the series itself. It was very good. There was a handful of things they added in for the modern audience, like some bad language (but minor compared to most pg-13)and a sex scene between Abigail and John, that although I understand they hadn’t seen each other in many years while he was in France, I felt was not reflective of their characters-they didn’t ‘make love’ but it was a modern sex scene; it’s unfortunate and unnecessary.

Oh, and a warning on the tar-and-feather scene-very graphic and horrifying at the beginning.

I can’t think of anything else.

But other than those things, it is very well worth watching, just for adults or at least pre-viewed for the younger adult children (15+).

I think the most worthwhile part would be that it cause one to want to read the actual bio by McCullough; or at least listen to it on audio-cd. Viewing the mini-series alone would be great, but would be incomplete without the full bio in one form or another as it provides so much more; it’s not dry and boring either as Adams’ life wasn’t!

John Adams is the least appreciated of our Founders yet I think the most influential. Definitely the most consistant in his belief system and his actual lifestyle. His pre-Revolutionary writings, (which you can get in a book from Liberty Fund), his ideas of the balance of power, differing types of Republics and his knowledge of past, failed goverances and the G-d of the Bible and His view of freedom were the most influential on our country’s type of Republic that developed;even down to individual states using his writings as a blueprint for their own state’s Constitutions.

I look forward to watching it again. We ordered ours thru Netflix.

Rachel

p.s. here is a copy of his short “Thoughts on Government”, written in Spring of 1776, that is amazing to read. It was in response to N.CArolina’s Congress request for his recommendations for establishing a new gov’t. and a constitution. He said that “Politics is the science of human Happiness-and the Felicity of Societies depends on the Constitutions of Government under which they live.”

It’s not very long but jam-packed, and esp. of importance of a gov’t based on virtue:

http://www.liberty1.org/thoughts.htm