McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ...

IP: *.abo.wanadoo.fr 18.03.03, 19:16

Oscars blacklist stars in bid to prevent peace protest speeches!!!

ANNETTE WITHERIDGE IN NEW YORK

THE backlash against prominent stars opposing any attack on Iraq has impacted
on this year’s Oscars, with organisers drawing up a blacklist of people who
will not be allowed a platform to air anti-war views.

Meryl Streep, Sean Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, George Clooney, Dustin Hoffman and
Spike Lee are among those who will not be speaking, amid fears they could
turn the ceremony into an anti-war rally.

In a move denounced by some as a return to McCarthyism, star presenters have
been ordered to stick to scripts, while winners, who the producers have no
control over, could find their acceptance speeches cut if they say anything
much more than a brief thank you.

Officially, executives say that politics is a turn-off for the show’s
television audience. But in the wake of a public backlash against actors such
as Martin Sheen, from the West Wing, who have voiced opposition to war,
producers do not want to upset advertisers who have paid more than £50
million for adverts. In previous years, high-profile presenters have grabbed
the spotlight to promote their political causes. Richard Gere urged China to
end its occupation of Tibet and Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins appealed for
HIV-positive Haitians to be allowed into the United States.

Sarandon and Robbins are also among those on this year’s unofficial
blacklist, along with Ed Norton and Dennis Hopper. The only anti-war
campaigner on the presenters’ list so far is Salma Hayek, the star of Frida
and a best actress nominee.

Gil Cates, one of the ceremony’s producers, wants the ceremony, which takes
place on 23 March, to celebrate the Oscars’ 75th anniversary rather than the
anti-Bush/Blair movement. And he admitted he thought it "inappropriate" for
stars to use their slots to spotlight world problems.

But Tom O’Neil, an Oscar historian, said: "Political tantrums are inevitable.
You’re dealing with a class of people who have unchecked egos and who are
invited on talk shows to be experts on everything from high art to pop
culture."

Top of the loose-cannon list this year is the Bowling for Columbine director,
Michael Moore, a favourite to win the documentary feature award.

Last month, Moore thanked the French for not supporting the proposed Iraqi
invasion while accepting an award in Paris. And on Saturday, he used the
Writers Guild of America awards in Los Angeles to voice his opinions of
George Bush, the US president.

Worryingly, for the Oscar producers, Moore won loud applause after telling
the audience: "What I see is a country that does not like what’s going on.
Let’s all commit ourselves to Bush removal in 2004."
If Moore does not win an Oscar, insiders claim Hollywood will be reverting
back to the witch-hunting 1950s, when Senator Joseph McCarthy and his cohorts
destroyed the careers of supposed Communist sympathies. The "Red scare"
stories saw off Charlie Chaplin, who left Hollywood for Switzerland, and a
host of other high-profile celebrities.

McCarthy-supporting actors included the former US president, Ronald Reagan,
and the director Elia Kazan.
    • Gość: wacko jacko Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... IP: *.nyc.rr.com 18.03.03, 23:36
      Poor chickenshorts, trying to discover America.
      Here I come, wacko jacko to the rescue.
      Let's examine the freedom of speech. What does it mean?
      Well, it means that the government cannot forbid anybody from saying
      anything he or she wants, as long as it is political.
      Note that it pertains to GOVERNMENT. I, on the other hand can limit anybody's
      speech because I am not a government.
      These Hollywood airheads didn't even do their homework. Joe McCarthy
      represented the government, Oscar producers do not.
      Oscar's night is a big event for the movie industry. In other words, movie
      industry is a big business worth bilions of dollars.
      There is nothing worse than let the unscripted star talk.
      A few years ago Richard Gere made a complete ass of himself when he talked
      about Tibet.
      So as you can see the bosses want to protect the money. They are afraid that
      moviegoers might boycott some of the movies causing the box office disaster.
      And after that they might not buy a DVD or a gadget. They also see what's
      happening to Dixie Chicks after a lead singer said in London that she "is
      ashamed to be from the same state as president"..
      The movie ticket and DVD are so called small ticket price items. One has to
      sell in large quantities in order to make significant profit.

      My take on it. Let the stars talk as much as they want. Let them see their
      careers go down to sewer like Jane Fonda's. Let them wonder why.
      • Gość: awalk Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... IP: *.warszawa.sdi.tpnet.pl 19.03.03, 13:23
        Gość portalu: wacko jacko napisał(a):

        > Poor chickenshorts, trying to discover America.
        > Here I come, wacko jacko to the rescue.
        > Let's examine the freedom of speech. What does it mean?
        > Well, it means that the government cannot forbid anybody from saying
        > anything he or she wants, as long as it is political.
        > Note that it pertains to GOVERNMENT. I, on the other hand can limit anybody's
        > speech because I am not a government.
        > These Hollywood airheads didn't even do their homework. Joe McCarthy
        > represented the government, Oscar producers do not.
        > Oscar's night is a big event for the movie industry. In other words, movie
        > industry is a big business worth bilions of dollars.
        > There is nothing worse than let the unscripted star talk.
        > A few years ago Richard Gere made a complete ass of himself when he talked
        > about Tibet.
        > So as you can see the bosses want to protect the money. They are afraid that
        > moviegoers might boycott some of the movies causing the box office disaster.
        > And after that they might not buy a DVD or a gadget. They also see what's
        > happening to Dixie Chicks after a lead singer said in London that she "is
        > ashamed to be from the same state as president"..
        > The movie ticket and DVD are so called small ticket price items. One has to
        > sell in large quantities in order to make significant profit.
        >
        > My take on it. Let the stars talk as much as they want. Let them see their
        > careers go down to sewer like Jane Fonda's. Let them wonder why.

        It is all very well wacko. But I wonder if you remember the overhelming support for president Bush Sr after the Desert Storm. Do you remember how exhilirated and proud the people were? Do you remember the yellow ribbons on every tree across the country? Well, it was awesome. And then after a few months he lost to a nobody. How come? It is a rhetorical question, every American and everybody who lived in the US at that time knows the answer. I am not living in the US anymore, so let me ask you this: are you absolutely sure that the situation is completely different now? Are you sure that Iraq isn't just a distraction the President is using because has no clear idea about tackling domestic issues. I honestly hope and wish it's not true.
        • Gość: wacko jacko Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... IP: *.nyc.rr.com 20.03.03, 14:42
          I'm not sure I understand your post.
          I talk about apples, you talk about oranges.
          The Commission on Un-American Activities chaired by McCarthy was an official
          policy of US government. It targeted known and supposed communists and
          communist's sympathizers. There was nothing illegal in it. As the outcome of
          those hearings, many people were blacklisted. That was both illegal and
          immoral.
          Today's ban on anti-war speeches imposed by Oscar's bosses is an attempt to
          protect a cash register. Since they do not represent the government,
          the accusation of McCarthyism is silly.
          By letting the airheads talk anti-war you can expect some pro-war statements
          from Woods, Willis, Russell and many other. It's like opening a Pandora box.
          The whole show can turn to something viewers will be turned off by.
          That's all.

          Now, you're talking about Bush. I don't think he's that cynical.
          The war is never a sure thing. What if it goes wrong? He can kiss a second
          term good bye. What if he wins the war but the economy is still not performing?
          Americans tend to vote with their wallets despite a military victory. His
          father knows that.
          • Gość: chickenShorts Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... IP: *.abo.wanadoo.fr 21.03.03, 08:39
            wacko jacko:
            >Here I come, wacko jacko to the rescue.
            >Let's examine the freedom of speech. What does it mean?<

            Something like this?:
            "...one of President Bush's senior advisers branded a journalist who wrote a
            critical article about him as "the closest thing journalism has to a
            terrorist". ?

            >They also see what's
            >happening to Dixie Chicks after a lead singer said in London that she "is
            >ashamed to be from the same state as president"..<

            The sales go down! Right? It's because of DJs, either plain scared or simply
            unwilling to risk their possitions or those with views like yours, refuse to
            play their tracks! If you don't press D.C. on people's ears, the ears go
            elsewhere to get pressed... It's obvious!

            You attempt to explain failed again. 'McCarthyism' it's simply a term
            evocative of a certain shameful era in American political & social history;
            used today, means the practises & pressures of that period are back. Here:

            "In recent weeks a man has been arrested for wearing an anti-war T-shirt in a
            shopping mall in Albany, New York"...

            But then some people are having fun in times like these... What do we call
            them?


            • butter_fly Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... 21.03.03, 11:14

              ©DOUG MILLS/AP

              First Star Skips the Oscars
              mar 20, 2:48 EST

              HOLLYWOOD (AP)
            • Gość: wacko jacko Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... IP: *.nyc.rr.com 21.03.03, 14:55
              Gość portalu: chickenShorts napisał(a):

              > "...one of President Bush's senior advisers branded a journalist who wrote a
              > critical article about him as "the closest thing journalism has to a
              > terrorist". ?(word for word from Guardian)
              That was Richard Perle who is not a Bush' adviser. He is an unpaid chairman of
              of Pentagon Advisory Board. Sy Hersch, the journalist had accused Perle of
              conflict of interest and profiteering. It happened on CNN during a discussion.
              www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/09/le.00.html

              > The sales go down! Right? It's because of DJs, either plain scared or
              > simply unwilling to risk their positions or those with views like yours,
              > refuse to play their tracks! If you don't press D.C. on people's ears, the >
              > ears go elsewhere to get pressed... It's obvious!

              DJ's play what listeners want. If they receive hundreds of phone calls
              threatening to boycott the radio station, they will be sensitive.
              Radio stations have to sell commercial spots in order to operate.
              Fewer listeners mean less revenue from advertisers. It' a money game.
              It's happening in mid-America where country music is a king. You drive south
              of DC, that's all you can listen to.
              You English is good, your knowledge of America is not.

              > You attempt to explain failed again. 'McCarthyism' it's simply a term
              > evocative of a certain shameful era in American political & social history;
              > used today, means the practises & pressures of that period are back.

              My attempt to explain the difference failed because it fell on deaf ears.
              There is nothing one can do to educate a student if he or she doesn't want to
              be educated. Obviously, you can't comprehend the difference between government
              and private enterprise.

              > "In recent weeks a man has been arrested for wearing an anti-war T-shirt in
              > a shopping mall in Albany, New York"...

              That is a distorted account what really happened. The police was called to the
              mall by Macy's security who reported a disturbance. The police officer
              ask the man to leave the premises. The man refused and was arrested for
              trespassing. The arresting officer said he didn't cate what was written on the
              T-shirt. The mall is a private property. Later the security guard at the
              Macy's was fired from his job and charges against the protester were dropped.

              > But then some people are having fun in times like these... What do we call
              > them?

              Whatever you'd wish. Knock yourself out.
              Have a nice afternoon.
    • Gość: krecha Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... IP: *.hwr.Arizona.EDU 22.03.03, 07:23
      do me a favor, can you?

      what is "primrose" in Polish?
      (I do not have a dictionary)

      thnx
      • butter_fly Re: McCarthyism? Oscars blacklist ... 22.03.03, 07:54
        Gość portalu: krecha napisał(a):

        > do me a favor, can you?
        >
        > what is "primrose" in Polish?
        > (I do not have a dictionary)
        >
        > thnx


        PIERWIOSNEK
        • Gość: chickenShorts Re: "Comparisons with McCarthyism are valid"... IP: *.abo.wanadoo.fr 27.03.03, 11:16
          "Democracy is under threat in the United States; anyone who objects to the
          conflict in Iraq is not allowed to say so..."

          "(...) Bill is on the line from the Poconos in Pennsylvania with a tale so
          funny he can hardly share it for giggling.
          He was carrying an American flag and yelling support for the troops in a
          delayed St Patrick's Day parade over the weekend when he saw one woman carrying
          a sign saying: "No blood for oil".

          "She was wearing black and she was an older lady," says Bill. "And then our
          sheriff saw her and she didn't have a permit. So they put her in the back of
          the truck car and hauled her away."

          On its own, Bill's story would be aberrant - the tale of an overzealous legal
          official and an unfortunate woman in smalltown America. Increasingly though it
          is becoming consistent. The harassment, arrest, detention and frustration of
          those who are against the war is becoming routine. Relatives of victims who
          died on September 11, who are opposed to the war, have been prevented from
          speaking in schools. Last month Stephen Downs was handcuffed and arrested after
          refusing to take off a Give Peace a Chance T-shirt in a mall in Albany. He was
          told he would have been found guilty of trespass if the mall had not dropped
          the case because of the bad publicity.

          As Iraqi civilians and American, British and Iraqi soldiers perish in the Gulf,
          this war is fast claiming another casualty - democracy in the US."

          www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,922632,00.html

          • Gość: wacko jacko Re: 'Comparisons with McCarthyism are valid'... IP: *.nyc.rr.com 28.03.03, 21:26
            As Iraqi civilians and American, British and Iraqi soldiers perish in the
            Gulf, this war is fast claiming another casualty - democracy in the US."

            What's this?
            abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_032803_ribbons.html
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