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Seven years ago on this show I interviewed Troy Davis, the son of World Citizen Garry Davis. Today we revisit this fascinating story with Arthur Kanegis, director of the new film Martin Sheen Presents: The World Is My Country: The Garry Davis Story, which will premiere on PBS this month:
“The film, introduced by Academy Award®-winning actor Martin Sheen, includes exclusive footage from Davis’ live performances alongside pristine archival footage documenting his journey from Broadway actor to bomber pilot to being dubbed ‘World Citizen #1’ by the media reports of the day.
“‘Back in the Golden Age of Broadway Garry wowed audiences with his rapid-fire Danny Kaye number,’ said director Arthur Kanegis, ‘but then he was drafted into World War II and ordered to bomb Brandenburg. Horrified at the carnage, he leapt off the Broadway stage onto the World stage — taking on border guards, guns and jail – in a jaw-dropping mission to unite the people of our world.’
“Davis’ bold actions drew the support of Albert Einstein, Simone de Beauvoir, John Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and thousands more to a movement that culminated when the United Nations unanimously passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10,1948.
“For the next 65 years, Davis continued his effort to inspire ‘we the people’ to take the lead in creating world law to outlaw war, oppression and the destruction of the environment — and build a safe, secure and sustainable future for all. In 2013 The New York Times titled his front-page obituary: ‘Man Of No Nation sees One World of No War.’”