Funny clip from the Adams miniseries, for esoteric values of ‘funny.’

There is some good physical acting in this, despite the fact that they’re not moving around much. Dude playing Jefferson in particular has got the “I wrote a thing” half-eager, half-dreading slouch down cold.  Also: these guys?  These guys are total nerds.  Which is, of course, a compliment.

Hollywood reads the Declaration of Independence. [UPDATED]

[UPDATED: NotSoBlueStater notes in comments that this is from 2003, which argues that even though they read it, a large number of these people probably didn’t get it.  Such is life.]

This… isn’t bad.  They played it straight.  Tried to keep the frills under control.  Allowed the text for speak for itself.

:holding up hand: Yes, yes, I know your objections.  I even share some of them.  But at least now we know for certain that a couple of these people have actually read the damned thing.

Via @cayankee.

The Declaration of Independence.

Link.

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. Continue reading The Declaration of Independence.