Well, the Oscar nods are out, and I could care less. I’ve never really been a fan of the Oscars because I just don’t like Hollywood. I would watch them, however, if they allowed my new category for an award, “The Stupidest Foreign Policy Statement.”
I have never understood Hollywood’s desire to stick its nose into domestic and foreign policy issues. How does acting in movies make you more aware of the global situation when it comes to weapons of mass destruction? Why is it that we care what these stars say when we have a plethora of experts to ask instead? But if this is their wish — to make it clear to the world how ignorant they are — more power to them. It’s my pleasure to mock them mercilessly for it.
At a German film festival this past weekend, the stars were out with typical glamour, style, and stupidity. Let’s take for instance the statement of Barry “Please never mention ‘Battlefield Earth’ again” Pepper who said, “We’re going to send our boys and girls overseas to kill — and that’s pretty sad.”
I’m not arguing that killing is a good thing, but this is not a properly nuanced view of reality. Also, does this apply to all previous wars? Was World War I “pretty sad” since we had to hustle over and save Europe? This is along the lines of Sheryl Crow’s statement that the best way to avoid war is to, “not have any enemies.” Gee, thanks Sheryl. I’ll be sure to pass that along to Colin Powell — I’m sure he just didn’t think of it.
But let’s move away from that. Let me give you a lesson in celebrity logic. Edward Norton said, “Almost everyone in Germany and France is in sync with the governments. I almost forgot what it’s like to be proud of my government.” Hold that thought as I move on to actress Rosario Dawson’s fears, “Any dissenting opinion is considered unpatriotic,” she said. “It’s my hope that Americans won’t jump on anyone having a dissenting opinion.” Okay, so lets try to follow this train of logic as it seemingly heads in two directions.
Everyone agrees in Europe, which is a good thing, but the U.S. trying to rally support so that everyone agrees would be a bad thing. More to the point can anyone tell me how exactly we’re jumping on dissenting opinions when we have marches in Washington and New York City? Shouldn’t you be more worried for the poor sap in Germany who agrees with the war since, according to this, almost everyone agrees with the government?
I guess I should give my vote for a winner in Martin Scorsese. “It seems to me that any sensible person must see that violence does not change the world and if it does, then only temporarily,” he said. “There must be people who remember World War II and the Holocaust who can help us get out of this rut.” To paraphrase Louis Black, I think I know how aneurysms occur — your brain tries to repeat a statement like this until it makes sense. So let me get this straight — violence never does any good, and our proof is World War II. If there is any case for going in with the “Arsenal of Democracy,” it’s World War II. Also, how was our change temporary? Anyone seeing Nuremberg being set-up again? I think I’m going to go tape Survivor or something. I’d rather watch that then the Oscars, but call me if they take my advice.
Clemm is a sophomore and can be reached at rclemm@campustimes.org
