In November, the American public will watch a very powerful documentary series by Ken Burns on the American Revolutionary War. It’s likely to be even more impactful than his series on the Vietnam War and the Civil War combined. This series is guaranteed to make Americans understand our core values and the greatness of that fragile moment.

It will be evident that the nation did not desire a tyrannical monarch. The Founding Fathers envisioned a country founded on equality, a democratic system where every vote held significance, and checks and balances prevented any of the three branches of government from accumulating absolute power. Even the most fervent conservative and the most radical liberal would desire to rectify our practices and address the dire predicament facing our country today.

It will also become apparent that the federal reduction in the PBS budget will be a big mistake when programs like this Ken Burns series may never happen again.

Frederic Thompson
South Portland