Independent Lens: The Weather Underground During the late 1960s and early 1970s, several hundred young women and men tried to spark a socialist revolution. Outraged by the Vietnam War and racism in America, the organization waged a low-level war against the U.S. government - bombing the Capitol building, breaking Timothy Leary out of prison and evading one of the largest FBI manhunts in U.S. history. This film explores the rise and fall of this notorious movement, as former members speak candidly about their experiences. When's it on? Visit the Site What issues addressed in the program do you feel have relevance today? Which of the interviewees made the greatest impression on you? Why? What are your feelings about the Black Panther statement that SDS/Weathermen members were perhaps sincere but misguided in their activism on behalf of non-whites? When, if ever, can violence be justified? How do you think membership in the Weather Underground affected the occupation choices of several of the interviewees? What do you think are the biggest contributing factors to the worldwide discontent of the late 60s? How close do you think people of the late 60s and early 70s came to "changing the world"? What do you say to Flanagan's assertion that the moral high ground is a dangerous position to take? The Vietnam War is already an issue in the upcoming presidential election. How does this film illuminate the emphasis on the candidates' service? Many members of the Weather Underground didn't agree with U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Today, some people disagree with the Administration's decision to engage U.S. troops in the war on Iraq. Do you think it's possible for a group like the Weathermen to emerge in 2004 as a body for enacting change?
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