John Gianvito has created a truly rare masterpiece of a film with his 2007 55 minute experimental documentary, “Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind.” The film shows historical markers, grave sites, and other markers for many of the true heroes of American history as described by Howard Zinn in his landmark, “A People’s History of the United States.” Without narration, the film goes on a cross-country tour of sites showing where Native Americans fought and died for their people, where Americans who believed in justice died fighting for it, and most interestingly to me, shows the graves of some of the people who died fighting for unions.

The historical marker posted in Matewan, West Virginia is shown, but so are the graves of union super-stars like Eugene Debs and Mother Jones. Also shown are the graves of people who died in Appalachian wars for miners rights in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. It shows the minimal grave of Uriah S. Stephens, the man who founded America’s first great national union, the Knights of Labor. The graves of famous women’s rights leaders are also visited including Susan B. Anthony. I grew up next to a middle school named after her - but there is still no school named after WV’s own Pearl Buck.

Some whose graves are shown were not known to me. Others, like I.F. Stone, Paul Goodman, and others are now well-known.

Between the scenes showing the gravesites, the film cuts to show the local vegetation - trees, prairie grasses, rain, and the entire natural environment. I love the photography which seems to be saying, “These women and men are as much part of our landscape as the trees, rivers, and land itself - they will not be denied.”

I am sure that everyone who sees the film wants to make a similar pilgrimage to many of the sites, spending a few minutes to think about the rare human beings who have sacrificed themselves fighting the bullies that always control human culture.

Hopefully the West Virginia Labor History Association, in cooperation with The South Charleston Museum, will show this film. Hopefully the citizens of a state that has sacrificed so much fighting large coal companies, chemical companies, and a state government that has taken the side of the out-of-state companies over the welfare of its own citizens, will get a chance to see a rare film that takes their side in the giant war for human dignity.

The film was just recently shown for the first time in NYC. However, it has received many showings around the world, winning wide acclaim. Some film critics even chose the film as a “Top Ten” film in 2007. Luckily I spotted it while looking at the website of the Anthology Film Archives in NYC.

I will have to tell James Loewen, author of such books as “Lies Across America - What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong” and many other books on the ill education of Americans. He has been following the WV battle to save the site of The Battle of Blair Mountain from being stripmined, and is always interested in joining Howard Zinn in exposing the corporate lies that have been fed us in schools and other institutions. Thanks to eight years of the Bush Regime, Americans may finally be fed up with the cruel attitudes of its leaders toward our enduring struggle for freedom.

To obtain the film - Traveling Light Productions, 10 Mt. Vernon Street #3, Arlington, Mass. 02476 (7 483-3211. john.gianvito@verizon.net

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