The Miracle worker was one of the first movies I had ever seen, especially one that had an enormous effect on my life. If this amazing woman could come back from being born blind, deaf, contracting scarlet fever and menigitis, to recieve the Medal Of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson, I thought that anyone could accomplish anything they set their mind too. While Patty Duke won an Oscar, and Anne Bancroft put on an acting clinic in this great, great movie, it was the story of her life that got to me. This woman grew up to be great friends with Mark Twain, and met every president from Glover Cleveland to LBJ. She was also a world famous speaker who was an advocate for the poor and disabled. She also helped found the ACLU. And, in these days of everyone talking about socialist medicine, she was a socialist, and was a member of the socialist party.
A prominent New York paper, who had been writing very favorably of Ms. Keller, wrote a scathing editorial when learning she was a socialist. To this, Ms Keller said:
At that time the compliments he paid me were so generous that I blush to remember them. But now that I have come out for socialism he reminds me and the public that I am blind and deaf and especially liable to error. I must have shrunk in intelligence during the years since I met him...Oh, ridiculous Brooklyn Eagle! Socially blind and deaf, it defends an intolerable system, a system that is the cause of much of the physical blindness and deafness which we are trying to prevent.
The Miracle Worker was taken from her autobiography "The Story of My Life", by Helen Keller. The name "The Miracle Worker" came from the man himself, Mark Twain. Ms. Keller was an advocate for the poor and disabled, and went all over the world, to make this world a better place. With all this talk of socialist health care, I wish some people would go back, and watch this amazing picture, and see how even the most disadvantaged person, giving the right help, can accomplish miracles!!
Helen Keller recieving the Medal of Freedom from President John Kennedy in the Oval Office
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Catherine Forsythe
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btw why all that negative space below the post? Maybe you could check font and make it a little more consistent. Just suggestions. Otherwise fantastic!
I have never known such a film of Helen Keller existed. HOw did you happen to come by it? Thank you for sharing.
some things just reach out and yank you back to reality. Helen Keller's ability to overcome does that to me still. Thank You for posting this. rAted!
I think those who feel for mankind as a whole and do whatever little they can towards helping ourselves...should speak up and always and loudly because their silence can become the cause of much evil.
Keeping the post alive................
cartouche, the pleasure is mine!!
Mad Mother, I had read the autobiography not long ago, again, and I went hunting!!
Thanks, Chuck, this story also gets to me!
Bob, just the word socialist has people thinking communist, not reading but listening to talking heads, Thank you~~
I guess that, after all, this is why I became a teacher myself , a teacher of languages that is.
Thank you for bringing all these memories back. I didn´t know the name of the movie in English, but now I can look it up the net and download it. Ah, the treasure of being here on OS!
Thank you again.
Marcela
Thanks
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I read a book about Helen at a very young age, then saw the movie and later on read more. She was an inspiration to me as a child, too, and then later when I learned about her social and political work, I was really stunned.. I think her story has been lost to time, to some degree, which is sad. The fact that she's mainly a source for jokes by ignorant people is tragic.
Pam, the first video is amazing. I lucked up and found it, and had to put it on OS. Thanks~~
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Anne was also an incredible story, wasn't she?
Great reminder, Scanner.
I read Annie Sullivan's story when I was in third grade. Helen Keller was still alive. I remember talking about her with my dad. I think that I felt a real kinship with Sullivan.
Shows you what can be done through determination, smarts and lots of love.
Thanks, gaston..,
yekdeli, a incredible woman indeed!!
Life is good, and Ann made life good for the disabled!
Without a paddle, I was not aware Kennedy awarded her the Medal Of Freedom!!~