Marlon’s Mao: Part Three
by Michael MoriartyHmmm …
As Hamlet says, mortality “must give us pause”.
Therefore, “Hmmmm ….. “
On what must be my tenth viewing of that American masterpiece, I realized how tragically prophetic it has proven to be.
What inspired Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg to collaborate in recording what is still The Great American Tragedy?
On The Waterfront is clearly a heroic drama, not a tragedy, with a thrillingly courageous victory for its hero in the end.
What makes it a possible tragedy now?
The testimony Kazan gave to the House Un-American Activities Committee, naming members of the American Communist Party with which he had participated in meetings, not only branded him as a “stool pigeon”, stigmatized him like Brando’s Terry Malloy in On The Waterfront, but, in addition, has grown over the years to carry a tragic foresight within it.
Many distinguished theater critics hold to the elitist’s definition of tragedy, that the word cannot be applied to any figure that has not attained the highest levels of cultivation, those most often symbolized by titles such as King or Emperor … or President of the United States.
In that context, On The Waterfront does not qualify.
However, the basics of the plot for On The Waterfront have now been shifted to the White House.
Our President, as has been said about other would-be Presidents such as Dan Quayle, “is no John F. Kennedy!” Nor even Marlon Brando for that matter, despite our President’s admiration for Don Corleone of The Godfather.
Today, Johnny Friendly is in the White House, he has a Harvard education and can meet regularly with the exact breed of Union leaders whom you find in that disgusting little hut on New York’s waterfront.
The polished manners of the Ivy League do not conceal the bullying obsessions of Chicago mob rule any more than the Dartmouth degree softened the New York Italian ruthlessness of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone.
This, the Great American Tragedy of Communism’s homicidal insistence upon invading America as a “Progressive Movement” – the assassination of the very Catholic President John F. Kenney being one of its most disgracefully high points – will, I have massive faith, eventually turn out to be just another triumph of America over the mortal enemies of her infinitely and universally resonant Declaration of Independence.
Here, while basking in the relevance of On The Waterfront, I suddenly see the cosa nostra metaphor, the Brechtian fascination with Chicago mobs, the Obama administration’s Red-packed Czardom and Mao Zedong himself as the Godfather of all Godfathers … this mounting tower of Progressive Babel, making absolutely no sense whatsoever unless you have a ruthless mob willing to enforce it.
Our Second Amendment?!
If we don’t have weapons in our hands, the enlightened despots still know that we’re packing heat.
Most important is our American knowledge of the truth and the power of love.
With our government now run by no more than an Ivy-league educated, gangster’s mob, I recall Terry Malloy’s reluctant acceptance of a pistol from his doomed lawyer brother who insists – following one of screen history’s greatest moments of acting, Rod Steiger’s resigned and tragic sigh, the beginning of his surrender to the inevitability of his own death – “You’re gonna need it!”
Here is where, even before Karl Malden’s firey priest makes his re-entrance, God begins to arrive.
Then, of course, the hair-raising race down the darkened alley when Terry Malloy and Edie Doyle first barely escape being run down by Johnny Friendly’s hit team truck, then see the hanging, dead body of Rod Steiger.
Brando’s childlike plea to Eva Marie Saint to take care of his brother’s now fallen body, that gun in his possession, ready to do business.
Terry goes to Friendly’s bar to reek revenge upon his brother’s killers. With his hand still bleeding from the near-death escape with Edie, Terry hunches on the bar, gun in hand, to await the arrival of Johnny Friendly.
Who shows up?
A priest … a Catholic priest.
God again!!
This is where I will interject my own personal interpretation of Marlon Brando’s seemingly conflicted, two lives: the one as romantic, super-star, acting genius … and then the gradual but metaphysically sudden explosion into a kind of fatter than fat Buddha.
There’s no God in Buddha, only Enlightenment.
Something larger than ourselves is glimpsed by all religions and I have no doubt that Mr. Brando, after sifting through the full implications of On The Waterfront and the size of Kazan’s gift to American freedom by testifying before the HUAC, reached for Buddha to save himself from Karl Marx.
Apropos of the survival instinct Brando found necessary for his soul, George Will at the CPAC conference gave, what I consider, the undeniably best speech of a highly competitive list of speakers. In it he inspired the audience, after regaling them with the absolute insanity of the Progressive hara-kiri being sold America by the Obama administration, and reminded us that America has faced at least as bad a suicidal ideology as Obamanomics, if not worse. Try a Civil War and two World conflagrations out of which America rose as the human race’s hero of nations.
Or, as Brando himself has remarked, “if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.”
I, of course, attribute that to Divine Intervention.
Yes, God.
Apparently Elia Kazan, even though he had hobnobbed with the atheistic likes of the Group Theater, clearly found God to give him not only the courage to testify against Communism but to create in gratitude one of the greatest American films, On The Waterfront.
The only thing I share with Marlon Brando, aside from friendships with both Stella Adler and Harold Clurman, is an alcoholic mother.
As that great actor has indicated more than once, a mother like that can keep you always on your toes.
It is with such alertness that I can show you how Marlon Brando’s entire career and Elia Kazan’s On The Waterfront can lead you up a Marxist gangster’s totem pole to the Godfather of all Godfathers, Mao Zedong.
That Godfather is even colder, more cunning and more ruthless than Al Pacino’s title role in The Devil’s Advocate. Yes, Mao Zedong is the Godfather of all Satanists.
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64 Comments
How could Errol Flynn support communism?
http://www.popmodal.com/video/2614/Errol-Flynn-ta...
Father Barry: "…and Christ is crucified again and again here on the docks." "Okay, K.O. ?"
K.O. Dugan: "That's good, Faddah, now get Moriarity's ass in gear !"
Off topic but did you all know that obama's mother and Tim Geithner's mother worked together in Indonesia before either were born?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vivian-norris-de-mo...
Just sooooo many coincidences in obama's life, don't you think.
Off topic but did you all know that obama's mother and Tim Geithner's mother worked together in Indonesia before either were born?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vivian-norris-de-mo...
Just sooooo many coincidences in obama's life, don't you think.
Communistic views were running amok in Hollywood back in the 30s, 40s and 50s. That's why it's so dangerous for todays kids to look up to celebrities, they're too influential.
I am no theater critic for I surely do not subscribe to the elitist definition of tragedy.
Betray your friends so you can keep your career making movies in communist Hollywood. Elia Kazan: a true american patriot. Still one hell of a movie.
Tragedy?
In Phantasm II the protagonists flip and total a pristine 1971 Hemi-Cuda, now that's a tragedy.
Thanks for the heads-up on Errol Flynn!
The interview is remarkable … and his rationalizing the execution squads in Cuba?!
The perfect diction makes it all sound so reasonable … when those statements are so infuriatingly blind!
God Bless,
Michael
Did you watch O'Reilly last nite too? That video of the three-year old girl crying for a pop star was NOT sweet. It was very very dangerous. This little girl should have been doing what little three year old girls USED to do. Instead of that she was in the grips of some kind of idol-worshipping passion usually held for a girl ten years older. It's like people have children and then just hand their souls over to Hollywood for safe keeping. Well, Hollywood NEVER SAVED ANYONE. Getting OUT of that craphole and everything it entails saves people tho.
God is not going to bless a country that finds pleasure in atheism. The great falling away is taking place as we speak. God's going the way of the Hudson
Enrico, Elia believed his friends betrayed him and his country well before he testified… In some instances as with Arthur Miller, he told them before testifying. What would you have suggested he do? give up his art which was the driving force in his life because some of his friends were associated with Soviets infiltrating American theatre and film for the purpose of spreading propaganda to try and change the nature of our thought through entertainment… wouldn't it be better if Kazan stuck around and tried to combat this evil.
You are a bit self righteous, no? get over yourself.
You wrote a statement that is misleading. Obama didn't say he "admired" Don Corleone. He said that he admired the Godfather films (the first two anyway). That isn't remotely the same as admiring the character.
When AFI voted "Citizen Kane" the greatest movie of all time I said, "What?! 'On The Waterfront' hands down." I still do.
Essays like this are a gem. This is why I check out Big Hollywood every day. Thanks Michael.
Flynn's last wife was a friend of our extended family…
Patrice Wymore spoke of Flynn at this time and it was basically a tired old drunk who lived on his yacht in the Carribean and romanticized- as many others did- the Castro legacy. A real roustabout as a youth, Flynn never felt comfortable as a powdered an pampered movie star.
It's why he would routinely go to the 'fight clubs' of his day. Or steal Barrymore's body from the funeral home and sit him at the card table for their routine poker games. Anything to break the mold of the Hollywood actor.
He most likely would be just as horrified now as any with the evils of Castro's regieme…
To my understanding, when he witnessed the brutal acts of the regime, he renounced them. But died very soon after.
Excellent series, Michael. Thank you.
Here’s the President about The Godfather in his own words:
“I think my favorite has to be –you know, the opening scene of the first Godfather where, you know, the opening scene of the first Godfather where the caretaker comes in and, you know, Marlon Brando is sitting there and he's saying "you disrespected me. You know and now you want a favor." You know it sets the tone for the whole movie.”
“…..I mean there's this combination of old world gentility and you know, ritual with this savagery underneath. It's all about family.”
Hmmm … and Barack Obama does not admire Don Corleone?
These are very Chicago-style rules for The Family that is the American and very Marxist Allegiance to a Revolutionary Idea best expressed in Anita Dunn’s admiration for Mao Zedong. You want “savagery”, read Jung Chang’s biopgraphy of Mao!
Mao’s Satanic achievement as THE COMMUNIST GODFATHER?
It’s about “family”?! “Gentility” with “savagery underneath”?!
There’s obviously no law and order here except Corleone’s or Mao’s!
There’s nothing “savage” about SEIU or ACORN or the clips of Andrew Stern’s commitment to turning things around?!
Read Henry Kissinger’s breathless admiration for Mao
http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0...
A bipartisan “admiration” of “gentility” and “ritual with this savagery underneath”!
This is a Communist Worldwide and increasingly Maoist Family.
Most Sincerely,
Michael Moriarty
agreed…
It was as we said- he, like Gable, and even modern stars like Sean Connery- thought acting to be less than manly. And for Flynn that was DEATH. Remember, the man castrated sheep with his mouth growing up in Tasmania, and played Fletcher Christian in an Australian version of 'Bounty'
when he was nineteen.
His best friend David Niven served in British commando and counterintelligence in WWII; his exploits are still classified. That ate at him as well. So he let his healthy libido and taste for the bottle rule his life.
And that was a tragedy…
I used to live across the street from one of the parks where they filmed some of On the Waterfront in Hoboken. It was cool to take friends there and say, "Brando stood here. Right here!" LOL.
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" – but, I'm a little crazy…
Eva Marie Saint stood right there – and looked GOOD doin' it ! ; )
Thanks for sharing the words spoken by BO – he's a scary guy all the way around!
That's not crazy. Now had you said "'Manos' The Hands of Fate" . . .
I, too, thought George Will's speech was the absolute best at CPAC. Odd that it didn't get much attention afterward. Here is the video in 4 parts for any who want to hear something great.
http://logisticsmonster.com/2010/02/18/george-wil...
So sad, what the great and uniquely talented Kazan had to bear after the hearings — to bear becoming a pariah among his peers — his "sin" never forgiven nor forgotten. To this day, so few understand what he did and why, and how it must have torn him apart.
Yes, Marlon and his demons — and — Johnny Friendly, the Mafia, Mao, Andy Stern and Obama.
Thank you, Michael, for another thoughtfully deep and moving essay. After reading it, I love the movie all the more.
Excellent piece, Mr. Moriarty! Mao Zedong, the Godfather of all Satanists, indeed. At least Brando had the sense to search for nothingness in Buddhism. How sad for him to face Eternity unprepared.
Thanks for the link to your other article. I didn't know all of this about Kissinger. Good stuff.
Mr. Moriarty, your knowledge is so broad, I have to check wiki all the time to understand you. It's always a pleasure to read your articles.
I think what Obama means is, he admired the family mode—-a loving "dad" with absolute authority. That sounds to me more like elitism, not Marxism. Michael Coleone would be more like Mao Zedong (in your eyes only, not in my eyes), but Vito Corleone feels more like Buddha.
Hope you don't mind me writing more here.
Also, we who believe in Buddhism tend to be more leftist. It's not because we trust government—government can be very evil, just like current Chinese government, to some extent— but because Buddha is meant to love the poor, and those who are suffering, by giving them the hope of next life cycle. There is no "principle" in Buddhism, abortion ok or not, doesn't matter. It's all about love, especially love for the suffering soul.
I really like the U.S as a competitive world, where hardworking people are rewarded. A society like Canada is not so attractive. But I hope a society with equal access to health care could be the final destination and trend of human society's development. Losing a loved one because one cannot afford the treatment is too sad.
God bless you!
Um, he seems to be somewhat accurately describing the character. I fail to see a quote where he say…"oh, and I admire that in leadership." (And when exactly did Obama express solidarity with Mao and Chavez. i ust have missed those interviews….?)
The opening scene IS great and DOES set the tone of the entire film. Brando's character is depicted as a rather cunning but harmless old man, but his power is savage. Which is why the caretaker turned to him.
i think you are reaching…and missing quite badly.
Um, I know he admires the films…as do millions of other Americans. If he truly admired Coloreone, wouldn't Mitch McConnell have had a horse's head in his bed by now?
Thinking of Kazan — brings up memories of Joe McCarthy, Roy Cohn and the "trials."
Mixed feelings. They say Joe was a drunk. He handled the investigations badly. Maybe so. Maybe not.
As the MSM's extreme leftism and tactics of "personal destruction" have become more and more revealed to me — it's hard to say if it was Joe's fault.
(Chaplin's deportation was extreme — I don't see anything subversive or wishing harm to the U.S. in the movies he produced. Am I naiive?)
The fact that after the Soviet fall and records were released, they found that there were so many, so deeply embedded Soviet spies within the gov't, working for destruction of the U.S. Even that innocent seeming "Annie" whatshername.
Arthur Miller's autobiography revealed Lillian Hellman and her group's intentional subversion activities.
(cont'd)
(cont'd,part 2)
Whatever the cause, the result was (after the Murrow denouncement) that they ("The They") turned any discussion or investigation of likely treason or subversion from within into a mockery. The idea that there were those actively working to destroy from within became successfully relegated to the realm of the "paranoid," and even the "evil," and any serious attempt at self-protection — invalid.
They won that round (a long round), and it's lasted.
Now, there's hardly a shrug of the shoulder as those who speak openly of wanting to "take down" our form of gov't — and avowed Communists openly take the highest places in gov't. Hardly a ripple.
And any attempts to seriously discuss the insidious threat of growing Islamism — especially from within — (but even from without) is given the same general and public treatment — "paranoia" — "evil" — "racism."
We're deeply infected with this madness, and whether we will prevail or not is — for the first time — a question.
You have quite clearly analyzed an emotional and psychological problem within America's response to bald-faced, Communist infiltration.
However … and this may be my naivete, but Americans, surely with the Tea Party explosion, are not a passive people when it comes to a loss of either their rights or their hard-earned money.
I have, as George Will seems to have, judging from his most recent speech to CPAC, great faith in not only America but in the patterns of American history and this nation's ability to withstand challenge after challenge and rise more strongly from them.
I personally don't think that Marxism can withstand the spiritual challenge from America … anymore than Obama seems to be withstanding America's loudly hollared "NO" to Obamanomics.
In short, I'm a bit more optimistic than you seem to be … DESPITE the horrifying statistics growing in the National Debt Clocks!
God Bless,
Michael
I usually agree with you mr. Moriarity,but this time I must beg to differ. Based on what we know now…I wouldn't say JFK was a very devout Catholic at all…Just my 2 cents.
Yea but you just know he DOES admire Don Corleone. After all if he can admire Mao and Chavez what's a little fiction among dictators.
Indeed, it is disconcerting that Rod Steiger is a doppleganger for Andy Stern. The parallels are staggering. Kneecaps optional.
Here’s the President about The Godfather in his own words:
“I think my favorite has to be –you know, the opening scene of the first Godfather where, you know, the opening scene of the first Godfather where the caretaker comes in and, you know, Marlon Brando is sitting there and he's saying "you disrespected me. You know and now you want a favor." You know it sets the tone for the whole movie.”
“…..I mean there's this combination of old world gentility and you know, ritual with this savagery underneath. It's all about family.”
Hmmm … and Barack Obama does not admire Don Corleone?
These are very Chicago-style rules for The Family that is the American and very Marxist Allegiance to a Revolutionary Idea best expressed in Anita Dunn’s admiration for Mao Zedong. You want “savagery”, read Jung Chang’s biopgraphy of Mao!
Mao’s Satanic achievement as THE COMMUNIST GODFATHER?
It’s about “family”?! “Gentility” with “savagery underneath”?!
There’s obviously no law and order here except Corleone’s or Mao’s!
There’s nothing “savage” about SEIU or ACORN or the clips of Andrew Stern’s commitment to turning things around?!
Read Henry Kissinger’s breathless admiration for Mao
http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0...
A bipartisan “admiration” of “gentility” and “ritual with this savagery underneath”!
This is a Communist Worldwide and increasingly Maoist Family.
Most Sincerely,
Michael Moriarty
Michael, great points and examples to support your thesis. My opinion (though not nearly as deep as yours) is that a lot of Hollywood actors, and "stars" being the top of the food chain, remain impressed, or even obsessed with stardom ESPECIALLY when they perceive it to eclipse their own. They are no less starstruck than the screaming teenybopper idol worshipers of the current crop of metrosexual pop stars. Some will go so far as to "bed it down" in order to own a piece of it, thinking it will somehow elevate them, in some way, closer to equal footing. Maybe they too they will be adored by those that occupy that rarefied celebrity. I don't think most, if not any, of them are genuinely attracted to or learned enough to support the "greater" ones' politics or their cries for a paradigm shift in our tried and true American Values. They are (once again, in my opinion) shameless quasi fanatical suck-ups that haven't a clue as to how out of touch they truly are. C'mon, Michael, I'm sure in your storied and well traveled life you've been in the presence of an awe inspiring figure who was so charismatic that it took you days to unravel his/her logic, or more likely his/her illogic. What probably saved you from parroting their folderol was that you were simply more of an old soul who was blessed with doubt and had the wisdom of failure and redemption. 'Me thinks thou drapes upon the lesser a wisdom and awareness that rightly belongs to few, and to the few, much deserved.' (even I can't resist a thinly veiled attempt to impress celebrity greater than my own). There are exceptions who may have taken a reasoned, but unpopular position, and Brando maybe one as witnessed by his early support of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In his case who could have been a matter of the broken clock being correct twice a day. But for most of these shameful stars one can only beg forgive them for they truly know not what they do. They are just suck-ups at a higher level than most. I believe we would have more hope if there were more stars like you who could take a position or opinion, be it ultimately wrong of right, as a result of careful study and reasoning and less on I fucked or sucked Castro and Chavez 'cause, well, Mao is dead. Forgive me, if I in any way insulted or more likely lost you in my ramble, but, this was in fact my way of saying that I completely agree with you and wanted to share with you my simplistic study of my more famous brethren. Did I mention I'm a huge fan? Seriously, I am.
Flynn never stole Barrymore's body that was all made up by Rauol Walsh,Fynn hated communist he was a-political and a 1940s – 50s democrat. He was conservative in the way he brought his kids up and even how he lived most of his life. He did believe in live and let live he was always envy of any man who stayed married. He read the Bible all the time from his days on the Loki plantation to his death. I have a lot of his personal papers, I know his daughters and I knew Nora very well. Flynn renounced Castro after he started killing everyone and even Che wanted to kill Flynn. Flynn got out of Cuba before Castro flip to being a commie. I know people who were with Castro in 58 and how Castro would belittle his brother and Che. Castro was pro American until the State Dept stuck him up in Harlem.
Hi Michael, by the time Errol made this film about Castro he had escaped from Cuba. I am going to have Steve Hayes on my show on Friday who knew Errol and he himself fought with Castro and was almost shot by Batista's men. Its a fascinating story. Errol in this film was a raging drunk and a morphine addict for his back pain from all the stunts he did as a young man. There is a lot of footage out there of Flynn during this time, he was trying to get some PR for more film work since he was still recovering from his taxes and debt he ran up. That is why after he left Cuba he took the Zaca to Vancover to sell her for 100,000 to buy off his wife so he could move to Jamaica and live out the rest of his life there with Beverly. Who by the way just recently passed away herself at the age of 67.
Michael did you know that Kissinger once said about Mao when they were alone together. Mao said, 'that God loves America and hates China" which Kissinger was taken by surprise by Mao's use of the idea of God.
Enrico, in my opinion, to truly betray you must have a fanatical belief in "solidarity – right of wrong." The truly right will depart from the side of a truly wrong if it reveals itself to be just that for the greater good. That is if you wish a sane and safe society. Fanatics are not part of nor do they belong in, a sane society. If nothing else but for unemotional pragmatic reasons. They promote extremism and dehumanize their perceived enemies. You imply or say outright that he remained a believer yet betrayed his comrades for job security. I say, the latter motivation isn't possible for a the true fanatic. So, either he was a fanatic in transition to seeing the light of greater good or he never was one and thus betrayed no one but himself insomuch as he was a supporter in the first place. We can only judge the result of his actions but never truly know the motivations. You say tomato and I say pomodoro.
The only way I can watch that is on MST3K.
I would not be an actor were it not for Kazan… and Brando. but Brando's best work was achieved through Kazan. Streetcar, Zapata and Waterfront are just exceptional works… Brando was often hit or miss though his inate animal genius always made his performances stand out, Kazan was able to harness Marlon's energy… greatest collaboration in film history… and I'm a huge fan of Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, but Kazan/Brando beats Scorsese/DeNiro.
Read the autobiography and biography of Kazan… remarkable man. true artist and a man of principles.
It's very easy to be a "communist" when you have amassed a fortune big enough so you can live in luxury for the rest of your life on an unspoiled deserted island in the Caribbean somewhere or in some remote South American village.
Advocate for Communism on your veranda overlooking the ocean or rain forest, I say. [/sarc]
It is also hypocritical, but apparently being a hypocrite is all the rage these days.
Obama probably went to IMDB, saw that the Godfather Films rank very high in the all-time favorite film's list and thus declared the Godfather films to be his favorites. I would be willing to bet on it.
"to love the poor, and those who are suffering"
Sounds like christianity to me.
Every time "On the Waterfront" is on I say to myself, "Well thats fine but I've seen it a hundred times." Then I'll watch it just for the opening scene where Joey Doyle is murdered. Then I'll stay for that great scene where Johnny Friendly and his goons cut up the weeks take. By this time I'm saying to myself "Man – Guys like Brando, Steiger, Malden and Cobb REALLY had acting chops.!" Now I'm hooked and have sunk down deep into my chair to enjoy the whole thing again. "On the Waterfront" is one of the most powerful and poetic films ever made and a stark reminder to us all never to lay down in the face of evil. Kazan saw Communism for what it was and used the means at hand to expose it. The fashionable poseurs who now label him a "snitch" are not one-tenth the artist nor one-hundreth the man that Elia Kazan was.
we knew his daughter Arnella pretty well…
Fact of the matter she was a first girl friend for one of us- her mom Patrice Wymore would do summer stock in Chicago- 'Goodbye Charlie', if memory serves correct- and for several summers we spent time together riding bikes and holding hands.
Very sweet and innocent. Different times, those.
Ms Wymore filled in our parents on Flynn's escapades in the Carribean on his beloved yacht.
Didn't know that Walsh made the story up; thanks.
Loved him in Walsh's 'Objective Burma'. Became a Ranger largely because of that early influence.
He was no communist- just like Sterling Hayden. Just adventurous rogues…
Well done Michael!
If it was on the Teleprompter, then Obama said it!
Every schoolboy and girl should be taught the cultural backdrop to how "On the Waterfront" was made. I saw a PBS documentary about Elia Kazan and it blew me away. How he dated Marilyn Monroe, was loyal at first to his 'progressive' comrades in the theater, then became convicted that he needed to tell the truth about communists working in secret to put messages in entertainment to bring down the country. Even how he told his good friend Arthur Miller what he must do and Miller promised they understood, and wouldn't shun him, which is exactly what they did. Miller then married Monroe, and wrote "the Crucible" which flopped, about girls telling lies in court to punish those they didn't like… Kazan makes "Waterfront" about a man forced to tell the truth in court about murderous thugs, even though they were his friends. . .
My bad. Rahm Emmanuel went to IMDB and then typed The Godfather into the teleprompter. Good point.
Jack,
That was Mao's very Maoist way of telling Kissinger that China will become a nation of atheists …. come hell or high water!!!!!!!
GB,
M
Yes, it's wrong to despair, although I'm truly not there.
But, it's hard not to. There's an unrelenting feeling of bewilderment and incredulousness. So I try to keep my eyes and heart open to seeking and finding ground in the truth. That's one side. The other is reaching for faith. It's often there.
There's that old over-used definition of insanity — when one does the same thing over and over… Well, I guess that's mine. I keep expecting that one day, the message will come clear to them, and my conformity-infected friends and family (and with them I include the rest of American leftists), will simply wake up and see how they've allowed themselves to be manipulated by a pernicious politico-media machine, and become their own enemies, and that sanity will once again prevail in American thought and culture.
If that dream is "delayed," at least for now there are half, and from the polls, many more than half, of Americans who are awake. What could be a better start?
(cont'd)
(cont'd)
No, you are not naive.
Yes, there are the glorious Tea Parties! If there's anything that deserves to be called the symbol of American strength and "hope" — they are. Pure Spirit! The success of CPAC this year — gifted Speakers like George Will — the Polls — kindred and brilliant Bloggers and Websites, the incredible personalities who've appeared, brave Hollywood and Theatre people who are willing to risk ostracism by speaking out, and contributors like you, who have shown up to pitch in and inspire this effort — How can I not keep faith when I see how valiantly — yes, valiantly — they are working — fighting.
Thank you.
And All Blessings To You,
Mehitabel
Devout does not mean perfect. I truly believed he believed as much as any other but believing isn't enough. His private life certainly didn't get him closer to God in the ways of the mother church's teachings but I do believe being the son an a truly devout mother and having seen life lost first hand in WWII, he may have strayed but I don't think I would fear for his ultimate salvation. I say this as a man with a serious dislike for all things Kennedy. Save Edgar.
As a lapsed but still indelibly effected Catholic, I agree with you.
I don't think JFK wanted to play ball with the Progressives and so the arrangement, through Havana, was made!
He was his own man … and God had SOMETHING to do with that strength.
GB,
Michael
Mr. Moriarty brings broad context to his close reading and knocks one into the cheap seats!
I learned that Mr. Moriarty had Chicago roots ( Grandfather was baseball great George Moriarty – born in 'Back O' The Yards and buried at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park). Mr. Moriarty played Henry Wiggen in the great American film Bang the Drum Slowly.
Come to Chicago, Michael, and buck up the cousins!
How unfortunate that his youngest brother didn't follow in his footsteps! A man who "always tried to be a faithful Catholic" as he stated in his letter to the Holy Father at the end of his life; who was quoted back in '71, before the horror of Roe v. Wade: "Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized – the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old…" The late Senator caved in on the issue of abortion for the sake of political expediency, and "played ball" with the Progressives like an All-Star.
I truly believe God is merciful, and none of us have the right to judge another human soul (even the Holy Father graciously bestowed his apostolic blessing).Yet I cannot help but see Sen. Kennedy's life as a tragedy. He considered himself a public servant of great acomplishment; think of what he might have accomplished for his country if he had remained true to his beliefs.
Well said.
That wish of "what he might have been" and the hopes for Senator Kennedy, however, did not come true and what we're left with is Catholic hypocrisy in not only that man but Biden and Pelosi as well.
How the Church will finally deal with it is anyone's guess.
However, if the Holy Father doesn't deal with it … the Church will fill with Fr. Kennedy's and Biden's and SisterMother Pelosi's and the Church will no longer be the Church … just another offshoot of the Protestant Reformation … right, the PROGRESSIVE Catholic Church.
Sad, eh?
GB,
M
Immensely sad, indeed! The enemies within the Church are far more insidious than those from without. Thankfully, the Church is Christ's, and it is His fidelity, not ours, that saves us. He's been rescuing us from pernicious heresies disguised as reform for centuries. There's still hope in the pews of churches across America, and even among us "lapsed but still indelibly effected" Catholics.
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