THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume V, Issue # 123, April 28, 2003
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
LIFE WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES:
A FAIRYTALE OF THE IMMORAL & UNPATRIOTIC HOLLYWOOD LEFTISTS
By Paul Walfield
Having a constitutional right to free speech was so essential to the Founding Fathers that, in drafting the First Article of Amendment to the recently ratified and adopted Con- stitution of the United States of America, which they had previously drafted, proposed and obtained ratification, the Founders made free speech the first of the rights guaran- teed in writing in the First Amendment. As time passed, lots of things were viewed as speech, even though they were physical acts. Pretty soon, things got a little crazy and burning the American flag, the symbol of the country that gave citizens the right of free speech, was seen as a protected right under the First Amendment.
Apparently, it attracted the attention and interest of folks who made a living pretending to be other people and read words written by other people--folks who could do all kinds of very nasty things in front of a camera--and got them busy ciphering. The actors and directors were not only not held to account for the make-believe nasty things they did in front of a camera, but they got all kinds of accolades, even Academy Awards, especially if they were indistinguishable from the real thing. Actors became celebrities who could do all they wanted in front of the screen, with no one saying a word about the character they played, if they did the part justice.
Some actors, at least for a while anyway, started to think they could do the same off screen. Getting hooked on drugs and going to rehab was--and in some quarters still is--a badge of honor. Since there is no shame to snorting coke or whatever, getting addicted and going to rehab, the actors tell their stories with pride, no matter how many times they repeat the sequence.
Doing wicked things to your spouse or significant other is not a reason to be shunned in Tinsel Town. Rather, it is either a plus, if it got you publicity, or it is irrelevant to the director or producer, so long as you can still pack the box office.
The difference between now and days gone by is that, way back then, all of this sort of thing was hushed up. The audience, it was feared, gave a damn.
As the movie industry grew and became a multi-billion dollar industry, it became clear that the movers and shakers could not control their actors. What do you do when you have billions of dollars at stake and assets (actors) who keep getting into trouble, the kind of trouble that people (audiences) would shun in disgust when they found out about that behavior? You change perceptions.
Way, way back when audiences were thought to really care, actors were not what you would call a respected part of society. Quite the contrary, actually. As time went by and actors became more and more highly paid, their persona changed from folks you would not have over for coffee to people who may be considered a kind of "royalty." It is gen- erally a very weird phenomenon, but that's another story.
In any case, we are where we are. As time passed, not only did the perception of the actor change, but so did our view of what disgusted us enough to be shunned. In fact, shunning itself was relegated to being some ancient and quaint notion that "primitive" people were enamored with, not modern folks, no way. With the removal of shunning from our list of inflicted punishments, removing certain mainstays of morality was next.
About 40 years ago, the stretching of the envelope began in earnest. Television was recognized as the greatest communicator of all time. There was no better place to let people know what was acceptable behavior and language. Our new heroes, our Ameri- can "royalty," paved the way as role models.
During the fifties and early sixties, morality and decency were givens on TV, and then things began to change. What was unacceptable became routine, and we all know the rest of the story.
Celebrities, almost all of them, are shouting and demanding America stop being the America they perceive--an America that is imperialistic, violent and a bully, an America they want you to accept as a reality, but which does not now exist, nor has it ever exist- ed. They want you to accept them as authorities on foreign affairs and on what is best for America. Like GM, they want you to believe what is good for them is good for the rest of us. Happily, they miscalculated, royally.
Tim Robbins, actor and Susan Sarandon's significant other, is very upset. First, he and all of the other members of the political and cultural Left become positively livid when a Republican is in the White House, and when that Republican is a Bush and exudes na- tional pride and a contagious patriotism, the Left becomes doubly enraged. But what really upset Timmy is that the words that are coming out of his own mouth, the ones he made up, are not only being criticized, but he is being criticized, not just for how he said them, but what he said. For, Timmy, that is just plain un-American. In the America Timmy lives in, royalty can do no wrong.
"A chill wind is blowing through this nation... A message is being sent through the White House and its allies in talk radio... If you oppose this administration, there can and will be ramifications..." Timmy is so upset, he has threatened to deck a newspaper reporter if he ever writes about him again. Free speech holds a special place in Timmy's heart, but apparently no where else if he doesn't like what he hears or reads.
Timmy has been told not to attend some functions and celebrations that he had been previously invited to attend. Most notably, the Baseball Hall of Fame chose not to play a movie that Susan and he starred in. ''It is using what power it has to infringe upon my rights of free speech, with the hope to intimidate millions of others who disagree with our President,'' said Timmy.
In other words, for Tim, he can use his power of free speech to say anything and boycott anyone, but if anyone else does the same, they are violating the Constitution. For Tim, and the Left, America is the one they envision, not the one that exists.
Celebrities are told they are great, no matter whether they are or not. Psychologists and the like want everyone to feel special and talented, even when a person messes up. Peo- ple like Timmy, who, at one time, would have given their eye teeth to be photographed in a magazine or newspaper, are now running away from the paparazzi or suing them. Un- fortunately, the most talented are stunted because there is no need to strive for a higher plain when you are told you have already reached the heights. As a result, we get folks like Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon thinking they know better than the rest of us.
Thankfully, the pendulum seems to be swinging back. Life without consequences is be- ing relegated to just a slogan now. People are expressing their freedom of speech at the box office and elsewhere. Americans are deciding to spend their hard earned money on folks they like, and not just on what is presented to them.
Tim Robbins and his ilk are also being relegated to the status of just another member of the masses--the masses who are judged and held to account.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, & Other Leftists
Political Culture, Patriotism, & American National Identity
Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology
and post-graduate study in behavioral and analytical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of
Houlton, Maine, and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous periodicals and on numerous websites. He
has been the featured guest on KTSA News Talk Radio. CONTACT INFORMATION: Email:
paul.walfield@cox.net
Return to Top of Page
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE,
Public Issues & Political Controversies
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE,
Volume V, 2003
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE,
Subject Matter Highlights
Return to POLITICAL EDUCATION Homepage
This is not a commercial website. The sole purpose of the website is to share with interested persons information regarding civics,
civic and social education, political science, government, politics, law, constitutional law and history, public policy, and political
philosophy and history, as well as current and recent political developments, public issues, and political controversies.
POLITICAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS
POLITICS, SOCIETY, & THE SOVEREIGN STATE
Website of Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr.
Government, Politics, Public Policy, Legal Issues, Constitutional Law, Government & the Economy, Cultural Values, Foreign Affairs,
International Relations, Military Defense & National Security, Geopolitics, Terrorism & Homeland Security, American National Interests,
Political Systems & Processes, Political Institutions, Political Ideologies, & Political Philosophy
INDEX FOR THE ENTIRE WEBSITE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Conservative & Free-Market Analysis of Government, Politics & Public Policy, Covering Political, Legal, Constitutional, Economic,
Cultural, Military, International, Strategic, & Geopolitical Issues
Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity