—–

Superman was created by the sons of Jewish immigrants – Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and they had a love for America.

When I was growing up as a kid on Long Island, we couldn’t wait to see
the next episode of Superman on TV or get the latest comic. I wanted a Superman costume for Halloween. I proudly wore my red cape and believed I was fighting for truth, justice, and the American way. So did most of my friends. Years later, my two sons – years apart – alsowanted to be the Man of Steel for Halloween.

This may no longer appeal to the bright eyed youth of America. Never will Superman be part of the lexicon for American pop culture. DC Comics, for whatever reason, turned its back on America. Will Superman now fight for Sharia Law to be adopted into England, France, and Germany? This act shows more than anything else the depth that a socialistic based education system has indoctrinated minds and created a cultural battleground for the soul of America.

Who came up with this idea? I would love to know the background of who made this decision? I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the meeting that took place at DC Comics when they agreed to make Superman denounce America. Was it economics? “Let’s make the Man of Steel reject America and we can sell more comics in Turkey, China, North Korea, Iran, Ireland, England, Germany.” What made them do it? Is it because a directive has been given from unseen forces to advance a global agenda? Why not just create a whole new character? Globalman. The Adventures of Globalman. Imagine an iconic comic figure from another country denouncing their adopted country? Who owns DC comics? Who are the major stockholders?

The arrogant cleverness behind this decision is one of the biggest cultural attacks on America. This seemingly minor act is MONUMENTAL. America is an ideal – “that shining city on a hill, the last best hope of mankind.” There is nothing wrong with America. Sometimes the men we put in office let her down, but inevitably she corrects herself, because of all of US. And it is this ideal that Superman has protected, even from the United Nations.

Did Jor-El send his son to Pakistan or Cuba? No, AMERICA. Like the early pilgrims in search of FREEDOM, a small spacecraft sent Kal-El to America, land of the free and home of the brave. For over seventy years, Clark Kent/Superman has been a proud American. Superman didn’t denounce America; He has been kidnapped, hijacked, and it’s time to send the Navy SEALS in to get him back. Or better yet, let’s denounce Superman. The new Men of Steel are Navy SEALS and the all those who serve and protect the American Way. I’m sure some will say, “What’s the big deal?” or “You’re overreacting.” Well, in the 900th comic of Superman, he was killed – not by Kyptonite, but by pen and ink.

—–

In closing, take a moment to watch the above Youtube clip. If you don’t have much time, skip ahead and start watching at around 6:30 in. Forward the link to friends. Download the clip to your phone and play it for people. Now more than ever, these words are very significant.

When I write it is usually out of a deep concern for our country and the world in which we live, and not to hawk a project except, perhaps, in those cases where entertainment and a cultural message can be married. This is one of those times. Also, the producer of the project, Mark Joseph, is one big pain in the butt and wouldn’t leave me alone until I did this. I know it comes from his passion for the project and he is a friend, so here’s the trailer for the new John Schneider film “Doonby“:

I don’t have a major role in the film. I did my best to serve sensitive English director/writer Peter Mackenzie’s vision, as I always do when I take on a project. Speaking of the English, I confess I did watch the Royal Wedding and was moved. In this chaotic world a little romance and beauty is good for the soul. To see the crowds cheering was very emotional, but more importantly, it proved that a tradition for love and magic is what we all yearn for, as opposed to the latest celebrity rehab reality show. We yearn for the nobility of the human soul, the best it has to offer, not the lowest that we are barraged with continually on television and elsewhere. The poetry of life has given way to crude and destructive programming . But last week while watching the marriage of a beautiful young couple, two billion people dreamed.

One of my favorite films is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” When first released it was not received well because it was considered “Capracorn,” a derogatory term referring to the sentimental and heartfelt emotion that director Frank Capra infused in his work.  So of course the cynics panned it, but the public eventually discovered it and today it is considered a classic . The basic theme of Capra’s classic is that one life can make a difference, and here n lies the similarity to “Doonby. ” Only this time you have John Schneider in the Jimmy Stewart role.

From the “Doonby” set

How many of us may have imagined what things would be like if we did not exist – - what lives would be touched or not? I have not seen the finished film so cannot give you a full rundown, but from what I’ve been told it packs a wallop.

Yes, Mark told me so!

Anyway here’s the trailer, please watch and pass on. Thank you for your your indulgence.

–Robert Davi

First, let me say I am sick and tired of The Left destroying the values this country was built on. And not being held accountable! I see the attacks made daily and most are oblivious. If your child was drowning would you just sit there and sip a mint julep? We are all fiddling as our country is being capsized. Like on the Titanic, the quintet keeps playing as the ship sinks.

Italian immigrants arrive at Ellis Island

We are a generation that has been psycho-babbled into oblivion. We accept and make excuses for behavior that should not be tolerated. When I was growing up in my fathers house, if I did not obey my parent’s rules I would have been asked to leave. Today, we all go to group therapy and discuss how we can make a compromise and before you know it the parents are the ones who are asked to leave.

My family were immigrants. My grandparents came from Italy. Did you know that the most lynchings in American history were done to Italian immigrants? Did you know that Italian immigrants were treated like dirt? That we were shunned, spit on, killed, whipped, and treated like animals? We were called “guineas, wops, dagos.” It was thought that all Italians were criminals, part of the mafia. All because our names ended in a vowel and we had darker skin.

Yes, my friends, the Italian people were racially profiled. And sometimes, we still are. I will attest to that. But did Italians bitch and cry and complain about America and its rules? No, Italians most certainly did not.

They were told to learn the language and we did. We were told to salute the stars and strips and we did. Gladly. We embraced America, not resent it. We did not have a victimized mentality. My fathers father came here from Sicily and joined the US infantry during World War I. He was wounded twice and received an Oak Leaf Cluster and a Purple Heart. And as difficult as it was for him, he learned English. He sang The Star-Spangled Banner in broken English, not the Giovanezza in Italian.

Don’t get me wrong, we are proud being of Italian descent and have close ties to our cultural heritage, but we are Americans first and foremost. Period. The same happened to the Irish, Jews, Blacks and others. But I cannot speak for what they went through, only what happened to my family and other Italian immigrants.

Recently, a friend of mine, who is a teacher, told me about a stunning exchange that took place during one of his classes when the issue of immigration came up. One of the students, who was clearly left leaning, said, “It’s not fair when the only work they can get is at McDonald’s or as drug dealers.” While my friend, the teacher, considered how best to respond to this, another student, of Hispanic origin, yelled out, “That is a load of BULL. I came here from Mexico six years ago, legally, and I have a car, a good job, my own house, and I LOVE this country.”

What happens is people are told to be victims, and because of this they become victims. It’s conditioning. If you grew up saying, “God damn America,” then that’s how you’re likely to feel. So, instead of helping the immigrant population assimilate into America, they are told that this is really their land and they were given a raw deal. Blah blah blah. It fits right in with the grand old Marxist scheme and breeds nothing but resentment and danger. That’s right, while eating your ice cream a big bad police officer will come in and snatch that cone out of your hand and throw you in jail. How the heck can we have an Attorney General who is pissing on Arizona immigration law? And when asked if he has read it, he admits that he only scanned it and hasn’t even been briefed yet.

We are witnessing right now all the difficulty over immigration. It is as if both parties have put their heads in the sand, because no one wants to lose the vote. The left panders so cleverly, like a pusher enabling entitlements. The right is afraid of appearing insensitive. So nothing is done. No one knows what to do?

Let’s start with securing the borders. Whatever it takes. Next give one month for every illegal to declare themselves under no penalty. Once they are declared, they must learn English. Start English classes immediately for a small fee. We can get volunteers to teach them. If they have no criminal record and wish to stay, good.

They then must declare allegiance to the United States, and the US only. They will be able to work, but they will then wait in line to become citizens until all those who applied legally are accepted. Then they move up based on the amount of time they were here. Finally, they must perform community service for coming here illegally. I don’t care if it’s one hour a week for ten years, but some kind of formula like this.

And let’s stop this “racial” profiling bullshit. Who cares? It’s really “criminal” profiling, but The Left shouts, “Watch out for racial profiling!” Another one of the great buzzwords to manipulate the system and have people live in fear. Well, you know what, if it saves lives, then please, profile away. The arguments from The Left has little to do with the Constitution, but everything to do with tearing the very fabric of American society to sheds.

Pelosi, Reid, Obama… go govern in another country. Get out of American politics because you are seditious in your behavior in upholding our constitution. President Obama is sounding more and more like a South American dictator then the President of the United States. Mr. President, you are trying to reshape America through the prism of your father’s eyes. Remember, you went to a congregation where “God damn America” was the battle cry.

Look, I like Obama. I happen to think he’s a terrific leader… just not for the America our founders intended.

Old glory is under attack. Teachers punish students for wearing the American flag or drawing pictures of it. When I grew up, my teachers were patriots, not subversive. What a difference a few decades make. It is time the line is drawn in the sand. If our tax dollars are going to public schools, I want a say in what is taught and who is doing the teaching.

Wake up, Americans. The time has come for all of us to stop apologizing for being Americans. “E pluribus unum.” — “Out of many, one.” Celebrate, not tear us apart.

Wake up. It is now the responsibility of every man, woman, and child who does not want a Marxist society to take an active part in government and protect our country.

Wake up. We are under attack… and it is from within.

—–

Don’t  criticize. I think this is absolutely terrific and courageous, a marvelous use of free speech and fearless. It has inspired me to start a new campaign called:  

OUT OF THE HOLLYWOOD CONSERVATIVE CLOSET — WE ARE NOT AFRAID 

Now is the time to let it be known that Conservatives in Hollywood have been punished and afraid for far too long. I know there are many of you out there, lurking in the shadows, scared shitless of not getting hired, losing your homes and being shunned by the Hollywood elite — so I understand you must stay hidden. After all, Conservatives won’t even hire you for fear of being a Conservative sympathiser. The good thing is some liberals might hire you as the token conservative. In any case, think twice before you sign up.  After all we’re only talking about saving our country.

This will only work if those of you currently in the closet will all join me. We will set up times and come to you if need be. Once we get enough names — known and unknown — we can begin. 

Now, the funny thing is, this idea will not come to fruition because — I mean, who am I?  I am not George Clooney or a name above the marquee. If, let’s say, a modern-day Frank Sinatra gave a call to arms, there would be a flocking to get involved. So I am realistic and figure this will not come to pass.
 
But it sure is a damn good idea whose time has come.
 
Safety in numbers. 
 
If you’re out there and interested, here’s where you can get in touch.

Go back to the election just over a year ago when I would discuss with some who I encountered who they were voting for and where they stood politically. Not people in show biz but just average folk from cab and limo drivers in different parts of the country, to shopkeepers, waiters, landscapers, and airline hostesses. Across the board, all had their own reason for voting for Obama but one in particular struck me.

He was a driver for a car service that had picked me up. His name was Oscar and he was from South America. I opened the conversation and he was very open, as was I — neither being shy about our point of view — he didn’t care if I tipped or not because I didn’t agree with him, and I didn’t worry about being left in the desert somewhere for disagreeing with him.

I asked Oscar why he was voting for Barack Obama. He said he never listens to what a politician says but watches how they move, what they look like, what they project. Oscar said, ”Obama is a lion. That is what the world sees, a lion. He may be a young lion but that is what he is and there are no politicians who are lions.” So Oscar goes on and says that during the primaries he knew Obama would win because while watching the debates the others seemed wounded while Obama projected strength.

I remembered seeing a young Muhammad Ali and sensing a force of nature in the ring that was palpable.

I remembered how when I first became aware of Obama during the Democratic convention. As he gave a rousing speech I thought, “Damn,  I wish he was a conservative.”

What is interesting about Oscar’s comment is that, as I said, Oscar comes from South America and there’s a certain primitive honesty and rawness that comes from a third-world perspective.  A somewhat closer connection to nature, hence the lion reference.  This is the power the Democratic party has today. They have a lion who is King of the Pride and this is what is lacking for conservatives: a leader who has this connection.

Remember Oscar said he doesn’t listen, he watches. Well I contend that is the same for the majority. To most of us it is more about what is projected than what is said (especially when English is not our national language). When President Obama spoke this last week at a university he was able to rouse the youth.  Let’s be honest, they (like most experts) may not know what it’s all about but they do have a sense of the Lion who will protect the pride.

President Obama has changed America, but also it’s our politics that will never be the same. Conservatives need to understand that their message is not being delivered.

So where and who is the Lion for the GOP?

I was deeply moved and inspired by this Best Picture winner. The soundtrack by Vangelis was beautifully stirring. It haunted me and I started to vocalize the main theme which eventually led me to put words to the music. Now indulge me, and remember the theme to the film as you read the lyrics:

I speak to the children, the ones who are pure, for they are the future, the key to it all

Our vision has darkened, our way has been lost, it’s they who must lead us, back on the course

Imagine a world of love and hope, a world without hate

A world where nothing separates the spirit of man

No national boundaries, invented by greed

The world is awaiting, for love as the creed

I speak to the children, I speak to you all, join hearts and your voices, let love rule us all

I take the lyrics, go into a recording studio and sing the song in Italian and English. It was a moving and rousing experience, and I then come up with the idea for a world movement called “An Evening in the Celebration For The Spirit of Man.” I get a small group of followers going — about 30 people or so that are on fire with the idea. One was a writer, Vanna Bonta, who translated the lyrics into Italian for me. She’s the granddaughter of Luigi Ugolino, an Italian poet.

I then take the idea to a lawyer my friend Gene Kirkwood introduced me to, who in turn gets me a meeting with one of the heads of Universal Studios so I can pitch the idea. I tell them what I envision: a worldwide satellite broadcast where all three major networks (back then there were only three) give 90-minutes of free broadcast time to air the program. I want the Universal Amphitheater to hold the event and have parks and piazzas across the world put up big screens where people can congregate; a kind of Day the Earth Stood Still type of broadcast.

The people at Universal say this could be bigger then Elvis’s satellite concert – it has Olympic proportions. I am on fire and work to get sponsors and support; I play and send the music to all, speak about it wherever and whenever…

First I call UNICEF and ask if the children’s chorus would sing the chorus of the song. My plan is to have Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti sing the song in English and Italian respectively along with the UNICEF children. Then there would be master artists from around the world who pick a piece of music or theater or dance and present a 3 to 5 minute performance each. For instance, Meryl Steep could do a monologue from Medea; Nureyev would choose a dance; Itzhal Perlman would pick a piece of music;  the Rolling Stones sing a song; Franco Corelli sings an aria, etc. Also, the natural and man-made wonders of the world would be shown and we would have a 30 second message from political and worldwide leaders asking that we all join in … The Spirit of Man.

The only problem is that I’m a nobody. Oh, sure, I know people and have many friends, but I do not have the clout to say, “Hey, we’re doing this. Come aboard.” And don’t forget, this is 1982, before Live Aid, We Are the World, and Earth Day. So, eventually, as you must learn in show business, I resign myself to the fact that it’s not going to happen.

In the years since, I’ve been pleased to to see how with Katrina and Haiti the world has come together; how television can bring us all closer. Recently, I was at my friends’ Jack and Leslie’s house and told them of my early dream. In turn, Jack shared with me a story his Aunt told him of the Holocaust, as I sat silent and stunned. His story hit me like a diamond stylus to the middle of my forehead… How — how – why did the world not respond back then? 

I think of Patton saying that we must take pictures because no one will believe or remember this in 25 years. The frightening thing is that the way history is being taught today, they may not remember. We have an education system run by the left that has pressed the delete button on so much of history. So while the world nobly gives its heart to Haiti — this was NOT the case in 1945.

So please  read on. A very moving story follows, written by my friend Jack…  

—– 

Hi Robert,

I so very much appreciate your view points, thoughts and articles.

I did want to share with you an interesting conversation I had during my weekly visit with my Aunt who is 86 years old. She is a Holocaust survivor, one of the few remaining direct victims and witnesses to that terrible blemish on human history. She was born in the city that the Germans renamed, Auschwitz. The German crematoriums took both of her parents, six brothers and sisters (my mother was her only sibling that survived), scores of cousins, aunts and uncles.

When I walked into her home, it was obvious that she was terribly upset. She had been crying, she said:

“For those poor people in Haiti. I understand what it is not to have food, water, when all seems hopeless, and to have the dead lying everywhere around you.”

She went on to say that she had lain in bed not able to sleep the night before thinking about those people:

“It made me feel good to see how desperately people of the United States, but also other countries are trying to help the survivors by providing food, tents, medicine and support. Suddenly, I became even sadder. It made me think of the six million Jews and seven million others who were killed and all those others who were abused and tortured in concentration camps during World War II. Those of us who survived, at many times during the Holocaust, would have preferred death.”

She went on to talk about the liberation process:

“When we were liberated, firstly, the liberators helped us. Unfortunately, even after the war, there were countries in the world that did not want us to come back to our homes, they did not want to return our properties, some even wanted us to pay costs for taking care of properties taken from us during the war. The United States and Jewish agencies seemed to help the most. There were other agencies created to help mostly to deal with issues of those very few survivors who returned, children without parents and issues such as conflicts between parents returning to claim children who had been left in the care of others who did not want to return those children.”

Her general impression, however was that other than the United States there generally did not seem to be overall great world concern for the well being of the survivors.

I thought deeply about what she said as I later watched two former presidents and multiple celebrities so committed to helping the victims of the Haitian earthquake. I was proud of the efforts of this country and of the people of the United States to support humans and felt that in so doing they themselves were so much more human. I do think and hope this is a better world today, and perhaps in today’s world not only would there be greater caring and concern for the Holocaust victims but also, perhaps a President of the United States, again given a similar choice as Roosevelt had, would not send the passengers of the St. Louis back to Germany to face assured death, but would set an example that would open the eyes of the world and prevent a Holocaust.

Jack Kavanaugh

For too long the American people have been bamboozled and lulled into a false sense of This Is The Greatest Nation On Earth. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is, but my mother used to tell me as a kid, “Self-praise stinks.”  When I asked her why, she explained that it can intoxicate you into laziness. I’m not saying the American people are lazy, but our elected officials get up, give a speech, and somewhere say, “Greatest Nation On Earth” and we all feel better and go on about our day not paying attention, enough attention, to what’s going on, and trusting that the latest line of shit we’ve been fed is the truth — no matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on.

Then the marketing machine starts selling to the public … a pile of dung. Haven’t you heard for years the same old issues over and over and over ad infinitum?  Well, the patient is bleeding to death and we do not need a tourniquet, we need  amputations: Get everyone out of office who does not have America’s and the American people’s best interests at heart.

Last week I had the privilege of meeting Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at a dinner hosted by my good friends Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer and Jay Hoffman. I had been a fan of hers and what she stood for since first hearing her on the talk circuit and most recently on “Hannity” — and, of course when she called for people to gather on the steps of the Capital when it looked like the current health-care bill would pass. But what she said this evening should have been recorded for all to hear. Now I understand that at a dinner one is basically talking to the converted, but had this conversation been broadcast to the public conversions would have gone through the roof;  much like when one hears Congressman Thaddeus McCotter go at it.

Let me just say that Bachmann is terrific! One of the dinner topics was health care and she and McCotter have great ideas, as I’m sure others do, as well (much better than the Pelosi- Reid Socialist Bankrupt America Bill). But one of the best ideas I’ve heard yet came from a plain ‘ole American citizen, my friend Jack Kavanaugh.

When I had dinner with Jack and his lovely wife Leslie, Jack told me that before the Presidential election he was contacting various politicians about a proposed health-care plan of his. He was shut out, not given a voice, and I know how frustrating it is to have something you feel strongly about and have none of our elected civil-servant officials listen. What happened to government of the people, by the people and for the people?!?   

Our politicians act like feudal lords or movie stars who cannot be approached (I understand safety but not arrogance). Jack was a dentist, a doctor, a surgeon at UCLA, and an entrepreneur. He knows about health care and business.  So I asked him to write down what he shared with me at dinner because it deserves to be heard.

I think this is a very interesting idea.

So read on my friends,
Robert Davi

—–

—–

Dear Robert,

I very much appreciated your views on the health-care problem and health-care bill. Per our discussion, the following are some of my thoughts on the matter.

Firstly, there is no question that we as a nation can and need to do much better on the issue of health care. Debates can continue ad infinitum as to whether there are 12 million people or 50 million people in this country without health-care coverage. The 12 million number is calculated by including only those who are legal, are not eligible for health care but have not applied, or have selected not to have health care coverage because they can well afford the costs. The 40 to 50 million number we have heard includes all of the categories including illegals. Nevertheless, even though the United States has available, by far, the best health care in the world and emergency rooms treat patients even without health care, the current situation does require change.

Change needs to provide full health-care coverage, not just emergency treatment, for those uninsured and very importantly, the change must not lower the standard of care for everyone else. Unfortunately, the current health care bill would destroy the high quality of health care in this country and burden the country with immense health-care costs far beyond the projections of the budget office. In its inimitable way, Congress has taken the most complex road possible, based on politics and not on that which is best for this country. Unless Congress refocuses its efforts, the result will either be no action taken or a complete disaster for health care in this country.

Just one example of the absurdity of the bill is the assumption that Medicare reimbursements can be significantly reduced while providing care for more patients. Many doctors are already leaving the system. Further reductions will devastate the number of providers available, and make the provision of anything but cursory care impossible. Ezekiel Manuel, President Obama’s chief advisor for health care, has made statements directly indicative of the administration’s thoughts that health care for seniors needs to be controlled, which actually means limited. Does anyone really want to turn over their health-care decisions or those of their parents to government agencies who know that they control costs by limiting care?

Would it not be refreshingly simple to pass a single provision bill that clearly states its purpose. For example, one that would open state borders for competition among insurance providers? Just a simple bill, nothing more, no politics, just a yes or no vote – the passing of such a bill would result in billions of dollars saved in health insurance costs.

Let’s continue in that constructive mode. How simple – a single provision bill that revamps the medical malpractice issues and reduces the high cost of malpractice insurance as well as the overly defensive mode that the specter of malpractice has imposed on doctors and the resulting additional costly diagnostic procedures that would otherwise not be ordered. Those two bills alone would significantly reduce health-care costs.

What about two other single provision bills without any tag-ons or Nebraska type of bribes – one to eliminate “pre-existing conditions” limitations, and the other one that places a $1 tax on every pack of cigarettes and taxes every bottle and can of alcohol?

Alcohol and tobacco are directly responsible for highly significant health care costs both for insured patients as well as for uninsured patients that hospitals cannot turn away. If there are no tag-ons and special interest allocations, there would be two great direct benefits. Firstly, increasing the costs of alcohol and tobacco via a “health care tax” will reduce the consumption of both and therefore, in the long term, health-care costs resulting directly from their use. Secondly, the alcohol and tobacco tax revenue should be applied to independent health-care insurance for the uninsured population.

The above four measures taken together can fully address the health-care issues in this country. Any one of the four can have a direct and major positive impact. The President called for bipartisanship, clarity and openness in Washington, no tag-ons, no closed door sessions, no bribes, not increasing deficits. The terms and manner in which the current health care proposal has been conducted belie the President’s “comments.”

Let’s have clarity – four simple direct ways to resolve the health-care issues in this country; Let’s have openness — no confusing language buried in over 2000 pages subject to interpretation; Let’s have no tag-ons; Let’s have no closed door sessions; Let’s have no Nebraska, Florida or other type bribes; and let’s not increase the deficit. And, not the least of important of all, let’s not do two things — let’s not destroy the best quality health care in the world, and let’s not let the government encroach further and further into controlling the lives of private citizens and make decisions on who will and who will not receive health-care treatment.

Jack Kavanaugh, M.D., D.D.S., M.B.A.

In short, China is a top-tier strategic threat to the United States, and its ideology of predatory state mercantilism constitutes one of the greatest challenges to America’s new Global Generation – like the danger posed by the Soviet Union to the Greatest Generation.

Wake up. Do not let our leadership sweep this under the rug:

But the Obama administration seems terrified of the implications of Google’s behavior. Google reportedly consulted the White House before acting, but the most the Obama people could say was that the events were “troubling,” or “raise serious concerns” or that they want to encourage China “to work with Google.

The administration’s timidity in facing the reality of China’s new superpower status was highlighted in October when the Obama White House directed the Intelligence Community to downgrade China to a Priority 2 intelligence target. This would be the first time in postwar history that China has ever been anything but a top-tier intelligence priority. Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the ranking Republican on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told Bill Gertz of The Washington Times last week, “China should be at the top of the priority list, not moving down.”

This past November I was in Michigan filming when I had dinner with my friends’ Congressman Thaddeus McCotter from Michigan and Philippe Martinez (Producer and Director). I think McCotter is one of the special jewels in our government and I hope that  at some point he runs for national office, perhaps for the White House. He is not what one would call Project Runway material, but his humor and intellect are stunning, and he can stroll the catwalk with the best of them. Anyway back to the dinner…

Aside from the usual humor and repartee a couple of Rat Packers can conjure at a cigar bar, the conversation turned to politics — China, in particular . What I learned then was quite frightening, and I had thought of writing about it but decided not to because it wouldn’t get any traction. After all, I’m not an expert in the field. Well, my friends, Thaddeus is. And he and another gentleman wrote this fantastic article that all must read. Please send it to your friends and remember: One if by land — two if by sea — three if by cyber. 

We live in a very different world. Let’s see if President Obama addresses this in tonight’s State of the Union

–Robert Davi

Happy New Year, and I hope you all have a blessed 2010. 

I wrote the following article and it deals with one of the most crucial issues of our day. I may have been excessive in supplying some background, and I may digress from time to time, but it is the security of our nation that is at hand. Please take a bit of this journey with me. 

God Bless and God Bless America,
Robert Davi 

In 1988 there was a television movie called, Terrorist on Trial: The United States of America vs. Salim Ajami. It received terrific reviews. The film was written by the legendary writing team of Richard Levinson and William Link. It was their last script together as Richard Levinson died before it was completed. Another legendary figure involved was the Executive Producer. It was he who brought the idea to them. His name is George Englund. He had produced and directed the Marlon Brando film “The Ugly American” in the sixties. He also produced “Shoes of the Fisherman.” Both films are favorites of mine. George Englund was best friends with Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, and even ran their companies for a time. He is quite a remarkable fellow and was always ahead of the curve when it came to ideas for movies and being able to crack a difficult book. I had known of him but had never met him — that is until I was cast in the title role of Salim Ajami in Terrorist on Trial. 

After filming, George and I became good friends and we were going to do a film on Noriega and were developing other things but that’s another interesting story.  Anyway, Terrorist on Trial was a CBS special. It starred myself as Salim Ajami, a Palestinian terrorist kidnapped by the United States Government to stand trial for acts of terrorism. Ron Leibman was the Jewish defense attorney initially coerced into defending the Arab, and Sam Waterston played the prosecutor (pre-Law and Order days). Alan Dershowitz was the technical advisor. 

The film dealt with due process as well as the obvious. It was way ahead of its time, and I suggest that if you haven’t seen it, please do. It is absolutely uncanny how it mirrors what’s happening today: the coming terrorist trials in New York, homegrown cells, etc… For that matter, CBS or some other station should rerun it. It would get ratings, and for a time, HBO used it as a benchmark for the kind of films they wanted to do.  

Now, please indulge me and try and go back to your pre-1988 mindset -– 13 years prior to 2001. A far different world to some. I am a New York actor, so what did I know about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict? What did I know about terrorism? I had a superficial understanding of it all. This changed quickly, a baptism by fire so to speak, while researching the role. I will not go into detail, but through playing this character my worldview matured. I became more involved in what I now saw as a threat to us all. I read extensively, spoke to many people, and put together as clear an understanding of what terrorism could result in. There were several voices in the wilderness, Steve Emerson being one of the best known. But we were all unaffected; the problems were on the other side of the world and John Gotti was the real domestic threat. But while the Rico Act was putting away underworld figures, terrorism went unchecked — until the Patriot Act, which many have a shit fit over even though it’s similar to Rico. But the mob didn’t want to destroy America, so I guess Rico was okay. 

Let’s skip to 1994…  I’m in Jordan filming Blake Edwards “Son of Pink Panther,” and from the moment I stepped off the plane I was approached by many fans and I wondered what had made me so popular in the Middle East. Well, it was Terrorist on Trial.  You see, my character was the first time an Arab character had a voice besides just being a figure blowing something up. During the film’s courtroom defense and prosecution, much was learned about Salim Ajami –- things that gave a sympathy to him and an understanding as to why he did what he did — all of which made the character relatable and human (sound familiar?). 

So, because of this, many of the Middle Eastern people were open and friendly with me, and my being genuinely interested in them and wanting to know more, I took the time to get know some of them. Remember, this is 1994 and the first Gulf War had already been fought, and the place where we filmed was in Petra not far from the Iraqi border. 

I learned much. I had many discussions in Bedouin tents where I was treated with respect. Our conversations were very candid (but that is also for another time, another article, perhaps), but I will tell you this: while some seemed to want a peaceful co-existence, there were those who said, We will PUSH Israel into the sea. They will KISS the bottoms of our feet. Others would say. Don’t listen to that. That is not how we all feel”. 

Then, in 1996, I was cast in a lead role in a series called Profiler, another groundbreaking show at the time. I played the man who created profiling: Special Agent Bailey Malone. After being cast, I called my old friend George Englund (remember him?), and I asked George who we might know high up in the F.B.I. He happened to have just had dinner with the number three guy who recently retired: Agent Jim Greenleaf. So, I meet Jim, we become friends, and he takes me to Quantico. I was able to get Jim hired on as the show’s Tech Advisor and now I have a very close relationship with the F.B.I., which allows me a unique peak into what challenges befall American law enforcement. 

Because of my friendships in law enforcement, I become the National Spokesman for I-Safe in 1997, an Internet safety program for schools in Fork City, Utah. I was asked to come on board by I-Safe’s head, Teri Schroder, who had a dream. To help it come true, I brought in the F.B.I. and all my other law enforcement and political contacts.  Today it’s the most expansive of all Internet safety programs in the world, and this experience helped me to see how our government works up close and personal. Trips to Capitol Hill taught me about how back-biting, trade-offs, and yes, corruption occurs — because man is imperfect and bureaucracy in action is terrifyingly corrupt and wasteful. (Wait till the government runs our health care!) 

Later I was honored to receive an award as F.B. I. Man of the Year by the Peace Officers Association by then head of the Los Angeles F.B.I. Office, Special Agent Jim Desarno. By now, all of this work in law enforcement had given me an insight into terrorism someone wouldn’t normally have. I know of bin Laden and I know of terrorist threats. But what to do with this knowledge? 

Then 9/11 hits. 

We are frozen as a people. Angry, scared, we want to do something, and we want to help. I feel this myself and I hear it from people all over. Go back to your own mindset the week after 9/11.  I read a Wall Street Journal column written by Peggy Noonan about how she was walking with friends when they saw some — yes — Middle Eastern men taking pictures and video of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. She wrote of her fear and frustration — what if? 

We were all hyper-vigilant at the time. Friends of mine, from my daughter’s softball team to strangers would come up to me saying they saw this or that suspicious action (after all I am Special Agent Bailey Malone). I myself observed many things that would make me wonder. I also heard many of our Arab-American brothers who said they didn’t agree with bin Laden but still respect him. I imagine if German-Americans had said the same of Hitler. ”I don’t agree but I respect what he did.” This kind of thinking is out there. Remember, in some quarters, America is perceived as the bully and bin Laden as some guy running from cave to cave who took on America the oppressor. This is the mindset of too many who live here  or who are counting on our porous borders to gain entry.  

During those terrible days we heard many different ideas and thoughts and theories. Then it came clearly into view. I came up with the answer. Remember, we were told to go shopping — told to go back to our normal lives. Okay, I understand that, but what about the threat levels: Orange – Yellow – Red. What do I do? How can I help? Go back to the malls and movies? Bullshit! People want to help –- we want to protect our country, like the passengers did on Flight 93 — God rest their souls — the ones who said. “Let’s roll.” 

Then it comes to me… 

A more extensive neighborhood watch; each community throughout the country will have volunteers where each goes through a background check to weed out those with too much zeal, and if accepted, enters a short but extensive workshop given by the F.B.I., followed by a short but extensive briefing by the local police. After being sworn in, you are now available whenever there’s an alert or any kind of danger looms. These individuals would be on the ground assisting law enforcement; they would be given some necessary intelligence -– the kind you don’t hear on the six o’clock news. 

I called it Civilian Patrol 93. To put it into action, I canvassed over a thousand people of every age and background, talked on several radio shows, called friends in government – whoever would listen — and met with the head of Los Angeles F.B.I. 

I was obsessed that this was exactly what our country needed. 

This was the month after 9/11, but finally after a year of trying to get the program some traction, a very close friend set up an impromptu meeting with Tom Ridge. I think, “Wait till he hears this!” and imagine President Bush, Tom Ridge and myself on the lawn of the White House announcing Civilian Patrol 93. But that was not to be. Ridge didn’t adopt it for Homeland Security. He thought it would be best served through a different organization and referred me there. 

I didn’t give up. I kept trying, and finally I met a group of counter-terrorism guys and was invited to the Steering Committee of George Washington University’s Homeland Security Policy Institute. It was here I met ex-journalist John Miller (an engaging guy) who was Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton’s head of counter-terrorism at the time. He asks what I’m currently working on and so I tell him about Civilian Patrol 93 and several other things — including a new television series I created dealing with the F.B.I. in a post-9/11 world. (John Miller is now the spokesman for the F.B.I.) 

Ron Iden, the head of the L.A. office and I become friends, and he likes the idea and tells me Civilian Patrol 93 should be done. From there I met with someone who must go nameless but who helped further develop the program they were working on in L.A. — what later became known as Operation Archangel (this was all between 2001 and 2004) 

Later, I meet Dave DeAngeles, from Homeland Security, I give him the Civilian Patrol white paper, explain a bit of my vision (see below), he loves it, recommends it, and sends it to Los Angeles — to Chief Bratton’s office. Newsmax does an article on me that talks about Civilian Patrol 93 and I meet with my old friend (who is now the Governor of California, yes Arnold), I tell him about CP93 and he likes the idea very much and introduces me to the new California head of Homeland Security, Matt Bettenhausen. He also likes the idea and we talk about where to begin. 

But throughout all of this, I keep hearing there’s no money. Where will the money come from?  Well, first off, it’s a volunteer program — so a lot of money is not needed. But I also keep hearing that another domestic attack is inevitable and about these homegrown terrorists; which leaves me to wonder why no one is adopting this program. By now I’ve talked to Senators, Congressman, Homeland Security heads — including Michael Chertoff (Tom Ridge’s replacement) — and I hope it doesn’t take a disaster to get everyone moving. 

Finally in July of 2008 there’s a breakthrough: my friend Arthur. 

Arthur Kassel invites me to his home for dinner. My friend Burt Boeckman will be there with his wife Jane, along with Sheriff Lee Baca, his wife, several other terrific people and Chief Bratton and his lovely wife, Rikki. This is great, I can mention Civilian Patrol directly to the Chief, and if he’s interested, explain it to him. 

Remember, a few years earlier, I had sent the plan to the LAPD. But every time I asked to meet with the Chief, it was like he was some kind of deity. I respect everyone, but this fear of ego in our country must stop when it concerns our public servants. Why were so many afraid of approaching or mentioning me to Chief Bratton? I’m all for healthy egos and I had met the Chief before and while he was not warm and fuzzy, he certainly was coolly nice -– which is in direct contrast to Sheriff Lee Baca, who is one of the nicest, most approachable and helpful and sincere public officials I have met. 

So it was with just a touch of trepidation that I started my pitch for Civilian Patrol 93 to Chief Bratton. I laid it out beautifully, and like Ralph Kramden, I expect to be Chef of the Future. Well, let me tell you, the response from Chief Bratton was worse than the discovery Ralph had when he discovered he had just fed dog food to his boss instead of pate’ – and the look on the Chief’s face was clearly one of distaste. 

He was more than dismissive of the idea (and me). It was a curiously negative reaction lacking social grace. More like a visceral head butt. The rest of the table sat aghast because his response was so over the top. His wife Rikki tried to ease the tension by explaining that sometimes he tells you what he thinks with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, and I let it go with one of those polite I-am-not-affected grins. After the Chief left many apologized to me for his curiously negative response. The odd thing is they all loved the idea, Sheriff Baca included. 

Now, let’s jump ahead to July 2009 … I receive a call from a close friend in DC who tells me they thought I had told them Chief Bratton didn’t like Civilian Patrol 93. I tell my friend that’s correct, the Chief didn’t like it. Imagine my surprise when my friend tells me that Bratton just announced my program under a different name: iWATCH. 

I’m stunned, to say the least. This kind of thing has happened to me in Hollywood, but not by a government official. 

Yes, I was still naïve. 

I call my friend Arthur. He’s just as surprised. Me? I’m both happy and pissed off. I’m the little guy; in the club, but not of it. Did this happen because I’m conservative? Or, perhaps, not a big enough name to receive respect If, say, Cint Eastwood or Matt Damon had brought the idea to Bratton would he have called Clint or Matt and said said, “Hey, I was thinking it over and your idea is great.” Or, would they have found out like I did? I think not. 

I went to several friends wondering what to do and all suggested I let it go. But I can’t… 

One of my favorite films is “The Fountainhead,” and Gary Cooper’s speech in his own defense you must watch. It gets to the heart of which I speak. If I am to stand for anything, it is the truth and to not be intimidated by a man’s position. Again, I respect the position but not what was done. Remember, Civilian Patrol 93 had been brought up and sent to LAPD back in 2004, so iWATCH is not a coincidence. 

Our most important assets are the people, and I decided to write this article because of the recent incidents that remind all of us that we must be involved. I still envision a Civilian Patrol 93. It is VITAL to our Homeland Security. Yes, there are civil liberty issues but they can be easily worked out. 

I am an Italian American; I have been racially profiled my whole life, so I am both sympathetic to, and, more importantly, a firm believer in the effectiveness of “behavior profiling.” But let’s stop the PC crap and secure our country.  Let’s understand that in this age of globalization more foreigners enter our nation each year — legally. A good friend of mine told me of a trip he took to Ellis Island. There you will see something like chips that signify each ethnic group that has come here. Well, he told me, it’s shocking the number of legal immigrants who come here each year from countries with oppressive governments, and how that number dwarfs the number of European immigrants who arrived at our shores up until 1970.       

My grandparents HAD to learn English. They were connected to and immersed into America. They were Americans, not European-Americans. The politically correct have done everything they can to stop this immersion and regardless of the race, color or creed of the newly arrived, this is cultural suicide.     

Our citizens and Civilian Patrol 93 really should be our first line of defense. So whether it’s iWATCH or Info-Guard or any other name, Homeland Security should get off its ass and let Civilian Patrol thrive … before the chickens start roosting (a dumb phrase but I had to use it).

If your mailbox is like mine you receive an overwhelming amount of political stuff and reading it all can be a time-suck of enormous proportions. Let’s face it, if you don’t derive your living from this stuff, no matter how much of a concerned citizen you may be, there comes a point where you have to say, “Ah, is this paying my mortgage?” That’s reality biting you in the ass and so the knee-jerk reaction is to press delete and move on to something that may add a few more dollars to your already crumbling retirement fund. But, and I stress BUT, like the” pusher man” (remember that song, G** D**** the Pusher Man?) who you cannot seem to get away from, the sheer volume of political noise coming at you can’t be ignored and after just one peek … aaahhh your fix takes hold.  

There’s a great scene in Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in America” where a young hoodlum waits to have his way with a local girl who “gives it up” for the price of a big cream-puff pastry. As this little guy with the cutest most innocent 10 year-old face sits on the steps outside her tenement door, he looks at his nicely wrapped pastry and smiles in the knowledge of what’s coming in just a few short moments. But this kid is so innocent-looking you know he doesn’t quite understand what he’s waiting for. In fact, there’s more trepidation than anything else in his countenance. Anyway, not being able to help himself, he opens the paper wrapper the pastry’s wrapped in, looks at the whipped cream on top, looks at the girls’ door, thinks for a bit and then wraps it back up. Well, this goes on a few moments until the boy succumbs to the allure of the pastry, takes his finger, and tastes the cream on the edges of the wrapping paper. He repeats this until he can no longer help himself and then gobbles the whole thing up with the most satisfied, beautifully innocent look just as the girl opens her door and beckons him to her, The boy, no longer hungry having had a far greater pleasure then she can provide, runs off.  

At this point you’re all wondering what the significance of this is. There is none. Only kidding. Actually there is meaning and if you can figure it out I’ll treat you to a slice of pizza at Via Alloro in Beverly Hills.  

Getting back to my emails… 

I opened a few of them and one caught my eye that read: “Pelosi Wants To Ban Fox News from The Floor — she tells Keith Olbermann.” Now this woke me better than 5 liters of Red Bull given intravenously — the hypocrisy, the absolute absurd accusation by her regarding a news outlet that is fairer and more balanced than the others… And I watch them all. Not looking to see who agrees with my point of view but for who is trying to fairly present differing points of view.  

I don’t agree with Olbermann, or most of the MSNBC line-up, but I watch them, want to hear their opinions and while I may vehemently disagree with how unbalanced I feel they are … to NOT let them report is DANGEROUS. Pelosi is not protecting the Constitution and should be impeached over this. President Obama, who has also attacked Fox, should tell her to stand down with this kind of rhetoric; the same rhetoric we’ve heard before concerning talk radio and the Fairness Doctrine.  

While Presidents in the past may have canceled newspaper subscriptions over a disagreement with a certain publication, that is our prerogative as consumers. I see no harm in that. But when our elected officials even float the idea of having a major news outlet banned from Congress, something is rotten.

With all these thoughts boiling in my brain, I called a good friend of mine to rant and…. We find out the Pelosi quote is a hoax.

She never said it.

Orson Welles would have had a field day with the Internet.

Yeah, I got suckered … but for good reason. Sometime between the 2008 election and this morning the idea of a high-ranking Democrat threatening to ban a legitimate news organization from the floor of the House has quickly moved from inconceivable to entirely believable. After all, last week the White House — our White House – attempted to block Fox News from a pool report interview. Thankfully, the other news outlets refused to allow this to happen, but that doesn’t change what our White House attempted to do. It also doesn’t change the fact that two of President Obama’s top guys – Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod – were sent out to the Sunday shows last week to tell other networks that Fox News wasn’t legitimate – to tell other networks what is and is not legitimate news.

We need differing points of view. If Fox is silenced who will MSNBC hosts argue with night after night? Some respected pundits write this off as a minor issue saying the President should not tangle with Fox and keep his eye on pushing health care. But, my dear fellow Americans, we need to keep our eye on THIS. Because if we do not the Obama Administration has made clear their goals -– if we do not, the administration has every intention of seeing to it we are spoon fed what to think, say and feel. And regardless of politics, that is an insidious and frightening thing.

I call on all of my colleagues — actors and actresses, singers, musicians, writers, directors… if we in the artistic community stand idly by out of fear we will slip further from our beloved democracy. We must unite together over an issue that has nothing to do with party affiliation. This is about freedom of speech and those in power are trying to put that freedom in jail, not only in America but around the world – as we saw when Michael Savage was banned from Cambridge.

Contact me. Join the free–speech campaign: info@free–speech.com    

It is time to put the flag in the sand for the First Amendment.

But please act quickly…  

God Bless you all and God Bless America,
Robert Davi