Let's give it up to the bloggers and the op-ed columnists with bravery because they've weighed in the war. The war that hits the third year mark in March. You do know there's a war going on, right?
We kind of feel like we have to ask that question because most people don't appear to. Again, give it up for the bloggers and the op-ed columnists. Give it up for progressive media.
'Why Are You Here' and 'What's Changed' " we asked at the D.C. protests in September.
Here's how one person responded: 74) Ivan, 62, Michigan: I think today is great and am thrilled with the turnout. I protested against the war on Vietnam and there it took us years to get the momentum going. What I worry about is where are the people?
I don't mean the protesters, I'm really encouraged with the cross-section today. But, okay, you've got Cindy Sheehan. Ralph Nader's here and maybe he can make up for the recent past or maybe not, but he's here.
The actress from Tootsie and Cape Fear, right Jessica Lange. She's here and I didn't remember her name but she really did give a great speech. I'm glad those people are here.
But we need more. And in my day, the people had others. Yes, we had Jane Fonda, Fred Gardner, Joan Baez, Tom Hayden and others front and center.
But you also had people backing it up. I think he went to one protest with Joan Baez for civil rights. But his songs backed up what his actions didn't.
Or you turned on Dick Cavett or David Frost and there was an author or singer or someone and they weren't at the protests but they'd put it on the line and they'd say, like John Phillips [Mamas and the Papas] that the war was wrong. I caught Jane Fonda on David Letterman, when her book came out. And he asked her about the war and she said she was against it and the audience just went crazy with applause and cheers.
But are there younger people doing that? Is it just people my age? Maybe there are and I just don't know them.
But part of the reason the movement finally did end the war is that our cultural heroes were willing to speak out. You hear a lot of that sneering "You're a celebrity, shut up" talk and that's really fearing the power if they do speak out. With Vietnam, and this isn't a full list, just names that come to mind, you had Joan Baez and Jane Fonda front and center, but you also had Phil Ochs, you had the whole Mamas the Papas, you had John Lennon, Mia Farrow, Tim Hardin, Laura Nyro, Peter Fonda, Crosby, Stills Nash, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison, Janis [Joplin], the Rolling Stones, Grace Slick and the [Jefferson] Airplane, this whole list of people.
And you had people my age and younger and we weren't that different from kids today, we thought about what was in front of us. So when you have these people that you watch or listen to talking about it, it put it front and center. There were a lot of priests and a lot of Quakers and a lot of really solid activists who worked and gave their time to ending the war.
But what kept it on the front page was a) real reporting with real photos and b) the fact that you couldn't escape it. You turned on the TV to escape but there was some entertainer talking about it. It was front and center.
Now maybe there are people doing that today. Maybe if I turned on Letterman every night, I'd see some young people coming on to talk about a movie or TV show and I'd hear them speak out against the war. But I really don't get the sense that's happening.
There's a reason for that. They want to make sure no one else is tempted to use their power. They're scared of what would happen if entertainers really started throwing their weight around and making the people buying tickets or records think about this war.
Hard to believe it to look around today, but that did happen. had lunch today with a friend who's trying desperately to work the war into a show he writes for. During the conversation a number of issues were raised about what's being ignored by the mainstream press.
shared the converstation with Jess who said, "I had that same conversation!" C.I.
came up with the title of this editorial. Jess tossed in something else. By then it was going to have to be a piece because we all wanted to weigh in.
All we are saying is JUST TAKE A STAND On this anniversary of the assassination of John Lennon, we're surprised by how few seem to act as if a war's going on. Ripped from the headlines our asses. Hiding from the headlines.
And it goes on everywhere. Maybe pop culture doesn't allow you to comment on ? Maybe a playwright is too "culture" and not enough pop?
Maybe it's just not really handing out awards if no one asks, "Who are you wearing?"All we are saying is just take a stand. If you're presenting as being on the left, why are you so silent on a war that's waged for almost three years?
War got your tongue? Hey, if you're for the war, come out and say it. You can find readers who'll support you.
But quit hiding behind "I'm left" if you can't comment on the war. You're not looking "moderate." You're looking ignorant.
And when people read you years from now and see that you had nothing to say about a war that waged and waged, they're going to wonder about that. We should wonder about it right now. Let's give it up to the bloggers and the op-ed columnists with bravery because they've weighed in the war.
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