FRich The Pet-Crock show gets the hook

julia · 04-14-2008, 11:46 AM

The always excellent Frank Rich:

Quote:

The Petraeus-Crocker Show Gets the Hook
By FRANK RICH
April 13, 2008
...As The New York Times recently reported, box-office dread has driven one Hollywood distributor to repeatedly postpone the release of “The Lucky Ones,” a highly regarded and sympathetic feature about the war’s veterans, the first made with full Army assistance, even though the word Iraq is never spoken and the sole battle sequence runs 40 seconds. If Iraq had been mentioned in “Knocked Up” or “Superbad,” Judd Apatow’s hilarious hit comedies about young American guys who (like most of their peers) never consider the volunteer Army as an option, they might have flopped too. Iraq is to moviegoers what garlic is to vampires.

This is not merely a showbiz phenomenon but a leading indicator of where our entire culture is right now. It’s not just torture we want to avoid. Most Americans don’t want to hear, see or feel anything about Iraq, whether they support the war or oppose it. They want to look away, period, and have been doing so for some time.

That’s why last week’s testimony by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker was a nonevent beyond Washington. The cable networks duly presented the first day of hearings, but only, it seemed, because the show could be hyped as an “American Idol”-like competition in foreign-policy one-upmanship for the three remaining presidential candidates, all senators. When the hearings migrated to the House the next day, they vanished into the same black media hole where nearly all Iraq news now goes. If the Olympic torch hadn’t provided an excuse to cut away, no doubt any handy weather disturbance would have served instead.

The simple explanation for why we shun the war is that it has gone so badly. But another answer was provided in the hearings by Senator George Voinovich of Ohio, one of the growing number of Republican lawmakers who no longer bothers to hide his exasperation. He put his finger on the collective sense of shame (not to be confused with collective guilt) that has attended America’s Iraq project. “The truth of the matter,” Mr. Voinovich said, is that “we haven’t sacrificed one darn bit in this war, not one. Never been asked to pay for a dime, except for the people that we lost.”

This is how the war planners wanted it, of course. No new taxes, no draft, no photos of coffins, no inconveniences that might compel voters to ask tough questions. This strategy would have worked if the war had been the promised cakewalk. But now it has backfired. A home front that has not been asked to invest directly in a war, that has subcontracted it to a relatively small group of volunteers, can hardly be expected to feel it has a stake in the outcome five stalemated years on.
...

The Petraeus-Crocker Show Gets the Hook - New York Times

Vicariously I · 04-14-2008, 11:52 AM

My self and many others have been saying this for years. I'm wondering if the truth of it will ever sink in.

julia · 04-14-2008, 11:59 AM

It seem to be an culture-wide agreed upon denial, sadly.

Vicariously I · 04-14-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

It seem to be an culture-wide agreed upon denial, sadly.

The American promise of freedom from tyrants mixed with apathy, arrogance, and time has created millions of tyrants. All of whom are the masters of their own little worlds and who will not be disturbed by any outside source that may wake them from their dream.

julia · 04-14-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicariously I

The American promise of freedom from tyrants mixed with apathy, arrogance, and time has created millions of tyrants. All of whom are the masters of their own little worlds and who will not be disturbed by any outside source that may wake them from their dream.

Hmmm, I wonder that that American dream consists of now, in these strange times....? New ipod...?

Vicariously I · 04-14-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

Hmmm, I wonder that that American dream consists of now, in these strange times....? New ipod...?

It's not really a dream anymore in the sense of wanting something. It's more like a metaphor for not wanting to wake-up and face reality.

It's about losing that comfort from believing the problems in this country and the world are someone else's. It's about recognizing what this country has become and how far it is from what they
thought it was.

No one wants the responsibility of living in a free country but they certainly want the benefits.

julia · 04-14-2008, 01:12 PM

And ignoring the consequences of war.

My right wing fam was criticizing the media showing reports of rehabilitating veterans as early as 04.

They (right-wingers) want to see no consequences of their actions.

Vicariously I · 04-14-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

And ignoring the consequences of war.

My right wing fam was criticizing the media showing reports of rehabilitating veterans as early as 04.

They (right-wingers) want to see no consequences of their actions.

I just watched Lions for Lambs last night it was a great movie. If you haven't seen it I would recommend it.

There was a time when the people were taught that America was something worth fighting for. Not with guns and bombs but with there voices and minds to ensure the rights and will of the people.

The more control and power those at the top gained the less they wanted us to "get involved". Couple that with the constant pride filled messages of greatness and people stopped caring enough to act.

Something needs to change.

julia · 04-14-2008, 01:37 PM

I had to double-check what "gets the hook", meant, tho.

Jonesy · 04-14-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicariously I

It's not really a dream anymore in the sense of wanting something. It's more like a metaphor for not wanting to wake-up and face reality.

It's about losing that comfort from believing the problems in this country and the world are someone else's. It's about recognizing what this country has become and how far it is from what they
thought it was.

No one wants the responsibility of living in a free country but they certainly want the benefits.

Freedom isn't free. Someone (other than me) has to pay.

They are willing to send others to war, but unwilling to fulfill their simple civic duties.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode