Unfortunately what could have been an informative series on an important war turns out to be a biased anti-war piece of pacifist propaganda. Whatever other misquotes, misrepresentations and just plain lies are told by the author I leave to WWI historians to uncover and reveal. But one clear distortion of literature can easily be verified by anyone who chooses to look it up. In the one hour part of the series labeled "Rage" at the very end, as the credits are rolling, the famous poem In Flanders Fields by Major John McCrae is quoted. But in keeping with his melancholy rant on the war the series author chose to quote only the first two stanzas which completely distorts the meaning of the poem. Viewed that way the poem sounds like a bitter lament over the war. In fact when stanza 3 is included one sees that the poet's intent was the exact opposite. It was, and is, a spirited call to arms! I quote the poem in its entirety below so the reader can make up his own mind.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
STANZA 1.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
STANZA 2.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
STANZA 3.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Worse than plagiarism is the deliberate distortion of a dead poet's work to further a cause antithetical to his heartfelt belief and intent. We owe him better than that.
No matter what his personal political beliefs about war the author of the TV series should at least be honest when quoting famous literature. And AHC-TV should do a better job of editing and fact checking.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
STANZA 1.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
STANZA 2.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
STANZA 3.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Worse than plagiarism is the deliberate distortion of a dead poet's work to further a cause antithetical to his heartfelt belief and intent. We owe him better than that.
No matter what his personal political beliefs about war the author of the TV series should at least be honest when quoting famous literature. And AHC-TV should do a better job of editing and fact checking.