Zeb and John-Boy in The Conflict

[AR15]

I rewatched The Conflict today and was reminded of why I love this episode so much. Obviously, there was never real Waltons movie, but I feel that if there was, this storyline could have been used for it - the stakes are high and the tension is palpable. I particularly enjoy all the arguments between John-Boy and Zebulon. I really like it whenever John-Boy becomes very passionate about something and the point where he's shouting at Zebulon while their lining up with guns at the truck is amazing. It's also one of the darkest episodes, I think - after all, two of the main characters end up in a shoot out with the government! That's not a scenario which is generally going to end up well. And it's one of the few episodes where the family are unable to secure a 'happy ending'. The Waltons can be an optimistic show sometimes, but here, despite John's best efforts to get the law on their side, they still do not succeed.

What do you think about The Conflict?

[Easton]

It is certainly one of the most powerful episodes with more tension and drama than we're used to seeing.

[nedandres]

This is a very strong episode and was made into a stage play, which Earl Hamner gave his blessing to. That was a number of years ago. I thought of this episode in the midst of the national strike here in Ecuador. People, mainly the indigenous community, rose up to protest the decision by the government officials to remove the subsidy on gas and diesel. There was bloodshed, and many people died and were injured. The question arises in this episode as well: how far should one go to protest and stand up for what one perceives to be right?

[willie]

Probably one of my top 5 episodes.

Beulah Bondi sweeping the floor at the very end is such a powerful moment.

She was such an amazing presence on screen.

[mothergoose]

The Conflict is about the most perfect Walton’s episode in the series. Every cast member, every line of script, every piece of music, Beulah Bondi, (heart) is perfect.

So many themes, conflict, the mountain people vs government, the old ways vs progress. You can see the conflict in John Boy, he can’t quite see Martha Corrine’s and Zeb’s point of view, but deep down he knows taking arm against the government is not going to end well. John Boy is of the new, young generation, vs the old generation that still remembers the war between the states.

The Conflict is a masterpiece, plain and simple. There is no weakness in it. Plus, it’s very historically accurate, many people were displaced when the area became Shenandoah National Park. There’s a piece about it on the NPS Shenandoah National Park site.

[JeriJet]

Oct 19, 2019 15:11:15 GMT -5 nedandres said:

This is a very strong episode and was made into a stage play, which Earl Hamner gave his blessing to. That was a number of years ago. I thought of this episode in the midst of the national strike here in Ecuador. People, mainly the indigenous community, rose up to protest the decision by the government officials to remove the subsidy on gas and diesel. There was bloodshed, and many people died and were injured. The question arises in this episode as well: how far should one go to protest and stand up for what one perceives to be right?

Yes, a tough question to answer -- many variables -- depends on the possible consequences, which may be quite severe and must be weighed very carefully, with the future in mind, of course.....

[patriciaanne]

I find it hard to watch this episode. The writing, the acting, Beulah Bondi, all brilliant. But knowing it's a true story and that people were thrown off their land by the government...well, it's heartbreaking and angering all at the same time.

Every time I see it, I wish it could end differently and everyone keeps their land.

[Easton]

Oct 19, 2019 15:11:15 GMT -5 nedandres said:

 The question arises in this episode as well: how far should one go to protest and stand up for what one perceives to be right?

I suppose one goes as far as necessary. There is usually a winner and a loser, but sometimes, neither side wins or loses. In Canada 30 years ago, there was a conflict in which one side won, but they lost as well.

In Canada, it is known as 'The Oka Crisis'. It took place in a town in Quebec called Oka just west on Montreal on the northern bank of the Ottawa River close to where it meets the St. Lawrence River. Like 'The Conflict', The Oka Crisis involve a land dispute, this time between government-approved land developers a Mohawk tribe of the Peoples of the First Nation.

Sometime around 1700, the Mohawk moved into the area near Oka called 'The Pines'. They set up their village, cleared land for farming and even created a burial ground similar to The Waltons 'The Warrior'. Fast-forward a few decades and the land was sold to a Paris-based Roman Catholic order called the Sulpician Fathers Seminary except for a small portion which would remain in the hands of the Mohawk. The Mohawk objected in 1868 when their land became grazing land for the Sulpician cattle, claiming that they had no right to be on Native land and gave them a week to remove their cattle. At the end of the week, they attacked the seminary. Local authorities in nearby Oka moved in and put an end to the conflict. Just over 60 years later, the Seminary was still grazing their cattle on Native land and were forced to sell a very small portion of the land once owned by the Mohawk back to them.

Then, in 1959, just 3 years later, the town of Oka granted permission to build a 9-hole golf course on the edge of The Pines. An attempt by the Natives in 1977 to lay claim to The Pines failed. Finally, in 1989, Oka granted permission to the golf club to expand into The Pines to create another 9 holes and for building 60 condominiums. The Mohawk sacred land would be buried under 'progress'.

The Mohawk protested and shut down access to The Pines. As hostilities and the numbers of protesters increased, the blockade expanded to a bridge and to 3 main motorways. Local authorities failed to break the blockade as did the provincial police. The RCMP were called in to try to settle things and they, too, failed. The First Nation Peoples refused to budge.

Finally, a reluctant prime minister sent in the military.

This iconic photo was taken at the height of the confrontation - Private Patrick Cloutier face-to-face with Brad Larocque.

Ultimately, the crisis ended with the Mohawk winning their rights to the land and stopping the construction of the golf course extension and condos. However, they lost as well. Today, almost 30 years later, the Native Peoples have yet to be granted official ownership, but their sacred burial ground is still sacred.

[Johnny]

Oct 20, 2019 18:35:55 GMT -5 Easton said:

I suppose one goes as far as necessary. There is usually a winner and a loser, but sometimes, neither side wins or loses. In Canada 30 years ago, there was a conflict in which one side won, but they lost as well.

In Canada, it is known as 'The Oka Crisis'. It took place in a town in Quebec called Oka just west on Montreal on the northern bank of the Ottawa River close to where it meets the St. Lawrence River. Like 'The Conflict', The Oka Crisis involve a land dispute, this time between government-approved land developers a Mohawk tribe of the Peoples of the First Nation.

I didn't realize this Iroquois nation (Mohawk) extended into Canada. From what I learned about the tribes of the Iroquois, they occupied much of NY state. Historically the Mohawk people settled along present day Mohawk & Hudson Rivers. (see image below) in NY. . I wonder if any of their other tribes extend up into Canada. (see second image below)

     Mohawk R. , NY                            Five Nations of Iroquois

       

[Easton]

As I mentioned, they crossed the St. Lawrence and settled on the northern banks. Other Haudenosaunee (which means 'People of the Long House'), or Iroquois tribes, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, also settled in south-eastern Ontario and south-western Quebec.

[Johnny]

Oct 21, 2019 15:13:17 GMT -5 Easton said:

As I mentioned, they crossed the St. Lawrence and settled on the northern banks. Other Haudenosaunee (which means 'People of the Long House'), or Iroquois tribes, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, also settled in south-eastern Ontario and south-western Quebec.

Very interesting. I can believe their ancestral lands extended beyond our modern geopolitical boundaries.  By the way, the Tuscarora did not join the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy until later, around 1713. They were an independent tribe who came from where North Carolina is today.  The map I referenced was in 1650.

[Deleted]

This is not one of my favorites but I do watch it time to time.

I am with JB on this one. You would have to be flat out stupid in the 1930's to not understand what a fools errand it was to think you could stop the government from taking your land by eminent domain.

ED (no pun intended) has been around since the beginning of the US as it is based in Common Law and came over from England.  All of the Walton's had to know this had been going on for ever and ever.

Now, what I think is interesting is that Grandma did not say a darn thing as the reason the land was being taken was because of the WPA. We all know how she felt about that government meddling. 

Here is an article on the history of ED .  THe 7th paragraph talks about that area of the country. 

Federal ED

[AR15]

Oct 21, 2019 18:02:40 GMT -5 @tankeryanker said:

This is not one of my favorites but I do watch it time to time.

I am with JB on this one. You would have to be flat out stupid in the 1930's to not understand what a fools errand it was to think you could stop the government from taking your land by eminent domain.

ED (no pun intended) has been around since the beginning of the US as it is based in Common Law and came over from England.  All of the Walton's had to know this had been going on for ever and ever.

Now, what I think is interesting is that Grandma did not say a darn thing as the reason the land was being taken was because of the WPA. We all know how she felt about that government meddling. 

Here is an article on the history of ED .  THe 7th paragraph talks about that area of the country. 

Federal ED

I agree with you. I was definitely on John-Boy's side too. #IStandWithJohnBoy

I also wondered why Esther's presence in the episode is very minimal. I have the feeling she had no idea what Zebulon was up to, because if she did, I struggle to imagine her being quiet on the matter!