|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
ChimpumCallao
Joined: 17 May 2005
Location: your mom
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject: i heart ben stein |
 |
|
He says what everyone knows already, but its still refreshing to hear.....
| Quote: |
The idea that it is brave to stand up for gays in Hollywood, to stand up against Joe McCarthy in Hollywood (fifty years after his death), to say that rich white people are bad, that oil companies are evil — this is nonsense. All of these are mainstream ideas in Hollywood, always have been, always will be. For the people who made movies denouncing Big Oil, worshiping gays, mocking the rich to think of themselves as brave — this is pathetic, childish narcissism.
The brave guy in Hollywood will be the one who says that this is a fabulously great country where we treat gays, blacks, and everyone else as equal. The courageous writer in Hollywood will be the one who says the oil companies do their best in a very hostile world to bring us energy cheaply and efficiently and with a minimum of corruption. The producer who really has guts will be the one who says that Wall Street, despite its flaws, has done the best job of democratizing wealth ever in the history of mankind.
No doubt the men and women who came to the Oscars in gowns that cost more than an Army Sergeant makes in a year, in limousines with champagne in the back seat, think they are working class heroes to attack America — which has made it all possible for them. They are not. They would be heroes if they said that Moslem extremists are the worst threat to human decency since Hitler and Stalin. But someone might yell at them or even attack them with a knife if they said that, so they never will. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, the guy obviously has some writing talent - he was a speechwriter for Republican presidents Nixon (who he really liked...) and Ford. (I guess he never heard Nixon's privately expressed opinions about Jews and other minority groups (including Armenians...) Although Joe McCarthy died 50 years ago the spector of governmental attempts to control media and infringe on press freedom still looms... And, I wonder if Stein thinks it's so wonderful that his main man, Nixon, had his operatives plot ways to "silence" famous muckraking reporter Jack Anderson "permanently - such as slipping him LSD or staging a fatal car crash" - (only to have it "nixed" at the last minute by the White House...) Refreshingly funny guy... 
http://p216.ezboard.com/frigorousintuitionfrm9.showMessage?topicID=76.topic |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Paji eh Wong
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yes, Hollywood is self serving, narcissistic, and facile. Then again, so is bashing Hollywood. Stein is the guy who had to ask "Does anyone remember what was so bad about Richard Nixion?" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:28 am Post subject: Re: i heart ben stein |
|
|
| Quote: |
| The idea that it is brave to stand up for gays in Hollywood, to stand up against Joe McCarthy in Hollywood (fifty years after his death), to say that rich white people are bad, that oil companies are evil — this is nonsense. All of these are mainstream ideas in Hollywood, always have been, always will be. For the people who made movies denouncing Big Oil, worshiping gays, mocking the rich to think of themselves as brave — this is pathetic, childish narcissism. |
Narcissism plays a part sometimes, sure, but who better to help spread a message than Hollywood? I could make an independent film or self-publish a book (or say that I'm going to, which is the most likely scenario), but who's going to listen?
Fact is, people pay attention to Hollywood. When it's fare such as Bringing Down the House or Monster-In-Law, this is a bad thing; but when it's a Syriana or Brokeback Mountain, it's good, and the message is spread easily. What people do with it is up to them, of course. I get the feeling Stein (who I've always liked as a TV personality, but not for his politics), would prefer these movies were never released, and that's bordering on facism.
Also, his line about films such as Brokeback "worshipping" gays is incorrect, condescending, and connotes where he stands on the issue.
Sparkles*_* |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I'm going to have to read more of this Stein. On first reading, I thought he was a comedian. But some people seem to take him as serious. Hmmm. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
He was a speechwriter for Nixon. Had (has?) his own game show, which showed off a talent for trivia (and/or a huge a intellect). Gave Jimmy Kimmel his big break. Had bit parts in various movies such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Certainly not an easy man to pigeonhole. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
