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  • Somehow even though I lived through the Niebuhr years, I never heard of him. I guess that is why we have this An American Conscience series.

    The first problem you will notice that it is mostly a bunch of soundbites; they cannot concentrate on one presenter at a time or for exceptionally long. We get a lot of film clips of history with the same soundbite people.

    He may be best known as the author of the famous serenity prayer.

    God, give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed; Give us the courage to change what should be changed; Give us the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.

    • prayer said to have been first published in 1951; Richard Wightman Fox Reinhold Niebuhr (1985)


    "Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary."
    • "Children of Light and Children of Darkness" (1944) foreword.


    This prayer was also included in a prayer book given to American G. I.s on the front of WWII.

    There is a good Mile Wallace interview that has not been remastered.

    He as vice president of the Socialist Party runs for New York State Senate.

    Oh no, Reinhold Nieber turns anti-commie during the cold war. Watch and find out why. He almost turns Joseph Campbell in following you bliss and engaging in the world.

    Watching the Vietnam War in T. V. irked him. Yet In recognition of his contribution to American life, Reinhold Niebuhr was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964.

    The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

    The DVD and companion book are available

    You will miss a lot of the content of the documentary with this review as it would take pages and pages to tell what you will see.