Tom Hanks Will Decide Who’s Un-American
by Don Surber
It was two degrees this morning when I left Poca, West Virginia, for work at six. But that was not as cold as I felt after reading this at noon on the Fox News site: “Tom Hanks Says Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 ‘Un-American’.”
Now I am willing to sacrifice my life, if necessary, to defend his right to spew whatever vile, hateful, ignorant, demented, loathsome, ugly and foolish remarks he may make.
But I also reserve my right to call his remarks vile, hateful, ignorant, demented, loathsome, ugly and foolish.
Readers can decide for themselves whether what he said is vile, hateful, ignorant, demented, loathsome, ugly and foolish.
In promoting a news series on HBO, Hanks said:
“The truth is this [his series] takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop 8 happen. There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here’s what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed and people can see who’s responsible and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting constitution and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let’s have faith in not only the American, but Californian constitutional process.”
Excuse me, who died and put Tom Hanks in charge of deciding who is American and who is un-American?
Is he like a one-man Ellis Island who determines who can stay in this country?
Latter-day Saints have been around for nearly 2 centuries, as has anti-Mormon bigotry. I am not a Mormon. Never have been. Never will be. I like coffee too much. But I know bigotry when I see it.
Hey, I live in a state that keeps sending a former exalted cyclops in the KKK to the Senate.
Hanks must be the best actor out there, for on screen he comes off as a bright and funny, good-natured and wholesome man.
In real life, though, he sounds like he should be wearing white sheets and a hood.
The sun is out and the weather forecast calls for the temperatures to rise above freezing by Wednesday. Thursday, latest. February will follow January and before you know it, it will be July and 90 degrees in Poca.
But nothing will ever warm me again to Mr. Hanks. If that makes me un-American in his eyes, I shall consider it a compliment.
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128 Comments
Hey! Hanks is a liberal, and you disagreed with him.
How dare you question his patriotism!!!
(Oh, if only irony could build ships, liberals would have the greatest navy in the world.)
If only trumped up outrage could create chins, Don Surber would have one.
Wow, I didn’t know I was so un-American. Maybe Tom could form some kind of committee to deal with people like me. Then he could name it something that would best describe it, like the ‘House un-American Activities Committee’.
TEHIRONY
“The MINORITY does not speak for all.” But I thought the MAJORITY in Cali were Un-American? As a charter “monono-fascist”, I must say all this logic is lost on me.
I love, love, love Big Hollywood.
1. I get a daily dose of conservatives getting into a raging lather trolling the Internet tubes for the slightest percieved offense to their sensibilities.
2. I get stirring calls for conservative film-makers to storm the liberal gates of LA, followed by hoo-rahs from the peanut gallery, who immediately forget aforementioned stirring call to arms in favor of 1,000-word commentaries on why Ann Hathaway is an Islamofascist. Lather, rinse, repeat.
3. I get from the guy who starred in the Alien Nation TV show weekly rants so incoherent they make Jon Voight’s dribblings read like freaking Hemingway.
4. And, finally, I don’t have to worry about missing anything insightful, because most of the stuff published here are slight variations on the same two or three storylines: GW Bush is Batman; Hollywood is full of liberals; and Hollywood is full of liberals. No real think pieces. No solutions. No ideas. I can zip through this in five minutes. (Thanks Editor-in-Chief John Nolte!!!)
Anyway, it’s been a delightful two weeks. But I am checking out. Let me know when a REAL conservative film site makes its appearance; one that does more than endlessly whine.
looks like that e pluribus unum thing needs to go away. we have a special group of deciders to ignore elections and decide whats best.
CPB said: “If only trumped up outrage could create chins, Don Surber would have one.”
I’m sure you’ve probably got an extra one he could borrow.
Typical liberal fascism, you will live the way we say because you are too stupid to decide for yourself.
Great Tom Hanks just saved me more money. I can now place him to the list of actors I do not spend a dime on seeing their films. Thanks Tom with the economy and all….you rock, racist, religious hater.
Oh crap, that tears it!
Matt is leaving. Kiss this site goodbye.
TehStupid (appropriate name, BTW), can you please document a liberal who has been accused of being unAmerican by a conservative? You know, kinda like how Mr. Surber shows a quote of Tom Hanks in the above. It’s a thing called research. I think even a little liberal brain can handle that, if motivated.
Because you apparently don’t listen to many conservatives, you don’t realize that most conservatives now HAVE to default to, “I disagree with X on Y–BUT I DON’T QUESTION HIS/HER/ITS PATRIOTISM.” They have to say this because of dorktards such as yourself who think any criticism = accusation of unpatriotism.
In reality, that’s called projection. You might as well research what that is too, while you’re at it.
It occurred to me that the prospect of a leading Hollywood actor NOT saying something like this would constitute a miracle. Which is to say, the “artistic” community of our time, which should be the font of the most daring, independent and rebellious thinking in our culture, resembles a bureaucracy only with more braggadocio.
TEHSTUPID – January 16th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
“I suppose you’re going to sue him for copyright infringement? Because lord knows you conservatives think that you and you alone will decide what is American and what is unAmerican.
Got news for you morono-fascists: you’re not the majority anymore. That means there are far more of us than there are of you. So the days when you can sit there in your moral elitist high chairs and declare that you are the pure living embodiment of all that is American are OVER.
The MINORITY does not speak for all.”
WOW. This would be laughable were it not for the fact that it is frightening and an indication of how the Left in this country perceives the results of the election. They actually believe they are in the majority. Are the Mormons in America to be the next Jews of 1930s Germany? Oh, wait, real fascist bullies, like those who say “there are more of us than there are of you” still have the Jews to go after. And the gays. And the Catholics. Might as well add the Mormons, eh? If that day comes, I for one, will not stand idly by.
Hanks must still think he’s on “Bosom Buddies” dressing up like a girl.
Point of fact, Hanks said that denying gays the right to marry was un-American, not Mormons (or other people who supported Prop 8). We need to pay a little closer attention to what is actually said, and not read insults into things to fuel some pseudo-offense.
Personally, I would have loved to have pointed out that what happened in California was the essence of American. Judges made a ruling, people voted, a new law was enacted. You can agree or disagree with it, and talk about your feelings openly. This is how it’s supposed to be.
Tom Hanks thinks there are 50 states? What an ignorant fool. Everyone and the brother knows there are 57 states!
“Un-American?”
So, in the world of Forrest Gump, when THE PEOPLE VOTE on a proposition, that is “Un-American”, but having seven UNELECTED JUDGES overturn that proposition, that is….”American”?
Still waiting for Hanks to call out the nearly 70% of blacks in California who voted in favor of Prop 8. Waiting Tom, waiting.
I’m confused. I could’ve sworn everyone made comments on this site (or maybe it was Dirty Harry’s Place) about how great Tom Hanks was because he never discussed politics. Now he’s on your s–tlist because he says something?
To be fair, many liberal talkbackers on other sites are now anti-Mickey Rourke for his pro-Bush comments just weeks after they were praising his comeback in “The Wrestler.”
Also, will you get some writers on here I’ve heard of. John Milius anyone?
Given the polling on this issue, it appears now that the majority of the American people are now Un-American. At least according to Tom Hanks.
Another knuckle-dragging actor, who without pre-written lines to recite, exposes the emptiness of his mind, and frazzled circuitry of his thought process. As if repeating the word “truth” three times, somehow supplies credence to the ignorance and prejudice (that’s right Left-wing America, PREJUDICE) of the liberally poisoned perspective.
Just because Forrest Gump was smart enough to get off that desert island, doesn’t make him smart enough to be the spokesman for Patriotic Americans. (Tom, you’re just a freeking actor; shut up and read the script.)
Thus Spoke Tom Hanks and the electorate shook because Tom was in Saving Private Ryan….and his opinion counts for something.
Tom
We don’t agree with the gay political agenda. We also don’t agree with your movie choices as of late, you seem to be suffering from M. Night Shamalamadingdong syndrome.
You and Anne Hathaway should star in Stan Lee’s new “Gay Superhero” project….to fight all the gay injustice.
TEHSTUPID “The MINORITY does not speak for all.” So this would be your argument against gay rights, correct?
MATT cya Come back when you have some facts or guts to hear the truth
Could someone remind of Tom Hank’s service record to America?
I am not Mormon but I will tell you that I have lived and worked with members of the church for many years and today, they are the only church that I see the members living their beliefs (maybe the Amish as well). I watched as millions of Catholics (and other Christians)voted for Obama who has a voting record that is contrary to Catholic beliefs. Peelosi and Biden received knuckle hits from the Bishops for supporting abortion. Perhaps Tom Hanks should reconsider his persecution. Remind me again if Tom Hanks belongs to any religious group? He certainly sounds like Gump now, without the wisdom or compassion. This is kettle-black syndrome Mr. Hanks.
JENNYC, I totally agree. The gay marriage fanatics were quick to picket outside of Saddleback Church, ’cause Rick Warren is white and Christian, which is the personification of evil to liberal America. They would never drive to South Central L.A. and picket an all Black church. That would be politically incorrect. They are cowards.
Who gives a damn about majorities. Does popularity make something right? The Star Wars prequels made over $1.1 billion dollars at the box office and they suck harder than a black hole. But according to TEHSTUPID, being in the perceived majority instantly makes one correct. If that’s the case, I’m glad to have been so smart and correct the last 8 years.
As for conservatives whining on Big Hollywood and not offering ’solutions,’ the commenter misses the point that the so-called ‘whining’-aka dialogue-is an important part of the solution. A large focus of the site is to provide a community for conservatives in Hollywood to exchange stories and ideas in a setting free of fear of reprisal. It’s the first step in helping Hollywood conservatives feel more valid and comfortable in their own skin. If enough of them start to feel comfortable enough, they’ll begin to gain enough traction to be able to no longer have to hide their political affiliation. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
What does constitutional scholar Hanks mean by “self-correcting constitution”? Might that be what happened in November with Proposition 8?
When it comes to the Mormon funding of “Yes on Prop 8″ commercials Tom Hanks went on to say this:
“You put some good commercials on the air,” deadpanned the two-time Oscar winner, “you can convince anybody of anything.”
You mean like pres-elect Barack Obama? Irony, Tom, irony. Obama spent $600 million dollars to get elected…$200 million of which is untraceable, in violation of the FEC. But, I heard Gov. Palin has a tanning bed. The Horror! The HORROR!
Hmmm, I wonder what Hanks’ Greek Orthodox wife and in-laws think of this. I have seen Mr. Hanks actively participating in the Orthodox liturgy, and we are religiously opposed to gays marrying, yet he publicly speaks the opposite.
Can you say: hypocrite?
I guess it’s true, regarding fasting: sometimes, what comes out of your mouth is more important that what goes in.
I still can’t decide what in particular Hanks feels in Un-American, but I don’t think he is referring to Mormons (I hope.) I think he is referring to the idea that “Big Church”, to borrow the phrase, can conspire, control, and therefore decide the fate of politics and government in our country. I agree with him on that principle—it is one of the shining points of America, that no one religion dominates our country, that each of us are free to believe what we want and live our lives accordingly, without fear of government reprisal. Anything less would certainly be Un-American.
BUT, and this is a big but, there are stipulations to that. There are plenty of institutions and ethics that are part of civilization but removed from religion; you can’t just do whatever you want, when you want it, religion or no. And just because one religion does not rule over all the land, does not mean that people whose religious morals have shaped their beliefs and attitudes are not allowed to protect and act upon those beliefs. What Hanks may not grasp is that the members of the Mormon church (not the church itself), and many many other churches as well, banded together on an issue dear to their hearts and sought to defend it in the public square of opinion and politics. What can be more American than that? He can argue if he wants that being against gay marriage is being un-American on civil rights grounds (an issue which I also feel is divorced from how “American” a person is), but he can’t argue that it is un-American for religious people to vote how they choose, with their wallets and in the ballot box.
Meanwhile, on another web site talking about Hanks’ comments:
>>>’Big Love’ has been a heated topic among the Mormon community. While most Mormons no longer practice polygamy, those who do say the show is an inaccurate representation of the love that these families actually have for one another.<<<
“Most” Mormons no longer practice? How about none, idiot writers. But hey, we’re a gossip site, so it doesn’t matter if we misrepresent facts! Not that we Mormons aren’t misrepresented all the time, but you’d think people would at least get the polygamy thing right by now. I guess that disclaimer at the beginning of “Big Love” didn’t work after all, brilliant HBO bigwigs.
Hanks, of course, has the absolute right to say anything he likes. I personally am not especially surprised or outraged by his statements, but Hanks has profited handsomely by cleverly exploiting patriotism (think “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers”) whilst presenting himself as a vet-loving centrist. We the people have the right to vote on certain issues and have done so in similar circumstances in all the states, over many decades and generations. Where I seriously part company with Hanks is the epithet “un-American.” He, more than most, ought to revile that term as a hold-over from the McCarthy era. Guess what, Tom? No one broke the law; they just voted, as is their right. We don’t all agree on the outcome but right now, that is the law of the land. Or perhaps Mr. Hanks would like to take away the right of the people to vote on social issues and appoint himself dictator…and again, it was somewhat uncourageous to single out only the Mormons. Maybe they were an easy target because the perception is that they don’t fight back. Hanks ought to read a little Mormon history. They can fight, and then some, when pushed.
Tom Hanks must think quite a few people in California are sheep if he thinks seeing a commercial fundamentally changed what would have otherwise been a contrary opinion. Sure, any media can influence, but no one who takes politics seriously would base a vote on a commercial alone. I’d hate to break it to him but I personally make decisions based on my core values-not from what I learn on TV.
Hollywood only has as much power as we allow it to have. I’ve been voting against Hollywood with my wallet the last 10 years or so. If a movie is anti-American or allows its liberal agenda to get in the way of its quality, I don’t see it. Ditto TV shows. Consequently, I see about 3 movies a year, and I’m much happier (and have a healthy savings account, too).
Tom, if you think the Mormons are un-American over things like Prop 8, just wait until the Muslims take over this country.
Mr. Hanks and his ilk really need some psychiatric help. Their idea of free speech is that they can say and do what they want, because they are correct(in their feeble minds). Anyone who doesn’t agree or speaks out against what they force down our throats is either homophobic or a racist. They have no tolerance for opposing views and will resort to violence to get their way. When Bush won both elections, they screamed FOUL and tried to con it away. But this Franken ordeal is some how Kosher. ‘F’ em all!
>>“Most” Mormons no longer practice? How about none, idiot writers.
There’s a term for Mormons who practice polygamy. They’re called ‘Ex-communicated Mormons”-a fact readily apparent to anyone who cares about things like accuracy. If you practice polygamy in our church, you will no longer be a member of our church. Polygamists are an ‘off-shoot’ of the LDS church in the way that rocks are an ‘off-shoot’ of tofu.
As a consumer, not as a boycotter, I have chosen not to purchase tickets to most Hollywood produced garbage whether it’s on TV or film. As an American with a political voice, I have CHOSEN not to subsidize the income of those espousing philosophies and policies that contradict the values I hold. Again, for those who can’t read simple English, I do not consider that a boycott, but an action related to the survival of my beliefs. So if anyone is keeping track, I have dollars to spend on worthwhile entertainment provided by those who do not seek to infiltrate their personal agendas into the products I buy. That notion, is free choice, by a free American, in a Free, capitalist society.
“A little bit of light can be shed and people can see who’s responsible and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting constitution and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards.”
Sounds McCarthystic to me.
It is an assault against religious to say people of any faith can’t vote their conscience. If they (and I) believe as a matter of faith that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman they have every right to vote their conscience – or are we becoming a country in which our government will tell us what faith we can and cannot practice. Can we only practice a faith that is P.C.? Good for the Mormons! I’ve never been prouder of a faith i don’t adhere to.
What is it they say……Judge not a man by the thickness of his wallet, but by the content of his character. Tom’s a bit short in the character department wouldn’t you say. Now if Tom were a “man” he’d be blaming the older black voters. They vote conservative on the social issues. THEY were the deciding vote on Prop 8 (thank you btw). Can you imagine the state of kaos if the left and gays would have attacked the black voters in California, instead of the Mormans. But of course we know they couldn’t do that, so they just do what they do best. MAKE STUFF UP!!! Hollywood is the world of “make believe” after all.
Oakland High School. Class of 1969. Gayest little commie in the Drama Department.
Mr. Hanks, where in the U.S. Constitution are behaviors enshrined as rights. I suppose that centuries of example that a family, headed by a husband and wife being the ideal family mean nothing to you.
Mr. Surber, I love that area of WV. I used to be amused by how many things are named after the Poca River down there. One of my family’s favorite restaurants was in Pocatalico.
Just another Hollywood elitist heard from.
They honestly believe that us commoners will believe every bit of dribble that falls from their mouths.
Liberals do not need to build ships, they float………..
Tom, how could you? I’ve been a fan of yours ever since Bosom Buddies, but after hearing you say such hateful things and call anyone who is against gay marriage un-American in just too much. Our son was a marine, we fly our flag every single day, go to church on Sundays, give more than we take, respect others opinions, and you think us vile because we oppose gay marriage? Uh Huh….All you liberal loons deserve each other. I wish they’d build a fence around Hollyweird and never let you out. You’re all a disease that should be contained!
Haha.
“I like coffee too much.”
Too funny.
Thank God for this website!!! Please continue to tell the truth!!!
There are any number of people who voted for Prop 8. Why the Mormons are being singled out is kind of puzzling. Are all of us who thought gay marriage was a bad idea Un American? Hmmmm.
I do like Tom but I think he is being selected in his criticism. If I understand the data, the vast majority of black voters voted for Prop 8 and hey, are they being hammered? I guess not.
Kat – January 16th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Tom, how could you? I’ve been a fan of yours ever since Bosom Buddies, but after hearing you say such hateful things and call anyone who is against gay marriage un-American in just too much. Our son was a marine, we fly our flag every single day, go to church on Sundays, give more than we take……..
Kat you sound like a passionate, American Patriot and I agree there are plenty of far left folks in Hollywood. Not just left of center, but left of the Human Race. Let’s just make sure we have some extra keys made for that fence for our friends at bighollywood.
Tom Hanks came to hollyweird from Canada to be an actor why would anyone care what he thinks?
Mormons are unAmerican then liberals are Socialist right Tom!!
What a maroon…..
You are, also, annoying.
Andrew, Yes, the sites are amazing.
I just can’t beleive how anyone with half a brain can listen to the total gargage being pumped by the msm and the far left, and actually believe it without hesitation or supporting facts.
Another refreshing thing is writing the “masterpiece” reply (in my own mind) or comment and actually having it posted. I occasionally enjoyed going to sites like Huffington and leaving comments to try and offset the 100% left view (plus it’s fun to rile them up). Well, just like the election and I’m afraid they have similar ideas for our country, they don’t want any offsetting opinions. They won’t post ONE opposing comment. It’s like la-la-land over there where everyone agrees on everything. Too bad non of it’s actually true. Now that my friends, is censorship, and UN-AMERICAN!!!
To Joseph Lindsey:
Right on, right on. My wallet, er purse, already feels thicker.
Thanks Tom for reminding me why I prefer watching Gary Cooper and Cary Grant. Gotta Go. “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” just arrived via Netflix.
I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.
Dear Mr. Hanks:
I am an unmarried woman who has a big, fat government pension that will cease upon my death unless I am “married,” at which point my “spouse” will be able to collect my hard earned pension so that he/she/it can continue to be supported by my lifetime labors.
Since I am still an unmarried woman and my search for my own Ronald Reagan/Clint Walker/John Wayne/Todd Palin/Mark Steyn is proving futile, I have decided to marry both my adult sons so that they can benefit from my years of civil service. I want them to draw my pension when I’m long gone to heaven.
Here’s the problem, Mr. Hanks, and I know you’ll understand because you said you “do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.” Well, the hideous California laws, the laws that are written on reams of pieces of paper, discriminate against me and my sons. Discrimination is so bad.
I don’t give a care about thousands of years of “marriage” being between a man and a woman. Who is the government to decide that I can’t marry the person or people I love??? Doesn’t everyone love his son or her son or her sons or whatever???
Discrimination is so bad. We have to change the definition of marriage; we have to modify the social contract now!
Please join me, Mr. Hanks, in shining a little light on the bad discrimination. Help us move forward now.
Thank you for listening. I also love my horse and my parrot.
Memo To Mr.Tom Hanks…
Please just Shut-Up, cept when reading the script..!
Hey Hankstein you latent wuss I would like to see you call Mitt Romney
un-american, he would probably deck your overpaid candy-ass! Real people are so sick of what you asses have to say. Your Hollywood women are skinny anorexic skanks with no brains and think they are soooo self important!
Please bring back the real stars, Cooper, Wayne, Stewart Newman
and the starlets that had a little beef. Shut-up and act,(if is possible)….
There are not enough members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the state of California to have passed prop 8. Tom Hanks has just exposed himself to be the bigot he truly is.
I left this on a previous thread but it I believe it bears repeating.
I really want to be a conservative and still be open to social and personal liberty for all. It is a slippery slope. Even if I don’t care one way or another if gays can marry, I must. The reason is this: wherever the laws have changed to include gay marriage, lawsuits have abounded and the rights of people, religious groups, businesses and parents and been usurped to appease the gay community. These are religious groups, businesses and people who have always managed to have differing views but have respected each other and never felt the need to impose their beliefs on each other. Rather, in many ways they helped each other flourish. But now, for example, a local Catholic Charity has shut its doors and the many children who used to be adopted through this noble institution are no longer here. Why? Because they were sued and they in all good conscious could not change their rules based on their religion to acquiesce to the demands of gays who wanted the right, not necessarily to adopt, but to have the right to adopt regardless of the hundreds of years of tradition of Catholic Charities. As if there are no other alternatives.
If you have noticed, the founder of e-Harmony, a Mormon, whose labor of love was the uniting of couples in the traditional marriage, no longer does the commercials of his company now that he has been ordered, after a suit brought by gays who apparently could not find a single other matching group in the world, to offer non traditional couples the same e-Harmony program. And in Massachusetts, parents who objected to the new manuals in their children’s school showing the nudes bodies of gay men couples , gay female couples and man/woman couples, are in deep trouble. The list goes on. Therapists who don’t feel they have the expertise to counsel gays – sued. A photographer who didn’t want to do a gay wedding – sued. On and on.
So I must ask myself, is it really that gays want to have traditional marriage or are they looking for a deeper, moral acceptance. Moral acceptance is an inside job. It can’t be forced by taking away the rights of others. It may seem like it is working but if it was, there wouldn’t be such dogged ranting and suing. It would be a gentle, peaceful acceptance such as that between these groups prior to all the suits.
Joe:
… just attack the ideas.
I guess you didn’t read my post here.
Joe I understand your point of view, because I was one of those people for 20 years, that said I would die for this country to make sure everyone has the right to say what ever they want. We can do what ever we want in this country and for the most part we have un-limited freedoms. But, to say we are Un-American because we voted one way or the other is the most Un-American thing I can think of, not to mention it is our right. The people spoke and it does not make a differance what Tom Hanks says or anyone else for that matter. The people of CA said no and if you and yours don’t like the out come then try to put it in the ballot for the next election. Don’t try to change the will of the people with liberal judges. That is the cowards way out, there is no honor in that!!!
Charlene, does this mean I have to repost how much I loathe eHarmony?
Oh, this is GREAT. From 16 year old Disney TV star, Demi Lovato:
“Well, our economic system is in a crisis right now,” Lovato, 16, said Friday in an interview. “I definitely hope that that will change. Also … I hope that the war resolves. Whether we win or lose or whatever, it doesn’t matter. I hope that it just ends. So you know, I think that Barack Obama will be able to help us.”
Whether we win or lose or whatever. IT DOESN’T MATTER! Good Lord! Spoken like a true, uninformed, defeatist Hollywood liberal. Here’s the link…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090116/ap_en_tv/people_demi_lovato;_ylt=Autdr1soXvqIOTpYhOXtgp5xFb8C
Hanks isn’t deciding, he’s just agreeing with everyone but the bigots at Freeper Nation. The great hate site of knuckle dragging trolls.
Oh, so it is perfectly ok for a conservative like Palin to come out and say which states are more patriotic than the others, which are more American, but when Hanks is vocal on the same subject, he winds up being excoriated? You morono-cons amaze the hell out of me. I may not agree with Hanks on calling them un-American, (I think it is a mistake to go down that road.) but hell, he has the right to say it if he wants. Oh, and btw, maybe he does have the right to determine it. This was the man who starred in “Saving Private Ryan,” and co-produced “Band Of Brothers,” so yeah, he does have a say on what truly is American you dipwad.
Sadly, you are painfully mistaken (painful for everyone who has to continue to hear the same lame lies about Palin). She never said any state was “More patriotic” or “More American.” I believe if you check the facts (assuming you care about being accurate or honest), you’ll find she was in a state performing a speech and complimented the crowd by saying how they were “real Americans.”
I suppose you’re the kind of person who goes to a rock show and when the singer says, “Chicago, our favorite city,” you scream, “I live in Rockford you bigot…..Why are you discriminating against us?!?!”
Please….
Hanks has done so much great work it pains me to hear him spew his Hollywood bias against free speech and his anti-Mormon views. It is fascinating that the Mormons gave up polygamy in order to be part of the Union. It is ironic that they were hated then for their views on marriage and that they are hated now for their views on marriage. Yet, it is the very laws that Hanks wants passed that will legally offer no barrier to polygamy, and child marriage. I know the gays think this is false, but their emotional view has no relationship to the law. Once you allow alternate interpretations of marriage, you get them all, not just the ones you want. Because that would be hateful and discriminatory, to define marriage in your narrow belief systems, right?
Barack Obama stated he is against gay marriage along with Joe Biden. Hanks voted for Obama. Why don’t liberals hold their own accountable before waging war on religious institutions? Hanks is being a hypocrite by supporting Democrats who are against gay marriage.
I would respect Hanks feelings if he truly cared enough about gay people to speak out against bigotry in his own party. But, since he’s only targeting Mormons, this is more about his own hate than his giving a damn about the plight of gay people.
A Japanese man wants to marry a 2-dimensional cartoon figure because he’s unimpressed with the 3d-ladies. He’s expressing his disdain and free will, just as others can also conclude him to be nuts or eccentric by their own will. Some men may well sympathize too. There are varied responses of all kinds, and equally varied, but also deeper questions that arise – what is constitutional, sacred, lawful, tolerant etc..
Hanging homosexuals from cherry pickers is also a national past-time in Iran and other Sharia states. I simply ask where is the outrage from H’wood’s elite? Yes we can all whine and be accused of being selective in our equivocation, but my simple question remains, where is the consistency? Far more heinous intolerant acts are being committed elsewhere and not a peep out of H’wood and rarely ever from the bastion of civil rights the ACLU??
In this inconsistent light Mr Hanks and his peers have no business singling out Mormons or any other group with regards to patriotism. Moreover I see not how either the pro’s or con’s of prop8 have anything to do with patriotism – none whatsoever. However I can understand conservative frustration when H-wood’s elite take it upon themselves to further muddy and protract divisive identity politics. They manage to cause more antagonism and to this end who are they really helping?
There’s nothing wrong in creating greater awareness of issues and Mr Hank’s can support prop8 with all his gusto, but what I question and others rightly object to though is his (and H-wood’s) methodology and its delivery. Mormons? Patriotism?? huh..
It is not unamerican to be apposed to Fudgepackers marrying. It is a man and woman thing. This is Calafornian law. If it goes their way. they applaude it–if not , they say it is unamerican. What is unamerican is not abiding by the law of Calfornia and wanting to be an acception to this law.
TEHSTUPID- It’s true minorities don’t speak for all. Thats why you lose. It’s why Prop 8 won. More Californians are against gay marraige than for it. And Tom Hanks is one to talk with his part in Davinci Code. he is a catholic basher and now he is a mormon basher. I guess as more people abandon California to escape taxes, that could turn around. Hollywood couldn’t beat a few mormons from Utah. That rocks. Gay marraige does not.
I have only three words for Tom Hank’s screed on my un-American attitude towards gay marriage: Vote. Pocketbook. Boxoffice.
It is not unamerican to be apposed to Fudgepackers marrying. It is a man and woman thing. This is Calafornian law. If it goes their way. they applaude it–if not , they say it is unamerican. What is unamerican is not abiding by the law of Calfornia and wanting to be an acception to this law.
Wow, that’s classy. It makes me wonder if I should try to point out that you are everything the Liberals are accusing Conservatives of being, or if you’re just a Liberal pretending to be Archie Bunker.
Either way, you make me yearn for the day this site has an ignore button.
No doubt Hanks goes after the Mormons because he sees them as an easy target, and won’t fight back in any way.
“It is not true that all conservatives are stupid. No, it is just that all stupid people become conservative; like water, seeking the lowest level.”
Reality and history utterly disprove those statements.
Adding to Matt Helm’s suggestion of reading Marcuse’s, ‘Repressive Tolerance’, I would recommend taking a look at this excellent 22 minute video, ‘The History of Political Correctness’
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8630135369495797236
Marcuse, the Frankfurt School, are all touched on here.
Political Correctness = Death
Well, Mr. Tom Hanks, I’ve now read exactly 100 comments about you on this article. And I think it’s clear you’ve really lost some fans by your remarks about Mormans being un-American. Surely the few Hollywood friends that you have could even remotely outweigh the millions who have come to love you as an actor. and also have made you very rich. You are now jeopardizing your stardom. Don’t be a fool Tom! Keep to the script.
I did read it. The slippery slope argument is valid, but only to a point.
At what point, then, does the argument become invalid? You did not make it clear.
When the courts threw out the anti-miscegenation laws in the 1960’s the US didn’t come to an abrupt end, and it won’t with same sex marriages.
Do you think the US will end abruptly when I marry my two adult sons? Also, is “abrupt” the operative word, or is it possible that the end of the US or the planet can occur over a period of time, say like global warming. Shall we act today to find more fuel efficient vehicles, to lesson our carbon footprint, to ask for ‘paper’ instead of ‘plastic’?
As for your arguments [to marry whomever I want to marry], we can cross that bridge when we come to it.
I infer that you are asserting that after same-sex marriage is sanctioned, the next wave will be the demand for the rights of moms to marry their sons, men to have as many wives as they choose, etc., and we will have to be reactionary, dealing with this inevitable course when it happens.
They are not the issues at hand, they might be distantly related, but they are not the issue being discussed.
Well, shut me up!! You initially extolled the blog to stop the ad hominem attacks, to rebut ‘without attacking the person, just attack the ideas.’
After rebutting Hanks’ argument, without calling him a left wing loon or a Hollywood elitist, I am all but ‘shushed’ for articulating an argument against Hanks’ simplistic stand against any kind of discrimination.
Put simply, your argument is nothing but scaremongering.
Simply? Let’s examine this issue more in depth. Whom is my argument scaring? You? You’ve already acknowledged that there will be another bridge to cross along this slippery slope. And ‘nothing,’ my argument is ‘nothing’ but scaremongering? You contradict yourself. My argument is valid; you just don’t want the light shown on it until it’s too late.
And, btw, the discrimination against inter-racial marriage is not comparable to discrimination against same-sex marriage. What right do I have to marry that a homosexual person does not have?
“C.P.B. – January 16th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
If only trumped up outrage could create chins, Don Surber would have one.”
And now we are six.
That’s the way to do it C.P.B show us who’s boss by calling names and making fun of someone’s appearance.
Lord, give me patience.
If there was one actor that I admired, it was Tom Hanks. I was willing to forget that he is a Hollywood liberal, because after all, most of Hollywood is liberal. But then I read this story on the Fox News website, on how he in his most indignant manner declared that Mormons were un-American because they stood for traditional marriage. America has dsicovered with his stance, that Mr Hanks is the latest Fascist,because if you want to be an American in his view is you must accept gay marriages. Shut up and act Tom!!!
Look, I have a ton of Mormon friends and have talked to them about this very issue. The comment that Hanks made was interesting in that he chooses to single out a particular group of people one in which they used their AMERICAN right to back something they view as morally right, I know that is a big word from Hollywooders… but hope they follow me. YET… Hanks completely ignores another group… Black people, who were the largest of the majority to vote for the prop 8. So Mr. Hanks, do you dare put your spine on the line and call that certain group of individuals “Un-American” or are you just going to sit back and take pot shots at religious following? Oh and by the way Mr. Hanks, the “Mormon’s” weren’t the only group of god fearing people that were in support of prop 8. Maybe Mr. Hanks should spend more time becoming educated rather than selling his spine to Hollywood bull crap.
Stupid is as stupid does. Hanks your an idiot.
When are we going to get wise? Liberals are laughing all the way to the bank. We live in America. People can spew hate, bias, slander, etc. (it’s not free but paid for!) However, we don’t have to support the people who do it. I started making a list of liberals (actors, news commentators, etc.) who came out during the election with unbelievalbe cruelty and arrogance against Sarah Palin and her family as well as speaking vile against our soldiers and their mission. My 2009 resolution is to not watch, pay to see, or spend any of my valuable time supporting the idiots. It’s time we started using discernemnt in what we do and support including media that promote people who hate America even IF they can act!
I’m getting a big kick out of the left thinking we righties are history. A lot of us sat out this year. A bad Obama might be better that a decent McCain. I’m suggesting you folks get jobs. I have a feeling the government giveaways aren’t going to be coming your way any time soon. Oh, and by the way, The Messiah ain’t taking the boys out of Iraq just yet, either.
Not to mention Obama’s ball is costing 150 mil. What happened to everyone’s got to give some “skin?” Wouldn’t it be better if the man of the people were to be an example and spread his wealth? What a waste of money that could be going to the poor. Wouldn’t a more humble appearance show he is a man of his word?
We are in a recession and a war, but Congress votes themselves a raise and Obama steps out like king. Hypocrisy at its finest
I was stunned when I heard Tom Hanks comments. Nobody should be surprised when someone in Hollywood grandstands but UNAmerican?! Im not a Mormon, nor did I get the opportunity to vote on Prop 8 but why is it ok to slam Christians for deeply held beliefs but gay marriage, enviromentalism, political correctness, and Internationalism can be shoved down OUR throat?
This is the Twilight Zone!
Somebody tell me why I should have to explain to my kids something even Nature rejects and only a minority of a minority of Americans want?
Hollywood has the right to spout at the mouth just like every American but unfortunately their comments are louder and offend a lot more people.
God I can barely watch any of their movies anymore. Shut up Hollywood!
Dear Mr. Hanks: I have always liked you and have liked most of your movies, but please, please, try to become better educated before you become an authority on anything like the Constitution, Mormonism, etc. And here’s an idea- go out on a limb and meet a Mormon or two and find out who they really are-certainly not un-American. I agree, it’s getting easier to stay home from the movies.
RKALLRED—Well said.
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