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July 2007 Stats for The Big Picture.
This weekend American Film Renaissance, run by Jim and Ellen Hubbard, is doing a Conservative film festival at the Mann 6 Theaters in Hollywood. I've been to three events there so far this weekend, and they've all been great.
One thing that's very interesting is that Conservative film is starting to mean, films that show a liking for America. One wouldn't think that would be the particular provenance of one political party over the other. But the unceasing blame-America-first rhetoric from the Left has, very strangely, for this moment in our history, marked such films as belonging to supporters of the Republican view of things. One can't imagine Cindy Sheehan, Al Gore, Howard Dean, or Hillary Clinton finding much to attract them to this festival.
Friday night the festival opened with The World's Fastest Indian, based on the true story of Burt Munro, who in 1962 came to America from New Zealand and set a land speed record in a motorcycle built in 1920. The great script, by Roger Donaldson (who also directed), maintains suspense and is very entertaining all the way through. On the way, Munro sees America for the first time, to heart-warming effect. I'd recommend this film to anybody. Take the family.
Saturday afternoon Gary Sinise was interviewed by John Ziegler. Sinise co-founded Operation Iraqi Children, dedicated to bringing school supplies and other essential to Iraqi children. He said a lot of fascinating things, some of which I will quote here from my hand-written notes taken down at the time (not expected to be verbatim):
John Ziegler: Is there a disconnect between what we're being told about Iraq, and what you've seen going on there?
Gary Sinise: There's no getting around it that there's tragedy, but unfortunately that's all the media is going to show us. In spite of what we're told on a daily basis there is a lot of optimism over there. We had a convoy go out to schools in Mosul. A CBS camera crew went out and got very happy, positive footage. On the way back the company was attacked. That was national news, but the purpose of the convoy was never reported. The gunfight was reported but not the distribution. So you're not getting a balanced accounting of what's happening over there unless you dig. An electrical plant opening in Iraq is a big deal to Iraqis, but isn't news here. It seems the media is very quick to report the negative, but not the positive.
I think we're at war. That's my personal opinion. Unfortunately it may take another devastating event in this country for people to realize what we're up against. I believe there is an enemy and they will be there after this president is gone and after the next president is gone.
9-11 changed me. It made me want to give back to my country.
I don't think it helps the troops for people to criticize their mission. Personally I know that there are a whole bunch of them who don't care what those people [who criticize the mission] are saying.
We're insulated in this country. We've been under attack for 30 years. And hopefully it won't take another devastating event for us to realize that.
It's great to see Hollywood actors with Conservative views beginning to feel comfortable expressing them publicly.
Saturday night I saw a documentary, The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania. Produced by Patricia Heaton, and Directed by David Hunt (Heaton's husband), the film was inspired by their friend, actress Sarah Rush, who at 16 had been named the Coal Queen of Carmichael, Pennsylvania, in an annual town event. It was about to be the 50th anniversary of this event, and all former Coal Queens had been invited to Carmichael for the occasion. Hunt builds his film around the selection of the newest Coal Queen, with sequences showing local coal mining -- the first time cameras had ever been permitted underground there to photograph the mining operation -- and the life of the town. I never expected such a film to be heart-warming, uplifting, and entertaining -- all of which this was. Hunt's film is a celebration of the town and really is touching, heart-warming and fun.
If you're in L.A., stop by Sunday for the third day of the Festival.
#1
#2While I admire Mr. Sinise for what he is doing to help Iraqi children, I’m a bit bewildered by the Film Festival’s stand here. If, for instance, Warren Beatty or Barbara Streisand were to make remarks at a Film Festival finding fault with the War in Iraq, I wonder how many of the participants at your Film Festival would be telling them to shut up and act or sing or do whatever they do?
I am reminded on a daily basis of the hypocrisy of the conservative movement in the US. It has always had a “Do what I say, not what I do!” attitude.
#3So the Pentagon wanted CBS to film some school being painted in Iraq, but the convoy came under attack. Seems the propaganda mission backfired. CBS broadcast the attack instead of The Good News About Iraq. For this American and father of a Marine, it is more vital to know when our troops are fired on than watching paint dry.
#4"9/11 changed me.” What did 9/11 have to do with Iraq? Gary Sinise’s eldest child turns 18 this year. Which branch is he encouraging her to enlist in, so she can find WMDs in Iraq or catapult the propaganda? Same branch probably as the Bush twins.
And John Ziegler, big time war hawk and hater of brown people, is strangely out of uniform. Oh, I forgot, the Marines are looking for a few good men. Ziegler obviously does not qualify.
#5Neither Sinise nor his kids serve. What a huge f’ing suprise.
#6"Gary Sinise: There’s no getting around it that there’s tragedy, but unfortunately that’s all the media is going to show us. In spite of what we’re told on a daily basis there is a lot of optimism over there. We had a convoy go out to schools in Mosul. A CBS camera crew went out and got very happy, positive footage. On the way back the company was attacked. That was national news, but the purpose of the convoy was never reported. The gunfight was reported but not the distribution. So you’re not getting a balanced accounting of what’s happening over there unless you dig.”
Umm, I think mentioning that the “everything is peaceful & happy” propaganda truck couldn’t even make it back to base safely would, you know, further undermine the propaganda.
#7A number of the commenters in this thread are expressing Liberal views. Since you happen to be here, I have a question: what would you do to prevent the U.S. from suffering another attack like 9-11?
No fair saying it was all (fill in the blank’s) fault, or doing (fill in the blank) will “only make it worse.” What actions would you take to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil that could kill thousands or worse?
#8There are some real #### for brains liberals on here repeating Moore nonsense. Fathers don’t send their children to war. It’s called a volunteer army braniac. It’s not up to Bush or Gary to send their children. That’s up to their children. Get it.
#9Faramir;
Why am I not surprised at your reply? Same old conservative ########! Let someone else do the work because while you may cheerlead,you’re just another ####### #####! I’m sure the 101st Keyboardists think you’re the bomb. You’re just another ####### hypocrite!
Vik;
I wrote quite a long reply to your question concerning what to do in case of another attack. Why did you see fit to delete it; because someone actually answered your question?
If you’re going to ask for replies, at least have the courtesy to leave them up. Or is it just more important to make your point than to try to actually debate the topic?
#10George,
I didn’t delete your post. I do sometimes delete posts that have insults and/or obscenity, or which seem to be trolls. But no long reply from you showed up here. The connection from this page to the server can “time out” after a long time, like hours or days. In that case, when you push the “post” button, the comment doesn’t appear. The same thing has happened to me. If you still have this page up, hit the “back” button on your browser—your text may still be there. If so, reload this page, and repost your comment. I’d like to see it.
#11George, you really didn’t respond to faramir’s point. It’s a volunteer army; the parents don’t “send” their children to war; the so-called “children” are adults, who make their own decisions for themselves. This is a free country, and they have the right to make that decision if they so choose.
#12Faramir is the only one who said anything about parents sending their children to war. John Allward asked whether Sinise and Bush were encouraging their daughters to join the military. I think we can all agree that any parent who supports the war can quite reasonably encourage his child to sign up.
It appears that Faramir was unable to answer John’s actual point, so he resorted to that distortion.
#13And why is it any of John’s or any other liberals’ business what career path GWB or Gary encourages their children to take? So when liberals talk about the right to privacy they don’t think it applies to conservatives. The whole argument here is a red hering. A politician isn’t required to encourage their children to enlist just because they make a command decision to engage in war against an enemy of the United States. (although I told my nephew not to listen to liberals who tell him the military is the last resort for “dumb” kids, that it is a commitment and he could possibly be injured or killed, but that it affords many opportunities as well)Just more blather from Moore and his trolls to skirt the real issue that they were born in a nation that doesn’t value their statist mindset. Just shows you how far left some Americans have gone if they go after Sinese, who is arguably somewhere in the middle - hardly a conservative. Sorry, but you fellows lost the Cold War. The fact you are still fighting it through Mohammed’s children is a tad boring.
#14Faramir,
You resort to the same arguement I made in my first post, in which I stated that it’s hypocritical that Gary Sinise’s opinion about Iraq counts more than Barbara Streisand’s. And again, it’s hypocritical of someone like you to resort to that arguement as you seem to believe that only your opinion is worthy of consideration.
Oh, and just so you know,I served the US for five years and my son is going into the Army. And as you think it’s such a great career move, why aren’t you signing up?
#15I should kick myself now as it is getting boring replying to simpletons like yourself. I never said it is a good career move. For some it may be. Others possibly not.
If America was peopled with Barbara Streisands, I would have no desire to die for an America like that one. For Gary Sinese, that would be better.
If you are telling the truth I am impressed. A raging liberal lunatic in the military. Who’d of thought?
#16I am amazed even today at the ignorance of some of these conservative respondents. Conservatives (i.e., Republicans and Christians) “DO NOT send their kids to war” and the “kids are free to join” the military? Excuse me? These poor, foolish, blindly obedient kids are taught to hate open-mindedness, homosexuals, atheists, activists, ethnic groups, the handicapped, the poor, and in general anyone whom they suspect of being “liberal,” and often they are all but forced to join the military in wartime by warmongering, God-blkess-America fathers and oh-so-husband-supporting “never question Dad” mothers from the minute they are old enough to understand their parents’ voices. I should know. I am the son of that type of father, but I rejected his rhetoric when I developed my own mind. I repeat the above comments: I do not see Bush’s twins or Gary Sinese’s daughter--or the sons of any high-ranking official in Bush’s administration--serving in the U.S. ARned Forces during this so-called wartime.
#17Robin, it’s not like the majority of people in any age range in America are in the army. Are you saying Gary Sinise would have to force his son against his will to go into the army, before Gary would be permitted to have an opinion on the subject?
#18Gary Sinise got his draft notice while in living in Highland Park Il. And, I was with him that week that he got it. He cried, he was depressed and DID NOT WANT TO GO FIGHT IN ANY WAR! Gary was dead set againt the Viet Nam war. He was talking about going to Canada if he had to go. Gary is a cop out! And if he is reading this HE KNOWS WHAT I"M TALKING ABOUT....Don’t you Sinise wearing your green army jacket every day in the glass hallway, cutting all your classes. Talking about getting out of serving in the military. You are a nice man, but your past is your truth.
This sounds like a great idea: sort of comedy film competition or maybe special olympics for cellulloid. However, everytime I hear the phrase “blame-America-first”, it brings to mind the “blame-Clinton-first” and “never-blame-Bush” crowds (they seem to be the same folks).