I wasn't aware that Chris Matthews, and his show Hardball, participated in movie promotions, but Robert DeNiro and Matt Damon showed up on the dimwitted show the other day. I think both of these guys are decent actors, but now I know they should only bother opening their mouths when a camera is running if they've had a look at a script. Just a short piece of the transcript below shows their inability to string together coherent sentences. And I also find Damon's attempt at suggesting some measure of fairness when we are at war "in name" laughable.I wonder what his definition of "fairness" is. Like private jet fairness? Like only top floor suite fairness? Like no reservations needed fairness? While I enjoy my share of ivory tower spoils I think Mr. Damon has no F'ing clue of which he speaks. It's easy to sit in front of millions of admiring fans and speak of sacrifice and fairness because after all he can tell you the title of a book he read. I know I sound bitter....because I am...little shits like this get fame and fortune and then believe they have become enlightened and that the rest of us need the gift of hearing about it! Because you can get access to politicians, or you visit other countries, or read a book or two, doesn't make your opinions public worthy. Yes I blog and put out my opinions and who the hell am I? But if you're in a position where, if you talk (or write), millions will listen to it you have a responsibility. You're free, of course, in this great country to ignore such responsibilities, but it sucks that so many do. In the case of celebrities, most should shut their pile holes unless there is a script.
From the Hardball transcript:
Damon: What bothers me the most about the state we're in right now is I don't feel that there's a shared consciousness and a shared sense of sacrifice, and we have these young men and women who are fighting a war in name and our president tells us to go shopping. And I think that more can be asked of us and we need to be participating more for--I think that makes for a more robust democracy. . . .
Question: Hi, my name is Meghan Wright, I'm from Richmond, Va., and I was just--this question is both for Mr. DeNiro and Mr. Damon. I was just wondering, would either of you go to war right now? Not right now, I guess, but--would you go to war if you were asked?
DeNiro: Well that's such a complex question. . . .
Matthews: If you were drafted?
DeNiro: Well, I don't know, that's another thing about the draft and so on, if it ever would come up again. I mean, I was for going to Iraq originally and then I saw, I realized that when you--we went in and we didn't know how to like deal with it once we were there. We just thought they'd all cheer us and we'd be out and then they'd want democracy. We're dealing with--we were just talking about before--the thousands of years old cultures that have all their in-fighting, whatever. I mean, we can't come in unless we have a real plan or strategy and I never thought that.
Damon: There is this great book that just came out about that called "Imperial Life in the Emerald City." That's definitely a book worth reading, just about that. We kind of blundered in there with the best intentions, but nevertheless without a plan. So, but in terms of your question, I agree with Bob that it's a complex question. It would depend on certain situations. I mean, I don't think that it's fair, as I said before that it seems that we have a fighting class in our country that's comprised of people who have to go for either financial reasons or you know, I don't think that that is fair. And if you're going to send people to war, if we all get together and decide we need to go to war, then that needs to be shared by everybody, you know. And if the president has daughters who are of age, then maybe they should go to.
3 comments:
Robert DUHniro! Good God! Matt Damon should go ahead and speak his mind, what little there is of it, and say that the "fighting class" is either poor or stupid. Sounds like a guy name Kerry. "...we have a fighting class in our country that's comprised of people who have to go for either financial reasons or you know..." No! We don't know! What exactly are you trying to not say Matt? But the best is the "And if the president has daughters who are of age, then maybe they should go to." What the "F" is that?! He's "OF AGE" and he's not there. What an absolutly left wing liberal bull shit "Bushdisdania" remark. Love the humping reindeer.
S
Matt had no intention to make the Hardball interview political. Instead the interviewer deliberately asked political questions to him. When you’re asking political question to a world famous celebrity on TV then you should give him enough time to elaborate his view, otherwise, the holes left in his quotes will be intentionally and wrongly filled by those who don’t support his views to give it a shape/meaning that he can’t even imagine of saying. A man cannot illustrate his political views in just a few sentences. Matt wasn’t given enough time.
You just heard him putting stress on the fact that people still join the army for money (which is indeed a fact, even though their number may be considerably small as shown in the survey). People join armies for various reasons. If you come from poor areas in Boston where drugs are sold in every corner of the street then you’re very likely to join the army for money and a better life.
Matt said if his country ever decides to go to war then the burden should be equally shared (Just look around and you’ll find many many families, mostly the wealthy ones that are still emotionally unaffected by the war). His comment on the Bush twins who may join the war too is based on the fact that the over-privileged-higher section of the society who are little or unaffected by the war should be more concerned. When you’re taking the advantage of fighting a war with a volunteer army then you should give enough good and honest reasons to them and their families to send their children to war. I have read his quotes over and over but I haven’t found anything about disrespecting those volunteered men and women who are fighting to find the WMDs (which never existed) and catch/kill/arrest the terrorists in Iraq (I still don’t understand why America chose Iraq and not Afghanistan or Pakistan, which host headquarters of Laden and his associates).
Where exactly did Matt disrespect the army? He is referring to the fact that the country is divided into two opinion classes --- For war and Against war. Those who are supporting and willing to go to war have taken the status of the fighting class. A war is not fought by a certain section of the society. It enters war as a country. So its important to know and hear what others might be thinking about going to war. America is lucky to be fighting against Iraq with the consent of a portion of the population. Suppose it has been any powerful country in the world other than Iraq. Do you think that Bush administration had declared war against say England or Germany or China or Japan that easily without the consent of the majority of the population. America chose a wayyyy weaker country in the name of fighting against terrorists and took full advantage of its volunteer army to destroy it. There is nothing to be proud of it. If someone says that he isn’t then don’t call him names. Now that the entire world is against America, the American government is all up to rebuild Iraq. Are they kidding? Do you know how many years it takes to rebuild a war torn country? Will those American men and women still in Iraq are coming back any sooner?
There are a good percentage of people (poor, middle, rich) who never supported the war from day one. They are not cowards or lesser patriots than those who supported the war. It was their right to choose. Matt however is one of them. In the interview he has said it a couple of times that the reasons to send the army to Iraq was never clear. He is a rich man but to accuse him to care more for his money than his country is not acceptable at all. Have you seen the article where he says that he has recently lost everything he owned in his apartment due to sprinkler malfunction and yet he wasn’t worried because his family was safe and happy. How many celebrities do you know who love their family more than their millions? To call someone ignorant/stupid/coward without fully knowing him or his views and intentions on a particular subject is not right IMHO. A man can show his chivalry in different situations in his life. One needs to see and appreciate that. He could’ve humiliated Minnie Driver publicly when she falsely accused him of dumping her in a famous talk-show. But never uttered a bad word against her even though he was smoked alive in public. He could’ve made an issue out of it when Minnie and her sister confessed that she lied. A man who doesn’t disrespect his bitchy ex will disrespect the army? WOW. He married a bartender who has an 8-year-old daughter, bought a home in Miami so that the child can stay close to her father will go to a show to promote his disrespect to his country’s army? Excellent. Since he has never involved the media to the charities he does doesn’t mean that he doesn’t do any charity. He is one of those actors who said that they are willing to pay more tax because they earn much more, so that the common people wont have to pay huge taxes. Such a man is disrespectful to those who are guarding his country? -------- awesome.
For those who still love Damon, here is a part of the same interview where he praises President Bush. I’ve known very few men other than my father who despite having serious deviation in opinions with someone will still go on to praise his good work. Such unbiased men are very honorable. Here ---------
DAMON: But, I would also say that I do some work with a group here in D.C. called Data. They’re part of the parent organization of the One campaign who prioritize Africa and issues of extreme poverty.
And whoever’s in there, Republican or Democrat, I hope they take up that issue. And I will say that I disagree with George Bush about a lot of things, but so far, his emergency plan for AIDS relief, is an outstanding...
MATTHEWS: In Africa.
DAMON: In Africa.
MATTHEWS: Is the money getting through?
DAMON: The money—not only is the money getting through, but I’ve been there and I’ve seen—I have met people who are alive because of that money. It is the only place you can actually look at our tax dollars and equate it with lives saved. It’s a fantastic program, along with the global fund, and the president should be applauded for it.
(APPLAUSE)
Wish you all a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. Hope those brave men and women still stuck in Iraq comeback to their families safe and soon.
I for one still love Damon and will watch his every film to support his right of free speech however controversial they may seem to those who has equal right to disagree with him.
First thanks for reading the blog....second I never questioned Damon or DeNiro's patriotism.
What I question is people, who do not have expertise (whether academic or experienced based), giving us their views. Millions will listen to them, and give what they say weight, because they're influenced by celebs! I wish people realized these celebs are no more enlightened, or knowing, than you or I, but many don't. So in my opinion when asked a questions CLEARLY out of their wheelhouse they should just say something like:
"hey Chris, I'm an actor...I try to be informed but I'm not an expert in these matters and I think it would be irresponsible for a person who can command an audience of millions because of celebrity status that comes from work they do off the topic to lecture on that topic"
Wow...wouldn't that be refreshing? I'm fine if a celeb doesn't act as I think they should when they speak to the masses on something other than their vocation, but in most (not all) cases I think it's an abuse of their celebrity and all part of their fame and fortune induced enlightenment.
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